The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-03
CAPTAIN BRAND
THE PIRATE SCHOONER.
A TALBOT THE SEA
PARTIi
CHAPTER XIV.

s
a CHAPTER XIV.
THE coMMANpER OF THE "HosAL1E."
THE Rosalie's gig coming alongside.
Iii" reported the quarter master to the Of
deer of the watch
Very we'll. A boatswain's mate and two
sidc-b boys. Mr.. Rat, have tho barge man.
ned and send heron shore for the com,no.
aorc. Mr.. Martin tell the boatswain to call
Ill hands furl awnings"
While these orders We're being executed,
he whistles ringing through the ships, the
sailors lining the white hammocks, slowed
in II double line, fore and aft, around the
MEETINGS of the frigate, in readiness to cast
of the stops and lacings and let fall the
awnings, tho officer OH deck stood near the
sansway, At the same time there trippcd
up theaccommolation ladder, lightly touch
ing the snowy man-ropes, handsome
! Young fellow of about one nd twenty,
dressed i'll undrcss frock-coat, ono epaulet,
t smooth white trousers, and shoes. Catch
ing up Ills sword in his left hand MS he
reached the upper grating of the ladder, he
took off his blue, gold beaded cap, and half
bounded, with springy step. on to the
| frigatc's deck.
"Well. Harry. give us your fist. my boy!
How do You get on aboard your prize! No t
so roomy as the old friglte, Ell? And lit
tie more work than when You were playing
flag lieuteimnt. ch? Well. glad to see you,
but can't stop to talk. So jump down be-
low there in the gun room; the most arc
just through dinner, and yours won't be
ready for an hour yet. Come. bear hand
or Iii let these awnings fall on your new
gold cpaulet."
The new conner tripped rs lightly down
the ladder to the gun-deck rs Mr.. Mouse.
and making another dive down to the berth
deck, exchanging u rapid volley of pleas
antry with the midshipmen in tho steenge,
he opened the ward-room door and entered.
by all that's handsome, here's Darcan-
tel! Why. Harry, we are delighted TO see
you!" exclaimed halfa dozen voices; come,
sit down here and tako glass of wine with
us!"
As the handsome young fellow entered
the ward-room, all faces lighted up as they
saw him.
Here, my saltwater pet, come aud sit
down by me, where all these old fellows
can zee you! Steward, n wine glass for Mr..
Darcontcl! What? you wont take sip Of
Tmta, and you can only stopa minute be.
cause You IRE to dine with your uncle the
commodore, eli? Well, i'll drink your
unclo's health even if you DON'T" said the
first lieutenant, as he fa,niliarly laid his
hand on tho .woung fellows shoulder and
drained his glass,
Why, Harry, what the deuce did you
come down here for?" squeakcd out tho
furscr, as lie unscrewed his lips into u
pleasant smile. you've put IN end to
that interesting account tho master was
giving us Of how he lay in Sandy Hook
for SIX months with glass 10 his"
"Mou'h"-broke in the surgeon.
1t was Sam Jones. the fisherman,
Who was bound to Sandy Hooki
But first upon the almanac
| A solem oath he took
That he would catch load of clams!"
SILENCE there, You roarcr!" said the sur.
seon, rs he popped tibert into the wide
mouth of the roilicking fourth lieutenant,
/ which cnt his song short Off "Ycs, Harry,
that's what you have done in coming here
fer II minute. But stay week with us
and the master will tell it you again. We've
heard it once or twice before"
The old grizzled sea veteran scratched
the remainder of his earand growled jocose-
ly while nodding to young Dircantel.
All, my dear boy! and I'll tell you how
the surgeon and nip cheese there were en-
tertained by one eyed old Spaniard ut St.
Jago."
/ Lets hear it," roared everybody, except
! the metlico and pu:ser. Out with it, mas
teri"
We'll, messmates, when We Wee III the
old Scourge, long time agG one day VIC
anchored !..s IL * Jngo de Cuba"
| Here the surgeon and purser smiled
horribly, and implored the grixzled old
navigator not TO go on; everybody had heard
that old story; lie might fall i'll with the
| vomito prie.o. and would require pills; or
else there might be found mistake in his
pay account; and he would like perhaps,
TO draw for the imaginary balance not due
him, and 10 drink his grog and to scratch
tine remains Of his old car, or turn his at
tention to the load of CLAIMS waiting for
him ut Sandy Hook! But, formercy's sake,
| don't repeat that silly long forgotten yarn!
well, mess-mates in less than an hour
after We had anchored in st. Jago they
/
of little. thin, sharp old villain, with one
eye, who invited them to make him a visit,
and pass the evening OH n fine estate he
owned near the base of the Copper Hills,
some distance-about -four leagues, l be-
licvc-from the town. He was most re-
| spectacle person, very rich, and command
ed n Cuban snarda costa to boot. The
| Capitano Don 1gnacio Sanchez-wusn't
that his name, doctor? Oh! YOU forget
all right! On they started with guide, on
hired mules; hut when they pulled up at
| their destination they found the don WASH I
there, though they were handsomely enter
tanned by the senora-u comely, fat, and
wasplsh body, with very few clothes on
who cursed her don for sending people to
! see her, and the visitors TOO for coming.
/ However, rs her guest had not d;ned. she
fed them bountlfully Oh Il supper of the
nastiest jerked beef and garlic they had
ever smelled. You told me So pursuer."
Both pills and purser had forgotten all
about it, and thought it would be better to
talk of something else; thai there was plenty
of good wine to drink, in place Of drying
his lips OIL such dusty old rubbish.
We'll, mess mates, after snppes the old
lady demanded a little game of monte, and
she insisted, too, on making herself banker,
1 iiIoNsiu sIlh LHN NJ liCucN w luc tlUl0 u
pay in cass she lost--which ghp had no
intention of doing. So she won every
onnce, real, dollar, and centayo they had
i'll their pockets Tho doctor and purse,
told me they saw her cheat boldly; but yei
she not only bagged all their money. bul
she won their mules into the hargain!"
Here these individuals confessed round
ly-startling on the defensive-thnt the
fat old sonora had false pack of cards al
ways ready in her ample bosom, and had
cheated them in the barest manner conceiv.
able; bnt yet they had no appeal and were
inclined. ont of g.llantry for the sex, to he.
have like gentlemen, though she did drink
aguardiente.
well, mess-mates, towards midnight
that hosri.able wife of the don began tc
abuse or friends for not ringing more
cash with them when they visited ladies'
and then fairly kicked them out Of the
house! Yes, you both told me when lent
you the monev to pay tho boatnen. after
being obliged to tramp all tho way back tc
the port on foot, nearly missing their bill.
lets in the old Scourge"
Go OH, master! Tell us all about it
don't stop!"
We'll. mess mates, was on deck while
beating ont of the channel, and just abreae