Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-05
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only, and, as had no time to try discipline,
shut and again fastened the hatch, rejoin.
ing the others aft.
Even at this stage was possessed with the
forlorn hope that we might drive off the ap.
preaching boat, and, if they were short
handed aboard "a condition not unlikely,
and failed to cripple US with their long gun,
something might happen in the way of wind
from another quarter or the coming dark
ness to enable us to escape. The hope, how
ever, was not enough to give life to my
companions. had put my past behind me-
never hoping to reap what l had sowed, and
with set teeth awaited with little fear and
less doubt for the result OF the coming hour.
Ames lay along the deck with his rifle
over the counter; the girl sat in the COM
panion door ready to reload the arms as they
were passed to her; and I, looking flor the
proper moment to open fire, stood in plain
sight above the taffrail.
Slowly they came on until l could count
ten men and an officer, and as marked the
easy range told Ames to let them have it.
The crack of his rifle was yet in my ears as
saw the bowman pitch forward, his oar
slipping from his hand into the sea. There
was slight commotion aboard, and the
boats progress ceased; but it was only to
recover the lost oar, and then on they came
again. Resting my gun over the rail, l
calculated the roll of the schooner and in my
turn fred. This shot told as well as the
first. A man in the waist sprang to his
feet, beat the air with his hands for an in
slant, and then toppled over the side, hang
ing half in and half out of water, as limp as
bag of wet salt. At this there was more
delay, and by the time they were again
well under way both rifles had been re-
loaded, and as yet there had been no call
for the services of Miss King.
"Let them come nearer" said ], "and
| then give them both barrels at once, and
after That the pistols" There was grim
determination in the way their oars flashed
now, and as they came to within 200 feet
we both, by this time under the thelter Of
the rail, fred on the count of three.
Through the smoke that drifted on, us l
eaw the officer sink back in his seat and the
rowing cease. then there came a yell from
the boat, and two muskets were discharged
! at US, but without effect. What fools they
were to delay. for had reloaded before the
first motion had been made to continue the
course! But to my amazement it was for
only moment they held on their way. As
fired again, apparently without hitting, ]
saw the boats head slew about, and then
they quickly hauled off and started to re.
l turn to the distant schooner.
It was SO far triumph. Out Of ten men
We had disabled and perhaps killed three at
least, one being an officer. Why they had
fled still numbering enough to have van
pushed US could only be accounted for by
| tie supposition that they knew naught Of
] our weakness, and feared the plain showing
1 Of our colors was but . sign of strength and
fearlessness, if not lure beckoning then
to ruin. had not dreamed of such ar
| easy conquest, and for the while it was al
l could do to restrain the extravaganza O
my feelings. turned to Miss King Hel
| pallor had given way and left two bright
spots of excitement which glowed on he,
| checks and matched well the brilliant
| sparkle of her eye. She was trembling with
suppressed emotion, and as l held out my
hand to her III unspoken congratulation, sht
! took it, and, lifting to her lips my grim,
] fingers, rose without word and hurried
| forward.
The impulsive spirit of her brother
showed itself in the cry he gave as, with hal
a sob and half laugh, he danced about tn,
deck and then threw himself into my arms
breaking therefrom, shaking his fist at the
retreating boat, and in mighty un-Quakez
mood, though in Quaker style, damned the
British high and low, afoat and ashore.
"a curse on thee, thee white-livered,
scarlet-backed cowards!" be shouted at the
end. ITO let two men and girl drive thee!
Oh, by the Lord God above me, the battle
is not with the strong! Donald! Donald!
mark thee well! tell thee we will yet bes.
them though they send the whole ships
company! We will rise from the depths!
Thy hand and head have so far shown the
way! Thee will yet prevail!"
was well aware that this exuberance wal
hut the reaction following strain, / felt the
relief myself, but knew, despite the fact that
we were 30 far safe, the repulse would prove
but respite. The lump that had risen te
my throat when saw that the enemy wal
beaten off still held me speeches., but il
passed presently, as did also the wildnes'
of the youth, and ere long we were speculat
ing as to 1.-THE next probable move of the dis
committed redcoats. 1t was true that / had
realized the first part of my secret hope Of
overcoming the boat, but, on scanning thu
horizon, there was no sign of rescuinl
wind, though thought the south held soms
promise of later breeze. There was naught
to do but stand at bay and await the issue.
Nor did we await it for long. The sun wal
sliding rapidly to the edge Of the sea, beinf
but an hour high, its path lying in line
with the now thoroughly becalmed schoone,
off our quarter; its glare throwing dazzling
pathway betwixt the two vessels. It il
more than likely they scented the ad
vantage given them by their present posi-
tion, for not long after the return of thu
first expedition against US saw three boat
leave their side and proceed along the tract
of binding glitter
To aim into this eye-watering brillianc,
with any but mere chance of hitting I
mark was an impossibiiity, but, with the ole
determination to face the worst, Ames ant
repaired to our posts, though the girl still
fingered forward.
As i saw the usclessnese OF protracted de
tense, let her bide away, knowing that al
the bow she would be clear of flying bullets
when the boats should come near enough tt
return our fire. How the attack was planned
was at once apparent, for to cover the onset
of the boarders the schooner again opened
On US with its forward piece. In eviden
fear of striking their own men, they aban
doned their former manner of ricochettint
the ball across the water, and instead drov'
point blank at US. Although we lay plair
target, and their schooner, like the Phan
tom, was at rest, the first shot flew wide o
us; the second passed somewhere aloft, ye
so near that / heard the horrible hummint
of the ball, and the third To this da!
they know not all they did, nor, for thu
matter of that, did I at the time.
We had let the boats come near, that w
might shoot with effect, and / had fred ant
was about to pass the rifle to Gertrude, wh'
in my excitement fancied had by this TIM
returned to the companion, when to m!
establishment saw she was not behind me
There was no time for protracted search
fol, as sprany from the cabin, where hat
gone to look for her, heard her brothe
discharge two pistols in quick succession ant
saw boat sweep under our counter. In al
instant it had hooked on TO our starboart
channels. With round oath Ames seizet
the two remaining pistols and poured thei
contents into it with scarce chance o
missing, while rushed to his side, an,