The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-06-10
THE PILOTS gARN,

L
| island channels, in the darkest night and
worst gale ever experienced"
II thsnk you, Captain Masterton,"
answered the old, weather-beaten pilot,
Dan Rawlings who had spent fifty Of his
sixty years on salt water.
II was lucky in getting you aboard"
continued the captain OF the Virginia"
heartily, "for this night you have saved
our pretty cruiser from knocking her.
self to pieces upon the Goodwin
Sands" ..I
ut was q nasty night, captain, and
this craft Is staunch one, or she'd be
drift-wood now,' modestly replied the
pilot, and then he continued: "She re
minds me of trim schooner once
sailed in with Captain Egerton, now
thirty years ago, when free hooters
were rather plentiful in the Southern
seas"
"Ah! then you have had some expe-
rience with these fellows, have youp but
come into my cabin and l will brew
hot punch, and it may cause you to let
run your tongue-tackle in a yarn of
buccaneer times" and the cruiser hay
ing let fall her anchor in quiet cove,
| the captain beckoned to some OF his Of
ficers to follow, and led the way to his
cabin, treating the pilot with the marked
respect his skill and courage had won
during the past few hours of storm and
danger
Brewing delicious punch it did un-
loose the tongue OF the old pilot, for af-
ter dashing off his second glass, he
said 'bluntly:
$50 you'd like me to spin a yarn o
the days of pirates, captain and gentle
menp'
A general assent was the reply, and
Pilot Rawlings cleared his throat Of the
salt spray, and began:
1T was over twenty years ago, gen.
tlemen, that was sailing Catain Eyer
ton in the Constitution, and his bust
ness was private-hunting, the Secretary
having given him rowing commission
to run off the sea few ships that al
ways left a red wake after them.
Owe had visited the Isle Of Pines,
and several other buccaneering haunts,
and had captured several lagoon pi-
rates, when we sighted schooner
which ! had often seen before, and
which was known TO be under the COM
mand of man who answered to the
hail of Captain Cain.
1T was said he had once been Brit
ish naval officer, but had killed his
brother from jealousy, they both loving
the same girl, and had fled to sea-
where he took the name of Cain, on
account Of his crime; but whoever he
was he knew how to handle craft in
action and in storm, and got rich of
Spanish and Portuguese treasure-ships,
with an occasional dash at an English
or French vessel, for he never robbed
an American merchantmen, and always
ran from cruiser flying the stars and
stripes, though he'd fight double his
weight under any other flag.
well, we spread our canvas and gave
chase, but he kept ahead of us well,
and though seemingly able to drop us,
did,not do so.
Sat length we headed him off 30 that
he had to run in toward the coast Of
Cuba, which he did in style fhat
showed us he had often gone in there
before, for he held steadily on and soon
disappeared from sight in an inlet that
penetrated into the high, bold coast.
at was only blowing three-knot
breeze, but that was enough to knock
our forefoot of, il we struck any of the
numerous reefs saw around us, so we
shortened sail to just enough to work
the craft, and, going into the foretop,
piloted by narrowly watching the water
ahead.
'In this way we got into as ugly a
hole as ever saw, and soon after
dropped anchor in the inlet, which l
was sorry to see was not safe harbor-
age, except with the wind off shore.
"A dozen lagoons, or creeks, seemed
to run of from the cove further inland,
and in one Of these we knew the pirate
must be hidden; but as it was nearly
sunset, we concluded to wait until
morning, well knowing he could not
run out without passing us.
81, however, took the gig and rowed
ashore alone, for wanted to examine
our surroundings, and landing at a
pleasant spot, was engaged in looking
around me, when I was surprised by
seeing gentleman approaching me.
'He was dressed in uniform, and was
as pleasant looking man as one could
wish to meet, and politely raised his
cap, while he said in perfect English
"Good evening, sir; you are from
the American schooner, believer
"'Yes, SIR answered, wondering
who he was.
"'And may I ask who is her COM
manderP'
Certainly, sir; Captain Egerton.'
II saw him start. and, thought,
turn pale; but he said, pleasantly
present my compliments to Cap
tain Albert Egerton. and say to him
there is q hurricane threatening, and
he had better put to sea before dark,
or his vessel will be lost in that cove
"This made me little suspicious OF
his desiring to aid the pirate and so
asked him
"'And who might you be, STRIP
"Tell Captain Egerton that Edward
Herbert says he is in deadly danger
where he now is and again bowling he
turned away, when called out
"'And are you Edward Herbertp'
H'OnCe. SIR that was my name. now