The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-12-21

captain paced back and forth in his
limited quarters, chatting like Gagged
lion, while MS good ship bore rapidly
down towards the chase; for it was
the Sea Gull that had been sighted
There was no doubt of that. Even
with the naked eye it was now posi-
BILE for those personally familiar with
her, to make out her identity.
One thing alone puzzled Kill
bourne; he knew her to be perfect
counterpart OF his own vessel, and
fully her equal in point of speed, yet
in these two hours the distance be-
tween the two sloops had very sen.
sibly lessened, although the Petrol
had only light breeze to urge her
onward,
Another hour, and another, and by
this time the Petrol had crept up al
most close enough to have thrown a
ball upon her enemy's decks; but
even had this been quite feasible,
there was precious life on board
that could not be put in jeopardy, so
the Pelrel's guns were silent, save,
indeed for two or three trujtless at.
tempts to cut away the tall masts of
the Sea Gull, and thus render her
helpless; but the great iron balls
from thlrty-two-pounder tell short
Of their mark.
And now the mystery of the for
mer's unexpected gain was revealed /:
the chase mad lost the land breeze,
and lay becalmed between it and the
trades, and in few moments more
the Petrol also lay motlonless on the
water, hardly one mile from the
chase.
"Ob! if could but cut down her
spars!..' exclaimed Kilbourne. and
then he resolved to attack by board
ing in the boats, but before they
could be manned, the sails OF the Sea
Gull shivered and filled, and directly
she began to walk away to the south
ward, leaving her pursuer lying III
helpless wrath behind her.
Not tor long, however; directly
the breeze caught the Petre!, and
once more she darted onward in ca
ger pursuit.
And then began the proverbial
"stern chase" that ever seems 20 both
pursuer and pursued, interminable,
From their starting point on the
Carolina coast, the Petrol and her
mate beat down past the Georgia
liue, light winds alternating with
dead Gains, yet the relative distance
between the two vessels remaining
even the same, so equally were they
matched in sailing qualities.
AT length, on the evening of the
third day, the titiul breeze died away
once more, and then calm of sew.
erdl hours followed, an ominous calm
with still, sultry heat, and a red
brazen look in the sky that BODIED nc
good to the waytarer on the sea.
Pursuer and pursued, still keeping
vigilant watch upon each other, close
reeted their sails, and placed all in
readiness for fierce battle with the
storm king whose heralds were
abroad in the air.
And directly, with a roar and ;
shrek, he burst upon them, keeling
them over Oh their sides till the Ions
spars seemed about to touch thu
toaming waters; but when he lifted
his heavy hand, the two sloops sprans
upright, and Petrol and Sea Gul
shook themselves, as it ready tor thu
fight, and, tossing, rolling, entered
upon the battle with the elements.
Rain and wind, and wind and rain
the rain in binding sheets, the wine
at first, in strong, tittul puffs, bu
finally settling down into a stead.
northeasler.
And thus Tor three days more, thu
two vessels went plunging and toss
ing and beating in, down the tloridi
coast line, the one seeking to slll
away from the other, the latter a
determined to keep well in sight o
the chase.
s"By Heaven!" exclaimed Alicl
kilbourne, as the pirate captain, ii
sheer bravado, ran up black flag
above the British colors; 81 will fol
low that rascal to his death or my
own. Ransom he demands tor GU
dear one, Mr.. Colbert, and ransom
there shall be! But it is he that shall
pay it, and the price shall be his life
Ay, sir, Heaven helping me, the ies
perado shall himself pay Mary Col
berts ransom, and dear one he viii
find It,"
Ii f.