The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-12-06

freoch ADMIRAL
ON the foreshore Of the Arab;o, COG,
IN the strait of Babel AIandeh. M Tho
southern entrance 10 the Red sea.
stands n large white house concerning
which the travellers To the far eaSi may
hear curious story. I'm the middle OF
the nineteenth century. when N. dc
LessepS. after many difficulties. had
successfully fioated the Suez Canal
company. the governor of the British
port OF Alden. about loo miles distant.
was surprised one morning by the visit
OF a French squadron of very unusual
size for that part of the orient which.
having encountered a terrific storm off
sokoira. had put I'm for repairs.
In the mind OF the governor curiosity
was NJ once aroused as To the deSiina-
ton OF 80 large a command. a curiosity
which Increased as he found il imposSi-
bile 20 extract any further informario,,
from the French admiral or his officers
beyond The statement that they were
upon an ordinary cruise. an explara.
ton which the former was NOT tEp
least Inclined To believe
Firm in the belief. therefore. tha,
some political move Of great impn--
lance was afioat il not afoot. the gov
ernor. in order first of all To gain time.
gave orders 60 go very tortoiselike on
the repairs and then set 10 work 10 take
the Frenchmen of their guard 10y Civ
Ing a succession OF such entertainments
as both his slender means and the aw-
ful bsrrenness OF the place would af-
ford
But though at the end OF two weeks
the French and British officers had got
upon the best OF terms the Immediate
destination OF the French squadron ~
NAMED as much Of a mystery 10 the
governor Of Alden as before. and in
spite Of all possible delay the repairs
were nearly completed.
Now. IL happened that the wife Of
the governor possessed an Irish maid.
who had been receiving attentions
from one OF the French petty officers
attentions which the girl did not regard
seriously IL occurred 10 the governor
that 10y such means something might
be learned OF his unexpected visitors
plans. and n private conversation toe
tween the governors wife and her
maid resulted I'm another between the
latter and her French admirer. 10y
which Il was discovered that Perrin Is
land was the objective point.
AT this information the governor
opened his eyes wide indeed. for. IL the
S3ez canal were cut through, Perrin, as
commanding the southern entrance to
the Red sea. In the middle OF the strait
Of Rab-el-Mandeb. would be a place OF
great strategic importance, over which.
without doubt, IL was the intention of
the French admiral TO hoist the tri-
color.
Secretly giving orders. therefore. for
n gunboat 90 Immediately embark de-
tachment Of soldiers and steal away in
the night for Perrin island. the govern
or then announced a farewell banquet
and ball for the day but one following.
a fnaI act OF courtesy with which the
French admiral would willingly have
dispensed. for be was anxious TO sail.
but which he could not well refuse on
account OF the use he had made of the
British supplies and machinery at
Alden.
So the dinner and party I'm due course
came OF. the governor being In high
spirits. because In the meantime he had
received the news OF the occupation OF
Perrin. which under the circumstances
would surely he followed by the longed
for promotion. and the French admiral
was equally happy. for he hoped on the
morrow 10 add the same important lit
tie speck OF land 20 the dominion or bis
own country. thereby covering his
breast with the stars and himself with
maritime glory.
Next day. after an Interchange or
cordial fareweIis. the French squadron
sailed away 10 an apparently unknown
destination. until. when clear or the
land. the course was laid full speed d.
rect for Perrin island.
Then what was the dismay and dis
.ppolutment OF the French admiral and
his officers when. on coming IN sight OF
their destination. they bebeld the Brit
ian Gag flying and company OF SOL
diers drawn Up 10 give them proper
sslute. IL Is said the French admiral
Was so mortified al being thus outwit-
ted that be first flung his cooked hat
overheard and then followed IL himself
into the sea
BE this as IL may. as Perrin was
clearly already occupied 10y the British
the only counter move which the
French could make was 20 take posses
sion q a strip Of the foresbore on the
opposlte Arabian coast. wheie they
built the fortified white house In ques-
tIon. but a. the place was entirely al
she mercy OF the guns on Perrin island
4, was shortly abandoned. 10 remain 10
this day as "A monument OF french
sdmiraTs undOing.-E
InopPortuue.
q lust saw the young Widow weeds
A.. -. inc In hpF ulpflrn-