The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-08
CHAPTER xvii

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 ont to sea under the incoming
tide. now at full flood. The one near
est to the Maidstone, and consequently
the fartRest from the shore was
magnificent vessel Of three decks, car
rying roo guns. From her main-mast-
head a small blue flag could be seen
futtering, which denoted the rank OF
the commander of the feet 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 a glove an a lady's
hand, and their poRdereus yards
squared with geometrical accuracy.
Their complicated tracery of rigging
and running gear. tautened with math-
ematical Ricety and soaring aloft from
the mass of black and heavy shrouds
and swifters, springing from top,
eross-tree and yard-arm, in. ever-re-
fining and more delicate lhesN rose
higher and higher until II was TO-
cused upon the trucE-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-
fency. Like the veterans of an Amy. |
they we're ready for any demand which !
could be made upon then. and they |
looked 1t. There was a sense of Hse,
of habit. of action, of power. conveyed /
In their stately repose sa the un-
ruffied surface of the water that MORN
ing. which filed 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
aumbcr had been made at the fore
royal masthead When il had been
acknowledged or the flagship. the lat
or had sigpalled for the fnaste to
anchor under her lee On account OF
he position of the admral's ship, the
Royal George. well in advanceiof the
est OF the squadron, there was'ample
Dom for Grafton to come boldly in
lead-on, with all standing. sweep TO
lOrt and make his anchorage without
interfering with any other ship in the
Iest
The Maidstone made superb pic
ure from the flagship. There was /
ust wind enough 10 fill every sad rap |
MI. and she slipped easily through T
he water. rocking and pitching as I
emily. as noiselessly, as a summer {
loud driven across the sky by scarce
cit breezes. They were drawing 9
carer to the Royal George with every 4
loment. though still far from her. 1
low they were tapping her head n
ooms. now they were abreast of the d
,reeastle. Il was time. |
Right the helm, Stand by the d
arboard anchor! Nan the spanker f
rails! Let so the starboard anchor! d
rail i'm"
With mighty plunge the great an n
sor dropped into the still waters of
le bay. The hempen cable rushed l.
trough the hawse-pipes. the ship
Urged slowly ahead a moment. aud Il
zen, her way checked by the pull of
lie cable and the flooding tide as well.
ie stopped, settled back, and slowI.
'eprea astern. wnere she swung 10 n
e full scope of the cable. She had
no to rest exactly whore she .should IN
. II could not have bees more def in
none i she had been picked up and r.
dewif n ihe dssigpaietl spoa -,
AN hands furi sail, Lay alGft .eop- "
nns.fcslled out Grsftoh, "a pote OF in
umph in his voice. 90
In an instant the shrouds Of his VI
gate were black with men swarmiRs ~ :
oft. the light yard men. of course, At
the lead. With nimble feet they a,
n mp the shaking rigging. laid ont "A,
the broad yard-arms. sse began
roll up the dropping canvas
Did Hawke lifted and waved hts nc
nd toward the frigate. and. as if il IN
d been signal. 1.OO0 threats or his
n ship sent forth ringing cheer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS greeting.
The men had been watching the
'vements of the Maidstone with in
lse Interest and appreciation They
ew good scamanship when they "
u. Hawke was a thorough sailor =
d would tolerate no one who was =
/. In any ship or fleet he command
Gsaft0a's heart swclled with pride y"
: pleassrc as hc lifted bis hat and %
we'd i toward his generous superior
grateful acknowledgment And in pr
I'd. never had delicate mnzsuxer iol
n more gracefully and saartly per
med. De-
IS soon as the men. who hsd en- -
ID THAR dasffau --.oef as,...ss.; ....~f.- IA