The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-04-29
CHAPTER TX.
In Pursuit.

|
siderable portion of which, being
covered by the proceeding narrative,
is omitted)
| left Hill st. in pretty good
humor, for Miss Frida Fairholme
gave me draft ton account which
might have won me from your en-
ployment If she wanted my serv-
ices. Then l went home, ami hav-
ing warned Joe Walls to be in read
for my last orders. | had been told
was to be associated with a Brit
ish officer, friend of the captain 8,
and that he would join me right
away, SEQ We might take the cars
at once for Plymouth. But my
gentlemen never appeared till late,
and when he did appear he showed
up as high falutin' jack-a-dandy,
whom | thought no better than a
dude. But | was wrong there.
My instructions came in letter.
1t was addressed to me, inlorsed
| Immediate" in an envelope mark
ed "On Her Majesty's Service
which | am not, as you know, and
| don't want to be, being a free-born
loyal subject of Uncle Sam. The
! letter inside was headed with the
royal arms and signed Charles Col
lingham, Major General" 1t was to
inform me that the steam tug ia
cob Silverton had been secured for
particular business, and would be
found same night lying at the Ply
mouth pierhead, with fires banked,
ready to go to sea at a moments
notice. The letter went on:
| Il understand from Lloyd's, and
it has been calculated from the Ad-
miralty charts as the basis of her
speed and the progress she has
made. that the yacht Fleur de Lis
should be abreast of the Lizard
about dawn. Or say $3.50 to a. m.
tomorrow. If the tug leaves Ply
mouth before midnight she can gain
such position by daybreak as to
meet the Fleur de Lis and cross her
course. If you do not sight her at
once, you must lie to, waiting, for
she cannot we'll have passed.
when you have intercepted her,
as you surely will, she will be
boarded by an officer of my depart
ment who will accompany YOU and
who carries the necessary authority
| from the lords of the admiralty to
detain and search her. He is en-
powered to use force if necessary,
and certain number of police and
coast guardsmen will be on board
the tug.
Maj. Swete Thornhill, R. A.. the
bearer of this letter, will travel
with you to Plymouth. He is a
friend of Capt. Woods and brother
staff officer, AMI will be glad to CO.
operate in the rescue and render
any assistance"
| | found a tall, military looking
| gentleman at the door In hanson.
Hop in," he cried pleasantly;
'only just time to catch the 5 ex-
press"
l preferred to travel with Joe, but
| we joined forces at Paddington.
where my gentleman had secured
| compartment, AMI we started to
talk over our business right away.
Lets see how it stands" said
the military man.
With that he pulled small chart
out of his pocket and pair of d.
| viders. We went over the points
one by one, and he took them all
in a clear, quick way that was
beautiful to see. 1t was the first
time I'd had to work with a British
| officer, and if they're all like this
major, they're spry smart lot. and
don't you forget it.
IT'S all a question of time" he
said, as he marked cross upon the
chart, and after running out few
more figures, went on:
That's where the Fleur de Lis
ought to be by daylight, three or
four miles to the westward steam
ing at the rate We know Of, not
necessarily gaining, but possibly
with better speed in hand IL she
wants it. Now where shall we be-?
That will depend upon how our
hooker steams; and for that we
must wait till we get on board"
| We found her, the Jacob Silver
ton, with her steam up lying along
side the wharf in the Millbay dock,
| and as they expected us we were
soon under way. 1t was then close
| on / a. M Now the major made
anxious inquiries as to her speed,
and we found the best she could do
was about nine knots. There were
no more than three hours to day
light, and then we should have COW
cred bare 80 miles.
It'll be a near thing" said the
major. However, let's get 40
winks while they crack on all
steam and make her move"
| had not been in bed for a cou-
pie of night and was sound asleep
when the major woke me.
THE lucks against US, Snuyzer,"
he began abruptly; we've just
missed the Fleur de Lis. Saw her
plainly enough, and there was no
mistaking her, about three miles to
the westward, and bore down on
her straight. l suppose she did not
like our looks, and turned on full
steam ahead. Doubt IL we shall
catch her now"
"Of course We must stick to her.
Has she the heels of u.s." asked,
anxiously
"A little, I'm afraid. Can't say
| for cart tain WHATS worse she's