Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-31
4 Gff]Rf Of GRIT GRRf f.
az MAJ. ARTHUR G1IFFITHS.

"A little, I'm afraid. Can't say fol
certain. What's worse. she's changed
her course southerly."
"Why worse"
Steering for the French coast. Don,
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 20,
lice sergeant joined US. "Is she draw
ing away from US"
"Not much. not much. ! much doubt
| IL she does at all. The next hour Will
settle that"
"Has she made us out, think you"
"Must have, when she changed her
course" said the sergeant
"How Is she steering"
"W. s. W. southerly," answered the
skipper. Bring up on the Brittany
coast, expect. a little short of
Ushant"
"We're some 80 miles from the near,
est land. as we're now steering" said
the major, who had joined US on the
bridge. "Ought to strike It this after,
noon early. anywhere between Ian
MON. Roscoff. or st. Pol. If we keep q
straight course at the same speed"
"What sort Of country might 1t beT'
| asked. ANY big cities or seaports
handy"
"Morlaix Is the nearest, and Brest,
the great arsenal. is just round the
corner"
"Will she communicate. think you:
Hardly suit her, should say"
"It will depend. She's not the sort
to appeal to the French police. gen
darmes. douaniers. or what not. No
doubt she will fight shy Of the law un-
less we force her" ..
| "As how?"
"See here. Mr.. Snuyzer: I've got to
board that yacht somehow. / mean to
overhaul her and search her from stem
to stern by force or stratagem. fair
means or foul. She's got contraband
on board. But they won't want us,
and in the last extremity. to avoid our
interference. they may seek protection
from the French authorities"
She'll soon be In French waters. !
take 1t"
That's why I'd like to head her off
and board her In the open sea. But We
haven't the pace, fear. We must
take our chance and act as opportunity
offers"
We went on deck again to watch and
wait. making out the French coast
about noon. and as we neared 1t within
couple Of miles we saw the Fleur-de-
Lis bear up suddenly as II In search of
an opening: some small harbor or ha-
ven where she might slip In to lie snug
and safe from our pursuit.
"There she goes" cried the major. as
the yacht disappeared between two
low. rocky headlands. Take the bear
.ngs Of that entrance. We must fix 1t
| III = no ,h IN ri
The place proved to be little ham,
let. ST. Gulgnon. only few houses
standing under a background Of slop-
ing hills at the far end OF small
landlocked bay. Farther back the
chart showed a road running nearly
parallel to the coast, touching St. Pol
first and then other villages and at
last MorlaiX.
"They think we can't touch them;
that may be- so. but mean to have a
try. What's your idea?"
We talked it out at pretty consider
able length and settled:
First.-That we could do nothing
much till nlghtfall. unless they came
out again. which was not to be expect
ed. We must Of course. watch for
that. lying handy under easy steam off
and on, ready If It so fell out to con-
tinue the pursuit.
Second.-We must reconnoiter; some
one must sneak near enough to spy on
them, and. without being seen. try to
get at their game.
| h0 hai hnr
must cut her out some time In the
night. 1t was bold move. They
might show fight, and we might get
into serious trouble with the French
authorities, for it would be organized
war In neutral waters, grave breach
of international law. But the major
laughed and said he meant to do it all
the same.
What l am most afraid of Is that
they should give us the sllp-get ashore
and run for It,"
"They couldn't take the captain, not
by force, In broad daylight, and he
wouldn't be likely to 60 Of his own ac-
cord"
"True for you, Snuyzer. I'm in hope
they'll just stay where they are, think
ing to weary us out. However. they
may stay little too long. Now, I'm
for the shore and shall take joe"
The major was away for good hour,
and he came back alone. He had left
Joe on the watch, with one or two sig
nails arranged to keep us up to the time
of day. If the yacht moved her berth,
he was to wave his cap; If she sent a
boat ashore, his handkerchief, and So
on.
They're not very comfortable on
board" the major said. "Got man