The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-18

From Ninety by Victor Hugo. "HE cannon was rolling to and fro on
 the deck. It might have been
 \ called the living chariot of the Apo calypso. A dim waverlng of lights and shadows was added to this spectacle by the marine lantern, swinging under the deck. The outlines of the cannon were indistinguishable, by reason of the rap dity of it's motion; sometimes 1t looked black when the light shone upon it. then again it would cast pale, glimmering re- factions in the darkness
 II was still pursuing it's work of destruc- ton. It had already shattered four other pieces and made two breaches in the ships side. fortunately above the water line, but which would leak in case Of rough weather. It rushed frantieally against the timbers the stout riders re- sisted-curved timbers have great strength but one could hear them crack under this tremendous assault brought to bear simultaneously on every side, with a cer- tain omnipresence truly appalling.
 There was just sea enough to render this accident as complete as possible. A tempest would have been welcome. It might have upset the cannon and with its four wheels once in the air it could easily have been mastered. Meanwhile the havoc increased. There were even incisions and fractures in the masts and these stood like pillars firmly grounded in the keel and piercing the several decks of the vessel. The mizzenmast was split and even the main mast was damaged by the convul- siye blows of the cannon. The destruc- tion of the battery still went on. Ten out of the 30 pieces were useless. The fractures in the side increased and the corvette began to leak.
 The old passenger, who had descended to the gun deck, looked like one carved in stone as he stood motionless at the foot of the stairs and glanced sternly over the devastation. It would have been impossible 10 move a step upon the deck.
 Suddenly in the midst of this inacces- sible circus, where the escaped cannon was tossing from side to side, man appeared, grasping an iron bar. It was the author of the catastrophe, the chief gunner, whose criminal negligence had caused the accident-the captain of the Rul- f1dNlH2 DTOuSHl dDOut eiiN S'iis his intention was to repair it. Holding handspike in one hand. and in the other a tiller rope" with the slpnoose in it, he had jumped through the hatch way to the deck below.
 Then began a terrible struggle; a titanic spectacle, combat between cannon and cannoneer, a contest between mind and master, duel between man and the in animate. The man stood in one corner in an attitude of expectancy, leaning on the rider and holding in his hands the bar an1 the rope; calm, livid and tragic, he stood firmly on his legs, that were like two pillars of steel.
 He was waiting for the cannon to ap- proach him.
 Not breath was drawn freely, except perhaps by the old man, who remained on the gun deck gazing sternly on the two combatants.
 He himself was in danger of being crushed by the piece; still he did not move.
 Beneath them the blind sea had com mand of the battle. When in the act of accepting this awful hand to hand strug- gle. the gunner approached to challenge the cannon, it happened that the surg ing sea held the gun motionless for an in- stant as though stupefed "Come on.' said the man. It seemed to listen.
 Suddenly it leaped toward him. The man lodged. Then the struggle began a contest unheard of; the fragile wrestling with the nvulnerabe; the human warrior inA on one side, soul on the other
 All this was in the shadow. It was like al indistinct vision of miracle.
 A soul.-strangely enough it seemed as ie a soul existed within the cannon, but one consumed with hate and rage. The blind thing seemed to have eyes. It ap- peared as though the monster were watch ing the man. There was or at least one might have supposed it, cunning in this mass. It also chose it's opportunity. It was as though gigantic insect of iron was endowed with the will of demon. Now and then the colossal grasshopper would strike the low ceiling of the gun deck, then falling back on it's four wheels, like a tiger on all fours. rush upon the man. He-supple. agile, adroit-writhed like a serpent before these lightning move ments. He avoided encounters, but the blows from which he escaped fell With destructive force upon the vessel. A piece Of broken chain remained attached to the carronade. This bit of chain had twisted in some incomprehensible way around the breech button.
 One end of the chain was fastened to the gun carriage; the other end thrashed wildly around, aggravating the danger with every bound of the cannon. The screw held it as in c1enched hand, and this chain multiplying the strokes of the batterinG ram by those of the thong, made a terrible whrlwind around the gun-a lash of iron in a fist of brass. This chain complicated the combat
 Despite all this the man fought He even attacked the cannon at times. crawl ing along by the side of the ship and clutching his handspike and the rope the cannon semed to understand his move- ments, and fled as though suspecting a