Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-09

DeHtley anu " lew otbei iueh anu oHc
or two officers and a mIdshipman were
all who were able to bear arms now.
"GOOdby, Mr.. Seymour" cried Bent
ley, waving his hand and setting his
back against the rail nearest to the
Yarmouth, which had slowly swung
parallel to the Randolph and had been
lashed there. The old man was COW
cred with blood from two or three
wounds. but still undaunted. Two or
three men made rush at him. but he
held them at bay. no man caring TO
come within sweep Of that mighty arm
which had already done so much. when
a bullet from above struck him, and he
fell over backward on the rail mortally
wounded.
Seymour raised his remaining pistol
and fired 1t at the second man. who
had nearly reached the foreyard arm.
Less successful this time, he missed
the man, who threw his grenade down
the hatchway. Seymour tainted from
loss OF blood.
Back. men, Back to the ship, all
you larnIoullis" cried Captain Vincent
as he saw the lighted grenade, which
exploited and ignited a little heap of
cartridges left by dead powder boy
before the magazine. Alas! There
was no one there TO check or stop the
flames. The English sailors sprang
back and up the sides and through the
ports of their ship with frantic haste.
The lashings were being rapidly cut by
them and the braces handled.
"Comc aboard. men. while you can
cried Captain Vincent TO the Ameri'
cans. Your ships afire. You can do
no more; you'll blow up in moment
The little handful of Americans were
left alone Oh their ship. The only Off
Ger still staisling lifted his sword and
shook it impotenrly ut the Yarmouth in
reply; the rest did not stir. The smoke
Of battle had now settled away. and
the whole CHASTITY scene was revealed.
A wOman's cry rang out fraught with
agony, seymour, Seymour" and again
was her cry unheeded; her lover could
not hear. She cried again. and then.
with a frightful roar and crash, the
Randolph blew up.
"A sail coming down fast-the little
brig. sir" reported the officer Of the
deck to Captain Vincent. Shall W"
come about and give him broad
sde:"
mo, no; We dare not handle the
braces yet-not until the gear and spars
have been well Overhauled."
"Shall we Use the stern chasers then.
sir?'
The Yarmouth had left the scene Of
the explosion some distance away by
this time, but she was still within easy
gunshot. Captain Vincent earnestly
examined the brig. As he looked she
came up to the wind. hove 10, and
dropped boat In the water There
was a bit OF spar still floating there.
The captain saw that three or four men
were clinging TO ii.
mo: she's on an errand OF mercy.
There are men I'm the water on that
topmast there. Let her go free he
said generously. We've done enough
today to satisfy any reasonable man.
The colonel grasped his hand warmly
and thanked him. The little brig pick
ed up her boat. swung her main yard
and filed away again on the port tack
in the wake of the rest Of the little
squadron. now far ahead. Then. I'M
Outstanding the forbearance Of the his
ship. she fired Il gun TO leeward and
dipped her ensign in salute.
The force of the explosion had
thrown Seymour from his advania
gcous position aft far out into the wa
ter and away from the sinking ship
The contact with cold water recalled
him 10 his senses at once. AMI. with
the natural instinct of man for life. he
struck out rs well as he might. conSid
erng his broken leg and wounded arm
and weakened state. There was n
piece OF Il mast with the top still on ii
floating near by. He struggled gallant
ly to make it. Twas no use; he could
do no more: closing his eyes. he sank
down in the dark water. But help VII
near. A hand grasped him by his Ion;
hair and drew him up. One of his
men. unwounded fortunately. had saved
him. The two men presently reached
the bit of wreck. The sailor scrambled
up OH 1t and by II great effort drew his
captain by his side. Two more men
swami over desperately and finally join
ed the little group. They clung there
helpless. hopeless. despairins. faScinat-
ed. watching the remains Of the Ran
dolph disappear, marking few feeble
swimmers here and there struggling
till all was still. Then they turned
their eyes upon their late antagonist
running away before the wind In
flames. They saw her fight them down
successfully. Appalled,, none spoke
Presently one Of the seamen glanced
the other way and saw the little brig
swiftly bearing down upon them.
"God be praised. Here's the brig,
the Fair American" he cried. "We
shall be saved-saved!'
The brig was handled smartly. she
came to the wind. backed the main top
sail and lay gently tossing to and fro
on the long swclls. The young captain
stood on the rail. clinging to the back
STAYS. anxiously watching. The boat
was dropped into the water and with
long strokes shot over to them. Inc
men sprans aboard. Rude hands gen.
tly AMI tenderly lifted the wounded
captain In. They pulled rapidly back
10 the brig. The falls were manned
and the boat was run up, the yard
swung. and she filed away. Seymour
was lifted down. Philip received him
in his arms.
I ought to arrest you for disobedi-
ence OF orders" said the captain stern
". "Why did you pay no attention to
nv signals? You have jeopardized the
brig. Yop ship can blow you out OF
the water; you are quite within range.
But they soon saw that no motion
was made by the ship, and in accord
ance with Seymour's orders the gun
was fired and the colors dipped-a sa
lutte which the ship promptly returned
81 ought to put you under arrest
Philip" again said Seymour faintly
while he was lying In the tiny cabin
L..i.. hia rnunds dressed 'hut