Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-25

" ucu Wo WSlo WienAa OocJ AeAoo'
the second officer reported that the lar
ger Of the two cruisers was signaling.
"What does she say?" asked Patter'
son.
The officer put up his glass again,
and having looked studied the admiral.
ty book lying upon the hatchway.
"Heave to and let me examine you. "
Every kind, indeed" said Allie.
"But we're not to be caught in that
way. No, no, my friend, if you want us
you will have to use sterner measures
than that"
Patterson gave an order. and present,
ly q stream of bunting was flying from
our own gaff end.
what are you saying?" asked when
the signals had unrolleG and caught the
wind.
"I'm asking him why he wants to
stop us?" answered Patterson.
All this time we were creeping up
between them. Once more signal
broke out, and again the officer report
ed. This time it ran, "Heave to, and
I'll send boat" But this was equally
unregarded.
For ten minutes there was no change
save that we had now come up level
with them. Then down futtered the
string of flags, and at the same instant
flash of fire came from the nearest
vessel, followed by a cloud of white
smoke. Almost at the same instant q
sharp report reached our ears.
ga blank cartridge to show that they
mean business" answered.
Hadn't we better go ahead?" Allie
remarked.
II think so, said Patterson and rang
the telegraph. The needle new round to
Full steam ahead" and off we went.
"Give her every ounce she can car
ryl" shouted Patterson down the speak
ing tube, and the engineers proved fully
equal to the occasion. Before very long
the whole fabric of the vessel trembled
under the pressure. She quivered like a
frightened stag and cut through the
green water at furious pace. Then,
seeing our ruse, the cruiser fired. But
either Intentionally or because they had
not accurately gauged our distance the
ball went wide.
"We're in for it now," said Allie.
"This looks as if it will be the most ex-
citing fight in the Lone Stars history. "
"If only we could give them one in
return" I said longingly. However.
we can't stop fer that. So 90 on, little
barkie," / cried enthusiastically, pat
ting the bulwark with my hand as if to
encourage her. "You know how much
depends upon you."
AS if she were really aware Of it the
gallant little craft dashed on, throwing
off the foam in two great waves from her
cutwater and sending the spray in clouds
above her bows. The pace was terrific,
and it seemed already to have dawned
upon the cruisers that if they wanted to
catch US they must be quick about it.
By this time we had run between them,
and therefore they had to turn round
before they could pursue u.s. which
meant start for Us that was Of the ut.
most Importance in our race for free
dom.
Before they attempted to turn, how
ever, both decided on letting US know
their tempers, and two guns crashed out
almost simultaneously. Again the ball
from the bigger Of the two fell wide,
but that from her consort was more sci
entifcally aimed, and our fore topmast
came down with crash.
"That's the first blood drawn, I said
to Allie as the crew sprang aloft to clear
away the rattle. II wonder what the
next will be.
IF we can continue this pace, we
shall soon be out Of range" she an
swered
"But can we continue it?" l asked.
1.-The strain must be enormous. Do you
feel how every timber is quivering un-
der it?"
AS | spoke Allie turned. and I saw
that Janet had come on deck. With a
white face she looked at the two vessels
behind us and asked what their presence
meant.
"It means," said Allie, going to her
and assuming possession Of her hand,
"that England is determined to try and
have the Beautiful White Devil after
ALL"
"But she shan t" said Janet loyalty,
mot if l have to keep her off with my
own hands, -
"Bravo, my sister!" cried enthusi-
astically. "That's the sort of spirit we
boast aboard this boat. Never fear,
we'll slip them yet, won't we, Alie?"
The girl answered me with smile
that went to my heart, so brave and yet
so sad was it.
BY this time the men-of-war had
turned and we're in full pursuit Of us,
but we had the advantage of a start and
were momentarily increasing our lead.
Again one ship fired. 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 OIL the task Of catching
us. All the morning we steamed on and
by 8 o'clock wsre good ten miles
ahead.
"If we can only keep this pace up till
dusk, I think we may manage to give
them the slip after ALL, " said Allie, 60
ing to the taffrail 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.