The Red Cloud chief., 1881-06-23
Ill ON the s,srboarl bow"

w hat is shc" asked Captain Mar
tin Pic,erskoon. hooking anSioasly IN
that direction; for in the Eastern seas.
two hundred years ago. every strange
sail was y terrier To the Captain OF a
well. laden Dutch merchantmen
Can't quite make her out vet" an
swerrd the lookout nj the mast heal
''lcoks like n ~brigsn,inc very rakish
cut altogether"
The Captains face iarkcned. and his
lips frightened. They frightened still
more a few minutes later. when III.
look out hailed again. ''She san armed
brigantine, bearing RICH, down upon
us.'
Every face among the crew seemed
10 haTien suddenly. but n" ono spoke.
Indeed, what need was theirs II words
All ou board understood in n moment
what was before them. They were
about to be attacked by pirates. and
there was not q single cannon not even
an old musket--abosrd the vessel.
IL was n terrible ome for them NIL
-morc terrible still for the poor Cap
tain. For years he had been toiling
n saving. bearing every kind of hari-
ship. and facing every kind of danger.
until he made enough money to become
part owner of h ship that he com
manded. lie had made three success
full trips in her. and was now going
home for good. Ia settle himself in n
snug little house on the great canal nj
Amsterdam. with rosy-checked Grcdcl
Wort. his old ncighbor : only daughter.
for his wife. And now. ail In a mo
ment. he found himself face la face with
q hidcous peril. whic., threatened him
with the loss If all he had in the world.
and his life To boot
The crew stood looking moo.iily nj
the approaching vessel. which came
sweeping over the bright blue sea with
its huge white sails outspread like the
wings of n swan a perfect picture IL
beauty. though il brought death along
with it. Some of the boider spirits
were beginning To muttcr to zach other
that il would be better to set fire tn
their W ship. and die like men. than
be- flung into the sea like dogs. when
the Captains gloomy face suddenly
lighted up n nobody had eyer seen il
light up yet, aud he burst into such n
loud, hearty laugh that the doomed
men stood amazed to hcar him.
Cheer up. lads" he cried. still
Come. knock the head out IL that cask
Of butter. and smear the deck with IL
sharp. nowr'
The men only stared blankly nj him.
thinking he had gone mad. and even
the stolid mate opened his heavy mouth
in amazcment.
do you hear" shouted the Captain
Look sharp. will your Their, is no
{ me to loose. Grease the whole deck
fore and aft, and the rigging. too. NJ
high rs you can reach. Well give the
rascals n 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 il fairly shone. bulwarks
and all.
Now. boys" cried the captain. o
with your sea boots. and put sand on
the soles to keep you from slipping.
and then each Of you take a handspike.
and be ready"
The pirai. was nov 20 near that they
see quite plainly the rabble Of
gaunt. sinswy Malays, woolly-henied .
negroes. and sailow. black haired Portu-
guesc that crowded her decks. Afew
more and she ran alongside.
md almost before the two vessels had
three wild figures lcaped from
he pirates rigging upon the merchant
mans deck
But IL was a very uniuckv jump for I.
three. The first man spun arro<- /,
he slippery deck ~ IL IL had been a g,
rink. and ven right cut into f,
he SEA pa b other side. The ,eeond I
umbled h~eat-foremo-t down the hatch
way into the cooks galley, where the
cook CONSIDERABLY piled n bean
If iron pans on him to keep him quiet I
Aha. Massa Pirate" said he. grin.
ing. dis ship No de Flying Dutch ,
Dsn.' him de Sliding Dutchmanr- 4,
The third pirate had Iesped on board
y hercely n IL be meant % kin the
Whole crew n o blow; but the oaly
nan he hurt VA himself, for he hit M.
esd u . vhsck against the mat
bat he almost knocked his brain. os,t
fell down roaring with pain All Q
ms 40 frightened The osher pirates that 0
hey thought the ship mus be be- .
and rushing back to their own p
e.sei with = bowl Of dismIy. made OF =
5 fast ~ possible. a
For many ye><s after. one Of IN. d
smiliar sights q Amsterdam Wa n
ortiy old gentleman With . ioily red q
'ee- a, sigh, Of whom the bsys used :, .
egin singing. O
-Cspsssn Nartaa Ps~s~rnr, II
HsSe bss snie . tusser~1 ssn- ~
M mrs vile "a never tired Of shovfo1 .
Re huge silver ~butfer-dish presented q, y
i'm IN honor Of his repulse IL IN. pirass !,
nm cssk OF bufser.-Docsd key. IN I,
foss5 Ropzs =,