The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-03-25

ed. The boats came aboard from
every side at once. As fast as
the prisoners came over the rail
they were marshaled forward
into the forecastle by our hunt
ers. while our sailors hoisted In
the boats, pell-mell, dropping
them anywhere upon the deck
and not stopping to lash them.
We were already under way, all
sails set and drawing, and the
sheets being Stacked off for a
wind abeam, az the last boat lift
ed clear OF the water and swung
In the tackles.
There was need for haste. The
Macedonia, belching the black est
OF smoke from her funnel, was
charging down upon us from out
OF the northeast. Neglecting the
boats that remained to her, she
had altered her course SO as to
anticipate ours. She was not run
ming straight for us, but ahead OF
us. Our courses were converg-
Ing like the sides OF an angle, the
vertex of which was at the edge
OF the fog-bank. IL was there.
or not at all, that the Macedonia
could hope to catch us. The hope
for the Ghost lay In that she
should pass that point before the
Macedonia arrived at 1t.
Wolf Larsen was steering, his
eyes glistening and swapping as
they dwelt upon and leaped from
detail TO detail Of the chase. Now
he studied the sea to windward
for signs Of the wind slackening
or freshening, now the Macedo-
MIA; and again, his eyes roved
over every sail, and he gave com
mands to slack q sheet here al
trifle, to come in on one there a
trifle, till he was drawing out of
the Ghost the last bit OF speed she
possessed. All feuds and grudges
were forgotten, and was sur
prised at the alacrity with which
the men who had so long en-
dured his brutality sprang to exc
cute his orders. Strange to say,
the unfortunate Johnson came
into my mind as we lifted and
surged and heeled along. and II
was aware OF regret that he was
not alive and present; he had so
loved the Ghost and delighted in
her sailing powers.
Better get your rifles, you fell
lows" Wolf Larsen called to our
hunters; and the five men lined
the lee rail, guns in hand, and
waited.
The Macedonia was now but a
mile away. the black smoke pour
Ing from her funnel at q right
angle. SO madly she raced, pound
ing through the sea at seven
teen-knot gait - 'Sky-hooting
through the Brine as Wolf Lar
sen quoted while gazing at her.
We were not making more than
nine knots, but the fog-bank was
very near.
A puff of smoke broke from
the Macedonia's deck, we heard O
heavy report, and a round hole
took form in the stretched canvas
Of our mainsail. They we're shoot
Ing at us with one of the small
cannon which rumor had said
they carried on board. Our men.
clustering amidships, waved their
hats and raised a derisive cheer.
Again there was puff of smoke
and loud report, this time the
cannon-ball striking not more
than twenty feet astern and
CHANGING twice from sea to sea to
windward ere II sank.
But there was no rifle-firing
Tor the reason that all their hunt
ers were out In the boats or our
prisoners. When the two vessels
were half a mile apart, third
shot made another hole in our
mainsail. Then we entered the
fog. 1t was about us, yelling and
hiding us in its dense wet gauze.
The sudden transition was
startling. The moment before we
had been leaping through the
sunshine, the clear sky above us,
the sea breaking and rolling wide