The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-05

brig down on us in no time, and then
will come the test. Do you see Tom?"
Hes coming"
The mate entered the cabin to report
what was already known to the cap
tain, and to be heartily congratulated
for the manner in which he had con-
Quoted the affair. When asked his opin-
ion of what would follow, he said:
I'VE sunk one boat, and killed and
wounded eight or ten of the rascals,
but they won't stop at this defeat, If
the calm lasts they may tow the brig
down on us, or they may wait for a
breeze and then overhaul and lay us
aboard. They are cut-throats to a man,
and far outnumber us. 1 must make
ready against any move, and, God help
Ing, we will beat them Off"
Aye, God helping!" said the cap
tain. Il leave all to you, Toni know
you VIII do all a brave man can,
The mate turned and went on deck,
without a glance at Mollie, though he
must have felt her eyes on him. 1t
was In her heart to take him by the
hand in her fathers presence, and de-
nounce the story as vile slander, and
10 humble herself for having listened
to 1t and acted upon it, but he gave
her no show. Her father may have
guessed what was in her mind but he
said never a word. The pirate boat
had slow and laborious pull back to
the brig, and she had only reached the
| larger craft when another boat was
lowered, and the two began towing the
brig down in the direction of the
Golden Horn" They pulled her for
a couple of miles and then tired out,
and from noon till four D. m. not a
breath of air stirred aioft, and the sea
was like mirror. Then a light breeze
sprang up from the north, and, with
cut loss of time the bark spread her
sails and continued her true course
She was a fast craft, and the mate de-
cided to run away from the pirate, if he
could. That was prudence instead of
cowardice, and was so hailed by the
crew and the captain. Down in the
south, he might find man-of.war, or
other help, to beat the brig off or de-
stroy her. AT any rate, if the breeze
lasted he would make a running fight
of it, giving her gun for gun, and doing
his best to prevent being boarded. 1t
needed scarcely half an hour to satisfy
him that the brig was the fastest sailor.
hplpG Nltpl up Oh the DdIk, lOOI DX IOOt,
until only a mile away and then a can
non ball came skipping over the water
as a signal for her victim to heave to.
The bark held her way, paying no at
tention to THE menace, except to soar
aloft the stars and stripes, and cheer
the flag, as it blew out to the breeze.
Mollie had been sent OH deck to report,
| and she returned to say
Our flag is up, father and the men
are cheering it, We can't run away
from the brig, and Tom is going to
| fight her."
That's the talk! Does she carry a
big crew."
Her decks are crowded with men.
Cant you hear them yelling? There
goes another gun!"
AYE, that's a ball from Long
Tom, as / know by the boom. She
carries the heaviest metal and the most
men, but Tom will fight her to the Bit
ter end. Is the breeze getting up?"
"Yes, father, and our men are making
all sail. Now you. feel the bark heel
ing over to it. Can she board us, If the
breeze holds like this?"
II hope they won't try 1t, but they
are reckless devils, and will dare any
thing. My God! to think 1 should be
blind and helpless in such an emer-
gency! Look for me, girl-let me
know what is going on. What are our
men doing?"
standing to their guns. Here
comes a broadside from the pirate.
Oh! father, father, but did you feel that
crash-do you know that a man has
been killed."
Softly, girl-don't get excited" he
chided. THAT ball struck the bull
warks amidships, and has done nc
great damage. A man or two killed
signifies nothing. Heavens, but I'd
give ten years of my life TO be able
to see for an hour Is the brig creep
ing up?"
"Yes, she is nearer. There's another
broadside, but none of The balls touched
us. l can see the men at her guns-I
can see them making more sail-they
are cheering againl"
Yes, l hear them. They are MAX
ing more sail, in order to lay us aboard.
How is the weather, girl?"
TITS clear, father. No-there is the
look of a squall in the west. The brig
Is nearer-nearer! What ails Tom