The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-17
CAPTAIN brand.
THE PIRATE SCHOONER,
A TALEOF THE SEA
PART u.

A TALE OF THE SEA
PARrI.
CHAPTER XXI.
vULTUREs AND SHARKS.
When Har " had concluded his pnrt of
the tale, he stuck the stump of his cigar in
tothe wine glass Of ashes, rs il he had no
further Use for either, moistened his throat
with bumper OF tinta, and almost uncon-
sciously passed his left arm around Harry
Darcnntel's neck.
| Stingo drank two bumpers, ms il he had
particularly parched throat; but Paddy
Burns ind Tom Stewart, strange TO relate!
never wet their lips, and passed their
hands in careless way across their eyes,
as ii there were moisture enough ,here-as,
indeed. there was; feeling as they did, in
the fonts of their own generous natures for
their dear friend who sat opposite.
Piron's head rested. face downward, oil
his out-spread hands. and few drops
trickled through the close spread fingers,
but they were not wine, And as he raised
his face and looked around tho board,
where glowing sympathising eyes met his.
he said in a low, subduel voice
Il trust may thank Heaven for avcngin g
the murder Of our child"
Even as he uttered these words his gaze
rested on the face Of Darcantei; and strik-
ing tho table with blow that made the
glasses jingle, he started back Us he had
done on the frigate's quarter deck, and ex-
claimed
"Merciful Heaven! can it be possible
that that boy vas saved from the clutches
of the drowned piratc?"
| Not SO fast, good Monsieur Piron! Not
so fast!
you shall hear more if you are no! tired,
gentlemen" resumed the commodore,
though Ihave very little to add to what
Hardy has already related of the pirate
schooner. Steward, let the servants turn
in; and brew us, yourself, q light iorum OF
Antigua punch! Now, then, said Commo-
dore Cleveland, I'm your mani"
Before morning we were in cruising
trim once more. and after breakfast the
took one and got in the other and we
pulled in towards the jaws of the channel,
between the Lion rock and the ledge on the
opposite side.
"a myriad Of sea-birds. from Mother
Carey's chickens to gulls ard cormorlnts,
and even yulturcs aud eagles from the
shore, were clustered on the wreck as thick
rs bees-screaming croakipg, and swapping
at each other with their hard beaks and
bills; while thousands moro were hurrying
from seawald, and either swooped down
over the ledge or tried to find place on the
floating spars.
Ipulled towards the wreck and after tho
men had fred few shots to scare away the
birds. / found the body of burly fat man
wrapped in cossack, with string of beads
! around his neck, to which was attached
crucifx. In another moment the bodies
sharks and n greedy dive and peck from
the birds, and that was the last of those
wretches, till the sea gives up its dead.
"As for Hardy lie pulled higher up the
gorge, and examined the rocks and pools
OH both sides, but saw nothing living or
dead, and We both returned to the ship"
| Hal Dick Hardy landed at the h,t rock
where the eddy swept in under Lions
paws. he might have seen the footprints of
u man with a straw slipper in it, and fol-
lowing the track few yards further. he
would have PASSED his sword through II viii
lain lying bleedingln mangrove thicket,
and found too in his belt, snugly slowed
away, n lot Of cleaning jewels, with sap
phire gem of priceless value on the finger
of his bloody hand. But never mind, Har-
dy! You will hear moro Of that man enc
of these days, and you will have no cause
for regrets,thoq1gh he will, perhaps; and.
meanwhile, let him wander i'll quest of
fresh villanies over Spanish South America.
well, gentlemen, that evening. when
the land-wind made. We tripped anchor
and sailed away from the Coast of Darien."
Come, my friends" said Pron in low,
tremulous voice, rising rs he spoke, I've
must not push Cleveland too far tonight,
for it is getting late, you know, and they
keep early hours OIL board men of war;"
mo hurry. Piron! I'll talk to you nil
night, if you have the patience to listen to
me. No? Then I'll have the boat man.
ned" He toucheda bell-rope which hung
over his head, und the cabin door opened
Orderly, my compliments to the officer of
the watch, and desire him to call away the
barge"
While some Of the gentlemen in tho for
~ard cabin left the table aud stood about
in groups chatting till the boat was report
ed, Piron put his arm around the commo-
dore belt, and they moved aft into the
starboard state room. Little Mouse was
lying sound asleep on the elegan. cot, with
nil his clothes on, but with smile on his
lips. and dreaming, maybe, of the dear
widowed mother he would one of those days
make proud of him.
Cleveland, my old friend; tell me more
OF that young Darcantel!'
"Hist! Piron. don't wake little Tiny!
There nothing to tell more than that he is
my adopted nephew and tho sou of .ho
gentleman who occupies that state room OPP
posite. But when We go out to Escondilo
I'll tell you oil about his father, who has
led q very adventurous life"
We'll. goodnight! You will bring
young Darcantcl with you, and the little
rogue, too, here in the cot. My wife and
her sister will be delighted to see you oil.
Coed night"
As the AIonongahelas bell struck eight
for midnight, the commodores guests got
in the barge and pulled toward the shore.
At the same time light gig with hand
some Harry Darcantcl, went alongside the
Rosalie. and Commodore Cleveland turned
into his friends cot opposite, leaving small
Mr.. Mouse TO sleep his dream out till
morning; while rs the barge ran up the
landing ut Kingston harbor, aud n gold
ounce was slipped into the old coxwain's
honest paw, what did they all think about?
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