Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-16

Claxton. Do not spare either spars or
canvas in your efforts to capture that
scoundrei; and as soon as they will bear,
give the sallOw rascal taste of our long
eighteens."
The schooner had discovered the un-
welcome presence Of her formidable foe
almost at the same moment, and bracing
up her head-yards, at the same time TAX
ing in the huge squaresail, the schooner
hauled by the wind, her fore and aft sails
setting like boards.
The corvette was not idle, and scarcely
had the echo of the boatswain's call died
away, when the excited seamen were dart
ing aloft, active US monkeys. In trice,
the man. o.-war was clothed in clouds OF
canvas, every avilable stitch set that
would draw, one watch piped below with
hammocks slung, and . th:rty-two- pound
shot slowed in each one to make the craft
lively. With yards braced fine as nee
dies, tacks hove close down, and sheets
hauled fiat aft, the corvette was rushing
through the water at speed that brought
a smile Of stern JOY to many bronzed
cheek.
:sMind your huff, quarter master; nc
nearer, my man." And Ralph glanced al
the leach Of the main topsail, which shiv
cred slightly from time to time.
"Ayc, aye, sir!'' growled the old sea-
/ man, as he hove the wheel up a spoke OF
two. "It's tull-and-by now, but afore
night Jome of these light kites will bt
slowed, or IN lose my grog." And as he
muttered the last sentence under his
breath he glanced to windward, where {
threatening bac k of dark ragged cloud.
were rapidly rising towards the zenith
while long. uneasy swell had set in
causing the corvette to send the spray
high above the weather cathead.
':Ha, my bilious gamester, if we arc
taking ducking, you are not escaping
your BATH" and Ralph watched the
schooner slipping throug h the seas, div.
Ing bows under, covered with foamine
sprays, while the topmasts bent and
buckled, threading each moment to &C
bodily over the side. She steeled small
keeping the corvette's masts in one, an6
but an occasional glimpse could be caugh>
of her long, lean, glossy sides, the bright
metal sheathing flashing like gold as she
heeled over almost showing the keel.
AS for the corvette, as the freshenine
breeze whist1ed through the taut coraage
and the wake astern became whittier anc
more distinct as she careened, the office.
of the deck glanced inquiring.y at thu
first huff, who, glass in hand, stood by tn,
weather mizzen rigging, glancing alter
nateiy at the chase and the threatening
aspect of the heavens now entirely OBJ
scured by the gloomy, leaden cloud
which appeared to settle down lower ant
lower, until the gilt balls on the pole
were lost to view. The light sails hat
been taken in, and yards sent on deck
the topgallant-masts had been struck
and Che topmen clustered in a body a
their respective stations, ready to jum]
at the first word of command.
The seas increased as night came on
and the gale Numbered furiously owe
the green curling seas. Nobly had tn
schooner held her own against the heavie
craft: but the laboring and pitching hac
told against her, and the Esmeralda, I'm
der two storm tri-cornered sails. and
patch of storm-jib, rode gracefully ove
the seas, with but one man beside tn,
helmsman visible.
A slight yaw from the corvette as sht
plunged madly into a kissing mass O
water, displaying for a moment her fore
foot TO the lowering gaze Of the Spaniard
who was nervously chewing the end of ,
cigar, flash, a report, ami globe OF
iron buried itself in the waste of waters
close alongside.
"Not bad shot, my Yankee hero, con.
sidering the sea that is running. Try il
again. 1t will soon be dark, the mouth
of the Pongo cannot be far distant, and
beside the Esmeralda to try the range o
your guns on''
Again and again did the report of the
corvette's bow chasers mingle with the
howl of the gale, and with the last squirt
of fame issuing from the bow, came a
flash of lightning mingled with crash
and wall that was not unlike shrek
OF human agony; but the deep roll of
thunder prevented those on board the
corvette from judging correctly from
what source the noise proceeded, and the
next instant all hands were busy close
reeing the fore ana main-topsails as
squall after squall swept over the vessel,
the rain IN long, slanting torrents driving
furiously in the seamen's faces. The
darkness increased to an impenetrable
gloom, in the midst of which the schoon-
er was lost to view.
Daylight revealed the low, sandy coast
of Africa with the more prominent head
lands of the Pongo looming up, with a
Struggling palm here and there. The
surf in three heavy lines was laundering
against the shore, the feathery foam fly
ing mast head high as it spun in the air.
The storm hal ceased, not cloud was
to be seen, and as the darkness rolled
away before the African sun, the horizon
was eagerly scanned by scores of earnest
eyes, but not a sail was visible.
The Esmeralda had disappeared, and
the corvette was hove to abreast of the
bar of the Pongo, across which the break
ers were running in mad, boisterous
sport.
A short consultation was held between
the commander of the corvette and Ralph
They were both of opinion that the
schooner had in all probability succeeded
in crossing the bar: that, being a SLAYER
as well as pirate, the captain must be
we'll acquainted with the bar, the coast,
and the lay of the land generally.
'sI'll guarantee. the scoundrel is this mo-
ment warping up the river" exclaimed
the commander as his eyes flashed with
suppressed anger; ''but this respite from
vengeance shall avail him nothing. We
have left our mark on his natty mainsail,
and could almost swear we hulled the
schooner once-that last shot, you know
but we'll clip her wings yet, Mr.. Clax-
ton. l cannot hope to cross the bar be-
fore evening, by which time the sea will
have gone down, but in the meanwhile
much can be done Have tho lo,,nnh