Morris tribune., 1904-01-23

friend and foe alike. Great clouds Of
smoke, punctured by vivid flashes o.
light, overhung the ships.
The feelings Of the young officer car
be imagined. Adrift in that little boat
watching the awful combat, not ever
could compensate him for his absence
In spite Of his attempted philosophy
The fever of the conflict possessed
him. His breath came hard. The
sweat stood on his forehead. He pray.
ed as never before for breeze to take
him to the fight. He murmured inco-
herent words which told to the tender
listener something of the terrible strug-
gle which ragged within his bosom. So
the long hours wore away.
Toward II O'clock they heard ter
rife explosion, and then the roar of
the battle slackened and finally died
away. When the smoke drifted off
| the two ships were lying side by side.
AArther off, almost hull down, were
Tie Scarborough and the Pallas, which
had ceased their fight some time before.
| The battle was over. Who had won?
But it was late, and the breeze so
long wished for now spnung up once
more, and the little boat gathered way
| and began to slip through the water
again. The sky had become overcast.
1t grew very dark. The wind fresh
ened steadily and finally blew so strong
that it required all the skill and adj
dress Of which O'Neill was possessed
to keep his unsteady little craft from
capsizing. Finally he was forced to
drop the sail and take to the oars to
keep afoat at ALL About o'clock in
the morning squall of rain came
down, and they lost sight of the ships.
Toward morning the wind moderated
again, and they were enabled to set
sail once more. But the ocean was
covered with dense mist. They were
in the thick Of it and could see moth
ing. AS nearly as he could judge with
out the aid of compass O'Neill head
ed the boat toward the place where
they had last made out the two ships.
eve ought to pick them up in few
moments now" he said to the COVER
ing. frightened, exhausted girl crouch
ing down in the stern sheets in her
wet, sodden garments, which chung to
her shivering figure. The night had
been too much for her. Her physical
strength had almost given way, though
saw shining still in her tired eyes
Therefore in few moments we shall
know our fate.''
"How is that?' she said, rousing her
self little. p.
eff Commodore Jones has been cap
tured,' he answered, Il have but to
give myself up and redeem Coventry.
and-you know the rest.'
Yes" she replied YEARLY and list
lessly. "Let it come. We have fought
g. good fight, you and l. We can do no
more And the other alternativew
"Why. in that case" he said, 1--WE
shall be there under our own flag. He,
too, will be saved, and the rest of our
troubles are over" ,..
"What think you Of the prospect"
she asked. Frightening little.
"It is difficult to say. The Scraps
and the Scarborough should easily be !
more than a match for our whole !
worthless as a fighting ship, as l said. !
Landais, who commands the Alliance,
Is insane. l can't prophesy what Cot
tineau will do with the Pallas. We
have but one advantage-John Paul
Jones himself! He alone is worth a
The light from the rising sun, assist
ed by the fitful wind began to dispel
the mists Of the morning. !.
'.Seer' cried the girl, pointing. !
'AThere. right ahead of us! Are not
those the sails of ship? What ship" /
Wraithlike, as she pointed at rift !
in the mist, and wreathed in clouds of /
vapor, there appeared for second the !
light canvas Of great ship. Follow .
ng her outstretched finger he caught
4 fleeting glimpse of it, but saw moth
ing to reassure him as to the result
IF the battle. The sight struck terror
to his heart. Such canvas as that was !,
never set above the decks of the Rich
ard AS he looked the mist closed
round them again. The ship had van
shed.
':Ah, tits gone, but am certain l
saw it. Which was it?' she continued, ,..,
hastily rousihg herself at the prospect :
If decision '''Tis ship is it not? Al
But which OneY'
'"The mist is thinning again. Twill,
clear away in a moment" he answered
.vasively I'VE. shall see more dis.
inctly then. She was making toward,
is. L think" He could not bear to
lash her hopes with the assurance that.
t was not the Richard. though he had
himself to death in conse- q
luence of his glimpse at once 1t was
Useless to try to fly. The mist was
Using in every direction. and before,
hey could have gone a hundred yards
hey would be visible to the ship siu4
ront Of them. now showing her huge.
,ulk through the thinning clouds of t
vapor W hich enshrouded her The nexta +