Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-03-02

Upon the fifth afternoon sharp eyed
sailor from the masthead saw the tops of n
ship many miles away and judged them
to belong to "a fighting vessel of their own
size. 80 when the night came I'D, dull and
dark beyond the night of those parts (ths
moon being new and the air misty1 they
clapped on full sail and sped toward the
unknown foe.
Then they ground their swords and load
ed their guns and each went to his place
Some laugh, d and some jested. Some gave
messages and told of tokens for faroff
Poll or Bess. a few played at all tours by
the elimmer of Il rushlight in a lantern.
But mostly they were silent until, half
an hour later, the lookout man called
"Sail ahead" rs vessel of about their
own size seemed to spring almost on top
OF them out of the dark.
lizard a-port - cried the captain
Stand ready for broadsidel" com.
manded the next officer.
AT the same moment the stranger turned
little the other way, so that the vessels
passed side by side. 1.-The Lark, " whisper
ed enc man to another.
"Shall we let goY' asked the first lieu
tenant.
But Blade shook his head Not first.
said he decidedly
Suddenly, rs if the mouth of hell had
opened, the stranger belched forth thunder
and smoke and flame. and storm of shot
tore through the Tanarind from side to
! side leaving tracks of mangled flesh and
blood.
'Firen called the first lieutenant: but
before he had spoken the answering tor
rent had sprung forth. Then the ships
swung slowly away from each other
Blade, who, although a dandy on shore,
was the equal of any man afloat in sea
manship, gained n great advantage, out
manenyering his enemy and bringing his
broadside to bear right across her stern so
as to rake her from head to foot as he pass
ed and leave longer trail of slaughter
Then, swinging dcxterously away from the
| answering broadside, he countered upon
the other side.
First one mast and then another was
shot over, nEd at length the vessel heelcd
| SO heavily that the few guns which were
still replying shot harnlessly III the air
God forgive us, captain, cried the
first lieutenant hoarsely-he was lying or
the deck with half Lee shot away-ssit 5
enough, And Blade, Who had grown
very white, cried out III broken voice
stop firing, and get out the budtal She =
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