Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-12-18
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CHAPTER XI.--tContlnuedJ
sy GEORGE MANVILLE FENN

What followed was one terrible seem
OF despairing men striving for their I've
against foe of ovcrpOwering strength
The fierce fire of the schooner, as sh'
came nearer and nearer, was feebly re
spohded to-, and in short time the decl
gtreamed with blood as the shot cah'
crashing through the bulwarks, sendini
showers of splintcrs to do deadly worl
with the hail of grape. There was NJ
Thought Of capture now; no need of bid
ding the men attack; following the eX
ample of their officers, and one and nj
doggedly determined to sell their live!
dearly. the men dragged gun after gur
round as those they worked were dis
abed, and sent shot in reply ms Otter
as they could.
With uniform torn and bedabbled, with
blood face blackened with powder ana
the red light of battle in his eyes, Hum
phrey Armstrong saw plainly enough that
his case was hopeless, and that, with all
her pomp of war and pride of discipline
and strength, his sloop was PROSTATE be-
fore the buccaneers snaky craft
The schooner's sides were vomiting
smoke and flame. and she was close along
side now. She had been so mnneuyered
as to sail right round the end of the reef'
whose position seemed to be exactly
known, so that from firing upon the
s]oop's bows and raking from stem TO
stern, the firing had been continued as
she passed along the larboard side.
Hardly had Humphrey seen the enc.
my's intentions and gathered his men to
gether. than the schooner's side ground
up against the shattered stern Of the
sioop. Heavy graphing irons were thrown
on board, and with a furious yelling Il
horde of blackened, savage-lookng men
poured on to the bloody, splinter-strewn
deck, and coming comparatively fresh
upon the sloop's exhausted crew, bore
down all opposition. Men were driven
below, cut down. stunned and driven to
ask for quarter; and so furious was the
onslaught that the sloop's crew were di-
vided into two half-helpless bodies, one
Of which threw down their arms, while
the other, which included the captain and
the officers, backed slowly toward the
bows, hating at every spot where they
could make stand but forced to yield
foot by foot, till their fate was to sur
render or be driven through the shatter-
ed bulwarks into the sea.
1t was a matter of minutes. The fight
was desperate, but useless Humphrey
Armstrong and those around him seeming
determined to sell their lives dearly, for
no quarter was asked. They had given
way step by step till there was nothing
behind them, but the shattered bulwarks
and the sea, when, headed by their lead
er, the buccaneers made desperate rush;
there was the clashing of sword and pike;
and, as sailor and officer fell or were dis
armed. Humphrey stepped in a half-con-
gealed pool of blood, slipped, and went
heavily backward, the buccaneers lieu.
tenant leaping forward to brain him with
q heavy ak.
There was a rush. fierce shout, Black
Mazzard was thrust aside and the com
modore sprang past him to plant his foot
upon the fallen officers chest. while, the
fight being over, the rest held their hands
the conquerors and conquered-to see
what would be the captains fate.
"Now, Captain Armstrong" cried the
buccaneer leader, "beg for your wretch
ed life, you cowardly dog!'
"Coward!' roared Humphrey, raising
himself slightly on one hand, as with the
other.he swept the blood from his ensan
guined face. "You cursed hound! you
iiew
The buccaneer shrank back as il from
some blow; his foot was withdrawn from
the wounded officers chest, he lowered
the point OF his sword and stood gazing
at his PROSTATE enemy wildly:
"The captain shirks the job, lads" CRIED
a coarse voice. Here, let me come"
1t was Black Mazzard who spoke, and
drunk with the spirit of the furious fight
he pressed forward. ak In hand.
Humphrey raised himself little high
er, with his white teeth barred in fierce de
nance as he prepared to meet the death
blow he saw about to fall.
But at that moment the buccanee
caught his lieutenant's uplifted arm.
''Enough!' he cried. iercely; mo NOR
blood. He is no coward. Bart-Dinny
take this gentleman ashore"
Humphrey Armstrong did not hear tn
words. for his defiant act exhausted hi
failing strength. and he fell back. in
sensible to all that happened for man,
hours to come.