The Florence daily tribune., 1898-06-02

'no teie-fuph. lho nCCdla flew round Il
'tuli steam ahead, " and OF we went
elve her every ounce she can car
ryi' shouted Patterson down the spenh
ing tube. and the engineers proved full,
equal to the occasion Before very Ions
the whole fabric OF the vessel tremblee
under the pressure. She quivared like !
frightened stag and cut through the
green water at IA furious pace. Then.
seeing our ruse, the cruiser fired. Bui
either Intentionally or because they hnd
not accurately gaused our distance the
bali went wide.
Were in for it now,'' said Alie.
"This looks as if it will be the most OK.
citing flight in the Lone Stars history. -
II only we could give them ono in
return p / said longingly. However,
we can stop for that, So so ON, little
earkie, y l cried enthusiastically, pat.
ting the hulwarl with my hand MS If TO
encourage her, "You know how much
depends upon you. H."
AS II sho were really aware Of il the
gallant isttle craft dashed en-, throwing
oil the foam in two great waves from her
outwater and sending the spray in clouds
above her bows. The pace was terrific,
ana 1t seemed already to have dawned
upon Che cruisers that if they wanted to
catch US they must be quick ahout II.
BY this time we had run between them.
and therefore they had to turn round
before they could pursue us, which
meant a start for US that was Of tho ut.
most importance i'll our race for free.
dom.
Before they attempted to turn, how.
ever, both deciued on letting us know
their tempers, and two guns crashed out
almost simultaneously. Again tho ball
from the bigger of tho two fell wide
but that from her consort was more sci.
entiiically aimo,i, and our fero tonnlast
came down with n crash.
That's the first blood drawn, - said
to Ale as the crew spraug aloft TO cloar
away the rattle. 81 wonder what the
next viii be, -
If we can continue this mace. wo
shall soon be out of range she au-
swerod.
But can wo continue itg'' I asked.
The strain must be enormous. DO you
feel how every timker is quivoring un-
der it?"
AS l spoke Allie turned, and | saw
that Janet had come on deck. With
white face she looked ut tho two vessels
behind us and asked what their presence
meant
ut means" said Allie. going to her
and assuming possession of her hand,
that England is determined to try and
bave the Beautiful White Devil after
ALL"
But she shan't, " said Janet Ioyally.
mot if | have TO keep her off with my
own bands"
"Bravo, my sieter!'' cried enthusi
lstically. "That's the sort Of spirit we
boast aboard this boat Never fear,
wen slip them yet, won't we, Alie?''
The girl answered NC with 81 smile
that went to my heart, so brave and vet
so sad was it.
by this time the men-of war had
Wrned and were in full pursuit of us,
but we had the advantage of start and
were n:omentarily increasing our lead.
Again one ship fred. but as we were all
steaming too fast for correct aiming the
ball did no damage After that they
saved their powder and concentrated all
their energies on the task of catching
us. All the morning we steamed on and
by O'Clock ware good ten miles
ahead.
" If we can only keep this pace up till |
dusk, think we may manage TO give |
them the slip after all, said Allie. go
ing to the tatfrail and looking behind |
her at the pursuing ships
Their commanders seemed to realize
this, too, for they once more began to
try long shots at us. But though two
fell very close no harm was done.
About half past Patterson left the
bridge and came down to where we
were sitting aft. He held chnrt in his
hand, and when he came up with us he
knelt down and pinned it to the deck.
May l draw your attention to this
chart!' he said MS soon as his prepara-
tions Were complete. "You W i'll renlem-
ber that tie first time we We're ever
chased it was in this very place. We'll
On that occasion we managed to escape
BY taking this channel between these
Two reefs. Our pursuer, as doubtless you
have not forgotten drew too much wa
ter and could not follow US. Now. if
you are willing to chance it we might
ny the same plan again.
"What do you think?" asked Allie,
iurning to me. "It is a desperate risk
% run, but then we must remember
hat we are in q desperate position. .
knelt down upon the decl and care
ully examined the chart 1t showed a
ong, struggling reef shaped something
ike wriggling snake. with an opening
n the middle just wide enough, If the
measurements were to be depended up
m, to permit our vessel to pass through.
)ne fact was self evident, and that was
hat If we did get through we should be
aved.
Il am for CHANGING il, :" said after
had given the matter proper consider
tion- {
Then we will follow your advice"
aid Allie. 1--WE will try the passage. -