Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-04

maneuver brought her fully point nearer
to the wind than the Swallow, yet, equipped
as she was with half as much canvas again
as Captain Leigh's piratical craft, she was
gaining steadily upon them none the less
The skipper came back to the poop and
stood there moodiy watching that other
ships approach, cursing himself for having
sailed into such trap and cursing his mate
more fervently still.
Sir Oliver meanwhile took stock of So
much of the Swallows armament as was
visible and wondered what like were those
on the main deck below He dropped a
question on that score to the captain dsap-
pointedly, though he were no more than
indifferently interested spectator and with
never thought to his position aboard.
Should l be racing her afore the wind if
l was properly equpped?" growled Leigh
Am [ the man to run before a Spaniard?
AS it is, do no more than lure her well
away from land"
Sir Oliver understood and was silent
thereafter. He observed a BIO sun and his
mates staggering in the waist under loads OF
cutlases and small arms which they stacked
in rack about the mainmast. Then the
gunner, swarthy, massive fellow, stark to
the waist with a faded scarf tied turban-
wise about his head leaped up the compan-
ion to the brass carronade on the larboard
quarter followed by a couple of his men
MASTER I1SlSu CdIl0Q up In6 DO sun, pa de
him take the wheel and dispatched the mate
forward to the forecastle, where another gun
was being prepared for action.
Thereafter followed a spell Of racing. the
Spaniard ever essening the distance be-
tween them and the land dropping aster<
until it was no more than hazy line above
the shimmering sea- Suddenly from the
Spaniard appeared a little cloud of white
smoke, and the boom of a gun followed and
after it came a splash cables length ahead
of the Swallows bows.
Linstock in hand, the brawny gunner on
the poop stood ready to answer them when
the word should be given. From below
came the gunner's mate to report himself
ready for action on the main deck and to
receive his orders.
Came another shot from the Spaniard
again across the bows of the Swallow
8 'Tis clear invitation to heaye to- said
Sir Oliver.
The skipper snared in isifery beard
she has no longer range than most Span
lards,' said he. But I'll not waste powder
yet for all that. We've none to spare"
Scarcely had he spoken when a third shot
doomed There was a splinterng crash
overhead, followed by sough and a thud
as the maintoDmast came hurting to the
deck, and in its fall stretched a coupIe of
men in death Battle was joined, it seemed.
Yet Captain Leigh did nothing in a hurry.
Hold there" he roared to the gunner.
who swung his linstock at that moment in
preparation.
She was losing way as a result of that
curtalment of her mainmast and the Span
lard came on swiftly now. At last the skip
per accounted her near enough and gave the
word with an oath. The Swallow fred her
first and last shot in that encounter. After
the deafening thunder of it and throu CHI the
cloud of suffocating smoke Sir Oliver saw
the high forecastle of the Spaniard rent
open.
Master Leigh was cursing his gunner for
having aimed too high. Then he signaled
TO the mate to fire the culverin of which he
had charge. That second shot was to be
the signal for the whole broadside from tha
main deck below. But the Spaniard antic-
pated them. Even as the skipper of the
Swallow sicnaIed the whole side of the
Spaniard burst into flame and smoke.
The Swallow stageered under the blow,