The Van Buren press., 1895-06-22

WducT.
T',I1l risk everything now to win the
race" the captain said. II shall cut
across the pirates bow, or die in the
attempt. We've lost whole day." issis
The wind was brisk, and when the
Alice lay over on her new course, she
seemed to strain every nerve to make
up for lost time. The captain ordered
the sailors to bring several chests OF
tea on deck, and then all the gunpow-
der that could be found. This amounted
only to several Kegs. % 9 -
"We'll be prepared for an .emer-
gency," he muttered, as he gave orders.
A hole was bored through the top Of
each chest, and part of the tea taken
out 81 Then the hole was filled with
powder, and closed up again. A light
fuse of newspaper was attached. Each
chest, when finished, was placed along
the sides of the vessel, ready for instant
use.
"Now we'll fight dying" muttered
the captain. r,t. 49,, ~ .1,ad ,..y5f Is -
No one knew his plan, although not
q sailor doubted but it was desperate
one.k r.Isszi7t17. oGi laH lta syud
ALI that night they sailed rapidly
along, but did not encounter the pirate.
Toward morning, before light broke in
the east, they were well back into their
old course. ..-.
We've passed them In the darkness" y
the captain was saying, with grim
smile.
But just as he spoke, the. lookout re-
ported sail standing out OF the dark
ness almost upon them. The lights
were shining very dimly from the mast
head. The vessel was running parallel
with them. sHss
,''Its the pirate sir,and she's after
us, shouted the lookout - .ara-of
"Stand ready, then, to light those
chests Of tea and drop them into the
sea. What a fool TO show her lights!".
In All instant every sailor compre--
hended the captains plan, and jumped
forward with alacrity to perform their
part. IN it. BY throwing the light tea
chests overheard with the fuses on
fire, they would soon have series of
explosions around The pirate ship that
mus eventually set her on fire. 1t was
the .captain's idea to let her get close
to them before acting YaaG9v09 80
Mot so fastr' he'ordered the sailing
master i''Let her get closer. She can
overhaul usiwith her guns, and we may
as we'll let her catch up" - ~
The Alice moved slower, while. the
pirate vessel stole. down upon her rap
idly. When within two cables length
the order was given sharp and clear:
! .g''Light the fuses. and drop the chests
overheard carefnllyp'es eA .Ef'-1'i ?
"A sailor fiourished an oil torch over
his head and applied 1t to the first fuse.
The chest was dropped into the sea and
fioated slowly behind With its banner
of blazing light. The second and third
ones were touched and were carried to
the sides Of the vessel gaAt sgi
r'''Great heavens captain.q stopl' the
first officer suddenly shouted, detain-
ing the man. TITS not the pirate, sirl
It's the Flyerp' g y. q ~
| isEvery man stood still with consterna-
'tion The lights were extinguished,
but the first chest exploded SO close to
the side Of the Flyer that the fire near
ly scorched the sails. g
well, our plan wouldn't have worked
badly il it had been the pirate" philo-
sophically remarked the captain.
Then giving orders to crowd on all
sail, the old chase was renewed at close
quarters.
1t was long. hard chase after that
to New York The two vessels kept
close together, but the Alice won by
nearly four hours. The closeness OF
the race was commented upon at the
time, but it was not until the Alice had
beaten the Flyer the second time that
Capt Singleton told how near he came
to blowing up his rival near Cape Horn.
The captain OF the Flyer had Won
dered what the mysterious explosion
meant, but concluded that 1t was some
sort of "a joke or new way Of saluting
q rival vessel.-N. Y. Ledger.