Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-04-06
'N' @g I
D'ri and ! |
By IRVING BACHELLER
Author Of Eban Holden. d" Darrell Of
the Blessed Isles, Etc.
Copyright, 1901, by LothTop Publishing Company.1
CHAPTER XVGI.-CoNTINUED.

Sl1AH i EN- AN
We were all crying, we poor devils
that were left behind. One, a mere
boy, stood near me swinging his hat
above his head, cheering. Hat and
hand fell to the deck as | turned to
him. He was reeing, when D'ri caught
him quickly with his good arm and
bore him to the cockpit.
The little boat was barely a length
off when a heavy shot fell spashing
in her wake. Soon they were dropping
all around her. One crossed her bow,
ripping a long furrOw in the sea. A
chip few off her stern; lift of spln-
ters from an oar scattered behind her.
Plunging missiles marked her course
with a plat of foam but she rode on
brayely. We saw her cropping under the
smoke clouds; we saw her nearing the
other brig, and were all on tiptOe.
The air cleared a little, and we could
see them ship oars and go up the side.
Then we set our blood dripping with
cheers again, we who were wounded
on the deck Of the Lawrence. Lieut..
Yarnell ordered her one flag down. AS
il sank fluttering, we grOaned Our dis
may went quickly from man to man.
Presently we could hear the cries of
the wounded there below A man came
staggering ont of the cockpit and fell
to his hands AMI knees, creeping
toward us and protesting fiercely, the
blood dripping from his mouth be-
tween curses
Another shot would sink her"
Yarnel shouted.
Let 'er sink, d-n 'er," said Dri.
'Wish t. God c'ud put my foot
through 'er bottom. When the flag
goes down / wan t. go tew."
The British turned their guns; we
were no longer in the smoky paths of
numbering canister The Niagara was
OF war rushing at her in leashes of
flame and smoke Our little gunboats.
urged by oar and sweep. were Fastening
to the battle front. We could see their
men Waist-high above the bulwarks,
firing as they came. The Detroit and
the Queen Charlotte two heavy brigs
of the British line. had run afoul of
each other. The Niagara, signalling
for close action. bore down upon them
Crossing the bow of one ship and the
stern Of the other. she raked them
with broadSide5. We saw braces fly
and masls fall in the yollay. The
Niagara sheered Oft. pouring shoals of
metal on a British schooner. stripping
her bare. Our little boats had come
up, and were boring into the brigs.
In brief time-it was then near
three O'clOck-a white flag, at the end
OF boariing-pike. auttered over a
British deck. D'ri. who had been sit
ting awhile, was now up and cheering
as he waved his crOwniess hat. He had
lent his flag. and in the furry. some
one dropped it overheard D'rf saw
it fall, and before We could stop him
he had Ielped into the sea. hastened
to his help, tossing a ropes end as
ne came up. swimming with one arm,
the flag in his teeth. | towed him to
the landing-stair and helped him
over. Leaning on my shoulder, he
shooE out the tat.ered flag, its white
laced with his own blood.
Ready t. jump in hell fer thet OF
rag any day said ha, as we all cheered
bim
Each grabbei ta'ter cf the good
H1S pressing ward upon D'ri and put
4 70 his lips and kissed it proudly. !