Evening journal., 1923-01-26
fcontinucd From our Last Issue)

CONTINUED From Our Last Issue)
Within a quarter OF an hour
Blood's ships had rounded the head
and stood in to the harbor mouth
within ssker shot OF Rivarol's three
ships, to which they now abruptly
disclosed Themselves.
Where the fort had stood they
now beheld a smoking rubbish heap.
and the victorious Frenchman with
the lily standard trailing from his
mastheads was sweeping forward to
snatch the rich prize whose defenses
ne had shattered.
Before Rivarol could move to give
an order a volcano OF fire and meta
hurst upon him from the buccaneers.
The Arabella held to her course,
giving place TO the Elizabeth. which
executed the same maneuver. And
then the Arabella had gone about.
and was returning in her tracks and
loosing her second broadside in the
wake OF the first. Came yet another
broadside from the Elizabeth and
then the Arabella's irumpeter sent
q call across the water. which Hag-
thorpe perfectly understood
"On. now jeremy cried Blood
"Straight into them before they re-
cover their wits. stand by there!
Prepare to board, Hayton
ahe grapnels. And pass the word to
the gunner in the PROV to fire as
fast as he can load
He discarded his fcathered hat.
and covered himself with a steel
headpiece. He meant TO lead this
boarding party in person. Briskly
he explained himself to his two
guests. Boarding Is our only
chance here. We are too heavily
outginned."
OF this the fullest demonstration /
followed quickly. The Frenchmen
having recovered their wits at last,
both ships swung broadside on. and
concentrating upon the Arabella,
nolleyed upon her jointly at almost.
the same moment.
The Arabella rocked and staggered
under that terrific hammering, al
thought Pitt kept her headed to-
wards the French so that she should
offer the nsrrowest target.
Meanwhile. the Frenchmen going
about. gave the like reception to the
Elizabeth. The ArabeNa pressed
forward to come to grips. But be-
fore she could accomplish her object
the Victorieuse pounded her advanc- /
ing enemy with a second broadside
at close quarters. The half-wrecked
.Arabella plunged and reeled into the p
cloud OF smoke that concealed her r
prey and then from Hayton went up l.
The cry that she was going down !,
by the head. y
2 Blood's heart stood still. And then
In that very moment OF his despair, :,
the blue and gold flank OF the Vic
forieuse doomed through the smoke.
But even IS he caught that enheart-
oning glimpse he perceived, too, how
sluggish now was their advance. and .
how with every second It grew more
sluggish. They must sink before
they reached her. :,
Thus. with an oath. opined the /,
Dutch admiral and from Lord VIII
loughby there was a word OF blame
FOR Blood's seamanship in having n
-isked all upon this gamblers throw .
u boarding, u
There was no other chance!" z
.ried Blood. in broken-hearted u
renzy. -
But they had not yet completely
allied. Hsyton himself, and a score
,t sturdy rogues whom his whistle
lad summoned. were crouching for
helter amid the wreckage of the
orecastle VITA grapnels ready.
Within nine or ten yards OF the Vic
or.euse. when their way seemed
pent. and their forward deck al
-eady awash under the eyes OF the
eering cheering Frenchmen, those
men lep; up and forward. and hurled
heir grapnels across the chasm.
Blood, watching from his own quar-
erdeck. sent out his voice in a clar-
on call:
-AIusketeers 10 the Prov"
The musketeers. at their station
Al the waist, obeyed him with the
speed o. men who know that in
obedience IS the only hope OF life.
Starboard 10 starboard the two
hips swung against each other with
] isrring thud. BY then Blood was
iovn IN the waist Judging and act
nr win the hurricane speed the =
occasion demanded. The foundering \
srsbella was literally kept aaoat by IL
re half dozen grapnels that in an III
Instant moored her firmly to the
Y glctorieuse.
Wiilou shby and van der Kuyien
" the poop had watched in breath
sss amusement the speed and preci-
ion with which Blood and his des-
crate crew had gone to work. And
o~ he came racing up, his bugle