Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-07-28


deck, and his lee scuppers ran blood
into the sea. Dodd squared his yards
and bore away.
The ship rushed down the wind,
leaving the schooner staggered and all
abroad. But not for long, the pirate
wore 0Sd fred his bow chaBers at the
now flying Agra, split one of the car.
ronades In two and killed a Lascar,
and made q hole In the foresail; this
done, he hoistedHhIs mainsail again iuI
a trice, sent his wounded below, flung
his dead overheard, to the horror Of
their foes, and came after the flying
ship, yawning and firing his bow chas-
ers. The ship was silent. She had nd
,shot to throw away. Not only did she
take these blows like a coward, but
all signs Of life disappeared on her ex-
cept two men at the wheel, and the
captain on the main gangway.
Dodd had ordered the crew out of
the rigging, armed them with cut
lasses, and laid them fiat on the fore-
castle. He also compelled KcneaIy and
Fullalove to come down out of harms
way, no wiser on the smooth-bore
question than when they went up.
The great patient ship ran enyironed
by her fore one destroyer right in herr
course, another in her wake, following
her with yells Of vengeance and pound
ing away at her-but no reply.
Suddenly the yells Of the pirates on
both sides ceased, and there was 81 mo-
ment of dead silence on the sea.
Yet nothing fresh had happened.
Yes, this had happened; the pirates
to wlndward, and the pirates to lee
ward, Of the Agra, had found out at
one and the same moment that the
merchant captain they had dashed and
bullled and tortured was q patient
but tremendous man. 1t was not
only to rake the fresh schooner he
had put his ship tefore the wind, but
also by a double, daring; MASTER
stroke to hurI his monster ship bodily
on the other. Without, foresail she
could never get out of his way. Her
crew had stopped the leak and cut
away and unshipped the broken fore
mast, and were stepping new one,
when they saw the huge ship bearing
down In full sail. Nothing easier than
to slip out of her way could they get
the foresail to draw; but the time was
short, the deadly intention manifest,
the coming destruction swift. After
that solemn silence came a storm Of
cries and curses, as their seamen Went
to work to fit the yard and raise the
sail, while their fighting men seized
their matchlOcks and trained the guns,
They were well commanded by an he
roic able villain. Astern the consort
Numbered, but the Agra's response was
a dead silence more awful than broad
sides. % .a-.set
For then was seen with what ma.
jesty the enduring Anglo-Saxon fights.
One of that indomitable race on the
gangway, one at the foremost, two att
the wheel, conned and steered the
great ship down on q hundred match
locks, and grinning broadside, Just
as they would have conned and steeredl
her into a British harbor.
"Starboard 7" said Dodd, In a deep
calm voice, with motion Of his hand.
"StarbOard 1t is"
The pirate wriggled ahead a little.
The man forward made a silent signal
10 DOdd,
port !" said Dodd quietly.
sport 1t is"
But at this critical moment the piI
ate stern sent mischlevous shot, and
Knocked one Of the men to atoms at
he helm.
Dodd waved his hand without a
yord, and another man rose from the
leck and took his place In silence, and
aid his unshaking hand on the wheel
tained with the mans warm blood
whose place he took. :. - i
The high ship was now scarce 60
ards distant, she seemed to know, shel
cared her lofty igurehead with great
wful shoots into the air.
But now the painting pirates got
heir new fOresail hoisted with a Joy
I'll shout; 1t drew, the schooner gath
red way, and their furious consortl
lose on the Agra's heels Just then
her deck with grape.
"Portl" said Dodd, calmly. .tT
sport 1t is" ..5n y
The giant PROV darted at the escap-
1g pirate. That acre Of coming cam
as took the wind out Of the swift
chooner's foresail, 1t tapped; oh, then
he was doomed 4. Crash The
ndiaman's cut-water In thick smoke
eat In the schooner's broadside; down
'ent her masts to leeward like fishing
DDS whipping the water, there was
orrible shrieking yell, wild forms
'aped OF on the Agra, and were
acked 10 pieces almost ere they
cached the deck-surge, a chasm in
ne ear filled with an instant rush of
d Onlflnn Nunune a LINN n,,f,,I 49, -