The Blockade Runner — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLOCKADE RUNNER, 129 emblazoned on a flag flying from the trembling fore- topmast—answered with another well-directed broad- side. For fifteen minutes there was no intermission in the fire on both sides. The combat was terrific. The Confederate steamer had approached within easy gunshot of the Avenger, and the rapidity of her fire, and its destructiveness, showed that her guns were well handled. , 7 The national cruiser’s decks were repeatedly swept by her discharges, and many of the best blue jackets were sent to the cockpit, while the dead was strewn about near the guns they had so gallantly worked. Captain Graham was manifestly surprised with the aggressiveness of his foe. Like all naval officers he held a privateer in more or less contempt, and had calculated on an easy victory. His own fire had been well directed, for the enemy was reduced almost to a wreck, only one mast stand- ing, and her hull cut up in a pees manner, yet her guns continued to work havoc. “By George!” exclaimed Bentham, “ Powers has more grit than I credited him with.” Crash ! A twenty-four pound shot smashed the bulwark nearly in front of the young gunner, and a huge splinter struck the gun with terrible force, filling the imme- diate air with a cloud of fractured particles. Three of the gun’s crew were badly burt and carried below, compelling Bentham to call for volunteers to assist him. Smash ! COMmiclooks co