Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
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shoulder to make sure there was within
earshot His sailors eye swept the horizon at the
same instant, and he smoke blur miles
astern Breaking off the conversation abruptly, he
went into the chart house, and returned with a
telescope, which he balanced against stay.
There's steamer comm after us in a desp'rit
hurry he announced, when prolonged examina-
ton had enabled him to form an opinion.
After u.s." repeated Dick
That's the way read it. She's from Massawa
The reg lar channel is fifty miles east. Tell you
wat, it's that Italian gunboat the guy nor spoke
about.
= But she was not in port when left
No. We passed her comm in p"
All! She recognized us!,
Not much. We were under sail, an carried no
masthead light. When twigged hers tied couple
of souwesters over our side lights It's good thing
at sea to mind your own business sometimes, an
1noren that to take care that other people mind
theirs when they want to be nasty.
Shall we keep on under canvas, SIR"
AS long the wind lasts said Stump mp e closing
Within a minute all hands were on deck. The cor
porate life of small ship is closely knit. The word
had gone round that a gunboat was IN pursuit, and
everyone wanted to see her
The warship was travelling sixteen knots hour,
the Aphrodite seven; the chase did not last long
About one o'clock the green, white, and red ensign
foreyard. where it could be seen most easily under
it shown the red and white striped code signal
and the ~ flag which latter in the Language OF
to communicate"
The British ensign up, followed by the
answering pennant, the 1na1nSau was OWcIcQ tuc
foresail backed and the yacht was brought to, while
the Italian ship which was made out to be the Clgno
rapidly.
Stump walked forward and looked at the crew,
mustered in full strength in the fore part. % Every
man, cept those watch, 60 below, he growed,
g. an mind you keep there. with all ports closed,
They obeyed in sulky silence, though they appre-
ciated the reason of the order. Hence, when the
Cigno stopped her painting engines abreast OF the
Aphrodite there were many more pairs of eyes
watching from the Yacht than the Italian CAPTAIN
The warship lowered boat. Something went
wrong with the gear, the after block ]ammed the
boat fell and dangled from her davits bow first, and
an officer and half dozen were thrown into the
sea. They soon rescued; but the mishap did
not tend to sweeten the temper of the Cigno's COM
mander dry officer and crew were requistioned,
and the boat was pulled alongside the yacht,
Stump with nall grin his face Leaned
Have you lost yer bearln S!
The officer replied in Italian, greatly to Stumps
disgust; but Mrs. Haxton explained that the officer
was asking for the gangway to be lowered. Stump
nodded to couple of sailors. and the ladder dropped
SO smart1y that the boat nearly came to grief
ond time.
The officer bowed very politely when he reached
the deck. Probably he was surprised to ind 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
letters from the Governor of Massawa, she said
One 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 We're purely formal documents. They set
forth the official demand that the Aphrodite should
attempt to land any of her occupants on Italian
territory at other than recognized port, and
warned her owner and commander that the Cgno
would enforce observance of the request.
At first Fenshawe refused angrly to give writ
reply; but kerber prevailed on him, and he
wrote:
Ertrea that his prohibition of the landing of British sci
entc expedition in the colony he rules is arbitrary and