The Blockade Runner — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. 255 which had signaled a short time before—had altered her course and was steaming away to the northward. As the Avenger approached, Bentham, to maintain his character, was compelled to clear the steamer for action, and every preparation was made for a desperate fight. : : At this point in affairs a great outcry arose from the © eun-deck. An officer hurriedly appeared on the quarter-deck and announced that the vents of all the guns had been tampered with—not seriously, but enough to cause delay and a feeling of exasperation against the perpetrator. The impression, caused by the discharge of the rocket, that there was a traitor on board, was now confirmed, and the crew were furious. Dire threats of vengeance prevailed. Bentham without hesitation ordered a thorough search ”of the vessel, and while this was going on a second rocket ‘went up from the privateer’s bows, to the consternation of all on board. The usual signal for name-and number was displayed by the Yankee in her rigging, but merely as a preliminary to the shot which immediately followed from her bow- chaser. While many -of the Confederate crew were making things hum on the forecastle, trying to discover the traitor who had done the signaling, a blue light sprang into a flame on the bulwark rail just under the break of the poop. , The crew of the Armstrong rifle rushed to the side as one man and extinguished it. While they were doing this a crash came up from the engine-room, the ma- Comiclooo sco