The Blue Clipper — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

15 THE BLUE CLIPPER. - Meanwhile the smuggling system seeming to strengthen rather than diminish, made trade very dull. “Have you heard the news?” said Captain Watson, one day to Mary—his vessel being at this time in port, The young girl was seated upon the veranda of the mansion, Which commanded a good view of the guif. Her small, white hand, listlessly clasped, rested upon her lap, her luxuriant black hair fell in beavy masses down her shoulders, forming a peculiar contrast to her clear complexion. Meanwhile the large brown eyes, turned seaward, were sid and thoughtfiul— the snowy brow now and then contracted into a slight frown, yet not enough to mar the superior loveliness of the face. “No,” she answered, half turning the lithe waist to look at the captain, who stood by her side. “ Well, the smugglers, hitherto a myth, have taken shape —have turned to timbers, blue jackets and sea-boots.” She half smiled, rot wholly comprehending him, “Tn a word, we Government cruisers have come across a suspicious craft—a low-hulled clipper schooner, the Doran, Which, from information obtained, contains a formidable erew of smugglers. We are all in chose of that craft, which, I can assure you, Miss Clare, is a wonderful sailer. From .6tem to stern she is painted BLUE, 80 that, at a distance, her hull ‘seems to mingle with sky and water! She has but lately appeared, nd is a saucy craft to catch. She’l] give us all a long chase.” “What are you doing here, then?” said Mary, a little mis- chievously. “TI should think you would be after this won- derful BLUE CLIPPER also !” “So lam. For that very reason I am now in port. When last seen, the BLUE CLIPPER was heading hitherward. I am watching for her, and hope I may be tortunaté enough to make her crew also look blue.” The captain then departed. Mary remained on the piazza, By and by up came the moon over the eastérn seaboard, throwing a-leng flood or pathway of silver light across the water, | Some ofthis light, extending to the garden, fronting the piszza, threw a soft, mellow luster over the shrubbery, full of fragrant blossoms and fruits, The garden containa?fanaele com er wih ay : ee ait Ri ee