Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-01-02
CHAPTER X
The Long Chase.

ING long CnaSo.
AT dawn the Seraphine Law in a f,at
PINK sea, with, not mile to the east
ward, the dingy moil of the Mississinn,
outpour still visible. The canvas bnno
wet and limp. The idle steersman lis.
tened to Beluche's Impatient comments
as he held the glass off to the orow-
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 saw!"
"Wi' the sum-" growled Nez Come
1--WE shall find our breeze"
Eyes, 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 captatn
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 renort
"The stranger has picked better
wind, sir, and has come about, making
souwest, and running fair"
Good She will not make the
Floridas then and draw us into the
path of the traffic. 1t will be a good
ship today that we do not haul up
with"
Il have ordered the chase guns
shotted," muttered the admiral. "It
may take carronade across her bows
to make her lay to. Eth, 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 see |"
cried Raoul. "A lot of schoolboys
minded to rob an orchard! The first
eighteen-pounder let go will be music
to old ears, MonsieurI'
And they may dance on air to 1t,
afterward." Lafitte turned quietly to
the younger man. ST 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
afterward !"
II have my plans considered" said
the captain calmly. eve will not es-
cape in the end. When that hour
comes, you shall be my prisoner"
81, Monsieur?"
II seized you upon this ship against
your will. 1t was no affair of yours
but Of Jean Lafitte's."
"But nom de Dieul was the first
to propose it"
"That is why shall save you" He
bowed systematically. "And Jarvis, the
fool. The rest-well, in the end,
must answer. First to these lawless
spirits who believe absolutely that l
am turning pirate again. Next to the
admiralty courts. America, Great Brit
ain"-he shrugged-'it will be of no
consequence
De Almonaster watched the face of
the exile who had been the enigma of
diplomats of Britain and generals of
the United States but seven years back
when he shook the dice between them
for the province of Louisiana, and
gave back a captains commission in
the royal navy to fight for the pulling
republic of the West. Slowly the.
younger man was guessing. To rescue
the woman whom he loved meant but
to tear the mask from his own face
to stand before her-Jean Lafitte, the
last pirate chieftain of the gulf-a pro-
scribed outlaw, hunted by the navies
Of the world, dragged out of his OBJ
security of peace to face ring of enc
mics.
'You are my prisoner, sir-when
the end comes" he said quietly.
Raoul stirred, and then turned from
this implacable will. Below he came
upon John Jarvis shaking the sleep
from his swollen eyes.
81 have been forward" grunted the
painter ''There is more hubbub than
ladies' picnic. Bohon and Johannes
cannot keep the dogs from bowling.
Old fellows who have been in the
business before are securing up rusty
dirks, pistols that have nodded ten
years in muskrat trappers' camps
very quiet, the older heads, but wink
ing wisely. They whisper that La
fitte is wise fox to pretend to an at
fair of women when he knows Of the
fat prizes helpless. unsuspecting, In