Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-12

their pluck. have the deepest respect
for them as sailors, and love them -
the people who are designed by Provi.
dence to show humanity the road"
His lamenting voice had scarcely
ceased when the bark was seen to square
her foreyards and to drift slowly away
before the wind from her little rakish
opponent, whose canvas duttered AZ
though she meant to follow, then to the
oonquering note Of single gun, fired in
American colors rose slowly to the try.
sail gaff end and then blew out The
brig, her white breasts Of canvas pant
ing as she family courtesied, came
rounding with lifting jibs and slightly
leaning heights toward the Wellesley.
Keep your topsail abackv' cried
Commander Boldock. almost apoplectic
with excitement. "Hoist the ensign,
Mr.. Hardy"
HE might be willing to relieve you
Of my men, sir" said Mr.. Matthews.
| "No." said the commander. we'll
keep them, till we find if the Queens at
Halloran island. Shan't you want men
for her"'
"True," answered Mr.. Matthews
with a grave bow. II had not thought
Of that, and he added. II was think
ing of your Harder, SIR"
II will I'LL mp from the Queens
stores. If not, there is plenty for all. I"
said Boldock. Here she comes. How
swiftly she slides through it. Miss Man.
sci, pray observe her charming entry,
the delicate curves aft and the eager
look Of her with her hawse pipelike
nostrils and her jibs hke-like the
But here the worthy fellow missed
stays in his imagery, and getting into
irons held his purple face turned in 81
lence upon the coming brig, which in
deed made very beautiful sight as she
floated like shaft of light down upon
the Wellesley.
Her canvas was cotton white. It was
cut to q hair. Here and there it had
been holed by the Mexican's shot, and
You saw stars Of blue sky in the lightly
breathing milky softness She was built
for speed, and her lofty raking heights
and great squareness Of yards and man.
of-war-like hoist of topsail along with
the low, level, clipper line of her, with
out an inch of spring, without a hair
breadth of sheer, forward or aft, made
Boidock think Of the Middle passage
and silently recall what naval men call
an affair in the redhot mouth of an
African river sliding in measureless
miles in a dark and greasy volume, full
of alligators, past haunts of black folk,
whose grandchildren are at this day
gentlemen of color, culture and SUBJ
stance in Jamaica.
The brig drew alongside within easy
speaking distance and backed her fore
topsail. She showed no signs of injury
from the fire of the bark save a few
severed ropes, few holes in her can
vas, few white disks in her side, where
the foeman's balls had crashed. But
the sun shone in stains Of blood upon
her decks and in red water gushing
through the scuppers to the strokes of
an amidships pump. Her crew seemed
mainly white men, dark and bearded, in
wide brimmed hats Of grass or straw
and half boots. They were black with
powder and their struggles at the guna.
She had q short raised afterdeck, on
which stood q man in blue cloth coat
and bandage round his head, on top
Of which was a great sombrero hat.
He. too, was as black with the toll OF
slaughter as the grimiest of his crew,
and he looked formidable fellow, with
a long goatee beard whose end fell near
ly to the brass clasp of his belt.
Brig ahoy!' shouted Boldock,
mounting the bulwark rail and holding
on by backstay. II perceive that you
are an American, sir I congratulate you
upon your very handsome management
of your enemy
"Durn him!' answered the man,
coming slowly to the briggs side and
singing out in a mild voice slightly
favored with nosiness. "Why couldn't
he have let me be? I'm a man Of peace.
I'm a commercial man. He began it.
Rot him.
| will you come aboard, sir?" shout.
ed Boldock impulsively, land give me
the pleasure Of your company at break.
fast?" The man raised his hat as sig.
nal of acquiescence. II don't think, u
continued the commander, THAT your
friend will give you any more trouble. 81
and he looked at the bark, which wa
slowly making her way northward, he,
main topsail yard still on the cap, hel
spanker in q heap ON deck, her rag OF
color hanging by rope yarns in the miz
zen rigging.
1t was something after 8. They had
not thought Of breakfasting on board
the Wellesley while that sea fight wa.
going on. Now the order for the mea
was given, and the colored cook wen,
to work, and the grateful smell Of fried
ham and coffee came and went in the
pleasant breeze. In about 20 minutes
time boat put OF from the American
brig. and tho man with the bandae,
round his head slipped ON board. II,
had washed his face and changed hi,
coat and on the whole looked sliehtl,
less formidable than when first seen
Commander Boldock received him =,
the gangway.
Pray what ship are You, sir?'' sal,
the man, darling sharp, inquisitiv,
| 1OnEa all ohov,S 49, l1-k-- :.