The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-19

hold on until we round this point I'll
come and relieve you"
mo. thanks. I would very rluch
rather you would continue 10 con the
ship" I replied.
A minute or two later we rounded
the point referred TO. and the creek
widening out considerably. we hessn
TO feel the true breeze. when the
schooner, even under the short and Ill
set canvas we had been able 20 give
her, at once increased her speed 10
about elk knots At the same time
however. she began to "sripe" most
villainously and with helm hard g.
weather IL was as much as could poh-
sibly do TO keep her from running
ashore among the bushes on our star
board hand. The people In the cal In
were still pertinaciously blazing away
through the companion doors at me,
and doing some remarkably good
shooting, too. taking into consideration
the fact that they could only guess at
my whereabouts. but / was just then
far too busy TO pay much attention 10
them. At length. fearing that, when
we got a little lower down and fols the
full strength OF the breeze. the schoon-
er would. in spite OF all my efforts,
fairly run away with me. / halted
ustion 10 him, asked him 10 either give
her the fore stay-sail or else come aft
and trice up the tack of the msinsail.
He chose the latter alternative, as lesv-
ing the craft under canvas easily idan-
ageable by one hand and came AIT TO
effect the alteration. hurriedly explain
ing that he would relieve me as soon
as possible; but that there was still
some difficult navigation ahead which
he wanted % see he schooref Tnfs''
through.
Be ,fcsd ne iscs of zoe ssil c,o~s no
10 zoe throat OK oe ssn sod yes spont
F. o outry fot Nsro again vo"o he scpooo-
a. snee,1os ro.ind o~nd inio nee
lesrn nv sti saiiop Nss suddenly attVscf-
cd by something anead and or our lee
bow at distance Of perhaps half mile.
What is that away there on our lee
how sir?'' exclaimed; rs II not craft
OF some sort7''
Smelie jumped up on the rail TO get
better view, and al the same moment a
pistol shot rang out from the skylight,
the bullet evidently flying close past him.
He took not the slightest notice OF the
shot but stood there on the rail with his
hands shading his eyes, intently examin-
ing the object we we're rapidly nearing.
1T Is a brig" said he. and unless | am
very greatly mlstaken-but no. ~ can't he
and yet IL must be too--it surely is the
Vestale."
1T looks remarkably like her; but
can't make out-confound those feilowsl
I wish they would stop iring-1 can't
make out the white ribbon round her
sides" said l..
mo nor can l. And yet It is scarcely
possible we can he mistaken. Luff you
maya little--do not shave her too close.
She has no pennant flying. by the way,
whoever she may be. All! the rascals
have pinked me after ALL" az rattiing
voley was discharged at him through
the glazed top OF the sky1ight. and saw
him clap HIS hand TO his side.
We were by this time close TO the
strange brig. on board which lights were
burning In the cabin. whilst several per
sons were Visible on deck As we swept
down toward her. husging her pretty
closely. a man sprang into the main rig
sing and hailed In Spanish:
"Josefa ahoyl What's the matter on
board? why are YOU going 90 sea without
a fun cargo9 Have matters gone wrong
at the head OF the creek"
mo. no." replied smellie In the same
language which by the way he had been
diligently studying with Antonis's assist
ance during our sojourn under Don Man
ueis roof-"no, everything is all right;
our cargo"
Unfortunately ha was here interrupted
bv another volley from the cabin, and ut
the same time a voice yelled from the
schooner's stern windows:
1--WE are captured; prize to the ac-
cursed Ingleses"
The words were hardly out OF the
speakers mouth when three or four mus
kets were popped nj us from the orig.
fortunately without effect. We were. how
ever. by that time past her. and her
crew, who seemed thoroughly mystined
az the whole affair. made no further ef-
fort to molest us or one thing. how
ever. we were amply assured, she was
not the Vestale. The craft we had Just
passed-whilst the double 90 the French
gun-brig In every other respect-was
painted black down 20 her copper. and
she carried under the heel OF her bow
spirit n life-size figure OF nesress with
a scarf striped I'm various colors round her
waist A neeress7 All, there could not he
n doubt of H.
"Mr smellie." said 7. do YOU know that
craft7"