Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-06
A ROMANCE OF THE Sea.

During visit to some friends in Charles
ton, while on a leave of absence from
H. M. S. Diana, Lieutenant Howard Gran
vile fell in love with a dark-eyed girl of
eighteen named Helena Riol.
She was an orphan, living at the house
of her uncle, Alfonso Riol, who was an
American by birth and a Spaniard by
descent
For some years he had been sailing
master aboard an armed United States
schooner, where, he informed Granville,
he had often been promised promotion, but
was still neglected; which he ascribed TO his
descent. He instanced several persons,
who had not been so long in the navy as he,
and yet had obtained places above him.
"If / were like some men would be re-
venged," he added, bitterly.
"A man should always do his duty,
whether promoted or not" said the British
officer.
A fortnight later the schooner sailed on
a surveying expedition off the African
coast. Helena Riol accompanied her uncle.
Although she and Granville were lovers,
there was n singular coldness in her man
ner when they parted.
The lieutenant often thought of it after
ward, and imagined that the sailing master
had prejudiced her against him.
A month later Granville's ship was or
dered to cruise for SLAYER, which, it was
reported, had lately been noticed off the
coast Of Africa.
In due time, passing the Cape Verdes,
the English frigate stood on her way toward
the Gold Coast, in the vicinity of which
the outlaw craft had last been seen.
On the starboard side of the upper deck
the captain was one day walking to and
fro, and ON the larboarl side stood Lieu
than UIa nn
aloft.
Suddenly, from the young lookouts at
the masthead came the cry of "Sail o."
"Where away?" shouted Granville.
fright ahead, sir! About five miles Off"
The Captain seized his glass, and sprang
upon the horse-block.
"She looks suspicious, SIR" he said to
the lieutenant, as he passed the glass to
him.
Granville had an eye like hawks; he
could see further than most men on the
water.
"Ay, ay, sir, suspicious craft" he re-
marked, after brief inspection. at seems
to me she has a familiar look, although |
cannot recall where have seen her before. A"
"She is not very low in the water, SIR"
said the captain; "but l do not like her
| looks for all that"
| thing the appearance of an armed craft.
"These, sir, are not the days of pirates"
rejoined the captain, smiling. "Why do
you think she is armed?"
81 may have been mistaken, sir, at so
great distance" answered the lieutenant,
"but, when 1 looked through the glass, l
| fancied saw port closed"
"Try her with the colors, quartermaster. "
"Ay, ay, sir.
And up went the union jack even as the
old tar spoke.
The other vessel hoisted the same colors.
"Now, signals, quartermaster.
The signals were hoisted and responded
| to, until the one questioning the strangers s
name shot up aloft.
| Then there seemed to be some hesitation
aboard the schooner long delay, that
| caused the quartermaster to move the sig
| nal flag up and down peremptorily.
| All at once a white flag, with the letters
"L-o-s-T" distinctly revealed upon it, with
the aid of glass, appeared at her gatf.
| "Ah! by George!" cried the ffigates Cap
tain. "Caught now, my fine fellow! And
yet," he added, thoughtfully, "she may
really have lost the signal"
Meanwhile the schooner, which now was
not more than half mile off, held on her
way; but, instead of adding to her canvas,
| sne DeRhn 10 Jake bOIue Ol IL lu
Nimble forms, in dark blue shirts and
trousers, swarmed all over her graceful
masts and yards, and sail after sail was
rolled up until she showed nothing but a
close-reefed main-topsail and a topmast
staysail.
Zone would think she expected storm,
said the captain of the frigate.
He glanced up at the sky, but he could
see no indication of tempest.
True, the wind had fallen away little,
and there was thin, hazy strip of cloud on
the otherwise clear surface of the heavens;
but in these, in his opinion, were no signs
of a gale.
He at once ordered carronade forward
10 be fred as a signal for the schooner Ia
heave TO.
The quarter-gunners sprang TO theii
places; there was n fash, and the gun
roared, sending a shot whirring past the
strangers bow.