Bloomington Progress, Bloomington, Monroe County, 9 February 1900 — Page 3

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Jbe Sea Vn$. f-A ROMANCE OF THE WAR OF 1812.-X

By e APT AIM MATVRyTVT.

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CHAPTER XIT. (Continued.) "Otherwise the Sea King!" continued Sutherland, looking sternly into the eye -of his companion. "Otherwise the Sea King," repeated the stranger, convinced that deception for the future was useless. "And Captain Mamly?" "Is in South America," returned the stranger. "But in what part of it I know not; he left us at Rio de Janeiro." Sutherland heaved a sigh a sigh of disappointed revenge. ''And now, sir. since I have been explicit with you, I have a right to expect 'that you will deal in the same manner -with me. How knew you this ship?" "It would benefit you nothing to know how I obtained the information," said "Sutherland. "You must be convinced that I am better acquainted with her than ;you perhaps might wish me to be." "Sir, you mistake," replied the stranger. "It is to me a matter of no importance whether you are or you are not. ignorant of the internal arrangements of this ship. I believe I have a right to make what dispositions I think proper and suitable on board here." "True, sir, true!" rejoined Sutherland. ""And upon th at principle you have substituted the- banner of old Spain for the flag of your own country." The countenance of the stranger red--dened at this remark, and for a moment he was at a loss to reply. But recovering his self-possession, he said that his -country "had at least no cause to complain -of the change. "That may or may not be," returned Sutherland. "But as there is a mystery Changing about the character of the ship I leel it my duty to investigate it. Where Ibave you been since the proclamation of peace?" "As I question your right to make that -demand," said the stranger, "I do not consider myself bound to give you a definite reply. I may have been trading in Europe ; I may have been slaving on the -coast of Africa; I may have been smuggling upon the coast of China " "Or you may have been plundering in 4he Caribbean," interrupted Sutherland. "Take care, sir!" exclaimed the stranger, with a deep frown upon his brow; ""take care, sir; you are on board of my hip now! Be discreet in your language, or you may never quit her; you are my uest, too, sir. I would have you also recollect what is due to the forbearance -of a host." "I never suffer my private relations to interfere with the discharge of my duty," said Sutherland; "and, as regards your threat, you must, when you uttered it, lave, forgotten that you were under the ;guns of an American ship of war." The stranger's lip curled with a smile of significance at this remark, but he made no immediate reply. "I am here," continued Sutherland, "to protect the commercial interests of the United States. If, then, you are disposed to clear up the character of this ship, I am now at leisure to examine your papers. During the war this vessel was engaged in the privateer service; but, since Its termination, I suspect the duties she has performed have been of a very different nature. I may wrong you in this suspicion, but k is in your power, if I am in error, to correct me." "Many thanks, sir, many thanks; butr as regards your suspicions, you are at perfect liberty to enjoy any opinion you may form of this ship; for, be assured, I shall not make the slightest endeavor to alter it." "Enough, sir," said Sutherland, rising from his seat; "were we at sea, I would capture you upon my own responsibility; but as it is I will be obliged to denounce you to the Governor." "Stop one moment," said the stranger, with a smile, half sarcastic and half mirthful, "you are so very kind that I will not permit you to take even that trouble. Read that, sir." Sutherland took the parchment, and read with astonishment, a protection, signed by the Governor of Havana. "In other words," said Sutherland, folding and returning it, "a commission to commit robbery and murder whenever and wherever an opportunity may present."

CHAPTER XIII. The stranger smiled again, but was silent. Sutherland sought ts boat, and in a few minutes regained the deck of the Sparrow Hawk. Informing Yarnall of the suspicious character of the bark, he desired him to have a strict watch lept on her movements; and, furthermore, to heave short, and have everything ready for getting under way at a moment's warning. There was a knock for admission at the cabin door a little later. Sutherland started to his feet, and Mr. Yarnall entered, and informed him that the bark was heaving up her anchor. "I'm glad of it; he shall be ours the sooner. Is everything ready for getting under way?" "Everything." "Very well; let him clear the Moro, and then we'll follow him." The two then ascended to the deck; but the bark was already moving through the water, having nothing set, however, save her jrb and spanker; under this sail he stood along for some time, and then, contrary to SutherUnd's wishes or a-

