Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-25

easy range told Ames to let them have it.
The crack of his rife was yet in my ears as
I saw the bowman pitch forward, his oar
slipping from his hand into the sea. There
was a slight commotion aboard, and the
boats progress ceased; but it was only to
recover the lost oar, and then on they came
again Resting my gun over the rail, l
calculated the roll of the schooner and in my
turn fred. This shot told as well as the
first. A man in the waist sprang to his
feet, beat the air with his hands for an in
slant, and then toppled over the side, hang
ing half in and half out of water, as limp as
a bag of wet salt. At this there was more
delay, and by the time they were again
well under way both rifles had been re-
loaded, and as yet there had been no call
for the services of Miss King.
"Let them come nearer" said /, "and
then give them both barrels at once, and
determination in the way their oars flashed
now, and as they came to within 200 feet
we both, by this time under the shelter of
tie rail, fred on the count of three.
Through the smoke that drifted on us
saw the officer sink back in his seat and the
rowing cease. then there came yell from
the boat, and two muskets were discharged
at us, but without effect. What fools they
were to delay, for / had reloaded before the
first motion had been made to continue the
course! But to my amazepent it was for
only moment they held on their way. As
l fred again, apparently without hitting,
saw the boats head slew about, and then
:hey quickly hauled off and started to re-
turn to the distant schooner.
It was so far a triumph. Out of ten men
we had disabled and perhaps killed three at
least, one being an officer. Why they had
fled still numbering enough to have van
pushed us could only be accounted for by
ii e supposition that they knew naught of
our weakness, and feared the plain showing
of our colors was but sign of strength and
fearlessness, if not lure reckoning them
to ruin. 1 had not dreamed of such an
easy conquest, and for the while it was all
l could do to restrain the extravaganza OF
my feelings. 1 turned to Miss King. Her
pallor had given way and left two bright
spots of excitement which glowed on her
cheeks and matched well the brilliant
sparkle of her eye. She was trembling with
suppressed emotion, and as I held out my
hand to her in unspoken congratulation, she
took it,, and, lifting to her lips my grimy
fingers, rose without word and hurried
forward.
The impulsive spirit of her brother
showed itself in the cry he gave as, with half
sob and half laugh, he danced about the
deck and then threw himself into my arms,
breaking therefrom, shaking his fist at the
retreating boat, and in mighty un-Quaker
mood, though in Quaker style, damned the
British high and low, afoat and ashore.
ga curse on thee, thee white-livered,
scarlet-backed ,cowards!" he shouted at the
eud. ''To let two men and a girl drive thee!
Oh, by. the Lord God above me, the battle
is not with the strong Donald! Donald!
mark thee well! I tell thee we will yet best
them though they send the whole ships
company! We will rise from the depths!
Thy hand and head have so far shown the
way! Thee will yet PREVAIL"
j was well aware that this exuberance was
hut the reaction following strain. 1 felt the