The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-12
CAPTAIN BRAND.
TIE PIRATE SCHOONER.
A TALEOFT THE SEA.
PART !.
CHAPTER NvII.

CAUGHT IN A NET.
| At the first grey flush Of dawn on the fol-
lowing day Captain Brand was astir again,
and before the sun went down behind the
waves the schooner had been transformed
into brigantine, her foremost reduced,
new standing rigging fitted for it, with II
new bowsprit and hcnd-booms, her rail
raised four Or five feet OH shifting bull
warks and a temporary house built on
deck over the long gun. She was also
painted afresh. with n white streak; and
with false head-boards OH her bows to hide
her snake-like snout of q cutwntcr. no one,
unless in the secret, could have known that
the clumsy box for . merchantman lying
there was once the low, swift piratical
name in the West Indies. Still the work
was driven on with scarcely any intermis-
s!on-a few hours repose for the crew ut
night, and an hour for dinner in the day;
but as fer Captain Brand, he never slept at
ala doze for an hour or two, perhaps, on
his settee i'll the saloon, and cup of ten in
the morning, with cigar smoke satisfied his
frugal requirements. The next day by
noon the water and stores were got on board
the hrigantinc, her magazine slowed, the
dnnnage Of the crew transferred from the
sheds, the captains camphor trunks on
board. the cabin in order. the sails beat,
anchors on the bows. and. swinging to q
hawser made fast tothe rocks, the vessel
was ready to put to sea ut any moment.
"Pedillo, said Captain Brand, as his
vigilant gaze took in all around him and
then rested Oh the schooner-"Pedillo, You
may warp the vessel down to the mouth of
strewed some taggots ready for lighting in
the sheds. Whom you get 10 the Trap tell
the gunner. Gomez, to take gang of hands
and give that battery n good coat of coal
tar, plug the vents of tho guns and bury
carriages and I'LL i'll the sand beside the
magazine. Tell him to destroy the powder,
and pitch overheard all he can't conceal;
and let him bear hand about it, for We
STALL sail with the last of the sea- breeze to-
ward sunset"
And. Pcdillo"-here the pirates voice
dropned toa whispcr-"col1c back afterthc
vessel is secured, and bring that Maltese
fellow without nose with you. II will be
rs we'll, perhaps for you to provide your
self with n few fathoms of raw hide strips,
as we may have occasion to use it. QUEEN
snbe.'
Senior Pedillo's black wiry beard fairly
hris,lcd as he grinned Understandings at
his superior, and, getting INTO little bit of
canoe at the jetty, he padded off to the
hrigantine to execute his orders.
Meanwhile Captain Brand slowly bent
his steps towards the house under the cmg,
aud rntcredthe spacious saloon for TIL,
last time. On the bare table, too. was his
last dinner, served OH q few odd dishes and
cracked plates.
"Iiabette, old girl. said lie rs he sat
down TO this repast, you have bottle of
old Madeira and IL flask of hook left. Mop"
The negress shook her head violently,
made the sign of the cross, and by other
tel"graphic motions gave her mastor to UNI
derstand that Padre Ricardo had dropped
in, drained both bottles, and then had recled
off on beard the brIgantine.
~ he drunken. selfish BEAST" muttered
Captain Brand; "it will he the last taste of
wine he will swallow fora long time"
The pirate WAS quite correct in his
schemes for the PADRES reform; for the next
copious draugbt the holy father imbibed
was the briny saltwater from the Carrib-
lean Sea.
Well my BAHIA, Il drop of water then!
Thank you, old lady. Here's to your health
!
blubber SO over my hand-good- bye!" And
passedaway from Captain Brands sight
the only creature in the wide world who
loved him.
Captain Brand did not lingcr long over
his frugal dinner, and when he had finish
ed, as if he had not had enough exercise
for the last three days, he began to walk
with long nervous strides across the saloon.
He called me coward, did he? anu dared
to lay his hands OH me! BY my right arm,
my Creole doctor, I'll teach you not to call
hard names again, and I'll paralyze your
hands forall time to come
The pirates jaws grated like rusty bolt
ms he Kissed out these murderous threats;
but rs his eye caught the slurming green
silk rope, as he swung round on his heel in
his walk. he paused and muttered
That bitof stuff may be of use. I'll take
it by way of precaution.
Hereupon he rapidly unrove the cord
md coiled it away in the bosom of his shirt,
Then. looking ut his watch, he said: "IIo!
the time approaches, and here comes Pc
dillo."
Lighting u cigar, he left his dwelling for
the last time; and, after pausing to hear IL
report from Pcdillo that his orders had
been executed and the vessel all ready for
sea. and whispering few precise directions
i'll return, Captain Brand mounted up the
steep face of the crag again, aud accosted
the signal hlan ut the station
+ Anything i'll slght?"
Nothing to the eastward, capitano; but
it has been n little llazy hero away to the
southwark since meridian, and can hardly
see through it.
"Bucno, my man! give ME the glass, You
can 30 on board the brigantine. I'll take
last look myself"
While the signal-man scrambled down
the crag Captain Brand rested the spy
glass on the trunk of the signal cocoa nut
tree, whose skeleton like fingers of leaves
ratified above his head like agibbeted pirate
in chains; then lie searched long and stead
lily along the hazy horizon. As he WAS
about, however. to withdraw his eye from
the tube. something's mere aim speck-
arrested his attention. Quickly dropping
his glass, and as rapidly rubbing the large
lens md carefully adjusting tho joints, he
raised 1t again, rs II backwoodsman does his
rifle, with an Indian for mark. For full
five minutes the pirate stood as mo:ionless
as the crag beneath him, intcntly gEring
through the tube at the speck in the dis
tanea At last he let the glass fall at his
side, and pulling out his watch with n Jerk,
he muttcred to himself:
1T is large and lofty ship; but should
she he IL cruiser after me, she will find the
bird flown and the nest empty. Ho, now
FOR action.
springing down tho precipitous declivity
as he spoke, he paused n moment ut q
loopholc of the vault beneath his dwelling
and pulling his cigar into bright coal. he
carefully twitched the match-rope which
led to the train, opened the loose strands.