The St. Johns herald., 1897-02-06

from childhood. They had gone to school together, joined the navy tOgeth- er, fought again and again together and married into each others families, but as long as their feet were on the poop the iron discipline of the service struck all that was human out of them and left only the superior and the subordi- nate. Captain Johnson took blue pa per from his pocket, which cracked as he unfolded it:
 The 82 gun frigates Leda and Dido, Cap tains A. P. Johnson and James Munro are to cruise from the point at which these instruc- lions are read to the mouth of the Caribbean sea in the hope of enoountering the French frigate La Gloire (48), which has recently harassed our merchant ships in that quarter. II. M. frigates are also directed to hunt down the piratical craft known sometimes as the Shaping Sal and sometimes as the Hairy Hudson, which has plundered the British ships as per margin, intiicting barbarities upon | their crews, She is a small brig carrying lO | light guns, with one 24 pound carronade for ward She was last seen on the 23 ult. to the northeast of the island of Sombriero.
 JAMES MONTGOMERY, Rear Admiral. H. M. s. Colossus, Antigua.
 "We appear to have lost our consort, '" said Captain Johnson, folding up his instructions and again sweeping the horizon with his glass "She drew away after we reefed down. It would be a pity if we met this heavy French man without the Dido, MT. Wharton, eh?"
 The lieutenant twinkled and smiled.
 "She has IS pounders on the main and twelves on the poop, sir, " said the captain. ''She carries 400 to our 231. Captain de Milon is the smartest man in the French service. Oh, Bobby, boy, I'd give my hopes of my flag to rub my side up against her!' He turned on his heel, ashamed of his momentary lapse. "Mr. Wharton, said he, looking back sternIy over his shoulder, "get those Equare sails shaken out and bear away a point more to the west
 "A brig uu the port bow. " came a voice nom tLO 4uIUC.ssS4-.
 "A brig on the port bow, said the lieutenant
 ThC captain Sprang up on the bull warks and held on by the mlzzen shrouds. a strange little figure with fly ing skirts and puckered eyes. The lean lieutenant Craned his neck and whisper ed to Smeaton, the second, while otfi- cers and men came popping up rom pe- low and clustered along the weather rail, shading their eyes with their hands, for the tropical sun was already clear of the palm trees. The strange orig lay at anchor in the throat or a curving estuary, and it was already oo- vious that she could not get out With put passing under the guns of the frlg- ate A long rocky point to the north of her held her in.
 Keep her as she goes, Mir. Whar- Eon, said the captain. Hardly worth clearing for action, MT. Smeaton, but the men can stand by the guns in case she tries to pass us. Cast loose the bow chasers and send the small arm men onto the forecastle. 7"
 A British crew went to its quarters in those days with the quiet se0enity of men on their daily routine. In few minutes, without fuss or sound, the sailors were knotted round their guns, the marines were drawn up and leaning on their muskets, and the frigate's bow spirit pointed straight for her little vic- l tim.
 ''Is it the Skipping Sal, sir?'
 "I have no doubt of it, MT. Whar- ton."