The Morning herald., 1877-11-24

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The young officer turned from his captai
and again his eyes were strained to ma,
out the form Of the ship rapidly disappea,
ing among the prevailing shadows.
Conyngham did not return to his glass
but watched the face Of his youthful com
panion. .s..
81 am confident that Miss Templ
is on board the Englishman," he said, a
last.
"Of course she Isl" exclaimed the lieu
tenant with flush. II know she was O,
board the Mischief when it fell into tn,
Meteors hands, and am satisfied she is
prisoner"
''The fairest prize old Gilderoy has cap
tured in many a long day." remarked
Conyngham, with Laugh at the lieutenant
smile, and the flash that lighted up tn,
depths of his anxious eyes.
The conversation was interrupted by q
unexpected veering Of the wind that paled
the cheeks Of the numerous watchers on
the deck, and the officers separated.
Now, having learned something of the
Meteor's pursuer, let us return to the Eng.
lish vessel.
The calm prophesied by ths American
captain fell upon the ocean shortly afte1
the descent of darkness. 1t worried Glide.
roy. and he held frequent consultations
with his officers, now on deck, now in his
state room. He held consultation in the
latter place over bottle of choice wine,
md under the liquors influence he soundly
cursed the Yankee privateer.
Becalmed on the water and beneath the
stars, the Meteor lay like huge, slumber.
ing leviathan. Her lights were hidden, and
the spectral figures that trod her decks con-
versed in whispers.
In small apartment not far remote from
the council cabin, stood beautiful young
girl. There was look of sorrow in her
dark eyes, and her face was quite pale.
She appeared to be listening, for her head
was bent toward Gilderoy's room, from
which direction came faint and confused
murmur of voices.
II know we are becalmed," she said to
herself in an audible tone, "and know,
too, that the officers are worried about it.
The men? know that many of them hate
Gilderoy. Didn't hear the helmsman say
last night that the sailors would refuse to
fight for the man who rules them with a
rod of iron, and when he had spoken thus,
didn't he remark to fellow tar that the pris-
oners did not know their strength ? Yes,
that he did. The men think of mutiny,
and the man at the wheel is now ready to
rise against the captain of this ship. They
want a leader; they gnaw in silence the
chain of tyranny, with which their captain
has bound them. I will spring the mine
will lead the Meteor's mutineers, and the
Revenge may have our prize"
Adaline Temple spoke with stern deter.
mination and clenched her hands.
The observer would have laughed to
think that she had decided to head a body of
mutiueers- shea fragile girl of nine
teen, had resolved to rob the English navy
of one of its best vessels or to perish in the
attempt.
She left the room with a resolve we'll
formed, and steadfast in her determination.
Like spectre she glided down the darkened
corridors of the vessel, and at last,
climbing upward with care, reached the
deck.
Captain Gilderoy and his lieutenants
were below, discussing the situation over
several bottles of wine. Adaline saw the
stars overhead, and turned her face to the
various points of the compass without
greeting breeze that would have pleased
the British captain.
The man at the wheel having nothing to
do, seemed to have fallen asleep, for he
started when Adaline's hand fell upon his
and his hand made rapid move
ment toward his belt, when he saw her
figure.
II want to talk with you," she said, in q
low tone, making no display of the knife
whose hilt she clutched-a knife like the
helmsman's. II want to say few words,
md are you going to listen? heard you
use mutinous language last night and l