The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24
In the Uasp's Nest
BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.
Copyright 1902, by Charles Scribners Sons)
BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY,
CHAPTER XIV.
Ned Fights His First Great Battle.

Ned Fights His First Great Battle.
was dreary, miserable day they spent on the
Wasp. The wind swept furously across the
tumbling waters the sodden sky and the ship
along reward evening" however, the clouds broke, and
tho the hard gale still blew, the shone ftfuy
thru the riffs in the drifting Clouds
About II o'clock at night Boston, snugly
castle thought he discovered light
lest he might be deceived, he sprang
shrouds and ran up to the top By this time he had
swing himself the futtock shrouds like monkey.
Gaining the top, he scampered up the topsail and
stepped boldly out it; the topsa being
reefed he held tight to the ye and peered earnestly
out in the darkness of the night
he thought he had detected the light.
. There it was, sure enough It fell with
the pitching of the ship in the huge waves. Now he
saw it, now it disappeared, but it always came again.
The moon had set, and the night black and
light away for him to distinguish ANYTIME
YET the light was there. 1t cleaned like star,
and a light meant ship. There no mistaking it.
Gus point in all that waste Of blackness agita-
ton ne came down from aoft by sliding down the top
mast backstay calling he reached the star
board gangWay Light no! Light ho!'
The news instantly reported to Captain Jones,
who had not yet retired for the night but
low in his cabin at the time, a moment that
officer wrapped in heavy boat cloak, up
forecase followed by Lieutenant Knight had the
watch. The captain had spoken to Boston, or no
ticed him in since the reproof the morning
before, and at first he did not deign address him
Mr. Knight" he asked knitting his brows
ing over the starboard cathead striving pierce
the Dackness with the intensity of his gaze, where
away is the light, sir?"
I've not seen it myself" answered the lieutenant:
whereabouts did you see it, sr?" said the captain;
turning to the midshipman. -.
There, sr,' exclaimed the small bow salutine and
pointing away to the starboard You at
intervals sir. Now, sir! There it is agan!"
"Ay, it's so; see it now,' exclaimed the captain
at last after following with his eyes concentrated
stare the direction of the boys outstretched hand
And H. cried Lieutenant Knight the same
moment ..]. a.. = -. - 0~".>
Il see it much palmer from the topsa yard
Have you been a1oft, Boston?" :" .
YES sir saw it first from the deck here, and
then went aloft to make before reported it."
You have done very we'll SIR" said the captain
The boys heart bounded at this word praise.
"Ha! There is another" suddenly interrupted
knight. Two, - -:
Mr. Boston, said the captain, run up to the top
sail yard again and if make any more"
Instantly the boy sprang into the rigging with
agility Of cat and he had before to
or the ship was violent enough below high ele-
walton seemed tremendous; however on tight
and took another long look. In moment his shri
voice sent message to the the
forecaste far below, in spite Of the the wind
and 49,. -. -,
There's of them sir! I can see four five six
at leas It's hard to tell how many they rise and fall
so in the heaving They're strung out in long
line and seem be heading right across our path
.o,a +h Al right Lay down from aoft Mr. Boston,"
braces and bring the ship by the wind Well keep to
windward Of those sail until morning."
Presently, after the helm been shifted and the
yards braced up the little Wasp brought to the
wind the port tack, and staggered along hruout the
Inc day broke brilliantly clear, but with the fag
of the gale still blowing hard rolling
tremendously In fact, if anything the rougher
than it had been at the height storm It often
happens that the waves follow than accom-
pany, storm of that kind.
The Wasp was rolling fearfully watches,
during the night, had known of the lights that had
peen sighted, consequently day dawned the
decks were covered with officers men. A few
miles to leeward they made out dozen Ships pitching
and numbering along in the heavy It was quite
evident to the pracced of the Wasp that they
were in the presence of convoy merchant ships
under the protection of man-of-war brig, a little
larger and heavier than their ship. The convoy
was very much scattered II had probably
greater number of vessels, which had become sepa-
rated in the storm that had dealt hardly the
Wasp, and which had not been able reassen1ble.
Several of the merchant ships armed, it was
developed, as the Wasp drew to them if they
joined with the brig in attacking the American
sioop-of-war she would be heavily overmatched vet
Jones did not hesitate moment. He headed at once
for the brig, which sgnalled convoy to square