Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-11-23
CHAPTER XXI
The Attack

AS soon as Silver disappeared, the
| captain, who had been closely watch
ing him, turned toward the inter
ior of the house, and found not a
man of us at his post but Gray. 1t
was the first time we had ever seen
| him angry.
"QuaTters!" he roared. And then,
as we all skunk back into our places,
Gray" he said, ''Tll put your name
in the log; you've stood by your duty
like a seaman. Mr.. Trelawney, I'm
surprised at you, sir. Doctor, l
thought you had worn the kings
coat! If that was how you served
at Fontenoy sir, you'd have been
better in your berth"
The DOCTORS watch were all back
at their loop-holes, the rest were
busy loading the spare muskets, and
veryone with a red face, you may be
certain, and a flea in his ear, as
the saying is.
The captain looked on for awhile
N silence. Then he spoke.
'My lads" he said, I've given Sill
yer broadside. l pitched in red
hot on purpose; and before the
hours out, as he said, we shall be
boarded. We're outnumbered, l need
not tell you that, but we fight in
shelter; and a minute ago, 1 should
have said we fought with discipline.
I've no manner of doubt that we can
drub them, if you choose"
Then he went the rounds, and saw,
as he said, that all was clear.
On the two short sides of the
house, east and west, there were only
two loop7holes; on the south side
where the porch was, two again; |
and on the north side, FIVE There |
was a round score of muskets for
the seven of us; the firewood had |
been built into four piles-tables,
you might say-one about the middle
of each side, and on each of these
tables some ammunition and four
loaded muskets were laid ready to
the hand of the defenders. In the
the cutlasses lay ranged.
"Toss out the fire." said the cap
tain; "the chill is past, and we must
not have smoke in our eyes"
The iron fire-basket was carried
bodily out by Mr.. Trelawney, and the
smbers smothered among sand
HAWKINS hasn't had his break
last. Hawkins, help yourself, and
pack to your post to eat it," con-
.inued Captain Smollett. Lively,
low, my lad; you'll want it before
you've DONE Hunter, serve out a
'ound of brandy to all hands"
And while this was going on the
captain completed, in his own mind,
he plan of the defense.
Doctor, you will take the door"
lie resumed "See and don't expose
keep within, and fire !
through the porch. Hunter, take
he east side, there. Joyce, you stand
awney, you are the best shot-you :
ide, with the five loop-holes; it's |
here the danger is. If they can get 7
d to it, and fire in upon us through
ur own ports, things would begin t
0 look dirty Hawkins, neither you a
or 1 are much account at the shoot t
lg; we'll stand by to load and bear t
hand" {
As the coptain had said, the chill t
-as past. AS soon as the sun had u
limbed above our girdle of trees, it G
ell with all its force upon the clear i
lg, and drank up the vapOrs at S
raught. Soon the sand was baking, t
nd the resin melting in the logs of 0
ne block-house Jackets and coats a
ere flung aside; shirts were thrown s
pen at the neck, and rolled up to t
ne shoulders, and we stood there, L
lch at his post, in a fever of heat t
nd anxiety. p
An hour passed away. o
Hang them!" said the captain.
This is as dull as the doldrums Il
ray, whistle for a wind" a
And Just at that moment came the b
lie first news of the attack. fC
"If you please, sir" said Joyce,
# l see anyone, am I to fire."
I told you sol" cried the captain. s
THANK you, sir" returned Joyce,
it'll the same quiet civility. 81
Nothing followed for a time, but
lie remark had set us all on the
ert, straining ears and eyes-the n
with their pieces bal
iced in their hands, the captain out Il
the middle of the block-house, Il
it'll his mouth very tight and k
own on his face. p