Weekly Calaveras chronicle. (Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, Cal.) 18??-1874, 1867-10-26
The Pilots Revenge.


first of September 1884. A small Eng
lish war brig which had been fitted out
for the suppression of smugglers, was
lazily creeping along over the heavy,
monotonous swells, just on the coast of
Galway, and on her deck was being en-
acted scene of more than common in
terest, The day before she had cap
tured a small boat laden with contra
band articles, together with an old man
and boy who had charge of them, and
the captain of the brig, whose name
was Dracut, had ordered that the SNUG
glers should be put in irons. To this
indignity the old man made stout re-
sistance, and in the heat of the moment
had so far forgotten himself as to strike
the captain a blow which laid him on
the deck. Such an insult to an Eng
fish officer was past endurance, and in
punishment for this offence the snug
gler had been condemned to die.
A single whip was rove at the star
board fore-yard-arm, and all hands were
called to witness the execution. The
rope was noosed and slipped over the
culprit's head and the running end was
rove through a small snatch block upon
the deck. Until this moment not a
word escaped the lips of the boy. He
trembled as he beheld the awful prep
arations, and as the fatal moose was
passed and drawn tight, the color for
sock his cheeks and he sprang forward
and dropping upon his knees before the
incensed captain.
"Mercy, sir-mercy!' "For whom p
asked the officer, while contemptuous
sheer rested upon his lips. "For that
old man whom you are about to kill"
"He dies, boy.'' "But he is my faith
err, sir" ono matter if he were my
own father, that man who strikes an
English officer while in the performance
of his duty, dies "But he was man
acled-he was insulted, sir,' urged the
boy. "Insulted "' repeated the captain
"Who insulted him ?" "You did, sir, p
replied the boy, while his face was
flushed with indignation. Get up,
sir, and be careful that you do not re-
ceive the same treatment said the
captain, savagely.
The old man heard this appeal of his
son, and as the last words dropped from
the lips of his captor, he raised his
head, and while a look of the utmost
defiance passed over his features, he ex-
claimed: "Ask no favors, Robert; old
Karl Kintock can die as we'll now as at
any time; let them do their worst"
Then, turning to Captain Dracut, he
changed his tone to one of deep suppl
cation, and said: "Do what you please
with me, sir, but do not harm my boy,
for he has done no harm | am ready
for your sentence, and the sooner you
finish it the better"
clay hold of the whip shouted the
captain clay hold, every man of you,
and stand by to run the villain up"
In obedience to this order, the men
ranged themselves along the deck and
each one laid hold of the rope. Rob
ert Kintock looked first at his father
and then he ran his eyes along the line
of men WHO were to be his executioners
But not one sympathizing or plying
look could he trace. Their faces were
all hard and cold, and they all appeared
anxious to consumate their murderous
work.
"What ~ exclaimed the boy, while
a tear started from his eye and his lips
trembled, sis there not one, even, who
can PITY"
Cup with him." shouted the cap
tain.
Robert buried his face in his hands,
and the next moment his father was
swinging at the yard-arm. He heard
the passing rope and the creaking block
and he knew that he was fatherless.
Half an hour afterwards the boy knelt
by the side of a CHASTITY corpse, and a
simple prayer escaped his lips. Then
another low murmuring sound came up
from his bosom, but none of those who
stood around knew its import. 1t was a
pledge of deep revenge!
Just as the old mans body slid from
the gang board into the water, vivid
flash of lightning streamed through the
heavens and in another instant the dread
artillery of nature sent forth a roar so
loud and long that the men actually
placed their hands to their ears to shut
out its deafeniug power. Robert Kin
took started at the sound and what had
caused sdread in other bosoms sent a
thrill of satisfaction to his own. "Oh
revenge, revenge!' he mutteredto him
self, as he cast his eyes over the foam
crested waves which had already risen
beneath the power of the sudden, raging
storm.
The darkness had come on as quick ly
as did the storm, and all that could be
distinguished from the deck of the brig
save the breaking sea, was the fearful,
craggy shore, as fash after flash of
lightning illuminated the heavens
blight ho!" shouted a man forward,
and the next moment all eyes were d.
rected to bright light which suddenly
flashed up among the distant rocks.
The wind had now reached its height
and with its giant power it sent the i'll
fated brig directly upon the surf bound
shore of rocks and reefs, and every face
save one was blanched with fear In
vain did they try to lay the brig to the
wind, but not sail would hold for an
instant, until at last the men managed
to get up a fore and main storm stay-