The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-21
CHAPTER XXI.
THE AMERICAN CAPTAIN.

IIlh AhbhlCAN
Dawn found the brig enveloped in
thick fog, but when the sun rose the
whitepess grew brilliant, and Mr.. Har-
dy guessed that neither the topnor sides
of the smother were very far off. A light
wind was blowing. The fog rushed
with it betwixt the masts and through
the rigging in streams and lines of
steam. The ripping water was like
steel. 1t feathered in winks of foam
and vanished close TO, as though it
washed under the foot of wall.
Not long had the fog grown bright
when the commander made his appear
ance on deck.
"a little wind" said he, shifting at
it, land fair, F" he added, glancing aloft
at the yards which came and went in
the rolling clouds of vapor like the sail
OF boat in the run of the surge.
He stepped to the pinnacle and looked
at the briggs course, then hung his Jolly
red face over the side TO judge of the
speed.
AT that instant the sound Of gun
was heard. The commander started and
swept the surrounding darkness with
his gaze; then, stepping over to Mr..
Hardy, he said, did you hear it?''
The mates answer was taken out Of
lis mouth by the sound Of another gun,
distant indeed, hut clear and unmistaka.
bic.
Good gracious" exclaimed the COM
mander. who con be firing in this
fog? What is be firing for? Another
gun, by thunder, Hardly Why" he
cried, with his head thrown back and
his nostrils large IN the mist. sit posi.
lively sounds like an engagement. Can
it be ship ashore? What shore is there
down here for ship to strand upon?"
"D'you think something's got scent
OF the Queen and'-
Why" interrupted the commander.
you can't sec ship her own length
OH. Who'd pillow up that vapor there
with uscful round shot on the chance Of
the enemy being hidden in it?''
The sun, sir, cried Mr. Hardy.
Another gun" exclaimed the com.
mander.
AS the mate spoke "A glorious beam Of
nght shot through a break in the fIving
silVery stuff and flashed up the BRIG.
dazzling out her akylight and bright
WORK into squares and stars of stream.
Ing splendor. Then, as if that smoke OF
glory had been the magician's wand
mat commanded the evanishment of
this blind, soft, unsu bstantial show tho
vapor opened-it seemed to be torn II
fell brokenly into lanes and bighwavs
and avenues, with Jumps Of sbimmor;nc,
coast between. In few minutes and
10 the noise OF artillery the skirts of
mat vast field Of fog Enthusiastically float.
gu past the brig, over whose beam and
W" 'he blue sea opened, brilliant with
the newly risen sun. -" ~"
Why, that's what it ia. s;r-o
hghtl' cried Mr.. Hardy in n voice ,hat
yelled with excitement.
Inc commander was Thunderstorm
ne stood motionless. He never conId
nave believed that with his own siol,.
ne should witness in that year and IN
.noae waters the spectacle he bebold
NOS above 4 miles on the how lar
IVY smo vessels broadsiding each other with
sinaii guns One was a black bark with
h h black tops and large topsails She
nau color at her mizzen pafY ,xas
p"inteu Diack, with line of redd;sh
r nTl", Ina, .nae famed wet as she lightly
,oileu ike something sun touohod cIoo.
- man-of'war The other was a snar.
r p,,s, snowingno colors, black, too with
T 1aklng masts and very sbarp bow ,'
wh ey ~. were maneuvering with spirit
Nnep the old Wellesley sYarmed ont 90