Ensign Merrill — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

- aft th > J. . si al . ee sy ad Py , | 4 f > - we * i 7 J — a . > 5 gt Me Bog 4 —_ r on 9 aa ik - ap ae ¢ { * [. ’ - f : rr: ; : naar , ee, %; ¥ a ; ; - . ‘ <8 : ; \ : , ar ~ te -=¢ . ° » 2 “ - ~ ‘ ‘ 4 “> ‘ * - a CIs a cea a Se Sea AeA has ; : THH BADGER SAILS. 49 sailing altogether in the dark, neither is he going to — trust to chance encounters with the enemy; but he has just assured me that he will strike for their stronghold at once. To do that requires a little strategy, but I think we can trust him for that. The information re-. ceived from our native detective cannot be relied upon, of course. However, we all know where our vessels were attacked, and we will give them a chance at ‘another one, but this time they may catch a Tartar. Mr. Merrill intends steaming direct from here to the © numerous islands north of Formosa, changing the Badger’s appearance as much as possible on the way, and then cruise in the neighborhood until the enemy pick him up as an easy prize. J may as well say that he relies upon captured prisoners for information con- cerning the whereabouts of their stronghold. They will no doubt be willing to trade the knowledge for their lives. ‘‘Now, my friends, it is time for us to return. We must not delay the expedition one moment longer than necessary, and, in fact, I see the commander is impa- tient to feel deep water under the keel.’’ At this hint from the kindly old general, the party adjourned to the deck, and, after much shaking of hands and hearty wishes for success, they entered the tug, waiting at the gangway. The Badger’s anchor was already at the bow, so in a very few moments that stanch and saucy cruiser was driving seaward under full speed. The last thing those on board saw. as they passed out of sight around Son Kee Point was a faint . breath of steam from the tug’s whistle. The distance was too far for sound to carry. Mark remained on the bridge until the low sandy shore astern was almost lost in the horizon’s misty depths, then calling Miller, the third officer ave e comick ne ae com