An Old-Time Sea Fight.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 132, 4 June 1904, Page 10

An Old-Time Sea Fight.

Oh a clear morning in April, long enough to be forgotten, the Atlnnte, a sloop-of-war, cjrrjing twenty-six ennr.on, floated jauntily out ol her harbour nnd vtcred with the wind toward the open sea. The steeples of Anvers gradually diminished, like tapers melting in flame, while the sportive little ship, with the grace of a dancer perched on a waxed floor, performed serpentine gyrations on the water. The horizon blended with the sea, nil vast and blue, unflecked by cloud or oth^r snil. On the eloop'n main deck, his crossed knees imprisoning an unseated envelope, Ait her portly captain, Broustaille by 'mime, diligently penihing his orders: " Set sail for Boulogue on the seventh. En route take whatever offers. Prisoners are necwmiry, in order to give us information of British cruisers. Double your speed ; your port is close at hand." "Ofcff!" the captain mouthed the word under his whiskers. "From Anvers to Boulogne? A matter of a few hours in this jolly north easier. A few encounters? Possible. Some prisoners* Another affair!" '"Lieutenant," ho bellowed lustily. The scc6r'9 lieutenant hastened forward; his chief handed lam the paper, und watched him read it. ano subordinate indu'ged m a- discreel silence, merely bowing giwrMy, and Brourttull'e, grumbling somewhat, onquirtd : "Do you Know any of those efrKKulftr marines who set eail nboui an hour ago?" " No, cowmander, but I was struck by their appwirn.nce — a beautiful uniform !" "Paibleu! a lot of cox&combs! Wo may try them out later. Tell the b'.oekhei'ds beloiy to show themselves on deck." Broustnill", ironical and severe, inspected each man with an nir of disdain, inspired by ft study of some military engraving. Only one marine winced under the overage scrutiny, and showed resort rmsiit. when the captain giowled, " Fresh-water snilon — nil 1" " Cotrmsnder," th>" roan rotorted> "I was with you on the Huror nt Onessant." Brousfcftillc ejcMTiino'l htm. ' Ah — *h — parbleu ! You are Duthil ! My fellow, I should never have recognised you. Why this d ! «guise?" "Order of the consul," tho f tamn explained, reddening slightly. " Ah, yes, ray poor old chap, I remem ber ; they reformed you from the sea that, yon xnijrht conduct those pastebourd boats along the — the — ah, 1 have it— the Seine ! I had forgotten the name of the brooklet." Laufhter greeted this etillv ; Duthil alone remained silent, mumbling between his set tceth> " We shall see who laughs laet." With one eye on the horizon, and shifting his tobacco from left to right, the captain snorted ane" : " Some prisoners — prisoners, indeed ! Easy enough to command. Hump 1 nothing in sight, Yonder is Boulofnc, here nm I. My old Atltvnt«, btkold your commander, a babe in leading-ttringc. Not a rag to bo seen — yes — y«*d«r— -hold 1 A squitll is coining — a routing squall— and, what ho — famous artun !" A sprinwe, tke forerunner of the squall, spin* hod tk« deck. The captain ran foririirj, and skouted: "Four houzardx to tke maita !" Tke cr«w stood iimazed. What in the devil were houzarda? But Duthil understood the term ; with three of his comrades he swung out on the rigging. Night enmo swiftly. The marines in their oilskin costs mingled with the ciew, vieinj; with them in zeal, howling orders as they slipped along the deck. Without surrendering his dignity, the old seawolf laughed, despite himself, under his cape. Ju*t at dawn, the Atlanto sailed out erf the tempest, only to find herself he*d«d directly for the Scottish const. TV»e crew Rtirrci about with renewed vigour. The wind had spent its force ; a Cr«nt »>.cU inflated tho sea, circling nrour.d Ife6 *loop, which rocked like a ernd-c, (Uoping it* lorn sails. The crew dintributtd itrdf along the ropes to repair tie <iMKA{ed rljrj;inp. " 5Wj» to »i\« stsrboard !" the look out sune; forth suddenly. Sh- ding hie eyca with his hand, Brotistaille dnrted a quick glance at the vessel signaled. Wliht were he colours? The captain stared, for the Grange . ip was

