Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-08

d5o SuOMeu neF ueelS uDueF the CuIIldu
mask, now made straight towards US in
Russian guise.
l turned my eyes away to the crimson
arch which marked the huns decline
looked again TO the east, whence black
harbingers of night hung low upon the
darkened sea; | searched the horizon in
every quarter, but it lay barren of ships,
and soon the last light would leave us,
and with the ebb of day there was no Sc
curity against an enemy whose intentions
were no longer disguised. l say no longer
disguised. The skipper pointed to the
mast on the nameless ship, where the Rus
san ensign had hung ten minutes before.
1t was there no longer the black flag took
its place.
"Piratesw said the skipper; and then
he whistled lorg and loud and shrilly as
a man who has solved a sum. Gentle
men, | said | would resign this ship at
New York; with your permission l will
withdraw that. l will sail with you
wherever you CO."
He shook our hands heartily, as though
the discovery of our purpose had uncloud-
ed his mind. But we had no time for full
er understanding, for at that moment the
air itself seemed torn apart by a great
concushion, and a shell burst in the
water no more than fifty yards ahead of
US. Old Dan fired his gun into the air
with a great shout. Yet we knew that
all this was the cheapest bravado; and
when the skipper touched the bell to stop
our engines, | was sure that he was wise
The great vessel rode still some quarter
Of a mile away from US; but the glass
showed me the men upon her decks, and
conspicuous amongst them l saw the form
of Captain Black standing by the steam
steering gear. Soon their launch was
making for US. The boat came so near
that | could see the faces in it; and three
of the five | recognized, for l had seen
them in Paris. The man who was in com
mand was the fellow Roaring John ="
and when he was within hail he stood and
bawled:
What ship?"
MY ship!" roared back the skipper,
again looking at the mist-clouds, and nv
heart gave a bound when l read his pur-
pose; we were drifting into them.
''And who may you be?" bawled the fell
low again, growing more insolent with ev-
cry advance.
I'm one that'H give you the best hitting
you ever had. if you'll step up here a
minute ~ yelled the skipper. You're com
ing aboard, are you? And which of you
shall l have the pleasure of kicking first 2"
ooh, you're funny, amt you, and pref.
~ with your jaw. But it's me that you'll
have the pleasing of speaking to, and right
quick, my mate, oh, you bet! :" said Roar.
ing John.
I'm that case" said the skipper, with
his calmness well at zero: lin that case
YOU, Dam introduce yourself to the gen
tleman.
Dams reply was instantaneous. He
had up with his shot gun, and the long
ruffian, who had reached forward with
his boat hook, got the dose full in his
face, At the same moment the skipper
called Fire." and the heavy crack of the
rifles and the sharp report of the pistols
rang out together. The very launch itself
seemed to reel under the voley.
Full steam ahead !" roared Captain
York. as the nameless ship replied with
a shell that grazed our chart room. Then
shaking his fist to the warship, he almost
throatsi"
There was no doubt about it at ALL
The moment the yacht answered to the
screw the fog rolled round us like sheet,
in thick wet clouds, steaming damp on
the decks; and twenty yards ahead or
astern of us you could not see the long
waves themselves. Shot after shot Kissed
and splashed ahead of US, behind US now
dull, heavy, yet penetrating, and we knew
that the ship lay close on our track then
farther off and deadened, and we hoped
that she had lost us.
When l left the bridge it was midnight
l was soaked to the skin and nigh frozen,
and the water ran even from my hair :;
but hot hand was put into mine as l
entered the cabin, and then a thousand
questions rained upon me.
I'm tell you by-and-by, Mary. Were
you very much afraid?"
Il was a bit afraid, Mark-a-a-little
bit! I-oh l nursed Paolo-he's dying"
The man truly lay almost at deaths
door; but his delirium had passed; and
he slept, muttering in his dream, Il can't
go to the city-Black; you know it-let
me get aboard. Hands off l told you
the job was risky" and he tossed and
turned and fell into troubled slumber.
And l could not help thought of sorrow,
for l feared that he would hang if ever
we set foot ashore.
Gentlemen" said the skipper later,
you owe your lives to the Banks; and,
please heaven, I'll see you all in New
York before three days"
And he kept his word; for we sighted
Sandy Hook, and harm had come to ne
man that fought the unequal fight.