Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-15

lully TOT IeW moments In gloomy Sl- lence. There was no escape for them apparently.
 Now, I 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 off a bit more, now. I think we've enough ohing to weather Ushant, with something to spare. and want mon- gieur to get well to windward of us. stanhope. yon's a 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
 Whats the use of our bothering to build ships if the French will build them for us?'' asked the matter-of- fact and practical Stanhope. All we've got to do is to go out and take 'em.'
 We won't take that one. though"
 ''No, sir, we won't" answered Stan- hope, signing over the gloomy pros- pect.
 T 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 commando
 tsNo, man. answered the young cap- tain promptly; I'd want to command her myself. I warrant that. with you to second me, we would give good ac- count of the gentleman wonder! 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 tool What tub this is!''
 'tAy. he slips along like yacht, We've no show at all. It's all up with us, I'm afraid answered Stanhope.
 ''I don't quite give up the game yet. we'll have one more try at a run presently. If he does the right thing, then we're lost; if not, think we'll make 1t
 "'You can count on seaman like the man handling that ship doing the right thing. sure"
 ''Yes, ]. 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 skiIlfully 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.
 s'Send the men to the starboard bat tery, MT, Stanhope, 2 he said quietly, as he realized that he had approached the supreme moment, and 1t 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 sec that the gear is all clear. Iwant smart work from the sail-trimmers, now! slocum, stand by that helm and mind the ordersi Bid the men train their guns aft, stanhope, and fire when give the word. Now, then! Up with the helm! Over with itl Hard-a weatherl Tend the after braces! Hands ready! Round in forward, fiatten in the head-sheets! So! Stand by with the starboard battery! Now! Fire! Let her have 1t, men! Sway away with those stuns'ls! Steady with the helm! Quick, for Gods sake! We'll done, allI''
 Once more the eight six-pounders, parked out. Tn 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 great pace, gaining distance with every moment. Were they to succeed In es- caping?
 But the captain of the liner had fore. seen the ski1lful endeavor. A less able seaman might have attempted to emulate the Englishman's motions and followed on the brig's heels; a less thoughtful commander would not have been ready for the only move which would have stopped the daring ma neuver. With proper judgment, he man with his mighty battery.
 In spite of the promptness with which Grafton's order had been carried out, and the advantage gained there by, the brig was still within easy range of all but the 1ightest guns of the French ship. Since the weather was mild, 1t permitted the lower deck ports to be opened and her heaviest guns to be used, As the Boxer pre- sented her stern to her huge antagon- sist, the latter was suddenly wreathed with fire and smoke. The thunderous roar of her discharge could have been heard for miles. Her captain took no chance, every gun that bore was dis charged at the doomed vessel.
 A tempest of iron came hurtling aboard the brig. She was like an egg shell under a trip-hammer, From 3 trim and saucy little vessel she was reduced in the twinkIing of an eye to wreck. The main-mast was carried away a few feet above the deck, the foretop-mast was hanging up and down the foremast, nearly every shroud and stay had been parted. The stern of the brig had been beaten in. Her boats were cut to pieces, and the decks were filled with dead and wounded, poor Stanhope among the former-a round shot had taken off his head. Old Jabez, unhurt, still nYrrx,~a %Ia wDF@nnl FT11n @r~aroSI