Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-01-27

/. 54t y ~ b. 5 E . ~.
.He has discovered that something
besides swivels will be needed" said
Mr.. lynn, who had come, without our
perceiving him, among US. NAY, but
he is about to give us the compliment
of his whole broadside."
A tremendous, crashing roar, and a
sky full of smoke followed. think l
stopped, but am not sure, and the
next that comes clear before me is
that a great splinter from somewhere
overhead struck the deck near me and
gave queer sort of elastic spring, and
went overheard. | confess I jumped
back, and as did so I ground my heel
upon something soft, and had to make
another spring to prevent falling. BY
this time had backed nearly to the
quarterback, and, the smoke having
now almost blown away, I leaned
against the break of the deck and
looked around. The spot where had
stumbled first arrested my eye, and
there, rolled mp almost in ball, lay
the body of old Dingsby. His belt had
burst with the strain of his doubling
over, or perhaps was cut by the glanc-
ing fragment of shot, and it was slip.
ping off him, almost giving him an air
of unbuckling it from the front, his
back being toward me- The mate
and the Frenchman were standing up
stiff and bold near the gun, and no
one else had been hurt, that I could
perceive.
The captains figure broke through
the passing cloud of smoke, coming
from the helm. oraApme part aft, and
pausing at the edG Of the poop.
On deck, thcre bow fares it?'' he
inquired, peering down. Then perceiv.
ing the body of the old man o'-war's
man, he answered his own question
$50 they have slain poor Dingsby!
Garry him bit aside, some of you
and bestow him in seemly sort. We
will do better anon. What say you
Master Sellinger, have you SHARP
word back?"
"Aye, aye, sir!" growled the mate
fluff her, and will give her a shrewd
answer enough"
"Luff it is, them"
Again we came into the wind, and
again the mate sighted and applied hi.
linstock. The smoke drifted astern
and eagerly jumped into the shrouds
and stared through the first clear
opening. What was my delight wher
l saw the great bulk of the Dutchmar
saving wildly into the wind, beating
up a yeast of foam, and all wreck for
ward. where his fore topmast and fore
topgallant mast hung in dreadful
mess from the foremost head.
Presently the order came to handle
the ship and fill away upon our ole
course.
We had got everything to drawing
and l had climbed upon the weathe.
bulwarks. my mind very content, ant
casting looks of exultation at thu
florndering Dutchman, when, with
very startling suddenness, spit of fire
darted along his numbered foredeck
and q terrible whistling ball rushed
close above my head. distinctly fel
the wind of it, and was off my perch
half tumbling, indeed. to the deck, II
an instant.
AS l stcadied myself on my legs
heard laugh above me. and on looking
up saw Capt. Houthwick standing a
the top of the poop ladder. He SHOOT
his shaggy head at me nightly amused
us it seemed, at the way rolled off tn.
bulwark, and as looked up he sait
something in kind Of chuckling voice
and turned away. had his tall, broad
| figure for an instant in my eye, ant
then came the boom Of another gur
from the Dutchman. and before coult
move or scarce think the captain tool
a long. sinking step backward. whirled
raced to the edge OF Che poop, ant
rounded down in loose heap, one arm
hanging over the verge.