Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-12-01
CHAPTER VII.

6Otn clarence HOWARD ana the boy
Peter had procured DISCUSSES. and after
much debate with himself. the young
captain resolved to go by water as FAR
as Matamoras, and from there to take
bis way rs should then seem best. The
next mission Of the Lone Star was to 60
to New Orleans, and as soon as the full
complement Of men could he made up,
Mr.. Lotion agreed TO take command dur.
ing his superior's absence. Ere long.
Clarence found a small coaster which
would take him to the mouth OF the Rio
Grande. which was distant nearly three
hundred miles. It was an old schooner
which had been used for carrying game
and produce up and down the rivers, and
along the coast, and though by no means
much Of a sea boat. yet she would an.
swer every purpose for so short and safe
a voyage.
1t was early morning when the old
schooner got up her anchor, and as How.
ard lent a hand ut the windlass and at
the halliards. he was very quickly on
excellent terms with the crew. The skip.
per's name was Max Winter. He was
a short, stumpy fellow, some hve.and.
forty years Of age, and spent about half
his time In the woods with his rifle and
traps. The second In command was an
Arkansas ranger, named Jack sloan, and
about Winters age. And thea there
were five men besides who constituted
the crew. They were stout, hardy fel.
lows, all hunters. and used to the dark
and rough ways OF life, following their
leader In everything--at one time away
at the headwaters Of the great rivers af-
ter game. and at another running their
old schooner about the coast, selling the
product Of their labors.
When the schooner had cleared the
southern point Of Galveston Island, the
wind was found to be so near south that
they had to beat their way down the
coast. Max knew nothing Of the use of
the scXtnnt or the quadrant. and Il was
very seldom that he was willing to trust
himself where It could become absolutely
necessary that he should be guided by the
compass. though he had good tight bin
nacle and a good compass In 1t. The con.
sequence OF all this was that the old
skipper seldom let his vessel get him out
Of sight Of land. The day passed away,
and the next morning they found that
they had gained just about fifty miles
on their way. which gave them a. log OF
about two miles an hour on their direct
course.
II guess we'd do better to stand out
farther" suggested Clarence. as he made
out the land upon the starboard bow.
"'T don't do. ye know. for hens IA
ventur arter ducks" replied Max, "bu,
! tell ye what. Capt'in Howard, Of you'll
keep the reck'nin' an bring us to land
agin. why, out tits. Eh?"
OF course Clarence assented to this
! and as the wind still remained to the
s0uth'rd. the old schooner was nut upon
the starboard tack. and stood out into the
gulf. At nine o'clock the land was Out
Of sight, but Clarence kept her ON till
noon.
"Arcn't 1t best to be standin' In afore
long?" said Max, rather snggestively.
"Pretty soon." returned Clarence. ~
want to run about half an hour more
and then we shall easily fetch the Padre
; Lagoon tonight"
"Eh-d'ye think SOL"
; ~ know We shall IL the wind don't &c
: down." was Towards confident reply.
} But there were other things beside the
} winds to be considered, and which Clar
!. ence did not think Of. He did not con
slider that vessels had before that time
sprung alcak nj sea. and gone down
Perhaps thar was because he had always
| been In the habit Of sailing In new
staunch crafts. and hence did not ALLOW
for the age and iniirmitieI of the one HI
, was now In. And again, before that tim'
vcnturesome vessels had been captured
by Mexican cruisers when too far from
, shore to make good their escape. Blu
! perhaps Clarence, having always before
, been rather anxious to meet these sam,
cruisers than otherwise, forgot the com
: parative weakness of the craft he wa
} now in.
However. NJ one o'clock the schooner
head was put TO the southrd and wcst'rd
and she behaved herself very well. Al
) went on nicely till about half past on
a O'Clock, and then one of the men ut th
bows reported a sail
where awayT' asked Clarence.
D fright straight ahead replied tn,
Q man.
! Clarence looked. and he saw brig no
! over fonr miles distant. 1t might hay,
been seen some time before. had any on,
2 been on the lookout, but the man whom
/. Clarence had requested to perform tina
duty had been attending TO something
r else.
"What dye s'posc 'tis?" asked Max.
: "Have you a gass?' asked the youn,
man, in return.
}, "Yes. Spyglass, We mean?'
y Certainly"
q "GOt a sort OF a one down In the cabin.
\ And thuS sDc9kin he went down AM