The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-01-03
HE SURRENDERED.
How the Gallant Avsnger Captured
Black Mike, the Ter
rible Pirate
lohicase Tribune Lakeside Musing.1

lohicase Tribune Lakeside Musing.1
SAvast heavinG."
Capt Foamorsdt tuYpsd quickly on his hsd
altar giving this order h the sharp, deciavs
tone habituai TO sealssipg men and continued
10 pace the quartersdeck Il the Avenger with
regular tread. With hands behind him and
eyes steadily fixsd on the oaken planks which
upheld him he did not look like man on
whose mind was pressing the weight Of agreat
responsibility-A responsibility that ere the
sun sank TO rest beneath the waters might ne
cessitate the shedding Of human blood For
five minutes he paced the deck in silence, and
then, turning with show Of impotence and
speaking in tone that betrayed irritation, II
not anger, be again said, aAvast heaving.'
The man to whom the command was i'd
dressed, a fine, brawny fellow, with clear
eye and honest faoe--in faot, the very model
Of hrstclas sailor, drew In his head from
over the bulwarks and replied: Il cannot
"How long have you been In the American
navy, my man." asked the captain, in not IN
kind tones.
"Ten years, dr." was the reply.
"And Is this your first experience on the
waterr
YES, SIR"
"very well avast hesving a. soon a. II b
convenient"
AYE aye SIR" replied the man, hitching
up his pants respectfully.
The captain walked dowly aft and ad-
dressed the man at the wheel-"Oh Tom"
grizzled sea dog, who had sailed the Wabash
under Secretary Thompson, and seen service
of the rock-bound coast Of Lemont when .
hostile constabulary endeavored 10 attach q
canal boat
"How does she headr asked the captain,
looking into the binnacls
"West by south, replied Old Tom, giving
the wbeal turn and glancing eloft to SEQ
that the topsails were drawing. ~ think We
shall have q cupful of wind from the north
tonight" he added. "Yon cloud has wicked
look"
Every well, )" said the captain. 81 will tell
the cook to lash the beafsteak to the galley
and make fast the toothpicks, in case any.
thing should happen"
Night has come.
The Avenger is cleaving the water in gal.
liant style, the white foam curling from her
bow as she comes In stays and stands away
deserted by all save by Lieut.. Alltaut, whoss
watch it is The captain has gone below, and
the steady, strident snOre that is waited up
ward tells that he is asleep. Suddenly one Of
the lookouts comes aft and touches his cap to
| the lieutenant.
aThere's sail on the port bow, sir" he
says
Lieut.. Alltaut takes his glass and looks In
the direction indicated.
ut Is the pirate" he says, speaking calmly,
q do all naval officers-in books. "Send .
man below to put clothes-pin on the cap
tains nose. And while you are there bring up
my cutlass and piece of pie"
The man disappeared.
In the meantime preparations had been
made for the approaching conflict The men
were stationed behind the bulwarks, and
their faces wore determined look. Nearer
and nearer drew the Avenger to her prey,
until at last she lay alongside the dreaded
oyster pirate Of Chesapeake bay. Not sign
Of life was visible ON the craft. From the
mizzenmast weeks washing tapped dismally
in the night wind. Lieut. Alltaut reached
over the Avengers side and grasped shirt,
thereby being enabled to hold his vessel
steady. The men witnessed this mansuvre
In silent admiration. Brilliant seamanship
always commands respect.
ship ahoyp called the Lieutenant.
A noise was beard aboard the craft, aud
an instant later Black Mike, the pirate ap-
peared on deck. He comprehsnded the sta
alton In an instant, and drawing huge knise
from his boot sprang forward to cut the
tail from the shirt to which Lieut.. An
tsut was holding, thereby allewing the
Avenger to DRIFT into the darkness The
officer was on the alert, however, and fsllsd
the pirate 30 the deck with piece of the
government pie which he had not had time to
eat. The man rose quickly but thoroughly
humbled.
"Well," he said, suenly, "you have caught
me at last"
"Doyou surrender" asked the lieutenant
| "No," answered the pirate, with tsryttte
oath; n will sell my life dearly"
| "Refect on what you are doing" and Lieut.
Alltaut's voice trembled as he spoke "You
are at our mercy. Alta signal from me 100
copies Of Secretary Chandler's report will be
hurled on your deck"
any God, said the pirate; "are you, then,
devoid Of all humanityl'
"Yes," replied the lieutenant mo quarter
will be given IL the battle is begun"
The pirate looked into the portfolios of the
Avenger and saw the muzzles of the docu-
msnts frowning at him. as this report the
usual lengthP he asked.
1Yes"
"And you have really got 100 copies
aboardr
ayes"
"Then l surrender. A brave defense Is one
thing, but suicide Is another. From the
Unpublished Works of j. Fennimore Cooper