The Blockade Runner — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

128 THK BLOCKADE RUNNLL. A cheer was the reply. The privateer opened all her ports and immediately sent a broadside into the Avenger in answer to the shot delivered by Bentham. “Heavens! she carries good guns,’ exclaimed Graham, as the vessel quivered under the iron missiles that struck her in several places. “ But we have cannon just as good. One of us must be at the bottom of tie sex when the fight ends. “ Ay, ay,” said Bentham under his breath. “ But it shall not be the Avenger !” The moon rode serenely in the sky and cast her soft light upon the two opposing craft. it was a moment of breathless suspense. The Avenger had fired but one shot thus far—the one from her pivot gun directed by Bob Bentham. The frowning muzzles of her broadside tier were run out, and the men holding the lanyards in their hands only awaited the word to fire. The suspense was of short duration. _ The Yankee vessel was on the privateer’s quarter, and Captain Graham gave the order. Like a volcano in its might sped that awful broad- side on its errand, and the Avenger was enveloped in dense white smoke, which for several moments precluded the possibility of the Yankee captain ascer- taining what damage his shot had done. When it blew away to the windward the enemy was seen to be badly cut up about the bull and rigging. Her smokestack was in ruins and the foremast was tottering. A cheer went up from the blue jackets. The Swiftwing—her name was easily made out GO micbow SECO