The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
THE SHAPING SAL.
Being the Report Of an Encounter Be-
tween His Majestys Ship Leda the
French Republics Ship La
Gloire, and a Most No.
torious Pirate.

SlOtfe, ana mOSt mo-
torious Pirate.
BY CONAN DOYLE,
Author Of The Refugees" "The Adventures OF sher
lock Holmes" 40
Copyright 1898. ~ dsran Doyt.
rt was In the days when Frances power was
already broken UPON the seas, aud when moro
Of her three-deckers lay rotting In the Midway
than were to be found in Brest harbor. But
her frigates and corvettes still secured the
ocean, closely followed over by those OF her
rival At the utteru,ost ends OF the earth these
dainty vessels with sweet names OF girls or Of
flowers manglcd and shattered each other for
the honor OF tho four yards OF bunting that
tapped from their gafrs.
It had blown hard in tho night, but the wind
had dropped with the dawnlng, and now tho
rising sun tinted tho fringe OF the storm wrack
as IL dwindod into the west. and glnted on tho
endless crests OF tho long green waves To
north and south and west lay q sky line which
was unbroken save by the spout OF foam when
two of the great Atlantic seas dashed each
other into spray. To tho east was n rocky
island. jutting out into cragRy points. with q
few scattered clumps Of palm trees and q pen-
nant OF mist streaming out from the bare
eonical hill which capped It heavy surf
beat upon the shore, and at q safe distance
HUN IL oS-kuu ENeto lToud,
Capt A. p. johnson. raised her black
glistening side upon the crest Of wave or
swoopsd down into nm emerald valley. dipping
away to tho norr'ard under easy sail. On her
snow.white quarterback stood q sti1 little
broWn.fac man who swept tho horizon with
his glass.
mr.. Whartoni" he cried with voice like Q
rusty hinge.
:, A thin knock-kneed oflcer shamblsd across
the poop to him.
"Yes, SIR"
"Ihave opened tho orders. Mr.. wharton"
q ARlimmer Of curiosity shone upon the meagre
features OF the First Lieutenant The Leda had
sailed with her consort tho Dido. from Antigua
the week before and the Admirars orders had
been contained In O scaled envelope.
I'VE were to open them on reaching the de-
serted island Of Sombriero. lying in north lat-
tude 49, So. west longitude $50 2S. Som
briero bore four miles to the northeast from
our port bow when the gale cleared Mr..
Wharton"
The Lieutenant bowed stiff1y. He and the
Captain had been bosom friends from child
hood They had gone to school together.
Joined the navy together. and married into
each other's families: but as long as their feet
were on the poop. the iron discipline Of the
service struck all that was human out Of them.
and left only the superior and the subordinate.
Capt johnson took q blue paper from his
pocket which cracked rs he unfolded It.
The s2.gun frisasss Leda and Dido Capt A p.
johnson and James Munroe) arc to cruise from the
pAfnt at which these instfactions read to che
mouth Of the Caribbean in tho hope OF encounter
ing the French frigats La alore t4s) which has re-
cant hsrassed erchant ships in that quarter II.
n fgates also directed to hunt down the piratcal
Gsaft known sometimes the Shaping Sal and
sometimes tho Hairy Hudson, which has plunde
The British ships per margin INJECTING barbarities
upon their crews. She IL . small brig carrying ton
Light guns with twsntyfour-pound oarronade for
tsfd She last upon the ESD ut 70 northeast
q the island OF sombriero
Csisusd) JAx.s MONTGOMERY Casar Admirap
n. n. g. COLOSSUS. Antigua
I'VE appear to have lost our consort," said
Capt johnson. folding up his instructions and
again sweeping the horizon with his glass.
+She drew away after We reefed down. It
would be pity II We met this heavy French
nan without the Dido. Mr. Wharton. eh p
- The Lieutenant tVinkled and smiled.
"6he has eighteen Founders on the main and
tWelves on the poop. sir" said tho Captain.
She carries 400 to our 231. Capt do Milon is
the smartest man In the French service. Oh.
Bobby boy. I'd give my hopes Of my flag to rub
my side up against herl" He turned ON his
heel ashamed Of his momentary lapse. MIR.
Wharton" said he. looking back sternly over
his shoulder. got those square sails shaken
~
!" A brig on the port bow" came ; voice from
the forecastle.
"A brig on the port bow" said the Leutsn-
ant.
Tho Captain sprang up on tho bulwarks. and
held on to the mizzen shrouds. q strange little
figure with flying skirts and puckered eyeA.
The lean Lieutenant oraned his neck and
whispered to Smeaton. the second. while Of
hcers and mon came popping mp from below
~~.I -, .kn las, l. k6z~ -.
their eyes with their hands. for the tropical
sun was already clear Of the palm trees. The
strange brig lay ct anchor In the throat OF q
ourvine estuary. and It was plainly obvious
that she could not get out without passing
under the guns Of tho friRate. A long rocky
point to the north OF her hold her in.
Keep her as she goes, Mr.. Wharton" said
the Captain. Hardly worth while clearing
for action. Mr.. Smsaton. but the men can
stand By the guns in case she tries to pass us.
Cast loose the bowchasers and send the small
arm men on to the forecastle."
A British crew went to Its quarters In those
days with tho quiet serenity Of mon on their
daily routine. In q few minutes. without fuss
or sound. tho sailors were knotted round their
gums. the marines were drawn up and leaning
On their muskets and the frigate's bowsprit
pointed straight for her little victim.
is It the Siapping Sal sir?"
II have no doubt OF It, Mr.. Wharton"
"They don't seem to like the look OF US. sir.
They've cut their cable and are clapping on
sail"
1t was evident that tho brig meant strug-
Cling for her freedom. One little patch OF can
vas huttered out above another and her peo-
pie could be seen working like mad men In
the rigging. She made no attempt to pass her
antagonist. but headed up the estuary. The
Captain rubbed his hands.
"Shs's making for shoal water. Mr.. whar.
ton. and We shall have to cut her out. sir.
She's footy little brig. but should have
thought q fore-and- after would have been
more handy"
1T was q mutlny sir"
"Ah. indeed ="
"Yes. sir. heard OF II at Manllla-a bad
business. sir. Captain and two mates MUIR
dersd. This Hudson or Hairy Hudson, az they
cali him. led the muttny. Hos q Londonsr