The Blockade Runner — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

112 Zihks BLOCKADE LUNI. don’t wish to lose any time getting into Nassau, and the closer I get to yonder craft, as things stand, the less of a detour | will have to make in order to avoid her guns and eventually to outstrip her.” “T see,” she said, with asmile. ‘“ How far off is she now ?” ‘About five miles.” “T wouldn’t think it, captain.” “ Oh, distances are very deceptive at sea.”’ The frigate was heeled over under the breeze, and made a beautiful picture in the sun, which flashed prismatic rays from her copper sheathing along the water. | She was reduced to easy sail, but Powell saw that her canvas hung in such a way that within two min- utes she could have all sails spread, even to her kites, such is the rapidity and precision on board a man-of- war, “Tl wager that fellow is dragging a sail astern of him to retard his speed,” said Officer Egan, coming up, olass in hand. *“ An old trick, Mr. Egan,” responded Powell. “ “But it won't do him any good. The wind is dropping, I believe.” “Yes, sir.” ‘Alter our course about half a point. That will be enough for the present. We need only keep out of range of his guns, you know. They have easily rec- ognized our character by this time. How mad they’ll all be to see a rich prize escape them so easily! I guess she isa new vessel on the Bahama station; thougi what good she can do without steam beats me. Sha probably carries a heavy battery, but I fancy no stes:n Comicloookssce@