The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-03-17
DICK RODNEY;
; Or, The Adventures of
; An Elton Boy...
: BY JAMES GRANT.

BY JAMES u

as the first streak Of day, coming on
with tropical rapidity, began to bright
en- the horizon and shed long, shiny
rlpplcs on the sea, the canvas swelled
out, the reef points began to patter
on the taut bosom of every snow-white
sail, and the loose rigging was blown
out in graceful bends.
There was a fine breeze rising; the
white water rippled under the fore
foot of the Eugene, and soon it boiled
in foam as we sheeted home the top
sails and ran along the western shore
Of the mountain isle.
About the same time the Costa Rican
brig which was at anchor nearer the
shore Ca smart craft she was, straight
in the bends, and all black, save a yell
low Streak}, also got ready for sea
with great expedition, and worked out
of the harbor; and when the hot sun,
which crewhile had lit up the vast
continent of Africa to the east Of US,
rose from the ocean,, We saw her black
hull and white canvas shining in his
morning rays about a mile aStern.
You say, Marc, that craft is a Costa
Rican?" said Weston, donbtfully.
yes, sir" replied Hislop.
she may be; but she is also a Span
ish dealer in black CATTLE" said Wes-
ton, who was looking at her through
a powerful double-barreled glass. Il
am certain if you could only see her
deck when she careens a bit, you would
make out the ring-bolts for lashing
the slaves to in fine weather.
AYE, and perhaps those of the car
%ronadcs, too,' added Hislop; she
looks rattle: rakish."
you are just Of my mind, sir adj
ded Tom Lambourne, who was at the
wheel. She'll see the Sharks Nose
and the Congo river before she sees
the Mosquito creeks or the hills of
Costa Rica; and I have a shrewd no
are part of her crew, if ono may judge
from what Master Rodney, who knows
their lingo, overheard them say"
Except across the Peak Of Teneriffe,
where a cloud of white vapOr tloated
in mid-air like a permanent cymar or
girdle. and above which some thou
sand feet Of the mighty cone lowered
into the blue immensely of space, mel
lowing from green and purple to a
faint gray tint, the sky was without q
cloud.
The waves danced and sparkled in
A., ,,r,,in. ,,,,Iinn tho froch 1.rco,,
swept pleasantly over their whitening
tops and whistied through our rigging
as we ran along the shore with consid-
cradle speed; and now our hearts beat
lightly. for the broad. free ocean was
around us, and IN clearing the dan.
gerCus rocks at Punta de Anaga by
giving them a wide berth, we felt the
heavier swell of the Atlantic as We
brought the larboard lacks on board
and ran, close-hauled, on a taut bow
line between the Isles of Teneriffe anc
Palma, keeping the weatherage of the
Costa Rican, and leaving her at the
same time fast and far astern.
We had a delightful run through The
fertile Archipelago Of the Fortunate
Isles, and, after clearing San Josef
found the wind coming more aft. Lons
after night had closed in and darkness:
had e%nveloped all the sea and the Isle
OF Teneriffe, the cone Of the peal
shone redly in midair, with the ligh'
OF the sun that had set in the western
waters Of the Atlantic.
For the whole Of that day we hat
run fast through the water, making a
least sever knots an hour off the log
line, but midnight came before we saw
the last Of the mighty Peak Of Adam