The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-09
HfE<:s{ &
~

after midnight the four whale boats
which hoated the expedition pushed
Off from the little cove. Jack had
gone to the landing to say "good-by"
to his father. and. curiously enough.
he had slipped a heavy Ratchet under
his coat
"ItA for you to be hero at homo
lust now" was the coloners last word.
Two years hence, if the struggle still
goes on, you shall have a chance to
strike a blow"
Jack mumbled something as his
fathers toat moved out into the storm
with muffled oars. But as the last boat
slid into deep water the boy gave
spring and landed In the stern. Ssh.
Not a word" said he. in a low voice.
I'm going if ] have to swim.
The officer of the boat. an old farm
err. scratched his gray MI in grave
doubt. WAL. / like yer grit fust
rate. I guess I'll hev TO see We through.
eff It is agin the Kurners orders. But
we ha'nt no we'p'n?" Jack pulled out
. his Ratchet. and the old chap laugh
ed again to himself
The Tartar lay at anchor two miles
off the point, and on such blind
night it was easy to miss the goal. Or
ders had been strict that the boats
should keep punched together almost
within oars-length. True, the men of
the Srews knew their waters so well
that they might have Dragged they
could smell their way to the frigate
over that smooth black pitch like
hounds on the scent. But cocksure-
ness was tricky on such a night. They
pulled with slow strokes, straining
to catch sound or a glimpse 1t had
begun to get intensely cold. and the
spit of the snow stung their faces
and stiffened their fingers.
1t seemed that more than an hour
must have passed. Could they have
missed the ship. was the thought of
all. But bark, there suddenly doomed
on the night the sweet mufiied notes
of a ships bell, and with it there
was a dim flicker to starboard. as of
light shining through a port-hole
denser black doomed against the
darkness, vaguely outlining the ships
hull And bark again: Through the
cabin windows. suddenly thrown open
as if for a breath of fresh air. float
ed the sounds of laughter and sing
ing, the chorus of Bacchanalian
as it was, were still making merry
with song.
a dozen strokes parted the boats to
port and starboard. and they dashed
for the ships sides. Up they swarm
ed into the chains and clambered
aboard. The watch on deck were
asleep or doing in sheltered hooks.
They sprans to arms with a shout.
but were speedily killed or disabled.
4 dozen lanterns flashed over the
decks as the crew tumbled up out of
the foc"sle hatch, for all others had
been spiked down. Hall naked, and
scarcely awake. they yet fought dog
gedly. The captain and his officers
trooped out of the cabin. fiustered
with wine. but loaded to the muzzle
with pluck. and fell to with sword
and pistol.
Col Lockett had detailed a dozen
picked men with bags of slugs and
powder-canisters to make ready and
wheel around fore and aft a couple
of the deck -carronades. The assail-
ants were in the waist of the ship,
and the fury of the assault had be-
gun to drive msn-o'-war men under
hatch. for the ship was undermined,
and the crew somewhat outnumbered.
Scythe and ptchfork did their work
well. 1t was at this moment that one
of the carronades sent its rain OF
buckshot into the thick of the British
sailors and completed the rout
Instantly they had boarded. Jack.
swinging his Ratchet, looked about for
his father. and pressed forward to his
side. though the colonel did not see
MN, thinking MIN at nome watching
with his mother. When Capt. Askew
made the dash from the cabin the two
leaders instinctively knew each other
and crossed blades. for Col. Lockett
had snatched n cutlass from a fallen
sailor They cut and parted fercely
on the half-lt deck for a few mo-
ments. when the coloners foot slipped
on the wet wood. That second would
have been his last, but Jacks uplifted
Ratchet fell Nike lightning on Capt.
Askew's shoulder. and smote him fiat
to the deck. With this the battle was
ended.
Col Lockett looked on the lads
painting flushed face with amazement.
why, lack. ! ordered you not to
come. What does this mean? Why
Jack, Jack. you disobedient young VII
lain, you've saved your fathers life"
and with tears rolling down his face
he Clasped the brave lad lr his arms.
The Tartar was taken up to New
Haven. and the captain, who was only
severely wounded. with the other pris-
oners. delivered over to the Continent
al officer in charge of the post.
When Col Lockett returned to VAL
ley Forge, which lie did without de-
lay. Washington thanked him In gen.
eral orders for his brave feat, Jack
got his hearts wish, and the last year
Of the war actually served on tho stan
Of the n-chief, young a.
he was.
Copyright BY Hsrpsr BruA)