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

cIapplng on Sall.
 It was evident that the brig meant struggling for her freedom. One little patch of canvas huttered out above an- other, and her people could be seen working like madmen in the rigging She made no attempt to pass her antag- onist, but headed up the estuary. The captain rubbed his hands.
 fShe's making for shoal water, Mr. Wharton, and we shall have to cut her out, sir. She's footy little brig, but I should have thought fore and after would have been more handy.
 It was mutiny, sir.
 ''Ah, indeedr -
 "Yes. sir. I heard of it at Manila. A bad business, sir. Captain ana two mates murdered. This Hudson, or Halry Hudson, as they call him, led the mu, tiny. He's Londoner, sir, but cruel villain as ever walked. '"
 'His next walk will be to Execution dock, MT. Wharton. She seems heavily manned. I wish I could take 20 topmen out of her, but they would be enough to corrupt the crew of the ark, MT. Wharton.
 Both officers were looking through their glasses at the brig. Suddenly the lieutenant showed his teeth in a grin, while the captain flushed to a deeper red.
 That's Hairy Hudson on the after rail, sir
 ''The low, impertinent blackguard! !! He'll play some other antics before we are done-vith him. Could you reach him with the long IS, Mir. Smeaton?
 Another cable length will do it, sir.
 The brig waved as they spoke, and as she came round 2 spurt of smoke whifed out from her quarter. It was pure piece of bravado, for the gun could scarce carry half way. Then with a jaunty swing the little ship came into the wind again and shot round fresh curve of the winding channel.
 ''The water shoaling rapidly, sir, !" reported the second lieutenant.
 "There's six fathoms by the chart. :"
 "Four by the lead, sir. ''
 "When we clear this point, we shall see how we lie. Ha, thought as much! Lay her to, MT. Wharton. Now We have got her at our mercy.
 The frigate was quite out of sight of the sea now at the head of this river. like estuary As she came round the curve the two shores were seen to con- verge at point about mile distant. In the angle, as near shore as she could get, the brig was lying, with her broad side toward her pursuer and wisp of black cloth streaming from her miZzen. The lean lieutenant, who had reappear- ed upon deck with cutlass strapped to his side and two pistols rammed into his belt peered curiously at the ensign.
 ''Is it the Jolly Roger, sir?' he asked.
 But the captain was furious. "He may hang where his brooches are hang ing before I have done with him, " said he. "What boats will you want, MT. Wharton?"
 "We should do it with the launch and the jollyboat. :"
 ''Take four and make a clean job of It. Plpe away the crews at once, ana I'll work her ill and help you with the long eighteens.
 With rattle of ropes and creaking of blocks the four boats splashed into the water. Their crews clustered thick ly into them-barefooted sailors, stOlid marines lauohinp rniddiae and in the an6eJs Ui v,.-A tne scDIuI ,----g.. ..--A their stern, schoolInaster faces. The captain, his elbows on the pinnacle, still watched the distant bI-s. Her crew were tricing up the boarding netting, dragging round the starboard guns, knocking new portholes for them and making every preparation for desper ate resistance. In the thick of it all a huge man, bearded to the eyes, with a red nightcap upon his head, was strain