Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-11-20
CHAPTER III,


aEaze where his boat was, he fourd a
sgsssaed boat there, in which there were
FAUX Enen, the fifth one Of her men being
E7EGz the beach This latter man How
'arzs recognized as a sergeant Of one of
Gle companies stationed at Matamoras,
VzSrose name was Beecher
Gene" cried the captain, ''let us go
ca board and have some supper, and
Fll0zr vel do our business"
Az few minutes more the party were
an the scLooner's deck. Supper was
zelsay, and the captain invited Beecher
~ AS cabin, while the other men, who
NSere privates, went forward with the
cUc~
Nov" said Howard, what news do
1sGss bring from Matamoras!''
The colonel sent me up, sir" returned
etss= sergeant, ito inform you that that
1zezsorious Mexican pirate was in our wat
srs
Ga@ uttered Howard dropping his
.E1zsae, do you mean Tudel?'
Yes, sir. 1t must have been him. He
ecHVzs chase to a brig that came from New
Nfzzeszns to bring us stores. There is
GzUn1ber brig due from New Orleans with
9rEvlsions and clothing for cur forts on
sclaa BIO Grande, and We have feared that
EtEse pirate may overhaul her. The colonel
szs@ be believed you had full power to go
lEz 1arsuit"
~r29 course have. l have right to
ssEsas any Mexican vessel can fnd-just
ia E1ucb right as any other vessel Of war
In Zhe United States service"
u would be blessing TO our people,
cDgaWed Beecher, IF you could capture
cliszE villain. But mind you-he is not a
FggnUzteer-Eot by any means; he is
utEz&a Of the blacklist dye"
- know him." returned the captain,
~a1d / have had my attention turned to
IEiizn more than once before. I'll hunt
.iIItG sID IL possible, you may be assured. :"
rsESla the following morning all hands
'sss-s called as soon as the day broke,
emit having informed them of the purpose
&ri Gzj in hand, the captain ordered the
s1Eiszgrs up and sail made. The wind was
zIS6sserate from the southwark, and How
Hrs2 laid his course to the eastward, in
sszhsjpg for a while to keep the track Of
vesszgsls from New Orleans to Matamoras.
.E7sz11s he stood on until near night, and
Izsz as the sun was going down, a sail
vSEzss discovered, which at length proved TO
aSa = brig standing in toward the coast.
Efsgrard found her to be the store brig
,r1asssch was expected at Matamoras.
[2eD Howard squared away and stood
s1gs- During the night strict watch was
lssglya Up but nothing was seen. On the
a1mrEs @orning, however just as the men
,zszgEz getting up from their breakfast, the
4&szlsa1t at the foretopmast cross-tree re-
Ezsrosd a sail right ahead. In half an
iRanz sEore it was made out to be a brig
,sssEzz7Nsses TO the southwark. All sail was
surc zpOn the schooner, and at the end
an an haur the stranger was found to be
* sa4seI Of war of some description, as
kRzs- Eorfs could be plainly seen.
Shes q Mexican. There's no mistake
salls1z1 sbat," said Lefton. who had been
-s.lz.1zs1zing the stranger through his glass.
rc4Rss IL shre's Mexican. she must be
rfssT sis,ate. added Howard.
The schooner was kept Oh, and in fif-
rt@-V Eiinutes mere the brig wore about
.anaE aSaod directly for her. The guns
cas- az schooner were masked by sliding
5SssreE. though they were all ready to
WIS aK1 at moments motive.
She dent take, l guess" remarked
s-a1f1Gz, as he noticed the movement of
.tkas GCZican.
SEr she hopes to take us. without
Ss,rraf~ returned Howard, with smile.
ssazyg who she is before we make any de-
erIssaSi 2sVvement.'
g1he schooner was now standing due
,-sszsgs- aud the brig was nearly abreast of
5u-- Tbus matters rested for half an
sswlr more, and then the brig was not
eysssr a mile distant. She hOisted the Mex
ss=rEs Ezg .End fired a gun.
Isn't that rather coolT' said Hart.
,,4,,.,aJ Tafr-o~1 -
rs~ azr1V who he'd fallen afoul of I'm
-tszusazsx he'd feel not quite SO cool. he
r-sr,sf.g ue Tor one of the small transports
,.4.n esar wy home. Mr.. French you may
>r,,esr nc armchest and Distribute the am
arTsrn5f5an. and then open the magazine
W. lCnon, have all hands called, and
sss,auaxr Tor action
TRa, captain took his glass and exam,
Sracs ts7e fsrie once more; and as he turn
xvi again TO his officers his face Wore an
4sussaz. gratihed expression.
-Er = 1'udel's vessel"' he said mind
,-v1nt-tBeres no mistake about this. And
1C ac's rot ours before the sun sets, Their
= 2z8 very much mistaken as TO our pow
-oxzz sand by now.
EEIv 1hss time the brig was within half 8
rssuSSss. slzS lad fallen upon the schooner's
Ssasx .z.rlzsssd themselves, and were by the
ssrzsa. rvssay for the command of the mo
rHs,u1- Howard ordered the flag to be rur
sngz zzS ~ a moment after the Stars anC
:Snzrss-z suffered out to the breeze, tn,
.sSk-iss fIus5 another gun. this time sendins
IA rzlHsSx shot ploughing up the water
,nss.sasT rhe'schooner's stern.
- stiak our shot will reach her wei
1ON said Howard. turning towards
l'sHun,-s, ehe gunner.
ez Ssr-you may swear to that afor,
Ia gszsSi .-s." returned the old salt.
-.Ehsssx stand by. Wen give 'em tast,
SzN ,sEx szArboard battery first. Sheets
rs..aryU. Ss~e and aft. Stand by Out Will
e,nE S.Sssxr'
T&ssz s<sier was quickly obeyed. and a,
.srS4r rs the guns were run cut and lev
,ss-s sn@ the pri-ning applied. the match
,-ss e7SzSrc brought up. and the captain wai
sS1ssEsIvs,i that all was ready.
-saSrsz aim as quickly as possible. Helm
Psrf-eSsy. Round in on the sheets
ssSA-- ssEady. Stand by
Ehss movement brought the SCHOONER
ekixxs,rssy across the brig's bows. and tn,
Efrz,s hEzss guns upon the starboard side
tvEsscs vssere loaded with round shot anC
- -sSrzsg OF grape, were quickly air ed. tn,
Ssszzzzer hSying orders 70 fire as soon as h,
-ss,KssSS <rt loaded. 1t was but moment.
sxavrE 20 level the guns. and then tn,
>znxxrsa.s ~sere applied. As soon as tn,
ssu4GSsss tifted. it could be seen that this
MAYS foreyard was carried away. anC
ssasr xszintopsail was well cut up.
-HYy the mass hossw cried Howard. a,
NV saw this. ~she's ours. and no mistake
sz1 cAc-e gOes her fore yard-and aropnS
,eSSs xoes into the wind! Be ready with
s4As1 sssrbOaFd brosdSide. In with tn,
szrzrc-Set her come"
Haward babe his gunner 10 fire a:
srzsrkiy as possible, and he did SO; aud al
sazsz az the same moment the brig dil
-1fx same thing There was cgaShin,
-s.z1az6 oa board the schooner. for round
ssstrz hzd struck the staghoard eathead
suz,SS had knocked il 10 splinterS, AND
eS.srx wzs a deer groan. too-for mar
-. : L. = L