Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-15

with flowers. 1t was sad sight, but it
showed us that the anchorage was
calm.
Now" said Hands, look there;
there's a pet bit for to beach ship in
Fine fiat sand, never catspaw, trees all
around OF it, and flowers a-blowing
like garding on that old ship"
"And once beached," inquired, "how
shall we get her off AGAIN."
why, So" he replied; you take a
line ashore there on the other side at
low water; take a turn about one O.
them big pines; bring it back, take a
turn round the capstan, and lie to for
the tide. Come high water, all hands
take pull upon the line, and off she
comes as sweet as natur'. And now,
boy, you stand by. We're near the bi.
now, and she's too much way on her
Starboard a little - so-steady-star-
board larboard little - steady
steady!"
So he issued his commands, which
breathlessly obeyed; till, all of sud-
den, he cried: Now, my hearty, luff!''
And l put the helm hard up, and the
"Hispaniola" swung round rapidly, and
ran stem on for the low-wooded shore.
The excitement of these last man.
euvers had somewhat interfered with
the watch had kept hitherto, sharply
enough, upon the cockswain. Even
then l was still SO much Interested,
waiting for the ship to touch, that I
had quite forgot the peril that hung
over my head, and stood craning over
the starboard bulwarks and watching
the ripples spreading wide before the
bows. l might have fallen without
struggle for my life, had not sudden
disquietude seized upon me, and mado
me turn my head. Perhaps 1 had heard
creak, or seen his shadow moving
with the tail of my eye; perhaps it was
an instinct like a cats, bit, sure
enough, when looked round, there was
Hands, already halfway toward me,
with the dirk in his right hand.
We must both have cried out aloud
when our eyes met; but while mine
was the shrill cry of terror, his was a
roar of fury like a charging bulls. At
the same instant he threw himself for
ward, and leaped sideways toward the
bows. AS I did SO I left hold of the
tiller, which sprung sharp to leeward;
and l think this saved my life, for it
struck Hands across the chest, and
stopped him, for the moment, dead.
Before he could recover 1 was safe
out OF the corner where he had trapped
me, with all the deck to dodge about,
Just forward of the mainmast l
topped, drew pistol from my pocket,
drew cool aim, though he had already
turned and was once more coming di-
rectly after me, and drew the trigger,
The hammer fell, but there followed
neither flash nor sound; the printing
was useless with seawater. I cursed
myself for my neglect. Why had not
l, long before, reprinted and reloaded
my only weapon? Then I should not
have been, as now, mere fleeing sheep
before this butcher.
Wounded as he was, it was wonderful
how fast he could move, his grizzled
hair tumblng over his face, and his
face itself as red as red ensign
with his haste and fury. I had no
time to try my other pistol, nor, in
deed, much inclination, for was sure
1t was useless. One thing I saw plain
ly; must not simply retreat before
him, or he would speedily hold me
boxed in the bows, as a moment since
he had SO nearly boxed me in the stern.
Once SO caught, and nine or ten inches
OF the blood-stained dirk would be
my last experience on this side of eter-
nifty. I placed my palms against the
mainmast, which was of goodish big
ness, and waited, every nerve upon the
stretch.
Seeing that meant to dodge, he also
paused, and moment or two passed in
feints on his part, and corresponding
movements upon mine. 1t was such
game as I had often played at home
about the rocks Of Black Hill cove;
but never before, you may be sure,
with such wildly beating heart as
now. Still, as say, it was boys
game, and thought I could hold my
own at 1t against an elderly seaman
with a wounded thigh. Indeed, my
courage had begun to rise so high that
allowed myself few darting thoughts
on what would be the end of the affair;
and while L saw certainly that I could
spin it out for long, saw no hope OF
any ultimate escape.
Well, while things stood thus, sud
denly the "Hispaniola" struck, stag
gered, ground for an instant in the
sand, and then, swift as blow, can
tered over to the port side, TIL the deck
stood at an angle Of As degrees, and
about puncheon of water splashed
into the scupper-holes, and lay in
pool between the deck and bulwark.
We were both Of US capsized in Sec
ond, and both of US rolled, almost to-
gether, into the scuppers, the dead red
cap, with his arms still spread out,
tumbling stif1y after us. So nearwere
we, indeed, that my head came against
the cockswain's foot with a crack that
made my teeth rattle. Blow and all,
was the first afoot again, for Hands
had got involved with the dead body.
The sudden canting of the ship had
made the deck no place for running
on; had to find some new way of es-
cape. and that upon the instant, for
my foe was almost touching me.
Quick as thought I sprang into the
mizzen shrouds, ratified up hand over
hand, and did not draw breath till
I was seated on the cross-trees.
I had been saved by being prompt;
the dirk had struck not half foot be-
low me, as pursued my upward fight;