Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-02-10
CHAPTER NXI.

you've stood by your duty like sea
man. Mr.. Trelawney, I'm surprised at
you, sir Doctor, l thought you had
worn the kings coat. If that was how
you served at Fontenoy, sir, you'd have
been better in your berth"
The doctors watch were all back at
their loop-holcs, the rest were busy
loading the spare muskets, and every
one with a red face, you may be certain,
and a flea I'm his ear, as the saying is.
The captain looked on for awhile in
silence. Then he spoke.
MY lads" he said, I've given
Silver n hroadside. l pitched it in red
hot on purpose; ard 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, a
minute ago, l 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
loop-holcs; on the south side where
the porch was, two again; and on the
north side, five. There was n round
score of musllets for the seven of us;
the frewood 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 muskcts 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.
"Hawkns hasn't had his breakfast.
Hawkins, help yourself, and back to
your post to eat it," continued Capt.
Smollett. Lively, now, my lad; you'Il
want it before you've done. Hunter,
serve out a round of brandy to all
hands"
Aud while this was going on the cap
tain completed, in his own mind, tho
plan OF the defense.
Doctor, you viii take the door," he
resumed. "See and don't expose your
self; keep within, and fire through the
-r-------1-------, ,'------------~---
there. Joyce, you stand by the west,
my man. Mr. Trclawney: you are the
best shot-you 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
l are much account at the shooting;
wen 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 a
draught. Soon the sand was baking,
ard the resin melting in the logs of the
Dlocll-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 nj
his post, in fever of heat and anxiety.
IN hour passed away.
"IIang thcml" 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.
'If you please, sir" said Joyce, "if
sec anyone, am l to firc2"
81 told yon sol" cried the captain.
"Thanll you, sir" returned Joyce,
with the same quiet ciyility.
Nothing followed for time; but the
remark had set us ull on the alert,
straining ears and eyes-the musket-
GERS with their pieces balanced in their
nauds, the captain out In the middle of
the bloclt-housc, with his mouth very
tight and frown on his face.
SO some seconds passed, till sudden
Iy 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 inclosure. Sew
eral bullets struck the log house, but
not one entered; and, MS the smoke
cleared away and vanished, the stock
adc and the woods around IL looked
as quiet and empty as before. Not n
bough waved, not the CLEAN of mus
Iict barrel betrayed the presence Of our
foes.
"Did you hit your man?" asked the
captain.
mo. sir" replied Joyce. 81 believe
not, sir"
"NcNt best thing TO tell the truth -
muttcrcd Capt. Smollett Load his
gun, Hawkins. How many should you
say thcro were on your side, doctor?"
az know precisely" said DIR. Llyesey
"Thrcc shots were fired on this side,
/ saw the three flashes two close to
gcthcr-onc further to the west"
"Thrcc!" repeated the captain. "And
how many on yours, Mr.. Trclawncy|'
But this was not 80 easily answered
There had come many from the north
.-scycu. by the squire's computation;
eight or nine, according to Gray. From
the east and west only single shot
had been fired. II was plain, therefore
that the attack would bc developed
from the north, and that on the other
three sides we were only to be an
uoyed by show Of hostilitics. But
Capt. Smollctt made no change in his
arrangements. If the mutinccrs sue
cccdcd ian crossing the atocbade, he nr-
gucd, they would tal,c possession oi
amy unprotected loop hole and shoot us
down like rats In our stronghold.
Nor had we much time left TO us for
thought Suddenly, with II loud huzza
little cloud Of pirates leuped from the
woods on the north side and ran
straight ON the stockude. At the same
moment the fire was once more openec
from the woods, and rife ball sung
through the doorway and knocked the
doctors muslSct into bits.
The boardcrs swarmcd over the fence
lilsc monkeys. Squire and Gray fired
again nud yet again; three men fell
one forward into tho inclosurc, two
back on the outside. But Of these, one
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