The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-02-16
D'ri and 1
BY IRVING BACHELLER
Author Of Eben Holden Darrell Of the Blessed Isles ETC.,
Copyright. 1901. BY Lothrop Publishing Company,

east, we were all able TO clear the is
lands and keep the weather-gauge. A
cloud came over the sun; far away the
mist thickened. The enemy wallowed
to the topsails, and went out OF
sight. We had lost the wind. Our
sails went limp; flag and pennant hung
lifeless. A slight rain drizzled down,
breaking the smooth plane of water
into bubbles. Perry stood out in the
drizzle as we lay waiting. All eyes
were turning to the sky and to Perry.
He had a look of worry and disgust.
He was out for quarrel, though the
surgeon said he was in more need
of physic, having the fever of malaria
as we'll as that of war. He stood there,
tall and handsome, in loose jacket
of blue nankeen, with no sign of weak
ness in him, his eyes flashing as he
looked at the sky.
D'ri and l stood in the squad at the
bow gun. D'ri was wearing an old
straw hat; his flannel shirt was open
at the collar.
"Ship STAINS LUX an oil COW chawin,
Ter cud," said he. looking off at the
weather. "They s a win comm over
there 1t IL give 'er a slap n tn
side purity soon, mebbe. Then she
III switch 'er tail n so on bout 'er
business"
In a moment we heard a roaring
cheer back amidships. Perry had come
up the companiOnway with his blue
battle-nag. He held it before him at
rm's-length. / could see a part OF
its legend in white letters, Don't give
up the ship"
my brave lads" he shouted, shall
we hoist it?"
Our SAY. ay' sir" could have been
heard a mile away, and the flag rose,
above tossing hats and bowling voices,
10 the mainroyalmasthead.
The wind came; we could hear the
sails snap and stiffen as it overhauled
the fleet behind us. In jiffy it hunted
our own bulls and canvas, and again we
began to plough the water. 1t grew
into q smart breeze, and scattered the
fleet of clouds that lowered over us.
The rain passed; sunlight sparkled on
the rippling 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
well in advance, crowding our canvas
in a good breeze. l 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
over the big gun. He looked off at the
white line, squinted knowingly, and
spat over the bulwarks. Then he
Strengthened up, fitting his hat to his
right ear.
They're pintin their guns" said
a swabber.
"Fust they know they'll git spit on
said Dri, calmly.
Well for two hours it 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, a murmur
went up and down the deck. We could
see with our naked eyes the men who
were 10 give us Ddlllc. SuOubCu
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
decks-a band playing Rule Britain
MIA" | 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. | re-
member some of those water-drops had
the sting of hard-hung pebbles, but we
only bent our heads, waiting eagerly
for the word fire.
1--WE was tn ones at got spit on, )"
said a 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 a mile
away, signalling the fleet TO follow.
my Godl see there!" gunner
shouted.
The British line had turned into a
Keeling, 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 space
grinding the gunners under it. One
end of bowline whipped over us; Jill
dropped; a brace fell crawling over my
shoulders like q big snake; the fore
mast went into splinters a few feet
above the decks, its top falling over
its canvas sagging in great folds. II
was all the work of a second. That
1877. a;obt Of iron aop,fnp ont ai