The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-08-03
CHAPTER x
The Long Chase.

4 |
At dawn the Seraphine lay In a fla
, pink sea, with, not mile to the east
ward, the dingy p1oll of the Mississippi
, outpour still visible. The canvas hung
wet and limp. The idle steersman lis
tened to Beluche's impatient comments
as he held the glass off to the grow
ing light.
"Beggar's luck The river drift has
been with her. She is all but tops1
down with some capful of wind that
we never sawl"
"Wi' the sum-" growled Nez Coupe,
''we shall find our breeze"
AYes, but this matter cannot wait.
Some Yankee clipper may put out on
our trail We cannot tell what is
brewing after this affair.""
De Almonaster and the captain
joined them before breakfast. True a
topsail breeze came with the sun, and
the Seraphine began to draw out of
the OBTAINING eddies of the delta drift.
The gentlemen had no more than set
tied to their morning coffee when the
monotonous cry of the lookout was re-
peated Beluche came with his report.
"The stranger has picked better
wind, sir. and has come about, making
sou'west, and running fair"
"Good She will not make the
Floridas then and draw us into the
path of the traffic. 1t will be good
ship today that we do not haul up
with"
Il have ordered the chase guns
shotted," muttered the admiral. 1T
may take carronade across her bows
TO make her lay to. Eli, bienl You
will see old eyes shine as they take
to the lanyard"
De Almonaster cried out exultantly
when he followed to the deck. The
first poke Of the breeze laid the good
ship smartly over, and the snap of
the answering canvas drew a shout
from the crew.
Every bully Of them out to seel"
cried Raoul. "A lot OF schoolboys !
minded to rob an orchard The first |
eighteen-pounder let go will be music |
to old ears, Monsieur !"
"And they may dance on air to 1t,
afterward." LATTE turned quietly to
the younger man. II have had sleep
less night, Monsieur de Almonaster. 1t
appears to be largely yourself. The
rest carried in irons to Charleston
when the inevitable happens, will not
matter, but you-your position, your
good name and fortune"
Raoul snapped his fingers laughing
ly. Il came. for this--a true exploit,
and with you, sir-whatever befalls
I"
II have my plans considered" said
the captain calmly. "We will not es-
cape in the end. When that hour
comes, you shall be my prisoner"
Il, Monsieur"
Il seized you upon this ship against
your will. 1t was no affair Of yours
,ut of Jean Lafitte's."
''But nom de Dieui / was the first
o propose 1t -
THAT is why shall save you" He
lowed enigmatically. "And Jarvis, the ,
DOL. The rest-well, in the end, I I
must answer. First to these lawless
pirits who believe absolutely that l r
IN turning pirate again. Next TO the c
dmiralty courts. America. Great Brit r
in"-he shrugged-''it will be of no n
De Almonaster watched the face of n
ne exile who had been the enigma of
iplomats of Britain and generals of G
lie United States but seven years back 7
hen he shook the dice between them I,
,r the province of Louisiana, and r
ave back captains commission in 4
lie royal navy TO fight for the pulling
public of the West. Slowly the |
'unger man was guessing. To rescue
e woman whom he loved meant but
tear the mask from his own face- p,
stand before her-Jean Lafitte, the y,
st pirate chieftain of the gulf-a pro- .,
ribed outlaw, hunted By the navies nj
the world. dragged out of his OBJ Q,
urity of peace to face a ring of enc 81
les.
you are my prisoner, sir-when or
e end comes" he said quietly. m
Raoul stirred, and then turned from IN
is implacable will. Below he came 6.
ION John Jarvis shaking the sleep sh
pm his swollen eyes, br
Il have been forward" grunted the A,
inter. There is more hubbub than ba
aides picnic. Bohon and Johannes I'm
mot keep the dogs from bowling. m
fellows who have been In the mr.
siness before are securing up rusty as
Ec nj hot hox /
ars in muskrat trappers' camps &c
~ quiet, the older heads. hut wink to
! wisely. They whisper that La fro
e Is wise fox to pretend 10 an af- nils
r OF women when he knows Of the No
prizes helpless, transporting, in MOI
froJo ro,,ta,