Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-04


chetted across the ripples, and Cour
tenay saw that the savages did not un-
derstand the sighting appliances. They
were aiming point blank at the YES
sci in so far as they could he said to
sim at anything, and the low trajec
cory caused the first straight shot to
rebound from the surface Of the water
and strike plate amidshlps. The loud
clang Of the metal was hailed by the
Alaculofs with shouts of delight.
The hong range firing was kept up
for several minutes, much to Courte-
nays relief, as Suarcz was certain
that the Indians stock of cartridges
did not amount to more than 400 at
the utmost. The canoes crept gradual
ly nearer, and bullets began to strike
the ship frequently. One glanced of
davit and shattered a couple of win
dows in the chart house This Incl.
dent aroused even greater enthusiasm
than the first blow of the attack.
There was renewed activity among
the paddle wielders. Two canoes were
not fifty yards from the most souther-
ly floating mine. Courtenay com
menccd to haul in the slack of one
among the half dozen thin cords. He
turned to tell Suarez to I've ready for
the duty which had been n,rustcd to
him when his glance happened to trav-
ell toward the mouth of the bay.
Then he learned the significance Of
that column of smoke on the northern
point A fleet Of at least forty canoes
was advancing on the ship from the
yea. Tide and paddles were swinging
the small craft along at spanking
pace. They We're already much near
CT the vessel than the first batch of
Indians, who had very cleverly con-
trived to enlist the attention Of tho de-
Tenders while the real attack was de-
veloping without let or hindrance. It
was a smart rusc worthy of race of
higher attachments than the tribe
which is ranked lowest in the human
scale. The newcomers abstained from
firing or stone singing. They were
gathering with the speed and silence
of vultures.
Two mines protected the front of the
Kansas, and several canoes had passed
them. Indeed. Courtenay soon found
that some Of the assaiants were al
ready screened by the ships bows. but
the larger number We're clustered
.hickly round Tollemachc's Internal
machines. 1t was well that n cool
headed sailor was called on to deal
with this emergency The captain of
the Kansas even smiled as he appre-
ciated the full meaning of the trick
which his adversares had tried to play
on him. and the man who smiles in the
face of danger is one to be depended
on
The six cords We're numbered He
dropped No. >, which he was holding,
and seized Nos. 4 and ). He drew
them in, hand over hand as rapidly as
possible, but was careful not to sacrifice
smooth tension to undue hurry In
few seconds two deafening reports
split the air, the glass front Of the
chart house shook, pieces of the broken
panes ratified on the floor, several
scraps of iron. bolts, nuts and heavy
nails fell off the decks and matches.
and tremendous hubbub of yells
came from the main body of Indians.
A couple Of heavily charged dynamite
bombs had burst in their midst, deal.
ing death and destruction over a wide
area. Several canoes near the float
ing platforms were torn asunder and
sank, while men were killed or wound
ed out of all proportion to the number
Of craft disa bed.
Courtenay at once picked up the gov
ernug cord of the mine which he was
about to fire in the first instance. He
felt that the Alaculof fiotilla would act
IL future on the "once bitten twice
shy" principle where those innocent
looking little poles showed above sea
level. and he must strike fierce blows
while the opportunity served. The
nine canoes on the south were not clus-
tered around the bomb in the same
manner as the others, but they We're
near enough to sustain heavy loss, and
their frightened crews had ceased to
ply their paddles, so he fired that shell
also and had the satisfaction of seeing
two more of the frail craft capsiZe.
He heard the crash of bullets against
the ships sides. a volley OF stones
smashed several more panes OF stout
glass, many arrows were imhedded in
the woodwork. but he calmly pulled an
other cord and blew a single loud blast
on the siren. That was the agreed sig
nal to warn those below that they
must expect TO be attacked from the
fore part of the vessel. His shotgun
was lying on the table. He took 1t up
and faced forward again. Several
canoes were scurrying past ana away
from the ship as fast as the current
and many arms could propel them.
He fired both barrels at those within
range on the port side. He reloaded,
and the sharp swapping of revolver
shots told him that Tollemache and
the Chilean were busy
But the Indians were demoralizcd by
the complete failure OF their scheme.
They had ceased firing and stone sling
ing; they were flying for their lives.
Courtenay wheeled round on Suarez.
"N0w" he cried, pointing to a speak
ing trumpet. Suarez ran out on deck,
put the megaphOne to his mouth and
roared after the discounted enemy a
threat of worse things in store If they
dared TO come near the ship again AS
ne used the Alaculof language, the
sounds he uttered were the most ex-
traordinary that Courtenay had ever