Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-10


Not hundred yards separated the
two boats, but it was questionable IL
they would see us unless they were OIL
the lookout for us. Certainly in that
coil of wind and water no sound OF us
would reach them.
We've just got to hug them now,
said Sheppard, until it gets lighter"
mo, no." said Sercombe impatiently.
Lay here alongside. l want to come
to terms with Mr. Hood"
Sheppard leaned to me. What shall
do, Ned?" he asked in Il low voice.
Go ahead!' called Sercombe in
loud voice Sheppard eased her and
let her run.
The yawl was creeping close hauled
on the other tack.
eve can beat her if we give the Jugs
their full advantage explained Shep-
pard CLOSE hauled she'll move yard
to our foot
So far so good. If we had not been
seen we were all right and could come
on them later with wet sail. The
| wind blew sharply up the channel,
swelling into gale. The night was
! heckcd with bright points of light, and
then they died, and u mist of rain crept
down. In a little the yawl had disap-
peared, but by the last glimpse we had
of her she was fighting up inch by inch.
Sheppard ran down for some minutes,
| and then he damned the tiller down,
| and the boat came UP into the wind.
The Tugs fawed and ratified. Mont
gomery and Sercombe took the sheets.
For a moment we hung in the wind,
silent and motionless 1t was only for
| a moment. In that moment Shcp
pard's eyes met mine. knew what lie
was thinking. Even then we might
have paused, and yet not so. Ser
of devil, roaring against the wind
and the tide and laughing aloud with.
| diabolic delight. Montgomery's face
was set with the lust of battle. Shep-
pard said no word, but his eyes return
ed to the leaping water. He put up
the tiller slowly, and then the Tugs
flew out in the wind.
| Let her go!' yelled Sercombe from
the bows.
Sheppard jammed up the tiller, and
away, like leaping tiger, sprang the
lugger upon her prey. The black deeps
of that greedy channel were broken
| into pools and mountains. Fountains
of green water spouted upon all sides,
and we were plunged into drenching
spray And upon all this pomp Of war
and devilry the dawn broke slowly.
Before us, and still creeping up the
wind, scarce 200 PAGES, we made out
the yawl, but the light served us no
further through that gray curtain Of
rain; but the next moment we were
aware that Hood had awakened to our
neighborhood, although he could not
have suspected our Identity or our err
rand A voice shouted something from
the yawl, but we could not catch the
words. Hands were gesticulating, and
then q light was flashed. Sheppard
kept her nose pointed grim1y, and final
ly the yawl altered her course.
"If it comes to lacking, they'll do u.s."
said Sheppard.
On the course we were holding, how
ever, we outsailed the yawl by two to
one. The wind took us almost astern,
and we overhauled her. The figures on
the yawl grew clearer, distinct against
the gray light, as we rode into the
trough.
BY this time we were plain to her
occupants, as plain as they were to us,
and could make out Hood himself
standing by the big mast with one arm
about it. A Greek stood near him, and
one was at the helm. He stood without
moving, watching us with those steal
thy eyes 1 knew so well. The roar OF
the rain and wind upon the water was
deafening. We descended into the
trough of the waves, and when we rose
Hood stood at his post, his hand stretch
ed forth to the Greek. The next min
ute he held gun to his shoulder.
"Lopk out!' 1 sang out to the bows.
The two boats were now quite close,
tossing on the same piece Of water.
Even through that hurly burly the
sharp report reached my ears, ard ut
the same time Sercombe staggered and
went back against the sail. 1t was all
instantaneous. The Greek shifted his
tiller, and the yawl sheered off. Mont
gomery pulled Sercombe up and prop
ped him in the bows.
/; "It's all right, my lad" he said
''That black devil got me. I meant to
do for him. Well, it's luck"
We gave him some brandy, and he
spoke no more, breathing with diff
Guilty.
1 turned to Sheppard. "Let her
away" I cried furiously. "We'H nave
that bloody scoundrel or die for it,"
The boat dipped her nose and once
more forged over the yawPs counter.
keep a watch on him." l cried.
Montgomery took his pistol from I'M
der his waistcoat. I gripped mine.
think we were all taken with the frenzy
Of bloodshed.
Board herr" cried Montgomery.
clay her alongw l shouted. Lay
her along!''
Sheppard twirled his tiller, and the
lugger struck the starboard quarter OF
the yawl with a crash. Instantly
Montgomery leaped, pistol in hand,
upon the enemy.
AT that instant shrill scream OF
| terror from the Greeks stayed my foot