The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-08-26

Wnocl over q rev SDokeS, ana the
Ranger shot up into the wind n little
and hung quivcring a moment with
checked way.
"Givc her a touch with the right
hand spike, lads" said old Price.
STEADY; shove in that Quoin a little;
easy there; overhaul those tackles! All
ready, sir"
"Now!' cried O'Ncill.
A booming roar and n cloud of smoke
broke out forward, and the ball rico
chcttcd along the water II sank just
under The quarter of the chase.
Let her 70 oil again." cried O'Ncill
TO the quartcrmastcr, and n moment
later as the sails filed and she hcclcd
once more TO the wind, every well
dycc; enough off," he cried.
~ good shot, Master Price, md Il
glass of grog for YOU presently in re-
ward" said Jones quietly. "Ah, we
shall have some answer at any rate"
At this moment Il small red flag
broke out from the gaff of tho English
vessel.
"Show our own colors aft there,
though they can scarcely see thcm,"
cried the captain. lies n plucky one,
that fellow. What's he doing now?
Fore Cad, he's got Il gun over the
quarter, Il stern chaser. Must have
arms on board"
The Ranger was rushing through the
water again at n rapidly increasing
rate, almost burying her lee cathcad in
the foaming sea under the freshening
breeze, and was now very near the
Maidstone, which at this moment dis
charged the small stern chaser which
had been dragged astcrn, the shot
from which passed harmlcssly through
tho bcllying ~forcsail above their heads.
"Givc her another, Price, said
O'Ncill upon n nod from Jones.
"Into her this time, sir?"
"Yes; anywhere YOU like"
The Ranger luffcd again, losing a lit.
tie distance as she did so, but weather.
Ing apprcciably on the stranger, and
this time the flying splintcrs from the
stern OF the chase showed that the shot
had met its mark. There was n sudden
scattering OF the men upon her quar-
tor, and most of them disappeared, but
the young girl could be seen holding on
to the weather spanker wang and ap-
parcntly looking dcGantly at them.
O'Ncill took up the glass and exam
incd her.
Gath, sir, she looks as pretty as she
is brave. Sec for yourself, sir" he add
ed as he handed the telescope to tho
captain, WHO took a careful look at her
through the glass.
"You have Il good eye for the beauti.
full" he replied, smiling, "evcn at a
lone l'1nun Sppt1tn tllr how nbncor cir.
VIC are within muskct range of her"
While this was being done the Ran
ger had crcpt up on the stranger till
her bow began to ovcrrcach the wealth
or quarter OF the other vessel. AS they
held OH rccklcssly together suddenly
the speed of the chase was diminished.
Her helm was put down, md with
sails %quiverlng and swaying she swung
up into the wind.
eve have her now said Jones,
%springlng OH the rail and leaning over
forward; cray, it's too late. Missed
stays! BY heaven, she's i'm irons! She's
doomed! Aft there. steady with the
helm! Give her n good FUN"
In the next instant, with q crash
heard above the roar of the Storm wen
upon lIt otlti snip, tlIc III Iut'u Slulu-
| stone drove upon the reef broadside
OH. The shock of meeting was tremen-
1ous. Her maSts were snapped short
off like pipcstcms; the bowling gale
jerkcd them ovc the sides, where they
Numbered and beat upon the ship with
tremendous force. The girl disap-
pearcd.
"Brcakcrs ahead" on the instant
ronrcd out q bali dozen voices In the
forecastlc.
Breakers on the starboard bowv'
came the wild cry from all sides.
"Down with the hclm-hard down!"
Shouted O'Neill, with n scaman's ready
instinct. without waiting for the cap
sion on the deck.
"Steady with the hclm-steady, sir"
cried Jones in his powerful voice, with
an imperious wave of his hand. "Sl-
lence fore and aft the decks! Every
man TO his station! Keep her n good
full, quartcrmastcr. Keep that helm as
you have It. Look yonier, sir ne add
ed, pointing to larboard to another dan
ger. "Rcady about, stations for stays!
Aft with you, Mr.. O'Ncill, and see that
the helm is shifted exactly as direct.
Make no mistake! Lively, men, for
your lives!'
The eager crew sprang to their sta
lions. There was another moment or
two OF confusion, and MS they settled
down the silence was broken only by
the wind and waves. The water was
seething and whirling under the fore
foot Of he Ranger. The reefs upon
which the Maidstone had crashed were
dangerously near. But the keen eye of
the captain had seen on the other side
4 slender needle of rock over which the
waves broke I'm seethlng fury as 1t
thrust Itself menacingly out of the an
cry ocean. They were right among tho
reefs, and only the most complete
knowledge and consummate
ship could save them. They we're there.
70 tick ship now and come up In the
wind would ti.roT them on the rocky
needle; to go off would bring them
down upon the other reefs. Jones, en-
tirely master OF the situation, perfectly
cool In aO~ucarnnce, though hfa eyed