The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-04-05
VOLUME 26.]
But Fowls had not heard him he was

were put out IN the ship at a very carry
hour. He wished to give the SLAYER, II
such the phantom vessel was, notion that
loose watch was kept on board the Sphhre,-
That whole night, with only now and
then short rest in the cabin, the boy cap
tain remained himself in the cross trees, as
| vigilant as deer stalker Gasket was by
his side, equally intent on the harbor's
mouth. .-~-
All of sudden Gasket felt bis arm
cIutched. and be looked round. -
For one moment a little tongue OF hire
| had risen from the apex of the lookout hill,
the seaward side, and then disappeared
1t was momentary as the CLEAN Of
shooting star. Ten minutes afterwards the
same ghostly vessel, seen by moments
moonlight stole round the headland, but
this time its progress was inward and not
outward. ---
Its an outan-in wind; just what they
want, whispered Gasket; they have sweeps
too, for can see the,u--uow they are not
hidden again; if it was clear night they
daren't risk it
Take the night glass cried Fowls; keep
| it turned Cd the third blight from the head
land if they pass that we lose Them If
! they stop there we have them, for they go
there to land their men, and we'll have a
snap at that vessel in their absence. Does
she pass? Now, quick, before the cloud Is
over the moon again
She has not passed, cried Gasket; she
has steered up some lagoon not down in the
chart She must know of the captains be-
ing ashore, and trusts to get her cargo in,
while we are tied by the heels
Get up the anchor quietly said Fowls,
with the bearing of young admiral 'and
steer straight for the second blight. Is there
any land mark, GasketY
'Ay, ay, sir; tuft of palm trees between
two saud-hills.' rsg
In an incredible short time the Spit fire
was under sail, aud availing herself Of every
glimpse of moonlight, and Of every puff of
the useful out and IA wind to reach The SET
ond hight Inc hidden agoon that concealed
the uystef0da Vessel Of which PoWi- was
in pursuit ~ s--.f~.s. e.ss.-
said Gasket 70 himself shell boil just as
we get near, and before we can tack ard
get q gun ready oH shell be, well or at
sea, laughing at us and as full of slaves as
an eggs full of meat Those Portuguese
fellows are as quick and as cunning as
monkeys
Hitherto all had gone well. The Spitfire
had come to the mouth of the second blight,
and no enemy had yet appeared. Fowls
gave orders to arm the men and lower a
boat. His object was to pull along the
shore of the blight and search for the con-
cealed lagoon.
The men whose superstitious fears were
still working, hesitated for moment to Leap
into the boat The Scotchman muttered
about 'snares of the de'il,' the coxswaln
more practical, said, there was no captain
4 they'd be overlnatched,' and the quar-
en-. on ster won't go
''' Pc % go shouted Gasket ieaping
;..p:a = y 'and shame on all towards
VIZ "io ,"os trap this SLAYER we're all
81 TIT. 70 pe altogether; quietly, nc
sllonting."a ,s tb.;r f.srs now
tne "ieii' as'ia''iei " I their oars. buck
1ooA lne'i p'"oe9' "'uinee loaded their pts
tolls. -Four men only were lea fr.d fyo,I,
the ship When pistol was an rs =,
the boat, they were to reply with o. =
signal OF attention. o.
The men pulled swiftly and silently INTO
the blight, keeping as close as possible to ne
shadow of the Jungle of gigantic reeds that
covered the sides OF the lagoon. -sfa : Il
They did not dare yet to venture into the
mid channel to even obtain a glimpse of
the further shores where the phantom ship
(f it were indeed manned by flesh and
blood might be lying, '.Gs-.IsT a'o'
The boy captain, at the last clunIpS Of
bush, cried Ship your oars!' and there they
lay crouched, peering through the boughs
Of the huge poisonous blossolned trees that
trailed into the water seag
1t was by this time daybreak. Imagine
the brave lads rapture, on standing up in
the boat and parting the boughs with his
hands. to behold, not five hundred yards
off, the phantom ship, low-lying rakish,
Portuguese schooner painted greyish white,
the better to allude observation at night
(grey being peculiarly vanishing color.)
1t was at anchor. The only men visible
were two or three negroes, leaning half
asleep, over the stern, fishing, and luckily
with their backs turned towards the place
where the Spitfre's boat lay hid.
Fowls turned around, his face was beam
ing with triumph, and in a cautious whis-
per communicated the glorious news to Gas
ket and the boats crew.
Gasket was as brave as lion, but he
was unaccustomed to act on his own re-
sponsibiIity, and he dreaded the rashness of
midshipman. He coughed, looked hard
at special rowlock, rubbed it with his
great horny fist, and muttered something
about, 5000
Spose it hambuscade. What can we
do agin forty Portuguese? and as for blacks
they can hire nusaets as we'll as white men.
Cha . said PoWis, speaking between mis-
half clencIred teeth Do you think my
brains are al leat4er. Ike yours Don't /
see that the sascas are gone ashore to
bring slaves from the baracoon There
can be no one on board but anlgger and
sick man or two tell you, men, III go
alone, and swim to it, if you are all cow
ards : e. s>EF
This fred the damp powder Of the old
sea-dog's spirit There is drop of Gains
cruel blood at the bottom Of most mems
hearts. F.g5a
.Avast with your towards = he cried
pulling out his cutlass, and running his big
thumb along the edge in a most business
lire way. 1t was bad omen for the sla-
ver's men. ~
Powiss eyes glistened as he seized old
Baskets hand, and took off his own cap,
and waved it Then he and the men took
out their pistols and looked to the locks, or
frightened their belts. and slnng round there
cutlasses snugger for their hands.
The boy captains speech was spoken in a
low but firm voice Men, he said we
.ri,ay,b he doing safe thing. or we MAY be
going to our dcath for, even if we do get
tue shaver safe, our captain and comrades
may not leturn in tune to help us if the
dogs dare to try and get her back If we
die let us die like EngIishmen, true to our
God and our Queen; we must hold together
back to hack, aud 10 hinehers. Ii we fail.
they will at least say in England that we
deserved TO la, e succeeded. Z God be with
US, aud guide us to victory, for our cause is
a good Cause Now then, men, give way
with a will, and board her -