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ST Scale of Miles,-
~nr Imch ? 5 MlLE5.%
Point Clear Cavalcade
HE hush and stillness of a starlit morning lay upon the broad face of the Mexican Gulf. Low on the southern horizon, the Scorpion gleamed and sparkled, casting his image, in reflection, across the quiet waters. No faintest light of dawn had yet shown in the east.
The surface of the great gulf rose and fell, heaving gendy, as if some monster breathed sofdy, in its sleep; and riding this slow swell in massive dignity, the towering bulk of a stately ship showed like a great shadow against the luminous dark of the night. Her riding-lamps cast rippling paths of gleaming light along the waters, the great, golden lanterna that marked the commander?s cabin, aft, rising high above them all. Just above the lanterna, catching the soft glow that it cast, were draped the heavy gold and crimson folds of the banner of an Admiral of Spain. Beneath it on the commander?s deck, stood the Admiral himself.
Though it was still night, no soul on board was sleeping. The men stood in little silent, huddled groups in the gloom along the lower decks, waiting. Lookouts strained their eyes anxiously into the surrounding darkness. Except for the soft creaking of cordage and ropes and the gentle, seasoned murmur of the ship?s timbers in their labored motion, a tense, tight silence held all on board in its breathless spell.
Presently, through the silence, came the sound of a voice, speaking.
?You will hold her steady as may be, Carlos. We shall be but little longer without wind for our sails?but little longer, without light for our vision.?
At sound of the Admiral?s firm tones some of the men on the decks below, and aloft, in the shrouds and rigging, turned momentarily, as if to catch his words to the steersman; and a low hum of comment and