The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-12-21
the black flag floating jeeringly at

his masthead.
But by this time the Petrol had
gained one great advantage; she had
succeeded in cutting off her enemy
from seeking shelter in Jamaica
port, and forced her to hug the Flor
ida coast; so the pirate captain, much
to his discomfort, found himself com,
PEELED TO turn his back on his famiI-
lar haunts, and beating in past the
Florida keys, to enter the broad wa
tiers of the Cult of Mexico.
AS the sun rose in cloudless splen.
do, as the first day of the New Year
dawned upon the sea, the wind aba
ted, and the Sea Gull suddenly spread
sail after sail, seeking by one bold
dash to escape her unrelenting pur-
suer.
But sail for sail did the Petrol also
throw out to the breeze, and again
the two sloops bowled along, the
muzzles OF their guns dipping from
time to time into the salt waters of
the Gulf. The Sea Gull beat in to-
wards the coast, hoping to find
hiding place among the numerous
bays and islands, but a favorable
slant of the wind enabled the Petrol
to head her out into the open waters
once more, and away drove hunter
and hunted down towards the Dry
Tortugas, and then as the low sandy
group OF islets came close aboard, it
became evi lent that tie pirate, grow
ing desperate, was about to dash
recKlessly in amongst their narrow,
rocky channels, trusting doubtless to
his knowledge OF their perilous nav>
igalion, to enable him to flee whittier
his enemy dare not pursue.
Then Alick Kilbourne grew dead>
ly pale, tor the decisive moment had
come, and the life or death of her he
loved more than lite, more than any,
thing save his honor, was trembling
in the balance; but there was no hes.
itation in voice or eyes, as ne ordered
his heaviest qua to be prepared for
action; he was himself a skiltul guns
ner, and as the Sea Gull ranged in
close to the wild breakers beating
on the shores oil one of the little
islets, he took careful sight and fired.
There was crash, and the pirates
mast went topping overheard, and
the Sea Gull, utterly unmanageable,
went drifting il towards the shore.
MAN the boats for action, and
lower away!" shouted the young cap
tain.
In five minutes more the boats Of
the Petrol were bounding across the
waves; the men We're eager to board
and fight the pirates on their own
deck, but before they could reach
the drifting wreck, her crew had de-
serted her, and were strainirg every
nerve to urge their boats towards
the shore; yet close as the latter was,
they were destined never to reach its
shelter.
Even as the Petrel's men noted
their flight, with anger and disap-
pointment, huge, combing breaker
bore down upon the fleeing boats,
crushing and overturning them in its
wild onward rush, and for a moment
the sea was dotted with black, toss-
ing specks, and then they sank for
ever from human sight.
''Mary Colbert's ransom is paid p
said Kilbourne solemnly, turning to
the white haired man who sat AZ bis
side.
Directly the Sea Gull's aimless
course was arrested, and she lay
quiet, driven hard and fast on sand
bank, while on her leaning deck app
peared the light. slender form OF her
Tor whom two fond hearts were beat>
ing fast with love and anxiety.
She saw them coming, the two
men she loved, the father and the
lover, and her lace lighted up in
heartfelt than ksgiving.
That evening, as the Petrol, after
blowing up the wreck Of the Sea
Gull, spread her sails on her return
voyage, her mission happily accom-
plished in all its fullness, Mr. Colbert
laid his daughters hand in that Of
the young captain, saying:
"Take her, Alick; you have WOE
her nobly, and I am well content
feeling sure that you will make bel
life as you have made this New
Years Day-a happy one"