pectations, she hauled down her jib. and again let go her anchor. Shortly afterward, men were seen at work upon her yards, and in a little time her courses and topsails were unbent, and every apparent preparation made for a protracted stay in port. "Mr. Yarnall," said Sutherland, "I have concluded to inform the Governor of my suspicions as regards that bark. It is to effect this purpose that I am now going on shore. Her commander knows very well that I would follow him were he to put to sea, and may have unbent sails for no other purpose than to deceive us; it is my wish, then, that you keep a strict watch upon his movements, and if you perceive the slightest indication on his part to clear out, you will show three lanterns at the peak; it is not probable, however, that he will attempt anything of the kind until after dark." Sutherland was soon swept to the shore. On getting out at the mole he desired the cockswain to be at that particular place at 9 o'clock, and proceeded at once to the quarters of the Governor. Though long beyond the hours set aside for official transactions, he was received by that functionary with all the characteristic courtesy of his nation. "I am sorry," said Sutherland, "to have intruded myself upon your excellency's attention at this unseasonable hour, but the business I am on is of a nature that will not admit of the least delay." "I am at your service, Senor Captain." "Your excellency," resumed Sutherland, "is no doubt aware of the numerous depredations that have been committed upon the commerce of all nations by the piratical cruisers which for years have infested these seas." "I am, indeed," returned the Governor; "and, Senor Captain, have for a long time used every exertion in my power to free the ocean of these scourges, but, alas! without avail." "Your excellency states that which has been proved a melancholy truth," returned Sutherland. "I fear that nothing but a general crusade of the powers of Spain, France, England and America will effect the object you have so much at heart. They have all interests at stake in this quarter, and should at once combine to preserve them from violation." "They should, indeed, Senor Captain." "The object of this visit is to inform your excellency that there is now within the harbor of Havana a vessel of suspicious character. I myself have been on board of her, and can say witfi. certainty that she is no fair trader upon the waters. They call her the Santa Maria. A close observer might have noticed a slight change in the countenance of the Governor, but like a flash it passed all away. "And has the picaroon had the impudence to pull inside of the Moro?" "Your excellency might have seen her before sunset with the banner of old Spain waving from her spanker-gaff; she had unbent sails before I left the Sparrow Hawk, and by this time has no doubt moored ship; for by her movements I should suppose that she was preparing to make a long stay in port." "Now, by San Pedro, he shall make a longer stay than he himself had anticipated; if you will excuse me one moment, Senor Captain, I will write an order for the immediate arrest of her commander and crew." Sutherland bowed, and the Governor scribbled a few sentences, then folded, sealed and delivered the document to an officer on guard, with instructions to send it at once to the person indicated by the superscription. After this his excellency became extremely communicative. Various subjects were in turn discussed, and the hour hand of the clock pointed past ten when Sutherland rose to depart The night was unusually dark, and a light, drizzling rain rendered the light of the street lamps dim almost to obscurity. Sutherland passed hastily to the mole; a crowd of boats surrounded it on every side, and the night was so obscure that it was some time before he could ascertain the precise place that he had appointed for his gig. At length, singling her out, he descended the stairs. "SpaTrow Hawk!" "Here you are, sir," responded a gruff voice; and Sutherland, stepping lightly in the boat, threw his sword upon the stern sheets and took his seat. "Shove off!" exclaimed he. The oars fell with a common plash, and the gig commenced dashing through the water. Ten minutes' rowing brought them alongside. "Way enough," exclaimed the coxswain ; the oars were tossed and the boat checked beside the accommodation ladder. Sutherland seized the man ropes and ascended to the gangway; but his astonishment may well be imagined when, upon gaining the deck, he found himself on board the Sea King. "Drop the boat and hook her on," exclaimed a voice from the quarter deck. "Stop!" said Sutherland, "here is some mistake." "No mistake whatever, sir," said the commander of the bark, coming forward, and passing to Sutherland the salutation of the deck. "What mean you, sir? this is not my ship." "No, sir; but you must for a little time content yourself on board of her." The eyes of Sutherland flashed fire at

