Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-18

thing, sir, to slap us in the face like
that when we first caught sighS of
you, and then try to run for 1t! But
there are few keels laid down that LIE
Thesee cannot overhaul, think.
Hey, messieurs?" he questioned, turn
ing to his officers, his remark being
received with acclamations of assent.
Young SIR he continued. addressing
GRAFTON once more, will you give me
the name of your brig?"
H. B. M. brig Boxer-at least she
was his this morning. She is yours
now, monsieur"
Where from and whittier bound.
monsieur?"
From Gibraltar to Portsmouth"
"on what errand?"
With dispatches, sir"
Where are they?"
overheard and sunk, sir"
"Ha! And what of the fleet of Mon
steur Boscawen?"
i can tell you nothing of that, sir"
Nor as to the contents of the dis
patches?"
Certainly not, sir!'
"Humph! Your name, young sir,
and rank"
Philip Grafton, monsieur, lieu
tenant in H. B. M. navy, lately First
OF the Torbay, ship of the line, and
more recently commanding the
Boxer"
"Grafton!" exclaimed the other, sur
prised, ARE you an Englishman?"
mo, monsieur" answered the young
officer promptly and proudly, 81 am an
American. l was born in Massachu-
Sets"
| "And you are the son Of"
Admiral John Grafton. monsieur,
who commanded the colonial armed
ship Shirley"
cat the siege of Louisburg in 1745?"
"The same, SIR"
Did your father ever tell you of the
engagement he and one or two orner
private armed ships had with French
frigate seeking to enter the harbor?"
La Renomme?" interrupted Grafton
IN great surprise at the others knowl-
edge. Certainly, monsieur, often
Twas that fight, indeed, that won his
kings approval and gained him the
commission which was in turn passed
on to me-"
my faith, sir!" exclaimed the
French captain, smiling, twas a hot
| fight indeed! l never have seen a
better. He well deserved the COM
mission he won. No wonder that you
did not quail before ship of the line,
young man! You have in you the
mett>s of your father"
did you know my father, sir?"
asked Grafton, in great surprise.
81 have heard him speak from the
iron Threats of his guns, SIR
Then you are-?"
Il was the captain of La Renomme."
And your name is"
Guy de Caetnampreu, Comte de
Kersaint de Kerguelen, Capitaine de
Vaisseau of His Most Christian Maj
esty Louis XIV, whom God protect,
and very much at your service. mon
sieur. Here is no case of prisoner and
enemy, gentlemen. The father fought
me, befriend the son. Is it not just,
messieurs?" asked Kersaint, turning
| to his officers once more.
1t was Grafton who answered:
"'Tis more than justice, Monsieur
lie Comte, tbs kindness, indeed"
"N'importe, monsieur; would that
l could give you back your ship, but
that, of course, is impossible Never
theless. your captivity shall be made
as light as possible. We are bound in
| for Brest, and this gentleman here"
| indicating an old man in rich civilian
! dress, who had surveyed the scene
with interest, lis my most noble kins-
man, the Marquis de Chabot-Rohan.
He will, am sure, as my prospective
| sailing thence in few days debars
me from keeping you with me or ex-
tending you the hospitality of my poor
house, take you into his own chateau
until you are exchanged Twill be a
pleasant prison, sir, and there grows a
wild Breton rose within the walls. Is
it not so. Monsieur lie Comte?"
'As to the rose, cannot say. Mon
sieur Grafton may find it thorny; but
as to receiving him, certainly, de Ker-
saint" responded the old man just
addressed by the captain. 81 have a
soft spot in my heart for Americans,
as you know, since my only son hon
ored himself by marrying daughter
Of Virginia. land of brave men, mes
sieurs, and fair women. Helas!"
(To be continued Saturday,