The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-09
The Girl Mutiqeer

Toward the close of an October day III
1T77, a vessel sailing in a south-westerly
direction crossed the ffty-seyenth degree
of north longitude. Her keel plowed the
waves of the North Atlantic, and her desti-
nation seemed to be the Azores. She was
sailing before o strong wind, and the
arrangement of her sails indicated flight.
If flight, from whom2 The naked eye
could perceive no pursuer on the bosom
of the ocean; but the sea-glasses, leyelled
by number of British officers, who graced
the clean decks, revealed a dark speck on
The watery rim of the Northern horizon.
This distant object occasioned no little
anxiety among the officers A silence
which had reigned among them for many
moments was suddenly broken by man
whose bearing might have proclaimed him
an English adpiral
''He still follows" were the words that fell
from his lips; ''but with the help of Nep-
tune we'n outsail him in the night"
Though the officer spoke with much as
surance, there lurked in his tonguea a latent
fear which his companions detected and
exchanged significant glances.
Over the face of the deep, night was
setting, and the vessel kept straight before
the wind, to the Joy of its commander who
had lately spoken. The shadows gradually
yelled the far-away pursuer from sight, and
when the officers separated, expressions OF
triumph were on their lips.
The British vessel was the Meteor, fast
ssiler, whose armament consisted of twenty
eight guns. She WAS wellbuilt double
decker, and had seen much service in the
war which had ragged almost three years
between Great Britain and her American
colonies. Her speed and her formidable
armament had made her terror to Ameri-
can vessels ip European waters. Her
commander, ea-born- -Englishman, named
Glderoy, was an officer of undoubted
courage and cunning, to which he added a
vindictiveness that rendered him obnoxious
to many of his own crew.
The Meteor was flying from new and
very formidable foe-fying with hold
filed with booty. On the day preceding
the one that had Just closed upon her in
eight, she had captured an American
cruiser, after spirited contest. The prize
had proved one Of value and Captain
| Gilderoy did not wish to risk an engage
meut with the vessel following in his
wake.
Captain Conyngham, the pursuer, WAS a
second Paul Jones' He was one of the
most daring spirits of our then infant navy,
and his name had become terror along the
coast of England He pursued and captured
a number of British ships, which he either
burnt or sent into friendly ports; and when
he deserted the Meteor, fresh from her
victory, be hesitated MOTTO, crowd all sail
and give chase.
There were men on the decks of the
Revenge, as Conyngham's vessel was ap-
propriately named, who watched the flying
Englishman. Much speculation concern
ing the result of the chase ran through the
several groups, and Conyngham smiled
when he turned to reply to the words of a
youthful Lieutenant who stood beside him,
sea-glass in hand.
"We can outsa1 her, Gilbert" the
American captain said, with emphasis.
''This wind favors both of us alike, and
in the calm that will soon prevail, she
must lay 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 disappear
ing among the prevailing shadows.
Conyngham did not return to his glass,
but watched the face of his youthful COM
panion.
II am confident that Miss Temple
is on board the Englislman," be said, at
last.
"Of course she isl" exclaimed the lieu-
tenant with flush. II know she was on
board the Mischief when it fell into the
Meteor's hands, and am satisfied she is a
prisoner"
"The fairest prize old Gilderoy has cap
tured in many long day? remarked
Conyngham' with 'aagh at the lieutenants
smile, and the fash that lighted up the
depths, of his anxious eyes. ~
The conversation was interrupted by an
unexpected veering of the wind that paled
the cheeks of the numerous watchers on
the deck, and the officers separated.
Nav hayipg learned aQms.hipg Of thu