Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-12-17

"If saift my helm" said Crystal,
after pondering, Il may provoke sus.
picion. Che may be from the West
Indies or South american port.
How'll she have got the news to on
able her to guess at US? No." said he
in tone of decision, "hoist the En-
glish ensign. Wen not stir from our
course by spoke. We look, and now
are, an honest English brig. and she's
got no excuse to stop us and overhaul
us. Dye see that now? Stand by TO
dip as we pass; that tickles EN-"
Crystal had made fatal blunder;
but he did not know It. And now
there was no time to put change of
opinion into practice, even had his
heart misgiven him. The map-of-war
was coming along handsomely with a
frequent curtsey that lined her glossy
Black sides with the sifted snow Of
the crushed brine, over which in a
grim line bristled her artillery, tom.
pions out, as Crystal, with a CHASTITY
sinking sensation of soul at this mo-
ment, managed to see.
When the two vessels were within
gunshot, the cory cite shook the wind
out of her canvas, her way was ar
rested A stout. conspicuous figure
stood upon a quarterback gun; he
grasped speaking.trumpet. As the
Gypsy went floating past. without the
least shift OF helm, the commander OF
the corvette, II indeed that figure com.
manded her, raised the trumpet to his
lips; and while his proud ships helm
was again put down, causing the
spaces ON milky softness aloft To
tremble into a hundred hurrying fing-
ers of shadow. the trumpet spoke, II
note of thunder:
"Ho, the Gypsy, ahoy! Back your
main-topsail that | may send boat
aboard of you!"
Twas plain he had the vessels
name pat; nor was 1t possible as yet
that he could have read it upon her
stern!
1--WE have been reported" Crystal
instantly thought, and he knew he was
lost man.
They'll be firing into us If we don't
heave to-" said the fellow who, had
charge.
Crystal stood irresolute with his
hand upon the companion-hood. Al
this instant, shot was fired by the
corvette.
what shall we do. sir?" roared the
men.
Then, finding that Crystal had dis
appeared, they sprang to the main.
topsail brace, and were in the act OF
rounding in upon 1t hand over hand
when a second heavy shot, followed by
third, struck the main-topsail. crash!
foot above the main-masthead. In
stantly, the whole fabric of yards, and
canvas, and masts, and stunsail-booms
fluctuating on high as though gazed al
through the transparency of running
water, fell aft in a roar as though q
gale of wind came sweeping from the
bows. The huge wreck missed the
wheel, but killed the fellow who was
standing at IT, 1t smothered the
quarterback in vast heap Of canvas
and spars. A long space of bulwarks
was crushed fat.
Back your fore-topsail!" was roared
through the trumpet.
This was promptly done by the
wretched and terrified remnant of the
crew of the pirate, and in few min
utes boatful of armed seamen, in
charge of lieutenant. arrived along
side. It was of course known that the
Gypsy was the pirate brig that was
wanted; no need to ask any questions
Her crew were at once ordered over
the side. and sent on board the Saxon
Meanwhile, gang OF naval seamen
cleared the quarterback so as to pro
vide access to the cabin, and the lieu
tenant and two or three seanen do
scended the steps. They found a
beautiful young woman, white and
large-eyed with horror. standing at the
table. When the men entered, she
pointed dumbly to the cabin occupied
by Crystal, and they saw man lying
on the deck, dead. with pistol be
side him, and a bullet wound in his
brow.
He had kept his word, and the an.
nails of the Crystals were not to be
disgraced by the importation Of the
gibbet.
The girl told her story to the lieu
tenant, who sent her on board the cor
vette. And within two hours of the
Saxon falling in with the Gypsy, both
vessels, the brig with nothing set aft
but trysail and malnsail, were head
ing north and east on course for the
ENGLISH Channel The End.