The Tipton advertiser., 1876-11-02

in l777, vessel sailing in q south
westerly direction crossed the 5Ttn dc
gree of north longitude. Her kee
plowed the waves Of the North Allan
tic. and her destination seemed To b
the Azores. She vas sailing before
strong wind, and the arrangement g
her sail indicated flight II flight
from whom? The naked eye couI'
perceive no pursuer on the bosom
the ocean but the sea-glas-e-, leyele'
by number Of British officers VIII
graced the clean decks, revealed iari
speck on the watery rim Of the North
ern horizon.
This distant object occasioned mucl
anxiety among the officers. A silenc
which had reigned among them 70
many moments was suddenly broker
hy a man whose bearing might hav
proclaimed him an English admiral.
HE still follows were the word
that fell from his lips; "but with tn
help OF Neptune we'll outsail him il
the night"
Though the officer spoke with muci
assurance, there lurked in his tongu
latent fear which his companion
detected, and exchanged significan
glances.
Over the face of the deep night wa
setting, and the vessel kept straigh
before the wind to the joy of it, com
inander who had lately spoken. Th'
shadows gradually yeiled the far-awas
pursuer from sight, and when the Off
Gers separated, expressions Of triumph
were on their lips.
The British vessel was the Meteor,
a fast saiIer, whose armament consist
ed Of twenty-eighi guns. She was d
weil-built double-decker, and had seen
much service in the war which had
razed almost three years between
Great Britain and her American colo
nie-. Her speed and her formidable
armament had made her a terror to
American vessels in European waters.
Her commander, sea-born English
man, named Guilderoy, waz an officer
Of undoubted courage and cunning, to
which be added yindictiyeness that
rendered him obnoxious to many Of
Ills own crew.
The Meteor was flying from new
and very formidable foe-fying with
a hold filled with booty. On the day
preceding that one that had just closed
upon her in flight she had just cap
tured an American cruiser, after a
spirited contest. The prize had
proved one Of value, and Captain
Guilderoy did not wish to risk an en-
gagement with the vessel following In
his wake.
Captain Conyngham, the pursuer,
was a second Paul Jones. lie was one
of the most daring spirits Of our then
infant navy, and his name had become
Il terror along the coast of England.
He pursued and captured number Of
British ship-, which he either burnt
or sent into friendly ports; and when
he deserted the Meteor, fresh from her
victory, he hesitated not to crowd on
all sail and give chase.
There were men on the decks of the
Revenge, rs Conyngham' vessel was
appropriately named, who watched the
flying Englishmen. Much specula-
ton concerning the result Of the chase
ran through the several groups, and
Conyngham smiled when he turned te
reply to the words of a youthful Lieu
tenant who stood beside him, sea-glass
i'm hand.
'We can outsail her, Gilbert" ths
American captain said with emphasis
"This wind favors both Of us alike
and in the calm that will soon prevail
shc must lie by till day
The young officer turned from his
captain, and again his eyes were
strained to make out the form of the
ship rapidly disappearing among tie
prevailing shadows.
Conyngham did not return to his
glass, but watched the face Of his
youthful companion.
II am confident that Miss Temple is
aboard the Englishman, he said at
last.
''Of course she is exclaimed the
Lieutenant with flush. ~ know she
was on board the Mischief when ii fell
into the Meteor's hands, and | am
satisfied she l. a prisoner
"Thc fairest prize old Guilderoy ha,
captured in many u long day" re
marked Conyngham, with laugh a
the Lieutenant's smile, and the tlasl
that lighted up the depths Of his anx
ious eyes.
The conversation was interrupted
by an unexpected yeering of the win,
that paled the cheeks of the numerous
watchers on the deck, and the officer
separated.
Now, having learned something o
the Meteor's pursuer, let US return t.
the English vessel.
The calm prophesied by the Amer
can captain fell upon the ocean short
ly after the descent of darkness. |
worried Guilderoy, and he held fre
quent consultations with the officers
now on deck, now in his state room
He held consultations i'm the latte
place over a bottle of choice wine, ant
under the liquors influence he sound
ly cursed the Yankee privateer.
Becalmed on the water and beneatl
the stars, the Meteor lay like a hug
slumbering leviathan. Her light
were hidden, and the spectral figure
that trod her decks conversed in whis
pers.
In small apartment, not far reInot'
from the council cabin, stood beauti
fnl young girl. There was look o
sorrow in her dark eyes, and her fac'
was quite pale. She appeared to b
listening, for her head was bent to
ward Guilderoy's room, from which
direction came a faint and confused
murmur of voices.
II know that we are becalmed, she
said to herself i'm an audible tone, ane
/ know, too, that the officers are wor'