The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-26
The Chase.
BY j. FENNIMoRE COOPER.
brooklyn Eagle.1

brooklyn EagleI
Ia Toncha stood on the windward side of
his quarter deck, closely scanning the clouds
and anon casting an eye forward upon the bill
lows that ragged under the bow OF his ship.
"Perditionp' he exclaimed ''If the wind
holds not shall lose him, and my life has
been in vain. For'ard, there! shake out that
main to- gallant al and flattsn the main sli"
The crew of Indians the bravest that ever
trod ship, sprang to obey him, and as the
craft felt the Improvements that Captain Sap
pee had ordered, she sprang out of the water
and dashed on like a thing of nine lives.
Ia Toncha Sappee was the chief of the Teton
nation. Injured to the dangers of the sea he
was the best sailor in his country, and when
his uncle Wau-cau Sappee died was promoted
vessel then running between New Haven and
the Florida Keys. An hour and half prior
to the opening of our story, the willy warrior,
The-dog- og-who-turns-around-six times had stolen
the chieftail's daughter, and chartering a
clam smack was fleeing before the enraged ia
ther, was scratching gravel for his mountain
fastncss on the east end of Coney Island.
"Broil up! clew up and belayl So, steady!
Now, avast!" and as if inspired by the ringing
oOuO VI COLuhduus tu0 Wdu-IoR ClOV6 Tho
water like doughnut Captain Sappee leaned
over the rail and studied the surface. He was
tracking the fugitives by the trail of their boat
and though they were miles beyond him, the
waves disclosed the secret of their course to
the trained eye of the vigilant Indian.
"Set stud ns'ls!" said Sappee in grave tone,
ard once more the good ship rose to her task
and slipped along the wide west, of bathing
material.
On board the clam smack all was confusion.
Mo hao1 sf,,le hoI
comfortable home like an old tooth, sat in
stony silence on the quarter deck, her beauti-
full lips wreathed in contempt for the warrior
who had stolen her.
cart thou still angry with me?" he asked
raising his hat and contemplating her with q
grin in which respect mingled with sordid
affection.
Beware, Dog ho-turns-around-six-tim
exclaimed the girl.
"Wear!" screamed the disappointed Indian,
as he turned away. "Wear SKI ip! Overhaul
that mains'l and let go the glib topsll"
Like fairy the smack rode the waves, but
the Wau-Peg was within sight and nothing
but night could save the pursued from capture.
The chase was exciting. The Wau-Peg
was gaining On the smack and night gaming
on the Wa1-Peg. And night won by Several
lengths. Slowly the darkness closed in, but
Sappee could trail his quarry as well by night
as by day, aud like bullet he sped ON the
track of his despoiler.
DOub SuIpl no y6l6Q SuQu6uly.
The ready sailors obeyed, though wondering
why he should abandon the pursuit.
"They have doubled on III" muttered the
captain. "The trail now leads the other
way" and the good ship sped on like dog
after bone.
1t was plain to those on the smack that they
could not escape old ma. Sappee, and the Dog
who ho-turns-around-six-time had resorted to
strategem
"Unship the rudderl'' he commanded in a
fiery voice. $50! Now ship it the other way"
1t was done, and it was this maneuver that
deceived Sappee into the belief that his prey
had doubled on him.
The fair girl looked on and saw she was lost,
out rather than betray the emotion she felt,
she began heaving bricks at her abductor. 1t
was of no avail. By daylight the smack had
made an ofing near Greenpoint, and in three
weeks the Dog -that-turns- ns-around-six-times had
carried the girl to his eyrie among the clam
bakes near Manhattan. But her proud spirit
never wilted. She bore him children, but
never abated her hatred and one night she cast
herself from .precipice into the sea and
sprained her neck.
Ia Toncha Sappee sailed ON the false trail
for several months, and finally gave up the
chase as bad job. He never knew how he
was sold, but lived to a ripe old age, when
mast fell on him, and he went to join the idol
of his heart amid the shining stars