Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-02-04
CHAPTER VIII.

As Smith suspected. the two pieces of
the chart put him in possession or sum
| cent information to enable him to ma
his way without difficulty up Jones In
let-for so the little estuary was named
to ehe wharf alongside which the Ellen
Law. The position of the privateer was
| nlain1y marked The inlet was a very
crook ed one, and a vessel coming in from
tbe sound would not be discovered until
she rounded bend perhaps a quarter OF
mile from the wharf at which the pri-
vateer lay.
The chart had been prepared by Major
Jones himself. apparently, for 1t was very
carefully and accurately made. 1t appear
ad that the country about the inlet was
heavily wooded. Unless lookouts had been
established along the shore the passage
! of the approaching steamer up the estuary
corld NOT he detected until she rounded
the bend.
After studying the chart, Smith easily
determined on his course of action lie
would delay matters so as TO arrive at
the last turning just at sunset. ms
would give him time to swing alongside
the Ellen and carry her by boarding in
the dark. The ensuing night would favor
HIS chance of escape. There was no in
dication of fortification where the Ellen
lov or in fact, anywhere along the in
! let. which was of no great value TO the
Confederates. since there was no city on
If only n little fishing village OF poor
whites and a few free negroes at the
month. Once Smith got the two ships
ouay from the wharf and headed down
/ the inlet he fanced there would be no
diff;cuItv in getting them into the sound.
Tho only danger then would be from
Confederate gunboats patroling the
sound He would have to deal with them
as best he could.
II would have been easy for him to
have armed the Greyhound before he
started with the guns which she had car
ried for the Ellen. but that would alter
ber neaceful appearance and might be
| fatal to his success. 1t was necessary Tor
him to carry everything by surprise. lie
had ffty of the best seamen in the Unit
cd States navy under him. two competent
midshipmen, to say nothing of old Bob
Gantlin. who, although he had been so
ionominiouslv routed in the cabin. was
almost as good as another fifty himself.
If was evening when the Greyhound
ran through Ocracoke Inlet and anchored
under the lee of one of the adjacent isl
ands. If he could get an early start the
next morning, he calculated that he could
GROSS the sound and reach Jones Inlet
inst about the time he had planned.
When he had finally returned to his
cabin after his dramatic interview with
the woman he loved. she had retired to
her stateroom. He had not ventured to
disturb her during the day. For all his
confident assurance in her affection. he
was in grave state of indecision as tc
what course to pursue with regard to her
Certainly it was absolutely necessary foi
him to have that chart. Whether he
would have gone to the length of taking II
from her or not was question which ne
could not decide. There was no need tC
decide it, anyway, he thought. She haC
spared him the final indignity of a search
by Welding at the last moment. He haC
counted upon her doing so, as he hac
counted upon compelling her to enter the
cabin at his summons through fear of the
boatswain's mate Later. in calmer mo
ments. she might see that he had dealt
with her gently, after all, and that h'
had done nothing to forfeit her esteem oil
affection-if by chance he had won it, as
he hoped and believed.
Having made everything snug for tht
night. which was moonless and dark, and
there being little fear of a disturbance
although a most careful watch was KEPT
and everything was ready for instant
flight should a Confederate cruiser ol
gunboat come alongside them to investi
gate, Captain Smith again ventured tt
send for Miss Ellen. He had no ides
as to whether she would comply with hi'
polite invitation or not. The probabili
ties, he thought, were against it. He wal
greatly surprised. therefore, when ne saw
her coming up the companionway to th'
deck, where he had awaited her. They
were arone aft. Mr.. Brown, who hac