The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07
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York harbor was coming fast.
 They dropped a boat to sound the en- trance, but before it had proceeded far a flash of lightning seemed to split the harbor. Instantly the wind came The top men lay out and furled the canvas for their lives. The bay became sheet of foam in twinkling. The ship lay over till the water spouted through her scup- pers and poured on deck.
 'Hard-weatherw shouted Ludlow. The ship, falling off before the wind, coursed along parallel with the coast like race horse. Nothing was visible except lines of driving rain and sheets of water that frothed white as the ship glanced the waves.
 As soon as possible the anchors were cleared and the vessel, stripped of her sails, was brought around There was tremendous struggle between wind and ship. Then she ceased her surges and held.
 Almost as quickly as the scene had darkened it cleared again. The sky be- hind the cove grew bright. Every eye was turned toward 1t. It was empty!
 There were wild tales told that night aboard Her Britannia Majesty's corvette Coquette. A topman swore that he had seen the sea-green lady drift by overhead in the scud of the tempest while he was furling.
 "If she be sailed by mortal hands,. said the boatswain, where Is she? She couldn't beat out of the cove against that squall and even if she could she woufd be in the bay now under our guns. She couldn't escape to sea without running in side the whole length of the Sandy Hook first No, mates, she few And the crew of the corvette insisted on accepting his version even after Captain Ludlow had ascertained that the sea had cut pass age through the narrow hook, opening way from the cove to the sea, as the ocean does still at intervals, making the Sandy Hook an island temporarily till the drifting sands close the opening again.
 There was no doubt in his mind that the brigantine had slipped through in the height of the squall, for the same wrnd that had threatened to beach the corvette had blown fair for the daring course of the smuggler.
 
 pointed officer came ashore again at Lust in Rust, he was shocked by the inrorma- tion that Aida had disappeared during the night. There was mute evidence that she had been aboard the brigantine, and Ludlow, whose jealous mind had been haunted by the thought of the handsome smuggler, had to admit to himself, against his will. that the girl had eloped with him. Being ignorant of the fact that Aida had never seen the stranger before, he assumed that she had known him long time.
 His loyal heart recoiled, however, from the suggestions of his reason. He put to sea in search of the smuggler with zeal far beyond that of a mere royal sailor Ludlow returned to the bay after two days cruise to find Aida safe at home The alderman met him effusively-a re- ception that surprised him till he discov- cred that since Alida's escapade the young Patroon of Kinderhook had relinquished all claims to her favor, and the prudent uncle had fallen back on the wooer whom he had scorned till then.
 Ludlow, stung and humiliated as he was, still longed to believe in his sweet heart and begged her to tell him where she had been, but she responded only with indirect replies. He departed with heavy heart, for she had left no doubt that she really had been aboard the brig antine
 His barge was taking him swiftly to the cruiser when his eye saw small boat in the gloom. He steered to 1t, ran along side and saw that the single form in 1t was none other than that of Seadrift the smuggler.
 q must take you aboard my ship, Mas ter Seadrift," said the captain, and send you as prisoner to the authorities at York when opportunity offers. I am no excise man, to take smugglers on land, but I must have your vessel, and as q first step must have you. now that have met