Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-12-04

you," cried Cassandra, throwing her
arms about the neck of her mistress. Il
would beg my food from door to door,
ere | would take the dark pirate for my
| husband"
Irene made no reply, but bowed her
head and burst into tears.
CHAPTER VII.
Both Clarence Howard and 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
his way as should then seem best. The
next mission of the Lone Star was to go
| to New Orleans, and as soon as the full
complement Of men could be 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. 1t 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 sea boat, yet she would an
swer every purpose for so short and safe
voyage.
1t was early morning when the old
schooner got up her anchor, and as How
ard lent a hand at 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 then there
| were FIVE men besides who constituted
the crew. They were stout, hardy fell
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 sextant or the quadrant, and it was
very seldom that he was willing to trust
AiHiSelI WHITE IL COulu DPGOilG dDSOluIeIV
necessary that he should be guided by the
compass. though he had good tight bin
nacle and good compass in it. 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 log of
about two miles an hour on their direct
course.
Il guess we'd do better to stand out
farther" suggested Clarence as he made
out the land upon the starboard bow.
TT don't do, We know, for hens to
ventur arter ducks,p replied Max, 'but
| tell We what, Capt'in Howard, eff you'll
keep the reck'ni an bring us to land
agin. why, out It's. Eh?'
OF course Clarence assented to this,
and as the wind still remained to the
south'rd, the old schooner was put 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.
Aren't it best to be standin' in afore
long?" said Max, rather suggestively.
Pretty soon," returned Clarence ST
want to run about half an hour more.
and then we shall easily fetch the Padre
Lagoon tonight"
'Eh-d'ye think SOP"
Il know we shall il the wind don't go
down." was Towards confident reply.
But there We're 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 aleak at sea. and gone down.
| Perhaps thar was because he had always
been in tie habit of sailing in new,
staunch crafts. and hence did not allow
for the age ard indrmities Of the one he
was now in. And again, before that time
venturesome vessels had been captured
by Mexican cruisers when too far from
shore to make good their escape. But
perhaps Clarence, having always before
been rather anxious to meet these same
cruisers than otherwise, forgot the COM
parative weakness of the craft he was
now in.
However, at one o'clock the schooner's
head was put to the south'rd and west'rd,
and she behaved herself very well. All
went on nicely till about half past one
o'clock, and then one of the men at the
bows reported a sail.
Where away?" asked Clarence.
Right straight ahead replied the
man.
Clarence looked. and he saw brig not
over four miles distant. Ii might have
been seen some time before had any one
been on the lookout. but the man whom
Clarence had requested to perform that
duty had been attending TO something
else.
What dye s'pose 'tis?'' asked Max.
Have you a glass?' asked the young
man. in return.
Yes. spyglass, ye mean?"
Certainly"
Got sort Of one down in the cabin.
And thus speaking he went down and
brought it up. The glass proved to be
long in making the stranger out to be
Mexican. aud an armed vessel at that.
And she is standing directly for Us,
too concluded he. as be lowered the
glass.
by the great bar. ef l was ashore now,
I'd know drefful quick what to do but
ye see, here on the water | don't stan
fair chance. Ken We run away from
the fellow ?"
'rnl afraid not" replied Clarence.
That fellow is directly To the windward
Of rs, and l am sure his best roiRt o.
sailing Is with the wind sbaft his beam.
while that j our worst BEFORE the wind
NE might ran of seven knots. while tina:
! chap can run nine. 50 ron see he'd over
haul Us in two hours at the farthesf
Then we're as good as trapped, ehs'
I'm afraid i"
X was quickly arranged that the
schooner should be kept away and run
FOR the land: 30 the sheets were eased 81
and the helm put M. and as sean IS fhe
BRIG could notice the movement she turn
q her course more 70 the norghward
~Captain Winter" said Clarence. 4
am SORRY I cot you our here, far upon niy
soul. DID net thSAk Of this"
Don't be sorry on mr. account" re-
turned Max. Il ha'n'r GOT 10 blame
for re. Fl Ia had tie knowledge +
Shassd a run att here sAySclf. 80 LEI