Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07

prize of a letter ofmarque that had been
doing much damage to American com
merce.
Then two months went By, and no
other word came. Ruth grew anxious,
| but the old squire remained confident.
"The Wild Wave is al right" he said.
"You need have no fear for Rob Wayne
he has proved his metal"
June passed and July came, and still
there was no news of the Wild Wave.
though the limit set for the cruise was
long passed. The frigate had been re-
lieved and made trip eastward, and re-
turned again, and nov tackled lazly back
and forth across the harbor's mouth.
1t was near the middle of j uly, nd Ruth
had come to the porch 70 take her accus-
toned look at thr frigate, carrying a small
spy-glass that her father had bought to
enable her to lCok farther away.
The square yards of the British ship
| showed at the south, and having seen
| them, Ruth's gaze ran eastward. Then
it came back to the first object, and a
startled exclamation followed, for an un-
usual excitement pervaded the upper
spars of the enemy's vessel. Top-gallant
sails and royals were quickly loosed and
sheeted home, and every bit of canvas
| that could be spread, was sent aloft.
: Ruth called to her father and told him
of this.
"rhere must be vessel trying to get
in" he said, "Which way was the frigate
headed ?"
"To the eastward"
"Take careful look that way
In a moment Ruth cried: "There are
two sails beyond the frigate, and one is
chasing the other. Oh, the last is
schooner, and I know it is the Wild
Wave, and she is after ship that is try
ing to run to leeward."
Let Us go to the hill, it will give us
better vieW," said the squire, and before
he ceased speaking, Ruth had hurried
away.
The hill rose just west of the house,
and had an elevation of 200 feet A path
wound up to the summit, and little
level formed good lookout. Ruth soon
reached this, breathless but too eager to
rest, and her glass was searching for the
ships. Soon she saw the double chase
for the schooner was still following the
ship, and the frigate was striving to get
between them.
"What do you make out,' said the
squire.
at is very strange" answered Ruth,
'fOr the Wild Wave is making every eff
fort to overhaul the ship. and yet to do
this she Is only running more iato danger
Why don't Rob let the ship go and make
for the harbor?"
"He has some scheme in view, you can
depend On that"
'The ship has dropped boat and it is
making for the Wild Wave and-and-I
no - -
the smoke is rushing up from her in
great mass"
Il knew it was ruse," said the squire,
sab, and here is the explanation" and be
pointed to the eastward where several
sails had rounded an outlying point and
were making for the harbor. "Those
are English vessels and prizes of the
Wild Wave"
eyes, and the boat has reached the
schooner and been taken on board"
81 knew Rob was up to some trick. He
has made his prizes safe, that is sure,
and now must look out for himself"
Eyes, and he Will"
The frigate had discovered the trick
that had been played on her, and had
tackled, her commander for a
moment not knowing VII sther it
was best to try TO cut off the
prizes or chase the Wild Wave, but at
last decided on the latter course, and
tackled again. Rob kept on after picking
up his men and was now some distance
ahead of his watchful opponent but out
side of her, and he evidently wished to
run in.
81 don't think that the frigate will
catch the Wild Wave but l am afraid she
will chase the schooner off Shore" said
the squire. "But what is that gray vapor
coming up from the east? 1t looks like
fog"
''Yes," said Ruth.
"1hen Rob will run in if it thiekens
enough to hide his vessel"
II hope that it will.''
The fog came rolling up, but the com
mander was not to be SO easily baked
this time and he now tackled for the
harbor mouth, the Wild Wave also shift
ing her course. The fog thickened and
chung close to the water, soon hiding the
schooner, which was farthest out; then
rolling on past the ship, whose Zig at up
per spars were the last things to disap-
pear. The wind too changed, and as it
was apt to do so again, and leave the SET.
clear, the squire's excitement grew.
"Rob must and will make the most of
the chance" he cried, and Rob was max
ing the most of it.
He knew that the fog might not hold,
and that it would soon be heaviest close
in shore, and as he was well versed in all
the shoals and bearings, he shaped his
course for the harbor as quickly as the
fog shut him in.
He had taken in the Light canvas of the
Wild Wave, and she was under her lower
sails only. Soon his ear caught the sound
of waves washing against point east of
the harbor, and he gave the order:
"West by north, now"
"West by north it is, SIR" answered the
man at the wheel.
"Haye the port broadside ready, and
swing the pivots that way, Mr.. Lane"
said Rob to his first officer, and then he
ran lightly up the rigging.
Train the guns OF one point, and ele-
vate them two Degrees" he called from
above, "and stand by to fire when the
word comes"
"Aye, aye, sir!" answered Mr.. Lane, and
| a few minutes later he reported his guns
ready.
One minute passed, and then another,
but the next moment brought the sharp
command
Fire"
The heavy reports of the guns followed,
| and while they were still rumbling through
the fog, Rob's voice sent down the clear
command off,
Keep her mormon west"
"Aye, aye, sirr' answered the helms
| man, and gathering again the speed that
the broadside had slackened for a mo-
ment, the Wild Wave went bowling