The Blockade Runner — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

254 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. identity was unknown to any one on board the priva- teer. The general impression prevailed for a time that the craft, which was rapidly overhauling them, was a Yankee cruiser. Finally, when the mist and rain dissolved and the atmosphere cleared, Powers’ signal created a decided sensation. oS ae Mr. Jackson, the second officer, had charge of the deck, and he duly reported the signal, the import of which was read to mean: “Lay to till we speak you.” si Bentham received the intelligence without a quiver, and coolly directed Jackson to return a suitable answer. Directly afterward the second steamer seen from the Seabird’s deck shot into view out of the mist bank fast receding to the westward, and Bentham, fully alive to his desperate situation, gave the signal to Jupe, who at once crawled forward to the forecastle, dropped -into the chains and sent up the rocket, which, if the stranger was a Yankee war-vessel, as seemed likely, would be understood at once. The sending up of the rocket caused great commotion on board the Destroyer, for it was evidently a signal to the enemy, who was observed to change her course and stand directly for the privateer. Bentham watched her approach with anxiety. =< As she drew near her appearance grew more and more familiar to him, until finally he felt assured that she was his own ship the Avenger, which he thought was miles and miles away on her regular mission. Bentham now observed that the first steamer—the one OO (a) com booksteo