The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-13
-THE,
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER XXI.

BY 8 o'clock p. m. we had neared IN?
to vessels sufficiently TO bring their
Ills into view from the mainroyal-yard: +:
|ey were then lying broadside-on to MS
th their heads 10 the eastward, the
Iip being between us and the brig; but
the aid OF our glasses we were able TO
hike out that they had apparently drop
Ia alongside each other. and the skip
In gave IT as his decided opinion that
hi play was going on on the part OF one
the other OF the two craft. This opinion
Is shortly afterwards confirmed
\ the appearance of thick clouds OF
hck smoke arising from the ship; the
hg hauling off and standing to the west
hrd under every stitch of canvas she
kild spread.
Undoubtedly a most daring act OF pi-
5ty. committed under our very noses,
b." commented the skipper TO me as the
koke rose up into the clear atmosphere
ld hung like a great pail Immediately
eer the doomed ship. We were walking
{yether fore and aft upon the quarter
srk at the time, whistling most earnest
"A and devoutly for a wind, as indeed
|sre all hands fore and aft. Suddenly
|9ptan Vernon paused. and. wetting the
|Fck Of his hand. held II up 10 the air
RThe wind Is falling u.s." he remarked,
|h abruptly dived below TO his cabin.
IN the same moment noticed that the
|kvette was heading three or four points
Il the eastward of her course.
|fHard up with your helm. man." / ex-
|timed impatiently to the wheel. where
|h you taking the ship"
1.-THE wheel is hard over. SIR" explained
n poor fellow with patient Difference:
Hat she's lost steerageway."
Iust then the skipper returned to the
|kk.
Pipe away the first and second cutters,
N Hawskesley," he exclaimed. sharply.
lake charge OF them yourself with one
the midshipmen TO help you, and pull
| vn TO the burning ship. AS likely as not
Ia will find that a similar trick has been
Hyed there TO the one by which that un-
Ytunate man Richards and his crew so
Brly lost their lives. Let the crews Of
/ boats take their cutlasses and pistols
.'h them, so as to be prepared In the
|int OF interference from the brig =
|,w, and make all the haste you can.
Iir first duty is to save the crew; your
Il TO save the ship. II possible. The
ss Is rising. so there will be no wind ;
shall do what I can 10 shorten the
lance between us and the brig yonder
ZEN you have done all that is possible
board the ship make a dash for the
|R unless you see the recall signal fy-
hree minutes later the two cutters
Re darting swiftly away over the long
Bsy undulations Of the ground-swell
lard the great cloud OF smoke on the
lion which served as a beacon for us: :
men pulling a long. steady stroke,
ch, whilst II sent the boat through the
er at n very fair pace. could be main
ped for three or four hours at least
q were scarcely n mile away from
Daphne when she had the rest Of
boats I'm the water, and ahead OF her
ing. whilst. dangling from the yard
Is aloft. could be seen hammocks and
$ OF shot suspended there 20 assist
The swinging motion impaired 10 them
the rise, and fall OF the vessel over
swell-the ships progress through
water. The brig was hull down to
but from the steadiness with which
head was kept pointing 10 the west
IA. I conjectured that she was either
eping or being towed by her boats.
be- sun set In a perfectly clear and
dless sky. just as we had brought
ship hull-up; but by that time she
a mass OF flame fore and aft. and
In 20 fear that we should be too late
ave her crew or 10 do any good what
on board her. We kept steadily on,
ever. and reached sher half an hour
10 three masts wen, over the side.
n We were within 9 cables length Of
Srrning ship, and g arriving within