Evening star., 1898-05-07

+, SO
that the work was done and she was being
Stacked upright. lust in time" he NUT
tered
They brought the bark to anchor near the
beach. about half mile from the brig to-
ward the entrance, furled the canvas and
ran out an anchor astern with the cable
over the taffrail Heaving on this they
brought the vessel parallel with the shore
so far-goOd Guns and cargo. lightered
ashore, mora anchors seaward to keep her
on the beach, masthead tackles to the trees
10 hea3e her down and preventer rigging
ana braces to assist the mastS would have
been next in order. but they proceeded no
farther toward careering. Instead they
lowered the two crazy boats, provisioned
and armed them On the inshore side of the
bark, made certain other preparations-and
waited.
On the deck of the English brig things
were moving. A gang of bluejackets, unde er
the first lieutenant. were heaving in the
cable; another gang, undar the boatswain,
We're sending down and slowing away the
heavy tackles and careening gear. failing
out haliiards and sheets and coiling down
the light running rigging while topmen
aioft loosed the canvas to bunt-gaskets
ready to drop ii at the call from the deck.
The second lieutenant, overseeing this
latter, paced the port quarterback and an
swercd remarks from Capt. Bunce who
paced the sacred starbcard side Qhe brig
being al ancbor). anu cccaslo1.aiI. .Ui,ieu
his glass on the dilapidated craft down the
te2ch.
Seems to me. Mr.. Shack he said across
the deck, that an owner who would send
that bark around the Horn, and the master
who would take her, ought to be sequester-
ed and cared for. either in an asylum or
in Jail"
second lieutenant, looking aloft. might
be an insurance job. Clear away that
bunt-sasket en- the royal yard,'' he added
in Il
Capt. Bunce-rourd. rosy. with brilliant
mutton-chop whiskers-muttered: In
suraEce-wrecEed observation-disclosures not
here where We are; wouldn't court inves-
tigation by her majesty's officers" He
rolled forward. then aft and looked again
through the glass.
Very large crew-yery large" he said,
very curious. Mr.. Shack"
A nail from the forecaStie, announcing
that the anchor was short. prevented Mr..
deprecatory hand to the first lieutenant.
who came aft at once while Mr.. Shack
descended to the waist and the boatswain
asccnded the fcrecaste steps to attend to
the anchor. The first lieutenant now had
charge of the brig. ard from the quarter
deck, gave his orders to the crew, while
Capt Bunce busted himself with his glass
and his thoughts.
Fore-and-aft sail was set and head sheets
trimmed GOWN to FORT. square sails were
droI ped, sheeted home and hOisted, fore
yards braCed to pert. the anchor tripred
and fished and the brig paid off from the
steadied down to course for the entrance.
Mr.. Dun can said the captain, there
are fully forty ren on that bark's deck,
all dressed alike all in red shirts and
knitted caps. and II dancing around like
naadmen. Look fe handed the glass to
the first lieutenant, VINO brought it to bear.
Strange" said tire officer after a short
scrutiny; there were only few showing
when We spoke her outside. 1t looks as
though they were all drunk"
As they drew rear. sounds of singing
-uproarous discord-reached them. and
soon they could see with the naked eye
that the men on the bark were wrestling,
dancing and running about.
Quarters sir?'' inquired Mr.. Duncan.
''Shali We brirg-to. a1ongside?''
Weil-no-not yet said the captain,
hesitatingly; Its all right-possibly; yet
it is strange. Wait a little
They waited and had sailed down al
ticing they drew near an appreciate
diminution of the uproar, when flag arose
from the stern of the bark. a dusky flag
that Strengthened out directly toward
them, so that ii was difficult to make out.
But they soon understood. AS they
reached n point sqrarely abreast of the
bark. five points of flame burst from her
innocent gray Sides five clouds of smoke
assembled and five round shot, coming with
the thunder of the guns, hurtled through
their rigging. Then they saw the design
of the flag, a white skull and crossbones.
and noted another. a black flag, too. but
pennant-shaped and showing in rudely
painted letters the single word, "Swarth,"
sailing up TO the forepeak.
Thunder and lightning" roared Capt.
Bunce. Quarters, Mr.. Duncan, quarters,
and In with the kites. Give 1t to them.
Put about first"
youngster of the crew had sprung be-
low and Immediately emerged with drum
which. without definite instruction, he
hammered vigorously: but before he had
begun, men were clearing away guns and
manning fiying-jib down-haul and royal
c!ew lines. Others sprang to stations, an
ticipating all that the sharp voice Of the
first lieutenant could order. Around came
the brig on the other tack and sailed back,
receiving another broadside through her
rigging and answering with her starboard
guns. Then for time the din was deafen-
ing. The brig backed her main yards and
sent broadside after broadside into the hull
of the old craft. But 1t was not until the