Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-01-10
THE PETREL.

snip Fetfcl (slX guns, commander b. X.
Neville) been cooped up in our iron
prison, patrolliug one of the hottest Sec
tons of the terrestrial globe, on the look
out for slavers. From latitude deg.
N. to latitude deg. S. was our beat,
and we dared not venture beyond these
limits. Our instructions were to keep
out of sight of land and try to intercept
some of tie larger vessels which it was
suspected carried cargoes of slaves from
the - coast.
We did not steam very fast, as, Of
course, our supply Of coal was limited
and it was about two hours before sun
down before VIC fairly sighted the
stranger, She was long, three masted
schooner, with tall, raking masts. lying
very low in the water. All her canvas
was set; aud, as little wind had sprung
up, she was slipping through the water
at fair pace.
''She looks for all tie world like a
SLAYER, sir, remarked Mr., Brabazon, the
First Lieutenant, to the Commander.
Neville said nothing; but his lips were
firmly compressed, ard a CLEAN Of ex-
element was in his eyes.
"Firc blank cartridge, Mr. o'Riiey, =
said he to the Second Lieutenant; sand
signal her to ask her nationality and her
code number"
The deafening report of the big qua
sounded in our cars, and we could see
the splash Of the shot as it struck the
water about fifty yards from the
schooner. Immediately a flag was run
up, then another, and another; and we
saw that she was not giving us her code
number, but was spelling out her name,
letter by letter-The Black Swan.
'Just look that up in the United
States Merchant Registry, said the Cap
tain to the First Lieutenant" And in
half a 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!'
cried Commander Neville Take boat
aud half dozen hands, Mr. O'Riley, y
he continued; ''board her, inspect her
papers, and come back 10 report If hei
papers are not in order, added he, ''you
may search for salves, but if they are
you had better do nothing further. You
know it is clearly set down in the Proto-
col that we are not entitled TO search the
hold if the papers are in order; and there
have been complaints lately against some
oyer-zealous officers, who have got into
trouble in consequence. So be careful.
But keep your eyes open Note any sus-
picious circumstances, and come back
IS soon as YOU can TO report"
Before Lieutenant O'Rcilly reached the
ship he saw that everything about her
had been sacrificed to speed. Her spars,
especially, were unusually heavy for q
craft of her size.
The British officer was received b. q
little, Tim, elderly nan, wearing a
Panama hat, and speaking with a strong
Yankee accent.
"Produce your papers, if you please, y
said O'Riley.
They were handed out at once, and
and seemed to be perfectly regular.
"What have you got on boardl' was
the next question.
General cargo-drygoods and SC
on"
"Wby lent your name on the Regis
tcr2'
Amt it now? Well, guess it must
be because this is a new ship. We cant
put our name on the Register by telc,
| graph, mister
''.Iust tell yonr men 10 knock off The
matches. want 10 have a look at your
cargo"
The skipper shook his head
Give been delayed long enough, D." said
he, "and have lost great part of thu
only wind wc'v5 had in this latitude fol
week.
"Tn do it myself, then, cric5
| oRiley.
''Not now. sir; not with six men
while have fifteen. You have no right
to search the hold Of a respectable mer
chairman and disturb her cargo. Ok
/ you take me for SLAYER, OF what2 E
! you must have the matches up, send bach
| to your man- ol-war for larger crew, Sc
as to oyerpower me, you understand, ant
/ you may do it with pleasure. But
guess there'll be complaint lodged a
Washington, aud your folks in LcndoI
will have to pay for it. That's all, mis-
ter. only want things fair and square
| within my treaty rights"
And, having delivered himself of thi,
long speech, the Yankee skipper turned
| on his heel.
I OF course 0'Riley could only return
to the Petrol and report all this to hi
Commander. "Tm convinced she IS
SLAYER, sir, sand he in conclusion.
"But you have no evidence of it; aud
/ you say the papers were all in order"
apparently they were, sir"
Then Pm afraid l can do nothing,
said the Commander. And to the deer
disgust of the whole ships crew, the
order was given for the Petrol to return
TO her course.
All that night, however, Commando
| Neville was haunted by doubt whethe
| uC udu NV OSlkSl IldNG Auu tiAt Iloh VI
complaint and reprimand, rather thar
forego the overhauling of SO suspicious
looking craft; and in the morning
rumor reached his ears that the cox
swain, who had accompanied Mr.
O'Riley to the Black Swan, had noticed
something about her of doubtful
nature. The man was sent for an(
questioned; and he said that while tn
Lieutenant was on board, the boat o
which he was in charge had dropped
little way astern, and that he had theI
noticed that the name of the vessel ha(
been recently painted out, but that tn
last two letters were distinctly visible
| And these letters were LIE, not AN.
"Thc scoundrel said she was new
shipln cried the Commander. "'Bou
shipl"
The. hope of again encountering til
Black Swan, faint as it was, caused quit
commotion in our little world. TIL
day passed without our sighting a singh
sail; but when the morning dawne
lieutenant Brabazon was forced to ow
l 49, Al.