Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-08-20
CHAPTER VI,

SlAA Ell Il
At the first word the men stopped tc
their pieces; ut the second they cooked
and made ready; ut the third they start
ed up and took aim, and then fired. The
whole was performed In very few sec
onds, and from the howl which arose
from the corvette's deck It was evident
that much execution had been done.
pistols! your pistols" shouted La,
room, "Stand by to board. Grapplings
there! Now for III" he shouted.
But these orders were not to be fully
carried out. for no sooner had the YES
sells come near touching than the enemy
threw their grapplings and prepared Il
hc ard. They were frantic with rage al
the cruel deception which the pirate had
practiced, and they seemed prepared tc
face n foe ten times their own number
But they had no ordinary foe to dGa
with now. In n moment after the crap
plings were thrown. the ships MEETINGS
were crowded with men.
Ssh" again came kissing from TIE
&C plains lips. At the sound of tina,
well-known signal. the pirates were ca.Il
IN ar instant.
"Pistols! he sure Of your aim! Fire!
Seventy-two pistols were discharged
on the instant. and more than score OF
dead men cnmr tumhling In on the brlg's
deck. besides others who fell overheard
and some who fell back upon their Gwr
deck. Now. however. the foe began &c
p,nr upon the hrig's deck. and they r.
tied nwn, with their pistols ms they did
81; but. strange as II ma! appear, t.ey
did but little damage. for they were sc
Acit,, ,nnt they paid no attention Il
their aim. while. In the meantime. the pi
rates were laying about with their lon.
keen. heavy cutlnsses.
All this while Ben Marion had beer
~ =. frantic. and when he heard
report Of the firearms, and also thu
voices of the enemy. his frenzy knew
no bounds. At length he heard the rush
ing of feet, and the clashing of steel
and he knew that tho enemy were upor
his deck. With one mighty effort h,
leaped from his cot. and pushing Pau
aside he rushed for the ladder. 1t wa,
the strength Of q maniac which serve,
him now, and before the youth coult
reach him he had gained the deck. Pau
had the presence of mind to seize hi,
cutlass before he followed his patient
and then he sprang up the ladder. Whel
he reached the deck he found Ben JUS
throwing q Russian officer over the taft
rail. which feat he accomplished n,
though the man had been an infant. IL
moment more the officer was in til,
water, but three stout men had seen TIN
movement, and simultaneously the,
sprang upon the old gunner with thei
cutlasses. Paul fclled the first with on'
hlow OF his weapon. Ben sprang upoI
the second and wrenched his cutlas'
from him. while the third engaged Pa.
hand to hand. lie was powerful fel
low and an adept at the sword exercise
as he proved himself by the first few
passes he made. Ben Marion lad hi
anita onst low In an instant, but III
could do no more. The strange ham'
which had started SO suddenly ami 81
powerfully to life In his soul now wen
ont, and with a heavy groan he sanl
down upon the body Of the man he ha'
killed.
Most OF the lighting was going OF
amidships and forward, the only combat
ants at that moment abaft the main
mast being Paul aud his antagonist
From tho manner In which the kussial
camc to this contest he evidently expect
ed an easy conquest. but he was doome'
to find himself greatly mistaken; for tn
youth was not only quick. cool and pow