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

Three hours passed thus. Then Ithuel Bolt called Raoul and pointed out to him the fact that one of the coasters, feluc- ca, had been drifting down on the lug ger for some time, though she had suffi- cient wind to cross her bows. They got a soon satisfied themselves that instead of bearing ahead, which she should have done with that breeze, she was making no headway at all, though her sails were gently full, but was, on the contrary, drifting down broadside with the tide.
 The privateers were satisfied at once that she had drags astern. Hardly had they assured themselves of this before the vessel fell broad off and came down on the lugger's bows. "All hands to repel boarders," yelled Raoul, springing to the capstan. The felucca swung around and fell foul of the privateer. As her men thronged to the head to meet the ex- pected attack oars were heard, pulled as if for life. The next instant flames burst from the felucca's s open hatch, and in the glow the English boats could be seen darting toward the sea.
 "A fire-ship! A fire-shipi" shouted the men. Raoul sprang aboard the craft, which now resembled floating torch. He tested his cable and found that, as he had supposed, the fre-ship had grappled it.. Immediately he passed down 1t as far as he could climb and fastened 1t to the felucca with a half-hitch. In half min ute he was aboard again and ordering his men to veer out cable for their lives.
 The lugger took the cable that was given to her at once, and rapidly receded from the fireship which was held in her position by the luggers own anchor. The Le Feu-Follet dropped astern, fathom after fathom, until she lay more than 100 yards distant from the fiery mass.
 The people of the Proserpine watched the spectacle from the sea with interest mixed with regret. From their station the two vessels seemed to be close to- gether, and no doubt existed in their minds that their stratagem had been sue cessful Their brave tempers would have preferred to fight the lugger and take him fairly. But they felt cheered, none the less, at the fact that they had at last removed their persistent enemy.
 It was natural that after the flame had died down the watch on the frigate should relax. Nobody on board perceived the dim, ghostly form that glided wing and-wing before the land breeze and passed to sea a mile away in the darkest hour before the dawn.
 When Captain Cuffe and his first officer were rowed up the Colo, and while they were looking around vainly for vestige of the privateer, Le Feu-Follet lay snugly at anchor in Bastia, in the island of Cor sica, protected by French batteries. Be- fore evening she had stepped a new main mast and repaired all other injuries.
 Captain Cufre wrote his report to Nell son, saying that Le Feu-Follet appeared to have been absolutely annihilated. He had the report in his pocket next day when the frigate was slowly drawing past Elba on her way to the fleet. The look out reported a lugger in shore and the frigate stood about to chase As soon as she approached close enough to make the smaller craft out fairly Cuffe quietly tore up his report. There could be no doubt of the fact that this was Le Feu-Follet, and that she had tricked him again.
 She tricked them even then. Just as the frigate had assumed a position where she cut the chase off from all chances of getting to sea. Le Ecu Toilet shot into a narrow opening between a rocky island and the mainland. The heavy cruiser dared not follow, and by the time the privateer emerged at the other end of the strait 1t was useless to pursue.
 The Proserpine's captain ordered her course set for Naples to rejoin Nell son's fleet, his mind filled with un- pleasant forebodings as to his recep- tion. He was spared the expected re proof however, for a greater happen ing was occupying Neson's mind. The Bay of Naples was crowded with armed ships of nations that had sunk their enmities and were strangely allied in their common cause against the French wo-deckers, frigates and sloops lay at their anchors in front of the town. flying the flags of Russia, Naples. Tur- key and England On St. Elmo, the citadel that crowned the heights. flew the flag of the French republic, show ing that she stilr hell the fort.