The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-16

the bell slowly drawing nearer They also guessed
,ne tone OF the be that it was large one and
naturally inferred that it hung heavy ship
frgate, probably.
There was something uncanny and unsettling in
the sound of that bell ringing the fog and
drawing steadily nearer yet there was nothing that
could be done. The wind had apparently fallen to
dead calm, save for tful puff very inter-
walls which seemed to the advantage the stranger
FOR one thing to their great relief, it gradually
growing lighter about them. AS old whispered to
the boy:
1T won't be long afore the sky clears an we kin
wots yon" $50
Indeed, about eight bells in the afternoon the fog
mad SO far gone that Jack who had been staring
ny IN the direction of the sound,
that he the ship
"of there, sr! he pointed, clutching the mdship-
man by the arm, and whispering fiercey his
excitement Don't you it, ship! See! The
mist thns She rises! Yons topsl BY the Lord,
it's a frigate! It's American ship nuther!'
Il see it, Boston whispered, staring intently along
the seaman's outstretched arm.
Shall I sing asked the old man
BY no means answered the boy 'Ill slide down
the back-stay and inform the captain
He swung his legs the the top, and in
an instant slipped down the back stay and dropped
the gangway.. He ran aft as fast could CO. and
dashed unceremoniously up the poop-ladder in
haste.
"a sail, sir! We've seen it," he said, touching his
cap of the starboard quarter, yonder. We her
topsls out It's a heavy frigate'
Who was in the top with you?'
What does he say?"
.'He says it's American frigate sir
He ought to know said BIakey. pressing lips
with anxiety. "Lord! 1nuttered "for a bit of wind!
Mr. Reilly" he added turning to his most
can make of it," w. : e'''s anu see ma you
AS Reilly seized the telescope ana sprang into the
starboard mizzen shrouds Blakey looked a the
quartermaster. Standing at the wheel.
ANY steerage way?" he questioned.
mo, SIR the low reply
OF course not he muttered, glancing over the
side and seeing how absolutely moonless the ship
lay, the sails hanging fiat against the with
IF it clears this way " the cantaio saa fti, -
Mr. Tillinghast I'VE shall be able from the
deck soon"
II think I can make her now said Ting-
h9S VIII had haon ctor
yonder! Isn't that ship, sir?"
II believe it is" said the captain looking in turn
forehead
At this moment Reilly down aloft.
Ills large frigate, sir. Well O range to
starboard 1t looks like English frigate There she
ISL he cried, suddenly pointing thru the thinning
Officers and men alike stared at the stranger
is often the the fog which slowly dis
appearing, suddenly vanished as if by magic
There the starboard quarter lay large frgate an
English frigate without doubt, of design
which had been built since the began, and on
of the Constitution class.
could have engaged three and at PITCH four, like
the American soop with fair chance success Foru-
now of her longest guns and for the
present the American safe.
The Engishmen sighted the Wasp course
nearly as soon as they had been observed Conceal
men being useless, Blakey, in to try his com
stranger retorted by displaying American colors
Blakey therefore hosted Spanish ensign, and the
moments of this amusing game, however the English
vessel new set Of signals, which the Wasp, course
was unable to answer To mystify him Bakely set
signals which meant nothing. But he soon tired
OF this trifing play and, hauling down his signals
seths own American flag whereupon the frigate flung
out the English colors and the several flags were
thereafter allowed to float the respective vessels
They dr1fted along during the greater part of the
late afternoon, gradually drawing other
as they lay in the dead calm. At rate they were
drifting together the Wasp would be within gunshot
range OF the British before morning was now not
a breath of air stirring. The setting, a dim
lurld, coppery ball. The sea was like greasy glass
leaden and oly-looking.
s. ,ss.....,u The weather indications were
ominous and threatening. The
#8$#A# H###a Oldest and most experienced sea-
XMX# ~ 4##A men, like Lang, sure that the
conditions foreboded Of those
terrific storms which prevalent
in the falli