The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-06-02
THE PILOTS YARN.

"Wen, Mr.. Rawlings, you certainly
deserve credit for the masterly manner
You have run our vessel through these
! island channels, in the darkest night and
worst gale L ever experienced.
Il thank you. Captain Masterton,' -
| answered the old, weather. beaten pilot,
Dan Rawlings who had spent fifty of his
| sixty years on salt water.
Il "I 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.h
at was nasty night, captain, and
this craft is a 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
We're rather plentiful in the Southern
seas" =1i-d . t'7- 'i'-t -''-@ittf
..Ah! stheny you have had some expe-
| rienee with these fellows, have you? but
come into my cabin and will brew q
hot punch, and it may cause you to let
| run your tongue-tackle in yarn of
| buocaneer times,' and the cruiser h,v-
| ing let fall her anchor in a quiet cove,
| the captain bcckoned 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
I danger. nee
Brewing a delicious punch it did un-
loose the tongue OF the old pilot, for af-
ter tashing off his second glass, he
said bluntly: :"
5 ''Sofyo,i'd like me to spin yarn o
the days of pirates, captain and gentle
men2''
A general assent was the reply, and
Pilot Rawlings cleared his throat of the
/ saltsspray, and began: 1900; if.a
I II at .w;ls over twenty years ago. gem
tlemen, that L was sailiuy, Catain Eyer
ton in the Constitution aud his busi-
ness was priVate- -iihiitiha, the Secretary
having given him 4 revihy commission
to run off the sea ,s few ships that al
ways left y red wake. after them. ;.E,
I'VE, had visited the Isle of Pines.
and several other buccaneering haunts,
and had captured several lagoon pi-
,aies, uwi.Ans I'VE sighted Ia schooner
which ! Lad roften seen before, and
which was known 10 be under the COM
mand Of 4 man Who answered. to the
hail of Captain Cain. isoeS liadi -i18.
5fIt was s,sid hclbad once been Brit
.ish naval otlicer,, but, had killed his
brother from jealousy they both loyi,s.
tie same Girl, and had fled to sea
where he took the name of Cain, g.
account of his crime; bnt whoever ,Et
was he knew how to handle q craft in
action and in Storm. and got rich oh
J Spanish and Portuguese treasure7shipf
with an occasional dash at n, EnglIs.
or French vessel. for he never robl,ec
: an American merchantmen, and always
ran from cruiser fly ing the stars and
stripes, though he'd fight double his
weight under any other flag. '' I
3ssWelf, we spread our canvas and gave
ichase. ID but he kept. ahead of us we'll
and though seemingly able to drop US.
did not do sn.
SAT length we headed him off 80 that
he had TO run in toward the coast OF
Cuba, which he did in q style that
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.
'.It was only blowing three-knot
breeze, but that was enough to. knock
our forefoot of, if we struck any of tho
numerous reefs i 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. -sI.
I'm this way we got into as ugly a
hole us [ ever saw, and soon after
dropped anchor in the inlet, which
was soriy to see was not safe harbor-
age, except with the wind off shore.
"a dozen la9oons, or creeks, seemed
to run off 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
pleasant spot, l was engaged in looking
around me, when l was surprised by
seeing gentleman approaching me.
...He was dressed in uniform, and was
rs pleasant Il looking man as one coulI
wish to meet, and politely raised his
cap, while he said in perfect English
sat'' Good evening, sir; you are from
the American schooner, | believe"
"'Yes, SIR l answered, wondering
who he was. % -5i"
".And may 1 ask who is her COM
mander?' .....s... -.s4 -ss .a
:. Certainly, sir; Captain Egerton.'
II 's:lw him start, and, l thought.
turn pale; but he said, pleasantly
.''Present my compliments to Cap
tain Albert Egerton, and say to him
there is hurricane threatening, and
he had better put to sea before dark.
or his vessel will be lost in that cove
''rhis made ME Il little suspicious of
his desiring to aid the pirate and so
asked him l4 q
e ss.And who might you be. STRIP s.,
fis.' Tell Captain Egerton that Edward
Herbert, says he is in deadly danger
where he now is and again bowing he
turned away, when called OUT
..And are YOU Edward HerbertP' ''[
: '.Once. sir. that was my name; now
men call me Captain Gain. 'ssjsJS -fb.-.
il 0sIssprungq toward him. my hand on
my 'cutlass. but he laughed lightly and
said:ss - 4sago aAl Ius .sHisid nia9
.h :. Beware, for. half a hundred. brave
fellows. have their eyes on You. aud il
.youbdoYhtl it, you have but to- advance
neafer to me. iiuf3ssal98u sis se ga =
II did not Doubt, it, and he TUNED
away. while I made my way back to the
boat and then to the cruiser, aud told