The National tribune., 1901-11-07
BOAT-HOOK."

hand, and with Abe's assistance pulled
him aboard.
"Confound you," said 81; I've a no.
ton to put you back in there, and make
you untangle that rope from the screw
III get the rope off, 81" said Shorty,
placatingly.
When he saw the line running out,
Sandy, with great presence of mind. had
Snatchcd up an AK and severed the rope
as it ran over the gunwale, so there was
but IA short length entangled.
III jump ON that float there, said
Sandy generously, and reach down and
get it Off in a minute or two. Don't blame
poor Pete"
NO; III do it," said Shorty, giving Il
push against the dock to bring the stern
around nearer the float.
No; le' me, said Pete, recovering, and
noticing what they were attempting. Pm
as wet as | can be, and I'll do it
He divested himself of his belt, over
coat and shoes, and jumped onto the float
where Shorty was already struggling with
the rope. Holding on to the fiat, he I'M
hesitatingly slipped back into the water,
and in five minutes he and Shorty had
the screw free.
Pete, you have done noble after nj"
said 81. ais he helped him up on the boat.
Go down in the fire-roOm and dry your
self
May I pull the lanyard when you fire
the gum eagerly inquired Pete, as he
started for the fire-iUom.
Yes. yes" said 81, impatiently. ''Get
down there and dry yourself. Start her,
Shorty. I'm afraid the Colonel IL get tired
waiting. and go ahead without us. Start
her"
Wet as he was, and only waiting to
snatch up his trumpet, which he seemed
to think was necessary to his naval dig
fttv hn md
Go ahead; full speed Steady the helm
there
STEADY it is, sir" said Sandy, full of
the naval etiquet they had observed on
the man-of-war, and grasping the wheel
firmly.
The boats dashed out from the cover
of the slip into the open river. amid the
cheers of the regiment, which had been
anxiOusly watching for them.
Stabburd your helm" said Shorty,
walking up and down, trumpet in hand,
with all the dignity of an Admiral.
''Stabburd it is, sir" said Sandy, rush
ing the wheel to the right.
'Stabburd your helm," repeated Monty,
on the other boat.
''Stabburd it is, sir" answered Alf Rus
sell, following Sandy's example.
The boats turned sharply to the left to
run to the regiment.
In spite of the delay, the big guns on
the ironclad had not yet been reloaded,
or else they scorned to waste 64-pound
shells on the little tugs, and they passed
with nothing more than a hOwitzer-lOad of
canister, which beat the water into n foam
100 yards short of them.
81 and Shorty found the Colonel and
the rest of the regiment all impatience.
Three large rice-tlats had been loaded
with infammable stuff obtained by tear
ing down sheds and shanties on the dock.
Near them were other bargeS, flats and
scOws, on which cotton bales had been
placed, for bulwarks, with musketeers sta
toned behind them.
You are just in time, Sergeant" said
the Colonel. The tide is turning and
the currents ROW favor us. The Adju- |
tant has been out in a rowboat, and set
some shingles adrift, and they float right |
down toward the ironcad. She seems to
he stuck in the mud, or her engines broken |
down, or something, for she has not moved |
since we have been watching her, though |
there is smoke and steam. If we can get |
out beyond the middle of the river. it |
seems to me, from the direction the |
shingles are making, that we can float
right down upon her bow, where none
Of her big guns bear, and so''--
Get on her blindside, so to speak, in
terjected 81.
Precisely. Come up to her without
much risk until we actually jump her. The
will take the other boat and
tow one of the fireships out TO where l
have indicated, and you will tow the other
two after him. You'll start the fires there
and turn them loose. Then come back
and help get these other barees out to
where they'll float after them
The barges were at once made fast to
The tugs, and the Adjutant and ST started
1ut with them. A man could be seen on
.op of the ironclad curiously watching the
through glass. As little
smoke began rising from the fat-pine
and the flats began slowly drift
ng toward the ironclad, he understood
what was intended and there was an evil
lent commotion on board the Savannah"
Smoke rolled out of her chimneys, clouds
# steam rose, and her propeller thrashed
he water inte foam.