Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10

had been occupied by Lieutenant Pomeroy
and Sheriff Keyes
When first made out distinctly, the Ven
ture was lying inert on the water, and the
cadet officer had not been slow to divine the
most of what was occurring, on board. :,
Sheriff had witnessed through their binoculars
the battle that was waged on the deck OF the
Venture. They saw the quarter-boat launch
ed and headed for the islands. ;,
them, and two of the runaways, also" said
Lieutenant Pomeroy to his companion on
the bridge, as the quarter-boat poised Tor
fleeing second on the crest of wave,
They're going to take to the woods re-
piled the Sheriff. m
'T doubt they will reach them. That
is Commander Brant, the cadet with the
gold laced uniform you see on the Ventures
deck. He has gained control IN some NE man an
robbers nor the two runaways with them 10
escape"
"Hes started the boat" said the Sheriff.
The remark was called forth by maneuver
of the Venture. She was seen to head up
before the wind, and great cloud OF smoke
issued from her funnel. Soon she began TO
wear around, and headed on a course that
would intercept the flight of the quarter
boat.
Pm afraid if they get between those fel
lows and their liberty somebody will get
hurt" observed the Sheriff, anxiously -, Cant
we head off the small boat ourselves?
"We cannot reach them before they get
race for it herself"
A statement which was proving itself at
that moment.
The robbers and their two allies had gotten
out their oars without loss of time, and they
were now pulling with might and main for
shallow water.
The watchers on the Chicora saw the
schoolboat steam up abreast of them and
IL Al o,,,-fA hat
beat upon the nearest island was fairly be-
meath her keel.
Just at the right moment she swerved, and
cheer burst from the lips of the .pursuers
when they saw that she had gained a posi-
tion between the boat and the island.
The boat in turn now swerved, and, rising
athwart the waves, was seen to attempt to
pass the yacht. Ricketts, was standing up in
the stern-sheets, gesticulating violently. The
watchers on the deck of the Chicora wonder
ed that he was able to keep his feet.
Suddenly in Ricketts, outstretched hand
something bright glimmered, and puff Of
smoke was seen. The sound of the shot did
not reach the Chicora against the wind and
above the boom of the surf
"He's firing at the wheel-house," said Lieu
tenant Pomeroy.
81 don't believe he can shoot straight
enough from that boat to hit anybody" an
Ricketts, did not give up until he had erpp-
tied his revolver None of his shots took
effect, apparently, for the yacht kept crowd
ing him.
the robbers discovered that they were be-
ing forced past their island and out upon the
open lake. They could not maneuver the
boat in the sea that was running, and they
realized that they were fairly captured.
Bending to their oars, they pulled ahead
on course which this time bore them di-
rectly toward the Chicora. AS she came up,
the Chicora's people could see that the boat
l..Ic f,,n ,fx &c H..
one of whom was Lofty Rankin, had aban-
doned their oars. and were engaged in bailing
As the boats party was taken on board the
Chicora, the Venture came steaming up
anybody hurt, sirsS 9ueried Lieutenant
Pomeroy, answering the hail of his COM
mander
"Nobody-shots all went Wild" was the
And then came the commanders orders.
The Chicora was directed to steam back to
Petoskey with the prisoners. Brant would
himself take the Venture back, and he need
ed no more assistance than he now had.
The Venture was the first of the two ves-
sels to reach the village. She had been
sighted coming up the bay, and the wharves
before. the town were crowded. Steaniing
past, however, the schoolboat rounded to at
Here only solitary sentinel was on hand
to receive her. Not even an idler was in
sight; for, though everybody in the school
had learned that the recaptured vessel was re-
turning. the strictest discipline was main
tyined.
A short time after touching the wharf.
five marines, with drawn cutlasses, marched
ashore. escorting eight prisoners. These were
the followers Of Lofty Rankin, and Thaddeus
McPherson. They were marched straight to
their quarters, and there isolated, While
Boatswain Barclay went to deliver Command-
er Brant's report to the superintendent