Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-03-09
"a G!RL l.. E .. G : |
BY MAJOR ARTHUR GRlfFlTHS.
Copyright 1900 by II f Fenno & Co

was wrong there, ana l. Will say al
once that l cottoned to him some be-
fore we parted.
My instructions came in a letter. 1t
was addressed TO me. Endorsed 'imme-
date" In an envelope marked ION Her
Majesty's Service" which am not, as
you know. and don't want to be, being
O freeborn loyal subject of Uncle sam.
The letter inside was headed with the
royal arms and signed Charles Col
lingham, majcT general" 1t was 10
inform me that the steam tug Jacob
Silverton had been secured for a par
ticular business, n would be found
san night lying at the Plymouth
pierhead, with fires banked, ready 10
go to sea at a moments notice.
The letter vent on
Il understand from Lloyds, and 1t
has been calculated from the admiral.
ty charts as the basis of her speed and
the progress she has made, that h
yacht Fieur-de-Lis should be abreast
of the Lizard about dawn, or, say, $3.50
TO 4 a. m. tomorrow. If the tug leaves
Plymouth before midnight, she can
gain such a position by daybreak as to
meet the Fleur-de-Lis and cross her
course. IT you do not sight her at once,
you must lie to, waiting, for she cam
not well have passed.
when you have intercepted her, as
you surely will. she will be boarded by
an officer OF my department, who Will
Ccompan you and who carries, the
necessary authority from the lords of
the admiralty to detain and search
her. He is empowered to use force If
necessary, n n certain number OF po-
lice and coast ~guardsmen will be on
heard the tug.
Major Swete Thornhlll, Il. A., the
bearer Of this letter, will travel with
you to Plymouth. Hc Is a friend of
-. L., NV,A1fA A,,1 hpnthnr Gro ~ nfn-
Ger and will be glad to cooperate In
the rescue and render any assistance
| found a tall, military looking gen.
tleman at the door in n hanson.
Hop in," he cried pleasantly. only
just time to catch the 5 express"
/ preferred to ravcl with Joe, but we
Joined forces at Paddington, where
my gentleman had secured a compart-
nient, and we Ttarted to talk over our
business right away.
Hang that fellow Willie Wood" be-
gan the major. wish he was at the
bottom OF the sea. ! was due this very
night at a big feed at the Chariatcn
club, and I've had TO spend ii in the
train. Got me n jawbation, too, from
the chief, for we were all out at lunch
hen he came in, n as was the first
back | had to take the rough edge of
his tongue and came IN for this ugly
job. Is it all a true bill? Have they
really got Master Willie in a tight
Place? Mean to make him walk the
Plank and all that, ch?"
| told him the whole story from the
beginning, at parts of which he
laughed ana parts looked very grave.
Always was a garden ass, Willie
Wood, but a good chap-good as they
make EN-. He'd give you the shirt off
his back and always ready to do all
your work If you'd let him. Now, I'll
do my level best to pull him out of this
mess If | can. What chance have we?
Let's see how IT stands"
With that he pulled a small char out
of his pocket and a pair Of dividers.
We went over the points n by one,
and he took them all in n clear, quick
way hat was beautiful to see. 1t was
the first time Ia had to work with a
British officer, and If they're all like
this major they're a srry, smart lot,
and don't you forget 1t.
It's all "a question Of time he said
as he marked a cross upO the chart
and, after running out Il few more fig
ures, went on:
That where the Fleur-de-Lis ought
to be by daylight, three or four miles
to the westward, Steaming at the rate
we know of, not necessarily gaining,
but possibly with better speed in hand
If she wants it. Now, where shall we
be? That will depend upon o our
hooker steams, and for that we must
wait till we get on board
We found her, the Jacob Silverton,
with her steam up, lying alongside he
wharf in the Millhay docks, and, as
they expected us, we were soon under
way. 1t was then close on l a. m.
Now the major made anxious inquiries
as to her speed, and we found the best
she could do was about nine knots.
ust,., .,,., no ,,,nrA thn,, thrAa hy,,,.g
to daylight, and then We should have
covered a bare thirty miles.
"Itll be a near thing said the ma
jor. However, let's get forty winks
while they crack on all steam and
lake her move
| nae not been in bed for a couple
of nights and was sound asleep when
the major woke me.
The luck's against us, S%nuyZer," 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 he westward
and bore down IN her straight. | sup
pose she did not like our looks and
turned on full steam ahead. Doub If
we shall catch her now
"Of course we must stick to her. Has
she the heel OF u.s." | asked a~nxiousiy.
"A little. I'm afraid. Can't say for
certain. What's worse, she's changed
her course s~outherly."
why worse?"
Steering for the French coast. Don't
you see? If she can make n French
port or gain French waters, three
miles from shore, you understand, she
will laugh at us. Can't touch her,
they'll say
1 was ready to let out a big oath, but
turned out and ran up on deck to see
the situation for myself.
1t was a perfectly splendid morning,
The sun strong, sky clear, water
smooth as glass. There was our chase
leaving a long line of Goa black smoke
exactly reflected in the sea.
They're giving her all they car get
l said to the skipper, as / climbed
quickly on to the bridge, where the pc.
lice sergeant Joined Us. rs she draw
ing away from us?"
Not much, not much. | much doubt
If she does at all. The next hour will
settle that"
Has she made us out, think you?'
Must have, when she changed hel
course" said the sergeant.
How is she steering?"
wv. S. w. southerly," answered the
skipper. Bring up on the Brittany
coast, L expect, a little short OF
Ushant."
We're some ninety miles from the
nearest land, as we're now steering,
said the major. who had Joined us or
the bridge. Ought to strike ii thi!
afternoon early, anywhere between
Lannion. R~oscoff, or st. Pol, If we
keep a straight course at the same
speed"
What sort OF country might II be-
I 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, l should say"
1T will depend. She's not the sor
to appeal to the French police, gen
darmes, douaniers, or what not. NJ
L ln.1ht che ,Nill lnL4 al---c 49, L..