The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-07-08
THE GIRL MUTINEER.

Toward the close of an October day Ill
1777, a vessel sailing in a southwesterly
direction crossed the ffty-seventh degree
of north longitude. Her keel ploweo
the waves of the north Atlantic, and hel
destination seemed to be the Azores. -
She was sailing before a strong wind,
and the arrangement of her sails indicat
ed flight. If fight, from whom? The
naked eye could perceive no pursuer or
the bosom of the ocean; but the sea
glasses, levelled by number of British
officers. who gracedithe clean decks, re-
vealed dark speck on the:watery rim Of
the 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 a man
whose bearing might have proclaimed
him an English admiral.
''He still follows, were the words that
fell from his lips; 'but with the help OF
Neptune we'll outsail him in the night.
Though the officer spoke with much
assurance, there lurked in his tongue a
latent fear which his scompanions detected,
and exchanged significant glances.
Over the face of the deep, night was
setting, and the vessel kept straight be-
fore the wind, to the Joy of its command
er who had lately spoken. The shadows
gradually veiled the far-away pursuers
from sight, and when the officers separat-
ed, expressions of triumph were on their
lips.
The British vessel was the Meteor, a
fast sailer, whose armament consisted Of
twenty eight guns. She was well-built
double decker, and had seen much serv-
ice 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 q
terror to American vessels in European
waters. Her commander sea born
Englishman, named Gilderoy, was an
officer of undoubted courage and cunning,
to which he added 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
flight, she had captured an American
cruiser, after spirited contest. The
prize had proved one of value, and Capt.
Gilderoy did mot wish to risk al engage
ment 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 number of British ships,
which he either burnt or sent into friend
ly ports; and when he deserted the Mete-
or, fresh from her victory, he hesitated
not to crowd all sail and give chase.
There were men on the decks of the
Revenge, as Conyngham's vessei was ap-
propriately named, who watched the fly
ing Englishman. Much speculation con.
cerning the result of the chase ran
through the several groups, and Conyng-
ham smiled when he turned to reply to
the words of youthful lieutenant who
stood beside him, sea glass in hand.
"We can outsail her, Gilbert" the
American captain said, with emphasis
This wind favors both of us alike, aud
in the calm that will soon prevail, she
must lay by till day."
The young officer turned from his cap
tain and again his eyes were strained to
make out the form of the ship rapidly
disappe airing among the prevailing shad-
ows.
Conyngham did not return to his glass.
but watched the face of his youthful
companion.
81 am confident that Miss Temple is
on board the Englishman, he said, at
last.
''Of course she ISL exclaimed the lieu
tenant with flush. 81 know she was on
board the Mischief when it fell into the
Metecr's nands, and am satisfied she is
a prisoner.
.'The fairest prize old Gilderov has
captured in many long day9" remarked
Conyngham, with laugh at the lieuten-
ants smile, and the flash 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 watch
ers on the deck, and the officers separated.
Now, having learned something of the
Meteor's pursuer, let rs return to the
English vessel.
Ihe calm prophesied by the American