The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-21


too. We can't be going less than 1C
knots" said the captain, looking critic
ally over the bows at the water racing
alongside.
81 can almost make out the name OF
her stern now with the naked eye" re
piled the other. staring hard ahead
through the drift and spray.
"Have you a glass there, Mr.
O'Neill?" asked the captain.
Yes, sir; here IL IS answered that
gentleman, handing him a long, old
which he at once adjusted and focused
on the ship they were chasing.
''Ah" said the elder of the two speak
ers, small, slender man, standing
lightly poised on the topgallant fore
castle with the careless confidence of a
veteran seaman as he examined the
chase through the glass which the tall
er and younger officer handed him. Il
can read it quite plainly with this. The
Ma-i-d-Maidstone, a trader evidently,
as l see no gun ports nor anything that
betokens an armament" He ran the
tubes of the glass into each other and
handed it back, remarking, AT this
rate we shall have her in short time"
'She is Il fast one. though" replied
the other. It's no small task for any
thing afloat to show us her heels for so
long a time. Let me see; it was six bells
in the morning watch when we raised
her, was it not, sir?'
Eyes. it's rather remarkable going
for a merchant vessel. but we have the
heels of her and will get her soon IN
less she goes to the bottom on those
reefs round the Lands End yonder.
It's nasty place to be tearing through
in that wild way" he added thought
fully.
'Shall l give her a shot sir, from the
starboard bow chaserT'
mot just yet; it would be useless, as
we are not quite within range, and she
would pay no heed; besides, we shall
have her without it, and it's hardly
worth while wasting a shot upon her
at present"
The brief conversation took place for
ward upon the forecastle of the Ameri-
can Continental ship Ranger, between
her captain, John Paul Jones, and her
first lieutenant, one Barry O'Neill, mar
QuiS de RichemOnt, sometime officer in
the navy of his most Christian majesty
the king of France. O'Neill was the
son of marshal of France, an Irish
gentleman of high birth and position,
who had gone out as mere lad with
the young Stuart in the 40, and whose
property had been confiscated and him
self attainted and sentenced to death
for high treason. Fortunately he had
escaped to the continent, and had en-
tered the service of the king of France,
where, through his extraordinary abil
ity and courage, coupled with several
brilliant opportunities he had made and
enjoyed, he had risen to exalted station
and great wealth. He had always con-
tnued more or less of q conspirator in
the cause of the royal Stuarts, however,
and his son, following in his footsteps,
had been mixed up in every reasonable
Jacobite enterprise which had been
undertaken, and was under the same
ban of the British throne as was his
father.
When Paul Jones in the historic ship
Ranger came to France, O'Neill, moved
by a spirit of adventure and his ever
present desire to strike blow at King
George, received permission to enter
the American service temporarily, with
several other French officers. The
Ranger was already some days out on
her successful cruise, when, early on
a morning in the month of April in the
year ITS, they had sighted a ship try
ing to beat around the Lands End.
Sail had at once been made in chase,
and the stranger was now almost with
in the grasp of the American pursuers,
1T seems to me, sir" said O'Neill to
the captain. that unless she goes
about presently she won't weather that
ong reef over beyond her, where those
breakers are.'
aye" said Jones. land if she goes
about. she's ours, and He paused
significantly.
'If not, sir?''
"She's God'sv' added the captain SOL
EMMY
The wind was blowing at furious
rate. The Ranger had a single reef in
her topsails, with her topgallant sails
set above them. The masts were
straining and buckling like bound gil
ants. and the ship quivered and trem-
bled like a smitten harp string as she
pitched and plunged in the heavy seas.
The wind roaring through the iron
taut rigging and the wild spray dash
ing over the sides rendered CONVERSE
ton almost impossible. The motley
crew of the Ranger were gathered for
ward, clustering on the rail and lower
shrouds, keeping. of course, at a re-
spectful distance from their captain
and his first lieutenant and some of
the other officers grouped near them.
"She must tack now" said Jones at
last cor she's lost know these wa
tiers; have sailed them many times
when was boy. doubt if they can
weather that reef even By heavens!
There's woman on board of her, too"
he exclaimed as his keen eye detected
the fiutter of drapery and dash OF
color among the little group OF men or
the deck of the Maidstone, evidently
staring aft ut her relentless pursuer.
"See everything in readiness fol
quick work here. Gentlemen" contin
ued the captain, ito your stations all
Mr.. O'Neill, remain with me-" TIL
men fastened to their places at once
and a little silence supervened
.'You may give her shot now, Mr
ONeill," said Jones at last 1T may
bring them to lacking and save then