Ensign Merrill — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

__— = * * <a ow as board the helm a trifle. This caused the: cruiser a : oe edge away just enough to throw the other vessel-a little more on the beam. The two ships were now only a couple of hundred yards part. The time for action was ~ close at hand. CHAPTER xx. A BRIEF BUT DECISIVE COMBAT. As yet there had been no untoward action on the part of the enemy. There was nothing but the previous be- lief that they were pirates to warrant any preparation on board the Badger. It was still quite within the bounds’ of possibility that the junk would turn out to be a peaceful trader, but Mark still kept a tight grasp on the whistle-cord and awaited developments. Krom information gained on the subject he knew they. would fire one shot at first, expecting that to act as a demand for surrender. In the case of a merchantman it might answer, It was monotonous waiting this. With pulses at fever heat, and the constant expectation of receiving a eannon-ball at any moment. But Merrill was patient. He had determined they should open the ball. Sud- — denly there came a hail from the junk. This time it was plain enough, and the words were in English. ‘*Steamer ahoy !’’ ‘‘A hoy the junk!’’ replied Mark instantly. ‘“W hat steamer is that?”’ “The Dreadnaught, from Shanghai to New York Who are you?”’ “This 18 a coaster called the Ning Po. I am an American, one of a shipwrecked crew picked up by this vessel on an island east of here. Will you stop and ‘ * Py ; hme “ ’ 4 é ? ’ . i“ com (e) »* - ¢ t é * P a od « \ re a a a? - ‘