Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-05

ind thinking that possibly she had fallen
through the gaping hatch and into the hold,
though time was scant, l sprang for the
opening and looked down, calling her by
name. There came no answer, neither was
her body in sight, the dull gray of the lead
,..one meeting my eye. Springing again to
my feet, drew my cutlass and retreated to
the quarter deck where stood Ames with
drawn steel, his back braced against the
wheel and his breath coming and going as
though from violent exertion.
" Ills the final stand, my lad!" i en-
claimed, as ranged myself by his side and
turned to face (for the last time, thought)
the enemy, who were now pouring aft.
Gertrude is gone! could find her no.
where!"
81 know it'll" he painted. "The games up,
marked her when She"
| lost the rest, for at that instant an off
Ger whom l at once recognized came run
ming up, followed by half dozen marines.
As he caught sight of me he halted, and,
cycling me with profound astonishment sud-
denly broke out
Good God! tits Thorndyke! Touch not
that man, on your lives!" he shouted.
Here's game worth whole watch! Sur
render, We rebel! Throw down your arms
and surrender! Can't you see you are
beaten! You doubly damned spy, the rope
will have its own! By Saint George, but
this is luck!"
Surrender to We, Lieut.. Belden" I
Moderated in turn. By the Lord, mol!
Come and take me if We can, but twill not be
give. Your rope is not for me, nor will the
eolors aloft be struck while stand on this
deck! have given over this world, and
fear neither We nor the pink shrimps at your
back! Come, now, and clutch your luck! "
II was strong as two men before, ] felt
the strength of ten within me as / spoke.
9'he swath would have moved through
that press would have brought the bullet
i,oited, but there was no advance. True,
the crowd showed tendency to rush in as
] thus. defied them, and several muskets
were leveled at us. but Belden nipped the
act by waving his sword and threateniEg
punishment to the first man who fired gun
or advanced without orders.
1t was plain that to him the prize was a
tremendous one, nor would he have the
glory Of defeating me dimmed by my death,
and to this ambition to take me alive and
see me hanged was doubtless due my final
safety.
Saving the two shots from the first boat,
not a small arm had been fred by them ur
| to this time, their determination to carry
| the vessel by cold steel alone being apparent
all through the attack. As my eye ranged
over the circle of men that spread about Ut
and hemmed us to the taffrail (yet for al
their numbers were held off by the com
inand of their officer), saw many face
well known to me ashore, but not one ex
pressing an atom Of mercy. With watch
full look anticipated any possible onset
| and yet through all the pent vigor of tight
ened nerves and stiffened muscles my gaz.
| played beyond their lines and marked tn.
| details of the surroundings.
The broad ocean lay almost like glass save
for the regular heave that passed over it Xix,
a wave over the surface of molten metal
Oft our starboard beam was an upturnet
boat floating lazily away, it probably having
been stove or capsized by the hatch hat
1 cast into it, and near it drifted the hatcl
itself. On deck the fallen canvas covered TIL
vessel amidships, and aloft the ragged stum]
OF the topmast, standing clear against tn
dappled sky, looked like pine shivered b.
lightning. A profound silence had fallel
where moment before had been din o
shouts and crashing timber-profound saw
for a dull humping forward, which kne,
came from the prisoners, who were thus sig
mailing for release The moment was nea
at hand when should pass my soul to il
Maker, and yet, though the resolve was a
strong as ever, wavered, not in fear of tn
next world, but dreading the terrible strut
gle that would come when healthy bod
like mine wrestles in the grip Of suffocatio1
If our captors could not be goaded int
shooting me, nothing was left but to cas-
myself into the sea, and this would not
SO long as the young Quaker stood at IN
side.