The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-01

hand in her fathers presence. and de-
nounce the story rs vile slander, aud
10 humble herself for having listened
TO IL and acted upon IL, but he gave
her no show. Her father may have
guessed what was in her mind, but he
said never word. The pirate boat
had slow and In borious 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 til four p. IN. not
breath of air stirred aloft, and the sea
was like n mirror. Then light breeze
sprang up from the north, and, with
out 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, IL 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 q running fight
of 1t, giving her gun for gun, and doing
his best to prevent being boarded. II
needed scarcely half an hour to satisfy
him that the brig was the fastest sailor.
She crept up on the bark. foot by foot,
until only mile away, and then a can
non ball came skipping over the water
as n signal for her victim to heave TO.
The bark held her way, paying no
ottention to the menace, except to soar
oloft the stars and stripes, and cheer
the flag. as il blew out TO the breeze.
Mollie had been sent on deck to report,
and she returned to say:
sour flag is up, father. and the men
are cheering IL. We can't run away
from the brig. and Tom is going to
fight her"
That's the talk! Does she carry o
big crew."
Her decks are crowded with men.
Cant you hear them yelling? There
goes another guni"
"Aye. that's ball from Long
Tom. as 1 know by the boom. She
carries the heaviest metal and the most
men, but Tom will fight her to the Bit
er end. Is the breeze getting up?"
"Yes, father, and our men are maxi
ng all sail. Now you feel the bark
,eeling over to it. Can she board us,
I the breeze holds like this?"
81 hope they won't try IT, but they
ire reckless devils, and will dare any
hing. My God! to think I should be
blind and helpless in such an cmer-
yency! Look for me, girl--let me
know what is going on. What are our
nen doing?"
standing TO their guns. Here
'omes a broadsidc from the pirate.
Oh! father father, but did you feel that
'rosh-do you know that man has
,een killed."
SOFTLY. girl--don't get excited" he
hided. THAT ball struck the bull |
varks amidships, and has done no great
lamnge. A man or two killed signi-
les nothing. Heavens, but I'd give
en- years OF my life to be able to see
or an hour. Is the brig creeping up?"
"Yes, she is nearer. There's another
,roadside, but none of the balls touched
is. / can see the men at her guns-I
an see them making more sail---they
re cheering again!"
"Yes. / hear them. They are maxi
ng more sail. in order TO lay us aboard.
low is the weather. girl?"
"It's clear, father. No--there is the
ook Of squall in the west. The brig
$ ncaIer--nearer! What ails Tom
Why don't he fight her?"
Hes waiting, and that's right.
hats the way I'd fight her. Let her
ONE close in. and then dose her.
lave any Of the men funked?"
Never q one, and Tom, father-Tom
; walking about and talking to them
nd bidding them wait little longer.
iod have mercy, but what n crash!
md there's another man killed-and
here's one horribly wounded-and the
rig Is right on our quarter. and going
o lay US aboard!"
Hush, girl! Oh, X could only
eel hear the devils yelling-I smell
he smoke Of their powder.-I hear"
w hoe iio NOhiu uuNt rulu WIS i
rowned in the roar of the broadslde
elivered from the Golden Horn"
hen the brig was only hundred feet
way. Tom Holly had waited for the
roper moment, with half his guns
'aded with canister and bags OF bull
It's. The brig was raked from stem 10
ern by the fire. and, Us n great cry
'ent up from her decks. the squall
anne down. dark as night. and with the
nry Of a mad beast. AT the first puff
no pirate craft was dismasted and left
helpless wreck, while the bark was
brown on her beam ends and. but for
he blowing away of most of her can
as, would have turned turtle and zone
, the bottom. She righted at last
nd went rushing away. but within
alf an hour the last OF the squall had
assed and new sails were being bent.
ust at sunset the bark swept down
pon the hulk which lay heaving and
ossing on the sea. Her coming was
reeted with wells of defiance from tho