Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-19

| URuIo0 VI txxC C0UA1nC1 0n4 OiC w -O0S ONh lugs till they rang like drumheads. A great noise filled the seas, and the blocks were straining and shrieking. Sheppard was q skilled hand, and he kept his head cool He came up to the wind as near as the abominable Jugs would let him. There was no sign of the other boat.
 Shell beat down the estuary" said Sercombe, land make for some point upon the Somersetshire coast, proba- bly,
 No, no; he's bound for Newport" :" said Sheppard. He can get away from Newport like any honest skipper. Anyway, we'll try it at that
 The gale tore at the canvas as though 1t would strip it in ribbons. We had a great way on. the boat scudding through the rough water with her port gunwales ripping under the foam. We got out some distance, and then he said:
 r T must fetch her round We'll have to try long board in this wind" We said nothing. but jumped to the lug. Down dropped the sail. heavy lump of damp canvas. and Montgom- cry and hauled till we dragged 1t into position.
 Lord, what beast!' said Shep- pard. He put over the tiller, and round she swung, the Jugs cracking and the blocks jumping. She lurched as though she would go over, and then. the white fwater streaming over her bows. she started of Like hare upon her new course.
 By thunder" said Sercombe. ''she goes wellr'
 Anything would go in this weather" l" returned Sheppard.
 Sercombe laughed. Its a good night for us,'' he observed. Montgomery at this juncture raised cry which took our eyes to him. The light was rising over the water. and a soft darkness ruled.
 T see them" he said.
 You're right, by Jovew cried the captain, from the bows. She's there. '
 Sheppard peeped under the sail. "A yawl," he said, "and we can catch them if we want to"
 Not a hundred yards separated the two boats. but it was questionable if they would see us unless they were on the lookout for us. Certainly in that coil of wind and water no sound of us would reach them.
 We've just got to hug them now, 7 ] said Sheppard. until it gets lighter"
 No, no" said Sercombe impatiently "Lay here alongside. I want to come to terms with Mir. Hood.'
 Sheppard leaned to me What shall 1 do, Ned:'' he asked in low voice. "Go ahead.' called Sercombe in a loud voice. Sheppard eased her and let her run.
 !; The yawl was creeping close hauled on the other tack.
 We can beat her if we give the Jugs their full advantage" explained Shep. pard. Close hauled she'll move a yard to our foot"
 So far 90 good. If we had not been seen we were all right and could come on them later with a wet sail. The wind blew sharply up the channel, swelling into gale. The night was fecked with bright points of light, and then they died. and mist of rain crept i down. In little the yawl had disap- peared. but by the last glimpse we had of her she was fighting up inch by inch. Sheppard ran down for some minutes. and then he jammed the tilier down. and the boat came up into the wind. The Jugs lawed and rattled. Mont gomery and Sercombe took the sheets. For a moment we hung in the wind, silent and motionless. It was only for a moment In that moment Shep- pard's eyes met mine. knew what he was thinking Even then we might have paused, and yet not so. Ser. combe in the bows seemed possessed of devil. roaring against the wind and the tide and laughing aloud with diabollc delight. Montgomery's face was set with the lust of battle. Shep pard said no word, but his eyes return ed to the leaping water. He put up the tiller slowly. and then the hugs flew out in the wind.
 Let her sor' yelled sercombe from the bows.
 Sheppard damned up the tiller. and away. like leaping tiger, sprang the lugger upon her prey. The black deeps of that greedy channel were broken into pools and mountains. Fountains of green water spouted upon all sides and we were plunged into drenchine spray. And upon all this pomp of wal and devilry the dawn broke slowly.
 Before us. and still creeping up the wind, scarce 2O0 paces, we made out the yawl but the light served us no further through that gray curtain of rain; but the next moment we were aware that Hood had awakened to our neighborbood, although he could mol have suspected our Identity or our CT rand. A voice shouted something from the yar. but we could not catch the words. Hands were eesticulating. and then . Hght was flashed Sheppard kept her nose pointed grimiy. and final. Iy the yawi altered her course.
 If 1t comes to tacking they'll do us. said Sheppard
 On the course we vere holding. how. ever, we outssiIed the yawl by two to one. The wind took us almost asten, and we overhauled her. The figures on the yavl grew clearer. distinct agsins' the gray light ss we rode into ths E -rru~A