Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-07-29

My lads" he said, tive given
Silver broadside. pitched it in red
hot on purpose; and before the hours
out, as he said, we shall be boarded.
We're outnumbered, needn't tell you
that, but we fight in shelter; and,
minute ago, should have said we
fought with discipline. I've no manner
of doubt that we can drub them, if you
choose"
Then he went the rounds, and saw,
as he said, that all was clear.
On the two short sides of the house,
east and west, there were only two
the porch was, two again; and on the
north side, five. There was a round
score Of muskets for the seven of US;
the firewood had been built into four
piles-tables, you might say-one
about the middle of each side, and on
each Of these tables some ammunition
and four loaded muskets were laid
ready to the hand of the defenders. In
the middle, the cutlasses lay ranged.
''Toss out the fire." said the captain;
''the chill is past, and we mustn't have
smoke in our eyes"
The iron fire basket was carried
bodily out by Mr.. Trelawney, and the
embers smothered among sand.
Hawkins hasn't had his breakfast.
Hawkins, help yourself, and back to
your post to eat it," continued Capt.
Smollett. Lively, now, my lad; you'll
want it before you've done. Hunter,
serve out round of brandy to all
hands"
And while this was going on the cap
tain completed, in his own mind, the
plan of the defense.
Doctor, you will take the door," he
resumed. ''See and don't expose your
self; keep within, and fire through the
porch. Hunter, take the east side,
there. Joyce, you stand by the west,
my man. NJ. Trelawrcy, you are the
best shotgun and Gray take this long
north side, with the five loop-holes;
it's there the danger is. If they can get
up to it, and fire in upon us through
our own ports, things would begin to
look dirty. Hawkins, neither you nor
I are much account at the shooting;
we'll stand by to load and bear hand
AS the captain had said, the chill
was past. AS soon as the sun had
climbed above our girdle of trees it
fell with all it's force upon the clear
ing and drank up the vapors at
draught. Soon the sand was baking,
and the resin melting in the logs OF the
Colock-house. Jackets and coats were
flung aside; shirts were thrown open
at the neck and rolled up to the
shoulders; and we stood there, each at
his post, in fever of heat and anxiety.
An hour passed away.
"Hang them!" said the captain.
"This is as dull as the doldrums. Gray,
whistle for a wind"
And just at that moment came the
first news of the attack.
eff you please, sir" said Joyce, IF
l see anyone, am to tire?"
81 told you sol" cried the captain.
"Thank you, SIR returned Joyce.
with the same quiet civility.
Nothing followed for time; but the
remark had set us all on the alert,
strainirg ears and eyes-the musket-
GERS with their pieces balanced in their
hands, the captain out in the middle of
the block-house, with his mouth very
tight and frown on his face.
So some seconds passed, till sudden
ly Joyce whipped up his musket and
fired. The report had scarcely died
away ere it was repeated and repeated
from without in scattering volley,
shot behind shot, like string of geese,
from every side of the Enclosure. Sew
eral bullets struck the log house, but
not one entered; and, as the smoke
cleared away and vanished, the stock
ade and the woods around it looked
as quiet and empty as before. Not
Dough waved, not the CLEAN of a mus
ket barrel betrayed the presence of our
| foes.
did you hit your MANI" asked the
captain.
NO, sir" replied Joyce. Il believe
not, sir"
"Next best thing to tell the truth"
muttered Capt. Smollett. Load his
gun, Hawkins. How many should you
say there were on your side, doctor?"
81 know precisely" said DR.. Livesey.
''Three shots were fired on this side.
I saw the three fiashes-two close to-
gether-one further to the west"
Three" repeated the captain. "And
how many on yours, M7. Trelawney?"
But this was not SO easily answered.
There had come many from the north
seven, by the squire's compute ton;
eight or nine, according to Gray. From
the east and west only single shot
had been fired. 1t was plain, therefore,
that the attack would be developed
from the north, and that on the other
three sides we were only to be an
moved by a show of hostilities. But
Capt. Smollett made no change in his
arrangements. If the mutineers sue
ceeded in crossing the stockade, he ar
| gued, they would take possession of
any unprotected loop hole and shoot us
down like rats in our stronghold.
| Nor had we much time left to us for
thought. Suddenly, with loud huzza,
little cloud of pirates leaped from the
woods on the north side and ran
straight on the stockade. At the same
moment the fire was once more opened
from the woods, and rifle ball sung
through the doorway and knocked the
doctors musket into bits.
| The boarders swarmed over the fence
like monkeys. Squire and Gray fired
again and yet again; three men fell,
one forward into the Enclosure, two
| back on, the outside. But of these. one