The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-24


 band was first organized, the captain and hrst mate were for scraping off the mild inoffensive "Trusty Jane" and painting "Avenger" in It's place, but the boatswain-who was little uncertain as to what course his father might pursue under such circumstances-stood out against 1t. Tn regular pirate fashion a capstan council was called and the decision finally was reached that, while the vessel should be known privately among themselves the "Avenger" she could continue to be known as the "Trusty Jane" to the public at large When this matter was settled, the boatswain began to say something to the effect that he was sure his father would be pleased, but the captain promptly checked his ignoble utterAnce by declar ing loudly that to keep the old name on the stern would be great safeguard in case they tell in with man-o war.
 The suggestion on the part of the crew, by the way, that they should compromise the matter by calling their ship the Averaging Jane" was not even listened to.
 Now it stands to reason that SO long as a ship, be the pirate or honest trader, ia tied fast to a wharf In southeastern Massachusetts, adventurous cruising in her of the coast of the Spanish Main is quite out of the question. Nor, indeed, is adven- ture of any sort likely to be encountered by ships company whose ship, in addition to being thus moored, is not even a6oat save for few hours twice in each month during the flow of the spring tides For all purposes of doing and daring on board Of her, such ship might as well be black smiths shop, or even a small Quaker mteting house.
 As was only natural, not a great while passed after the organization of the band that manned the "Avenger" before the pirates began to feel very keenly the humliating limitations thus imposed upon their piratica scheme The captain, as became captain fit to lead & daring crew, was more de- pressed than any body else by the futity of going through the form of sailing a ship named the "Avenger" that had nevers aied nywhere and, con- sequently, never avenged thing.
 of this feeling of depression was born the bold resolve in the captains mind that he would get his ship clear of the mud in which she lay grounded, and of the cable which held her fast and actually sail away in her to the blue waters which wash the shores of the Spanish Main
 When this notion got into Teddy's head, it was 80 overpoweringly delightful that he scarcely could contain himself, and when, at capstan council, he unfolded it to the rest of the pirates, the greatest possible enthusiasm prevailed. The only hesitating voice that of the crew. whose thought of their sailing away all by themselves, as he weakly expressed 1t but the dauntless spirit of the officers quickly overcsme his ingloriOus tim idity.
 The "Trusty Jane" was round little brig of about four hundred tons burden, and, while sue al- ways had been sea- worthy, she never had been much of sailor. When Captain Nye had laid her up, dozen years before he was not at all sure that he would not fit her out again the ensuing spring, and so had not dismanted her.
 But the whaling business continued to get poorer and poorer, and Captain Nye continued to get older and older, and there really was no chance now that he ever would go whaling in her again.
 He always comforted himself with the thought that perhaps he would get away for just one more cruise and he continued to keep the "Trusty Jane in partial readiness for start, with her sails and running rigging stored in the forecastle and with most of her whaling gear still on board.
 Under thes circumstances, as Capt T. Radford pointed out to the pirate officers and crew at the capstan council, every thing was in good shape for them to go right ahead. All that was necessary was to rouse out the sails and ropes, set them in place and be off, This breezy statement of the case was received with cheers. As to the actual rig ging, these boys were sailors sons, and had been about among boats and ships all their lives, and they felt that they could rig a ship as we'll any one.
 But decided check upon the enthusiasm the