The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-28

inopporune reflection flashed through my
mind my heart throbbed violently, the
blood rushed to by head. and my breath
ing became so labored that ! felt a.
though I was stining. These disasreeable
indeed I might more truthfully cal
them painful-ssnsations lasted In their
! intensity perhaps as long as five minutes
after which they rapidly svosided. to bs
succeeded by a feverish longing and I'm.
patience for the moment Of action. Ny
excitement ceased; my breathing again
became regular; but the period OF sus-
pense-that period which only a few min
utes before had seemed so short--now felt
as though n we're lensthening out to a
veritable eternity. wanted to begin al
once. TO know the worst. and 70 get II
over.
I mad not much longer to walt. We had
advanced about a mile up the creek when
a deep hoarse voice wac heard shouting
something from the shore
oars" exclaimed smellie; and the
men ceased pulling. What was II the
fellow said?' continued the second lieu
tenant. turning 70 me.
Haven't the slightest idea, but n
sounded like Spanish replied.
the hail was repeated, but we could
make nothing OF II. Mr.. Armitage, how
ever. who boasted a slight knowledge OF
Spanish informed us-the first cutter hav-
u
that II was a caution TO us TO return at
once or take the consequences.
"Ohl that's II, is tt7' remarked Smellie.
well, II seems that we are discovered.
so any further attempt at a surprise Ia
useless Cast the boats adrift from each
other. and we will make a dash for IT.
Our best chance now is TO board and
carry the three craft simultaneously with
a rush-n we can. Give way, ladsl'
The boats painters were cast on: the
crews with a ringing cheer plunged their
oars simultaneously into the water, and
away we went at racing speed through
the dense fog along the channel
We had scarcely pulled half a dozen
strokes when the report OF a musket
rang out from the bank on our starboar6
hand; and at the same Instant a line of
tiny sparks OF fire appeared on either hand
through the thick haze. rapidly increasing
In sixe and luminosity until they stood
revealed as huge fires OF dry brushwood.
They were twelve in number, six on either
bank OF the channel. and were spaced
about three hundred yards apart. So
large were they that they rendered the
fog quite luminous: and II seemed pretty
evident that they had been built and
lighted for the express purpose of illu-
minatlng the channel and revealing our
exact whereabouts / was congratulating
myself upon the circumstance that the
dense fog would to considerable extent
defeat their purpose, when. In an instant
as though we had passed out through a
solid wall. we emerged from the fog and
there lay the three slave craft before us
moored with springs on their cables,
boarding MEETINGS trlced up. and guns run
out, evidently quite ready to receive us
The three craft were moored athwart
the channel in a slightly curved line, with
their bows pointing to the eastward. the
brig being ahead. the schooner next, and
the brigantine the sternmost of the line.
Thus moored. their broadsides command
ed the whole channel In the direction OF
our ADVANCE. and could, II required. be
concentrated upon any one point in IT,
"Hurrah!" shouted Smelle. rising to
his feet and drawing his sword; "hurrah,
lads. there Ia out gamel Give way and
go at them. I'll take the brig Armitage;
you tackle the brigantine and leave VIII
iams TO deal with the schooner. Now
bend your back launches; there Is a glass
OF grog all round waiting for you II we
are alongside first"
"Hurroo! pull, bhoys and let's shecure
that grog anyhow" exclaimed the ire
pressible Flanaghan: and with another
cheer and hearty laugh the men
stretched themselves out and piled the
stout ashen oars until the water fairly
buzzed again under the launch's bows
would lift her bodily out OF the water.
As for Armitage and williams they
were evidently quite determined not 10 he
beaten I'm the race II they could helm N.
Both were one their feet their drawn
swords In their right hands, pistols in
their left. and their bodies bobbing ener-
gettcally forward. IN approved racing
fashion. at every stroke OF the oars:
whilst the voice OF first one and then the
other could he heard encouraging their
respective crews with such exclamations
as;
Pull nowl pull hard There she lifts,
Now she travelsl There we draw ahead
Well pulled again So" and so on the
men all the while straining at the oars
with zeal and energy which left IN the
wake OF each boat long line OF swirl
ing. foamy whirlpools.
We were within about eighty yards OF
the slavers-the launch leading by q Rood
half length-when a voice on board the
brig uttered some word ~ command. and
that same instent-crasnl came @ broad
side at US. fired simultaneously from the
three ships The guns were we'll aimed
the shot flying close over and all around
us. tearing and thrashinR up the placid
surface ~ the water about the boats. and
sprinkling Us 20 su"h an extent that. for
the moment we seemed 70 be passing
through a heavy shower; yet. strange to
say no damage was done
Continued Tomorrow)