Ensign Merrill — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

é - ee % hea Phi . bMB% A ae 4 Ae fee at oT ey f ARO oe ms - ~ J ee - - - ’ a 4 ny Oy eat h et dk vad iy, “vt 4 9 . cs / 9 ee a Ass < : - SPLOT te Fi : # 7 ry a “y , if, Le -f “y's ta” i ~ fl 42 DT toxwata and tell Miller to keep his fire directed toward — her forecastle; he will be popping some of us yet.’ “What are you going to do; try and board the junk aft?’ asked the second officer, at his elbow. “Yes, if she swings around a trifie more,’’ replied the ensign hurriedly. ‘“‘The wind is shifting a little, aud I think she will come closer. I say, Watson, take some men and clap on to that after rope there. Givea good pull and see if you cannot help her move.”’ | Hastily selecting twenty sailors, Watson set them to hauling on a grappling line leading from the cruiser to the junk’s foremast where it had been fastened by the pirates. Several Chinamen started to cast it loose on seeing the maneuver, but the riflemen under Mark poured such a hot fire in that direction that they wisely withdrew. The defense of the junk’s crew commenced to grow weaker. They had evidently lost the majority of their — leaders, and now remained huddled in groups behind ~ ‘any protection they could find. A few of the bolder ones still kept up a fire on the steamer, but there was every evidence of a tendency to surrender. The efforts of those who had tried to release the rope proved to be one of their last attempts at resistance. Shortly after that a man appeared on the poop and hur- riedly raised a piece of bunting half- mast. It was a signal of surrender! ‘‘Cease firing!’ Mark instantly shouted, but his voice was unheard in the cheer that burst from the Badger’s sailors when they saw the flag. It had been a hard fight, with many dangerous chances in it, and they accordingly felt highly elated at their success. THE JUNK DISAPPEARS. he 15 oe Some tossed their caps in the air, and others, as befitted — an American celebration, fired their guns at vacancy | smc the « egal stopped it with a of command. i et | : comicbooks.co