Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-04-11

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we had seen number of sail during the |
day, but nothing had as yet come hull above |
the horizon, even these showing south and
west mere specks OF light against the pearl
OF the sky line thanked God for the scare |
given the British by the advent OF the |
French fleet, and knew that each cables
length we made to the east brought US SO
much nearer safety. Inc day was waning;
night would soon be on us, and If the wind
held, under cover of darkness. we would be
secure in our flight, and possibly the NOR
rows sun might rise and show me the gor,
geous reds and yellows OF Gay Head plum
with Its cap OF green turf, sign that we
were IN nome waters.
Even as my heart warmed at the thought,
l cast my eye landward over the larboard
quarter and saw coming out OF the haze
which had all but blotted out the Long
southeast or directly toward the Phantom.
She was some five OF six miles away, but
even at that distance l could see by her
slope that she had found fresh slant OF
wind, and that from her 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 toretopmast.
There was no knowing what she was, but
the fact that any craft had gotten SO close
without having been marked, gave me
start, and put the helm down that the
Jib and staysails might draw, which would
at the same time bring the stranger over our
tatfrail. "A landlubber could have seen she
was no Frenchman, for the Gaul had style
OF cut, rake and carry, all his own, be-
rides which they were not given to sailing
small craft in these waters. She might be
prlvateer, IN which case all would be well,
but II 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 con-
demned man.
The jibing of the foresail and my hail to
Ames brought Miss King to the deck. Her
brother Joined US, and we three stood look
ing at the oncoming vessel which had ap-
peared like cloud to mar the brightness
OF perfect day. There was no need to ex-
plain the menace lying beneath that bunch
Of swollen canvas. By the faces of the two
saw they realized it was plain case of
chase, the only doubt being whether it
would prove tor good or EVIL: would nave
gwen ne goio IN my pockes lot iol so1a slass
WIN "hlcn 70 MAKE ner out, ou., as tnaI was
lmposslDie, ~ tooh me pus lew secG 1.l ~
come 70 me conclusion .nae ouI ohis hope
Jana that sim onel was 70 MAKE M .ne chase
q stern one anu give siie poor han.1ill'
with her foul bottom, all the speed possioie.
futt,ng me Wneel IN cnarge OF Aihes, WIN
no loss Of woras wen. ,orwalu, Iia aln
UP tne iore snrouos anu ii,anaesu aione W
un1ur, tne square sali, setenns .ne olacihs
ana the sneet ana TACK on my return 70 me
Geek III tne present liSnt I'll tAe pun VI sAe
canvas was sinai, put II was solne1nine, anu
knew the Stranger Woua marx me increase ~
OF sail and read as plainly as print that we
wanted nothing OF her. ,
| AS time went, we saying ilstie OF nothlng
betWlxt us, marked our follower grown
| as she drew on. Little by little out came the
details OF her canvas, and, as picked point
after point, there dawned on me the almost
certainty .hat our pursuer was none otner
than the Sprlte' the last Vessei OF nls maj
estys notiila ! cared TO meet.
From the deck OF the AJAX mad peep
INFORMED OF tne opr,te absence on Pa,r9i,
ana through tne Wneie morning hau NEG
IN my mind the dread OF meeting her' only
teeline sa1e from .nat particular craft slnce
noon. Probably she had been sneaking I'M
der easy sail along the Long Island coast,
and had only fairly sighted us after the
WSSteTluS suu udu IuFOWu d DTOdu llSuL Oh
our canvas. Then with keen nose for
| anything less than three-decker, she had
piled on her clothes the sooner to come by
about what business trader had to sail
the kings sea without being under convoy.
dared not unfold my suspicious, but the
girl, with the eye Of hawk and the in
sJinct of woman, saved the necessity.
Turning to me after long and searching
look at our pursuer, she said:
Capt. Thorndyke, that vessel looks like
the one that took me from Philadelphia to
New York. l hardly know why think
SO, but I fear me It's the same"
cay" 1 answered, hoarsely, II have that
fear, and God help us if they overhaul us, as
they are like to do, barring miracle!-Have
you aught to offer, Ames?" said 1, address
ing her brother, whose face had taken on a
look of hardness the like of which had
marked at the Dove when he was posing as
an old man.
NAY, FRIEND" he returned, suddenly fall
ing into the Quaker style of speech, and
without taking his eyes from the vessel
astern-"nay, friend, I have but light
knowledge of sea possibilities. To run as
thee be running means to be beaten in the
race. Thee has head for tricks. Are thee
lost? If SO, there is but one thing for thee
ind me-" And turning his eyes to mine, he
made quick gesture toward the water,
which motion thought was unobserved by
the girl. But was wrong in my surmise.
; HAS it come to this then?" she ejacu-
lated with sudden terror in face and voice.
cam to be left alone and at the mercy OF
those yonder?-Beverly brother! you will
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