The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-06-07
aHe has discorered hAat nomethinp

"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
sky full of smoke followed l think l
stopped, but l 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. I confess l jumped
back, and as did so 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, leaned
against the break of the deck and
looked around. The spot where had
stumbled first arrested my eye, and
there, rolled up 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 1t 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 l could
perceive.
The captains figure broke through
the passing clond of smoke, coming
from the helm or some part aft, and
pausing at the edge of the poop.
"On deck, there, how 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!
Carry 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.
"Lutf her, and will give her a shrewd
answer enough"
"Luff it is, then"
Again we came into the wind, and
again the mate sighted and applied his
linstock. The smoke drifted astern,
and eagerly jumped into the shrouds
and stared through the first clear
opening, What was my delight when
l saw the great bulk of the Dutchman
saving wildly into the wind, beating
up yeast of foam, and all wreck for
ward where his fore topmast and fore
topgallant mast hung in a dreadful
mess from the foremast head.
Presently the order came to handle
the ship and fill away upon our old
course.
We had got everything to drawing,
and | had climbed upon the weather
bulwarls. my mind very content, and
casting looks of eXultation at the
foundering Dutchman, when, with
very startling suddcnness. spit of firG
darted along his numbered foredecli
and a terrible whistling ball rushed
close above my head. distinctly felt
the wind of it, and was off my perch
half tumbling, indeed, to the deck, in
an instant
As stcadied myself on my legs !
heard laugh above me, and on looking
up saw Capt. Houthwick standing al
the top of the poop ladder He shook
his shaggy head at me nightly amused
as ii seemed, at the way rolled off the
bulwark, and as looked up he said
something in kind of chuckling voice
and turned away. had his tall, broad
figure for an instant in my eye, and
then came the boom of another gun
from the Dutchman. and before I could
move or scarce think the captain took
a long, sinking step backward. whirled
raced to the edge OF the poop, and
rounded down in loose heap, one arm
hanging over the verge.