The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-04-02

main on deck. with Mr.. Stacey and
me- continued the captain. You. Mr..
McCollin, will take charge of the old
IS Founders on the berth deck You.
too, have a post of danger. Be careful
u themi I distrust them Sreatly. Jet
they must be tried"
FAYE, aye, sir. Thank you. sir" said
the young midshirman. delighted at
being thus distinguished.
"Mr. Caswell." he added. turning to
the largest and Oldest. you will take
charge Of the f~orecastle. Mr.. Fam
ming. I confde the maintcp to you. The
rest OF you will command the several
divisions in the main batteries and the
other tops. Now, young gentlemen.
before you 60 to your stations I would
take you by the hand. And So" lifting
his cooked hat reverently. nm example
ell present followed, may God guard
the right!' There was z suspicious
moisture in some Of the eyes locking
upon the captain. but the midshipmcn
would have died rather than permit
an actual tear to be seen.
Three cheers for Commodore Jones
and the buiiy Richardy' at last shouted
Payne, breaking the insupportabie 81
lence. The little party, somewhat for
getful Of discipline for the moment,
crowded around their captain, shaking
him by the hand. and turned away.
They had come up to the quarter deck
q rollicking set or boys. They returned
from It q group Of grave eyed men.
what q splendid ct OF youngsters!"
said Jones to himself ~ he watched
them spring lightly toward their sta
lions. Then he turned toward the
sailing master. "ME. Stacey, take the
deck for a few moments and hold on
as we are. All" he said. pausing with
his foot on the ladder as he saw the
Pallas, a much swifter eailer than the
Richard, rushing by on the starboard
side with every breadth OF canvas
drawing. heading for the smaller OF
! the two English ships before them.
there goes the Pallas. Cottineau ct
least Is a brave a shall re-
member him. Come. Dale" AZ be
stepped down the ladder a hearty cheer
rang out from the passing frigate
which, without order. was Justify re-
turned from the Richard, and then the
two officers walked through the bat
teries.
The sun had set for some time. and
night had long since fallen over the
sea. The lighthouse on Flamborough
head was sending out a great beam oil
warning from that jutting point. Far
on the horizon a silvery brightness had
spread itself In the heavens. bespeak'
ing the harvest moon, the FURNISHED
rim OF which even before sunset had
leaped into being on the edge Of ths
water. Lights twinkled here and there
on the English ships before them and
crowned the hills OF the distant towu
and harbor. Battle lanterns wer
lighted between decks on the Richard
the yellow Pickering radiance from
which was reflected from the sinewy
half naked. sweat covered bodies o
the stalwart men at their quarters a
the captain walked through the crew.
It was a varied assembiage Of abou
300 men which manned the guns an
filled the tops. The crew had bee
made up In France out Of such ma
terials as came to hand. There wer
about seventy-lve tried and tru
American seamen, most Of them vel
Grams Of many a hard fight and boil
adventure. These commanded the dill
ferent guns and filed the more i'm
portant stations. There were. pei
haps, $50 veteran French soldier
old artiiierists-some OF whom bal
volunteered at the guns. A fev
Of the most expert marksmen anon
them were stationed In the tops
but the greater portion was divides
into two large bodies drawn up o.
the quarter deck and ~forecastle. Tn
balance Of the crew had been gathers
from the rifraff of all nations. Perhap
q tougher, rougher. harder. more des
perate body of men never fought In
ship. They had but n virtue-the,
would fight.
(To be c~ontinued.)