Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-11-20
THE
CRUISER
BY
I. BURLINGAME ROSS
-

I the next moment the order was given for
! bringing the schooner to the wind. The
! brig now lay stern-to, and consequently
could bring no guns to bear as the Yam
KEGS came up. Howard brought his yes
sci handsomely up under the pirates
1 quarter, and the graplings were thrown
with such exact precision that the schoon-
! er's bows were stopped directly beneath
the briggs main chains
1t was but the work of a moment for
| the sehooner's crew TO gain the deck Of
| Of the brig, and when once there they
went into the work with a power of pur-
pose which was irresistible. The Mex
leans were bold men, but they could not
withstand the strange, reckless bravery
| which met them now. The noble men
| Of the Lone Star seemed almost like war
riors inspired. Wherever their blows fell
/ death was sure to follow, and ere long
the enemy began to give way.
| From the first Of the enga cement How
ard tried to find Jilok Tudel, and he sue
ceeded at length in doing so; but ere they
could cross their swords, some of the
Mexicans cried out for quarter.
Never shouted Tudel, in blind rage.
A5hb ~ tAiN hChAHy EtCAJ nan VI 3Ou.
BY the cross, the first man who hinches
shall fall by my own hand! Now, senior
captain, you have found me-"
This had the effect of causing the faint
ing pirates TO come up to the work again.
AS Tudel spoke that last sentence, he
crossed swords with Clarence Howard;
the pistols had all been fred, and the
combat now was with cutlasses alone. At
the first stroke Clarence knocked his an
tagOnist's sword down, and would have
passed his own weapon through the vii
lain's body, had not one of the Mexican
men, who CHANGED to stand near, knock
ed it down That moment would have
been the young captains last but for the
faithful Peter. The boys burning pat
riOtism overcame all other considerations
and Selling a pistol and cutlass. he leaped
! upon the pirates deck just in time to see
| his commanders sword knocked down
and of the point Of the enemy's sword o..
his breast With lightning-like mo- n,
! the boy raised his pistol and shot he
/ Mexican dead, Howard, with nod OF
gratitude to his boy, returned to the con-
| hict. Tudel b<d regained his guard, and
his next blow was a downward cut, aim
| ing at his anita gonist's head. Quick as
! thought Clarence sprang forward and
| caught the coming blow upon his left arm,
reaching far enough in to take the hilt
| upon his arm instead of the blade. The
movement was as UNEXPECTED as it was
sudden, 70; the Mexican had never be-
fore thought of such a thing as warding
| a sword blow with the naked arm; the
| force of the blow staggered him, and
with one smart blow of his pommel, Clar-
ence felled him upon the deck.
| This was the signal for renewed cry
for quarter, and at the word from the
Yankee captain, the combat ceased Tu-
del had only been stunned by the effects
of the blow, and as, soon as he could be
secured, Howard turned his attention to
: the crew; the deck was all covered with
blood, and the groans of the wounded and
| dying were loud and agonizing.
Take them as they come" said How
ard. "To those who suffer most, whether
friend or foe, render the first assistance:
the battle is ended, and we may find use
for mercy now"