The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-10-01
CHAPTER L
ALL AT SEA.

the lookout, clinging 10 the Iore-lop-
gallant stays Of the armed cruiser Sea
Hawk.
Can you make her outa" called up
Captain Ralph Denham, a tall, we'll
built, handsome young man, in the I'M
dress naval uniform peculiar to Colo
NAL officers in the service OF England.
This was in the year 1896, when the
ties between the motherland and the
American Colonies we're strong; out
side foes forcing them to unite for mu-
tual protection, and causing them to
overlook the differences that were yet
to rend them asunder.
In reply to the Captains question,
Can you make her out?" the lookout
took a longer and more careful view OF
the strange craft that had attracted his
attention; then he called out:
"She lies low down, sir. Seems to
have rakish masts, and Is heading to-
wards Montauk."
AS the reader knows, .Montauk is the
extreme southeastern peninsula OF Long
Island, where the cliffs rise boldly up
from the sea, and where. even at this
early date, fires were kept burning at
night for the guidance OF ships sailing
Into the Sound, or seeking from Attain
tic storms the protection of the Great
Bay to the north.
Captain Denham turned to the
smooth-faced young man standing near,
and in voice in which authority and
courtesy were blended said:
Lieutenant Dayton, take glass, go
aloft, and see If you can make out the
stranger"
AYE, aye. sirl" replied the handsome
youth, and, taking telescope from the
stand at the head of the companion
way, he sprang into the mizzen-mast
shrouds and went up easily and swiftly
till he stood on the topgallant-yard.
with one arm thrown lightly around the
stay.
There was soft, warm breeze blow
ing from the south. 1t scarcely ruffied
the surface of the seq, but 1t filed the
upper sails on the tapering masts, caus-
ing the stately vessel to glide with a
wonderfully graceful motion, as If pro-
PEELED by some invisible power.
Well, Dayton" called up the Cap
tain, who was now standing impatiently
by the man at the wheel; what Is she?"
"a war ship, sir" replied the young
officer.
Her flag?"
@She flies none. Every stitch of can
Sdo 10 oplOduy dhN oiAo SSAaSS AAOA-> sANS
south"
and is making for Montauki"
"Yes, sir.
THAT is very strange" muttered the
Captain.
He took turn on the quarterback,
then picking up telescope he looked in
the direction of the stranger, now visi-
BILE to the unaided eye as q white speck
on the far-off horizon, where the blue
sky and the blue ocean met.
After an eager survey OF some min
utes the Captain called out to Lieuten-
ant Dayton again:
did you ever sec the Adventure Gal.
ley"
"Where?"
Last year, in New York" The Lieu
tonant looked again ut the stranger
and added, with some excitement: Ano
that is the Adventure Galley or hel
ghost. :,
"All right, Mr.. Dayton" said thu
CAPTAIN, Come down."
The Young officer descended with |
spcod that TO landsman would hav'
seemed downright recklessness.
But there were no landsmen on tn
Sea Hawk. :.
Her crew, ono hundred and thirty Il
number. were all In the prime OF life
StaIwart. bearded and bronzed, yet a
neat In their attire as IL ready for In
spection.
Tho uniformity of their dress woul
have told tho stranger that they wer
not mere sailors. But even the un
practiccd eye could see this was not
merchant ship.
Every pin was polished; every bras
article shone like mirror; every rop
was taut and in place. The decks wer
os Glenn and white as good house
wife,s kitchen floor, and such parts q
werc painted looked as IL they had JUS
been undcr the brush.
About tho masts, in well-oiled racks
were boarding pixies ranged ready
hand and beneath them, with graz
ming hooks attached, were neatl
coilcd ropes.
On either sidc there wore ten pol
holes. through which-now that tn
ports were open-tweIty greit gun
looked out.
But these formidable weapons wei
dwarfed by long brass swivel gu
nmidships. which must have been II
particular pet Of the sailors, Tor It's Q,
posed surface shone like mass OF goi
Briefly. the Sea Hawk was cruise
cited out under the directions OF Col
mol Richard Livingstone-then In cor
mand of the New York Colonial milif
and intended to destroy the pirate
Who Mt that time were plundering 4
neighboring seas, and even makll
marauding expeditions into the peac
fnl bays and harbors on the coast.
Two years prior to the date OF {,
story. Colonel Livingstone had comm
stoned Captain William Kidd 10 prote
the commerce of the Colonies ire
piracy. but as that gentleman san
sWay and was never seen again,
General belief was that Captain Wilii'
kidd had gone to the bottom IN 50,
storm. or, still more sad, may Nc
Ssva fallen victim to the pirates
WAS sent out to suppress.
One thing was certain, tne aePfe,
.,ona an the seas still continued, a.
as a consequence. the Sea HAWK y
fitted out and placed under the CO
mand OF the gallant young saii9T, =
tain Ralph Denham, OF sag naru
shat time New York was compa
t,y.iy OF much lie commercial impe
auce than at rresent- and the Davs