Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-05-09

pressed close to the open headlights of the
cabin the two below had sent forth the
alarm and made the muss past mending
From the Ajax came loud orders, and just
as | caught the glimmer of that vessels an
chor light as it swept by in a thick yellow
halo, there came the rattle of drum beat.
ing to quarters, and it was at once followed
by similar but faint alarm from some ship
anchored east and toward the Brookland
shore. Then we slipped into the darkness
again, and went whirling on our way.
We had missed a collision, but by close
shave only, as think there lay not two rods
betwixt me and the light | had SEEN Our
move had been exposed, and the only thing
gained by us vas knowledge OF our speed
and whereabouts. The Ajax / knew had
been anchored for upward OF month about
a mile below the grand battery" and the
way her riding light had slid by us be-
tokened the fact that just then we were NOV.
ing at the rate of four or five miles an hour
Therefore we were now off Nutten's Is
land, but the bulk of the British fleet still
lay below. They were fairly close to the
Staten Island shore, however, and there
would be small danger of fouling them, the
tide always setting the fairway well into the
center of the Narrows. But of danger from
the forces below l was not now thinking.
More fear had of the boats that would put
after us from the vessel we had almost
fouled, for as we passed her and the noises
on her deck faded in the distance, heard
the dull clashing of tumblng oars and the
sharp splash of boat as it dropped from
the davits into the water.
As though to guide the enemy, ever and
anon there came cry from our cabin--a
cry that shot into the quiet air like an alarm
gun and drove me to madness. / was now
as one who, having broken through quick
set, was carrying the thorns in his flesh.
Danger hung over me like descending
5ludgeon, though instead of covering be-
meath the coming blow it set my blood on
fire. With curse which must have caused
the girl to shudder, seized the musket, and,
driving its butt through the nearest dead
light, felt the iron stock shoe crunch against
flesh and bone. There came from within a
yell of agony, and after silence, and then
spoke:
Another shout, We villains, and I'll fill
the cabin with flying balls. Mind this, il
| yonder boats board us, before being taken
| III kill We both! Ye are dealing with Don
| aid Thorndyke, and now lie and stihe, and
| may God have more mercy on ye than have
| |, ye spawn of the devil!''
| And with this | cut away the seizing that
| held the tarpaulin and rolled the heavy Gov.
! ering close to the windows, thus blocking al
ventilation below. So long as this re-
manned undisturbed it would muff1e any
noise they might make, and, l fancied
soon bring them to terms from lack of air
| Hailing Ames (who had thus far stuck tc
his post in voice which l took care
should be heard by the prisoners, ordered
| him to fire into the compartment at the
| first attempt they made to move the smoth
ering cover. and then | hurried forward te
prepare for being overhauled by the boats
Being on my own ship, everything wa!
familiar, and l easily got lantern from tn,
galley and dropped into the hold, carryin,
with me line. Here selected four or-fiv,
of the largest humps Of lead which in m,
hurry / could light upon, and. drawing then
to the deck, placed them at different point
near the rail, that they might come hand,
to drop into and stave any boat that cam
close alongside. This done, l reprimed al
firearms, even to the guards musket, whicl
was loaded, and from the after davit quietl,
lowered the dingy, that, if worse came tt
worse, it might be possible to escape b,
our getting into her and disappearing. TheI
| | waited.
| tTo BE CONTINUED