The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-06-09
entrances An anxious consultation fol

At length tho mainsail split and went
to ribbons, and there being no alterna-
| tive but to anchor, the necessary order
was given.
On sounding, they found but eighteen
fathoms of water-muddy bottom
showing how much they had dritted in
shore, but also affording some hope, as
the anchors might now hold, thinks to
the mud mingled with the sand.
! Allowing her to drift into twelve
fathoms, the Rosebud's captain let go
both bower anchors-one backed by the
stream, the other by the kedge-at the
same moment, and veered away q whole
cable, upon that, SO that now he had five
anchors down, each bearing proper
strain.
"Does she drift ?" asked Henderson
every moment, in his accustomed steady
voice, though an affirmative would have
been his ships death-warrant.
"Not an inch, sir, D." was the invariable
reply.
Thus affairs remained for more than
an hour.
On shore, the captain and mate of the
SLAYER had been carefully watching their
imperiled pursuer.
The suspicion started on board the
latter had been correct. The flag had
been so placed that, had the sloop used
it as a guide, she must inevitably have
been dashed upon the outer ledge of
| rocks.
AS the day shut in, the two worthless
resolved to improve the snare. They
obtained couple of lanterns from the
brig, and hoisted them on the false bluff.
This done, they returned on board, where
the mate made kind of official report
relative to the slaves.
Day dawned. The gale had moder-
ated. The Rosebud was safe. She had
held on well, and though she had dragged
a little, had still ten fathoms of water.
About noon, a slight flaw of wind COM
ing off the land, she instantly weighed,
and got under canvas.
The slaver's people eyed this operation
with intense delight, and the captain
and mate had little carouse of con-
graduation. At last it occurred to the
wary skipper to see what the sloop was
doing, and hand was sent aloft.
The report was startling.
"Hove to, sir. Boats just entering
the cove.
Rawley looked at his chief.
Condemned, sir. Judy WAS all he
said.
"No time to land herr"
impossible"
The captains tanned visage flushed,
and then grew sheet white.
The mate pointed significantly in the
direction of the coming boats.
"Here, Rawley," said the other, put
ting his hand on his shoulder, and whis-
pering in his ear 'Be quick. You un-
derstand. Down, every man of you,
fore and aft," he continued, "and scrub
out the hold as quickly as possible"
The hands disappeared, and the mate,
who had jumped below also, returned,
leading Judy.
"Bear hand, my lad, or we're done
for 70
Those below heard one loud shrek,
sounding above all the noise they made,
and stopped appalled,. But the mates
voice was heard, talking cheerfully:
"Ill give them work enough They
shan't get the Arrow out without Il job
They shall weigh every anchor them
selves. And here goes anotherW
The Ak was heard to fall on the stop
per, and the larboard anchor dropped
from the bows.
At this moment the Rosebud's boats
rounded the point, and dashed along
side.
Mr.. Hall had come in person. Too
shrewd of observation to be easily gulled,
he had observed, Oh entering, that had
they steered for the signal they must
have been lost. This confirmed him in
his opinion of the character of the vessel
pursued, even had she not already been
pretty well identified as the victorious
Arrow.
AS the armed boats dashed up, the
captain and mate were seen quietly
smoking on deck, much at their ease.
| What 30
Hall, as he jumped on deck.
"The Arrow, of Liverpool"
"Where from last2"
"Sierra Leone"
"Your cargo2"
Emptiness" was the saucy reply.
"Jump down there, men," said Hall,
disdairing further colloquy, "and ex-
anime the vessel thoroughly.
Half q dozen men obeyed.
How many men have you on
boarda" asked Hall, now addressing the
mate.
"Six."
"What are you doing here9''
"Getting out of the way of the wind"
"Then whittier bound when we first
sighted you2"
{" To Loango."
"Working Tom Cox's traverse eh 2"
said the other, ironically. "You were
standing to w. N. w. with fair wind.
Is that the course for Loango2"
"I was working my own reckoning"
put in the captain, "and perhaps I
should have found my port just as well
without your assistance"
"Show me your papers.
"Here."
There was nothing in the papers in
I. Il