Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-09

ward. the kings ship sailed steadily along
the coast few miles from the shore.
1t was within two hours Of shutdown.
as the men were at their drowsiest mo-
ment, when, as they were rounding a
rocky point feathered with glorious palms.
beyond which the country ran up toward
the mountains in a glorious chaos OF
piled-up rock, deep rayine and 6re-scath-
ed chine. the principal Indian suddenly
seized the captains arm and pointed
straight before him TO where, couple of
miles away, and looking as if she had
just glided out Of some hidden channel
running into the land, there was a long,
low, bIack-hzlled schooner, spreading an
enormous amount of canvas for so small
vessel; and as he saw the rake Of the
masts and the disproportioned size Of her
spars, Humphrey Armstrong felt thrill
Of exultation enn through him even as his
whole crew was now galvanized into life,
and he mentally repeated the words Of
the Indian:
lei Commodore Yunk."
Yes; there could be no doubt of it. The
shape and size of the vessel answered the
description exactly, and no trader or
pleasure vessel, foreign or British, would
sail with so dangerously an overweight
ing rig as that
AT last. Them cried Humphrey, ex-
citedly. Bring the poor fellows here.
LEY shall have their reward and CO."
Was it treachery, or fear of the enemy?
Humphrey asked himself this question
as a shout came from the steersman,
who. like the rest, had been gazing at the
schooner, but who was the first to see
canoe being padded rapidly for the
shore.
No one had been attending to the two
Indians, who had waited until the atten-
ton Of ali was bent upon the buccaneer,
and then silently slipped over the side,
glided down the side, glided down the
rope, and cast off, TO paddle shoreward
There was good discipline on board
ship even then. and at the call TO quar-
tiers every man fell into place. The long
gun was run in, loaded, run out. and d.
rectly after there was puff of smoke
loud report which went echoing among
the mountains and through the densely
wooded ravines, as round shot skipped
over the water right in front Of the
schooner.
"Hurrahr' shouted the men, as they
saw the long vessel alter her course
little.
"She surrenders," said Humphrey to
| himself; and in the brief moments that
followed he saw himself returning to En-
gland in triumph, his task done. and beau
tiful, fashionable Lady Jenny Wildersey
welcoming him with open arms.
| 1t was puff of fancy, dissipated like
the puff of smoke which came from the
| l.
| the report that rumbled heavily away,
came a round shot skipping over the
calm surface of the sea, not forward like
the summons to heave to of the king s
ship, but straight at her hull, and so well
| aimed that it tore through the starboard
bulwark amidships.
"The insolentr' exclaimed Humphrey,
| turning purple with rage. How dare
| her'
| As he spoke he raised his spy-glass to
his eye, for something could be seen fiut-
tering up the side Of the great mainsail,
and directly after a large black flag was
waited out by the breeze.
Every good, COMMODORE cried Hum
phrey. with a smile. "You can't escape
us now. Gentlemen, the ball has opened.
| Down with her spars, my lads. Never
mind her hull we want that to take
back to Falmouth"
| The sloop crept a little nearer in one Of
the puffs of wind that came from time to
time and the firing went on, Humphrey
and his officers being astounded at the
ability with which the schooner's guns
were served and the accuracy of their
aim.
"No wonder that they've carried all be-
fore them among the merchantmen" NUT
| tered Humphrey, as a shot came crash
| ing into them, and three men were car
ried below, disabled by spinters.
| As he spoke he looked anxiously round
| to make sure that the schooner would not
| be able to pass them in the approaching
darkness. and then, feeling more and
more that men who could serve their guns
so well would be terrible adversaries in
case of boarding, and determined to
spare his men till the schooner was dis
abled, he kept up the artillery duel till
the only guide for laying their guns was
the flash of the enemy's pieces.
| By this zine the fire of the buccaneers
had proved so effective that the sloop's
bulwarks were shattered and her decks
were slippery with blood, while her cap
tain was Tuning with rage at the unfor-
tunate aim of his men; for, though the
schooner had evidently been hit again and
again, she seemed to have escaped vital
| injury.
ITO be continued)
|