The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-02-03

field.
"Englsh!" could not help saying,
with the water ready to start in my
eyes. God bless her."
"She would merely ask us to heave
to-" said Capt Sellingcr in my ear.
Marry, modest request for craft Of
| 200 tons to make of one of five! Now,
| let's see what the old peacock will do"
Capt placido hurried up % the gov
| ernor and said a few words. What tho
answer was | could not guess. but at
once the captain ran to the main
hatch, lifted it, and roared down:
"Train your broadside and fire."
Then he waved his arms and shouted
TO those manning the guns
"Aim and fire.
The ship trembled with the tremen-
dous conclusion. Smoke seemed to rise
from everywhere, and the buccaneer
| disappeared momcntarly behind the
veil
When it drified away al last he was
! still driving toward US and seemingly
unharmed.
Some one touched me on the arm; |
turned and discovered Mr.. Tym.
"Bide a moment and then come be
low Let the hatch Grop after YOU"
was brought abruptly back to our
own business and shook myself to-
gcthcr. Nobody seemed to be paying
any attention to me. Slipped over aud
dropped quietly down the hatch.
The place was in some gloom, for
the port ON the cooks side-that is. the
one toward the cucmy--wus closed. and
the other stood but an inch or two upon
the hook.
"The crisis is not far Off" said Mr.,
lynn; "whrrcfore we must be pre-
pared. should the pilanca stand the
battering and break by, we could scarce
be too speedy in taking leave"
apprehended him. Once get the
buccaneer astern. and the Pilanca stood
fair TO shake him Off. In that case we
must needs act quickly or not at all
now inquired for Mac Ivrach, and
was told that he would be with ms pres
emily.
Let us see how near she is" said I,
and | unlocked the starboard port.
MARRY. she is ON our quarter" ] eX-
claimed in surprise. "She is not above
half mile distant, and we have clear
ly dropped her"
The others looked anXiously over my
shoulder.
NAY, YOU are little in error" said
the captain she is more astern, hut
quite as near"
"She should put forth her best cf-
forts now, wherever she is" said Mr..
lynn. after "A critical glance. "She is
not sure of finding another such oppor-
Wnity."
"She fetches about to give us her
other broadsidc!" exclaimed mo-
mcnt later.
| felt secretly thankful that at least
the after part of the ship now pretty
eiicctually shielded rs. but
by heavens. they have winged us!"
cried Capt. Sclliuger, as a sharp. crack
ling noise rose above the other sounds.
followed 10y the thump of some heavy
object,
~ big spar, or | am liar" hcwent
on. NAY. bur the buccaneer manages
bravely!"
THAT may bring the matter to a
head" said Mr.. lynn coolly. II think
we should now do well 20 arm"
We ran over to our own corner ac-
cordingly. and hurriedly produced our
concealed weapons. These had been
hidden away since first We came on
board. With other preparations, MIR.
Tym failed not TO screw in his curious
arm dagger.
Scarce was this done when some of
the illanca guns began in turn 10
thunder. None were of large caliber,
being merely a few deck pieces on the
stern, and we felt little fear of their
work.
Some one comes!" | cried, for at
that moment the hatch in the fore
castle banged sharply down.
81 think Mac lvrach," cried Mr.. lynn,
stepping out where he could command
the view. "Aye," he Immediately an
: nounced. sit is the cook"
The fellow came in "A run. Launch
the raft" he cried, land dnna stop 10
claver! A thinks haze gaen vrnngl"
We paused for no more than TO get
the sense of his words, and flew to the
raft and dragged it out,
Tnere were now varied humping
/, noises on deck, which took to be the
= clearing away of the fallen spar and
;. other debris, and I was just wondering
, whether the ships people felt assured
of their escape when there was com
y. motion of voices aft, and Immediately
+ little thunder of trucks showed that
A the door leading into the soldiers
T. berth had been run open.
Z "Quick!" cried Mr.. lynn. "Out with
9 it! The guards are upon us!"
We snatched up the raft as though
/. it had been a clothes pole and made
4 one fair thrust of it into the water.
a "Deil TAX the arm pots!" gro'glet
4 Mac Iyrach. They hae BROUGHT aboo'
n this banchle! Their craving ballie'
d couldna bide till the mess"
Listen, friends" said Mr.. lynn with
,, out turning his head, eve must fetcl
this thing to a close. In moment they