The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-11-09

| Lizard about dawn or say, $3.50 TO 4 a. m 70.
morrow. II the tug leaves Plymouth before mid.
night, she can gain such a position by daybrcak
| as to meet the Fleur-de-Lis and cross her course
| you do not sight her at once you must lie to.
waiting, f"r she cannot we'll have passed.
When yCi have intercepted her, rs you surely
| Will. she will be boarded by an officer of my dc.
| partmcnt, who will accompany you and who car.
res the necessary authority from the lords OF tho
admiralty to detain and search her. lie is cm.
| powered to use force II necessary and a certain
NUMBER OF police and coast guardsmen will be
| on board the tug.
| Major Swete Thornhill. r. A., the bearer OF
this letter, will travel with you to Plymouth. He
Is friend OF Captain Woods and brother staff
ohiecr and will be glad to cooperate in the res.
| cue and render any assistance.
| found tall, military looking gentle.
man at the door In hanBom.
"Hop in." he cried pleasantly. "Only
Just time to catch the express"
| preferred to travel with Joe, but we
| Joined forces ut Paddington, where
my gentleman had secured a compart.
ment, and we started to talk over our
| business right away.
| Hang that fellow Willie Woodr be-
gan the major. "Wlsh lie was ct the
bottom OF the sea. was due this very
night Mt big feed ut the Charlatan
club. and I've had to spend it in the
Tain. Got ME jawbation, too, from
the CHIEF, for we were all out ut lunch
when he came In, and as was the first
| pack had to take the rough edge of
| his tongue and came in for this ugly
Job. Is 1t all true bill? Have they
really got Master Willie In n tight
| place? Mean to make him walk the
plank and all that, eh?"
| i told him tho yybolo ,%o,,, r.-. a.,
beginning. ut parts Of which he laugh.
ed and parts looked very grave.
Always was q garden ass, Willie
Wood, but good chap-good as they
make 'em. He'd give you the shirt Off
his back and always ready to do all
your work IL you'd let him. Now, I'll
do my level best to pull him out of this
mess II can. What chance have we?
Let's see how 1t stands"
With that he pulled n small chart out
or his pocket and a pair Of dividers.
We went over the points one by one,
and he took them all In q clear, quick
way that was beautiful to see. It was
She first time I'd had to work with q
Iritish officer. and If they're all like
this major they're spry, smart lot
and don't you forget it.
Its all question OF time" he said
as he marked cross upon the chart
and, after running out a few more fig
ures, went on:
THAT'S where the Fleur-de- Lis ought
TO be by daylight, three or four miles
to the westward, stcaming at the rate
we know of, not necessarily gaining,
but possibly with better speed I'm hand
II she wants 1t. Now, where shall we
be? That will depend upon how our
hooker steams, and for that we must
wait till we get on board"
We found her, the Jacob Silyerton.
with her steam up, lying alongside the
wharf In the AIillbay docks. AID, as
they expected us, we were soon under
way. 1t was then close on l a. IN.
Now the major made anxious inquiries
as to her speed, and we found the best
she could do was about nine knots.
There were no more than three hours
to daylight, and then we should have
'Itll be ncaf tHi}fg, sa,u ...---.
jor. However, let's get 40 winKs
while they crack on all steam ana
make her move"
had not been in bed for q couple OF
nights and was sound asleep when the
major woke me.
THE luck's against us, SnuyZer," he
began abruptly. We've just missed
the Fleur-de-Lis; saw her plainly
enough, and there was no mistaking
her, about three miles to the westward
and bore down on her straight. sup
pose she did not like our looks and
turned on full steam ahead. Doubt If
we shall catch her now."
"Of course we must stick to her.
Has she the heel Of us?" asked anx-
iously.
"a little, I'm afraid. Can't say for
certain. What's worse, she's changed
her course southerly."
"Why worse?"
steering for the French coast. Don't
you see? If she can make q French
port or gain French waters, three miles
from shore, you understand, she will
laugh at us. Can't touch her, they'll
say"
was ready to let out big oath, but
| turned out and ran up on deck to see
| the situation for myself.
It was a perfectly splendid morning.
The sun strong, sky clear, water
| smooth as glass. There was our chase,
leaving long line of coal black smoke
exactly reflected in the sea.
"They're giving her all they can get"
said to the skipper, as climbed
quickly on to the bridge, where the po-
lice sergeant joined us. 'Is she draw
ing away from u.s."
mot much, not much. l much doubt
II she does at all. The next hour will
| settle that"
"Has she made us out, think your