Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-16
5 4 SISTERS VENGEANCE !
RJcEoRcE MANviLLE FEMH y
CHAPTER xl.-,Continued.,


What followed was me terrible scene
Of despairing men striving for their lives
against foe of overpowering strength.
The fierce fire of the schooner. as she
came nearer and nearer, was feebiy re-
sponded to. and in short time the deck
streamed with blood. as the shot came
crashing through tho bulwarks. sending
showers Of splinters TO do deadly work
with the hail OF grape. There was no
thought of capture now; no need of bid
ding the men attack; following the ex-
ample of their officers, and one and all
doggedly determined to sell their lives
dearly, the men dragged gun after gun
round as those they worked were dis
abled, and sent shot in reply as often
as they could.
With uniform torn and hedabbled, with
blood, face blackeneG with powder, and
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. mis- sloop was prostrate be-
fore the buccaneers snaky craft.
The schooner's sides were vomiting
smoke and fame. and she was close along
side now. She had been so maLeuyered
as to sail right round the end Of the reef.
whose position seemed tc be exactly
known. so that from firing upon the
sloop's bows and raking from stem 10
stern, the firing had been continued as
she passed along the larboard side.
Hardly had Humphrey seen the enc
ny's intentions and gathered his men to-
gether, than the schooner's side ground
up against the shattered stern of the
sloop. Heavy graphing irons were thrown
on board. and with a furious yelling
horde of blackened. strengthening 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, enc
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 a 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;
4hor he r1a chi Of nj q
and, as sailor and officer fell or were dis
armed, Humphrey stepped in half-con-
gealed pool OF blood. slipped, and went
heavily backward, the buccaneers lieu
tenant leaping forward to brain him with
a heavy ak.
There was a rush, a 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!'
"Cowardg' 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
lier'
The buccaneer shrank back as if 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 tight,
he pressed forward, ak in hand.
Humphrey raised himself little high
er, with his white teeth barred in fierce de-
nance as he prepared 10 meet the death
blow he saw about TO fall.
But at that moment the buccaneer
caught his lieutenant's uplifted arm.
Enough he cried, fercely; mo more
blood. He is no coward. Bart-Dinny.
take sAis gentleman ashore"
Humphrey Armstrong did not hear the
words, for his defiant act exhausted his
failing strength, and he fell back, in
sensible TO ali that happened for many
hours to come.