Amador ledger., 1905-12-01

u he made the proposal, to which L in
, stantly agreed. We went on deck
and the men were still hanging about
waiting for orders. These were soor
, given. The cooper and the carpenter
were ordered to bring up all hatchetl
and the other offensive and defensive
weapons, and, with the muskets anC
, rifles, these were distributed among
the crew, who were told to use then
in repelling any attempt to board.
The schooner had now come dow1
within half mile of us, when she
suddenly took down her square sail
and hauled her wind to have a Iool
J at US. l dare say she did not know
J what to make of our seeming indiffer.
ence. Presently cloud of smoke
burst from her side, and ball came
skipping over the water and passed
EASTERN of US.
81 thought so, said the captain.
sNow, lads, show our stripes!''
A ball of bunting flew up to the
end of our mizzen peak, rested an
instant and fiuttered out the Ameri
can ensign. The smoke drifted away
from the schooner, and she ran up at
her gaff the ensign of the Colon bian
Republic.
"That's just the way with them
blackguards, said the captain; "they
are always making a fool of some
republic.
Scarcely were the words out of his
mouth when another column of smoke
burst from the schooner, and another
ball came skipping along towards us,
but, catching swell, it plunged in,
and we saw no more of it.
''That fellow, now, l take it is a
good shot, so we'll not wait for
another. Clew up the mainsaiI,
boys; haul aft the main braces; clew
up the foresail; Iuff her, man, Iuff
her a little more-steady burst
from our captains mouth. The
orders were obeyed with the quick
ness of a we'll disciplined crew, and
ouI ship was hove to.
Now, my lads, take your stations
as directed, four to each port, on the
weather side, but do nothing till |
tell ye.''
! The men took their stations as di-
rected by each log on the weather
side, and L followed the captain to
the platform where our carronade was
mouted. 1t was loaded to the muzzIe
with bits ofiron, musket- balls, Jumps
of lead, aud various other missiles,
for the captain had conjectured truly
there were no balls on board. The
schooner hove-to, and a boat was
lowered and crowded with men. 1t
approached rapidly, pulled by eight
rowers. The muzzIe of our carronade
was depressed as much as possible,
and made to bear on the water about
| fifty yards from the ship. The cap
tain stood with his speaking trumpet
in one hand and hand spike, with
which he shifted the position of the
gun as required, in the other. The
scnooner's boat approached and was
pulling rapidly to get alongside.
"Now, sir, keep steady, and obey
my orders coolly,n said the captain
in an undertone. ''Boy, fetch the
iron that's heating in the. galley
run!'
The boy ran, and returned with the
iron rod heated at one end, which
was handed to me.
"When L tell you to fire-fire, as
you value your life and those on
boardl"
The captain now put his speaking
trumpet to his mouth and hailed the
boat, which was within a hundred
yards of us.
"Stopl No nearer. or I'll blow you
all out of the water. Keep otf-keep
off, OF say l'll-''
At that instant the man at the bow
of the boat: who appeared to take
volley from several muskets was fired
at us. heard the balls hit about
me, and turned to look for the cap
tain, to receive my order to fire. He
was on one knee behind the cannon,
and holding it by the breech.
"Why, captain. What's the matter?
Are you hit?'
He rallied. Nothing--they' COM
1ng!" He gave another hoist to the
gun, cast his eye hurriedly along its
barrel.
''Fire, and be quick! -
1 needed not second bidding, for
the boat was close alongside. The
smoke burst from the touch hole with
a hiss, and for the instant l thought
the gun had missed fire; but the
next it exploded with a tremendous
report that deafened me.
'"Throw open your ports, boys, and
show them your teethl" roared the
captain through his trumpet, and his
voice seemed hideously unnatural.
In an instant every port was up,
and our guns protruded their muzzIes.
had fancied that 1 heard a crash,
followed by wild screams, Immediate
ly upon the discharge ofithe cannon !;
but the report had deafened me, and
the smoke, which was driven back in
| hoI oh 4