Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-07

A&sAaAesHD melodrama The Yacht bore every
resemblance to the Erinna; but she evidently had
no intention of being spoken by the Lancashire Lass
for after refusing Captain Browns signals,
she suddenly put out her lights and disappeared
round island off the Scilian coast In the mean
time Van Torp had been summoned, and ordered
full speed.
Suddenly, as the Lancashire Lass rounded the
island the vessel that had lain concealed out
suddenly with all her regulation lights up appar-
emily making directly across the bows OF the Lam
cashire Lass.
is that the Erinna Captain?" asked Van Torp.
Captain Brown had his glasses up and did not
at After nearly minute he laid
them down on the lid of the small box fastened to
NO, Sir" he answered in a tone of considerable
disappointment. AT four miles distance she
looked SO much like her that didn't dare to let
her slip through my fingers; but we have not lost
than couple of hours.
What is this thing, anyway She's coming
toward pretty quick.
She's one of those fast twin screw revenue
cutters the Italians have built lately, sir They
look very like yachts at night. There's deal of
smuggling on this coast over from Malta. She's
coming alongside to ask what we mean by giving
chase to Government vessel
Captain Brown right, and when the big
cutter had crossed his bows, she ran all round him
while she slowed down. and stopped within speak
ing distance on his starboard side. The usual ques
lions were asked and answered.
English yacht Lancashire Lass, from Venice
for Messina, expecting to meet friends yacht at
sea. Thought the revenue cutter was She Regretted
mistake. Had the Captain of the cutter seen or
heard OF he English yaCnt Er1nna!
He had not There no harm done 1t was
his duty to watch all vessels He wished Captain
Brown pleasant trip and good night.
Hard-a-starboard! Port engine slow astern
starboard engine half-speed ahead" That all
Captain Brown said; but could guess what
he thinking his big vessel turned quickly to
port on her heel, and he headed her up for the
straits again.
Van Torp said nothing at all; but his lips moved
IS he left the bridge and went off to his quar-
1t was nearly four o'clock and the eastern
sky was gray.
the straits which were, moreover, crowded with
al of large and small craft under sail taking adj
vantage of the tide to get through. Many of them
steered badly under the circumstances, of course
and it was out of the question between them
at full speed. The consequence was that 1t was
eight o'clock when the Lancashire Lass steamed
slowly into Messina and dropped anchor in the mid
die of the harbor, to wait while Captain Brown got
information about the Erinna, if to be had
at the harbormaster S office
She was not there and had not been heard Of
but Paris paper procured in which it
stated that the Ernna had arrived in Naples,
"owner and party on board
Well, said Van Torp, lets get to Naples
quick! How long will it take, Captain?"
About eight hours, sir, counting getting
under way and out of this crowded water: which
won't take long, for the tide will soon turn
Go ahead" said Van Torp.
A about nine O'Clock Captain Brown saw the
\ Erinna right ahead bows and only half a
mile away, just between Scylla and Faro, where the
whirlpool is still danger to sailing vessels and slow
steamers and just the tide turning against
with urgent message requesting Van Torp to
come up.
Five minutes earlier the owner had sat down to
breakfast opposite Lady Maud, who very pale
and had dark shadows under her eyes for the first
time since he had known her AS soon as the stew
ard left them alone, she spoke.