The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 19 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

294 THE ily applied the steam brake, with which all switch engines are furnished, shut off steam and reversed his lever ; but so great was their speed that it was utterly impossible to even reduce it to a perceptible degree, be- fore striking the obstruction. The doctor got down from his seat and started towards the step on the fireman’s side, with the evident intention of jumping before the collision. ‘Stay where you are!” yelled Dash hoarsely, as he stvod at his post and glared ahead. The next moment there was a terrific shock, a grinding crash, and Dash fell to the floor of the cab in front of the firebox door. (Zo be continued.) CHEERFUL CHARLEY. A TRUE STORY OF THE WAR. BY EDGAR R. HOADLEY, Jk. HARLEY CUTTER was cheerful. You would have had no doubt about that fact, could you have seen his laughing, good humored face. His cheerfulness was never strained or assumed, but was the natue ral bubbling over of a superabundance of animal spirits and a happy, sunny disposi- tion. Trials and troubles rolled away from his buoyant nature as water from a duck’s back, his shipmates said. He was the life of the sloop of war Van- dalia, on which he was midshipman during the late War of the Rebellion. He had been a cadet at Annapolis on the breaking out of the struggle, and had just blossomed from a much despised ‘‘ plebe" to a junior, when he obeyed his country’s call and went into active service. He had been a favorite at the school, and was beloved by all on board the Vandalia, from the lowest powder monkey to his father, who was her com- mander. Charley, at the time of which we write, was a stout, manly young fellow, between seventeen and nineteen years of age, Whether in the midst of a terrible storm, or in the thick of a bloody contest, there was an air of cheerfulness and ardor about him that won the hearts of the sturdy seamen and incited them to greater effort. It is of the memorable battle of Mobile Bay we write. There it was that Cheerful Charley performed his first and last brave ex- ploit. With the long line of vessels, men of war, steamers and gunboats, the Vandalia had plowed her way slowly, yet surely and safely, through the hidden dangers of torpedoes and the numerous ironclads and gunboats that blocked up the entrance to Mobile Bay. Finally she reached the thickest of that ter- rible fight, and stood solid as a rock, her crew working bravely at their guns, sending sheets of flame and shot belching from her sides right and left. With his blue cap clutched in his left hand, and his right grasping the mizzen shrouds, the captain's son, with pale but smiling face, peered through the dense smoke at the awful scene round about him. On all sides whis- tled the shells and round shot, mingled with the rattle of musketry, the cries of the liv- ing, and the groans of the wounded and and dying. With a fearless eye Chariey gazed at the terrible scene, and his heart was stirred ag ARGOSY he thought of his countrymen who were falling around him. Then an intense desire for revenge took possession of him, and he longed for an opportunity to come at close quarters with theenemy, His wish was to be gratified sooner than he expected. Rushing ata terrific speed, and coming straight at the Vandalia, was an enemy's ram. It was only by Captain Cutter’s presence of mind and promptness of action that a collision was prevented. As it was, she just grazed the sloop of war and grappled with her. ** Stand by, to repel boarders |” shouted the executive officer. Springing from his position, Charley drew his cutlass, and, with a revolver in his otner hand, placed himself at the head of ten weather beaten tars, who seemed naturally to choose him as their leader. ‘* Now, men,” he cried gayly, ‘* let us show those fellows what we’re made of, and strike a blow for the old flag.” ‘* Aye, aye, sir,” they chorused in low tones. A shock, and the two vessels came together in the death grapple. With a rush and a bound young Cutter sprang on the bulwarks, fol- lowed closely by his ten men and his father, with the lieutenants and the crew. But here they stopped, for the enemy’s deck was bristling with cutlasses, anda hot fire was poured down upon them from the tops. Only for a moment, however, and then they sprang at the enemy with impetuous fury. ss GOMADIC DOO S - — — —