CHAPTER VII. (Continued.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 392, 10 August 1889, Page 4

CHAPTER VII. (Continued.)

The pilot and captain were at the wheel, and the direction, weregiven to the engineer in whisper througrh a speaking tube; the sounding ot the bell might indicate our whereabouts to some neighbouring Federal cruiser. Though it was only five o'clock in btoe afternoon, this fog was as good a protection, if not better, than the darkness of night. As I stood leaning against a <sobton bale, my nerves seemed to be more powerful than those of ordinary men, my excitement was so great. I caught a motion of the second officer of the vessel, who stood near me. He went forward silently to the captain and touched his arm, and looking through tho mist, 1 saw a light glimmering in the fog about a hundred yards away. The captain muttered, as the second officer pointed this out to him : ' The light of a Yankee flag-ship. She has to keep a light, as she is ab anchor. Some of the cruisers might run into her/ We passed the light. Receiving no hail, and hearing no commotion on her decks, I gave a sigh of relief, which the captain echoed. But not a minute after this my heart gavo a jump. There was a whizzing sound thiough the air j for a moment I thought it must be a shot, bub looking into the heavens, I saw the fiery tail of a rocket through the mist. 4 Curse her !' growled the captain ; 'she suspects something, and has sent up a signal. There will be a lob of them around here and around us in a few minutes !' With that he whispered something down the sp3aking-bube to the engine-room. The vessel seemed suddenly to double her speed and fly through the white, thick clouds of vapour that wero around her. Bub now, bo bhe horror of everyone on board, this vapour, as we sped along, seemed to grow lighter and lighter, and the captain muttered to himself : *My God ! the fog is rising !' Then the pilot grew pale, and whispered: i There is a very good chance of our being captured this trip.' The captain muttered, ' I have made three in-and-out runs this year, and d d if I will be captured this trip, or any other !' I As for me, my heart was as light as the j dancing waves through which we rode. If captured, I would be sent north ; and if we reached Nassau, I could take a vessel for New York. I ivaa out of the Confederacy, that was certain ! My joy was so great that it was impossible to keep it out of my face, and the eecond officer as he passed gave me a scowl, and said : ' What are you looking so d d happy for V As for the captain, he seemed to be thinking deeply, and burning some plan for escape over in his brain. The vessel continued her speed. Suddenly a low, dusky outline appeared in the mist upon the port side of us. Both the captain and pilot gave u start, and grasped bhe handles of bhe whee>l more firmly. The next instanb a cry of tb c second officer and a wave of his hand csoised me to look to starboai-d. Another low, dark outline could be seen upon that side of us. Both, however, were a little forward of us — one upon our port, and the other upon our starboard bow. " ' Two cursed Yankee cruisers !' muttered the second officer. The next instanfc thunder apparently broke into the mist. The lightning flashed, and the thunderbolts seemed to fly through the air. The Engli&h captain, gave a low chuckle, and aaid ; 'D— n them, those two Yankee beggars are peppering each other !' (for nob a shob came near us). ' Now bhey will be so occvipied they won't notice me. 5 He whispered something to the engine100m, turned a few spokes of the wheel, and the little blockade-runner seemed to revolve upon her axis and return over the path by which she had come. ' What are you doing V gasped I. ' Going back to Fort Fisher us quick as we can,' muttered the second officer. 'We will try it again to-night !' These words almost made my heart stand still. Going back to Fort Fisher ! Going back to the Confederacy, from which I had escaped ! Would Ibe able to conceal myself, and sail out again on their next attempt ? The chances were not one in ten thousand, with my escape known in Wilmington, and Mr Peter Bassett upon my trail. My only hope now was that ice, should be captured ! In returning, we were compelled bo run close to the Federal flag-ship; and the mist was not quite so heavy, Wibh bhe courage Iborn of desperabion, as we neared the admiral's flag-ship I shrieked out wildly to the top of my lungs : ' Ship ahoy ! Stop this blockaderunner !' My voice rang out through the still air, causing a commotion om the Federal flagship that I could see ai ? well as hear, but causing more commotion i and sui prise upon the decks of the blockad e-runner. A pattering hail of nirtJtsket balls began to fall upon us. The United States marines had opened fire ! ' Ship ahoy !' I cried again. I could see the re<i-/aced English captain dancing a jig of." rage as he stood ab bho wheel. The second oificer was cursing, and running toward me, a belaying pin in his hand. I cried : * Ship ahoy \ Stop this block — ' At this instant a £ lash, of lightning seemed to strike my brain. I reeled and fell upon the deck. My last fleeting, conscious glance saw the second officer wibh his belaying pin raised for anobher blow. Then bhe mist seemed to close around me and night to come ;upon me. There was a surging in my ears, a roaring of waves in my brain, and nothing !