The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-13

gloomy canopy OF CLOUDS until Jney
seemed to touch the hot, steamiug
earth; the swell of the ocean as it broke
ON the distant reefs, doomed monot0n-
ously in the sailors ears as he writhed
IN his agony, while the incessant glare
of ligh ming revealed the gloomy land
scape about him.
Then came the whistling of current
of wind, the rush OF rain, clouds of sand
filled the air, and the hurricane burst
forth in all it's fury.
The tree 10 which Jack had been
bound had but precariOus hold on the
sandy soil, and caught by the full
strength Of the tempest, it was torn
forth by the roots, hurled through the
air. leaving the seaman stunned, bleed
ing, on The sand, but partially free.
Tne rain, which fell in torrents, had
expanded the leather, aud as Jack re-
yived from the shock he had received,
he had but little difficulty in clearing
himself from the fracture remains vi
The old palm tree.
All through the remainder of the night
the war OF the elements continues; but
rs daylight dawned, as il satisfied with
vengeance, the wind died away, the
clouds rolled asunder, the thunder
ceased to roll, the blue sky appeared,
and the sun once more smiled upon the
low, sandy sDores OF Africa.
TO relate the subsequent sutferings of
Jack Thompson, the pangs of hunger
and thirst he experienced as he dragged
his swollen limbs wearily along, to ling
day by day through the thick under
brush Of the jungle or across sandy
plains destitute of shade or suOsist-
ence, the scanty supply of water, and
an occasional Windtall of1ruit, by which
he managed to prolong an existence, all
this we must leave to the readers imag-
nation. But a stern, undylng desire
tor vengeance, buoyed him up, enabling
him TO surmUunt all dangers and diff
culties that light otherwise have over
wnelmed him, until he finally reached a
slave station on Gambia River, below
which an American corvette was STA
toned.
once on board the gallant man-of-war
which bore the flag Of his country, Jack
Thompson made known tue wrongs he
had suffered from the hands of AnLouio
Gaspardo. lie expressed his ability to
pilot the corvette TO the pirates lair,
and without moments delay the COM
mander summoned his executive officer,
giving him orders to get under weigh al
once.
Days merged into weeks, and weeks
heightened into months without sue
cess crowning the efforts Of the man-Ol-
| wars meu wno, day and night, had been
on the alert for the Centipede.
The corvette had made stretch to the
southwark, keeping we'll in along tue
coast, and one morning as day light be-
gan to dawn, a sharp-eyed fore-Lopman
reported a sail ahead. The haze pre-
vented the strangers rig being made
out, but, as the powerful rays OF the sun
pierced the thin clouds of mist, rolling it
up like curtain, the white sails and
black glossy hull Of a schooner was dis
closed to view. She was beyond cannon
shot, but the moment Jack Thompson
beheld her flush OF excitement mantled
his brOnzed cheek, ana IN voice hoarse
with conflicting emotions, he informed
the commander OF the corvette that il
was the lOng-looked Tor scnooner-the
Centipede.
The shrlll pipe Of the boatswain's cal
| summoned all hands TO make sail, ant
the blus jackets clustered up the rigging
| like SO many bees. ln an incenceivable
NborL space Of time the man-Oi-War was
under a cloud of canvas, and the spray
tley nigh above her knight heads as sne
| dashed through the wafer.
| But the pirate nad not been Idle. A.
first ne appeared 10 be uncertain whetheI
mis- true character was known or not, bu
| when The corvette altered her course dl
reciIy for the schooner, at the same timt
crowding on all sail, then Gaspardt
threw off his disguise. His decks az
peared crowded with men, and hauling
sharp on wind, the Centipede led rh,
corvette, who, with her yards brace(
sharp as needles, followed in the pirate
wake with a ull.dUg's tenaclty.
The wind increased, the sea rost
higher and higher, and the schooner
w1lch at first nad enjoyed an adYantag
and increased her distance, now bega
10 lose way.
Slowly but surely the man-of-war con
tiuued 70 close the distance winch iu
lerYened between her and the guilt
vessel, and JACK Thompson, his eye
nxed on The chase, refused 10 leave Lh
deck even Ior his meals.
Not man on board, from the CON
mauder to the drummer boy, but Wha
was anxious to overhaul tue scoundre
and the crew clustered between th
gums speculating upon the probable teI
, mInation Of the race.
The schooner was heading for chai
Of reefs, through which the channel Wa
both narrow and tortuous, hoping t
, elude the man-of-war by SO dong an
escape under cover Of the darkness.
The schooner was rapidly being rid Q
, | all suDeltiuous articles about decks, all
numerous articles hoated by the co
yette. The wedges to the long supp
! masts had been knocked away, Watt
4 butts started, rigging slackened up, an
in fact every means resorted 10 thu
would tend Lo increase the schooner
D speed.
: Gaspardo stood by the man at I'll
wheel, roWly watching the compass
/ and Watching the corvette as sh
plunged through the toamlng gorges, I'll
spray of which flew nigh above ht
!, hammock MEETINGS.
/ At sunset the reefs were IN sight,
| firing OF black, sharp-pointed rocks, oVe
g which the breakers were topping, las
r ing the sea into a boiling whirlpool.
a The executive officer was anxious
n omen fire with the bow-chasers ana a
tempt to cripple the Centlpede befol
d the shades OF evening should sett
e down upon the ocean, but the comman
;. er was unwilling TO lose the slighte
=. advantage, as ne would be forced to {
Y in order 10 bring his long eighteens
u bear.
+ A portion of the crew had been st
r toned AZ the guns, Others again were
n readiness TO TACK ship, and all felt tn
~ the crisis, so far as the pirate was co
e cerned, was rapidly approaching.
The roar OF the SURF doomed 6ullen