The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-27

| w mere 40 you make " TO come frOin!
"Why, about there, dead astern, I
should say. sir" replied the other, point
ing aft
Right o, Mr.. Stanhope. Pass the
word quietly forward to the men to make
! no noise" said the captain. turning to the
| midShipman on watch It's ten chances
( to one yon's a French ship"
Many of the crew had heard the sound
of the bell, and they stood listening with
eager intentness in various attitudes
about the deck. In obedience to their
captains direction all of them remained
still and quiet, waiting his further orders.
Presently a little puff of air famed the
cheek of the watchful commander.
The breeze is coming, trust,'' he said
| to Stanhope. "See! The fog thins yon-
der! IT'S lightning, surely! Get the men
| to their quarters without the drum, Mr..
Stanhope; cast loose the batteries and
load with a round shot and a stand of
| grape. Bear a hand! Lively, but be
quiet with it all! We may have need to
show our teeth in a moment. Ay, it
clears!'
In a moment. as the lieutenant ran for
ward giving the ORDER the deck of the
brig was filled with silent confusion. The
| men sprang like big cats to their stations
The little guns of the vessel were soon
cast loose and provided and, having been
douole-shotted. were run out again and a
good turn taken with the side tackles to
| hold them. The wind was coming strong
er now, but still in f1tful puffs, from the
| southwest. Singularly enough, the fog
seemed to be rising against the wind
Presently, by the watchful young COM
! mander's direction, the sail trimmers
braced about the yards to take ADVANTAGE
OF the rising breeze, and the Boxer began
slowly to forge through the water. It was
the first time in several days that she had
nn10va1 CT
watched her travel with feelings of great
relief. Before she had gathered much
way, however. they heard again the
sound which had awakened them to
action. Five bells this time came float
ing up from the southwark as before On
thls occasion the sound was clearer and
more distinct, showing that the approach
Ing vessel had drawn nearer The deem
quality Of the tones denoted that the bell
was large one.
BY cad. stanhope, that bell doesn't
swing on anything under a heavy frisa te B"
said Grafton: we're in for it this time
unless we can make some distance wifi
inns orlsklng breeze while the fog holds.
What's she making?'
About two Knots, I think. sir"
answered Stanhope, looking over the side
at the sluggish water slowly drawing
past; maybe two and half, no more
lis a cursed slow boat; but British
shlps are not built for running, they leave
that for tother fellows I wisl,
now the fog would hold a little longer.
Keep your ather eye lifting there. ia
oez'' continued Grafton, turning to old
siocum' who still stood at the wheel;
don't lose a bit of it."
'Ay. ay sir!'' replied the old Yankee
shifting his, quid as he gave a caref,,1
squlnt at the top-sails, which the wind
was scarcely strong enough to fill. II
won't lose one Of yer honor"
For few anxious moments the brig
held on. Presently. in spite of their de-
slres, the two officers perceived that tho
fog was indeed going. However. there
was nothing to be DONE It was still too
th!ck to see anything distinctly, so thew
held on steadily. At II o'clock. from the
other ship. they heard again the sound Of
the beu, Which now rang six times. She
100, mad been feeling the wind and was
eV1dently edging along in their wake.
which was pure chance for thew had given
her no sign of their presence.
"Confound the luck!' said Grafton.
Whatever she is, she's right after us
by the sound. should say we haven't
gained a fathomn' 49,. -.
Lost. rather" suggested stanhone
This briggs no goer at all in this sort of
breeze, and it's so fitful no one can
i1o1vel' TIE Wlnd mas shifted
again! We're aback! Shift the helm
there! All hands to the lee braces,"
cried Grafton. as the wind suddenly swung
about and took the ship aback,
fortunately 1t was not blowing strong
enough TO do any damage, although the
wind was increasing in force with every
moment But before the Boxer paid off.
the fog suddenly lifted. It was brushed
away from them as if it had been swent
aside by gigantic hand The gray mist
IN front of them gave place to radiant
golden light. The tossing white-capped
waves, instead of showing the sickIv
leaden color of the past few DAYS. wera
thrown into brilliant blue by the irradiat-
Ing sun The brightness was almost
dazzling. There did not seem to be a
single cloud above them.
Land nor shouted one Of the men on
the torecastle, as the mist disappeared.
' Ihere before them, and scarcely q mile
away, rose the grim cliffs Of the forbiddine
,s'and OF Oshant They could see the
breakers crashing and churning in sheets
of foam about it's feet
All hands to the lee braces!' cried
Grafton promptly "starboard YOUR helm,
Flow the head sheets, there! Haul over
that spanker sheet. We must get away
from that, Stanhopev'
Sail ho!' cried one Of the after-guard
at the same instant, as the handy little
brig spun around on her heel and thrust
her blunt nose up toward the wind on the
port tack.
There, scarcely two cables length away
from Them they saw the bows Of an i'm
mense ship, ghostlike, come showing
through the fog, which still enshrouded
that quarter of the sea. ... .t- -I,I~
CHAPTER II. ~-s .,.-,