Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-06-29

We had seen 3 numSer Of sail during the
day, but nothing had as set come hull above
the horizon, even these showing south and
west mere spccks of light against the pearl
of the sky line thanked God for ;he scare
gwen the British by the advent o. the
French fleet, and knew that each cabip's
length wc made to the east brought Us SO
Lluch nearer safety. The day was waning,
night would soon be- on rs, and if the Wind
held, under cover OF darkness we would be
secure u our flight, and possibly the NOR
rows sun might rise and show me the gor-
gcous reds and yellowS Of Gay Head bluff
with its cap Of green turf a sign that we
were in home waters
Even as my heart warmed at the thought
cast MY eve landward over the luhoard
quarter and saw coming cut Of the haze
which had all but blotted ont the Long
Island coast topsal schooner hearing
southeast or directly toward the Phantom
She was some five or six miles away, but
even at that distance ! could see hy her
Slope that She had found . fresh slant Of
wind, and that from hen forward cloths to
the tip of her main boom every rag was
drawing, her progress being NIGHTLY helped
by the square sail set on her ioretopmast.
There was no knowing what she was, but
he fact that any craft had gotten 30 close
without having been marked, gave me a
start aud | put the helm down that the
ib and staysais might draw which would
at the same time bring the stranger over our
taifail a laHdlubhcr could have seen she
was no Frenchman, for the C;aul had i style
OF cut, rake and carry, all his own, be-
sides which they were not given to sailing
small craft in these waters She might be
priyatcer, in which cdse all would be well,
but if not, and | feared my own intuition,
then my air castles were doomed to ruin,
my borrowed happiness was but the swan
Song of hope my dream that OF a con
acmned man.
The ilbng OF the loresall and my hi 10
Amcs brought Miss King to the dccl, Her
brother Joined us, and sic three stood look
iEg at the oncomlng vessel which bad ap-
peared like a cloud to mar the brightness
of perfect day There wa no need to eX
plain the menace lying beneath that bunch
Of swollen canvas BY The faces Of the two
saw they realized il was plain case Of
chase, the only doub being viii timer n
would prove for good or evil. ] would have
given the gold in my pocket for good glass
with which tomakc her cut, but, rs hat was
impossible, it took me but few seconds to
come to the conclusion that our only hone
and that Slim onel was to make the chase
a stern one and give the poor Pmntom
with her foul bottom, all the speed pQss bio
Putting the wheel in charge of Amos with
no loss OF words | went forward, clamhercd
~ the fore shrouds ind managed alone ~
rnfurl the square sail, settling the bfaana
and the sheet and tack on nay return to the
deck In the present lghtair the pub 81 The
canvas was small, but it was something and
knew the stranger would mari, the increase
of sail and read as ainy AS print Chat ~.
wanted nothing of her
As time went. we saying little or nothing
hetwiNt MS. | marked our follower growth
as she drew ON Little by Gttlc ont came the
details OF her canvas, and q. picked point
after point. there dawned ou mc thy limos.
certainty that our pursucr was none other
than the Suritc, the last vessel OF Bis mai
e.tys lotiih | cared To meet.
From the deck of the AiaN ! bad Boon
Informed "a the Sprlte~ absence ou pagroa
and through the whole morning hoi hed
ii my mind tie dread 81 meeting her eny
feeling safe from that particular craft since