The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-04-04

oluuEIlly lie captain spoke again,
and I thought his voice was little
changed.
THE gum" said he.
II have thought of that" said I, for
made sure he was thinking of 5om-
bardment of the fort 'srhcy could
never get the gun ashore. and If they
did, they could never haul it through
the woods"
Look astern. DOCTOR" replied the
captain.
We had entirely forgotten the long
nine and there, to our horror. We're the
five rogues busy about her, getting off
her jacket, as they called the stout tar
paulin cover under which she sailed.
Not only that, but it flashed into my
mind at the same moment that the
round shot and the powder for the gun
had been left behind, and stroke with
an AK would put 1t all into the possess
sion of the, evil ones aboard.
Israel was Flint's gunner" said
Gray, hoarsely.
At any risk, we put the boats head
direct for the landing place. BY this
time we had got so far out of the run
| of the current that we kept steerage
way even at our necessarily gentle rate
of rowing, and I could keep her steady
for the goal. But the worst of it was
that, with the course 1 now held, we
turned our broadside instead of our
target like barn doar.
I could hear, as well as see, that
brandy-fa faced rascal. Israel Hands,
Pumping down round shot on the
deck.
who's the best shot?" asked the
captain. E
''Mr. Trelawney, out and away said
Mr. Trelawney, will you please pick
me off one Of these men, sir? Hands.
If possible" said the captain.
Trelawney was as cool as STEEL He
looked to the printing OF his gun.
Now cried the captain easy with
that gun, sir, or you'll swamp the boat.
All hands stand by to trim her when he
aims"
The squire raised his gun, the rowing
ceased, and we leaned over to the other
side to keep the balance. and all was so
nicely contrived that we did not ship
drop.
They had the gun by this time slowed
round upon the swivel, and Hands.
who was at the muzzle with the ram
mer, was. in consequence. the most eX
posed. However, we had no luck; for
just as Trelawney fired, down he
stopped, the ball whistling over him,
and 1t was one OF the other four who
fell.
The cry he gave was echoed not only
great number Of voices from the shore,
and looking in that direction I saw the
other pirates trooping out from
among the trees and tumbling into
their places in the boats.
Here come the gigs. sir" said l.
Give way. then" said the captain.
We mustn't mind II we swamp her
now. If we can't get ashore, alrs up"
Only one Of the gigs is being
manned, SIR 1 added, "the crew Of the
other most likely Is going round by
shore to cut us off,
They'll have a hot run, SIR re-
turned the captain; Jack ashore, you
Know. It's not them l mind; it's the
round-shot. Carpet bowls! My lady's
maid couldn't miss. Tell us. squire.
when you see the match, and we'll hold
water" I
In the meanwhile we had been max
ing headWay at good pace for a boat
SO overloaded, and we had shipped but
little water in the process. We were
now close in; thirty or forty strokes
and we should beach her; for the ebb
had already disclosed narrow belt of
sand below the clustering trees. The
gig was no longer to be feared; the lit
tie point had already concealed 1t from
our eyes The ebb-tide, which had so
cruelty delayed us. was now making
PREPARATION, and delaying our assail-
ants. The one source of danger was
the gun.
IF I durst," said the captain, I'D
stop and pick off another man." IA
But it was plain that they meant
nothing should delay their shot. They
had never so much as looked at their
dead, and I could see him trying to
crawl away.
Ready" cried the squire.
"Hold" cried the captain, quick as
an echo. .5N
And he and Redruth backed with
great heave that sent her stern bodily
under water. The report fell in at the
same instant of time. This was the
first that Jim heard, the sound of the
sources shot not having reached him..
When the ball passed, not one of us
precisely knew; but / fancy 1t must
have been over our heads, and that the
wind of 1t may have contributed to our
disaster.
At any sate, the boat sunk by tina
stern. quite gently, in three feet OF
water, leaving the captain and myself,
facing each other. on our feet. The
other three took complete headers and
came up again, drenched and bubbling.
SO far there was no great harm. No
lives were lost, and we could wade
ashore in safety. But there were all
our stores in the bottom, and, to make
things worse, only two guns out OF
five remained in state for service.
Mine l had snatched from my knees
and held over my head, by sort OF
instinct. AS for the captain, he had
carried his over his shoulder by a ban
doleer, and, like wise man. lock up
permost. The three had gone down
with the boat. To add to our concern
we heard voices already drawing near
us in the woods along shore: and we
had not only the danger OF being cut
off from the srockade in our half -crI,;-
pied state. but the fear before us.
whether IL Hunter and Joyce were at.
tackled by half a dozen they would
have the sense and conduct to stand
firm Hnntar wa q X o+a,d,, 49, -