The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-11-07
CHAPTER XIII.
THEHopE LAID UP.

CHAPTER XIII.
THERoPE LAID UP.
Well, the positions Of all hands were
simply these. The ice -eyed man. without
snuff. boxor ring OH that mutilated fipper,
with two under pockets in his shirt, and
something in them, pair Of filthy old cam
vas trousers. and no hanger by his side
when there had been 80 much hanging in
the good old Slipped overheard like
conger.eel, and swum on shore at st.
Jngo de Cuba. Without real of wages
for he was to work his passage-and because
he didn't feel inclined TO work, the capitano
in command assisted his agile subordinate
10 kick him all the voyage.
So soon rs the icy-blue man had con-
gealed. rs it were, in the sun until he was
quite dry and frozen again. he skunk away
to the ditch OF the old fort where he thaw.
ed till nightfall, and then entered the town.
Presently coming to the vide streets and
to the outskirts of tue town, he spied large
mule; ready caparisoned for the road. hitch
ed to the door Of house, waiting for his
owner to mount him. The icy green-eyed
individual, disguised for the time with blue
saltwater, and being. rs We know. capital
cavalry man-in dashing charges among the
patricts, and caprioling also up the Blue
Mountain to Escondido-thought he would
take another gallop on the dry ground, Just
to keep his hand aud little finger in, So
be quietly cast off the muless painter, and
flung his canvas legs over the beast as if he
belonged to him. And so he did; for he
told the man ut whose place he passed
an hour or two that night, and who thought
he knew the master to whom the mule had
once belonged. that it had been presented to
him by an old friend, whose name-as had
the mule 's-escaped him.
All this time the one-eyed man, with his
banana woman, Pancha, were creeping along
the water part of the land-with the peak Of
Tarquina in sight-toward Cape Cruz.
bound round that peninsula, and SO on to
the Doce Leguas Keys; while the man on
the mule navigated by the Sierrs del Co.
bre of St. Jago, steering by bride for Man
zanillo. and then to take water again for the
same secret destination.
The cargo they both expected to take in
there was about ten thousand pounds ster-
ling, in miltlewed coin Of various realms
and denominations; but it was there, and
would pass current anywhere.
So they smiled and navigated. 1t was
tedious work, though. And i. took q week
into the Tigers Trap-fne weather and no
sea-and there make fast to the rocks. At
the same evening hour the mule with his
passenger planted his fore feet like pair
of Hedges over his bows, in the fishing viii
lage near Manzanillo, and fouudered bodi-
~, going down with his freight slap. dash in
the mud. The passenger. however, escaped.
and sculled along the shore. where he fell
in with n poor fisherman who was about to
shove of in his trim, wholesome bark, for
professional recreation on the Esperanza
bank.
Glad was old Miguel Tortuga to have o
strong man to assist him for tho privilege Of
joining in slip Of aguardicnte and CATCH
ing n red snapper or two. So they Jumped
onboard and spread the sail.
Had old Miguel, however, seen the shark.
like eyes of his assistant III the sunlight, or
dreamed what a snapper was about to catch
him, he would not have gone fishing that
night; and lit would have saved him much
tribulation at daylight the next morning,
when he WINS picked off n small rock by q
fisher acquaintance of his from Nfanzanillo.
But We have nothing to do with old Mi
guel: and need only say. to console him,
that his staunch boat went safely through
the blue gateway of the roaring ledge Of
lay calmly in the inlet abreast Captain
To 60 back again for week, the Monon-
| gahela-double- banked leviathan as she
was-came plunging out to sea from Hinge
!, ton: every man and boy, from Jack Smith
on her forecastle to Bill Plump in the
spirit-room. and from Richard Hardy
TO Tiny Mouse, knowing from the first
plunge the frigra:e made, what they all
| sailed for.
Sail ho!" Sung out the man on the fore
top sail yard.
Where away?"
Right ahead. sir. A brig on the star.
board tack!"
Ay, the old Martha Blum. bouncing alone
under all s,il, squaring ffat the short arm.
ed seas, and striking them doggedly, az she
bent up for tho Windward Passage between
Hayti and Cuba.
But there was an old sea- bruiser Of o diff
ferent build, who wore the belt in the Wes
Indies, and was after that sturdy old bri5
with teak ribs for hearty set-to; and whel
she came up alongside, in the friendly spar
ring match which ensued while boil
squared their main yards and lay for 81
conversation; SO much talk, in fact-boat
going to and fro, mingled with roars IN,
shrieks, and clasping of hnnds ON loart
the brig-never sound on board the shil
that the blue pennant futtered in such
way it was hard totel whether it was Jacol
or Piron. or the eweet wife, or mademoi
selle, or herlovely mother, who threw thei
arms around thnt pennant's truck.
Then yard-arm and yard-arm, the frigat,
with her canvas canopy of upper sails furled
and the brig in her best bib and tucker, the,
both filled away and moved side by side.
For day or two they went ON, talki n
and laughing to one another in these friend
ly shakes of the hand over the blue water
until one day. the brig being to windward
she came upon an old, water-logged launch
with broken mast and Q torn sail hanRin
over her side.
1t fell calm, and Jacob Blunt ordere
young Binks to get into the yawl and to,
the boat alongside. and to besmart about Il
for the breeze might mike so soon as the 70
= rose, and the commodore was not the ma
TO be kept waiting in big frigate. Nj
Binks was smart about it, and presently b
returned-though there was no hurry, f.
the calm lasted long time-with bis wa
, ter-logged prize.
There was no human BEING in this prize
, but when she came alongside; and var
tackle was hooked on to let the water dmi
} out of her, Jacob Blunt and the people o
} board gave pleasant yell Of astonishmen
by all that's wonderful. here is my Of
!, bag Of guineas, aud some few SPANS
milled dollars! Look at the mark! m
. darlings!"
Another weiehty bag was set aside fc
Mrs. Timothy Binks, and the rest were de
. voted, with some large doubloon reservs
ton for crew, to Martha Blunt and Jaco
. Blunt in their declining years.
Then. the weather being still calm an
I foagy. Jacob and his passengers went Q
board the double banked frigate for Oh urc
service. whore they all prayed with muc
hope and Thanksgiving tor what had pause