Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-12-27
CHAPTER Xxx.

Xiety the return Of the boat.
The Captain feared the British officers
would come to the conclusion that the
Americans we're trihing with them, and
/ put an end to the conference by saildoWn
/ the harbOr and bombarding the fort.
( But after an hour or two, the boat was
| again seen to fill and start in for the
/ shore.
Il think your plan to delay is working
well, said the deserter. @The day has
almost been spent, and there has been
nothing done.
Griffith glanced at the sun and discov-
cred that it had long since passed the
meridian. He was so far succeeding
/ well.
| The boat pulled steadily in and the
/ officer sprang ashore.
Simon, who had gone down to receive
| the message, brought it back.
! With trembling fingers Griffith Alton
! seized the document, broke the seal and
/ read it aloud to his officers and counsel
/ Ors, who were gathered about him.
/ The answer was brief and to the point
! It simply stated that if the commander
! of ManOa would send his terms for an
j armistlce 1t would be considered and re-
! ported on.
/ Three days time was asked in which to
/ consider the matter. During that time
/ the man-Of-war was not to approach
! cables length nearer, nor were the land
/ forces to leave their present entreneh-
ments.
Several times the boat piled between
ship and shore before the armistice was
/ agreed upon.
! Then the agreement was that they were
/ to remain as they were and the armistice
/ was to extend tWenty-fOur hours from
! the coming midnight.
One thing in particular insist upon,
wrote Captain Alton in his last response
/ to the English officers demands; the
! XenOphOn during this armistice must not
! break ground slip her cable, OF come
! nearer than she is at present"
/ When he had read this to his officers he
dispatched the faithful Simon with it to
! the BritOn who was waiting for the
! message.
What advantage do you expect to de-
rive from that order?" the deserter of the
/ XenophOn asked. IF they see fit to sail
| down and lombard US they viii do so.
1T may have the effect to hold the
/ cruiser to her present anchorage, and then
we shall have the advantage of knowing
! just where she is"
1T may have some effect in that way.
! In fact, the British do not seem in
! hurry just now, Mr.. Burnett answered.
| Il think they must be hesitating and IN
decided in the matter"
why should they?"
4 know not. They can not as yet have
! heard anything from the siege of McHen-
ry and Baltimore.
AYE, the firing there has ceased?"
Then the day has been decided one
way or the other. Gen. Ross has either
| taken the city or been defeated"
"There can be no question Of that, and
/ I have fancied that I noticed a sort OF
feverish anxiety on the part of the Brit
ISL all the morning. I think they are IN
| certain"
Capt. Alton turned about and returned
to his headquarters.
The great anxiety was wearing on him,
and he found himself decidedly weak.
"Griff, said ST Cole, won't ye heV
suthin' to eat? I'm blest eff I believe ye' We
ct a bite since early this mOrnin'-"
Il don't remember myself, ST, he an
sWered You may bring me some break
fast.
The shoemaker had the accomplish
ment of being good cook. He soon
returned with broiled steak, bread. pOta-
toes, and a cup of coffee, which was
very essential to our hero in his weak
| ness.
While engaged in supplying his body
I with nOurishment sufficient to sustain
life, Grifith's mind was busy forming
plans for rescuing OLA GatFeIl from the
British man-Of-War.
What would be the result of sudden
startling news from BaltimOre?" he asked
/ himself. Suppose it should be reported
that General Ross had been defeated and
the British army were in full retreat,
what would be the effect? Would It not
cause the XenOphOn to set sail and leave
our coast2-Great heavens!-An Ola on
board. I would almost as soon have
news of the defeat of our own forces
But I am selfish. I am thinking at pres
ent too much about my own affairs and
not enough of America"
He started up from the table, and with
his brow in a knot of wrinkles, began
pacing the apartment. ST Cole came il
to remove the dishes.
[ "Grif, ye amt ct very much, said the
self-cOnstituted cook.
Il am not hungry, ST.
well, yer jest got to fill up, or ye arC
) gOin' to break down; now, that thing is
fixed sartainty.
/ Isl, have you heard from Captain Cat.
rell today"
E yes, was there"
How is he?"
) Very porely, Griff. Doc don't thinl
! he's goin' to weather through morn two
or three SIGH nights as last was.
rs he cOnsciOus?"
Don't Know anything, Griff, only jis
a little at time. He comes to hissel
and talks fust rate fur a while, an thel
| he goes off a ramblin' an don't know
| nuthin'. "
3 @I hope he has not discovered the alb
sence or fate of his daughter.
/ "He don't know a thing about it, Gritf.
% At this moment Mr.. Burnett put hi
] head in at the door and said:
Captain Alton, there are some strang
10 movements going on which demand you
. attention
What are they, Burnett?" our her
asked, starting up abruptly.
Come quick; the ship is heaving an
Choir"
aThen it is in violation Of the arms
a tice."
: cot course, Captain; there is no under
standing what is meant by it. I thin
y you had better come out and look at her.
Q When our hero came out, he found tb
capstan manned and the sailors Walkin
l. r-.,r-r,a hcrr.sr,-. Tia