The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-06-28

Tie captain Of Tie vessel ncxt ahead
of the Mellish had heard the pistol
Slots and shouting. Lufiing up into the
wind TO check his W headway, lie
made Gu a second ship IL tie darkness
Alongside his next aste.n. IN dcubt
as to what was happening, but certain
that something was wrong, lie acted
promptly and caused Il blue light to be
burned on his forecagtle. This was
tie agreed signal of danger. and it i'm
meGiateiy awakened tie transporting
fleet into action. Several Of tie ships
at different intervals in the long line
repeated the signal, which was finally
answered by the frigate, hull down
ahead. The corvet. ii half nile away
perhaps. responded Immediately and,
wearing short round. came to on the
other tack and Loaded for the last of
tie line, Leating to quarters tie while.
All the lanterns of the Ranger were
again e~gtinguished and the men sent
quietly 10 Their quarters, with the
str.c.est iniuncticns rot to make a
sound or fire Il gun until orGered under
pain of death. Every other preparl-
ten had long since been made for ac-
ton. so re officers slipred Gu their
boarding caps, loosened tier swords
In their sleaths and looked 10 the
printing or ,heir pistols: then. receiving
their final commands. departed quietly
TO tI.eir several stations-Simpson. new
occupying the position of first leutea-
ant vacated Iy Seymour. having charge
OF The batteries, and Wallingford, on
deck with tle captain, in command Of
the sail trinmers. who were clustered
about tie masts, the sloop being still
heavily manned.
Man tie s~tarooard battery" said the
captain in d low but distinct voice.
Men, we've Got our work cut out for
us tonight. No cheering until the FIRST
shot Is fired. ana no firing till | give the
order. and then, all e ,her. give it to
them. Do you understand z
\ chorus OF subdued Aye. ayes in
dicatfd tLat TIE orders were heard.
mir. Nailingford. do you stand ready
to back the main topsail when she is
alongside. though if SIZE attempts to
pass in front of US well UP helm and
take her ON the port side. TWO of you
afterguards 80 below and bring up the
captain of the Mellish. Lively. We
shall soon have the s.oop down on US"
In a few moments the unfortunate
British skipper was standing ON tie
poop deck beside Captain Jones.
Now, my man. you are the master
of tie Meiiish. are you not:'
Il was a few moments ago" replied
the man sulienly.
Wei, you are to stand right here
and answer halls just as | tell you. DO
you understand"
Yes
civilians. you and another hold him,
ana if he hesitates to answer. or an
swers other than | tell him. blow his
brains ont. Now we have nothing to 90
bat wait. Keep her a good full at the
helm there"
AYE. aye. sir" replied the veteran
quartermester. stationed at the con.
Meanwhile the Juno Tad come abeam
of the vessel next ahead of the Ranger,
and the conversation which followed
was rs plainly audible in tie latter
slip rs had been the beating to quar-
tiers just after she wore.
providence alloy there!' came from
tie Juno. What is the matter? What
are you burning blue lights for?"
Nothing is the matter with us, sir.
but we heard pistol shots an cries on
tie Asellish astern and thought we
saw two SLIPS instead of enc. It's 50
Leastly black tonight we couldn't
make out anything very WE'LL
"All right: better keep Off a little,
out of the way. \ win run down ana
see what's wrong"
The present course of the Juno would
have brought Eer across the hoys of
the Ranger. but tie ships were near
ing so rapidly that a collision would
have resulted. so the Juno YVES kept
away a little ana soon ran down on
tie lee Low of tie Ranger. The two
ships were thus placed side by side.
tie Ranger en- the port tack having the
advantage CT the weather gauge CT the
Juno. which had the wind free. an adj
vantage tie captain of the English
ship would never have yielded with
OFT an EFFORT had he imagined the
character Of tie ship opposite him.
Tie battle lanterns CT the Juno were
lighted. the PORTS triced up. ana she
presented a brilliant picture eff a gal
liant ship ready for acton. The
Ranger. black as the night ana silent
as death. could barely be discerned in
dim outline from the Juno.
"Aielllsh Ghoy."
"ALoy. TIE Jrro.'
whats wrong On board of youf"
"Nothing. slr!'
Pistol shots and scream wore
heard by the ship ahead! But who
halls? Where is Captain Brent:"
ANSWER him." Kissed Jones in tis
ear CT tie British captGin. Tel hin
there We're some drunken soldiers OF
the hlghlanCers in a row. Speak out