Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-08-02

The bullets whisped through the air
and pelted on the plating like hail
storm, and one Of them fiicked out the
Trains CT Danish quar- ermast. on
the bridge, but Kettle tooK the /" heel
from his hands, and moment later the
Sultan Of Burneo's stem crashed into
the gun boats unprotected side just
abaft the sponsor Of her starboard
quarter gun.
The steamers thrilled like kicked bis
cult boxes. and noise went up into
the hot night sky as Of 10, 600 boiler
makers all beading up rivet at once.
On both ships the propellers stopped
as IL by instinct, and then, in answer to
the telegraph, the grimy collier backed
astern. But the war steamer did not
move. Her machinery was broken down.
She had already got heavy list toward
her wounded side, and every second the
list was increasing as the water poured
in through the shattered plates Her
crew were buzzing with disorder. IL
was evident that the vessel had but a
short time longer to swim, and their
lives were sweet TO them. They had no
thought Of vengeance. Their weapons
lay deserted on the sloping decks The
grimy crews from the stokeholes pour
ed mp from below, and one and all they
clustered about the boats with frenzied
haste to see them floating in the water.
There was no more to be feared at
their hands for the present
Carnforth clapped Kettle on the
shoulder In involuntary admiration.
"By Godr he cried. what daring
little scoundrel you arel Look here! I'm
on your side now il can be Of any
help Can you give NE )ob?"
I'm afraid, cir. said Captain Kst.
tie, that the old Sultan's work Is
about done. She's settling down by the
head already. Didn't you see those rats
Of men scuttling up from forrard direct
iy after we'd rammed the don! guess
that was a bit Of surprise packet for
them anyway. They thought they d got
down there to be clear Of the shooting,
and they found themselves in the most
ticklish part of the ship"
There's bumor in the situation, "
said Carnforth. But the case will
keep. For the present it strikes me that
this old steamboat is swamping fast.
'She Is doing that, Kettle admit
ted She'll have lot Of plates started
forrard, IRuess. But think she come
out of it very creditably. sir l didn't
spare her, and she's not exactly built
for u ram"
Il suppose it's case of putting her
on the beach?'
There's nothing else for it. F" said
Kettle, with n sigh. Il should like TO
have carried those blasted Goals into the
Havana If it could have been done, just
to show people ours was bona tide con.
tract, as Mr. Gedge said, in spite Of its
fishy look. But this old steamboat s
done her whack, and that's the square
truth. Ii will take her all she can man
age to reach shore with dry decks. Look,
she's in now nearly to her forecastle
head. Lucky the shores not steep to
here, or else
From beneath there came bump and
q rattle, and the steamer for moment
halted in her progress and white crest
ed wave surged past her rusty tianks
Then she lifted again and swooped far
ther in. with the propeller still squat
tering astern, and then once more she
thundered down again into the sand,
and so. lifting and striking. made her
way in through the surf. Gradually hcT
stern was forced round, and she was
beaten up the beach broadside on, with
the green and white water ut times
making q clean breach over her She
was past all control More than one OF
the hands was swept from her decks and
reached the shore by swimming But as
the ebb made the hungry seas left her
stranded dry under the mornings light,
and crowd Of insurrectionists waded
out and climbed on board by ropes
which were thrown TO them. They were
men Of every tint. from gray black Of
the pure negro to the sallow, lemon tint
Of the blue blooded Spaniard. They
were streaked with wounds. thin as
skeletons and clad more with nakedness
than rags, and SO wolfish did they look
that even Kettle, callous little rutiian
though he was, half regretted bringing
arms for suck crew to wreak vengeance
on their neigbbors
Bat they gave him small time for
sentiment Of this brand. They clustered
round him with leaping hands, till the
morning sea fowl fled affrighted from
the beach. FL Senor Captain Inglese
was the savior Of Cuba, and let every
one remember II. Alone, with his un.
armed vessel, he had sunk warship of
their hated enemies, and they prayed
him, in their forid compliment, to stay
ON the island and rule over 4 m as
king.
But the little sailor took them liter.
ally. Whats this:" he said. "You
want me to be your blooming king?"
"El reyp' they shouted "El rey de
los Cubanos y
"By James," said Kettle, "Fll do it!
was never asked to be king before,
and the chance may never come again.
Besides, I'm ont Of berth just now,
and England will be too hCt TO hold
me yet awhile. Yes, I'll stay snd boss
you, and il you can act half as ugly as
you look we'll give the dons lively
time. Only remember. there's no tom
foolery about me. II I'm king Of this
show, I'm going to carry full kings
ticket. and if there's any man tries to
meddle without being invited that man
will 90 to his own funeral before he can
think twice. And now we'll just begin
business at once. OF with those hatch
es and break out that cargo I've been
at some pains to run these guns out
here, so be careful in carrying them up
the beach. Jump lively now, you black
faced scum"
Carnforth listened with staring eyes.
What sort Of broil was this truculent
little scamp going to mix in next? He
knew enough Of Spanish character to
understand clearly that the offer Of the
crown was merely an empty civility.
He understood enough Of Kettle to be
sure that he had not taken it rs such
and would assert his rights to the bitter
end And when he thought Of what that
end must inevitably be he sighed over
Owen Kettles fate.
But the person he was chiefly sorry
for just then was Martin Carnforth. NJ.
P. He remembered with clearness that
q few hours before he had offered Ket.
tie personal service, and he saw no