taking to her heels with a vengeance. It was necessary io follow, then ! With a swift turn, the Atlante swung about, tho water drained from her derks, hor masts groaned, the sails righted themselves, nnd tha snug little sloop-of-war took up the chase. The. stranger redoubled her speed, ende 'ring to leach the pro ection of a worship anchored nt port. The Atlante g.iined iteadily, and Broustnille, through his spy-glass, deciphered the nrme Saint Jama* on the side- of his prey, and observed a few led coats en silhouette along her decks. A flash was followed by a trail ol bmoke ns n ball struck the water n»ar the Atlanto. The Intter's i»sponse luck.ly splintered the must of the flying Britisher, and retarded her flight. Tho Atlante drew up alongside, bruising the side of her victim ; huge grappling irons quickly performed their duty. " Board her-!" Even before the word went forth, the French mnvines swarmed the stranger's deck ; the Saint Junes wins captured. She moved to be a met chant craft, homeward bour-J from the Indies, and had be*n one of a convoy from which &ho hrd become sepniatcd in the storm. Fif ccn British soldiers" hnd loaned her their protection, for h r cargo of silk and indtpo wns valued at almost a million. " A rare prize for custom-officers !" With this sage reflection, Broustaille transferred tho Envlbh foldiers to his own s!iip, and lock the Saint James in tow, nfler provid np her with a French crew, ti/.drr eomtvnnd of the second lieu tenant. The Athrile now headed once moro ior Boulogne. "Artio'c fhst — some prisoners. It is done !. Artieio two — return to Boulogne 'ihe wind is good, but this confounded drag cripples me." Broaftaiille cut a frosh plug of tobacco, and mused : While a drop remains in the bottle, it is not yet drunk— a famous proverb that!" > As if to corroborate hit words, the lookout bawled lustily, with no small alarm: "A warship at eUrn, headed for us !" Iho captain signaled his lieutenant on the Sisint James, and shouted: "Cut the ropo, brsnk loor-e, and strike out ior the south. Try to reach France. I will remain here and learn the p.eusure of this rascally frigate. Always stive the prize — especially when she iy worth it I" At. full sail, topped by the English flag, the warship hove in plain sight, looking us 'tall as a church. She was, indeed, a frigate of first rank, with s«venky--four cannon yawning from her tport-holes. i'or br&vado, Broustaille discharged his heavy cannon. A boadside of itnail shot respond eu ; three men lumb.ed over on the deck of the Atlante. Immediately, the E.'oop spun about, making a wide detour, nnd thereby endeavouring to gain the shore — or time. A long chase would lead tkem into the night, at least. . Broustaille swore savngeiy, fairly split,ting4n« throat j orders rained with the rapidity of the enemy's bullets. The Saint James disappeared in the south. JBroustaiile laughed aloud. The Golden Fleece would not be captured ! The prize was sit red ! Duthil suddenly placed himself in front of his captain, winked one eye, and shook the red plume on the i>hako under his arm. " I have an idea," he began. A furious swearing greeted him, but the old fellow was not one to be discouraged by a volley of oaths. "It's a good one," he persisted. "I won't touch a boat, I — '^-" " Go to the devil !" Huthil saluted ; he deemed the au thority sufficient, and dropped out of sight below. He soon reappeared, pushing before him two British soldiers, who advanced like automatons. Duthil carried two bottles under his arm, and held a smnll, scaled packet in one hand. Behind him, two comrades were bringing a huge cntrk, opened at one end, and belted with rope. Duthil politely saluted lie BritiKbprs: "Deign t6 embark, gentlemon."' They drew back. Less gallant than the old marine, a couple of sailors seized the redcoats and deposited them in the barrel, which was qnickly hung over the side. " Bon voyage ! Wait — here is something to kill time." Duthil totted them the bottles and the sealed packet. • I " Set off — it' is a good wind !" The barrel spun round, touched the sea, and the ropes were cut. It tumbled to and fro — a plaything of the waves. | Tumultuous laughter broke forth, on boiVrd tho Atlnnte. . Duthil, mnking a trumpet of his hands, sung out : " Oh, I say, you ennoers, you aTe forgetting yonr little distraction Open the package. It is a deck of cards — nil new. The bottles are stakes. Come, begin, (Shuffle, cut, deal, discard, draw, trump !" Numerous glasses wero levelled at the tu moling cask from the deck of the frigate. The queer craft lay directly in her path, and bid fair to receive some of her shot : it bobbed up on the ctest of the wavo«, revenling its nature and its cretv, Indignant English oaths fell thick ~nnd fast, Tttut the guns on the frigate stopped firing. Broustaille bounded toward Duthil, who stood jesting with the consular marines. " Pirate 1" the cftptain exclaimed, "is I this your work? Are you not ashamed? Do you call this warfnre?" Duthil was not disturbed. # " Patience," he urged ; " the play hto just begun. Wait till more enter. I wager that tne English have hearts. By the saints, yes ! 'I hey trump! . See, commander, it is as I have said. The heart is the trump card. They can not bear to see their comrades in distress. One is a man, even though English !" Th« explosive laughter proved contagious. Broustaille tried to bite his lips, but his cheeks wore distended like two round puffs, his mouth flow open quite against his att ill, and with a report resembling that of s> email gun, his quid of tobacco shot toward the enemy. " Too short — that broadside, commander by a length !" The frigate was forcod to put about, altering her course in order hot to upset the bouncing cask ; then she stopped long enough to take in the refugees, The Atlante, meanwhile, gave her a wide b«rth. Dnthil was exultant. The frigate, renewing the chase, gained st«*dily on the sloop. Behold, then, a second cask, a ntvr couple of red soldiers, a pair of bottles, a deck of cards, and a plunge in the sea ; just at the point, too, when the frigate, recovering her \oM distance, commenced a new volley o bullets. A good bit of hesitation was vow manifest on board the frigate Fearful of losing its prej and angered beyond en durance, the enemy evidently considered disdainine Dnthil's strategy. But humanity prevailed, after all ; the frigate j np;nin put nbout and gathered in its own. The same play, the snmc manoeuvre, and, nt last, the night came. With all her lights extingui&hed, and ; the lnughter of her marines suppressed, the Atlante pave her enemy the slip, and j mado good her way. Dawn found her «nfe in the harbour of Boulogne, where sho had long ago been given up for lost. On her deck, a sedato English sergeant, left alone because he hnd no I partner, approsohed Duthil, nnd asked | him, gravely and politely : " Aw — what do you cnll this trahie you played?" The old man tapped him on the chest " What? You have neither seen nor un-

dersfcood, cadet? Poor boy! Oh, well, it jb ecaiie!' — Ti.iufcluted from the French of Ueorge* de Lys by Mabel Haughton Brown, in the Argonaut.