Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-08
W III o is H e.
4 NEW YORK BROADRIY SCI

all that. But tell me something more I am
satisfied you can, for have seen you talk to
him, and noticed look Of inquiry and intelli-
gence In his deep, black eyes that puzzled me.
In fact, the man has an air of mystery beneath
his easy and rather winning address, which has
50 provoked my intense curiosity"
:" lie is a sailor. 1 knew him some years ago
IN New Orleans, since when he has been va
riously engaged in his profession. For two
years he has been absent on q venture in the
Pacific, and has, believe, made money!
. should think 81, by the way he spends it."
said Charley, why, he wears q single diamond
worth IRE thOHsaHd. Yet, they say he was
POOR enough when he left New York
OURS is the day of sudden fortunes, you
know"
Come none of your mysteries with me, Mas
ter Jack / want the story, and something
tells me you know all about it. / have seen
that mans eye upon you more than once, and
you are either possessed of some secret, 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 well dressed gentleman, with a dark
beard, who has followed the sea, be a Corsair1
And must every attorney to whom he may
have cOnfded suit, be- the repository of his
dread secretl'
BadInage won't answer your turn Jack
nor IS ine dress and gentlemanly appearance
on Broadway a certificate of moral character
Why, If the pedestrians Of that thOroughfare
were compelled TO carry a window in their
bosoms, or to publish their biographies, we
should have a record of romance and rascality
farclcal, melO-dramatic, and tragical, which
would beggeT all the creations of nOyeists from
Eugene Sue and Bulwer to Ned Buntline'' -
Well, Charley, if il is a story you want,
come along to FlOrence's, and let US have some
oysters and hot stuff, to make il palatable
We were soon slowed away in comfortable
quarters, and Charley, proposing to play the
host, ordered plentiful supply of those good
things which Sherman knows SO well how TO
provide.
Now, go on, Jack said my friend, when the
Well, once upon time-''
"GO TO thunder
. / accept the amendment Seriously, then
about six months ago, clipper brig was moving
along under easy sail in the neighborhOod of
the Bahamas. She was armed and q number
OF her crew, who were lounging idly on deck
would have bespoken her a man-of-war, but
for the want OF apparent order and discipline 4
among them They were nevertheless a fierce
hardy set Over the taffrail, gazing apparent
ly at the shipss wake, was the 1.-the, athlet-
ic, and elegant form Of her captain In his
dark eyes, whose smothered fire still glowed
yisibly, was a world Of speculation; no lines of
thought had wrinkled his hard, marble brow;
but about the firm mouth played occasionally
those passions which find there an index, and
which even the sternest iron will cannot always
curb-an habitual sneer, hOwever-hypOcriSy'
fsvOrite veil-instantly hid the record
" A true Portrait exclaimed Charley.
Well, We will leave our captain to his con-
temptations, and glance at his less polished
crew, where, perchanee We shall CLEAN more
information There was an animated group
near the mainmast, whose conversation may
enlighten Us
LIS slap up in the skipper to give US jolly
good blow out, before we part boys. I mind
parting with our tight little craft more nor l
thought though"
Why can't we lay her up, until our cruise
ashore is over, and then hoist again." said one
OF the younger sailors.
Cause you knows nuthin about it, Johnny
Raw, said a rough old salt. mo barkey ever
PrOspered the second cruise. We jist scuttle
her, and down she goes to Davy's locker, and
not a stick to tell a tale agin us''
. You may say that Tom Scupper. We've
made clean work Of it; there amt stick or n
bale that floats on the sea to tell where five
gallant ships with their crews have gone to-"
>'Our captains Davy's own boy with his
cold face, and red hot eyes, and devilish smile,'
added another. Il hadn't doubt he'd send
hIs brother over the side with couple Of thirty
twOs t. his feet, and keel haul his father"
- Ayast, belay there - exclaimed he who was
designated as Tom Scupper. " He's made our
whaek for us and, by Id, there shan't be
any mutiny while We re under orders"
maui IN your SlICE. Tom. S1l1 n DOlU, re- K ]
less young sailor. We've been bloody pirates,
L know; hut | should feel easier if some things
hadn been done L mind how that old man
and his two daughter begged On board on the
In'liaman. They swOre on bible never To tell
ON US, and offered more money than the ship
was worth TO put them ashore"
q Twouldn't do, Will, to make any 'eeptions.
They'll all beg and swear, and then peach, and
hang Us, said Tom Scupper.
4" les, but Tom, we might at least have drown
ed them together, as they asked, when they
saw We hadn't any mercy in Us. Twas too
had 70 use them girls "a We did, and then pitch
EN- over TO hunt for the old man"
" WheD Mr. Parson, 'spose we pitch you over
tO preach to the sharks, eh ,"
This was said with an emphasis Of dark and
threatening looks that made even the reckless
sailor blanch.
8 In a word, Charley, you will understand
that / have carried you in Imagination on
board pirate craft, where, after a successful
cruise, they were preparing TO sink their ship,
anil scatter over the world to riot on their blood
gotten gains. You will also understand that
their career had been one Of relentless and all
destroying cruelty. -----
While the conversation was going on among
his men, the captain still maintained his listless
attitude. yet not a word had escaped his seute
hearing; and when the concluding threat was
made, u cold, sardOnic smile played for an
instant around his mouth. 1t had scarcely
PhsSOA away Nuru al lIuiNiuudl, VINO cIQergeu
from the force part Of the brig, approached.
His step was soft and nOiseless as a cats, and an
observer would have said, when he paused
within two feet Of the captain, that his presence
was unknown; yet, e'er he could utter a sylla-
bic, his superior, without changing position,
said in low, quiet distinct tone:
Well, is il done Antonio l''
SI, SigHOTs," replied the other.
And are you sure there is no mistake -
None, Cap,taHO nio, l swear it by the
holy Virgin, s" said the Italian.
And by the holy devil, you shall have your
reward ButOne word more; you can steer,
Antonio, though in the breeze, the brig steers
nerseif When dinner is piped, you will relieve
ihe man at helm Keep her on her course, and
don t leave your station under any circum
stances unless you hear my bell ring"
81, sigHOrs CapItanOh
No" % and hurry the boys with the grub. :"