The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-11-09
CONTINUED
CHAPTER ~.

The Russian, with the hated yellow
at the main. came along with swing
before the favoring breeze. Her sails
bellied out prosperously. Her cutwa-
ter spurned the spray, She leaped the
pillows with n proud and superior air.
To her commander opposition was a
thing unthnkable A puff of smoke
burst from her bow. A column or |
spray followed quickly, rising 80 feet
ahead of the merchantman's BOWS.
The union Jack seemed to flick 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
wards. and the helm was put about.
She rounded to within 100 fathoms.
GIVE to me your sheep, or SINK
youp' came the challenge across the
sea lane The pronunciation was
poor. but the meaning unmistakable.
The Yankee answer went BACK swift
and straight. See you swlmmln
frstw deiied the skipper and a mighty
cheer rose from the English decks
Forthwith followed another pup OF
smoke. This time the ball plowed
the deck of the disabled craft and took
q corner of the deckhouse into the sea.
The flying splinters smote down a
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 Des-
mond swore aloud. A murmur rus
tied inarticulately among the men.
Again the FOUNDER roared. The
answering thud as it passed clear
through an American seaman's BODY
was sickeningly audible. The sho
sped on and crashed into the bulwark
. of the Yacht. A twisted bit OF rail JUS
clicked Jones' calf With howl
rage and flaming countenance n
! turned to Desmond.
: "Are we to suck our thumbs Will
: she splits on usY' he roared. bias
: their yellow faces! Aren't we to dc
: fend ourselves? We've been assault
: ed on the high seas Amt that goo
: enough? God bless me! Can't thro'
: a pill aboard her, sir?"
! Desmond laughed joyously.
: thought you'd come to see 1t In th'
: light, SKIPPER" he replied. Let II
her. nv boy. Give her two for her
cry onei Wen show her what's what
. And he helped whirl round the HIT
: carronade with his own hands.
! The Indignant Jones bent to q
: sigh,s and dwelt upon them with q
; lanyard taut. The yacht dipped wi
the slow swell. and he waited till
rise should give him aim. AS the U
: 'w;rrd heave came he tugged the co
: smartly. Away roared the ball anc
: oh. ioy!-sla, into into the enem.
! hull. A delightful white splinter
: showed up against her pitched PLANK
: A rare English cheer rang out up
the sea. but the merchant sklPl
! shook his head doubtfully across
Desmond. though he could but SIN
: approval of this distinguished mar
: manship.
! AS the Russian recognized tnat
. had a second assailant she began
alter her position. She slowed her
pnn and pointed it at the yachts DC
where it projected beyond the lar
. vessel. The shot, however, Hiss
passing over her as she dipped
: tween the waves.
AS the gun was run back the X
sian began to get weigh again
began to turn and circle toward
: adversary. There was no douo' AZ
II. she meant boarding.
: There was a swapping OF cia
(: aboara..the ysehS ss~''e ssnhen