The San Francisco call., 1908-08-30
A STORY Of NAVAL ADVENTURE
in the WAR with TRIPOLl '
i 1ay MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL G
u AUTHOR or TINE sPRgcHTEY ROMANCE /
OF k4ApSAc" (lEW YORK HERALD 5000
PRIZE ST0RY).sA VIRGINIA CAVALIER
F sscFTLDREM or DEsTENYs""THE ~
LAST DUCHESS OF BELGRADE" sa ETC.

bridge, walking to a window and stand
ing up on a bench before it, looked
out. A quick change came over his
countenance. and he said quietly, mean
while raising his hand to command
silence:
Il see a number of vessels in the
offing, apparently ships of war, and
one a large frigate. Mr.. Porter, your
eyes are remarkably good; come and
give your opinion. if you please"
Mr.. Porter, mounting the bench,
looked out and after a careful survey
and sailors who hung breathless upon
his words:
Il agree with you, sir: it seems to
be a fleet of several small vessels of
war and a large frigate. 1 cannot
make out their colors, but they are
standing in, and 1 hope we shall be
able to see the colors within. an hour"
For an hour the Americans waited
patiently. By common consent each
officer was given one look at the dis
tant vessels, which might be those sent
by their country for their deliverance.
But no one could make out precisely
what the squadron was.
THE squadron is evidently recon
noitering." said Captain cambridge.
Its movements indicate hostility. and
it has plainly occasioned uneasiness
among the Tripolitans. who have ma
rine glasses and probably recognize
the colors."
Mr. Porter peered out once more.
then, turning to Captain cambridge,
said coolly:
"Sir. I think I recognize the lines OF
the Constitution in the largest vessel.
Probably Bulge here, who has made
a couple of cruises in her, may know
her build and rig better than T.
Captain cambridge beckoned to
Bulge who mounted the bench and in
his turn gazed across the blue and
dancing water, where. afar off, the.
large vessel was maneuvering. He
studied her carefully for five minutes.
and then, with a light in his eye, turned
to Captain cambridge:
That's the Constitution, sir, as sure
as guns is guns. While I was watchin'
she throwed her topsails aback. and
there's something in the way she done
it as reminds me of no other ship 1
ever see except the Constitution. Her
sails, too. is white as snow, and you
remember, sir, the Neapolitan captain
told US as how the ship had a brand
new suit of sails. She sets low in the
water like the Constitution-Lord, sir,
thems the American colors as the wind
has jes' shook out"
This was greeted by a rousing cheer
from officers and sailors. No attempt
ing, and the Tripolitans knew 1t would
be in vain to prohibit 1t. When the
cheering had subsided Captain Balm
bridge said quietly:
Il think our deliverance is approach
ing, but we must remember that ships
5000 miles from their base must have
time IN which to do their work. New
ertheless, we are not forgotten by our
country of that we are certain"
ho ha ri Of oil Wis
IDLY rose but it was not until two
months later, on the fourth of August,
that, looking out of their narrow win
dows on the splendid summer morning,
the eyes of the captives were cheered
and their hearts like to break for Joy,
when they saw great frigate with
her company of light craft standing in
the offing.
On this night of tense excitement
Dicky lay quite still. watching the
beam of white moonlight that stole in
the narrow window and shone full
across the face of Roger Thorne. Then
he saw that Rogers eyes were wide
open. He listened for reassuring
snore from Mr.. Porter, whose bed was
at the farther end of the room, and
then whispered to Roger:
"Old Bulge says the Constitution
will knock these forts about the ears
Of these Tripolitans rascals, and when
1 told him that I had read in book
that no ship yet built could knock
a stone fort into a pile Of rocks the
old fellow said. quite solemnly: Guns
is guns, sir, and jes' walt and see what
them guns on the Constitution is agoin'
to do with these here forts. Let
Mary Ann begin barking, and them
forts will fall down by theirselves.'
Il believe it." whispered Roger back,
''if Bulge says so, because I've heard
the officers, talking among themselves,
say that Bulge knew lot about guns
much as many officers do, although he
isn't an educated man.
Silence over therei' thundered the
voice of Mr.. Porter.
At 5 o'clock next morning every Off
Ger and man, from Captain Bainbridge
himself down to the youngest sailor,
was UP and dressed. From the mar
row barred windows of their prison
they could see great excitement in
the courtyard Of the baShaws castle,
as we'll as in the town and forts.
Tripolitan officers were moving back
and forth, their usual lazy saunter
exchanged for rapid walk, while bar
rels of ammunition were being loaded
upon OK carts, which numbered or to-
ward the shore batteries. Overhead
was heard the trampling OF many feet
and the guards within the courtyard
were doubled. AS the little en-
brasure IN the midshipmen's room COM
manded the best view of the harbor. II
was there that the officers crowded
It soon became evident that the squad
ron in the offing was hostile one, and
there could be little doubt that it was
American.
Dicky and Roger and the other mid
shipmen had promised themselves ex-
emption from instructions that morn
ing, when the fate of the officers and
the crew OF the lost Philadelphia hung
in the balance. But after breakfast