The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-05-13

= Gall on the >l1luOIII DOW.
"Nhat i sheg" asked Captain Mar
tin Picterszoon. looking anxionsly in
that direction: for in the Eastern seas.
two hundred years ago. every strange
sail was terror 10 the Captain Of .
well-laden Dutch merchantmen.
Cant quite make her out yet. an
swered the lookout at the masthead;
looks Ike q brigantinc worry rakish
cut altogether.
The Captain face darkencd. and his
lips ,ishlencd They frightened still
more few minutes later. when the
look out hailed again. "Sie' san armed
Dr.gantine, bearing right down upon
us
Every face among tho crew seemed
10 harsitn suddenly. but nc one spoke.
Indeed. what need was there Of words?
All o. board understood ia q moment
what was before them. They were
about 10 be attacked BY pirates. and
there was not single cannon not even
an Old mnsket-- aboard the vessel.
Il was terrible moment for them all
more terrible still for the poor Cap
tain. For years he had been toiling
and saving. bearing every kind Of hard
ship. and facing every kind Of danger.
until he made enough money 70 become
part owner Of the ship that he com
manded. He had made three success
ful trips ia her, and was now going
home for good. 10 settle himself in .
snug little house on the great canal ~
Amsterdam. with rosy-checked Gredel
| Wort. his old neighbours only daughter.
for bis wife. And now, all in q mo-
I ment. he found himself face 10 face with
hideous peril. which threatened him
4 with the loss 81 all he had in the world,
1 and his life 70 boot
The crew stood looking modify At
! the approaching vessel. which came
/ sweeping over the bright blue sea with
It's huge white sails outspread like the
| wings u swan "a perfect picture Of
\ beauty. though il brought death along
with il. Some Of the bolder spirits
were beginning 20 mutter 70 each other
| that il would be better 10 set fire 70
their own ship: and Dir like men, than
be flung into the sea like dogs, when
the Captains gloomy face suddenly
lighted mp - nobody had ever seen i
light up yet, and he burst into such q
loud. hearty laugh that the doomed
men stood amazed to hear him
Cheer up. lads he cried. still
laughing; "all's not over with Us yet
Come. knock the head out 81 that casl
Of butter. and smear the deck with Il
sharp, now!'
The men only stared blankly at him
thinking he had gone mad. and ever
the stolid mate opened his heavy mouti
IN amazement.
do YOU hear?" shouted the Captain
look sharp. will YOU? there y n,
/ me 10 loose. Grease the whole decl
fore and AFT, and the rigging, too, q
high rs YOU can reach. Wen give thu
rascals 4 slippery job Of Il. anyhow.
Then the sailors began 10 understand
and the shout Of laughter that brok'
forth would have nightly astonishe'
the pirates had they been within hear
ing. In twinkling the deck wa
creased until il fairly shone, bulwark
and all.
.Now. boys. " cried the captain. \ Of
with your sea boots. and put sand d
the solcs 10 keep you from slipping
and then each 81 you take handspiko
and be ready
The pirate was now so near that the,
could sec quite plainly the rabblc o
! caunt, sincwy Malays. woolly-heade'
negroes. and sallow. black-hsired Portu
, cuesc that crowded her decks. A fcs
, minutes more, and she ran alongside
and almost before the two vessels ha,
touched, three wild figures Icapcd fron