The Forrest City times., 1895-05-31

~ Ihe pirate no longer tried to conceal
anything. The black. flag was run up,
and lively race began. The pirate
sent many balls chasing after the clip
per, but the distance was too far to do
much damage. The pirate was no
mean antagonist, and she clung closely
to the heels Of the flying Alice.
We'll leave her behind In time,"
said Capt. Singleton, ''but meanwhile
we are getting way out of our course,
and the Flyer will beat u.s."
He walked nervously up and down
the deck, chafing angriiy at this inter
ruption. Their present course took
them toward the South Shetland is
lands and far from the shortest route
to New York. But there was no help
for it. So long as the pirate was be-
tween them and the north, there was
imminent danger of losing everything.
Night came on and the chase was
still desperate. 1t was cloudy night
and intense gloom settled over the
water. s.at.E.5t
IN 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.
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 thatcould be found. This amounted
only to several kegs.
Well 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. 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.
No one knew his plan, although not
sailor doubted but it was desperate
one.
All that night they sailed rapidly
along, but did not e ncounter 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"
the captain was saying, with grim
smile.
But just as he sp oke, the lookout re-
ported sail standing out of the dark
ness aim ost upon them. The lights
were shining very dimly from the mast
head. The vessel was running parallel
with them.
Its the pirate, strand she's after
u.s." shouted the lookout.
"Stand ready, tn en-. to light those
chests of tea and drop them into the
sea. What fool to show her lightsl'
In an instant every sailor compre-
hended the captains plan, and jumped
forward with alacrity to perform their
part In It, BY THROWN ng the light tea
chests overheard with the fuses on
fire, they would soon have series of
explosions around the pirate ship that
must eventually set her on fire. 1t was
the captains idea to let her get close
TO them before acting.
mot SO fast!" he ordered the sailing
master. Let her get closer. She can
overhaul us with her guns, and we may
as well 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:
Light the fuses and drop the chests
overheard carefullyp'
A sailor fourished an oil torch over
his head and applied it to the first fuse.
The chest was dropped into the sea and
aoated slowly behind with its banner
of blazing light. The second and third
ones were touched and were carried to
the sides of the vessel
"Great heavens, captain, stopl" the
first officer suddenly shouted, detain-
ing the man. Its not the pirate, sir!
It's the Flyerp'
Every 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.
''Well, our plan wouldn't have worked
badly if it had been the pirate" philo-
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 it was some