The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-11
CAPTAIN BRAND
THE PIRATE SCHOONER.
ATALEOFTHES SEA
PART ..


CHAPTER I.
CAPTAIN BRAND AT HOME.
Upon broad flat rocky ledge, near q
small landlncked narrow inlet, Of one of the
clustering Twelve League Keys on the
south side of Cuba, stood red-t stone
building. with q spacious veranda in front,
covered by plated mating. and canvass
curtains triced up all round The back and
one side Of the building rested against n
craggy eminence which overlooked the sea
OH both sides of the island, and command :
ed q wide sweep of reef and blue water be-
yond. A few clumps of cocoa nut trees
md dwarf, with bare, gaunt stems and tn f.
ted tops. stood ont here and there along the
rocky slopes, while lesser vegetation Of
thickly over the island, cropping out with
jagged edges of rock, down to the sandy
beaches Of the sca-shorc. A deep narrow
inlet of blue water lay pure and still near
the base of the rocky height, where, too,
;.as shelving curve of white sand, sprink-
led about by Il few mat sheds and on the
other sides the rocks arose to the elevation
of a hundred and fifty feet, and acted as a
precipitous wall to the water. The inlet
here took Il sharp turn, scoopcd out in q
secluded basin ald then narrowing to less
than forty yards in width. it wound and
twisted for n good mile in q thin blue chan
mel to the open sea. Half that distance
further out was roaring ledge of white
breakers. where the long swell came ham,
mering on it. bursting up in the air in
brightish green masses. and then tumbling
over the reef and bubbling smoothly on to-
ward the shore. On level with the wa
ter no channel could be discerncd through
tho ledge; but looking down from the
heights around the inlet narrow blue gate
way was marked out, skirted on the surface
by froth creSts of dead foam, and near
We're tlockS Of cormorants and gulls were
riding placidly on the inner side of the
ledge. The island itself was about two
miles broad anu seven long; and about mid
way of its width the inlet formed forked
strait one branch finding its way to the
north. between low succession Of sandy
hammocks where the water was too shallow
to tioata duck, and the other finding an
outlet, scarcely biscuit toss wide, between
two bluff rocks. With the trade wind this
passage was safe and accessible; but on the
change of the moon, with q breeze and
swell from the south, the sen came bowling
in, in boiling eduies and whirlpools, and it
required q nerve of iron TO attempt TN en-
trance. just within this narrow mouth, on
II flat bevcllcd edge of rock but few feet
above the water, was small battery of two
long eighteen Founders and two twenty
four carronades mounted on slides and
trucks, with platforms laid on bed of
sand. Near by, beneath low shed of tiles
aud loose stones, was IL pile of round shot,
nicely BACKED, and some stands of grape
and canister in canvas bags and cases, to-
gether with a large copper magazine of car
tridges. Seated n little way of, on o low
stool, was a dingy Spaniard with tele-
scope laidacross his knees, which every lit
tie while he would raise to his eye, and take
steady glance around the horizon TO sea-
ward. To return, however to the building
The vennda rested On square rough ma
sorry, full twenty feet from the ground,
which was loopholed for musketry, and
with hut one narrow slip of door way that
with bars and studs of wrought iron.
Within this stone Enclosure was lnrge and
rooiny vault, half-tilleu with cases, barrels
and packages, and at the end of the upper
angle was n narrow subterranean vaulted
passage, barred also by an iron. bound door
which led to succession of whitewashed
chambers, dark. damp, and gloomy. and
then on, i'll n tissure- like pathway, to another
equally strongly secured outlet on the
other side of tho cmg. Leading to the
veranda was tly-stretched rope-lad-
der dashed to eye-bolts let into the natural
rock below, aud hooked on to the edge of
the floor above. This was the only APP
proach TO the main floor of the building
from the outside, though within were
heavy trap-doors like the matches of ship,
communicated to the chambers beneath.
The whole structure was of stone and tiles,
roughly built, but yet strong and durable,
and capable of resisting any assault unaid-
ed by cannon, that could be brought against
it. The floor was divided into four rooms,
the smallest used for kitchen, the next
for magazine of small arms, and the third
spacious bedchamber, which opened into
o large square apartment fncng the veranda,
and which deserved most notice.
! he lofty ceiling came down with the
slant, showing the bare red tiles and heavy
square beams which supported the roof. In
one of the stoutest of these beams was an
eye-bolt and copper strapped block, through
which was rove long green silk rope, with
one end secured by cleut on the wall and
the other dangling loose and squirming,
whenever IL current of air struck it, like a
long. slim snake. Around the sides of the
room, which were paneled with cedar, stood
four or five quaint ebony armories, and as
many cabinets, clocks and book cases, with
here and there woman s work-stand, some
of them curiously inlaid with pearl and sill
Yer. The walls were hung with great
number of pictures of oil kinds of vessels
generally, however, of the merchant de-
houses in the distances, and combining
breakers under the lee; md all portrayiry
gallant crews and buoyant freights. which
probably had never reached their destina.
tions. Among this gallery of marine dis
play was 4 broad framing of the Flags of
All Nations" and codes of signals, too, in
bright colors. hung beside them. In one
corner was large chart stand, covered with
rolls of maps and nautical instruments;
while above was suspended, by white rope
grummets, q pyramidal line of spy glasses
and telescopes of all sizes and makes. Near
the centre of the apartment stood large
round dining table, on which was laid
things for n breakfast. a box of cigars, and
small silver pan OF 1--we Goals. There We're
but two windows TO this room, both hung
with striped muslin curtains, the easements
going to the floor, and looking out upon the
veranda; and but two doors, one leading to
the kitchen. and the other to the sleeping
chamber on the opposite side.
Presently this last door opened, and
pushing aside blue gauze curtain which
hung before it, an individual of about
eight-and-twenty years of nge stepped
languidly into the room. He was talish
man. rather spare in build. aud though pale,
apparently from long illness, yet he was
evidently very active and muscular when
his nerves was called into action. Had it
not been for q choleric curve to his large
nose and little parting at the corner Of
his wide mouth and compressed lips. the
face might have been thought handsome.
The eyes We're light blue, Set close to-
gether, but hard and stony, with no ray of
mercy or humanity i'll them. He wore no
beard, and his l:ght-brown hair was thin
and dry. aud carefully parted ut the sido
He was dressed in white pair Of
loose, drilling trousers. cut sailor fashion,
straw slippers, and silk stockings; and
above he wore brown linen jacket with
largo pearl buttons and pockets. As he en-
f:>ed the room he held a delicate cambria
handkerchief with fine lace border in his