The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-14

my mind the Wild goose chase IN MdSelldn
strait and i once more got out my papers
and looked at the strange cipher which 1
could not read. Then a voice said Thou
art about to engage in serious matters
This may be lost. and with il thy chance
of ever reading it"
With which l went out on the stern gal
lery and tried TO think how | might Sc
! cure it.
Presently l returned to my cabin with
| set purpose.
First l got me pen and ink. and carefully
writ out. as small as possible. this cipher
L then took a leaf of gold foil ia which L
had certain drug wrapped which we carry
| at for the cure of ailment to which
! sailors in foreign parts are greatly subject
| now rolled up my little scrip in small
| compass as possible and covered it with my
| gold foil. Then, with lancet, / cut the
skin of my thigh and having laid back
| portion and stanched the bleeding with
salt inserted by little roll and sewed the
| skin over it: and on the wound L clapt
| plaster.
There" says l. you are safe now for
| as long as breath remains in my body. and,
should be killed you go to hell with me-
Then l looked at the writing itself. Shall
| L destroy it?-sI muttered, and. 1 know not.
|
at my cabin door. and. hurriedly replacing
my papers within their case. l answered
Twas a fellow to report eight bells. and
1 went on deck wondering how the time
had flown so quickly.
The lookout had reported that he thought
the chase was in sight. Lieutenant Otway
had gone aloft with his spyglass to if
he could make her out. The wind had fresh
ened, and we were going a good seven
knots.
When my lieutenant descended to deck he
| reported that he fancied he had seen her
| once. and that she was still right ahead.
| And ii might very we'll be so. for. we had
| brought the freshening breeze up with u.s.
| ii was probable we had gained on her con-
sderably. On sped through the dark
ness. and. though our men crowded the
decks, preferring so TO do in their excite
ment all was silent; those who spoke did
so in whispers, and the soft signing of the
wind aloft and the continuous surge and
bubble of the water were the only sounds.
At 3 the waning moon rose, and in
stantly the lookout called that he her.
! THE chase. Right ahead
at once ordered to beat TO quarters. and
our drums rolled out, the rafting sound
booming along the face of the sea. And
shotted and the magazines opened.
| And Ia kings officer-was about TO turn
pirate At the time the lust of coming bat
tie deadened this thought; but now, as
| write this in cold blood L wonder to my
| self that any one can doubt the power of
the evil one TO drive men toward their de-
struction.
AS yet we knew not what the chase might
| no 7 hoped IL was Darton 7 Draved TO nv
| new god that il might be.
Another hour and she was plain in sight
to all hands. showing up ghostlike, moon
lit shadow. She could scarcely be more
than two cables length from U.S.
"Shall we throw . a shot across her
Captain" said Otway in my ear, for we
two spoke in whispers
But / answered: mo, we will hold our
fire till we are at close quarters
And so we stood on, creeping slowly UT
upon her. Every soul WIS deck
/ peering over the bulwarks, and all eager fol
the fight Twas not now for King William
they were about to engage. but for then
own part. They were all more willing.
Our larbolnes, as we term the OF
the larboard watch, had left their guns anC
gone over to the starboard side, for the
chase lay on that bow and the forecast,
was CROWDED WIFI an eager group.
Suddenly she hailed. had not thought
| her so near and the cry came back upon u:
, over the water: 10. re ship ahoy
What ship is that pray?" The voice
l sounded far, far distant, though one
from another world spoke to us.
Answer him not.'' 1 said, aloud. Ant
| still we held on.
Our silence bred distrust aboard the chase
l | He suddenly hove his helm a-starboard, an,
for the moment showed his whole broad
| side as he sped across our bows. / altered
l our course to suit, and trimmed our yards
e bringing the wind well out on the quarter
e 1 judged that she now almost on
}, bowline as We say when We hug the wind
] but L kept ship away slightly so as t.
e close.
: Again came his hail, What ship are you
j | Answer, or / fire.
LET him fire. I said, loudly Then, I
!. Otway, And he does, he begins it, not We
For 1 still would justify the deed 1 wa
I about to do.
, I Another few minutes of silence; bot
r ships holding on.
OF a sudden out roared a gun from hi
e quarterback and his shot whistled acros
4 us. holing the foresail.
e Our fellows began to shout.
r SILENCE fore and aft!' said I.
e We were now rapidly surging up to clos
e quarters.
G Ready the starboard battery" j cried
d and the fellows blew up their linstocks.
Answer, or L fire our brOadside!' cam
d an angry shout from the stranger.
8 Fire" cried L, in answer, and our broad
I side roared out, followed almost at'the in
c slant by his. The blaze for brief momen
: flashed into the night, lighting up both YES
sells: then the thick white smoke cloud fe
TO the lceward like so much fog, and whe
this blew past we were again two din
:. ghost like ships lit by our rows of battl
lanterns. one of his shot had sung so clos
Y past me that its wind famed my cheel
{ Would it had slain me. Cries rose in seV
eral places along our decks telling
: wounded men. and down by the run cam
: our maintopgallant, the halliards havin
been shot away And now a roar
vengeance rolled along our fellows ra
z in sponged and reloaded, the larboard gun.
crews crying with impatiencc that the
weapons were still shotted and no chanc
of firing. What now befell was as the oper
y | ing of hells mouth. / cannot recount il.
Presently l saw that, without asking m
= leave the painter had brought up a Ike
of schnapps and was serving it out to I'll
men as they worked at their guns. My al
thoTity was gone! And at the thought 4