The Forrest City times., 1895-05-31

1 hC AlR ~ NluuS tdTT1eu ITG
Alice through the tropical seas rapidly,
and for three days every bit of canvas
remained unfurled to the wind.
Then the tail end of tropical hur-
ricane swept across the ocean, and
made 1T necessary to furl many of the
sails, in order to keep them from blow
ing away. She bowled along faster
than ever during this heavy though
somewhat fitful wind. uHi
Near the Society islands she met
many trading vessels, who signaled
her, and wished her Godspeed in her
journey. The news of the great race
had Travelled so far that most mariners
knew something about 1t, and their
sympathy was generally with the Alice.
AS the clipper approached Cape Horn,
the weather grew colder. the winds
heavier and the sea rougher, and for
days the noble vessel struggled brave
ly through against adverse elements.
But despite the rough weather, Capt.
Singleton kept most of the sails set,
and the Alice plowed through the
water with her nose constantly SUBJ
merged. The matches were battened
down and everything was made snug
and taut above decks.
The Horn was in no favorable mood.
A muttering, grumbling old monster
at all times, it seemed specially spite
ful and vindictive as the Alice strug-
gled TO round it. It's artillery of thun-
dering breakers and shrieking winds
| and storms scattered CONSERVATION
q, h.
jagged rocks stood out of the sea,
threatening destruction to any vessel
that might drift too near them.
While rolling heavily almost abreast
OF the cape, one day, the lookout re-
| ported a sail ahead. For a moment all
danger from the seas was forgotten. II
the sail had been over the stern, there
would have been more rejoicing than
anxiety; but to know that the
them was disappointing. But in few
minutes everyone's anxiety was re-
lieved. The sail was crossing the bow
of the Alice at right angles, standing
out from the shore.
| As this was rather peculiar course
for any vessel to be taking Capt. Sim
gleton took his position alongside Of
| the lookout There was no harbor or
ftrading place in this part of the world,
| but the vessel might have been into
one Of the straits for repairs or for
water Patagonian Indians, Chilian
criminals and bands of pirates of all
nationalities frequented the islands
| around the cape, making it dangerous
for any vessel to seek harbor. OF late
vessels had been lost off the coast in
considerable numbers, and while their
loss was attributed to the sea and
weather, some old sea captains limited
that pirates might have had something
to do with the mystery.
The sail ahead had suspicious look
to Capt. Singleton. 1t was not a lum-
bering old craft by any means, but a
neat, swift sailing clipper. modelled
somewhat after the style of the Alice.
If running parallel with the Alice the
matter would have been different, but
no craft was swift enough to pass
around the strange craft, headed as
she was.
"Signal her." Capt Singleton COM
manded, "and ask her name!''
In a few minutes the response was
given from the strange vessel:
THE Strayer, of New Bedford"
"Never heard of such vessel" NUT
tered the captain to his first officer.
No one seemed familiar with the
name.
where are you boundT" signaled
the officer from the Alice.
The reply was uncertain and was
very unsatisfactory. The next ques-
tion was no better.
There is something wrong about
that ship" emphatically said the cap
tain. ''lf she isn't pirate, miss my
guess How can we make her show
her colors?"
IF we turn out to sea and give her
race until we get plenty of sea room,
she will make us lose the race with the
Flyer" said the first officer, in reply.
"And if we run straight into her,
she will not only make us lose the race,
but our lives as well"
The vessels were drawing closer now,
and the captain could inspect the decks
of the strange craft. Surely, the
black objects lodging down behind the
bulwarks were men trying to conceal
themselves from view.
THAT settles it." shouted the cap
tain.
He gave the necessary orders, and In
minute the Alice had changed her
course, and was now running parallel
with the strange vessel toward the open
sea directly out of her proper course.
We'll soon know the worst"
1t did not take long to find this out.
AS the Alice slowly crept ahead of the
other vessel, a puff of smoke came