Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-16

YORK
Her decks were awash. Anne waved
her hand to him in farewell. He cried
out to her over the dark water. She
could not hear. His wife! His wife!
o God. his wife!
The old marquis laid his hand ten
derly upon her shoulder, striving to
calm her. De Vitre had fallen for
ward and lay motionless on the rail.
Perhaps, happily, he was dead already.
De Kersaint stood undaunted, with
folded arms, looking at LIE Thesee
sinking before and with him. The
habit of years had re-established It
self. He was sailor first Of all now.
He would 60 down with his ship with
colors flying
Old Jean-Renaud suddenly stepped
upon the rail- He took Anne in his
arms. What was he about to do?
The marquis nodded his head, kissed
his granddaughter hand, and that
faithful Breton leaped with her far
out into the black waters. He would
| fignr Tor her life. Her husband
watched him strike boldly out with
her, and then a wave rolled over them
and they were gone from view. 1t
had all transpired in few moments.
"Starboard the helm!" shouted Graf
ton, awakening from his daze Of
| agony. "Flow the head-sheets!"
my God, Capt. Grafton!" cried his
first lieutenant, an old and expert
enced seaman, what mean you to
| do?"
"Luff up toward yon ship"
But, sir, we can't do 1t. Our vessel
is full of water!"
"Sir, SIR" cried the master, well
sink in this wind! We must go off or
lose the ship!"
my God, sir, look at the French
ship!" cried another man.
She had been settling evenly, but at
last she went down with mighty
plunge. For a moment the sea was
black with heads-men struck out
frantically only to be sucked under in
the mighty vortex that followed her
disappearance. The last glimpse Graf
ton caught of the group on the poop
deck, de Kersaint still stood with fold
ed arms looking forward. The mar
quis took off his hat and looked up to-
ward the flag. France! France!" he
murmured He made fine end for
soldier. The English saw it fiuttering
on the surface of the water for mo-
ment as the mighty spars sank slow
ly down, and then the waves washed
over 1t. The ship was gone. Not a
cheer was heard from the English
decks; a groan Of horror broke from
her men, in fact, as they witnessed
this sinister effacement Of ship.
Scarcely minute had elapsed since
| the last broadside was fired, and now
1t was over. A few bits Of wreckage,
few desperate men clinging to them,
perhaps a score out Of 800 gallant souls
who had manned and fought her mo-
ment since-that was ALL Grafton
gave one agonized glance aft. He
thought in the darkness he could
make out the forms of Jean-Renaud
and his wife in the water drifting on.
| Another -moment-and they were lost
| to view.
"Have we a boat that will swim"
he cried in despair to the master.
mot one is left at the davits, SIR"
answered that officer. sadly.
Breakers! Breakers ahead!"
roared one Of the officers forward.
They were right on the Cardinals.
Cup with the helm! Hard up!"
shouted Grafton, instinctively. But
the sluggish ship steered slowly. For
| a few moments she held her way to-
ward the rock. They thought she was
doomed also For himself Grafton did
not care, but for his men! They
waited in awful apprehension, but at
last she slowly swung around and
glided by, and peril was escaped.
Right next to her was the French
ship lie Juste, splitting fire and shot
from her guns at the Torbay.
1--WE will attack that ship!" cried
Grafton, recklessly turning the PROV
of his vessel toward her. Fire on
her. Let her have it, mem"
But there was no response to his
command. His guns were silent.
BEG pardon, sir, the magazines
were flooded and all our powder was
wetted when We came so near founder
Ing" reported the gunner who had just
come on deck.
"Ah, | hau rather have gone down
on the Cardinals than be thus help
less!" murmured the young command
er, quite beside himself with the dis
appointments and anxieties OF the
hour.
"Sir, sir, some dry powder Is
found!" cried another, running up on
the instant.
Engage! Engage, them" screamed
Grafton, fiercely. His mind was so
overwhelmed by the catastrophe that
he could find no relief save in action,
and presently from the iron muzzles
of his hot guns once more rang out the
deadly discharge. A savage desire to
slay, to kill, had supplanted every
other emotion in Grafton's heart He
stood, wild-eyed and despairful, mad
man on his own deck, melting his men
to action.
| After half a dozen broadsides LIE
Juste. badly riven and shattered,
sheered off and attempted to with
draw, having had enough Of 1t. Graf
ton, however, was not to be shaken of.
He pursued the retreating French
ship with implacable ferocity, work.
ing every gun that would bear upon