Morris tribune., 1904-01-23

sharp command. The way Of the ship
was checked; she was thrown up into
the wind, and as her broadside slowly
swung opposite O'Neill he saw that
her mainmast was gone and that she
was frightfully cut up and bore EVIL
dence Of having participated in tre-
mendous action. Away off to the north
! east little cluster of ships was seen
on the horizon, too far off to dist1n-
guish them. There was no sign of the
Richard that he could see. In few
seconds the boat was brought aleng-
| side the gangway. Elizabeth clam
bered up the ladder with his assist
ance, and they stepped upon the decks.
A frightful scene presented itself.
Upon one side, amidships, dead mer.
h half naked, covered with coagulated
blood, were literally piled up in great
heap. The deck itself was covered
with CRIME and blood, and handful
| of men, most of them wounded in some
way were distributed about the ship
endeavoring to effect some restoration
to order. Guns here and there were
dismounted; ropes cut - every direc-
ton were lying entang y in wild con-
fusion about the fife rails and masts.
The broken mainmast thrust it's jagged
end few feet into the air above the
deck. The rest Of it was gone.
Spars everywhere were shattered, and
great riffs appeared in the tapping
canvas The rail and bulwarks were
broken and smashed On every side.
Nh ~ sin 10 han 1af%
ing at the davits. Splintered wood
work showed where numberless shots
had taken effect, and charred pieces
of timber on every hand added heart
breaking evidence of conflagration's
devastating touch. From the depths
beneath the deck came low groans and
murmurs of pain, accentuated by the
sharp shrek of some deeper sufferer
or the delirious raving of some fevered
patient. Elizabeth shrank back ap-
palled.
''How horriblev' she murmured.
'"Take me away. l cannot stand it!'
He caught her in his arms. A little
more and she would have tainted.
"Good heavensr' he said. "In all
my battles I never saw such ship!
What frightful scene! They didn't
get off without. fight" he added
slowly. An officer. with head bound
up in handkerchief and his arm in
a sling was approaching them.
"Sir,'' said O'Neill, saluting the
while, II am the officer who escaped
last night. l deliver myself UP to-
why, it's Stacey!'' he cried in great
surprise. recognizing a brother officer
of the Richard. What do you here,
manT " 80
"'Fore CAD. it's O'Neillr' cried the
other. Glad are we to see you, man.
But this lady-this is no place for
her., ....... ....
"She goes with me-" said O'Neill
briefly. But your
'"This is where l belong"
"And they have captured you. sup
pose?", 4
"No; the ship is ours" N
"And the old Richard?" cried O'Neill.
Abandoned and sunk after the sur r.
render" answered the young object.
''She was cut to pieces by the Scraps
fire, but we have this ship" A
"Thank Godv' answered O'Neill fer II
vently and Captain Jones?' r
"Aft there on the quarter deck" Fl
"Come. Elizabethr' he cried. Selling .
her by the arm. and. he assisting her. :
they made their way with difficulty in
the confusion to the quarter deck.
sab O'Neill. thank God see you
alive again. said Jones. springing for
ward. his face beaming. We got
there in time, then. see.' s9.ru
"Yes. sir. thanks to this lady" an
swered O'Neill, pointing to Elizabeth. =
Madam. you are fit for a sailors
BRIDE said the little captain.
"'Tis high praise. sir. from Captain
Jones, protest" she answered. rally
ing herself in the relief of assured
safety. - . ..r.
''Would God that had been with
you in this battle!' cried O'Neill gloom -
lily. Dad
1--WE missed you. 1 wished often for II
YOU" answered the captain. THE poor