Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-07-09

brains OF the Danish quartermaster on
the bridge, but Kettle took the wheel
from his hands, and moment later the
Sultan of Borneo's stem crashed into
the gunboat's 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, 900 boiler
makers all heading up a rivet at once.
On both ships the propellers stopped
| as if 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. 1t
was evident that the vessel had but
| 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 up from below, and one and all they
clustered about the boats with frenzied
haste to see then 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 are! Look here I'm
on your side now if I can be Of any
help. Can you give me job?"
''I'm afraid, sir" said Captain Ket-
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
ly after we'd rammed the don? guess
that was bit of surprise packet for
them anyway. They thought they ID got
down there to be clear of the shooting,
and they found themselves in the most
ticklish part of the ship
There's humor in the situation
said Carnforth. "But the case will
keep. For the present it strikes me that
this old steamboat is swapping fast. -
'She is doing that" Kettle admit
ted. 'She'll have lot of plates started
forrard, Iguess. But think she's come
out of it very creditably, sir. l didn't
spare her, and she's not exactly built
for RAM"
II suppose it's case of putting her
on the beaoh?"
"There's nothing else for it" said
Kettle, with a sigh. II should like to
have carried those blasted Goals into the
Havana if it could have been done, just
to show people ours was bona fide con-
tract, as Mr.. Gedge said, in spite of it's
fshy look. But this old steamboats,
done her whack, and that's the square
truth. 1t will take her all she can -,.aa-
: 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
a rattle, and the steamer for moment
halted in her progress and white crest
ed wave surged past her rusty TANKS.
Then she lifted again and swooped far.
Their in, with the propeller still squat
tering astern, and then once more she
Numbered down again into the sand,
and so, lifting and striking, made her
way in through the surf. Gradually her
stern was forced round, and she was
beaten up the beach broadside on, with
the green and white water at times
making 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, ard SO wolfish did they look
that even Kettle, callous little rufian
dough he was, half regretted bringing
arms for such crew to wreak vengeance
on their neighbors.
But they gave him small time for
sentiment of this brand. They clustered
round him with leaping hands, till theI
morning sea fowl fled affrighted from
the beach. Ell Senior Captain Inglese
was the savior of Cuba, and let every
one remember it. Alone, with his un.
armed vessel, he had sunk a warship Of
their hated enemies, and they prayed
him, in their florid compliment, to stay
on the island and rule over tt I'm as
king.
But the little sailor took them liter
ally. whats this?" he said. "You
want me to be your blooming king?''
Gel reyp' they shouted. Gel rey de
los Cubanosp'
| 'By James" said Kettle, "I'll do it'll
l was never asked to be king before,
and the chance may never come again.
Besides, I'm out of berth Just now,
and England will be too hot to hold
me yet awhile. Yes, I'll stay and boss
you, and if 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. If I'm king of this
show, I'm going to carry full kings
ticket, and if there's any man tries to
NEEDLE without being invited that man
will go to his own funeral before he can
think twice. And now We'll just begin
business at once. Off with those hatch
eS and break out that cargo I've heen