The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-23
JU DY.

years since, the lookout on board the
sloop of war Rosebud, engaged in re-
pressing the slave traffic on the African
coast, reported suspicious sail about
eight miles to Ieeward. Chase being
made, the vessel was quickly identified
by the delighted pursuefs as The Arrow,
noted SLAYER, whose capture had hith-
erto proved impossible; her captain and
mate, both English, being men distin.
guished alike Tor skill and bardihood,
and possessing far more accurate
knowledge OF the coast than was fur
nished TO those newly arrived by the i'm.
perfect charts OF that time.
The keen Arrow had not been slow to
discern her danger. Up went her helm
and away she flew, with studding sails
set-despite the greatly increasing wind
shaping her course lor a small but sure
cove (very little visited, and most prob
ably unknown'to the Rosebud's COM
mander) situated aWut hundred miles
north OF the Loango.
The chase had commenced about seven
O'clock in the morning, and at three land
was reported something less than
twenty miles distant; five miles still to
leeward, and apparently running straight
for the nearest headland.
AS they approached the land rose high,
and, shelving toward the shore, dis
DAdJtu oAnoll AboSll do
that kind OF coast which generally ter
inmates in rocks.
"Strange!" remarked Captain Hender-
son OF the Rosebud. "The fellow is
heading straight Tor that beach. Ii he
escapes drowning he should hang for al
least hundred murders. They say he
never ships less than hundred and
twenty at trip"
s'Perhaps they'll raft it or try the
boats," SAID the First Lieutenant, MIR.
Hall. "Wind's freshening, ,sIr. Had we
better not shorten sails and close reel
top-sailsT
"Yes. Turn the hards up at once,
bend cables, and have all ready for
coming to anchor. Ii this gale holds,
F., doubt il we could weather this shore.
Send me the charts"
In vain did he, with the master, exam
inc those documents. The surveys had
evidently been incomplete, and there
was merely "a dubious mark, indicating
the possibility of a cove somewhere al
hand. The Captain gave orders TO reef
courses and not to bear up after the
cnase. but keep good lookout upon her
and get cast OF the deep sea lead.
''Ihlrty la homs, sir; fine, hard sand !"
reported a QuarGermaster. "Chase still
continues to run for the shore, although
shortening SAIL"
'tHow lar is she from land, think you P"
"About four miles, 4ir-standing ena
= on"
slow far from usr'
"About the same SIR"
81 think, slr," Mr.. Hall remarked, as
he saw his chief glance at the tremend-
Gus sea rolling in, 1--WE had better creep
Oft. We need not lose sight of her, anu
she can anchor also, should size do So"
"You are right, Hall. Still feel that to
beat out against this sea is impossible,
and as TO anchofingsyou hear we have a
sandy bottom. Nothing would hold"
'Shall we try the other thing, sirp"
s'Yes. Try. Set the courses. Down
your top-gallant yards and masts on
deck. Clap on preventer braces, and
keep her half point off The wind, so as
to fOre-reach."
In this not very pleasant situation, by
no means sure OF escaping wreck, and
with the ship that had lured them into
danger standing in as cooily as If enter.
ing familiar haven, We leave the Rose
bud for the moment and board the chase.
"Twill be touch and CO." observed
Rawley, the mate, to the captain OF the
SLAYER.
. The person addressed was O short,
thick-set, small-eyed vagabond, dressed
in round Jacket and glazed hat with
broad Drlnl, large, fouRh trousers, anu
an old weather-worn glass stuck under
his arm. He seemed perfectly uncon
cerned, though the vessel under him was
apparently rushing On to inevitable de-
struction.
.ssTouch and go. five had Kept to sea
It would have been touch and take
We've beensin here before; why not
againp is sll ready to anchor there?
N.sAil ready, sir"
isIn ioretopsail. DON'T be nice In the
tnriing. There's the entraneel Star
board you, Jones'"
'.Starboard tits, sir," responded Jones,
notquite so cheerily as was his won't, toI
he knew that il the Arrow touched every
soul was lost; and was, perhaps, look.
ing up the log of his memory, and seeing
how Inc dead reckoning OF his misdoings
tailed with the observation.
s'There-meet her now--and keep thai
clump OF trees on with the bluff point
Steady, so. Jump forward, Rawley. ant
see the anchors clear. We must bt
smart when we clear the first ledge
Or" he made significant sign.
The Arrow had now got the passage
atuH times dangerous, but now fear
1ui open. 1T WAS SO narrow that the
sun from the rocks whitened the whole
and left 1o smooth part to indicate the
Geeper channel. The long roll of the ses
fc.ndffed steerage difficult. and the Cap
tain, standing on a small gun abreas
fbe wheel, kept his eve steadily ON thu