The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-08-11
In WARTIME.

l.
The blockade-runner Gen. Lee was
racing. The whole of the frail hull
hummed with the vibration Of the ne
gines. Down in her stokehole a
double gang of fremen, naked to the
waist, shoveled and pricked at the
faring masses of Welsh coal through
the ever opening and shutting furnace
doors. The safety valves carried
double their load, and every rivet in
the boilers screamed again under the
fierce pressure. The throttle valves
stood wide open, and the gathering
engine cranks flew clashipg round in
their circles. The second engineer
directed the calding-down-hos upon
a heated bearing; the "chief' was
busy with a long-spouted oil can; tie
engine-room crowd had their hands
full.
Thirty-six hours ago they had come
out Of Bermuda with a cargo of boots,
saddles, "Crimean'' shirts, and other
c%ontraband of war; supplemented
alas for human vanityL-with French
c~orsets, ~crinolines and other feminine
engines of adornment; for, though
their young heroes were at the front,
there were still men left in the cities;
and confederate women must adorn
themselves though war shouted at the
gates.
Capt, Henry Clay stood on his
bridge, none with him but the mate
steering. His every cent was invested
in the venture. They were running
for Wilmington, and already the low
coast line of Carolina showed upon
the horizon. But the ruse which was
to have taken the blockading squad
ron southwark had failed. Upon
their bow hung a thin, faint line of
smoke Yankee war steamer-it
could be nothing else-straining to
i~ntercept them; and, as if this were
not enough, there appeared, dead
ahead, and seen only as yet through
the telescope, the tops of two masts-
another of the northern scum" ly-
ing-to, waiting them.
''There's nothing else for It'll" said
CLAY. GIN between them and trust to
luck. If they catch us they may blow
the whole cussed shebang to smither-
Gems for all I care!"
eyes. Best stand right on" said
the mate. "They're slow old tubs,
anyhow. We'd oughter be able to git
through if so he's there amt but two"
"I can only make out those two,''
said Clay, as he swept the horizon
with his telescope. .
Ten Minutes more showed them
the steamer in their path coming
straight for hem; the other, on the
bow, was now4lso hull up
The Gen. Lee swung sharp to star,
board and headed to the northwest,
Instantly the warship ahead star
boarded helm to head her off. Even
then the blockade runners speed
might have saved her; but it was not
to be.
The mate suddenly calculated
"Cap'n Clay!"
"Yes?"
The mate pointed. There, on the
beam to the northWard, were two more
faint lines of smoke.
"Guess we'd best put back to sea
cap. Here's the hull feet down
on u.s."
81 don't seem to care a red cent
what happens" said Clay. 81 feel
somehow, as if want to ram her slaT
through the midst Of them"
'"There's others aboard here besides
you" said the mate.
81 know it. (Pause.) Idon't care
I'm going to stand right on. You caE
go below. They won't fire she'll"
The mate looked at him and hi.
eyes lit.
ono, B'goshP' he said. "T'm the
man to foller ye, Cap'n Clay, if your,
going onp'
'Bigbtr said Clay. "starboart
the helml"
The Gen. Lee swung backward il
her tracks and once more headed
straight for the coast.
("By the shadow Of death, he's no
afraidp said the commander Of tn,
gecumseh, the steamer in their path
as be altered his helm to suite