Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-20
THE pEfREL IND The SLAYER.

welcome ears, save and except those @
men becalmed in boat upon the open ses
For twelve weary days and nights had VIC
the. officers and men of 81. N. ship Petre
(six guns, Commander B. r. Neville) bee,
cooped up in our iron prison, patroling on
of the hottest sections of the terrestris
globe, on the lookout for slavers. From
latitude 40 north to latitude 40 south wa
our beat, and we dared not venture be
yond these limits. Our instructions wer
to keep out of sight of land and try to in
tercept some of the larger vessels which, i
was suspected, carried cargoes of slaves
from the - coast. The ship, the sea, tn,
cloudless sky; there was nothing else to see
nothing else to think Of Work study
play even, were alike impossible in thai
fierce, scorching heat. II you touched q
bit of iron on deck it almost burned youl
hand. If you lay down between decks
covered with sheet, you awoke in bath
of perspiration.
"Sai! hop
The man. in his excitement repeated
the shout before he could be hailed from
the deck.
where away" sang out the Captain.
1.-TWO points on the weather bow, sir, u
was the reply.
That phrse about the weather bow
was a nautical fiction, for there was no
wind to speak of; and what there WAS
was nearly dead sstern.
Keep her away two points," said Com
mander Neville; and the order was
promptly obeyed.
In few seconds the news had spread
through the ship and the men clustered on
the bulwarks, straining their eyes, to get
glimpse of the stranger. Even the stokers.
poor fellows, showed their sooty faces at
the engine-room hatchway. OF course. the
stranger might be, and probably was, an
innocent trader, but then she might be
SLAYER, and golden visions of prizs money
foated before the eyes of every man and
boy on board the Petrol.
We did not steam very fast, as of course
our supply of coal was limited, and it was
about two hours before shutdown when we
fairly sighted the stranger. She was a
long three masted schooner, with tall rak-
ing masts lying very low in the water.
All her canvas was set, and as little
wind had sprung up, she was slipping
through the water at fair pace.
''She looks for all the world like a
SLAYER. sir" remarked Mr.. Brabazon, the
First Lieutenant. to the commander.
Neville said nothing, but his lips were
firmly compressed, and CLEAN of excite
ment was in his eyes
Fire a blank cartridge, Mr.. O'Riley,"
said he to the Second Lieutenant, land
signal her to ask her nationality and code
number"
This was done; and in answer to the
signal the schooner slowly hoisted the
American colors.
ESho hoe pasad
luffed point or two, sir, said the Quarter.
master, touching his cap.
The Captain merely answered this by
nod.
Put shot in your gun, Mr.. O'Riey,"
said he. Lower your hoist and make
fresh hoist demanding her name.'
This was done, but the American took
no notice.
Fire a shot, Mr.. oRiley-wide, of
course" said the commander.
Again the deafening report of the big
gun sounded in our ears; and we could see
the splash of the shot as il struck the water
about fifty yards from the schooner. I'm.
mediately flag was run up, then another.
and another; aud we saw that she was not
giving US her code number but was SPELL |
ing out her name, letter by letter-the |
Black Swan.
Just look that up in the United States |
Merchant Registry said the Captain to the |
First Lieutenant. And in half minute |
he had reported-"No such name, SIR"
This was something more than sus-
picious. And the wind was rising.
Hoist the signal for her to heave to I" |
cried Commander Neville. Take a boat |
and half dozen hands, Mr.. O'Riley,"
he continued; board her, inspect her
papers, and come back to report. If her |
papers are not in order" added he, You |
may search for slaves but if they are, you |
had better do nothing further. You know |
ii is clearly set down in the Protocol that |
we are not entitled to search the hold if the |
papers are in order; and there have been /
lately against some over. Jealous !
officers, who have got into trouble in con- |
sequence. So be careful. But keep your |
eyes open. Note any suspicious circnm- |
stances, and come back as soon as you can,
to report"
Before Lieutenant O'Riley reached the
ship he saw that everything about her had |
been sacrificed to speed. Her spsrs, espe-
cially. were unusually heavy for craft of |
her size.
The British officer was received by a |
little, thin, elderly man wearing Panama |
hat and speaking with strong Yankee |
accent
Produce your papers, if you please"
said ORiley. They were handed out at |
once, and seemed to be perfectly regular.
What have you got on board ?'' was the
next question.
General cargo-dry goods. and SO on"
why isn't your name on the Register?'
"Ain't it now. Well, l guess it must be
because this is new ship. We can't put
Dur name on the Register by telegraph,
mister
Just tell your men to knock off the
matches. | want to have a look at your
cargo"
The skipper shook his head.
I've been delayed long enough said
ne, "and have lost great part of the only
wind we've had in this darned latitude for
! week.
"Ill do it myself, thenr' cried O'Riley.
mot now, sir; not with six men, while
have fifteen. You have no right to search
the hold of respectable merchantmen and
disturb her cargo? Do you take me for a
SLAYER, or what? Eff you must have the
matches up, send back to Jour man. of-war
or larger crew, so as to overpower me,
you understand and you may do it with
pleasure. But guess there'll be COM
oiaint lodged at Washington, and you folks
n London will have to pay for it. That's
III, mister. only want things fair and
'quare, within my treaty rights"
anu having 0eiitelel nlLnSSli OF THIS
ong speech, the Yankee skipper turned on
lis heel.
OF course 0'Riley could only return to
he Petrol and report all this to his COM
nander. I'm convinced she is SLAYER,
ir, said he in conclusion.
But you have no evidence of it, and
Tou say the papers were all in order"
Apparently they were, SIR
Then I'm afraid can do nothing" said
he commander. And to the deep disgust
II the whole ships crew, the order was
,iven to the Petrol to return to her course.
All that night, however, Commander
Neville was haunted by doubt whether
lie had not better have run the risk OF a
complaint and reprimand, rather than
orgo the overhauling of so suspicious