The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-28

Wilder on the quarter deck of the Roya
 Caroline. preparing for sea. Suddenly
 he started. A shore boat pulled along
 side with two ladies, who his mate in-
 formed him, were a Mrs Wyllis and her
 charge, Miss Gertrude Grayson, who was
 bound to her fathers home in the Car
 olinas.
 When they appeared on deck the young
 captain did a strange thing Welcoming
 them perfunctoriy, he deftly led the 1 conversation to the dangers of a sea voy-
 age and to the poor condition of the Royal
 Caroline in particular. Mrs. Wyllis looked
 at him in surprise and then cast her eyes
 over the handsome vessel, trim and smart
 as ship could well be.
 Tt has been my fortune to spend much
 time at sea-" said she. "and I confess that can observe nothing faulty about l this ship"
 Captain Wilder tried lamely to fortify
 his statement Finding that he could
 not convince Mrs. Willis, he suddenly changed his tone and said with intense earnestness:
 i "The highest considerations of honor and duty forbid me from giving you my
 reasons. But, on my faith, declare that l neither wife, mother nor sister of mine
 should sail this voyage on the Royal Car
 oline. l beg you to believe me and to wait for another ship"
 Although it was evident that the sail ors solemn warning had it's effect on the
 minds of the two passengers, they re-
 mained firm in their intention of making l the voyage on the ship. declining to ac- l cept the warning without hearing reasons,
 which the captain refused to give. So it happened that the Royal Caroline
 sailed that evening with her two passen-
 gers. As she passed the slayer Wilder ] looked apprehensively at her. The figure i of her captain sprang on the taffrail. He
 was in undress naval uniform and waived
 his cap in salute.
 "A wise mariner will do well to get his offng in time tonight" he hailed. "A i taught bowlne for the night will carry
 you through
 A hundred times at least did Wilder turn
 his head to steal look at the vessel as
 he left her behind. Each time he bore a more satisfied expression when he saw l no sign or movement on Utf.r Hardly had he cleared the land before
 he set everything that would draw, When 1 the last of the outer islands. were en-
 tirely sunk in the waves astern he ascend
 ed to an upper yard with glass and
 watched the horizon that he had left be- 1 hind Dusk came and it was still empty. 1 He descended with a smile like that of l success.
 Some hours afterward the lookout re-
 ported ship, close hauled, on their lee
 quarter. Far away, against streak of
 dim light. Wilders sharp eyes saw her spars, like the delicate work of a spider 1 An hour passed. Still the strange vessel hung on her position persistently Wild
 CT ordered the ships head brought to the east Soon a wide range of foam rolling on each side of her bows showed that she
 was skimming before the breeze instead of breasting it.
 When every yard and sheet was prop erly trimmed Wilder bent his gaze again on the chaos of water. Long he searched
 the troubled sea. Suddenly he muttered:
 There he lies, and, by heaven, he has al-
 ready gone about!'
 The Royal Caroline howed till the water
 under her lee rose nearly to her scuppers. On the other side the dark blanks and pol
 ished copper lay bare for many feet, though often washed by waves that swept green and angry, along the length Each moment the shocks as she tilted against the pillows became more severe. From each encounter a bright cloud of spray arose.
 ''The topgallant is bending like a whip!'' muttered his mate.
 Let it go. We have spars enough to put in it's place"
 True, sir. But it is idle to think of out l sailing craft that the devil commands.
 No true sailor could sail like wonder ship. We met the Flying Dutchman off the Cape once, and though we had studdng sails allow and aloft, there he lay under 1 only three topsails, driver and jb, and we couldn't alter his bearing one foot" The mate was only voicing what the seamen were whispering Wilder had no time to answer. The brighter streak on the eastern horizon was suddenly closed. Heavy clouds gathered there in porten-
 
 gloomy canopy lifted in the west and a
 long belt of ghastly light was shed I athwart the view. In the flood of bright | and unearthly splendor the stranger l hoated, his outlines seeming to melt into air.
 Stand by!" shouted Wilder at once. "Tn all studding sails! Down with them! Down with every rag of them, fore and aft the shipi Man the top-gallant clew lines, MT. Earring. Clew up and clew
 down! In with everything cheerily, men! In! In!'
 The enormous sheets of duck which had looked like light clouds in the murky heaven were soon fiutterng wildly as they descended from their high places. In few minutes the ship was reduced to the action of her heavy canvas only. Then followed a short and apprehensive pause. The cim tracery of the strangers form
 had been swallowed by the flood of misty light which by this time rolled along the sea like drifting vapor. Black masses of water lifted their surly summits against the eastern horizon. Each moment the eastern puffs of air lost their strength until the heavy sails were Tapping against the masts. A frightful and omnibus calm lay on the troubled sea. Lay the afteryard squarep' shouted Wilder Haul up the courses! Furl them