The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30


 career when he embroiled himself in feuds and suits in his own country, after hay ing antagonized all Europe with his doughty battles to prove the perfection of democracy as against royalty. For five years the papers, periodicals and law courts Of the country resounded with his lusty blows. When peace was declared he was well beyond his tiftieth year. Then he amazed and delighted the world with 1.-TWO Admirals" and Wing and Wing and ten other novels.
 TowARD the close of fine August
 day in 179S fairy-like craft came E steering toward Forty Farrajo, in the Island of Elba, which was to become famous in after years as the residence of Emperor Napoleon She was three-mast- ed lugger, spreading an enomous width of canvas as she came down wing-and- wing with a sail flaming on each side like the heavy pinions of sea fowl. Had the immense canvas not betrayed her she would have deceived even sea- faring eyes into believing her much smaller than she really was, for she had a low hull, painted black and relieved only by a single and almost impercept- ble line of red beneath her channels, while her waist was so deep that nothing was visible above it except at intervals the cap of some mariner taller than usual.
 The people of Forty Ferrajo, always in fear of Corsairs, received her suspiciously and fierd a couple of shots across her how. in answer to which the stranger broke oue the freindly English colors. He anchored close to the town, but in sueh & position that none of the guns of the fort could be brought to bear on him. Then the captain landed and made vlsit of ceremony to the vice governor Of the island.
 The sailor was a tall athletic man or about 26. He was attired in an undress naval uniform, which he wore with smart air His eyes were coal black ms skin swarthy, and his chin was hidden by A. beard as black as his hair ana eyes. His face was classically perfect ana might have served as the model Tor an antique medal Although he looked so decidedly un-English, he introduced hlIn- self as Captain Smith of the English war 1ueger Wing-and- Wing; and the simple vice governor, who had only vague loea that England was an island something larger than Elba, accepted his statement without question. Had he known httie about the unmusical language of Britain nia he would have observed that the stranger called himself ''Jaques Smeet and pronounced the name of the vessel as "ze Ving-an-Ving."
 "Capt. Jaques Smeet" was, in truth' Raoul Ward, and his lugger was the celebrated French priyateer Le feu- Follet. She had earned her name which meant Will O the Wisp, so thor oughly that all of Lord Nelsons cap tains were on the lookout for her, Tor she irritated the admiral more thah many a French frigate did. Hardly 2 day passed without bringing news ot A daring and successful attack on ship ping almost under the guns or the British fleet, yet though some or the fastest cruisers had seen the lugger under their lees, the marine Jack lantern had vanished to windward like a wrath again and again.
 To lay his vessel in the trap of the little port which was visited ire ouently by British cruisers was an act so daring that only an Ward would have done it. Even he had gone little beyond his usual effrontery but he had an excellent excuse in the ob- feet that had brought him, which was to see Ghita Caraccioli. who was walt ing in the little port for sailing op- portunity for her home.
 Though Ghita was not beautiful, her face was so winning and attractive, and suffused with so radiant and noble character, that many men less reckless than Raoul Ward might have been willing to risk their necks for an op- portunity to see her.
 Raoul was desperately in love with her and the girl had confessed her af- lection to him; but he was a true son of the mad French republic that defied got only the institutions of man but the institutions of God. He believed neither in a church nor deity, while Ghita was a devout Cath ollie. Deep and true though her love was, she refused steadfastly to marry him.
 He had ventured to press his suit once more. Alarmed though she was at the danger of her lover, she refused again. While he was with her hustle in the harbor attracted their attention. They saw the shape of tall ship ap- preaching slowly before light air When she had come within a league Of the port the privateer's keen eyes saw that she mounted IS guns to a broad side. A few seconds afterward she broke out the French ensign from her gaf.
 but luckily for him he had an officer aboard, Ithuel Bolt native of New Hampshire, who recognized the arrival, with an eye sharpened by hateful recol- lections, as the British frigate Proserpine. He had been "pressed aboard of her some years before and had deserted after being fiogged because he refused to fight under British colors
 The appearance of the frigate was the signal for manning the guns of the bat tery. The pieces were loaded and trained on her when suddenly the French colors ran down and the British ensign took it's place. The lugger promptly showed the same flag. The Proserpine fetched in nearer and began to signal The priva- tearsman accustOmed t0 axnadiants ra