New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
/ o

astern Breaking Oft the conversation abruptly. he
went into the chart house. and returned with a
telescope which he balanced against a stay.
There's a steamer comm after us IN deSp nit
hurry he 2nn9qneed @ When @ a Prolonged ,a eN"'''n'-
After US repeated Dick.
That's the way read it. She's rom Massawa.
The reg lar channel IS fifty miles east. Tell YOU
wat, it's that Italian gunboat the s'1v nor spoke
about"
But she was not in port when We left"
No. We passed her comm in
All She recognized us
Not much We were under sail, an carried no
masthead light When | tWigged hers tied couple
of sou westers over our side lights 1t good thing
at sea mind Your own business sometimes, an
more'n that TO take care that other people mind
theirs when they want 70 be nasty.
"S Shall we keep under canvas, slr:
LAS long as the wind lasts said Stump, closing
the telescope and rolling of toward the saloon
Within d minute ali hands on deck he cor
porate life of a small ship Is closely knit The word
had gone round that gunboat was IN pursuit, and
everyone wanted to see her
The warship was travelling sixteen knots an hour
the Aphrodite seven; the chase did not last long
About one o'clock the green white, ana red ensign
of Italy futered the end of the pursuing vessel
forevard where it could be most easily; under
it were shown the red and white striped code signal
and the flag, which latter, IN the language OF
the sea, means. Stop! have something important
to communicate
The British ensign was run up followed By the
answering pennant, the maInsall was lowered, the
foresa backed. and the Yacht was brought TO- while
the Italian ship, which made out to be the C1so
came rapidly.
Stump walked forward and looked at the crew,
mustered in full strength in the fore part Every
man. cept those on watch, go below, he groWled,
an mind you keep there, with all ports closed,
until | a show Your ugly mugs on deck
They Obeyed IN sulky silence, though they appTc-
ciated the reason of the order Hence, when the
Cigno stopped her painting engines abreast OF the
Aphrodite, there were many more palrS OF eyes
watching from the yacht than the italian Captain
reckOned
The warship lowered boat Something went
wrong with the gear, the after block Ian1ned, the
boat fell and danged from her daVIts bow first and
an officer and half a dozen thrown into the
sea- They were soon rescued; but the mlshap did
not tend to sweeten the temper of the Clgnos COM
1nander. \ drV officer and requ1sltlOned,
and the boat was pulled alongside the yacht
Stump, with malicious grim on his tace, leaned
over the starboard rail Wv at IS it he demanded.
= Have YOU lost yer bearln 5.
The officer replied IN Italian, greatly to Stumps
disgust; but Mrs. HaXton explained that the officer
asking for the gangNay 70 be lowered. Stump
nodded to ii couple OF sailors. and the ladder dropped
smartly that the boat nearly came to grief 4 sec
ond time
The officer bowed very politely when he reached
the deck. Probably he surprised to find himself
in the presence OF two such beautiful women.
Though Irene spoke Italian. Mrs Haxton took on
herself the role OF interpreter. The CgnO carried
two letters from the Governor of Massawa, She SAID
One was addressed to Fenshawe the other TO the
Captain of the Aphrodite. Would the two gentle
men kindly read and acknowledge receipt of the
Governors epistles!
Both were purely formal documents. They set
forth the official demand that the AphrOdIte should
not attempt to land any of her occupants Italian
territory at other than a recognized port. and
warned her owner and commander that the Cigno
would enforce observance OF the request.
At first Fenshawe refused angrly to give a writ
reply; but Won kerber prevailed on him, and he
Mr. Hiram Fenshawe begs to inform the Governor Of
that his prohibition of the landing OF British
entc expedition IN the colony he rules IS arbitrary and
unwarranted. Mr.. Hiram Fenshawe is further OF the