Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-24

fight for her life. Her husband
watched him strike boldly out with
her, and then wave rolled over them
and they were gone from view. 1t
had all transpired in few moments.
"Starboard the helm!" shouted Graf
ton, awakening from his daze of
agony. GLOW the head-sheets!"
''My God, Capt. Grafton!" cried his
first lieutenant, an old and expert
enced seaman, what mean you to
do?"
"Luff up toward yon ship!"
But, sir, we can't do it. Our vessel
is full of water!"
"Sir, sir" cried the master, "we'll
sink in this wind! We must go off or
lose the ship!"
"My God, sir, look at the French
ship!" cried another man.
She had been settling evenly, but at
last she went down with a mighty
plunge. For moment the sea was
black with heads-men struck out
frantically only to be sucked under in
the mighty vortex that followed her
disappearance. The last glimpse Graf
ton caught of the group on the poop
deck, de Kersaint still stood with fold
ed arms looking forward. The mar
quis took off his hat and looked up to-
ward the flag. France! France" he
murmured. He made fine end for a
soldier The English saw it fluttering
on the surface of the water for a mo-
ment as the mighty spars sank slow
ly down, and then the waves washed
over it. The ship was gone. Not a
cheer was heard from the English
decks; groan of horror broke from
her men, in fact as they witnessed
this sinister effacement of ship.
Scarcely minute had elapsed since
the last broadside was fired and now
it was over. A few bits of wreckage,
a few desperate men clinging to them,
perhaps score out of 800 gallant souls
who had manned and fought her mo-
ment since-that was all! Grafton
gave one agonized glance aft. He
thought in the darkness he could
make out the forms of Jean-Renaud
and his wife in the water drifting on.
Another moment and they were lost
to view.
"Have we boat that will swim p
| he cried in despair to the master
mot one is left at the davits, SIR
answered that officer. sadly.
Breakers! Breakers ahead!'
roared one Of the officers forward.
They were right on the Cardinals.
"Up with the helm! Hard up!'
shouted Grafton, instinctively. But
the sluggish ship steered slowly. Fol
a few moments she held her way to-
ward the rock. They thought she was
doomed also. For himself Grafton die
not care, but for his men! They
waited in awful apprehension, but al
last she slowly swung around anG
glided by, and peril was escaped
Right next to her was the French
ship LIE Juste, splitting fire and shot
from her guns at the Torbay.
eve will attack that ship!" CRIED
Grafton, recklessly turning the prov
of his vessel toward her. Fire OF
her. Let her have it, men!"
But there was no response to hi
command. His guns were silent.
BEG pardon, sir, the magazines
were flooded and all our powder wa
wetted when we came SO near founder
Ing" reported the gunner who had jus
come on deck.
| "Ah, had rather have gone down
on the Cardinals than be thus help.
less!" murmured the young command.
er, quite beside himself with the dis,
appointments and anxieties of the
hour.
"sir, sir, some dry powder il
found" cried another, running up OF
the instant.
/ Engage! Engage, then!" screamed
Grafton, flercely. His mind was 81
overwhelmed by the catastrophe tina
he could find no relief save in action
and presently from the iron uluzzle'