The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-02-26
Chicago Tribune.
THE PGRATE'A SCRREN DER.


Avast heaving.'
Capt. Foamcrest turned quickly on his
heel after giving this order in the sharp,
decisive tone So habitual to seataring
men, and continued to pace the quarter
deck of the Avenger with regular tread
With hands behind him and eyes steadily
fixed on the oaken planks which upheld
him, he did not look like man on whose
mind was pressing the weight of great
responsibility "a responsibility that, ere
the sun sank to rest beneath the waters,
| might necessitate the shedding of human
| blood. For five minutes he paced the
deck in silence, and then, turning with
show of impatience and speaking in tone
that betrayed irritation, if not anger, he
| again said: "Avast heaving."
The man to whom the command was
addressed, fine, brawny fellow, with
clear eye and honest face = in fact, the
very model of first-cIass sailor-drew in
his head from over the bulwarks and re-
piled: 81 am not"
" How long have you been in the Amer
| lean navy, my man." asked the Captain
in not unkind tones.
"Ten years, sir was the reply.
"And is this yonr first experience ON
the water?''
Yes, sill"
every we'll; avast heaving As soon as
it is convenient"
"Aye, aye, sir" replied the man, hitch
ing up his pants respectfully.
The Captain walked slowly aft and
addressed the man at the wheel" Old
Tom," grizzled sea-dog, who had sailed
the Wabash under Secretary Thompson,
Of Lemont when a hostile constabulary
endeavored to attach canal boat.
GLOW does she head ?" asked the Cap
tain, looking into the pinnacle.
West by SOUTH replied old Tom, Civ
ing the wheel turn and glancing aloft
to see that the topsails were drawing 8 |
think we shall have a capfnl Of wind from
the north tonight he added "Yon
cloud has wicked look
every WE'LL" said the Captain. :" will
tell the cook to lash the beefsteak TO the
galley and make fast the tooth-pick, III
case anything should happen
Night has come.
liz "A NtHStI 10 Why the N1lGf III
gallant style, the white foam curling from
her bow as she comes in STAYS and stands
away on the starboard tack. The quarter
deck is deserted save by Lieut.. Altaut,
whose watch it is. The Captain has gone
below, and the steady, strident snore that
is waited upward tells that he is asleep.
Suddenly one of the lnokouts comes aft
and touches his cap to the Lieutenant.
"There'> a sail on the port bow, sir,
he saws
Lieut.. Alltaut takes his glass and looks
in the direction indicated
cit is the pirate" he says, speaking
calmly, a. do all naval otficers-in books.
"Send a man below to put a clothes-pin
on the Captains nose. And while you
are there bring up my cutlass and a piece
Of pie
The man disappeared.
In the mean time preparations had
been made for the approaching conflict
The men were stationed behind the tul-
warks, and their faces wore determined
look. Nearer and nearer drew the Aven-
ger to her prey until at last she lay along
side the dreaded oyster pirate of the
Chesapeake Bay. Not sign of life was
visible on the craft From the mizzen-
mast weeks washing Tapped dismally
in the night wind. Lieut. Alltaut reached
over the Avengers side and grasped a
shirt, thereby being enabled to hold the
vessels together The men witnessed
this man9uvre in silent admiration. Bril-
liant seamanship always commands re-
spect.
"Ship ahoy" called the Lieutenant.
noise was heard aboard the craft, and
an instant later Black Mike, the pirate,
appeared on deck He comprehended
the situation in an instant, and, drawing a
huge knife from his boot, sprang forward
to cut the tail from the shirt to which
Lieut. Alltaut was holding, thereby allow
ing the Avenger to drift into the dark
ness. The officer was on the alert, how
ever, and felled the pirate to 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, snllenly, you have
caught me at last"
"Do yon surrender? asked the Lieu
tenant.
"No," answered the pirate, with hor-
rible oath ] 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 At a
signal from me 100 copies of Secretary
Chandler's report will be hurled on your
deck"
"My God," said the pirate are you,
then, devoid of all humanity ~
"Yes, replied the Lieutenant mo
quarter will be given if the battle is be-
gun"
The pirate looked in the portfolios of
the Avenger and saw the muzzles of the
documents frowning at him. els this re-
port the usual length - he asked.
"Yes"
And you have really got 100 copies
aboard 2"
"Yes."
Then surrender. A brave defence
is one thing, but suicide is another. >
From the unpublished acorhs at H. Fenni-
more Cooper.
IN THE PARH.OR.
"What does your sister say about
me ?" asked young man of the small