Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-04-20
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uubHbly Nl0lNou Wy bllpb IHhu Jnb ppdu-
tlful harbor into which the Hudson
emptles.
The Sea Hawk was now on her return
from a cruise to the West Indies; and as
the officers and most OF the crew were
from what are still called THE Hamp-
tons, on Long Island, they hailed with
delight the first glimpse Of the bold
blue headland OF Montauk, that told
them they were near the loved ones
and the delightful land Of their birth.
Under Captain Denham's directions,
the Colonial flag OF New York was run
up to the foremost head, and from the
mlzzen gaff the royal ensign OF England
fluttered In the breeze.
By this time the strange shlp-head-
ing evidently for the same harbor-
came so close that her black, well-mod-
deled hull could be distinctly seen
above the water line.
The open ports showed fifteen guns
on a side, and by the aid OF glasses her
decks could be seen to swarm with
armed men.
That ship Is a stranger in these
parts, said Captain Denham, address,
Ing Mr. Hedges, the first officer.
Mr.. Hedges was a mlddle-aged, slow
spoken man, with bright blue eye and
q sturdy figure, such as we always as
soclate with the model sailor.
"She looks to be stranger, said the
first officer, with the judicial delibera-
ton that distinguished all his sayings,
"and II she were a foe, l must confess
that she'd be about as ugly q customer
to tackle as ever came into these
waters.
Strange that she does not show her
colors, said Valentine Dayton, the seq
ond officer; III she IS friend she needn't
be ashamed Of them.
"And she isn't ashamed Of them, my
boy, any more than we are. See; there
goes the Union Jack to the peak. All.
| feel easier to know she Is friend,
said Mr.. Hedges.
IF she were foe she would hoist a
black flag, responded Capt. Denham,
with light laugh, "and she would pre-
fer to haunt 1t in the face of fat mer-
chairman rather than in the beak Of the
Sea Hawk.
The men not on duty eagerly watched
the stately stranger, and they saw in
her what delights the sailor heart more
than the most exquisite form can the
eye Of an artist.
To make amends for his hardness in
showing his colors, the stranger, by way
Of salute, dipped his flag three times,
and the Sea Hawk speedily responded
to the courtesy.
1t is customary for ships at sea to
learn each others names, the ports
from which they sailed and their desti-
nations, by means of flags used as sig
nails, but as the headland Of Montauk
doomed out Of the sea, and both ships
were making for its eastern extremity,
with the chances Of their soon anchor
ing side by side, this formality was dis
pensed with.
The sun was setting as both ships,
now not q half mile apart, headed
down the bay.
The wind was barely sufficient to
force them through the mlrror-like water
at four knot speed
The scenes on either hand were mex
pressibly beautiful and animated.
The islands, rising In dark emerald
masses from the lighter green OF the
| OOuuut Jl6 SuOlbDJ WOOu6u uOWn w blC
waters edge; and the forest-crown ed
hills mirrored in the placid expanse
were Of indescribable loneliness.
Over the forests the blue lines OF
smoke marked the peaceful settlements.
Here and there a white house could
be seen near the shore, with rosy or
chard in the background, for the season
was spring, the last week of May, when
Nature in our zone Is in her loveliest at
tire.
Nor did the two stately ships, with
their clouds OF snowy sail, alone add
animation to the bay.
On the south shore the long, red ca
noes Of the Montauks, then powerful
tribe Of Indians, could be seen darting
back and forth under the impulse Of
long paddles, while to the north, In
short punts, the Shinicook braves coulC
be seen trolling for the bluetlsh thai
had just come into these waters.
Nor were the smaller crafts OF the
white settlers wanting.
Like butterflies, graceful yachts
skinned over the waters OF the bay, and
as they neared the ships the crews
waved their hats and exchanged CHEEKY
salutatlons OF welcome and thanks.
At length Shelter Island was passed,
and the Sea Hawk and the stranger
which had no name visible on stern OF
bow, cast anchor u few hu dred yards
apart.