The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-06
SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 1871
...... Who Is He?
"Who is your friend, Jack?"
"Captain Knight" .
captain Knight?"

"Who is your friend, Jack?'
"Captain Knight"
"And who is Captain Knight?'
ga well dressed gentleman, Who
"Sports magnificent beard, and has ire
proachable Manners added Charles. q
know all that. But tell me something more
am satisfied you can, for I am satisfied 70,
can, for I have seen you talk to him, an,
noticed look of inquiry and intelligence il
his deep black, eye that puzzled me. Il
fact the man has an air of mystery beneatl
his easy and rather winning address, which ha
so provoked my intense curiosity.'
"He is sailor, knew him some years agt
in New Orleans, since when he has been va
riously engaged in his profession. For two
years he has been absent on a venture in the
Pacific, and has, I believe, made money!
Il should think SO, by the way he spend:
it," said Charley, "why, he wears Single
diamond worth five thousand. Yet, thev say
he was poor enough when he left New Y York. :
"Ours is the day of sRdden fortunes, you
know
."Come none of your mysteries with me-
Master Jack Iwant the story, and something
tells me that you know all about it. I have
seen that mans eye upon you more than once
and you are either possessed of some secrect
the safety of which he doubts, or he suspects
you know more than he would have you.''
"And is that your conclusion, most saga
cious reader, of other mems thoughts? Must
every we'll dressed gentlemen, with d dark
beard, who has followed the sea, be corsair?
And must every attorney to whom he may have
confded suit, be the repository of his dread
secret?"
"Bandinage won't answer your turn, Jack,
nor his fine dress and genlemanly appearance
on Broadway a certificate of moral character.
Why, if the pedestrians of that thorough
fare were compelled to carry a window in their
bosoms, or to publish their biographies, we
should have a record of romance and rascality,
farcical, melo dramatic, and tragical, which
would beggar all the creations of novelists
from Eugene Sue and Bulwer to Ned Bunt-
line
''Well, Charley, if tits story that you want
come along to Florences, and let us have
some oysters and hot stuff, to make it pala-
table,
We were soon slowed away in comfortable
quarters, and Charley, proposing to play the
host, ordered a plentiful supply of those good
things which Sherman knew so we'll how to
provide.
''Now, 60 on, jack said my friend, when
the waiter had left us.
"Well, once upon time-'
$50 to thunderp'
II accept the amendment. Seriously then
about six months ago, clipper brig was NOV
ing along under easy sail in the neighborhood
Of the Bahamas. She was armed, and num-
Der of her crew, who were lounging idly on
deck, would have bespoken her man ofwar,
but for the want Of apparent order and disci-
pllne among them. They were nevertheless
fierce hardy set. Over the taffrail, gazing
apparently at the ships wake, was the little,
athletic, and elegant form of the captain. In
his dark eyes, whose smothered fire still glowed
vsibly, was a world of speculation no lines
of thought had wrinkled his fair, marble brow !;
but about the firm mouth played occasionly
those passions which find there an index, and
which even the sternest iron will cannot always
curb an habitual sneer, however-hypocri-
sy's favorite veil-instantly hid the record"
"A true portrait " exclaimed Charley.
"Well, we will leave our captain to his con-
and glance at his less polished
crew, where, perchance we shall CLEAN more
information. There was an animated group
near the mainmast, whose conversation may
enlighten us
"It's slap up in the skipper to give us jolly
good blow out, before we parted, boys. |
mind parting with our tight little craft more
nor thought, thought
''Why can't we lay her up, until our cruise
ashore is over, and then hoist again ?" said one
of the young sailors.
"Cause you know nothin' about it, Jonny
Raw" said rough old salt 'No barkey
ever prospered the second cruise. We ejist tscut-
tie her, and down she goes to Davy's locker,
and not stick to tell tale agin u.s.
You may we'll say that Tom Scupper.-
We've made clean work of it. there amt
stick or bale that floats on the sea to tell where
five gallant ships with their crews have gone
TO-"
"Our captain s Davy's own boy, with his
cold face and red hot eyes, and devsh smile,'
added another. Il hadn't doubt he'd send
his brother over the side with couple of thir-
y-two's to his feet, and keel-haul his father"
''Avast belay there p exclaimed he who
was called Tom Scupper. "He's made our
vhack for us, and, by Cd, there shan't be
any mutiny while we're under orders.'
Haul in your slack, Tom," said bold
'eckless young sailor We've been bloody
pirates, know but should feel easier if some
hings hadn't been done. I mind how that
I'D man and his two daughters begged on
'oard the Indiaman. They swore on bible
lever to tell on us, and offered more money
han the ship was worth to put them ashore"
"'Twouldn't do, WILL to make any 'cep- /
ions. They'll all beg and swear, and then
oeach, and hang u.s. said Tom scupper
"Whew, Mr.. Parson, 'spose we pitch you
,ver to preach to the sharks, eh % T
This was said with an emphasis of dark
md threatening looks that made even the reck
ess sailor blanch.
"In word, Charley, you will understand
hat I have in imagination carried you on
BOARD pirate craft, where, after successful
ruise, they are preparing to sink their ship,
nd scatter over the world to riot on their blood /
often gains. You will also understand that
heir career had been one of relentless and
ll-destroying cruelty"
"While the conversation was going on among
is men, the captain still maintained his list
ess attitude, yet not word had escaped his
cute hearing; and when the concluding
,reat was made. a cold, sardonic smile plaved