A NIGHT ATTACK BY A TORPEDO BOAT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 19, 6 February 1891, Page 11

A NIGHT ATTACK BY A TORPEDO BOAT.

a little closer and the intrepitTpygmy, still unharmed, slows and steadies, with that ominous black tube pointing toward the monitor's blazing side. Shots are falling upon the boat and the man who was steering has tak«n refuge in his iron tower ; but inside there is a wheel, and he can steer as well as before, for around him on a leTel with his eyes are little slits through which he can see. Wow stoonds are precious, if the fragile little craft ia to escape destruction. The moment has come. A lever is pulled, and from that black tuba comeß a short, hoarse roar. At once the little boat begins to turn, ready to escape with the speed of the wind. But before the boat can turn, a dull heavy shock has jarred the sea. A gigantic column of white water rushes up toward the black clouds. In it the tall masts of the monster ship seem to sway about and clash together. The banging of the guns is sharply succeeded by cries of human terror. The mass of water falls back into the sea with a roaring ciash and scatters over the waves in great wisps of glittering foam. The wind, sweeping on again, forma new waves over the disturbed water The monster ship has disappeared— the Goliath of the deep is oon. quered by bis pygmy antagonist.— John M. BUicott in November *. Nicholat.

Ihe opportunity comes— a night dark and tempestnons. The clouds have covered the stars like a pall, and there is a howling wind which drowns all other sounds. The pygmy vessel makes ready and puts to sea. It rushes along as swift as the wind and as silent as a calm. Big waves sometimes sweep over it from end to end as it plunges through the darkness, but they are not heeded. Small as it is, it is Btaunchly built, and can stand the strain of storm as well as its adversary. All men save one are snugly shut inside, tending the flying engine and preparing the missile of destruction. This is a strange bolt, shaped like a cigar, over ten feet in length, and the crew place it in the bow tube. The man on deck stands behind a little iron J tower which shields him from the shock of the waves, and there he Bteeis the boat. In the darkness they seek their adversary determinedly, and with deadly purpose, since they are the protec f ors of their native laud. The boat searches for a long time in vain, for the big ship has covered all lights and is lying like a sleeping monster upon the waves, awaiting morning to renew the havoc. Perhapß if the ship remained thus, the little boat would never find Lei, but "Goliath" becomes uneasy, be fears " David " will make an attack, so he has determined to watch, A dazzling cone of white light suddenly starts from a point upon the wafer. Slowly it sweeps about over the sea in circling arcs. All at once the little boat is bathed in a brilliant, blinding glare. The monster's eye finds it. But in finding the enemy the battleship has disclosed itself, and the dauntless little adversary iteamb straight forward at utmost speed. Streaks of flame are now shooting from under the white light, while the rattling reports of rifles and machine guns rise sharply above the wind's roar. Shot and email shell are falling about like hail opon the water, but the monster cannot keep the range of the on-rushing boat, and the missiles fly the mark. Suddenly the great ship looms vp — tall, long, shadowy, overpowering. It is not far off, almost near enough, to be attack^, sTet