New Britain herald., 1923-01-23
leanlInuea TTam DC Iasl Issnal

tesallnusd From our Last lsauel
Within quarter Of an hour nlaai,
ships had rounded the head, an,
stood ~ the haFhaF mouth, within
sakeF shot Of liiFarNl's three ships /,
which they now abruptly disclose,
themselves,
where the fort had stood they nov
heheld a smoking rubbish heaR, anf
the victorious FFenehman with ths
lily standard trailing from his mast,
heads was sweeping forward TO snatch
the rich prize whose defenses he had
shattered,
iiefore lliVaFol could move 10 give
an order volcano OF fire and metal
hurst upon him from the buccaneers
The Arahella held 10 her course, Civ
ms place 10 the Elizabeth, which
executed the same maneuer, And
then the Arahella had gone about,
and was returning in her tracks and
loosinG her second hroadside In the
wake of the first, Came yet another
broadside from the Elizabeth and then
the Arahella's trumpoier sent call
across the water, which Hagthorne
E'fiHftiA uNat fNanH,
"on, now. Jeremy" cried Blood.
straight into them before they re-
cover their wits. Stand hy. there,
Prepare 10 board Hayton the
grapnels. And pass the word 10 the
gunner in the prov 10 fire as fast as
i, he can load"
He discarded his fcathered hat. and
covered himself with steel head
piece, He meant 10 lead this board
Ing party in person. Brislkly he ex-
planned himself 10 his two guests.
Boarding is our only chance here.
We are too heavily outgunned."
or this the fullest demonstration
followed quickly. The Frcnchmen
having recovered their wits at last,
both ships swung broadsides on. and
concentrating upon the Arabella. vol
icyed upon her jointly at almost the
same moment.
The Arabella rocked and staggered
under that terrific hammering. al
though Pitt kept her headed towards
the French so that she should offer
the narrowest target.
Meanwhile the Frenchmen going
about. gave the like reception to the
Elizabeth The Arabella pressed for
ward to come TO grips. But before
she could accomplish her object, the I.
Nictorieuse pounded her advancing
enemy with second broadside at
close quarters. The wrecked /
Arabella plunged and reeled into the I
cloud of smoke that concealed her
prey. and then from Hayton went up
the cry that she was going down by
the head.
Blood's heart stood still. And then
In that very moment OF his despair.
the blue and gold honk of the Vic
torieuse doomed through the smoke.
But even as he caught that enheart-
ening glimpse ne 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 Will
oughby there was a word Of blame
Tor Floods seamanship in having
-islsed all upon this gamblers throw
If boarding.
There was no other chance" cried
Blood in broken hearted frenzy.
But they had not yet completely
allied Hayton himself, and score
,f sturdy rogues whom his whistle
lad summoned, were crouching for
shelter amid the wreckage Of the
orecastle with grapnels ready. Within
line or ten yards of the Nictorieusc,
when their way seemed spent, and
heir forward deck already awash
lnder the eyes OF the jeering, cheer
ng Frenchmen, those men lept up
md forward, and hurled their Crap
lels across the chasm. Blood, watch
ng from his own quarterback sent
,ut his voice in clarion call;
.Musketeers to the prow!'
The musketeers. at their station at
he waist, obeyed him with the speed
# men who know that in obedience
) the only hope of life.
Starboard to starboard the two
hips swung against each other with
Earring thud. BY then Blood was
own in the waist, judging and act
ne with the hurricane speed the &C.
aston demanded. The laundering
rabella was literally kept afioat by
he half dozen grapnels that in an
1stant moored her firmly to the Vic
)rieuse,
Willoughby and van der kuylen on
he poop had watched in GREATNESS
the speed and precision