Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-15
CHAPTER XVIII.
COMPLAINS IS OUT.

Wv therein of Graftons
services, with Saun.
ders commendation of them and his
recommendation, he forthwith sur
prised the young American. The for
mcr captain of the Torbay had died a
few days before and no one had yet
been designated to command her, for
tunately for Grafton, for Hawke imrne-
diately appointed him to the ship. To
anticipate. it was an appointment
which met with the favor Of the ships
crew and the junior officers. with many
of whom Grafton had previously
served. He had been first lieutenant
of the Torbay. in fact, in other days,
and be was therefore thoroughly ia
mliar with the qualities OF the ship.
He brought no one with him to his
new command save Jabez Slocum.
While waiting for the assembling of
his captains in the cabin of the Royal
George. Hawke had sunk the COM
mander in the friend in his intercourse
with Grafton. Indeed. he had always
taken fatherly interest in that young
sailor. From him he heard again. and
at full length now, the details of that
marvellous Quebec campaign. From
him he also learned the story of his
romantic love affair He entered with
the zest of a boy into the spirit Of the
hardy and daring ascent of the dark
tower and the exciting adventures
which followed upon it.
MY lad" he exclaimed at last, "if
your wife is on the French feet you
shall have her, by Heaven, II we have
to sink every ship in the squadron un-
til we get herr"
Il have no doubt that she will be
with them, admiral" answered Graf
ton "lf know the Marquis de
Chabot- Rohan he is not man to say
things and then fail to do them. |
imagine she will be on lie Thesae That
is the ship of the Comte de Kersaint,
who was betrothed 70 her, you know,
before married her"
He was as yet so little accueto med
TO his new relationship that he STUN
bled over the significant word.
Yes said the admiral, Il have
heard that he is one OF the hes. sea
men and officers in the French navy"
IT'S true sir. I can bear testimony
to it. He captured me in the Boxer
with this same ship five years ago. and
! got to know him then. He knew my
father. too. and once fought him. The
Renomme and the Shirley. you know.
He's a fighter But If can get along
side Of him with the old Torbav, sir,
I think we can show him a thing or
two"
II know YOU can" added Hawke,
smiling, "and | shall do my best to
help YOU and give you a chance. AS
soon as we get ont of the channel We'll
spread apart. have 90 ships of the
line and two frigates here, and we
ought to cover miles of the horizon.
AS the wind is from the eastward this
morning. Contains will probably get
away at the same time we do. in
tend to push hard for Belleisle.
cant afford to wait for Saunders,
though it's generous offer he max es
me. BY the way he added as a sud
den thought struck him, Il must send
q frigaG out at once 20 warn Duff.
There ista squsdron of one capital and
iour 5o-a!rn ship besides some frig-
atos, dowh thcte. I hope It's not too
late"
bS on the liable, Grafton interrupt
* pardof. Sir xdwatd." he ex-
claim :ITp already taken the lib
cry q hat< y
"Yd fxGAped the admiral
in as when? How"
!: :: !: !:
overha@ tgaje Vengeance
Cant. and told him
what hna at my sugges-
boron n IN Commodore Duff. |
was to COM On'here and tell you and
as we weM sure as to your action,
Nightingale was to tell Duff that you {
De hard on the heels OF Monsieur de
CONTAINS"
You have done well, exceedingly
we'll, young man.
Yes, sir, thank you sir" murmured
GRAFTON. ralneQ IN your own
school. sir, you know"
well. you've been an apt pupil,
Grafton, and I'm proud of you. If you
40 as well with the Torbay you'll have
/ flag before you know it,
In this story az originally printed
IN book form. DR.. Brady gives graphic
and detailed description of the battle
Of Quiberon bay in which Lord Hawke
crushed the French fleet. Interesting
a. this description is it was not all
Of the plot Of the story. and in order to
shorten the story to some extent we
have omitted from it such part Of this
description as does not concern the
characters with which the story deals.
Editor.
May ask another favor Sir Ed
Uard9" asked Grafton,
What" exclaimed Hawke, ARE you
not satisfied with the Torbay?"
yes, more than satisfied. but my
first lieutenant on the Maidstone is a
first class fellow, and"
"He may have the frigate," an
swered Hawke. "Do you go over there
and get your things and shift them
to the Torbay. Tell him that shall
want him to keep ahead of the feet
and to starboard Just within signal
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