Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-13
CHAPTER XVII.


THE ADMIRAL GETS THE NEWS.
-.T was early in the morning Of the
fourteenth day Of November.
1859. The MSidstone was
gently swinging into Torbay.
The wind, which had been blowing
hard from the southwest during the
night, had moderated until 1t was now
gentle breeze, so that every cloth
Of canvas, including her studding-
sails, was spread on the frigate to
catch and hold the light air. Graf
ton and Hatfield stood on the weather
side Of the quarterback eagerly sur
veying the roadstead.
The harbor was crowded with great
ships of the line, huge monsters,
swinging to their anchors, prows
pointed out to sea under the incoming
tide, now at full food. The one near
est to the Maidstone, and consequently
the farthest from the shore, was q
magnificent vessel of three decks, car
rying 100 guns. From her main-mast-
head a small blue flag could be seen
fluttering, which denoted the rank OF
the commander Of the feet, a full ad-
miral.
The different ships Of this great
armada with nice seamanship had
been anchored In their appointed
places, and all were In beautiful or
der. Their sails were furled with the
taut smoothness Of glove on a lady's
hand, and their ponderous yards
squared with geometrical accuracy.
Their complicated tracery Of rigging
and running gear, tautened with math-
ematical nicely and soaring aloft from
the mass Of black and heavy shrouds
and swifters, springing from top,
cross-tree and yard-arm, in ever-re-
fining and more delicate lines, rose
higher and higher until it was TO-
cused upon the truck-ends of the slen-
der skysail poles, which terminated
the ponderous and towering spars.
Though weather-beaten and storm
worn, they seemed fit for any emer-
gency. Like the veterans Of an army,
they were ready for any demand which
could be made upon trem, and they
looked it. There was !, sense OF use,
of habit, of action, of pow r. conveyed
in their stately repose on the un-
ruffled surface of the water that morn
ing, which filled the young men, who
were contemplating them, with pride
and delight.
Forward on the Maidstone the fore
royal-halliards had been settled away
as she drew up the roads, and her
number had been made at the fore
royal-masthead. When it had been
acknowledged on the flagship, the lat
ter had signalled for the frigate to
anchor under her lee. On account OF
the position Of the adriral's ship, the
Royal George, we'll in advance Of the
rest Of the squadron, there was ample
room for Grafton to Tome boldly in
head-on, with all standing, sweep to
port, and make his anchorage without
interfering with any other ship in the
| fleet.
The Maidstone made a superb pic
ture from the flagship. There was
Just wind enough to fill every sail rap
full, and she slipped easily through
the water, rocking and pitching as
gently, as noiseless,y, as summer
cloud driven across the sky by scarce
felt breezes. They were drawing
nearer to the Royal George with every
moment, though still far from her
Now they were tapping her head.
booms, now they were abreast Of the
! forecastle. 1t was time.
Right the helm! Stand by the
starboard anchor! Man the spankel
; brails! Let go the starboard anchor!
! Brazil in!"
With a mighty plunge the great an
chor dropped into the still waters O.
the bay. The hempen cable rushed
through the hawse-pipes. the shil
surged slowly ahead a moment, ant
then, her way checked by the pull O
the cable and the flooding tide as well
she stopped. settled back. and slowl.
dropped astern, where she swung tc
the full scope of the cable. She had
come to rest exactly where she should
be- It could not have been more deft-
!y done If she had been picked up and
set down in the designated spot.
"All hands furl sail! Lay aloft, top
mem" called out Grafton, note OF
triumph in his voice.
In an instant the shrouds OF his
srigate were black with men swarming
aloft, the light yard men, OF course
in the lead. With nimble feet they
ran up the shaking rigging, laid out
on the broad yard-arms, and began
to roll up the dropping canvas.
Old Hawke lifted and waved his
hand toward the frigate, and. as If II
had been q signal, 1000 throats on his
own ship sent forth ringing cheer
of acknowledgment and greeting.
The men had been watching the
movements Of the Maidstone with in
tense interest and appreciation. They
knew good seamanship when they
saw it. Hawke was a thorough sailor
and would tolerate no one who was
not, in any ship or fleet he command
ed. Grafton's heart swelled with pride
and pleasure as he lifted his hat and