Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-09-24

as he walked with his tarry hand so as t,
make them discourse most eloquent music, h,
went from tavern to tavern to find crew.
The guests crowded round him at the enticinl
sound.
"Who is for the Grenouille2" said he
''she sails this afternoon"
"I-T-Il" cried they with one voice.
game leg2"
"Ihave only little coolness with the gov
ernment just now"
"You are n deserteri''
eyes, Captain"
"Nothing moreY'
"Nothing more at present"
"There are forty francs ship yourself at
once. And you with the plaster on your
eye 2"
"The police are such ugly fellows hate to
look at them."
"Y0u are an escaped prisonerY"
Yes, captain"
You belong to the Grenouille. And you
with the down look ~
"I was in the purser's department of q
government ship, and the bloody rascals ac-
| cused mel
"We shall hear the story again. You are
now In the purser's department of the Gre
nouille but mind this, brother, the first ci-
pher you turn into a nine by putting tail
to 1t, l shall take off your head from your
shoulders, and SO make cipher of you"
This arithmetical sally was received with a
roar of laughter which made the glasses
jingle and, in fine, by the time Captain Gre
nouille had made the tour of the taverns, a
crew was collected which comprised the choi-
cest rufHanism of the place.
| That afternoon the whole population ran
along the rocks to SEQ the Grenoulle leave the
harbof. The sight was worth the trouble;
for as she got out into rough water, she ap-
peared to pass between two seas, like wea-
vers shuttle between the threads. Nothing
was visible but the mighty sail hinging its gi-
gantic shadow upon the water, and the legs
| of the crew, who were squatted listlessly at
tn PORTFOLIOS, leaning their chins on the
breeches of the guns, and smoking with i'm
perturbable gravity. The next afternoon the
Grenouilfe returned with imperturbabe grav-
ity. The next afternoon the Grenouille re-
turned into the harbor, towing after her an
English brig loaded with sugar and tobacco.
But we have no intention to record the bat
ties, victories, repulses, flights, and escapes
of the Grenouille.. Such narratives have now
become nauseous, from the frequency of their
appearance, and the change that has taken
place in the taste of the public. Suffice it to
say that the vessel became the terror of the
channel; and her captain, Notwithstanding
his awkward build and breeding, the very
Roland of privateers. 1t may be matter of
surprise that little, fat man, with bullet
head and great stomach, should have acquir-
ed and retained 30 perfect command as was
necessary for the success of the letter of mar
que over the most desperate crew that ever
floated on blue water but Captain Grenouille
had such ways of persuasion as no human
| being could Withstand. When he ordered.
implicit and instantaneous obedience was me-
cessary: but not because he spoke louder
than usual, or had recourse to such ungentle-
down with handspike far from it. II a
voice or hand was raised beyond the desi-
rable pitch, he invited the discreet individual
to his cabin; and pouring out for him glass
of rum from his Oldest bottle, addressed him
in some such terms as these:
"Now do, brother, beg Of you, treat me
with little more Kindness Lam as true a
comrade as ever fellow had, and even now,
so far from being angry, you see am as mild
as lamb. But my dear frieni, don't do so
again; for it would compel me-you know it
would, old chap-it would reduce me to the
really unpleasant necessity of blowing out
your brains with this pistol. There, it is all
amicably understood between us and now,
take another glass of rum-it is real good
stuff-and jump to your work again like a
rigger ~
This remonstrance never failed of this Of
feet and for the simple reason, that every
man on board knew that Captain Grenouille
would do what he said-"seeing as how" he
had already done it more than once.
Captain Grenouille was widely different
one remarkable particular. He was no mig
gard of his money, and yet no spendthrift.-
He was devoutly attached to the sea, but at
the same time had a passionate desire to be
landed proprietor. He was, in fact,a Norman
rs well as rover; and he garnered up from
time to time the produce of his lawful piracy
in fields, and barns, and COWS, and cider-mills.
An economist priyateer must needs be ter
rible phenomenon, and Captain Grenouille
was this phenomenon.
But Captain Grenouille was not alone in his
glory. He had rival from the other side Of
the channel who was rs distinguished scoun-
drel as himself. The real name of this worthy
we regret to say, is not on record; but his
soubriquet was Beggar-Captain Beggar-and
the vessel he commanded was schooner cal
led the Hunger. Among his crew were some
regularly bred seamen but the greater num-
ber were.smugglers, thieves, ruined gamesters,
and banlzrupts-t miscellaneous vagabonds,
in short, who, in this amphibious country,
take to the water by instinct when the land
becomes too hot to hold them. Captain Beg
gar himself had been bred to the law, and is
even said to have practised as barrister /;
and his early studies were Of great benefit to
him in sundry predicaments arising in his
new profession. He was little young man,
like the French privateer; but, unlike him,