Ensign Merrill — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

~ ‘ 2 be y af hae AA a 7 a Fal VEY, ay t La shal : » : } t v4 > : i al a Pig ° R ‘ ; ; PS dt ~.” (Om meg we yi A ie F rt re 40 ARRIVAL oF THE MUNITION OF WAR, als Hoi ss ne een rocked hop écomn side to aide. ‘aud fons one brief moment it seemed as if the sorely buffeted — hull would sink beneath the waters of the river. we If the explosion had been a trifle stronger, or if the ship itself had possessed a less powerful and well-con- ' structed hull, she would have gone down like a shot— as it was, the whole forward end from the bridge to the bow attested to the force of the shock. Aft in the cabin, Mark, who had fortunately been only slightly stunned, quickly regained his feet and . rushed on deck. The scene of destruction forward caused him to stop short in dismay, but he paid little attention to that, his first thought being of Patrick. The watchman was not insight. ‘The deck was un- tenanted, save by himself, as far as he could see. Running to the side the ensign scanned the water’s sur- face just in time to observe a boat, one of a swarm that had put off from shore, row close toa form floating with the tide. It was not too distant to recognize Pat’s familiar face in the rescued one. Not far astern was another sampan, drifting idly at will with a doubled-up figure in the bottom. The glint of a bright gilded but- ton from a crumpled jacket thrown carelessly over the seat, and a naval shaped cap afioat in the river, keep- ing pace with the boat, attracted Mark’s attention anew. A second glance revealed certain well- known points characteristic of Ned Gage. Standing on the taffrail aft, Mark pointed wigan: to the boat with its helpless cargo, and shouted the young middy’s name. He addressed an officer from the Tren- — ton in charge of that vessel’s launch, which had sped — on its mission of rescue almost before the sound of the — explosion had ceased echoing from shore toshore. Fol- lowing came others, three or more, cleaving the water with the impulse of sturdy arms and steady strokes. ee ' > Tie Ae , ete ee we Lae Rta * J . ay = t ia % ji " “ » WEL ‘ 2 peu De bied > LAIN Vet