The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-15

Spray put into Nassau for fresh water.
Nothing had occurred to lessen the
enthusiasm, with which the three Priv
ateers had entered upon this enterprise.
Jim and Bill by this time had each an
excellent pair of sea legs, and Jim could
even detect the difference between the
ships bell and the. cooks gong.
On the second day out from Nassau.
and when about midway between the
island OF Great Inagua and the Cuban
coast, Jim discovered smoke on the
western horizon. Capt. Marsh brought
out his glass, and after studying the
stranger for some minutes, decided it
was a Spanish gunboat, in pursuit.
Every inch of canvas that could be ad-
ded to aid in increasing the speed of
the schooner, was put into service. For
long while it seemed that the Spaniard
was not gaining in the chase, but after
this race had been kept up for two
hours it was apparent that the Flying
Spray must be overtaken, unless some
kindly Providence intervened in her
behalf. The sun had gone down and
the short twilight of the tropics had
just began, when the gunboat fired
solid shot at the fleeing schooner. The
shot fell into the sea far astern in the
wake of the Flying Spray. The captain
was angry, for from the beginning of
the chase his colors had been flying
from the royal main top, and besides he
was we'll outside of the three mile
limit. However, the Spaniard seemed
determined to take him, but the captain
was just as determined, he would not
heave to-, even had the whole Spanish
navy been fireing solid shot across his
bow. Bill and Bob were eager to fight.
They had loaded the six.pounder, in
bow, to the muzzle, with canister. They
had also brought up from below the
entire ships arsenal. But Capt. Marsh
had card up his sleeve. There was
small coral reef just ahead, which did
not appear on the charts of the latest
surveys. The captain had found this
reef while on recent voyage to Port
au Prince. The reef was now but a
short distance ahead. 1t was a risky
piece of business, but Capt Marsh was
equal to it. He had two men out in
the bow, heaving the lead, and at
signal from one of them the helm went
hard to port, and almost Immediately
after the schooner tackled back to her
original course; she had rounded the
reef. The Spaniard thought the schoo.
ner was going to heave to, but when he
realized she was not, and was instead
still running down the wind, he gave
vent to his chagrin by putting shot
through the rigging. The Spaniard
had not changed his course, and it was
evident, he did not suspect the sunken
reef, for he was bearing down in
straight line upon his prey. Captain
Marsh was standing at the taffrail,
when suddenly he was heard to give
hearty laugh, and at the same time
called to Bill to pull the lanyard. The
Spaniard had struck the reef, climbed
on top of it and there keeled over on
his beam end. Bills salute was a bit
of sarcasm for the Spaniards benefit,
and also in celebration of a remarkable
escape.
Two hours later the Flying Spray
was off Cape Mast light, heading
through the passage into the Caribbean.
No further incident occurred during
the night, and when daylight came
again, they were out of sight of land.
The winds that had been so favorable
all the way down, did not desert now,
though they were in the region of
calms.
Sharks are very plentiful in the Car
ibbean, and from the deck of the
schooner a dozen black fins could at
any time be counted. Jim, armed with