The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-26
CAPTAIN brand.

Unl lnlu UlhuU
THE PIRATE SCHOONER.
A TALEOFTHES SEA
PARTII.
CHAPTER XXI.
LAYING UP THE STRANDS.
1t was in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and twenty two, and in the broad
md commodious harbor of Kingston. a
great mercantile haven. crowded with ship.
Ding from all pnrts ofthe commercial globe;
and locked by reef and ridge, with the
rocks and heights crowned by frowing bat
teries Of heavy cannon; while beyond was
spread the lower and upper town, in masses
IF low two-story buildings, with piazzas,
bright green jalonsies. sta;e ely palm, tama.
'ind. and cocoe-nut trees waving above
them. At the mouth of the harbor strait,
where stands Fort Augusta. lay a mngnifi-
cent banked American frigate, with broad
blue swallow tailed peunant at her main,
standing out stiff, like n dog-vane, kom the
lofty mast, as the ship rose to the strong
sea-breeze.
The stays and rigging came down from
trucks. cross-trees and tops, in straigh.
black lines. from the great length Of lower
masts, aud enormously square rods fore
and aft, and from side to side, till they met
the long majestic hull and taper head
boom; while below were two rows of ports
with the guns run out and the brass TOM
pions cleaning in their muzzles. The
awnings were spread in one fiat extended
sheet of white cotton canvas from bowsprit
10 taffrai!. and from tho wide spread lower
booms at tho fore chains, boats were riding
by their painters. Within u cables length
+ the frigate's black quarter lay low
nkish schooner, like minncw alongside a
whale. with thin little coach whip stream
ing from her main mast head, long brass
gun amidships, and looking as trig and
tidy ns a French maid beside her portly
The bell struck in twin notes eight on
board the frigate, echoed back from the
oigmy near in faint double succession of
inkles; the whistles resounded from deck
o deck in ear-splitting notes. surging and
,hirruping all together, and then suddenly
easing with q rattling beat of drum and
! short below of "Grog, ho!"
Between the guns of the main deck, and
bout the spar-deck battery forward of the
main mast. sat five hundred lusty sailors on
he white decks around their mess clothes.
polling hot pea-soup after their grog, aud
chatting and laughing in careless sort of
strain,as ifthe grub was good and the
imbers sound. MS they were, Of the staunch
!rigate beneath them.
On the flush qnarter-deck Of the frigate,
BY the raised signal lockers abaft, stood q
old quarter master. spy-glnss
resting on his arm. through which every
minute he peered around the hsrbor, giving
IN eye, too, occasionally to the half-hour
glass, whose sauds dribbled steadily into
az ic"Sa Ouio vi thC lcChcl OCSlu6
What cared he?-no wife nor child to
.heer him! No cures but to see that the
,nsign did not roll foul of the halyards.
hat the broad pennant blew out straight.
hat the half- hour glass did not need turn.
ng, and that no boat approached the fri
gate without his reporting it to the officer
If the watch. Naught else save, perhaps.
whether the other old quarter master, down
below thero on the gun-deck, had wiped
rom his lips tho moisture of the midday
frog, and would be up in time to tako the
elief while the pea-soup was warm. Moth
ng else!
The lieutenant of the watch briskly paced
ho solid deck. scrubbed white as milk with
ime juice and molasscs, the even seams
between the planks glistening like the
itnnds ola girls raven tresses rs his pro-
.ane and rapid feet pressed upon them.
What thought he in his careless wnlk, with
he cleaning bunch of bullion on his right
shoulder, sword by his side, white trousers,
md gilt eagle buttons on his navy. blue
:ont?
He was thinking how his pittance of pay
would support, Ill u scrimpy way. lis poor
mother and sister. who looked up to him ~
hcironly hope and refuge. And he thought,
90, as he trampcd that noble deck, made
glorious by many battle and victory in
which he had borne m humble part, that
ais rich and powerful country would event
Tally reward him with increased pay and
Was the single dollar which
ny alone in his trousers pocket, and the
light mist which arose off there beyond the
Apostle s Battery, opposite Port Royal Har-
Dor. an evidence of one or sign of the last
aspiration? We hope not: but we shall
see.
Three or four midshipmen, too, pmnced
over that frigate's white quarter deck, on
he port side, in their blue Jackets and
luck trousers. Little gay madcaps they
we're. scarcely we'll into their teens, with lit.
lie gli.ering tons'ing-forks of dirks dangling
.ttheir sides, and ready for any lark or
mishief.
Two bells, sir" said the quarter master
20 the officer of the watch.
Very good! Young gentleman, tell the
1oatswain to turn the hands to, and have
he barge manned. Letthe first lieutenant
md the marine officer know that the COM
nodore is going TO leave the ship. There,
40 larking on the quarter deck, Mr..
Mnuse!"
The last command was addressed to a
ny youngster who was hardly big enough
oGo without pnntalets, much less to wear
, Jacket and order half hundred huge
sailors about who were old enough to be
his great grantlfathers But yet that small
lad did it, and Guild steer boat, too, or fiy
about like aribbon in high wind up there
i'll the mizzen-top, while the men ON the
yard were trying the last reef in the top
sail.
Go down to the cabin, sir and let the
1pyr O,,1 hi, Il 1-.,a 4.
realv!"
Down the ladder skipped Mr.. Mouse, and
while he was gone the guard, in their white
summer uniform and cross-bels, stood of
ease resting on their muskets on the quar-,
ter-.ieck, eight side BOYS and the boatswain
1t tho starboard gangway, with the first
lieutenant and the officer Of the watch
near.
Presently there came up from the after.
cabin hatchway fine, handsome man in
he very primo Of life. in cooked hat, full
dress coat, n pair of cleaning epaule,s,
sword by his hip, and his neither limbs
cased in white knee breeches, silk stock
ings, and pumps. The ono who followed
him WAS apparently much elder man,
with grizzled locks, dark stern face, and
without epaulets. The first raised his hat
AS he stepped on the quarter deck-not
lhrend Of silver was seen in his dark hair
and then both bowed to the officers, who
saluted them as they moved toward the
sangway. The boatswain pipcd, the mar
liners presented arms, the drum gave three
quick rolls, and the commodore went over
the sangway preceded by his companion.
CHAPTER XIII.