The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-06-14


smoking his pipe" added the skipper
quietly, as he saw a jet Of smoke belch
| forth from the bow Of the corvette. He
had hardly got the words out Of his
mouth when the boom OF gun
reached his ears, and simultaneously
a shot passed whizzing over their
heads.
II don't STAN that are" said 'Slah,
in a determined tone, which siJgu-
larly contrasted with his awkward,
rustic exterior. "Give me leave, deac-
on, and I'll give 'em a shot back, darn
me If / DON'T!
Your gun won't scare them, 'Siah.
Ease off the main-sheet Lot. BE
ready TO dodge, for guess there'll be
another one o them junks Of iron this
way. They amt no pilot or they
wouldn't keep so near a porpoise rock
ledge"
Cool nnl steady the skipper stood at
his post and directed the course Of his
little craft All at once he gave
loud hurrah! The corvette had struck
upon a rock, barely below water, un-
der full sail, known as Porpoise
Ledge. and everything was taken
aback, while her main royal mast
went over the side.
That's for not taking n pilot on
strange coast" said the skipper, dry
ly, while his keen little eyes fairly
glistened with pleasure; but ne made
no further demonstrations of joy, but
after taking a second glance at the
vessel, and seeing that matters on
board OF her were In too much confu-
sion for them TO trouble themselves
further about him, he now gave his
whole attention 10 the brig, which
was about n mile from him in
straight line, and about equal distance
from the entrance Of the river.
Upon seeing the accident that had
happened TO her consort she bore
down a little and hoisted "A signal. II
was responded TO on board the cor
vette, when the brig resumed her
course.
"The corvette, I suppose, says she
don't want any aid, so the brig Is left
at liberty to intercept up" said the
skipper. But | don't give up so long
as timber hangs to her. or | can have
n limb to hang on to the tiller by! But
what in natur' are you doing there, Jo-
siah"
Well might the deacon ask this qucs-
ton. The ambitious young man had
brought from the forecastle n keg of
powder and knocked the head in with
n handspikc, and was now tying up
about half a peck of IL in n handker-
chief which he had taken from his
neck.
"Doin' I'm goin' to give 'em gun.
darned If amt If these here guns
have got to go to Davy's locker I'll
have one fire out of 'em first. | guess"
replied Josiah.
AS 'Siah spoke, he threw down
movable section of tue bulwarks
amldships, leaving an open space to
the sea before the muzzlc of three of
the enormous cannon that lay across
the deck. He then took ZIP his huge
cartridge and, thrusting II into the
muzzle of one Of them, began TO ram
| il down with q handspike.
"What on airth is the crlttcr at?"
| cried the deacon.
'Siah made no reply, but having
rammed the cartridge home, he rolled
n thirty-two pound shot toward IL and.
giving it lift showed IL into the muz-
| zle after the powder.
Now for priming her, and then IL
don't give 'em Fourth Of July salute,
| they never heard one"
AS he spoke he poured n handful Of
| powder into the vent, and then, jump
Ing into the calaboose, he lighted n
pine knot and, waving il to keep il
bright approached the gun.
stop, 'Siah, stop" shouted the skip
per NJ the top of his voice; you'll
blow the Sally to Jericho If you fire
that gun aboard of herr
IL don't calculate To be TUX pris'ncr
| by the Britishers, deacon. and lac put
in Dartmore, | guess. don't mean TO
! fire list yet but take good chance
for good aim. and then give them salt
peterw
"It'll shake every bone out OF the
Sally" said the deacon, in alarm.
AS he spoke the brig fired shot
across her bows.
THAT means heave-to, Lot" said the
skipper. "Siah. put out the pine
knot"
IL mean to by'mby, deacon. Wait
till get a shot at em. l ain't afearcd
O. hurtin' the Sally hit! You just
yaw her n little bit. and bring the
muzzle of my artillery piece right agin
the brig and If don't show them how
a Yankee can speak. | don't want TO
see 'tother side of old Kennebec River
agin!"
A second gun came from the brig,
and the shot passed within ten
feet Of the deacon's head. and made n
rent fathom long in his mainsail,
and the shock caused his peak hal
yards To part and let the peak OF his
mainsail down. This caused the Sal
ly TO fall of point or two: and while
the deacon. unflinchng and with a
quiet look. was trying TO bring her 10
the wind again. 'Siah. taking advan.
tage OF a moment as she swung. in
which his loaded gun bore upon the
brig. instantly applied the torch to
the vent
The roar. the flame and the concus-
sion were terrible. The little vessel
reeled under the recoil of the vast gun
till the waves poured in over her bows
and stern. The skipper and Lot were
laid fiat on the deck while 'Siah
found himself hanging by the heels In