Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-27
copyreh,. l.ol. by d Appleton & Coz Sew YorI.

said 10 81 ue "Sce, The fog
ihias yonJcr' Tis li1hteninc surely
Gei tro r,el to ti.ir 0u tr,-rs without
tho drum Mr. Stauhpp cH,t loose
tho batteries ana load with d round
SHOT ard n stand OF crane Bear
hand LiYcly lD te quiet with it
all We may have need 10 show our
teeth in moment. As. 10 cloars''
IN q moment. a, the lieutenant ran
forward eiyin. the order the deck
Of the brip Was filled vitb silent con-
fusion Tho ucu spran- H.e big cats
to their stations Tho ltlo guns Of
the vessel were som cast loose and
provided, and, having been double
shotted were run out again and a
good turn taken with the side-tackles
to hold them The wind was coming
stronger now, but still in fitful puffs.
from the southwest Singularly
enough, the fog seemed to be rising
against the wind
Presently, by the watchful Young
commanders direction, the sail-trim-
mers braoed about the yards to take
advantage of the rising brccze, and
the Boxer began slowly 10 forge
through tho water. II was the first
time in several days that She had
enjoyed Good storage way. and all
hands watched her travel with feel
in@s Of great relief. Before she had
gathered much way however, they
heard again ito sound which had
awakened thom TO action Five bells
this lime came floating up from the
southwark as before On this ocCa-
sion the sound was clearer and more
distinct showing that the approaching
vessel had drawn nearer. The deep
quality Of the tones denoted that the
bell was large one.
BY CAD Stanhope. that bell doesn't
swing on anything under a heavy
frieatc said Grafton we're in for II
this time unless we can make some
distance with this hriskinS breeze
while the fog holds What's she maxi
ing"
about two knots I think, sir" an
swered Stanhope. looking over the side
at the sluggish water slowly drawing
past maybe Two and a half, no
more
=" lis a cursed slow boat: but Brit
ish ships are not bull, for running,
they leave that for rothor fellows T
wish now The io, would hold a little
lonesr Keep yoVr weather eve lit
ing there. Jaho2." continued Grafton,
turning TO old Slorum. who sill stood
at the wheel, don't lose biz Of IT."
"Ay. ay. sir, replied the old
Yankee. shifting his quid as he gave
a careful squint at the top-sails. which
the wind was scarcely strong enough
to I'LL II won't lose none OF, yer
honor"
For a few anxious moments the brig
held on. Presently. in spite of their
desires, the Two oft'cers perceived that
the fog was indeed going. However,
thore vas nothing 70 be done It was
stjl too thick to see anything dis
tincNy. o they bella on steadily At
~ o'clocK. from tho other ship hey
heard again the sound Of 'he bell
VII eli now rang siX times. She no.
had been feeling tho Mind and was
evidently e9gin- along in their wake.
V i Was pure chance Cor they lad
Al. p h,r no sign of their presence
-Cou.orul the ucE.' said Grafton:
-whu-s. -be Is. ..-s r-ht after :.
d.. he DHra ! should 7y we haven't
-aN.1 q fat'or'
Lost rather. suggested Stanh0pe.
This briq's no eoer a all in this sort
of hr,oo. and t's so hftll no one can
t.i
By heaven. the wind has shifted
as,tn, We're aback. Shit, the helm
there al hands O he Ice braces!'
cried Grafton. as tie wind suddenly
swl.ug about ana took the ship aback.
Fortunately it. was not blowi,lg
strong enough 10 do any damage al
though the wind vas increasing in
force with every moment Brt before
The Boxer paid or. the fog suddenly
lifted. II was brushed away from
ra m as ii il had been swept aside by
gigantic hand The gray mist in
front II ~ m gave place 20 radiant
golden h.ht The tossing Wulte-
car.rd waves, instead %. showing The
.te.'v leaGen color Of the past few
tav- were thrown into brilliant blue
rs f1e irrai2ting sun. The bri-htness
Was almost dazllinc. There did not
epam 90 be "a single cloud above Thorn.
Land ho!' shouted one of The men
ON the forccastle, as the mist disap-
rcared
There before them, and scarcely a
mile away, rose the grim cliffs OF the
forbidding island of Ushant. They
could see the breakers crashing and
churning in sheets OF foam about its
feet.
AN hands to the lee bracesl" cried
Grafton, promptly. "Starboard your
helm! Flow the headsheets, there.
Haul over that spankersheet. We
must get away from that, Stanhope,'
Sail no." cried one of the after
guard at the same instant as the
handy little brig spun around on her
heel and thrust her blunt nose up to-
ward the wind on the port tack.
There, scarcely two cables length
away from them, they saw the bows
of an immense ship, Ghostlike, come
showing through the fog which still
enshrouded that quarter of the sea.
CHAPTER II.
THE SMASHING OF THE BRIG.