Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-04-14


n clean-cut hole yawning in her bottom.
could almost hear the shout of triumph
that undoubtedly took place on the enemy's
deck as the result of this piece of marks.
manship, but in the end, had they but
known it, they were whetting the tigers
teeth instead Of pulling them. Hardly had
the smoke thinned from the shot, when
from under the cloud marked boat put.
ting away. There was little need of glass
to tell me it was filled with boarding
party, and that the drama was rapidly near.
ing its close. With the few minutes left for
preparation we made haste to get what arms
we had on deck, and, while yet the yellow
flash of the oars was distant, our arrange
lnents were completed. For defense we had
two rifles, four pistols, three cutlasses and
my rapier, though the latter and one of the
cutlasses, being of no use, were left in the
cabin. The lady was to take charge of the
ammunition and reload the firearms as
used, for, though her brother and myself
both begged and commanded her to remain
below, she had for the first time drawn for
herself her own line of action by simply
shaking her head and following us to the
deck. She was white as chalk as she stood
ond watched the near approach of the boat,
but will swear that her fear Gf fear 1t was)
was not for herself.
just before the enemy drew into rifle
shot 1 went forward and opened the fore
castle slide, calling both prisoners to come
up, for had mind that might use them
to make show Of numbers on our deck.
But In return 1 received volley of curses
only, and, as had no time to try discipline,
l shut and again fastened the hatch, rejoin.
ing the others aft.
Even at this stage was possessed with the
forlorn hope that we might drive off the ap.
preaching boat, and, If they were short.
handed aboard IA condition not unlikely,
and failed to cripple us with their long gun,
something might happen in the way of wind
from another quarter or the coming dark
ness to enable us to escape. The hope, how
ever, was not enough to give life to my
spirits to make it worth the telling to my
companions. had put my past behind me,
Fever hoping to reap what had sowed, and
with set teeth awaited with little fear and
less doubt for the result of the coming hour
Ames lay along the deck with his rifle
over the counter; the girl sat in the com.
panion door ready to reload the arms as they
were passed to her; and /, looking for the
proper moment to open fire, stood in plain
sight above the taffrail.
Slowly they came on until could count
ten men and an officer, and as l marked the
easy range l told Ames to let them have it.
The crack of his rifle was yet in my ears as
saw the bowman pitch forward, his oar
slipping from his hand into the sea. There
was a slight commotion aboard, and the
boats progress ceased; but it was only to
recover the lost oar, and then on they came
again. Resting my gun over the rail,
calculated the roll of the schooner and in my
turn fred. This shot told as well as the
first. man in the waist sprang to his
feet, beat the air with his hands for an in
slant, and then toppled over the side, hang
ing half in and half out of water, as limp as
a bag of wet salt. At this there was more
delay, and by the time they were again
well under way both rifles had been re-
loaded, and as yet there had been no cal
for the services of Miss King.
Let them come nearer" said l, "and
then give them both barrels at once, and
after that the pistols" There was a grim
determination in the way their oars flashed
now, and as they came to within 200 feet
we both, by this time under the shelter oil
the rail, fired on the count of three.
Through the smoke that drifted on us
saw the officer sink back in his seat and the
rowing cease, then there came yell from
| the boat, and two muskets were discharged
at us, but without effect. What fools the,
were to delay. for had reloaded before tn,
first motion had been made to continue tn,
course! But to my amazement it was fo
only moment they held on their way Al
fired again, apparently without hitting,
| saw the boats head slew about, and ther
they quickly hauled off and started to re
turn to the distant schooner.
| 1t was so far triumph. Out of ten mer
We had disabled and perhaps killed three a
least, one being an officer. Why they hac
| fled still numbering enough to have van
qnished us could only be accounted for b,
tie supposition that they knew naught O
our weakness, and feared the plain showing
of our colors was but sign of strength anc
fearlessness, if not lure reckoning then
to ruin. l had not dreamed of such al
easy conquest, and for the while it was al
could do to restrain the extravaganza o
my feelings. turned to Miss King. He
pallor had given way and left two brigh
spots of excitement which glowed on he
cheeks and matched well the brillian
sparkle Of her eye. She was trembling will
suppressed emotion, and as 1 held out m,
hand to her in unspoken congratulation, sh,
took it, and, lifting to her lips my grim,
fingers, rose without word and hurried
forward.
The impulsive spirit of her brothe
showed itself in the cry he gave as, with hal
a sob and half laugh, he danced about tn
deck and then threw himself into my arms
breaking therefrom, shaking his fist at the
retreating boat, and in mighty un-Quakel
mood, though in Quaker style, damned the
British high and low, afoat and ashore.
"a curse on thee, thee white-livered
scarlet backed cowards" he shouted at tn,
end. ITO let two men and girl drive thee
Oh, by the Lord God above me, the battl,
is not with the strong! Donald! Donald
mark thee well! tell thee we will yet bes
them though they send the whole ship
company! We will rise from the depths
Thy hand and head have SO far shown tn
way! Thee will yet prevail!'
/ was well aware that this exuberance wa
but the reaction following strain. felt tn
relief myself, but knew, despite the fact tina
we We're so far safe, the repulse would prov
but respite. The lump that had risen t.
my throat when | saw that the enemy wa
beaten off still held me speeches., but
passed presently, as did also the wildnes
of the youth, and ere long we were speculai
ing as to the next probable move of the dis
committed redcoats. 1t was true that ha
realized the first part of my secret hope G
overcoming the boat, but, on scanning til
horizon, there was no sign of rescuin
wind, though thought the south held som
promise of later breeze. There was naugh
to do but stand at bay and await the issue.
| Nor did we await it for long. The sun wa