The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-24
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published In daily instalments on this page
--THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER XIV.

the chase. about six miles distant before
a sea mist settled down on the scene,
which soon effectually concealed her from
our view. This was particularly exaspcr-
ating since. the wind having dropped TO
about "A iive-knot breeze, we had been
slowly but percepubly gaining on her for
the last three OF four hours; and now,
when at length there appeared q pros
pect OF overtaking her. a chance 10 elude
us In the fog had presented Itself. OF
course II was utterly impossible TO guess
what ruse so wary a foe would resort TO.
but that he would have recourse To one
of some kind was moral certainty. Cap
tain Vernon at once took counsel with
his first and second lieutenants as TO what
course II would be most advisable TO
adopt under the circumstances, and II
was at last decided TO put the ship upon
a wind. and make short tacks TO the east
ward until the fog should clear. II being
thought highly probable that the chase
would likewise double back upon her for
mer course In the hope OF our running
past her In the fog.
The studding-sails were accordingly
taken In, and the ship brought TO the
wind on the starboard tack. We made
short reaches, tacking every hour, and
had gone about for the third time whom
just as the men were coiling up the ropes
fore and aft. the lookout reported:
sail, no, straight ahead. Hard UP, SIR
or you will be into her"
Mr.. Austin, who had charge of the
deck. sprang upon a gun. and peered out
eagerly ahead
Hard over, my man. hard overt he
exclaimed. excitedly; then continued, af-
ter a moment of breathless suspense.
"All clear, all clearl we have just miss
al her haf 10 oil Nv, or-l,a
ley. that was narrow squeak. eh7 Why,
II Is surely the Vestale Vestale ahoy!"
"Millol" was the response from the
other craft, indubitably the brig whish
we had fallen in with shortly after our
first look into the Congo. and which we
had been given to understand vas the
Vestale, French gun-brig
Have you sighted a sail Of any kind
today?" hailed Austin.
Mon, mon Dieul We have not nevaire
seen a sail until now since we leave
Sierra Leone four weeks ago."
This ended the communication between
the two ships. the vestale-or whatever
she was-disappearing again into the fog
before the last words Of the reply to our
question had been uttered.
We'll" said Mr. Austin as he Jumped
down of the gun 81 am disappointed.
When / first caught sight OF that craft
CLOSE ulluer OUT DOWs Il tnOugnt a
moment that we had made clever
guess: that the chase had doubled on her
track, and that. by lucky accident we
had stumbled fairly upon her in the fog.
But as soon as I caught sight OF the
white igure-head and the streak round
her sides I saw that I was mistaken.
Well, we may drop upon the fellow yet.
/ would give a ten-pound note this in
stant II the fog would only lift"
II cannot understand II for the life OF
me-" replied In dazed sort OF way, as
I stepped gingerly down or the gun upon
which 1. like the first lieutenant. had
jumped I'm the first OF the excitement.
Mr.. Austin looked at me questioningly.
What Is IL that you cannot understand,
Hawkesley7" he asked.
THAT brig-the vestaie, as she calls
herself-and all connected with her."
answered.
why what is there that is incompre-
hensible about herr" he asked sharply.
Everything" I replied. eagerly. 'In
the first place. we have only the state
ment OF one man-and he a member OF
her own crew-that she actually II the
veritable Vestale. French glin-brig. which
we know TO be cruising In these waters.
Secondly, her very extraordinary resaTn-
blance to the Black Venus which. as you
are aware. I have seen, absolutely com
pels me. against my dieter Judgment.
20 the belief that the two brigs are. In
some mysterious way. intimately associ-
ated together, II, indeed. they are not
absolutely one and the same vessel And
thirdly. my suspicion that the latter is
the case receives strong confirmation
from the fact that on both occasions
when we have been after the one-the
Black Venus-we have encountered the
other-the vestale."
Mr.. Austin stared at me IN n very pc
culiar way for few minutes, and then
said:
well. Hawkesley, your last assertion
r. undoubtedly true: but what does IL
proven IL can be nothing more than a
curious coincidence"
(To be continued tomorrow