The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-24

stood firm. Disregarding their boorish-
ness, Capt. Armstrong continued:
"You are probably unaware that the
King has decided 70 reclaim his own.
Cockburn. having smoked QUE the central
nest of treason in Washington. will have
ravaged your coast by this time. l might
have boarded you when ! first came in,
but you are treacherous devils. and would
probably have used those murderous
whaling tools on us; and / hold that one
British bluejacket is worth more than
thousand Of We. l didn't sink or burn
your old grease box, BECAUSE filthy as II
is, there's prize money in il, and my loyal
boys in blue shall spend the money you
have earned while you shall holystone my
decks, and train my guns on the enemies
OF the King. YOU Rawlins, are a surly
brute! I'll put you in the copper punti
And you shall keep her copper like gold
plate or | promise you frequently recur-
ring weddings with the 'gunners daugh-
ter Seize them, men and take them
aboardw
"Avast therer Capt. Zeke held UP a big
brown palm, and the trained seamen halt
ed instinctively at the word of command.
mo need to sic on your dogs" he con-
tinued, glarlng savagely at Armstrong.
You've got the upper hand, and It's no
more than we might have expected from
a passed. of treacherous redcoats; for that
all you are, II you do wear the blue. But
I amt in your copper punt yet-vStan' up!
Clear and defiant the words rang out;
Three seas-pitch-pole!'
The Eng hmen's amusement changed
to wonder as twelve harpoons were pitch
poled from the bush OF their de ele-
waited for a three-seas da t. They swish
ed overhead in perfect alignment, like
rank of charging cavalry; each short
warped to the heavy seine. The irons
buried themselves to the h'tches in the
sand at the wat RS edge, the 6 eat net
settled, and the entire British force, ex-
cept the two bcat-t onders, were shared
like wild pigeons. W tn a whoop and
crash of crockery Capt, Zeke's contin-
gent charged aero the table, while Ads
reinforce ments appeared in the rear.
Puzzled and Handicapped by the en-
tanging net, their arms rendered use
less, the Eng'ishmen went down in a
squirm ng, crus hing heap.
Unlike the fondlivg of an infant by It's
mother was the m asure met d unto
them. When thoroughly subdued, they
were ingen,ouslv tied with the short
warps. and further secured wi the
wreckage Of the table and handy beach
drift.
"Think nobody heard Of the declaration
of war but you, do ye?" Captain Zeke
called back to his discounted foe, as he
marshaled his men to the boats. "If
the Betsy Ann wasn't so near full, ia
swap ships with. We. Come, hurry up,
boys, and catch those boa "
The briggs boats. ca h with its keeper
sculling homeward for dear life, were
quickly overhaued ed, the m captured,
and the boats stove and set adrift.
The Betsy AIMS co X shrewd old
spouter. got his cue from the miniature
he &c IL Cd
in the sliprope set the courses. and had
her headed for blue water before the
boats arrived. AS the old 'a'y swashed
across the br'g's stern, Captain Zeke
hailed his friend the MILDLY. who had
been left in charge:
"Hey, sonny! When your sa"ing master
gets back, ask him how he likes Yankee
sauce with kargaroo-tai l?'
The youngsters had beard of that tide
which, taken at the fi0od leads on to
fortune" Surf Using that tNis MIGHT be
1t, he hastily divratched a cutter ashore.
and was sound'y berated by his irate
capta'n for rot havi g sent the pi7nace
also. He then remembered that ito err is
human"
Before the Retsy AIMS topga'lant sails
were set, the Grampus was after her with
every rag dra wing. The brig was gam
ing like a swordfish on a porpoise, and
Capt. Zeke's crew was full of large and
exceedingly sharp fishhooks. They were
running dead before the wind. which en-
abled Armstrong TO "yaw'' from side to
side and fire on the defenseless whaler.
A 32-pound shot cut Capt, Zekes own boat
in two. leaving the ends dangling pa
thetically from the davits. A quick
CLEAN of recollection displaced the angry
glare with which he regarded the wreck.
He dived below and returned with a chart
containing the discoveries he had made
on those lazy boating trims. He took a
hasty. but careful cross-bearing. made a
rapid mental calculation. and kept away
two points and a half. Then he watched
his vicious fieet-footed pursuer with in
creased anxiety. If now Armstrong would
only make the move he had so carefully
planned for him!
The supply of wood Amos had laid in
was being rapidly augmented by spInters
from the bulwarks and spare spars. when
the thirty-two spoke again. and the entire
stock was rendered unavaiabl by the
demolition of the galley. Carefully Capt.
Zeke conned his vessel. turing the brig
upon the course he had designed her to
take as though she had been under his
orders One by one the wrink es smooth
ed out Of his brow and the strained look
in his eyes changed to a triumphant gilt
ter. When the brig waved to fire the
shot that raked the pots and kettles. he
!esped upon the skylight, swung his old
straw hat at arms length and yelled like
boy killing snakes.
The fading smoke showed the brig sta
tionary, her forefoot high out of wafer
and with a heavy starboard list which
barred her copper-the copper Armstrong
had said he should polish-to the turn
of the bilge
This was Capt. Zeke's chance. He haul
ed out his bowlines and went to wird-
ward, keeping an eye on the brig Sne
was harmless, her port battery stargsz-
ing, the starboard looking toward the
coral beds Al her. fighting men were
in the boat. straining to pull her Oft.
The old man hofsted his flag, squared
away and ran down to her. keeping the
weather gauge. He ran as close as he
dared, for the rock. His ensign snapped
defiantly above his head. Leaning far
out, he hailed the arnica- bandaged one
on the briggs quarterback:
'Eey, don't you wish't ye had US? Good
chance to scrub your copper, Mr.-er-er
-What's-name?'
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