The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-27
rht to cover miles Of the horizon.

ming, Contains will probably get away at
the same time we do. I intend to push
hard for Belle Isle. I can't afford to walt
for Saunders, though tits generous offer
he makes me. BY the way" he added,
as a sudden thought struck him. Il must
send a frigate out at once to warn Dun:
There is squadron Of one capital and
four ffty-gun ships. besides some frigates.
down there. hope it's not too late"
AS the admiral reached over to strike a
bell on the table, Grafton interrupted him.
"Beg pardon, Sir Edward he ex-
claimed, I've already taken the liberty OF
doing that"
you have!' exclaimed the admiral in
establishment. When? How?
"Why, sir, yesterday afternoon we over
hauled the frigate Vengeance, Captain
Nightingale. and told him what I had
learned, and at my suggestion ne agreed
to beat down for Quiberon and warn Cap
tain Duff. I was to come on here ana tell
you, and as we were sure as to your ac-
ton, Nightingale was to tell Duff that
you'd be hard on the heels OF Monsieur de
Contains"
"You have done exceedingly well, young
Grafton. "Trained in your own school,
you know"
well. you've been an apt pupil. Graf
ton, and I'm proud of you. II you DO as
well with the Torbay you'll III, have nave a nag nag
ond messenger to make sure.
The admiral struck the bell on the table.
which summoned an orderly.
my compliments to Captain Campbell
and ask him to summon Captain HARRISON
of the Venus here at once" he said NO
don't go, Grafton, I wish to go over @nls
matter with you again.
The next few moments the two men
spent in earnest conversation GRAFTON
told again and again what he had learned
in the tower, and Hawke stored away the
details In his capacious memory In
short time Captain Harrison appeared IN
the cabin. ,.-
"Ah Harrison, allow me to make you
acquainted with Captain Grafton. who Is
just in from Quebec with glorious news!
- Glad to see you, Captain GRAFTON an
swered Harrison. 1.-THE tidings you
brought are indeed splendid. The whole
feet is alive with the good news. You
can hear them cheering everywhere, Sir
Edward
Grafton has also informed me that the
French are going out. They propose to
make Quiberon bay at once, gobole up
Duns squadron, embark their troops, and
then off for Ireland or Scotland, We must
stop that"
Eyes, sir" answered Harrison promptly.
But do you know, Sir Edward, every
body is rather glad they're of. wed like
nothing better than chance at tnen ana
after the weary months of waiting off the
harbor mouth anything Is welcome. we
rejoice over"
The officer stopped, abashed under
Hawkes. cold glance at him, on account
of the indiscreet comments into which
his enthuiasm had betrayed him. The ad-
miral looked at him sternly for mo-
ment as II to reprove him. and then
broke into laughter, to Harrison's great
relief.
"Egad!', he said, II believe am glad
Of it too, Harrison. I want nothing bet
ter than a chance at them myself. Block
aiding Is weary work. Well, perhaps we
may get at them now. By the way, Is
the Venus ready to sail?'
ION the instant, Sir" returned the other
promptly, "pd like to see the vessel In
your command that wasn't ready for any
thing on the instant" he added under
his breath; not so low, however, but the
admiral heard him. although he made no
comment except to smile at this testimony
to the high standard Of efficiency he main
tanned in his feet.
We'll, sir, you win weigh anchor at
once and make the best of your way to
Quiberon. Nightingale in the Vengeance,
Is already on the way there with a warn
ing, but two messengers are better than
one; Wen try and make it certain. Don't
spare anything. You've swift ship and
you ought to pass Brest before the French
get fairly out of 1t. They are a lubberly
lot, and it will take time for them to get
to sea. Give Ushant a wide berth too.
p. Tell Duff to get to sea at once and that
am coming. Don't get captured''
mo, SIR" answered the young captain,
fairly dancing out Of the room In his de-
light.
MAY ask another favor, Sir Edward? p
asked Grafton, as Harrison left the room.
= WHAT exclaimed Hawke, ARE you
mot satisfied with the Torbay?"
yes, more than satisfied but my first
lieutenant on the Maidstone Is first
class fellow, and
HE may have the frigate," answered
Hawke. do you go over there and get
n your things and shift them to the Torbay
Tell him that + shall want him to keep
ahead Of the fleet and to starboard just
within signaling distance. The Coven-
try will be in the same position to lar
board. I want a bright lookout kept for
lConfans too"
Hawke had caused the news Of the pros
'pective sailing Of the French fleet to be
sent through his own fleet, and at
O'clock, having completed his own prepar-
atoms, the captains having been duly
summoned by signal in accordance with
his previous orders. repaired to the flag
ship.
they at once reported to him below In
60 his cabin. The little group Of men COM
,pletely filed the great cabin. They were
a rare body Of officers, most of them
trained by Hawke himself In his own
school. Some Of them had been with him
In that brilliant battle twelve years be-
fore in which he had swept down in force
and smashed the gallant L'Etenduere in
the very seas in which he was about to
attempt to crush Contains. All of them
had participated with him in the rigors of
the long blockade OF Brest he had Wig
orously maintained since early in the
present year.
Among them were men like Campbell
speke, Denis, Row1ey, OBrien, Baird
Stanhope, Storr, and Bentley, who were
Ito win an immortal name in the day OF
battle approaching. No less than six Of
them were Of noble birth and all were
men Of influence and station, except
Campbell, whose wetllknown worth more
than counterbalanced the then great dis
advantage of humble birth and station un.
der which he labored. With them, too
was the great and gallant Keppel. after.
ward so unfortunate in his battle with
d'Orvil1iers: and another whose name was
that Of Hawke himself, Richard, viscount
Howe, then commanding the Magnanime
Tall, lean, swarthy Of visage, which gave
him the sobriquet Of ''Black Dick" he pu,
in practice the lessons he had learned un.
der Hawke, on the glorious first Of June >
thirty-nve years later, when. with an in.
ferior force, he utterly defeated Villaret.
Joyeuse.
To be continued Monday.