Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-01-09
A YANKEE TRICK.

Never. surely, did the cry fall upon
more welcome ears, save and except
those of men becalmed in a boat upon
the open sea For twelve weary days
and nights had we. the officers and
men of II. NJ. ship Petrol lsix guns,
Commander B. R. Nevi'le). been cooped
up in u iron prison, 1%atroling one Of
the hottest sections f the terrestrial
globe on the lookout for slavers. From
latitude 4 degs. n'rth TO latitude 4
degs. south was our BEAT. and we dared
not venture beyond these limits. Our
Instruction. were } keep out Of sight
of land and try 10 intercept some of
the larger vessel, which. il vas sus-
pected. carried oirgO1s of slaves from
the - coast. The ship. the vel the
cloudless sky--lere was nothing else
to see. nothing else 10 think Of Work,
study, play even. were alike impossible
in that fierce. scorching heat If you
touched a bit of iron on deck il almost
burned your hand. If you lay down
between decks covered with a sheet
you awoke in a bath Of perspiration-
Sail no.
The man. in his excitement. repeated
the shout before he could be hailed
from the deck
Where awayF' sang u the cap
tain
Two points on the weather bow,
sir, was the reply.
That phrase about the weather
bow" wa a nautical fiction. for there
was no wind 10 speak of, and what
there was was nearly dead astern-
Keep her away two points" said
Commander Neville. and the order was
promptly obeyed-
In a few seconds the news had spread
through the ship, and the men clustered
on the bulwarks. straining their eyes TO
get a glimpse Of the stranger. Even
the stokers, poor feIlowsl showed their
sooty faces at the engine room hatch
way. OF purse the stranger might be,
and probably was, an innocent trader,
but then she might be a SLAYER, and
golden visions Of prize money doated
before the eyes Of every man and boy
IN board the Petrol
We did not steam very fast, as of
course our supply Of coal was limited;
and il was about two hours before sun
down when we fairly sighted the
stranger. She was a long. three masted
schooner, with tall. raking masts, lying
very low in the water. All her canvas
was set, and as a little wind had
sprung up she was slipping through
the water at a 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 a CLEAN
of excitement was in bis eyes.
Fire a blank cartridge, Mr.. O'Riley, y
said he to the second lieutenant, and
signal her 10 ask her nationality and
her code number
This was done. and in answer 10 the
signal the schooner slowly hoisted the
American colors-
''She has eased away her sheets and
luffed a point or two, sir" said the
auartermaster, touching his cap.
The captain merely answered this by
a nod
Put a shot in our gun, Mr.. O'Riley, "
said be Lower your hoist and make
a fresh hoist demanding her name.
This was done, but the American
took no notice.
Fire a shot. Mr.. O'Riley-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 II
struck the water about fifty yards from
the schooner Immediately a flag wa,
run up. then another and another, anc
we saw that she wa not giving hel
code number. but was spelling out he
name. letter by letter-the Blaei
Swan
Just look that up in the UniteC
States merchant registry" said the cap
tain to the first Lieutenant And II
half a minute he had reported. M
such name. sir"
This was something than sus
picious And the wind was rising.
Hoist the signal for her TO heav'
tor cried Commander Neville. TAX
a boat and a half a dozen hands, Mi
O'Riley." he continued; board heT
inspect her papers and come back Z
report If her papers are not in order
added lac. you may search for slaves
but If they are you had better do nott
log further. You know &c is clearly 81
down IN the protocol that we are nc
entitled 70 search the hold II the paper
erp H. order. and there have been con