this remark. "No never not for one moment!" exclaimed he; and stepping back a pace, he felt for his sword hilt, but found that it had been abstracted from the scabbard. "Ha!" muttered he; "and have my own gig's crew aided in betraying me?" "Captain Sutherland," said the commander of the bark, "it is useless to agitate yourself further; my own safety and the preservation of my ship and crew obliged me to practice this deception upon you. But harm is not intended you; and you are as safe on board here as if you stood upon the quarter deck of .the Sparrow Hawk. I was well assured you would follow me if I attempted to go to sea; and though I have every confidence in the superiority of the Santa Maria as a sailer, still I thought it better to incur no hazard; and, therefore, have adopted the only expedient that can prevent your ship from getting undcir way at the same time." The manner of the commander of the bax-k was respectful and suasive, and a little reflection restored the calmness that Sutherland but seldom forgot. "You perhaps are. justifiable in the step you have taken to secure your own safety, although at this moment I am ignorant of what it may be; you prevailed upon my boat's crew to deliver me into your hands, but for what purpose I know not." "Captain Sutherland, you deceive yourself," replied the stranger; "it was one of my boats that brought you alongside, and your own gig has been at the stern davits of the Sparrow Hawk longer than an hour." This added yet more to Sutherland's surprise; and now for the first time, he comprehended the full extent of the stratagem. The Governor's pretended order for the arrest of the commander of the Sea King was, he supposed, an intimation of what had passed between them in conversation, and a desire that the Santa Maria should be put to sea immediately. This Sutherland implicitly believed, for he remembered the Governor's eageraess to detain him until late, and he attributed this show of extreme courtesy to a wish on the part of his excellency to gain time, in order that her commander should have space and opportunity to mature his plans. "And my object in effecting this measure," resumed the commander of the bark, "is to detain you on board until we have cleared this harbor and secured an offing. The Sparrow Hawk cannot, I am certain, get under way without an order from Captain Sutherland." "How long, then, am I to remain your prisoner?" "But a few hours; there is a fine breeze blowing now, and I hope before morning to put miles of blue water between my ship and the Island of Cuba. When we have cleared the port, I will send you on board of some entering vessel, and if there should be none without, I will give you my stern boat, and you can come in with the sea breeze to-morrow. But, Captain Sutherland, it is not my wish to put you to the slightest inconvenience. There remains a condition, which, if you promise to adhere to, will liberate you at once." "Nanv it," said Sutherland. "Pairuse me, upon the honor of an American naval officer, that you will not leave the harbor of Havana for thirtysix hours, and I will at once send you on board of the Sparrow Hawk." Sutherland hesitated for a moment, but conceiving no other alternative, he replied: "I promise; but at the expiration of that time I shall get under way, and proceed in search of you; and whenever I meet you upon the ocean, if I should be so fortunate, remember, I shall take forcible possession of your ship; and furthermore, I shall leave no means untried to find you out." "As you please," replied the stranger, thoughtfully; "I would rather not encounter you; but if I am so unlucky as to fall in with your ship I shall most certainly do everything in my power to defend my own." "It will be a waste of blood to do purpose," returned Sutherland. "The Sparrow Hawk is twice your superior in efficiency." "Admitted," said the stranger; "but, notwithstanding this, the Santa Maria has engaged her with success.'' "When and where?" demanded Sutherland, in astonishment; and even then a vague suspicion of the circumstance rushed upon him. "Within the present month, off the Bahamas," replied the stranger. "It was you, then, who hailed us that night?" "It was." "We parted in a squall." "We did." Sutherland said no more, and the commander of the baTk walked forward and ordered one of the cutters to be lowered and manned. "Farewell," said Sutherland; "in thirtysix hours I shall follow you." "Thirty-six hours and a fair breeze will put more than one hundred miles of salt water between us. You must spread out all your canvas if you would overtake La Santa Maria!"

CHAPTER XIV. When the time allotted the Sea King for escape had expired, the Sparrow Hawk's anchor was hove up, and she stood out to the harbor of Havana under a press of canvas. As it was Sutherland's avowed intention to search for her in every poit of the West Indies, he shaped his course for the Windward Islands, and touched at them all in succession; but his expedient was ineffective, and the last one of all the group sank again in the blue waters of the Cai-ibbean without his having obtained any tidings of the vessel in question. Dispirited at such ill success, he put his helm up, and again returned to leeward. For three days the weather continued favorable, the breeze blew fresh and fair, and the sky was without a cloud; tat l$ie morning of the fourth dawned Joweriugly upon the ocean. With the first indications of dawn a dvad calm fell, and the air became oppressively hot and difficult of respiration, cloud after cloud, too, piled upon one another, and the entire mass grew blacker and blacker, until night seemed to triumph

