Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-24
CHAPTER ".

|
The Russian, with the hated yellow
at the main, came along with n swing
before the favoring breeze. Her sails
| bellied out prosperously. Her cutwa-
ter spurned the spray. She leaped the
pillows with a proud and superior air.
To her commander opposition was a
thing unthinkable. a putf of smoke
burst from her bow. column of
spray followed quickly, rising 30 feet
ahead of the merchantmans bows.
The union jack seemed to dick con
temptuously from the yachts stern as
The foam died down among the waves.
The Russian sped along her course,
and from her captains speaking
| trumpet came hail. Over went the
! yards, and the helm was put about.
She rounded to within 100 fathoms.
Give to me your sheep, or | sink
you came the challenge across the
sea lane. The pronunciation was
poor, but the meaning unmstakable.
The Yankee answer went back swift
and straight. See you swimmin
first" defied the skipper, and a mighty
cheer rose from the English decks.
Forthwith followed another puff of
| smoke. This time the ball plowed
the deck OF the disabled craft and took
a corner of the dcckhouSc into the sea.
| The flying splinters smotc down n
man. Blood showed duskily upon the
white decks. visible enough to the
watching crew of the yacht. Jones
gripped the taffrail in front of him,
using wicked words. Barr and Dcs-
mond swore aloud. A murmur rus
tied inarticulatcly among the men.
Again the FOUNDER roared. The
answering thud as it passed clean
through an American seaman's body
was sckeningly audible. The shot
sped on and crashed into the bulwarks
of the yacht. a twisted bit of rail just
ficked Jones calf. With a howl of
rage and a flaming countenance he
turned to Desmond.
Are we to suck our thumbs while
she splits on us?' he roared. BLAST
their yellow faces! Aren't we to de-
fcnd ourselves? We've been assault
ed on the high seas. Amt that good
enough? God bless me. Can't | throw
pill aboard her sir?"
Desmond laughed ioyously. IL
thought you'd come to see it in that
light, skipper" he replied. Let for
her. my boy. Give her two for her ev
| cry one. Wen show her what's what"
And he helped whir round the little
carronade with his own hands.
The indignant Jones bent to the
sights and dwelt upon them with the
lanyard taut. The yacht dipped with
the slow swell, and he waited till the
rise should give him aim. AS the up
ward heave came he tugged the cord
smartly. Away rOared the ball and
oh, joy-slap into into the enemy's
hull. A delightful white splintering
showed up against her pitched panks.
A rare English cheer rang out upon
the sea, but the merchant skipper
shook his head doubtfully across at
Desmond, though he could but smile
approval of this distinguished marks
manship.
AS the Russian recognized that she
had a second assaiant she began to
alter her position. She slowed her one
gun and pointed 1t at the yachts bow,
where it projected beyond the larger
| vessel. The shot, however, missed.
passing over her as she dipped be-
tween the waves.
AS the gun was run back the Rus
sian began to get weigh again. She
began to turn and circle toward her
adversary. There was no doubt about
it, she meant boarding.
There was a swapping of clasps
aboard the yacht as the seamen got
out their knives. The capstan bars
were collected and Delaying pins laid
handy. Every rifle and shotgun was
loaded. Then in breathless silence
the crew waited. watching the ap-
preaching vessel
Desmond followed every movement
on her deck as she neared them. His
gaze was concentrated on the winking
brass gun at her bow. Suddenly he
gave shout.
Down behind the bulwarks, every
man jack of your ne bawled. She's
loaded canister! When she touches
Off, up and give her back all you've
got"
She was circling to them now bare
hundred yards away. The foam ran
up her stem and shot into the air
against her bulge rs she heeled. They
could note the rainbow rays as the sun
glanced upon IT,
! Fifty yards now. and they. could see