Ensign Merrill — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ 136 THE BADGER BREAKS DO \ Mark laughed quietly. He was confident the Badger’s superior speed would carry him out of reach before they were able to do any damage. Then, after he had cap- tured the fleeing junk he would return and give them all the fight they wanted. This he said to a question from Miller whether he did not intend repaying the compliment just received. The cruiser was traveling at least fourteen miles an hour by this time. The order previously given by Mer- rill had produced an immediate effect, and eve1y pos- sible turn the propeller was capable of giving had been calied into play. The increased strain was apparent in the strong quivering of the hull and the impetus eiven by each forward plunge. <A. black column of smoke from the funnel, edged here and there by a jet | of steam, showed that every means were being taken to augment the draught. ‘““We are gaining hand over hand, Miller,’’ remarked the young ensign, pointing ahead to where the junk could be seen wobbling about in the light breeze. She was now not over a mile away, but the distance was being rapidly lessened. An occasional boom could be — heard from astern and at times the shots struck rather close, but none touched the ship. HKverything pointed to the speedy capture of the pirate chief, which would, as Merrill expected, place the key of the situation in his grasp; when suddenly and without warning, a loud crash shook the Badger violently, and the engines stopped working!