Morris tribune., 1905-04-22

| he had seen the Randolph frequently
on the ways and after she was launch
| ed, and was entirely familiar with her
| lines. Perhaps the wish also was ia
Their to the thought, for the old soldier
was not sufficiently yersed in nautical
| affairs to detect at that distance the
great disparity in force between the
two ships, to which for the moment
| he gave no thought, or he would not
have entertained hopes for release
from confinement by recapture-a pat
ent impossibility to a seaman. So he
! answered the captain evasively, re-
| turning the glass and pleading his ignO-
| rance of nautical matters to excuse his
indefinite opinion.
ut must be the Carrysford, with
Hythes squadron; she is thirtytwo.
| But why they should act this way l
! cannot see He must know what we
| are now. as there are no ships of our
size in these waters except our own,
J and why should he send the rest Of
them off there? They are leaving us
! pretty fast, except that brig. Now, if
| it were a colonial convoy | should say
|
us in the hope of so Gripping us as to
effect the escape of the rest; but
hardly think that your men are up to
| that yet"
! r'"Think not?" said the colonel in
! differently, violently depressing an in
| clination to strike him. "It may be as
you say, Captain Vincent; still, l think
we are up to almost anything that you
are"
"Oh, colonel" laughed the captain
good naturally, ''you are not going
to compare the little colonial forces
with his majesty's navy, are you?
Now, I am morally certain that is a
kings ship. See the beautiful set Of
her sails, the enormous spread of the
yards; notice how trim and taut her
rigging and running gear stand out
and then, too, see how smartly she is
handled. Only English ships are thus.
Hythe is a sailor, every inch Of him.
he went on in genuine admiration for
! the approaching vessel. See, he has
the weather gauge of us now, or will
have Not that it matters anything.
if he were an enemy. But what he
means by this sort of performance
don't understand. However, we shall
know in half an hour at least"
We'll sirT' he said, turning toward
Lieutenant Desborough, who at that
moment stepped on the poop in fight
ing uniform. sword in hand.
ships ready for action, sirv'
' Every good Keep the people at
their quarters and stand on as we are.
What do you think of her, Desbor
ough?"
eve think she is an American, sir"
said Desborough.
"Oh, you do, DO you? Well, I think
she is one of ours 80 American would
dare to lead down OH Us in that way |
We can blow him out of the water
with broadside or two. you know.
but Wen give him hint all the same.
Fire a gun there to leeWard and hoist
our cOlors."
AS the smoke rolled away along the
water the stops were broken and there |
flew out from each masthead the |
splendid English flag. It was answer
ed soon afterward by a small English |
flag at the gaff of the approaching |
ship, which apparently mystiied the
captain more than ever, though it con- |
firmed him in his previous opinion.
"Oh, father" whispered Katharine, !
clinging to the colonel, what do you |
think it is? See that English 1ag!'
:.Kate, I'm morally sure that it is an 4
American ship. 1t is just the plan and |
size Of those ordered by congress in |
TO One of those ships should be i'll |
commission by now. If l am right, |
this should be the Randolph. | saw |
her dozen times in Philadelphia, and
if that's not she I shall never pretend
to know ship again"
''But did you hear what Captain Vim
cent said? continued Katharine.
"How many guns would the Randolph
carry?'
about forty. and most of them
small ones at best" answered the colo
nel with sigh.
The two ships were much nearer
now, and their disparity in force was
apparent even TO the most uuSklllIul
eye.
1.-The little ship can't fight this great
one, father; can it?'
mo, my dear-that is, not with any
chance of success. But l fear, or hope,
rather that they mean to engage us
and sacrifice themselves in order not
to allow US to capture the little fleet,
probably prizes off yonder The man
who commands her is a hero, certain
~"
"Just what Mr.. Seymour would CO.
Oh, if it were her, she exclaimed, clasp
ing her hands, her eyes filling with
tears at the possibility.
''We1 it may be, Of course. He was
certain to be posted captain soon. and
tits like him truly. But, Kate, the
ships are drawing nearer every mo-
ment You must go below in case OF
action, my dear"