The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-10-01
M Shsssfs cIofh}in@e.

eastern Long Island were more fre.
uently visited by ships than the beau
tiful harbor into which the Hudson
empties.
The Sea Hawk was now on her return
from cruise to the West Indies; and as
tho officers and most of the crew were
from what are still called The Hamp-
tons, on Long Island, they hailed with
delight the first glimpse Of the bold
blue headiand of Monta1k, that told
them they were near the loved ones
and the delightful land of their birth.
Under Captain Denham's directions,
the Colon al flag of New York was run
up to the foremost head, and from the
mizzen gaff the royal ensign Of England
fluttered in the breeze.
By this time the strange ship-head-
ing evidently for the same harbor--
came so close that her black, well-mod-
deled hull could be distinctly seen
above the water line.
The open potts showed fifteen guns
on side, and by the aid OF glasses her
decks could be seen to swarm with
armed men.
THAT ship is stranger in these
parts" said Captain Denham, address,
ing Mr.. Hedges, the first officer.
Mr.. Hedges was a middle-aged, slow
spoken man, with bright blue eye and
sturdy figure, such as we always as
societe with the model sailor.
"She looks to be stranger" said the
| first officer, with the judicial delibera-
| ton that distinguished all his sayings
| @and if she were foe, must confess
that she'd be about as ugly customer
| to tackle as ever came into these
waters"
Strange that she does not show hel
colors," said Valentine Dayton, the sec
ond officer; If she's friend she needn'
be ashamed of them"
| And she isn't ashamed Of them, m,
boy, any more than we are. See; ther'
goes the Union Jack to the peak. All
/ feel easier to know she is friend,
said Mr.. Hedges.
IF abe were O foe she would hoist
black flag" responded Capt Denham
with a light laugh, @and she would pre-
fer to fiaunt it in the face OF fat mer
chairman rather than in the beak OF tn
Sea Hawk.
The men not on duty eagerly watche'
the stately stranger, and they saw i
her what delights the sailors heart NOR
| Clan inc LlOSb cAquAoitO al Se.i ~
eye of an artist.
To make amends for his hardness Il
showing his colors. the stranger, by wa
of salute. dipped his flag three times
and the Sea Hawk speedily responde
to the courtesy.
1t is customary for ships at sea t
learn each others names, the port
from which they sailed and their desti
nations, by means OF flags used as sig
mails, but as the headland OF Montau
doomed out of the sea, and both ship
were making for its eastern extremity
with the chances Of their soon anchor
ing side by side, this formality was dis
pensed with.
The sun was setting as both shipi
now not a half mile apart, heade
down the bay.
The wind was barely sufficient
force them through the mirror-like watt
at four knot speed.
The scenes on either hand were inel
pressibly beautiful and animated.
The islands, rising in dark emeral
masses from the lighter green OF II
Sound; the shores, wooded down to tt
waters edge; and the forest-crownt
hills mirrored in the placid expans
were of indescribable loneliness.
Over the forests the blue lines
smoke marked the peaceful settlement
Here and there a white house cou
be seen near the shore, with rosy o
chard in the background, for the seas'
was spring, the last week OF May, wh'
Nature in our zono is in her loveliest q
tire.
Nor did the two stately ships, wi
their clouds OF snowy sail, alone az
animation to the bay.
r On the south shore the long, red G
noes OF the Montauks, then powers
+ tribe of Indians, could be seen dartil
back and forth under the impulse
0 long paddles, while to the north,
short punts, the Shinicook braves cou
. be seen trolling for the biuefish tt
o had lust come into these waters.
Nor we're the smaller crafts OF t
y white settlers wanting.
Like butterflies, graceful yacf
a skinned over the waters OF the bay, a
!. as they neared the ships the Gre
8 waved their hats and exchanged chez
: salutations OF welcome and thanks.
At length Shelter Island was pass
d and the Sea Hawk and the strang
o which II I'd no name visible on stern
: how cast anchor q few hu dred var
a apart.
CHAPTER H.
70 a< SHORE.