Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-10

there a NEUROLOGICAL goddess OF war
she would have been its impersonution.
Presently the stranger broke" the
skull and crossbones. firing at the
same time n shot across the Scotias
bows. immediately Miss Macgregor
heard the rolling OF guns on a lower
deck.
"Wha's that?" she asked.
Guns" replied the captain.
The curve OF the old lady's lipA
turned from downward and upward in
a grim smile. But she said never a
word. She had no encomium for Cap
tain Hardwick for disobeying her or
ders and no reproof.
Strike the flag" the captain ordered.
Up jumped Miss Macgregor. Strike
the fagr' she cried. Never. Not on
my sheep while I'm aboard OF her"
It's q ruse," explained the captain.
81 wish to get her within range and
when our broadside faces her wen run
out our guns for the fight"
''Ah. weel.'' said the lady, 81 did ma
think O. that"
The pirate unsuspectingly drew near
er and the two vessels stood side by
side. a cables length apart. The buc-
cancer did not consider it worth while
to open his ports. thinking his prize
a mere trader. Suddenly the Scotia's
ports flew open and a broadside thun-
dered forth.
"Weel done, captainw said the old
lady. "Can We ma give him another?"
Some confusion was manifest on the
pirate, but his guns were run out and
the fight was opened
A great change came over Miss
Macgregor. her appearance suggesting
her ancestor highlanders' "wha' wi
Wallace bled." Hardwick endeavored
to retain the command. but soon gave
way to the little Scotchwoman. I'm
fortunately, she did not have the
knowledge of seamanship and ord
nance with which to carry on such an
encounter and 1t went against her.
The pirate kept drawing nearer. final
" getting into position favorable for
graphing. Hardwick told the men to
go below and bring up the muskets
and cutlasses. They did so. and the
captain suggested to his commander
that the crew lie beneath the bull
warks and II the pirates attempted to
board surprise them. She consented
and, taking a cutlass, screened herself
among them on the bows near where
the buccaneers were evidently aiming
to grapple.
Presently above the heads Of those
waiting was the sound of irons catch
ing on the gunwale. Hardwick had
told the men to wait till he gave the
CO to rfc htrf bn al 70
do so Miss MacGregor sprang with an
agility BETTING young girl on to the
bulwarks and, holding with her left
hand to the foremost ratiines, waved
a cutlass with the other.
Come on, ye imps o Satan," she
cried.
One of the pirates was about to
leap to the Scotia, but this strange
apparition threw him fat aback. But
only for a moment. The Scotia's men
supported their leader and for a time
repealed the attack. But at last the
buccaneers gained a foothold on the
Scotia's deck, and her crew We're driv-
en- back.
An hour passed, but the pirates could
not score a victory. a number Of
times the Scotia's crew would have
given up the fight but for the indom-
liable resolution of Miss Macgregor.
One glance at her adamant face and
they were ready for another thrust.
The officers realizing her value pro-
tected her from many a stroke that
would have cleft her like an apple.
"Get awa'p' she cried to them. But
they refused.
Her men, fighting as they were for
their lives. as time went on killed and
disabled more pirates than they lost
themselves. Finally Captain Hard
wick, seeing that he had his enemies
outnumbered, gave a signal for one
concentrated effort. 1t so reduced the
pirates numbers that they gave way.
Miss Macgregor broke through those
Of her own side in front OF her and
followed the retreating buccaneers,
chopping them with her cutiass. till
Captain Hardwick caught her by her
skirts and pulled her back. Most Of
the fleeing men were killed. The rest
Jumped into the sea. Then Miss Mac
gregor stood on the forecastle. cover
ed with blood, her skirts torn 20
shreds, her white hair unloosed and
flying in the winds, not a whit of her
sternness gone, and said:
Thurs ma kirk on the sheep, but
that's ma reason why we shouldn't
have prayers. Doom on yer knees and
give thanks for the victoryw
Not a man but dropped. Not man
dared disobey lest she cut him down
for nutiny, and Miss MacgregoI
poured forth in her quaint Scotch dia-
lect thanks that they had not only
been spared, but had been enabled TO
smite their enemies.
The episode changed Miss Macgre-
gor's noncombatant principles. When
she returned from her voyage as fast
as her ships came in she put aboard
the heaviest guns they would bear,
and when she had completed the
the vessels resembled a
feet of men-o'-wsr.