over the coming day, and again resume her ebon throne in the concave realm above. Sutherland came on deck with a countenance unusually anxious. "Mr. Topblock," said he. "give me the trumpet T fear we've a. hurricane brewing about us the barometer has fallen rapidly within the last half hour, and it still continues to descend." As soon as he finished this remark he commenced issuing the neecssaiy orders for reducing sail; the topsails were close reefed, the mainsail was snugly furled and the foresail close reefed; the flying jibboom was also rigged in, the Jib hauled down and the fore-storm-staysail set with both sheets trimmed flat alt. While these dispositions were going on aloft the carpenters on deck were battening down the hatches and rigging the pump gear; men were setting up the boats' gripes, the quarter gunners housing and securing the battery, and all hands, in a word, employed in getting the ship ready to buffet for mastery with those awful blasts that still at times sweep over the Eden-like islands of the Caribbees, hurling their smiling towns and villas into terrific ruin, and carrying desolation abroad upon their waters. The sky continued to darken, and the lightning now gave out the only brightness that guided the work of the mariners, and as its vivid rays darted along the deck of the ship the countenances of all on boai-d glowed with a ghastly hue, and they seemed to have rolled up to the zenith, and there it commenced crashing in awful and rapid explosions. Still it was calm; not a breath of wind stirred abroad, and the anxious mariner elevated his palm in vain to ascertain the direction of the expected wind. "Mr. Yarnall, this is terrible!" said Sutherland, turning to his first' lieuten ant. (To be continued.)

Woman'u Courage Failed Her. Two married women of the northern section of the city are regular attendants at the theater certain nighti each week. Their husbands, owing to the nature of their occupations, arc unable to accompany them, so they go alone. One of the ladies resides three squares from the cars and the othei nearly two squares, both on the sam street. The lady who lives farthest from the cars was asked by her husband if sho was not afraid to walk the distance alone. "Afraid?" she answered. "Do you see that?" producing a wicked-looking, long hatpin. "If any man should address me I would stab him." One dark night recently the twe wives alighted from the cat at theii usual place and started homeward, cheerfully chatting about the play. They had gone half a square when a man suddenly appeared from an alley. His hat was slouched over his eyes. At a glance the ladies concluded h was a suspicious character. Thej slowed up to let him get past, but he slowed up also. Then they walked faster; he did the same. As they neared the home of one of the ladies th man was very close to them. The one who had boasted of what she would do when an. opportunity occurred foi the use of the hatpin broke in a dead run for the middle of the street, down which she hurried like a wild gazelle, After she had gone fifty or sixty feel a familiar voice rang out: "Say, Nan, Where's your hatpin?" It was her husband. She still declares that it was the meanest thing he ever did. Fop Evil or for Good. The essence of the grandest sayings appears to be that in such sayings tht speaker flings down his glove to all the forces which are fighting againsl him, and deliberately regards himseli as the champion in some dramatic conflict the center of which he is. Cromwell's "Paint me as I am," and more elaborate, though not more memorable, "I have sought the Lord night and day that he would rather slay me than pu1 me upon the doing of this work," 01 his reputed saying of Charles, "We will cut off his head with the crown on it," all implied his supreme conviction thai he was the involuntary minister of a great series of providential acts. It is the same wkh Mirabeau's inflative bul still genuinely sincere avowal in the Constitutional Assembly, "When 1 shake my terrible locks, all France trembles," and his brushing away ol the thought "impossible," "Nevei mention that stupid word again." When a man once manages to comiress a strong character good or bad

into a pithy sentence which claims to regulate die conduct of others, he lives after death in a sense denied tc the great majority even of men ol genius, though his posthumous liff may be either for evil or for good. The Cases Were Different. A story is told of au ex-judge In Nw Jersey avIio is cashier of a bank. On? day recently he refused to cash a check offered by a stranger. "The check if all right," he said, "but the evidence you offer in identifying yourself as the person to whose order it is drawn is scarcely sufficient." "I've known you to hang a man on less evidence, judge," was the stranger's response. "Quite likely," replied the ex-judge: "but when it comes to letting go ol cold cash we have to be careful."Baltimore Sun.

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