Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-21
order, and then, all together, give 1t to
them. Do you understand"

1
"Now. my man. you are the master
| Of tie Meiiis.!, are you,nOt"
Il was Il few moments ago." replied
| the man sllltnly.
We'll. yol are to stand right here
ard answer halls Just as tell you. Do
you understands
Yes"
civilians. you and another hold him,
and if lie hesit;,tes to answer. or an
swers other than | tell him, blow his
brains out. Now we have nothing to do
but wait. Keep her good full at the
helm there"
"Aye. aye. sir" replied the veteran
quartermaster, stationed at the con.
Meanwhile the Juno had come abeam
Of the vessel next ahead Of the Ranger,
and the conversation which followed
was us plainly audible in the latter
ship as had been the beating to quar-
ters Just after she wore.
Providence ahoy there" came from
the Juno. What is the matter2 What
are you burning blue lights for?"
Nothing l.; the matter with us, sir,
but we heard pistol shots and cries on
the Mellish astern and thought we
saw two ships instead Of one. It's 30
beastly black tonight we couldn't
make out anything very WELL"
"All right; better keep off a little,
out of the way. | will run down and
see what's wrong"
The present course Of the Juno would
have brought her across the bows Of
the Ranger, but the ships were near
ing so rapidly that a collision would
have resulted. so the Juno was kept
away little and soon ran down on
the lee bow Of the Ranger. The two
ships were thus placed side by side.
the Ranger on tie port tack having the
advantage of the weather gauge Of the
Juno which had the wind free. an ad-
vantage the captain Of the English
ship would never have yielded with
out an effort Lad lie imagined the
character of the ship opposite him.
The battle lanterns Of the Juno were
lighted, the ports triced up. and she
presented n brilliant picture OF gal
liant ship ready for action. The
Ranger, black as the night and silent
as death, could barely be discerned in
dim outline from the Juno.
"Melllsh ahoy!'
"Ahoy, the Juno"
whats wrong on board Of you?"
Nothing. sir"
"Pistol shots and screams were
heard by the ship ahead! But who
halls? Where is Captain Brent?"
Answer him" hissed Jones in the
ear of the British captain. Tell him
there were some drunken soldiers Of
the highlanders in row! Speak out.
man. he continued threateningly.
"Why don't you answer" came from
the Juno. 81 shall .a.nd boat aboard.
Call away the first cutter" the voice
continued. But the British seaman
on the Rangers deck was made OF
sterner stuff than the other. BY vio-
lent and unexpected movement he
wrenched his arm free from the grasp
of one of the men, struck the other
heavily in the chest, and before any
one could seize him he leaped upon
the rail, shouting loudly: ''Treachery!
You are betrayed. This is a Yankee
pirater Then he sprang into the wa
ter between the two ships. Williams
raised his pistol.
"Let him 60" cried Jones. HE is
brave fellow" Then, lifting his
powerful voice, he shouted: This is
the American Continental ship Ranger.
Stand by" The port shutters dropped
or were pulled up with crash; Il mo-
ment's hasty aim was taken at the bril-
iiantly lighted ship full abeam. "Fire!
Let them have It, men," he cried in
voice of thunder Instantly tine black
side of the Ranger gave fottil sneet
of flame. and the startling roar or the
full broads.de in the quiet night was
followed 10y shrieks and rfies and the
crashing of woodwork. which told that
the shots had taken effect. Three
hearty British cheers rang out, how
ever, in reply, and the broadside was
promptly returned, but with nothing
like the effect Of that from the Ranger,
for the first blow counts for as much
at sea as in any other contest.
The next moment the main topsan
of the Juno was gallantly laid to the
mast, that Of the Ranger following
suit, and the two ships, side by side, at
half pistol shot distance, continued the
dreadful combat, both crews being en-
couraged and stimulated by their cap
tains and other officers. battle IAN
tern or two, which had been hastily
lighted here and there, shed dim,
uncertain light over the decks of the
Ranger. The men, half naked, covered
with sweat and dust and powder stains
or splashed with blood from some more
unfortunate comrade, some with heads
tied up, fighting though wounded,
served the guns.
Several brave fellows were arranged
on the weather side Of the deck, dead,
their battles ended. One or two seri-
ously wounded men were lying groan-
Inc by the hatchway, waiting their turn
to be carried below to the cockpit to be
committed to the rough surgery Of the
period, while the fleet footed powder
boys were running to and fro from the
different guns with their charges, leap
ing over the wounded and dying with
Indifference. The continuous roar Of the
artillery, for the guns were served
with that steady. rapid precision for
which the American seamen soon be-