The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-08-13

Of 1t than had expected. Apparently
by some perversity Of our continuing
ill-luck he hath more constant wind
close under the island than we out
here. All! / hear Coupeau's bark.
A cloud of smoke rolled aft as the
long eighteen on the la'b'd side of
the James fo'csle doomed The shot
dashed up fountain Of water few
feet ahead of the Walrus, which was
now running neck and neck with us.
Flint replied with one of his long
twelves. but the shot fell short, and he
edged away-as much as he dared,
which was very little, for Murray had
seen to 1t that he had bare sailing
room. Our chase-gun barked again,
and this time the round shot rico
cheted from the waters surface and
slapped into the Walrus' hull.
Meat" commented my great-uncle |;
"but what we require Is fair hit on
SPAR"
Coupeau realized as much, as was
evidenced by his next two shots going
high and striking the water beyond
the target. But was distracted from
watching his efforts, for at the fifth
discharge MORA O'Donnell crept up
the poop ladder, her eyes wide with
misgiving.
"Troth, yourself promised only a
few minutes since you'd not leave me
by my lone was there more fighting.
Bob" she reproached me.
"'Tis no fight" / answered.
save, we do but seek to drive yon-
der knaves ashore" Murray assured
her. "They cannot reach US at this
distance"
She surveyed the scene with q
doubling eye and was constrained to
credit US.
"But why is the light so stranger
she demanded. "'Tis as IL the door
Of a cookstove was ajar."
eve are in for bad weather, sweet,
replied my great-uncle. "You must
60 below"
clutched firmly an arm Of Peter ant
me, each.
mo, no, I'll not be going down there
again." she cried. "On the inside O.
door 1 can think Of naught but thu
sorrow that Is come upon me. II
stay up here in the OPEN"
"Certes, this will be no safe place
In Storm" I urged.
But she chung the tighter to US.
"Tll not go down. I'd sooner b
taken by the pirates than go down
Down there the noises of the waite
and the ship will be like the cryin
of the banshee In the Green roor
where grandfather died. No, no! i
the cabin there is only death, and tn
light Is dim, and the noises will b
whispering at my elbow the livelon
time. I'll have none of it! Sure,
care not what danger there is, II
can stay up here and meet 1t in tn
OPEN"
1--WE let you stay" said Peter SCOTT
ingly. ia, we better let der littl
, gal stay, Murray. Bob andt /, we TAX
care of her."
"That will we," / indorsed him.
My great-uncle eyed me q though
quizzically.
'You are, it seems, subject to chang
of opinion, Robert" he remarked. II
all means let MORA remain with u
daresay she'll be none the wor'
for a wetting."
But the storm held off througho'
our morning -long chase down the ca
coast Of the island and then out
sea to herd the Walrus In from Il
north. Coupeau hulled the miserab
craft again and again, and shot avn
her foretopmast; but she steadl
clawed offshore and made despera
attempts to steal ahead Of US and
clear path before the wind, al
when, toward noon, the breeze al
completely the positions of the t'
vessels were practically the same
they had been from the beginning
the cat-and-mouse game that MUIR
played.
The Royal James, by nimbler nc
ding, had gained in the last hour, a
was more than cannon-shot TO I
northwest of the Walrus, with
northernmost of the islands chain
hills-the one the pirates called
!, Foremost hill-almost due southet
:. of us. If the wind sprang up again
~ anything like the same quarter I
Walrus was fast In Murray's TIT
| ha ohnfon nf r
r.. alternatives: She could stand on a
lv fight, with the practical certainty
m destruction for all hands, or she col
nv drive ashore. in which case the CT
might take to the woods, with ev'
prospect of eluding pursuit, uni
If. Murray made determined EFFORT
comb the islands craggy recess
,p After the long-range battering Il
or had received all morning, on top
r, the hammering In the action In
!, dark, there was not much doubt t
the Walrus' disorderly crew wo
- take the decision info their own hal
and choose the latter as offering
l.. fair chance Of life, no matter how
ch eumscribed.
i'd. The helmsman had just turned
ng hour. glass, which lay beside the c.
pass In the hooded box In front Of
q steering-wheel, when a shout ca
= from Martin, who was halfway
the main-rIgging, sweeping the h
zon with glass. My great-uncle
been bordering the desirability of
We five ont the boats and undertaking.