Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-27

tall and handsome, in q loose jacket
of blue nankeen, with nc, sign OF weak
ness in him, his eyes flashing as ne
looked at the sky.
D'ri and I stood in the squad at the
bow gun. D'ri was wearing an ola
straw hat; his flannel shirt was open
at the collar.
"ship STAINS LUX an OIL COW chawin,
'er cud," said he, looking on at tno
weather. 'They 8 q win comm over
there. 1t II give 'er a slap n tn
side purity soon, mebbe Then sne
II switch 'er tail n go on bout 'er
business" &.
In a moment we heard q roaring
cheer back amidships. Perry had come
up tho companionway with his blue
battle-Hag. He held it before him at
arm's-length. l could see part OF
its legend, in white letters. Don't give
up the ship"
my brave lads" he shouted, "snaii
we hoist it?"
Our "Ay, ay' sir!" could have been
heard a mile away, and the flag rose,
above tossing hats and bowling voices,
to the mainroyalmasthead.
The wind came; we could hear the
sails snap and stiffen as 1t overhauled
the aeet behind US. In jify it bunted
our own hulls and canvas, and again we
began to plough the water. 1t grew
into a smart breeze, and scattered the
feet of clouds that lowered over US.
The rain passed; sunlight sparkled on
the ripping plain Of water. We could
see the enemy; he had hove to, and
was waiting for us In line. A crowd
was gathering on the high shores we
had left to see the battle. We were
we'll in advance, crowding our canvas
in a good breeze. could hear only
the roaring burrows Of water on each
side of the PROV. Every man OF us
held his tongue, mentally trimming
ship, as they say, for whatever might
come. Three men scuffed by, sanding
the decks. D'ri was leaning placidly
owe the big gun. He looked of at the
whiya line, squinted knowingly, and
spat over the bulwarks. fnen ne
Strengthened up, fitting his hat TO mis-
right ear.
They're p'intins their guns, SAID
q swabber.
: "F'ust they know they'll git spit on,
said D'ri, calmly.
Well, for two. hours 1t was all
creeping and talking under the
breath. and here and there an
oath as some nervous chap frightened
the ropes of his resolution. Then sud-
denly, as we swung about, murmur
went up and down the deck. We could
see with our naked eyes the men who
were to give US battle. Perry shouted
sternly to some ,gunners who thought
It high time to fire. Then word came:
there would be no firing until we got
close. Little gusts Of music came chas-
ing over the water faint-footed to our
declrs-a band playing Rule Britain
MA" l was looking at brig in the
line of the enemy when a bolt OF fire
leaped out Of her and thick belches OF
smoke rushed to her topsails. Then
something hit the sea near by great
Kissing slap, and we turned quickly to
see chunks Of the shattered lake sur
face fly up In nets of spray and fall
roaring on our deck. We were all
drenched there at the bow gun. l re-
member some Of those water-drops had
the sting of hard-fiung pebbles, but we
only bent our heads. waiting eagerly
for the word fire.
1--WE was tn ones at got spit on"
said gunner, looking at D'ri.
"Wish they'd let us holler back"
said the latter, placidly. "Sick o holdin'
in"
We kept tanning down upon the
enemy, now little more than q mile
away, signalling the feet TO follow.
MY God! see there!" a gunner
shouted.
The British line had turned into q
reeling, whirling ridge of smoke lift
! ing over spurts Of flame at the bottom.
We knew what was coming. Untried
In the perils of shot and shell, some
Of my gunners stopped to cover under
the bulwarks.
Pull 'em out O. there" called, turn.
ing to D'ri, who stood beside me.
The storm Of iron hit us. A heavy
ball crashed into the after bulWarks'
tearing them away and slamming over
gun and carriage, that slid a space
grinding the gunners under 1t. one
end Of bowline whipped over us; )ip
dropped; brace fell crawling over my
shoulders like a big snake; the fore
mast went into splinters a few feet
above the decks, its top falling over,
It's canvas sagging in great folds. IL
was all the work of second. Ihat
hasty fight OF iron, coming out OF
the air, thick as flock OF pigeons
had gone through hull and rigging in
wink Of the eye. And fine mess II
had made. Men lay scattered along
the deck, bleeding, yelling, struggling.
There were two lying near us with
blood squirting out of their necks. one
rose upon a knee, choking horribly,
shaken with the last throes OF MS
flooded heart, and reeled over. The
Scorpion of our fleet had got her guns
in action; the little Ariel was also fr-
ing. D'ri leaned over, shouting In my
ear.
Don't like tn way they re whalin
Nv u.s." he said, his cheeks red with
anger.
"Nor l." was my answer.
Don't like t stan here an dew
nuthin' but git licked" he went on.
"'T aim no way nat'ral."
Perry came hurGying forward.