The Argosy — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

288 THE ARGOSY. The look of stupefaction on the young fellow’s face was almost ludicrous. This was evidently the last request he had expected. ‘Why, blast your eyes,’”’ he said, ‘‘ you must be mad! ”’ ‘So mad,”’ said Macshiel grimly, ‘‘that if you don’t hand it over J’ll sink you.”’ : ‘“ Very well,’’ was the reply, ‘‘ I'll report,.”’ ‘Pll give your captain five minutes to decide from the time you reach the deck. If the pennant ‘ Yes’ doesn’t go up, then I'll open fire. And no hanky panky, mind. ‘This is going to be a big job.” Without more ado the young fellow put about and made straight for his ship, while Gupp uncovered the cannon forward and took his place beside it. Then I felt the excitement of battle in my blood. It would bean ignoble battle, no doubt ; but I fancied there would be some desperate work done. I saw the young officer swarm up the side of the liner and make his way forward to the bridge, where the captain still stood. Then I turned to Mac- shiel, who, after looking at his watch, rang the engineer to stand by. I knew the men were desperate and resolved; they would have the gold or such revenge as it was possible for them to take. ‘The question was, could the Chung Tong resist us with any hope of success? Hagerly I watched the little group on her bridge, and presently the captain began to gesticulate wildly. Then I saw him point to the engine room tele- graph, and a few seconds after the water began to bubble round her stern. Captain Macshiel immediately flew to our telegraph, and then came the low throb, throb of our own engines. | ‘Wing him, Gupp!’’ I heard the skipper shout. ‘‘’The beggar’s going to try to give us the slip.”’ It so happened that at that moment an awkward angle prevented Mr. Gupp from getting the gun into play, and when at length he did, the Chung Tong was stern on and steaming like mad. I knew by report that she was a good two or three knots faster than we were, and if she could only keep us off for something like half an hour she might defy the Pulo Way. But the gunner lost no time. Setting about his business in the most approved manner, the boom of the gun told me that the fight had begun. The shot, however, flew high of the mark and splashed into the sea some distance ahead. Gupp laughed uproariously as he loaded again, and I could see the very devil of mischief frolicking over his big face. There was but a short interval between the first and the second shot. A puff of smoke, a sharp crack forward as of the atmosphere suddenly exploding ; then all eyes flew tothe liner. Almost at the self same moment the rail about her port quarter was seen flying in all directions. The captain kicked up his heels with delight and yelled out, ‘‘ Bravo, Gupp! Give it to him again!” Gupp, whom I no longer doubted had learned his gunnery at the expense of the nation, waved his hand as he sent forth a big laugh. Absorbed in his work, I don’t believe he gave a moment’s reflection to the horror of his act. He was an enthusiast with only one thought—to make the best play possible with his gun. The third shot, from the gunner’s point of view, was even better than (<(@) Eomicbooks =o