Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-25

He was my father"
"Oho!" said the captain. "Are you
the Pennsylvania girl that married the
English lord?"
Il am"
And is the English lord in one of
them boats out yonder?"
HE is"
AN you're t-yin' to sit away from
him?"
Indeed. am. He has used me
cruelty"
''wel." said the captain. noddins
thoughtfully as if he understood it all.
for the honor OF America I'll do all
can to help you. An you, miss?'
turning to Debbie.
I'm not trying to get away from
any English lord" answered Debbie.
'but there's a gentleman"
She stopped.
We'll, I'm very sorry for you.
MISS" said Capt. Tuggles. but the
best can do is to take you with your
friend. You can get of at Bordeaux
and go where you please, meanwhile
the ship is yours"
"Will those boats catch us. cap
tain?" queried Ellen, stepping slowly
across the deck TO the landward side.
mot II 1 don't want 'em to-" said
Tuggles. grimly. "Mr. Manthy." he
added, turning to a surly-looking mate
who was pacing the quarterback, "the
breeze is fresh'nin'. better give her
more sail. An we've had enough of
southin'. better set our course for the
! BASTARD until we get well up the chan
mel. You're safe, miss There amt
no small boat in England that can
overhaul Jeremiah Tuggles an the
Flying Star, an there amt many
ships can do it, either"
Are you sure. captain?"
"Sartin." said the captain.
Ellen did a strange thing She ran
across the deck to the gangway. leaned
far over Il, lifted her hat and waved IL
three or four times at the boats vainly
pursuing. Then not waiting for n re-
turn of her salute, she rejoined the
captain.
IF you please. captain" she said.
wed like TO have something to eat
and place TO sleep. We've had moth
ing but hard tack and water since
yesterday morning. and what sleep
we got we had 20 take in the cutter"
You shall have everything the ship
Affords" said Capt. Tuggles.
worthy seaman. there's only one
thing within reason that 1 can't sup
ply"
And what is that?"
Female toggery." answered the cap
tain.
Il don't need that Ike these
clothes" returned the girl. boldly.
The captain himself took the two
below. He called his cabin boy and
set before them prodigious guam
tity OF substantial fare. They were
both hungry enough 20 have eaten
ruder provision with a hearty zest
When their appetite was stayed. the
captain showed them 10 q cabin with
two berths In t. Both women were
so tired that determinations which
trembled in the air we're deferred I'M
til they had taken needed rest.
Dressed as they were. each crawIed
into her respective berth and soon was
sound asleep.
II was dark before either awoke.
What disturbed her Ellen could not
tell, but she suddenly found herself
sitting up I'm her berth listening 10 a
faint hail that came down the wind
and through the open air port into the
cabin.
A voice said gruhiy:
This is his smaiesty's ship-of-the-
lire Britannia. Heave TO and I'll send
boat aboard"
THE Britannica" exclaimed Ellen
under her breath, Admiral Kephard's
flagship"
What could II mean? She rose 20
her feet and stepped to the port hole.
It was pitch dark outside. She could
see nothing. The moon had not vet
risen. over her head Capt. Tuggles
was replying.
What do you want with me?" he
cried. roughly.
"You'n find out" answered a voice
from the darkness, when we send a
boat aboard"
A moment after Ellen caught a
glimpse OF the running light OF a
large ship slowly closing upon the
Flying Star. Other lights cleaned
from port holes here and there. bring
ing the huge liner in fair view.
This is the high seas" answered
Capt Tuggles. with great spirit. Pm
a peaceful merchantmen from the
United States. and I'm damned IL III
heave TO for anybody"
Brave Capt. Tugglesl Ellen thrilled
in her soul, but she knew that the
game was up. No merchantman could
brave a war vessel and one flying an
admirars flag at that, with impunity.
The next instant a gun flashed from
the side OF the ship-of-the-line and
deep boom rolled across the black
water.
IF you don't heave to-" cried the
voice from the other ship, "the next
shotn go into YOU"
To hesitate longer was madness. Ell
len could hear Capt. Tuggles dash his
trumpet TO the deck and the next min
ute his hoarse voice bidding the watch
swing the main yard. The ship slowly
shot up into the wind and presently
lay sim. On the ship-of-the-line Ellen
could hear the shrill whistling OF pipes