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Article THE FIRST CRUISE OF THE " VIXEN." ← Page 22 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
three paces behind Darcy , Avho xvas crouching in the underxvood . The black passed xvithin a foot of him , and scarcely hacl he done so , AA'hen he discovered his peril , for he turned sharply ancl grappled xxith his foe . Neither uttered a sound ; but the crashing of the brushwood proved the desperation of the struggle . The negro Avas a man of tremendous dimensionsbut still
, no match for the Irish Hercules , xvhose immense hand hacl taken possession of his throat . They fell : in a feAV moments Darcy rose . " Have you killed him , Darcy ? " saicl Fin , xvho had come up by this time . " He'll never liA'e to say I did it , Fin , " replied Darcy ; " but see—the alarm is given . "
Darcy ' s encounter had , indeed , betrayed the proximity of danger;—the camp was afoot . At this moment , a livid light was visible on our right , aboA'e the tops of the trees . It Avas Tom ' s signal . An exclamation burst from the small croAvd of Arabs left in the tents .
" Steady , " said Fin , in a low voice ; "fire IOAV , and be ready Avith your hand-grenades ; UOAV—fire !" A rattling A'olley Avas the reply . A yell burst from the knot of Arabs , half of AA'hom lay writhing on the ground . AVe clashed out of our concealment , ancl advanced upon the encampment . Arrived at the distance of tAventy or thirty yards , xve
sent our hand-grenades AA'hizzing into the air : they fell amidst the tents and huts , amongst AVMCII they spread the most fearful havoc . Snatching a brand from the fire , Darcy hurled it upon the roof of the principal tent , which was instantly in flames . The remainder of this nest of robbers kindled rapidly , and as Ave took our way across the dell the AA'hole place was in flames .
A gun from the Vixen noAV Avarned us that the more important game Avas playing . Another and another folloxved ; we greeted each xvith a hearty cheer , as xve sprung across the Avood , UOAV rendered as light as day by the conflagration and the blue lights Avhich Ave lighted and threxv doxvn from time to time . AVe soon reached the mouth of the river , when an
extraordinary scene presented itself . About a mile out lay the Vixen ; a Bengal light was burning over her stern , by Avhich I coulcl see Boom and Ms tMee associates running out a gun . One galley had disappeared ; her fragments Avere xisible as they rose ancl fell on the rippling Avaters ; the other tAvo xvere pulling xvith all their forceand making for the river's mouth . A roar
, and a burst of flame came from the Vixen ; the ball struck the foremost boat , and grazed her side , ripping away her bulxvarks . She did not sink , hoAvever , although she evidently could scarcely keep afloat . The Arabs pulled like demons , and steered direct A'OL . I . K
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
three paces behind Darcy , Avho xvas crouching in the underxvood . The black passed xvithin a foot of him , and scarcely hacl he done so , AA'hen he discovered his peril , for he turned sharply ancl grappled xxith his foe . Neither uttered a sound ; but the crashing of the brushwood proved the desperation of the struggle . The negro Avas a man of tremendous dimensionsbut still
, no match for the Irish Hercules , xvhose immense hand hacl taken possession of his throat . They fell : in a feAV moments Darcy rose . " Have you killed him , Darcy ? " saicl Fin , xvho had come up by this time . " He'll never liA'e to say I did it , Fin , " replied Darcy ; " but see—the alarm is given . "
Darcy ' s encounter had , indeed , betrayed the proximity of danger;—the camp was afoot . At this moment , a livid light was visible on our right , aboA'e the tops of the trees . It Avas Tom ' s signal . An exclamation burst from the small croAvd of Arabs left in the tents .
" Steady , " said Fin , in a low voice ; "fire IOAV , and be ready Avith your hand-grenades ; UOAV—fire !" A rattling A'olley Avas the reply . A yell burst from the knot of Arabs , half of AA'hom lay writhing on the ground . AVe clashed out of our concealment , ancl advanced upon the encampment . Arrived at the distance of tAventy or thirty yards , xve
sent our hand-grenades AA'hizzing into the air : they fell amidst the tents and huts , amongst AVMCII they spread the most fearful havoc . Snatching a brand from the fire , Darcy hurled it upon the roof of the principal tent , which was instantly in flames . The remainder of this nest of robbers kindled rapidly , and as Ave took our way across the dell the AA'hole place was in flames .
A gun from the Vixen noAV Avarned us that the more important game Avas playing . Another and another folloxved ; we greeted each xvith a hearty cheer , as xve sprung across the Avood , UOAV rendered as light as day by the conflagration and the blue lights Avhich Ave lighted and threxv doxvn from time to time . AVe soon reached the mouth of the river , when an
extraordinary scene presented itself . About a mile out lay the Vixen ; a Bengal light was burning over her stern , by Avhich I coulcl see Boom and Ms tMee associates running out a gun . One galley had disappeared ; her fragments Avere xisible as they rose ancl fell on the rippling Avaters ; the other tAvo xvere pulling xvith all their forceand making for the river's mouth . A roar
, and a burst of flame came from the Vixen ; the ball struck the foremost boat , and grazed her side , ripping away her bulxvarks . She did not sink , hoAvever , although she evidently could scarcely keep afloat . The Arabs pulled like demons , and steered direct A'OL . I . K