Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-12-11
cHApTER Viii

distance carefully with his eye.
CHAPTER VIII.
1t was soon found that the relative
Expect of the two vessels was much chang
ed by the position the schooner had now
assumed. Before, the brig had been gain
ing rapidly, but now she was not so beet
She nad changed her course when the
eotOOuer changed hers, and she must
.ei ser now follow in the latter's wake or
yaw about at disadvantage. She gain
ed some. but it was almost impercepti-
bic. The Mexicans were crowded about
the bows Of their vessel, and their mo-
tioEs we're anxious. At length the dis
tahce between the two was less than a
miie-perhaps not over three-quarters.
"JaelS,' spoke Captain Winter, address
Eng bis mate. do ye see that chap perch
81 upon the bowsprit there. ahold on the
forestay2"
Yes, l do" returned Sloan.
Think We can fetch himg''
"Ef be was a bar I'd bet on startlin'
aim"
"Then try it; your rife is just hair
the sniartest THROWN in the crowd. Draw
on him"
Jack Sloan took his rifle and raised lhe
hammer just so as to be sure that the
cap was pressed down, and then he NOV
ed 10 the taffrail His weapon was
beauty, and yet he claimed that it was
better than it looked. He raised it to
his arm and cooked it; the Mexican still
stood upon the briggs bowsprit, with his
right hand ahold upon the forestry, gaz-
ing after the schooner, probably to note
how much they gained upon the chase.
With deliberate movement Sloan raised
the rifle TO his shoulder. His taking aim
was but the work of a moment-he knew
shat his first sight was the sure one. He
sIeaduy raised his muzzle until his sight
covered the mans left breast, and then
ne fired The moment the piece was dis
charged he stepped back, cooked the ham
MGR, took off the exploded cap. and then
resting the breech upon the deck, gazed
of towards the brig. The mans hand
was seen to drop suddenly from the stay
--thea there was one spasnlodic move
-mcnt of that and its mate toward the
breast--and then he fell sideways into
the water, and in a moment more the
bril was Cushin over his submerged
body
II want sure of that" said Jack, as he
saw the man fall; but kind o thought
-thefe'd be no harm in tryin'."
y knOw'd you could do il, responded
Max $50 now | reckon Wen give old
Pick-'en-oH a trial.
That was the somewhat characteristic
name he had given to his faithful rifle.
AS the gnarled old trapper-coaster thus
spoke he raised his weapon. His piece
was OF the same make and pattern as
his mates, though it had been demon
strated that the latter would shoot
''leetle' the farthest.
See thas chap with red shirt on, just
tUrniu his head to speak 20 some one
behind him. said Max, as he drew the
hammer of his piece back, Several ac-
Snowiedged that they saw HIM WALL"
resumed Max. I ann just gDiH to give
old Pick EN- offs compliments to him.
As the last word dropped from his lips
his rifle was nc his shoulder The pom
derous sseel barrel was steadily raised
so the trne sight. and without the treinor
even OF a iii, the .eld man pulled Che trig-
ger lie did not stop 10 remove the ex-
ploded cap rs Sloan had done. for il he
had missed lie had failed to DO what am
ether pad done. But he had not long TO
remain uneasy, for IN moment more the
red fr0ck sank from sight beneath the
Oulwsrks, aud many men We're to be seen
crowding about the spot.
Take EN- nowi" cried Max. turning
red in the face from excitement.
Sloan was prepared for another shot.
and he quickly drew his piece upon
man who stood back to- He fred-and
the nar fell Almost upon the same in
slant one Of the men fred. and he drop-
ped a mexican from the larboard main
rigging.
'Hir' cried Max. as he drove a slug
into his ride "see them bloody scamps
ia the foreson. Mae. you take him as is
on the starbeard side. and you. Lascom,
pick of that one a leanin' agin the lar
board riggin' Go it, Remember what
cid Sam Houston told us az San Jacintor'
This reference to tie bloody but Slori-
Gus field whore arose the Lone Star in
its power az freedom. and where every
one Sf the present crew Of the schooner
fought bravely. called forth quick. no
BILE shout, and then the two sturdy men
whom Max had addressed by name step
ped 10 the taffrail and fired; aud in a few
moments more one or the Mexicans fell
from the foyetop. while the other was
seen &c leap up and then settle down
with his head bowed between his knees.
One VAS dead sure; aud the other was.
in sil probability. unfit for duty.
Ecws-3 found thar the schooner was
very easily managed. and having called
Peter "a come and take tae helm. ana
explained te him the peculiar motions he /
was % look cut Tor, he took the glass
and sazea eff upon the brig
We'll be said. still Keeping the glass
TO his eve and watching the movements
CT the MeSicans the while. they are be-
ginning &c get out q the way OF eur shots.
Ha-thege Is one with"
But before he could finish his sentence,
the Quies eye Of Adams. the oldest man
OF the crew. had caught the Mexican.
snG hs had fired The fellow had Just
RAISED his head above the rail hy the
boWspgit. As the ola mans rife MAS dis
, charged he leaped up-s,ood for an in-
slant like one in a sudden fright-and
then fell over backward
Yen hit aim in the head" SAID Clar-
erce. wno kept the glass TO his eye. by
che MAS, but they have taken the fright
-ha. iaak sharp. some Of you. There are
two Elea erauchias along after the nan
last shot: they may raise their heads !
when they Eft the body up
Ard - il proved. In a sew moments
more two heads Mere secn 10 pop up
above the rail. and en- the instant both /
Max sud Sloan fred,
.'Oae Of them drops.f cried Clarence:
~szAk p@<Aaps both. c-nldn't tel