Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-18


doesn't need to take lessons from any
body. Wheel, there! Edge up into the
wind, will you? See how she follows
us, gentlemen! She gains on us hand
over fist! See how she comes down.
Bring up the dispatches, Mr.. Stan
hope, and have them ready to heave
overboard; they mustn't get them If
we are captured! All! They're giving
US taste of their metal at last. Steady
now, keep her up to 1t! Luff her
hard!"
AS he spoke the line-of-battle ship
suddenly waved, puff of smoke
broke out forward as her how-chaser
bore and a shot from a 32-pounder
came hurting through the air at the
brig. Fortunately 1t missed her.
"shall we make any reply, sir?'"
asked Stanhope.
"Nonsense!" replied Grafton. 1--WE
haven't gun on board that could
carry half the distance. No, hold on
as we are. I don't think she'll fire
again. She's overhauling us so rapid
ly that there is no use of their damag.
ing their prize"
They watched the chasing ship care
fully for a few moments in gloomy 81
lence. There was no escape for them
apparently.
Nov, l have an idea," burst out
Grafton at last. IF it fails, guess we
are good for cruise on shore in one
OF Johnnies prisons. Slocum, let her
OF bit more, now. l think we've
enough ofing to weather Ushant, with
something to spare, and want mon
sieur to get we'll to windward of us.
Stanhope, yon's noble ship. We
can Outright these Frenchmen, but we
can't outbuild them. The best ships
in our navy are those captured from
King Louis"
What's the use of our bothering to
build ships if the French will build
them for us?" asked the matter-of-
fact and practical Stanhope. Cali
we've got to do is to go out and take
'em."
1--WE won't take that one, though"
''No, sir, we WON'T" answered Stan
hope, signing over the gloomy pros
pect.
II wish to God we had the old Tor
bay under us, then we'd not show yon
fellow our heels but our teeth. hey,
Stanhope?" exclaimed the captain.
"Ay, sir; and with old Hawke in
command"
mo, man." answered the young cap
tain promptly; tI'd want to command
her myself. / warrant that, with you
to second me, we would give a good ac-
count of the gentleman yonder! See
how he overhauls us! If he should
yaw now and give us broadside, am
afraid it would be all over with us.
Look, how he is eating up to wind
ward of us too! What a tub this Isl"
cay, he slips along like yacht.
We've no show at all. It's all up with
us, I'm afraid" answered Stanhope.
81 don't quite give up the game yet.
Well have one more try at run
presently. If he does the right thing,
then we're lost; if not, think We'll
make it."
"You can count on seaman like
the man handling that ship doing the
right thing, sure"
Yves, fear so. Still we can but
try!"
Meanwhile old Jabez had been steer
Ing the brig with consummate seaman
ship. With every appearance of en-
deavoring to hold her close to the
wind, he had skillfully allowed her to
fall off, little by little, until she was
quite perceptibly to leeward Of the
French ship. Grafton judged that now
or never things were opportune for his
daring attempt
Send the men to the starboard bat
terry, Mr. Stanhope," he said quietly,
as he realized that he had approached
the supreme moment, and it was about
time to try his coup, or give over the
attempt and give up the ship. Get
| the stuns'ls ready for setting and see
that the gear is all clear. want smart
work from the sail-trimmers, now!
Slocum, stand by that helm and mind
the orders! Bid the men train their
SNaAo al, SIollhoPC, anu ire Wu6u
give the word. Now, then! Up with
the helm! Over with it! Hard-a
weather! Tend the after-braces!
Hands ready! Round in forward,
fatten in the head-sheets! So! Stand
by with the starboard battery! Now!
Fire! Let her have it, men! Sway
away with those stuns'ls! Steady with
the helm! Quick, for Gods sake.
| Well done, ALL"
Once more the eight slx-pounders
| parked out. In a cloud of her own
smoke the Boxer rounded on her heel
again, bringing the wind aft again,
darted away at right angles to her
former course. Covered with stuns'ls
allow and aloft, she leaped along at a
great pace, gaining distance with every
moment. Were they to succeed in es-
| Gaping?
But the captain of the liner had fore
seen the skillful endeavor. A less
able seaman might have attempted to
emulate the Englishman's motions and
followed on the briggs heels; less
| tbOuphtful commander would NOT have