The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02

sented an almost perpendicular face. He
must be damned fly TO do il! And the
girl-saere MOL he drew her up after mimi
I'll have him down out of that, though
or throw up my flag" he added, and,
turning fiercely, gave his orders.
For hours the French ships bombarded
the lonely rock from the north The white
tent was carried away, but the cannon
balls flew over or merely battered the solid
rock, the shells were thrown beyond and
no harm was done. But now and again
the figure of Antoine appeared, and a half
dozen times he took aim coolly with his
musket at the French soldiers on the
shore. Twice his shots took effect one
man was wounded, and one killed. Then
whole companies of marines returned a
musketry fire at him, 10 no purpose. At
his ease he hid himself in the long grass
at the edge of the cliff, and picked off
two more men.
Here was a ridiculous thing; one man
and slip Of a girl fighting and defying
whole squadron! The smoke of battle
covered miles of the great gulf. Even the
seabirdS shrieked in ridicule.
RMS went on for three days at inter-
walls. With fine chagrn the admiral and
ms fleet saw q bright campfire lighted
on the Rock, and knew that Antoine and
the girl We're cooking their meals IN peace
hag-staff, too, was set up, and red
pettlcoat waved dennantly in the breeze
AT last the admiral, who had watched the
business from the deck of the Invfncible.
burst out laughing at the absurd humour
OF the situation. He sent for OF man Car
naval.
i've had enough" said he How long
can he last up there?"
He will have birds eggs In plenty;
there's wild berries, too. besides ground
rats and all them If 1 know my girl,
100, there's rations gone aloft;" and he
shook his head ruefully
M rrfa oft ~
admiral. maliciously
The old man shook his head again sadly.
fleet Of the French republic bushes
Tor such shamelessnessr" said the admiral
with mock indignation on his red face and
a twinkle of the eye. Come. I'VE had
enoughy'
He gave orders so stop firing. When
the roar of cannon had ceased, he said:
Sacfe mol There never was a wilder
Jest and I'll not spoil the joke. He has
Us on MS toasting-fork 1 shall give him
the honor of a flag of truce and he must
come down. The scoundrel shall marry
your daughter, fisherman, or we'll know
tne reason why" He was a fat coarse
nish-llVlng admiral, and his sensual lower
up shook with laughter
ana so il was that a French fleet SEM
nag OF truce TO the foot of Perez rock.
ahu French officer, calling up, gave the
wore OF honor of his admiral that An
tome should suffer nothing at the hands
Oh a court martial and that he should be-
treated as prisoner of war.
AS prisoner of war;" quoth Antoine
-, .ldt meant that he was 10 be treated
IKE an English beligerent and not like a
ffehch deserter. He hemmed and hawed
and backed and 'filled and made a frnc
non OF tne business, and insisted on this
as condition and that as a concession
put at last he accepted the terms though
s .alrois stormed and said that she would
stay IN spite of all. At last she would 60
only on condition that she also should be
treated as prisoner in Antoine's com
pany
antoine was easily able 10 make these
terms, and she was lowered by the rome
Antolne then fastened the rope-end to one
polht or rock. and then to another, and
hlnselr descended, and was conducted
with Minois 20 the admiral with All me
honors Of war
mere was no court martial After An
tome mad told the tale Of the ascent ar
NE admiraFs command, all the officers
3 sr,alg near his fate was pronounced.
The admiral said:
IN NO one but an Engiishman would ne
1901 enough to attempt such thing, and
no one but food could have been lucky
enough to succeed. You have proved.
sumner, that you are no Frenchman."
,i men ! am no deserter, excellency."
-. "tN iOOis DuL even fool can
set a woman to follow him, and so this
iiyaway Followed you. gunner But wen
have no more iewdness 'twixt heaven and
earth. and
Minois hew at the admiral as though to
scratch his eyes out, but Antoine held her
back ~
ana you are condemned. gunner" con-
1lnued the admiral dryly, TO marry the
maid before shutdown or be carried on, ~
sea prisoner Of war"
20 saying, he laughed silently and bada
'hem oegone to the wedding.
4An1 ~ was done as the admiral COM
was saved to England. and Antoine ana
nllhois they sailed the sea IN the Charm
ing Macy for many year.