The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-08
CAPTAIN brand
THE PIRATE SCHOONER.
SEA.
PART I.
PART I.
CHAPTER IN.
THE FATAL UNION.

the man at the station; then saying in a low
sharp whisper through the tube, a bright
lookout, Pedro!" he resumed his place at
the table. The doctor had in the mean
while got up and gone to the veranda, where,
swinging in o Yncatan grass hammock
shielded from the night wind, lay his little
patient sleeping soundIy. Carefully clos
ing the curtains again around him, he re-
turned TO his place. The rn,lrc was HOW
all awake again, with his thick lips open,
waiting for the captain To 80 on with his
story. AS for Don Ignacio he never stir
red body or limb, but his eyo travelled
about perpetually, and he observed the
movements of his companions, all at the
same time. Still the horse roar of the
pirates i'll their carouse arose from the COW
cred sheds in the calm night, and the two
solitary lights from each masthead of tho
fclucca and schooner twinkled above the
basin of the inlet.
And now, amigos, began again Captain
Brand, aftor he had assured himself that all
was gong on rs he could wish without, II
shall inform you of the sequel of my adj
venture with the Senorita Lucia. The
evening after the night on which had de-
ciarcd my passion, we We're seated ut dim
ner i'll the after-cabn. All! we'll we were
sitting over the dessert, and was relating
to NV pretty passenger some account of my
early days, and Of my lady mother and my
old squire Of father-omitting, perhaps,
some few embarrassing details"
| Here the old commander of the felucca
cacklcd, and his black beady eye glittered
as the Thought flashed through his head as
to what details his villanous compeer Ind
omitted. How he forged his old fathers
name. which brought down his grey hairs
i'll sorrow and disgrace to the grave; and
how his poor mother, too, died of grief to-
scther with other bitter memories, all of
| which Captain Brand the Pirate omitted TO
mention.
Yes, related likewise some of my carly
privateering adventures, when all the broad
Atlantic was alive with the fleets of France,
England, and Spain; how was captured
bya Spanish brigan,ine again
to state that he got upa mutiny with the
crew of that brigantine, poniardel the cap
tain and mate in their sleep, and. assuming
command Of the vessel changed her COL
| ors for n black flag and began his career as
pirate i'll the Caribbean Scl--"aud how
escaped. To all this she listened with
great interest, her large eyes dilating. and
her bosom swelling with sympathy as Ipro-
ceeced, when suddenly the cabin door
opened, and my ugly friend Pedillo put his
head in and gave me warning nod"
What is it, l said. rather sharply, to
Pelillo; and how dare you intrude inside
my cahin?' fear. too, that l came very
near doing mishief to my boatswain, for
am rather impulsive at times. and by the
merest accident happened to have n small
pistol in my pocket.
Don Ignacio twitched his sleeve. and
| looked as if he believed such accidents MS
pistols being found i'll the narrators pockets
happened quite often.
"'Senor,' said Pelillo, there are two sails
standing out from the ice of Culebra Is
land. and one of them appears to be Il
large
Il stopped any further particulars from
the lips of my subordinate bya motion of
my finger, ami then kissing the hands of
the girl-who was somewhat surprised at
what had tlanspired-I felt the cabin and
jumped OH deck"
The schooner was now running down
through the Virgins Passage, between st.
Thomas and Porto Rico, with fine breeze
on the quarter, and the sun was Just sink
ing behind the last named island. I
snatched n spy-elass from the rail and
looked ahead. There, sure enough, was
= sixteen-gun brig on the starboard tack
heading across our track, and large friglte
under single. reefed topsails, stretching
away over tothe opposite shores of Culcbra,
while they were telegmphing bunting one
with another as fast us the bright colorcd
flags could talk. And, rs luck would have
it. us swept the glass round, what should
see but q long rakish corvette in COM
mny With huge whale of II line-of battle
ship, with her double tier of ports glinmer-
ing away in the slanting rays of the sun;
both on the wind and coming out from un-
der the lee of Culebra Point, just Il mile or
two astern of us. by my honor, cabacros.
we were in a trap for wolves, and the hounds
were in full cry! Immediately, however,
lutfed the schooner up and steered boldly
for the frigate; and rs n puff of smoke
spouted out from the lee bow of the admiral
to windward, and before the boom of tho
guns report reached us, l hoisted Amer
lean colors. Seeing this, the brig hove in
stays, and, perhaps being ordered to board
me. came staggering along on the other
tack across our fore foot while tho frig,te
went round too and held her wind toward
her consorts to windward. Now. this was
Just the disposition which wanted of the
vessels, and it could not have been done
better for my planks had been the adj
inilal of the squadron. In less than quar-
ter of an hour the brig-and no great things
she was, with n contemplate battery, rs
could see. of short carrona,les--hove aback
little on the bow of the schooner, and
gave us warning of twenty-pound shot
across our fore foot. to heave to also, ut the
same time hosting the English ensign.
So! ho!" circulated Captain Brand, as
he twisted the point of his nose, accom-
panied by u malevolent scowl, "Senores,
at once hauled flat aft the foresail, dropped
tho al I, a
to round to under the briggs stern; where
ter into the water, and she had Just showed
off in readiness TO board me, when before
you could light II PAPER cigar ran mp tho
main peak, and gotta pull of the sheets, and
the schooner was Off again like shark with
his tin above water, heading for the
narrow passage between Culebm and Crab
Islands, 1t was Mt least five minutes be-
for that stupid brig could believe his eyes,
and ten more before lie got hold of the
boat again, when she filled away and be-
gan to pop gun after gun at me as he could
bring his battery to bear! There was only
one shot that skipped OH board us, and that
only smashed off both legs of a negro. and
then hoped off through the foresail to
windward. Had not had n good dinner
lint day, and pleasant society on board
how peculiarly the speaker smiled-"I
should perhaps have taught tina: brig such
lesson that he would not have cared to re-
port to his admiral. But MS knew l had
the heels of him, and MS the rest of tie
squadron were now arowding all sail and
keeping off in chase of rce, I orle red Pedillo,
Just in touching my hat and saying 'Adios,
TO clear away the long sur. and return the
brig IS salute. The shot struck him inst be-
fore the night heads by the bowspirit, and
by the way the splintcrs flew and jb and
head sails came down, knew had Grip
pied him foi an hour Mt least. At the same
time to prevent any mistakes as to our
quality. and to satisfy the admiral curiosity,
We hauled down thu Yankee colors and set
our swallow tailed flag
Rather dark bunting! MOI" edged in
Don Ignacio.
"Ay. amigo. MS black as that eye of thine.
though not half so murderous. rctortcd the
pirate. as he continued his narrative.
"Bueno, there came the whole of the
squadron down after us. splitting out from
their bride ports mouthfuls of cold iron,
which all went to the bottom of the Virgins
Passage, for not one came within mile of
the schooner; and then led them such ~
dance through that intricate cluster of reefs
and islets, that soon #ftcr dark they gave
up the game, and said 'Buenas nochcs'
to them ALL"
Here Captain Brand paused. made care
full selection of beautifully turned ira
buco cigar from the box. shouted to Bah
cite to produce some old Santa Crux rum,
sugar, lemons and hot Understanding
hot no said-at which the padre crossed
L e.. Al n