The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-04-14

who forced into his hands heavy pack
age, strongly scaled and fastened, with a
single line written in bold hand on the
outside wrapper. 1t read as follows
"When you open this, remember the Civ
er." With q significant glance and a
warm pressure Of the hand, the two men
gazed into each others eyes for a moment
and parted without exchanging a word.
Time rolled on the cargo of the Phan-
tom was soon transferred to the wharf
and its capacious hold retilled with bales
OF cotton to its fullest extent, in addition
to a full deck load. 1t was the largest
cargo the Phantom had ever attempted
to run, worth fabulous sum, in addition
to which the choice stateroom of the sa-
loon had been engaged by a Confederate
agent, intrusted by the President of the
Contederacy with important dispatches
destined for the rebel representative in
Europe A great deal depended upon
the success Of the Phantom's next trip,
and if all went well, Black Jack would
take his final leave of the business, hay
ing made money enough as he informed
his friends at farewell dinner the night
before he dropped down the river. The
night was dark, although the moon rode
high in the heavens, heavy masses of
clouds at intervals entirely obscuring her
pale rays. The wind moaned and sighed
through the taut rigging and rakish
spars OF the steamer as she slowly steam
ed toward the mouth of the river, while
an occasional dash of rain gave ample
warning that the elements were in any
thing but a pleasant mood. Denser and
denscr grew the threatening pail over
head, until the moon, giving up the con
test, withdrew entirely leaving the dark
ness 50 palpable and intense that it could
almost be felt. \ finer, more propitious
opportunity to run the blockade had never
been vouchsated to the Phantom during
her eventful career. As usual, every
man was at his post all their energies
centered upon the forward portion Of the
vessel. The quarter deck was entirely
deserted save by the cotton bales thickly
slowed upon it. 4 private signal was en-
changed with the shore batteries. a fare
well flash returned, and the bow Of the
steamer was boldly turned seaward. The
Confederate agent stood in close proXim-
lty to the pilot house, where he could
observe all there was to be seen, feeling
naturally nervous and uneasy until as
sured that the Yankee fleet had been left
miles astern.
The sharp w}ilz ol It rocket attended
by a glltterlng train of sparks, rose ma
jestically against the dark opaque back
ground, scattering an avalanche of colored
fires in all directions, which to the aston
lshment and rage of all on board, met
with ready response from the dark, 81
lent blockade runner. 1t seemed like a
preconcerted signal, for scarcely had the
first rocket burst, when two in rapid sue
ceSslOn rose from the deck of the Phan-
tom, while Il powerful blue light attached
to one of the smOkeStack guys suddenly
lit up the vessel, revealing with startling
dlstlnctncss every spar and fath0m Of
rigging aloft. Beyond all was darkness,
relieved here and there by the sparks Of
rockets ascending from the midst of the
fleet, now fully aroused and on the alert.
"Treachery." gasped Black Jack. for
a moment all but berett of the power Of
speech; ''treachery. and on board my
own vessel. Up there, one of yc, and
douse that light. BY the Eternal but it
shall go hard with the internal Yankee
that has done this. Search the ship and
let me know if"
The balance of the order was lost in
the bursting of shell directly over the
steamer. All was confusion and amaze
ment, so suddenly had the treacherous
demonstration been made. The COnted
crate agent found it more convenient to
beat q hasty retreat to The nOncongenial
shades ofhl cabin. His satcheI contain
ING the Important papers lntIusted to his
care had disappeared with not a sign to
indicate the identity of the thief In the
meanwhile a second shell had exploded
in close proximity to the pilot house, the
blue light still burning, no one caring to
expose his person in the lurid light to the
keen eyes Of the enemy. The furious
whistle Of solid shot sounded like death
knell in the ears of the discounted block
ade runners, while the dark hull, heavy
spars and frownng battery of q man-ot-
war, with ports triced up and battle Ian
terms cleaning ominOusly in the face Of
the gathering storm, announced to Black
Jack that Fortune, the tickle Jade, in
whose lap he had sported with impunty,
had at the last moment cast him ruth
| lessly aside.
"Stop your engines. Heave to, or III
blow you out of the water" roarcd a
voice from out of the gloom, evidently
terribly in earnest.
The summons did not have to be re-
peated.