The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-01
THE DUTCH CAPTAINS DEVICE.
GOAL on the starboard bow %

seas, two hundred years ago, every
strange sail was terror to the captain
of q well-laden Dutch merchantmen.
"Can't quite make her out yet" an
swered the lookout at the masthead.
"Looks like brigantine-very rakish
cut, altogether" The captains face
darkened and his lips frightened. They
tightened still more few minutes later,
when the lookout hailed again, "She's
an armed brigantine, bearing right down
upon u.s."
Every face among the crew seemed to
harden suddenly, but no one spoke. In
deed, what need was there of words 7
All on board understood in moment
what was before them. They were
about to be attacked by pirates and
there was not single cannon, not even
an old musket, aboard the vessel
1t was terrible moment for them all,
more terrible for the poor captain. For
years he had been toiling and saving,
bearing every kind of hardship and fac
ing every kind of danger until he had
made money enough to become part
owner of the ship that he commanded.
He had made three successful trips in
a snug little house on the great canal at
Amsterdam, with rosy-cheeked Gredel
WORT, his old neighbours only daughter,
for his wife. And now, all in moment
he found himself face to face with hid
eous peril, which threatened him the loss
of all he had in the world, and his life to
boot.
The crew stood looking moodily at the
approaching vessel, which came sweep
ing over the bright blue sea, with its
huge sails outspread like the wings of a
swan, perfect picture of beauty, though
1t brought death along with it, Some of
the bolder spirits were beginning to NUT
ter TO each other that it would be better
to set fire to their own ship and die like
men then to be flung into the sea like
dogs, when the captains gloomy face
suddenly lighted up as nobody had ever
seen it light up yet, and he burst into
such loud, hearty laugh that the DOOM
ed men stood amazed to hear him =
"Cheer up, lads, he cried, still laughing.
"Alls not over with us yet. Come
knock the head out of that cask of but
ter, and smear the deck with it. Sharp
now ~
The men only stared blankly at him,
thinking he had gone man and even
the stolid mate opened his mouth in
amazement "Do you hear ?'' shouted
the captain. "Look sharp, will you
There is no time to lose. Grease the
whole deck, fore and aft, and the rig
ging, too, as high as you can reach.
Wen give the rascals slippery job of
it, anyhow.
Then the sailors began to understand
and the shout of laughter that broke
forth would have nightly astonished
the pirates, had they been within hear
ing. In twinkling, the deck was
creased until it fairly shone, bulwarks
and all. "Now, boys" cried the cap
tain, ION with your sea boots, and put
sand on the soles to keep you from slip
ping, and then each of you take hand
spike and be ready.
The pirate was now so near that they
could see plainly the rabble of gaunt,
sinewy Malays, woolly- headed negroes,
and sallow, black haired Portuguese that
crowded her decks. A few minutes
more, and she ran alongside and almost 4
before the two vessels had touched, three
wild figures leaped from the pirates
rigging upon the merchantman's deck.
But it was very unlucky jump for all
three. The first man spun across the
slippery deck as if it had been skating
rink, and went right out on the other
side. The second tumbled head foremost
down the hatchway into the cooks gal
ley, where the black cook considerably
piled heap of iron pans on him to keep
him quiet. "Aha, Massa Pirate" said
he, grinning, "dis ship no de Flying
Dutchman,' him de Sliding Dutchman!"
The third pirate had leaped on board
as fiercely as if he meant TO kill the
whole crew at one blow; but the only
man he hurt was himself, for he hit his
head such whack against the mast
that he almost knocked his brains out,
and fell down roaring with pain. All
this so frightened the other pirates that
they thought the ship must be bewitch-
ed, and rushing back to their vessel with
howl of dismay, made off as fast as
possible. For many years after, one of
the familiar sights of Amsterdam was