Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-02

bore four miles TO tue northeast from
our port bow when the gale cleared,
Mr.. Wharton"
The lieutenant bowed stinly. He and
the captain had been bosom friends
from childhood. They had gone TO school
together, Joined the navy together and
married into each others families, hut
ns long as their feet We're upon the poOn
the iron discipline of the service struck
all that was human out of them aud
left only the superior and the suhordi-
nate. Captain johnson took a blue paner
from his pocket which cracked us he
unfnlded it.
"Thc 32-gun frigates Leda and Dido
Capt. A. II. Johnson aud james Munro
are 10 cruise from the point at which
these Instructions are read 20 the mouth
of the Caribbean sea In the hope of EN-
cDuntcring the French frgnte La Gloire
ISl which has recently hnrnssed our
merchant ships In that quarter. ii. VI.
frigatcs are also directed 10 hunt down
the Shaping SAIL and sometimes as the
Hairy Hudson which have plundered
the piratical craft known sometimes as
the British ships as per margin, infict-
ing harbnrities upon their crews She is
n small frigatc carrying ten light guns
with one twenty-fuur pound cnrronadr
forward She WAS last seen upon the
BIRD ult. to northeast Of the Island of
Sombriero.- (Signcdl James Monigom-
cry. utpnr Admiral, III, Nj. ). Colossus,
Antig1a
1--WE appear to have lost our cOnfort,"
said Captain johnson, folding mp his in
structions and again sweeping tbs hoii-
ION with his glass. 'Shc drew away
after we reefed down. II would be a
pity II we met this heavy Frenclman
without the Dido, Mr.. Wharton chi"
The lieutenant twinklcd and smiled
"She Inns eighteen Founders on The
main and twelve on the poop. sir snid
the captain. "She carries 400 to our 23l.
Captain de Mlon is the smaitest mnn Ia
the French service. Oh. Bobby boy,
ia give my hopes Of my flag to rub my
side MP against her! lie turned on
his heels ashamed Of his mumentary
lapse. 'AIr. Wharton said he look
ing back stcrnly over his shoulder, get
those square sails shaken out and bear
away point more TO the west"
"a brig on the port bow" came a
voice from the forecasle.
"a brig on the port bow said the
lieutenant
The captain sprang up on the bull
warks, and held on TO the mizzon
shrouds, strange little figure with fly-
ing skirts and puckered eyes. The
lean lieutenant craned his neck and
whispered to Smeaton. the second.
while officers and men came popping
mn from below aud clustering iiJng the
weather rail. shading their eyes with
their hands, for the tropical sun was al
ready clear Of the pnlm trees. The
strange brig lay at anchor In the throat
Of q curying estuary. aud II was already
Obvious that she coiid not get out with
out passing under the guns Of the frigaic
A long rocky point TO the north Of her
held her in.
keep her as she goes. Mr.. Wharton"
sail Inc captain. "Hardlv worth while
clearing for action. Mr.. Smeaton, but
the men can stand nv The guns IN case
she tries 10 pass u.s. Cast loose the bow
chnsors and send the snnll-nrm men on
10 the forecastle.'
A British crow. went 10 us quarters
IN those days with the quiet serenity Of
men on their daily routine In few
minutes. without fuss or sound, the
sailors were knOtied around their guns.
the marines were drawn up and leaning
on their nnskets and the frigaie'. bow
nsrit pointed straight for her little vie.
tim,
''i4 II the Slapping Sal. srf"
II have no doubt OF IT, AIR. Wharton"
They don't seem TO Hike the look ~
us sir. They've cut their cable aud
are Aapping on sail"
Il was evident that the brig meant
struggling for her freedom. tle Hills
patch Of canvas fluitcrod ont above an
other md her people could ". Saen ,vr-t-
Ing like madnen in the rigging. She
made no nttempt TO pass her nntaeonisf
brit headed w the elafpry Tho cap
tain rubbed his hands.