The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-31
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily instalments on this page
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLINGwOOD
CHAPTER XVII.


|lThe prisoners having been secured. the
Fead and wounded were next attended TO,
Ne former being lashed up in their ham
A ocks for burial. whilst the latter were
slrefully conveyed below to receive such
tention as the surgeon and his assist
HAT could bestow. The brig's loss was
|tsry severe, sixteen OF her men having
n zen killed and twenty-five wounded
lincipally by our final broadsde-out Of
N total OF sixty hands. Our own loss was
|,yht. considering the determination with
Which the enemy had fought, amounting
S only eleven wounded. AS soon as A
Efficiency OF hands could be spared for
We purpose. the briggs square canvass
Vas furled, a prize crew was told off TO
h Ike charge of her. and the two craft
ben made safl In company-the brig un-
Mr. her fore-and-aft canvas only-for the
<lchorage under Padron Point. where We
Fought up about couple Of hours later
paptain Vernon then returned 10 the
Saphne In the brig's gig. bringing with
I'm bundle OF papers, and leaving
tmellie In charge of the prize: an an
<lor watch was set, and all hands then
flrned in. pretty well tired. but highly
lated at the result Of our evenings
[ork
At daybreak next morning both yes
/ Is weighed and returned 10 their for
ker berths in Banana Creek, the Daphne
Fcking up the cable which ,Hle had slip
|ed on the previous night. The dead
Eere then buried on the little island
hich lies on the east side OF the creek,
tter which the carpenter and boatswain
th their mates were set TO work up
ba nt-xs. 1=t.g
Taft now proved 10 be English built, hav-
[g 0een turned out OF shoreham ship
Llrd, and originally registered under the
|ame OF the Virginia: but how she had
kpme 10 get into the hands Of the indi-
4 duals from whom we took her there was
Sothng to show. She was completely
[tted for carrying on the business of
saver but from the nature of the goods
|scovered In her after hold-which was
tnte separate from her main hold-there
Ibuld be no doubt that she had also done
little piracy whenever a convenient op-
|prtunity had presented itself.
III was sent away directly after break
.st that morning In charge OF a couple
boats with orders to drag the creek
pr poor Mr.. Austin's body. and In little
lore than an hour we fortunately found
quite uninjured.
Inc poor ieHON ndu eNlOently been
ken completely by surprise, a gag be-
liz in his mouth. and his hands manacled
blind him, with a stout canvas bag con-
lining two S-pound shot lashed to his
bet. We took the body on board the
'aphne. and 1t was at once conveyed be-
w to his own cabin, pending the con-
ruction OF coffin. the ensign being at
pc same time hoisted half up TO the peak.
This melancholy duty performed, l was
gain sent away to drag for The anchor
BAD cable slipped by the Virginia on the
fevious evening. and these also |. found.
Ieighed, and conveyed on board the
j-ize. where. under. Smellie's able super
lson, tie work OF repairing and reftting
as going on apace.
About noon that same day. a strange
big entered the river with the French
hg flying at her peak. and brought up
the creek about "A cables length astern
= us. We were at once struck with the
arked resemblance which the stranger
pre- TO the Virginia-though II was by no
cans so striking as the similarity be-
Iyeen our prize and the Black Venus
|nd we forthwith came TO the conclusion
rat we now at last behed the veritable
|estale-the real Simon Pure-before us
nd so, upon Armltage boarding her. she
roved TO be. her captain, upon hearing
\ the extraordinary personation OF his
raft so successfully played OF upon US
y the Virginia. actually producing his
bmmission TO prove his bona ides Dur
hg the course OF this somewhat eventful
ay, also one OF our lads learned from one
Z the prisoners that on the occasion OF
ur second encounter with the Virginia
'hen she so cleverly pretended 10 be In
ursuit OF the Black venus-she was act
ally making the best OF her way TO
Iavana with the 800 slaves on board
Ihich she had accused her sister ship
: carrying of. and that her elaborate
ISnaliing on that occasion was merely