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

you fairly on the water"
 The sailor made no objection, though he showed agitation He asked only that he be permitted to send message to Aida, a request which the generous com mander granted instantly, though with a sharp pang.
 Convinced now that the reckless free trader had ventured back into the cove, Ludlow hurried his barge to the corvette, and as soon as he had seen his prisoner comfortably and securely installed in his own cabin he made preparations for the | brigantine's capture that would have been ample for an expedition against frigate. Every boat was made ready for armed service. The largest launch was ordered to row around the Sandy Hook and pro- l ceed along the ocean side to the inlet through which the brigantine had escaped before. Another heavily manned boat was sent through the bay to the mouth,cS the cove with orders to close in on the vessel as soon as rockets from the launch showed that she guarded the exit. Not content with thus closing in on the smuggler, Ludlow ordered boats to every channel leading out of the harbor, so that even if by a miracle the brigantine' should fight off the attacking boats and gain the bay she could not get to sea.
 Fully half the ships crew was sent away on this service, but enough re- mained to handle the ship smartly. As
 soon as the boats had disappeared In the night orders were given to weigh anchors and stand out into the harbor in readi- ness to meet the brigantine on any course she might take.
 Just as the vessel was about to break out her anchor a small boat pulled along side and Alderman van Beverout came aboard with his niece, asking to be per mitted to speak to the prisoner. Captain Ludlow at once escorted them to the cabin and then hurried back to the deck. Slowly the great bulk of the war ship moved blackly against the stars. Deep silence reigned in every part, and
 every eye was bent into the dark quarter where the signal was expected from the barge.
 At last a clear light shone far away. Three times it was raised and lowered the preconcerted signal telling that the barge had reached the inlet and that the ocean was bare of a ship, showing that the brigantine had not slipped out The following minutes were long ones of intense anxiety, with every eye and ear strained for sight or sound to show that the launch had pulled into the> cove and attacked the smuggler. The corvette forged slowly on. Suddenly three lights were shown under the land. with many lights burned over them, in quick suc- cession.
 Let the ship fall off! Square away the yards' ordered Ludlow, with a voice that showed his keen disappointment. The signal told him that there was no brigantine in the cove.
 The ship turned majesticelly to run back to the entrance of the bay and guard the exit to seaward. With the land on three sides and this ship and our boats to seaward she cannot es- caper said the sailing master as the cor vette lay back and forth across the mouth of the harbor.
 It was, indeed, evident that no vessel of the size of the smuggler could pass that vigilant cordon. Yet the desired hail did not come from the men clustered on the tops, though the lookout was SC keen that they announced the sighting of | the ships boats from time to time. 1 At last the moon rose to seaward, and ] in an instant showed the whole calm ex- l panse of bay clear as day, except where | Staten Islands bluffs cast shadow. A murmur of deep disappointment hummed through the cruiser. There was nothing
 | in sight as far as eyes could reach. With instant determination Ludlow or dered his course laid for the Narrows | Confident that the brigantine had been
 under the Sandy Hook and equally con
 l fdent that she had not been able to slir
 l to sea, he made up his mind that the smugglers had done what would be in. credible in the case of any other vessel l When he approached the Narrows al