Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-06-07
CHAPTER II.
Of THE BRUSH WITH THE BLACK
SHIP.

III quick succession, and in flash the
entire crew was ranged on deck.
ITO the braces!" shouted the cap
tain through the trumpet. GAN ready
to slack and haul! Some of you for
ward to tend spritsail!"
These orders, taken up by the mate
as the yelling of the wind drowned in
part even the believing of the trum-
pet, were rapidly obeyed, and the crew
scrambled to their stations and stood
ready.
Down helm" was shouted back to
the two fellows at the tiller. The ships
head began to fall off, and as it did so
the orders to handle the braces fol-
lowed. In a mere matter of moments,
so fast did the men work-urged on,
indeed, by the knowledge that there
was some unusual stress, though as
yet they understood imperfectly the
cauSe-in that few moments the last
order was carried out, and the ships
head now pointed due north. 1 had
kept an eye on the strangers move
ments while we were fetching the In
dustry upon the new course, and was
not greatly surprised, on casting my
eye that way, to see the broad bows
suddenly fall away from the wind, and
the long black side begin to show. At
the same moment her yards flew round,
and thus she, too, was pointed north.
There could be but one explanation
of this last action-the stranger meant
20 overhaul us. was now burning to
TOT SoI
linger, that l might resolve something
more certain out of this stirring bust
ness; but for the present they were
busted with other matters, so that
did not like to seek them. The readiest
answer to be come at was that she was
Dutch, and was making flying cruise
of it in the channel. If so. she should
be both faster and stronger than she
looked, for it would be bold thing,
indeed, for a mere wagon of a mer-
chant rigger, without broadside guns
and having no near friendly port for
refuge, thus to seek prizes in our mar
row seas. While l was turning these
matters over in my mind taking care
to keep an eye out aft the while, to be
in readiness for sudden orders, the
companion opened and the supercargo
again appeared. The mate was stand
ing near by, and Mr.. lynn at once went
over to him, and, by his expression and
some words which the wind took to
me, desired to know what had hap
psned. This was the very thing I
would have, for now, without pushing
myself into their counsels, could slip
little nearer, and be made acquaint-
ed with the whole matter.
"Ay, q Dutchman. fast enough" the
supercargo was saying. "a daring fell
low, too, and not to be lightly shaken
off, l fancy. VIII it do to set bit more
sail?"
1T would not be profitable" the
mate answered. ''She is doing what
she can with this strength of wind. By
the breaking of the clouds yonder, it
will presently quiet bit, and then we
will see what can be done. You OBJ
serve that we hold our own with the
fellow at present, and carry as much
as he does"
EYES," said the supercargo, at per-
ceive that"
we will make race with him for
the coast" pursued the mate, land it
will go hard with us if we do not give
him shrewd brush"
How far might it be? Surely twenty
miles"
Call it a bit more. Say fve-and-
twenty. He could make that by night
fall"
True" said Mr.. lynn, with sat
isfied nod, land if he should overhaul
us on this course we could try bow
line"
He strobe off to where the glass
hung (the captain had brought up an
other, which he was using from the
poop, and when he fetched it to the
rail he climbed upon a coil of line and
brough: it to bear.
The supercargo used the glass for
some time, but finally put it by and
went up to have a talk with the cap
tain. OF course 1 could not hear what
they said, but it was easy to guess that
1T must be about the present strait. In
few moments the captain came to
the verge of the poop and called the
mate. Master Sellinger hurried up the
ladder and the three men talked togeth-
er earnestly. The mate then came
down again, and Immediately the cap
tain walked to the color halyards and
with his own hands ran up the flag. AS
1t blew out at the mizzen truck the
crew, who, as well as myself, were
watching anxiously and curiously the
doings aft, broke into cheer. All ewes
were now on the stranger, for this was
a clear demand that he should declare
his intentions. 1t was the most stir
ring moment thus far since the chase
or race, if you please-had begun. The
long black mass rose on the next crest
and slid foaming down the valley, and
again scared and fell. How we watched
her! Lift, lift, she rose, uptilted her
great house of a stern and plunged,
with the shock of the parted seas, down
the declivity, and all swiftly and might
lily rode to the top again, and still not
a handkerchief's breadth of buntinRl
Five, and at last ten minutes. and the
same monotonous upride and tilt and
FALL The captain stood with straddled
legs. silently using his telescope, and
the mate was in the mizZen shrouds
scanning the foe under the pent house
of his hand. The Supercargo leaned
over the poop rail, holding on hat and
wig. and the rest of Us lined the wealth
er bulwark, in the waist OF a sudden
the captain lowered his glass and shuf