The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07

dawn fisherman coming out gave him
 information that convinced him that he
 was correct in his surrnlse The brigan-
 tine, shut off from escape by sea, had run
 boldly up the harbor to sail past the city
 of York through the East river to gain
 the Long Island Sound and thence the open Atlantic ocean hundred miles east. Wind and tide were fair The cor
 vette, with every sail set, flew up the bay and entered the narrow river, her gun booming signal after signal for pilot to take her through the whirlpools of the dreaded Hell Gate.
 Though 1t was scarcely day, the re-
 peated roar of the heavy gun that shook
 all the windows of the town brought out the citizens to see the strange and ex-
 citing spectacle of chase in front of
 their peaceful houses.
 With sail packed above sail and every sheet of canvas spread, the cruiser
 seemed to fly; but swifter still there flew
 before her the tall white spires of sail on the Water-Witch. Mainboom big as a frigates topsail yard, with a main-top-
 mast staysail as big as a cruisers jib, the brigantine showed her pursuers why and
 how she had made sailors believe that she
 was a thing not of the world. Such a fearful press of canvas had never been seen before on the coast of the Americas. Still the corvette thundered out her in- termittent demand for pilot but none came. Ludlow did not know it, but it was
 due to this scarcity of pilots that he had come so close on the Water-Witch. She had lost precious hours waiting for one herself.
 The corvette now began to use her guns to double purpose, for each new signal for a pilot was charged, with ball for the Water Witch; but Captain Ludlow or dered that the gunners aim only at the rigging His galantry as well as his de-
 sire to catch the beautiful ship by -air
 trial of sailing forbade any attempt to
 sink her.
 Soon there was no time for using guns.
 The ships dashed headlong into the witches broth of the Hell Gate. The
 white spume fizzed around them, black
 rocks showed on either side what seemed fair passage one instant showed itself
 rock-sown the next, as current twisted
 Wind and tide urging furiously on, shoals
 appearing like internal magic, whripools suddenly spinning toward the bow, cross
 currents sweeping with oily suction to- ward drowned reefs, ever more savage impetus from the tide with each foot of advance into the forbidden way-brigan- tine and cruiser alike were in peril so loo rlx of suspended.
 Suddenly the Water Witch waved and rushed headlong at a reef. The cruisers men held their breaths to see the glorious towers of sail tumble in grievous wreck when she struck. But she did not strike Her navigator had taken a desperate chance and won. He whirled away in a channel that put the long island of Black
 wells between his pursuers and himself; and by the time the cruiser had traversed the safer passage that she had to choose the Witch was beyond range Swiftly though the brigantine drew
 away. the Coquette followed. All day the chase continued up the sound, but when the cruiser at last passed the Race and stood out into the broad ocean again there was no sail on the dark sea except 1 her own.
 q fear that the fellow has hidden him. I self in one of the many secret bays on | the Long Island coast said the sailing ] master, and Ludlow agreed. Slowly the | corvette stood down the coast, when sud- | denly full-rigged ship of great size was i made out. A glance satisfied the officers | that it was a French cruiser.
 1 The corvette was short-handed to de- | gree that made battle a desperate choice, | but Ludlow did not hesitate. Fastening 1 to the cabin, he led Aida to the most se- 1 cure place in the ship, and then asked l the alderman and Seadrift if they would | lend a hand in the fight. The Dutchman l grumbled, but showed no hesitation other l wise. Seadrift, however, laughed faint l lx. and said q am filter for the zephyr