Mower County transcript., 1908-09-09

turned.
Lower all boats" ordered Bulger
"and pack the guns on as fast as
possible. Well be through with this
thing before we get started"
The eight small boats were quickly
loaded and manned to start to the
island. The captain had difficulty ir
keeping his men on the ship until II
became darker. The delay was irri
tating to Jerry, who was assigned tt
! the first boat that was to start in
Time and time again he urged that thu
move be begun. After a while small
boat was seen to put out from shore
and all eyes on the Sister Mary
watched it as it neared hailing dis
tance. Capt. Bulger spoke 1t In Span.
ish, which Jerry understood. y
The man at the bow called out ex.
citedly, and both Bulger and Jerry
turned deathly pale. o.
"The hell you say!" roared Bulger
forgetting that the man in the boat
did not understand English. Then, in
Spanish, he spoke rapidly and excit.
edly for several minutes. being inter:
rupted frequently by the man from
the shore, who was to receive the
guns for Barado. The small boat
started back, and Capt. Bulger turned
sharply and paced across the deck, his
head down in deep thought. It was
plain to everybody that he was much
disturbed. Jerry was close at his
heels. ~ E<s~(ss.. zT ~ f. =
'What-what does 1t all mean. CAP
tain?" he asked. a.
I'VE are expected" answered Bull
ger, and the big veins in his neck
stood out. "The Uranian gov'ment has
learned O. this movement and it's on
the lookout sharp! Barado's man says
to hurry, hurry, hurry! At first he
urged that I give it up. but I kicked
like a stung shark at that. Them
guns have got to be landed-and this
very day! There's 80 or 60 rebels
ashore waitin' for 'em. They're keep
In pretty much to 'emselves, for the
gov'ment's gunboat Cristobal is in
these waters-just where, they don't
seem to know. But it's near, that's
certain"
Jerry was quick to bring himself to-
gether and face the inevitable, and,
With teeth firmly set and his greatest
courage buoyed up, he urged that
there be no further delay in taking
the guns to the island. Capt. Bulger
could not refrain from, commenting on
the young mans fearlessness. 49, g.
Jerry went ashore with the first
boatload Of guns, accompanied by four
sailors. He had been instructed to re-
main on shore until all the guns had
been sent away in the boats.
AS the boats were returning to the
vessel after the third trip in, Capt
Bulger, who was keenly watching from
the hurricane deck, uttered an excla-
nation OF horror. For an instant his
blood was frozen. his senses para
lyzed. s.s..s
Stealing down the shore was low,
rakish black craft headed straight for
the Sister Mary. She had come from
point less than four miles away.
Bulger caught the attention of the
men in the returning boats, and they
laid full strength to the oars.
AS soon as the last set Of sailors
had scrambled over the side Of the
vessel the steam was high and great
clouds of black smoke were rolling
from the weather-stained funnel. The
ship was swung around sharply to the
open and every ounce OF steam put
on. The intruder was bearing down
fast, and the rugged Bulger's heart al
most stood still. There seemed to be
no possibility Of escape, and Ii mo.
ment OF wild rage he determined to
Keep away from the chaser as long as
possible and then, to prevent cap
ture, scuttle and burn the Sister Mary.
There was putt Of white smoke from
the ominous-lo ooking craft and then 4
spout OF water to the old boats stern.
capt: Bulger knew that the range was
TOO great for accuracy, but that it
would be matter Of only short time
until the governments scout would be
near enough to g do damage. He
s-
watched the approach OF the little war
ship and cursed as only a seasoned
sailor can curse. Closer and closer
the gunb6at came, gaining with every
turn OF the propeller With shout
that could be heard IN almost every.
part Of the vessel Bu1ger ordered the
men to prepare for setting the ship On
fire. Then, before the men had time
g respond, he observed that the
chaser was turning around. Tho 81.
der was countermanded, ], and the old
captain's hopes rose high. The scout
had seen lights on the shore, and, to
Bulger's utmost surprise, It gave iups
the chase Tor the Sister Mary and
Started straight for the island. Bne
knew the waters of Ringo well and
she plowed through the choppy waves
until she vas within aauartar 81 as