The diamond drill., 1899-08-12

pressed close TO the open headlights of ~
cabin the two below had sent forth lne
alarm and made the muss past mending.
From the Ajax came loud orders. and just
ss l caught the gIimmer of that vessels an
chor light as il swept by in thick yellow
halo, there came the rattle OF drum beat
ing TO quarters, and il was at once followed
by a similar but faint alarm from some ship
aVchored east and toward the Brookland
shore. Then we slipped into the darkness
again, and went whirling on our way.
We had missed a collision, but by close
shave only. as think there lay not two rods
betwixt me and the light | had seen. Our
move had been exposed and the only thing
gained by us was a knowledge OF our speed
and whereabouts. The Ajax ! knew had
been anchored for upward of a month about
a mile below the grand battery" and the
way her riding light had slid by us be.
tokened the fact that just then we were NOV.
ing at the rate Of four or five miles an hour.
Therefore we were now off Nutten's Is
land, but the bulk of the British feet still
10y below. They were fairly close TO the
staten Island shore, however, and there
would be small danger Of fouling them, the
tide always setting the fairway well into the
center OF the Narrows. But OF danger from
the forces below | was not now thinking.
More fear had OF the boats that would put
after us from the vessel we had almost
foued. for as we passed her and the noises
on her deck faded in the distance, heard
the dull clashing Of tumbling oars and the
sharp splash of a boat as il dropped from
the davits into the water
As though to guide the enemy, ever and
anon there came cry from our cabln-a
cry that shot into the quiet air like an alarm
gun and drove me 10 madness. | was now
as one who, having broken through quick
set, was carrying the thorns in his flesh.
Danger hung over me like a descending
bludgeon, though instead of covering be-
meath the coming blow il set my blood on
fire. With a curse which must have caused
the girl 10 shuddcr. seized the musket, and.
driving its butt through the nearest dead
light, felt the iron stock shoe crunch against
flesh and bone. There came from within a
yell Of agony, and after silence. and then
spoke:
Another shout, ye villains, and III fill
the cabin with flying balls Mind this, il
y1ndcr boats board US, before being taken
III Kill ye both Yc are dealing with Don.
aid Thorndyke, and now lie and stihe, and
may God have more mercy on ye than have
1, ye spawn OF the devil"
And with this cut away the seizing that
held the tarpauin and rolled the heavy Gov.
ering close 10 the windows, thus blocking all
ventilation below So long as this re.
manned undisturbed il would muille any
noise they might make, and, fancied,
soon bring them 10 terms from lack Of air.
Hailing Ames (who had thus far stuck to
his post) in voice which took care
should be heard by the prisoners, | ordered
him TO fire into the compartment at the
first attempt they made to move the smoth-
ering cover. and then ! hurried forward to
prepare for being overhauled by the boats
Being on my own ship, everything was
familiar, and easily got lantern from the
galley and dropped into the hold, carrying
with me line. Here | selected four or five
Of the largest humps Of lead which in my
hurry | could light upon, and. drawing them
to the deck, placed them al different points
near the rail, that they might come handy
20 drop into and stave any boat that came
close alongside. This done, reprimod all
firearms, even TO the guards musket, which
was loaded, and from the after davit quietly
lowered the dingy, that, if woroe came to
worse, it might be possible to escape by
cur getting into her and disappearing. Then
waited.
faro NJ ,sNsa-t Nyt-vr,