Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-08-28
hand towards the water.

In
Look again, my dear sir, and per-
haps you viii see something that may
enlighten you"
1T that instant, as IL by precon-
certed signal heavy gun was dis
charged from one OF the sloops, and a
black flag fluttered out upon the even
ing breeze from each masthead.
Pirates excl aimed Mr.. Carlisle, in
dismay.
.Such may be termed our calling"
replied the stranger nonchalantly.
"And am Black Beard, at your serv-
ice,''
At the mention of name which had
struck terror TO the hearts of thousands
from the Carribees to Cape Sable, Mr..
Carlisle sank back in hls chair trcm-
bling. not so much from fear as from
astonishment.
The buccaneer seemed greatly to en-
joy the CONSERVATION which the revela-
ton of his cognomen had produced in
his hearers. After short pause he
continued: "Perchance you would like
to know to what circumstances you are
inde ebted for this visit? / will tell you.
We have been cruising between the
West Indies and Cape Hatteras for
three months and have been able to
send but one bark, two brigs and a
sloop with their lubberly crews to the
bottom during that whole time. As
none of the vessels We're laden with
over-heavy strong boxes our own
exchequer was not greatly swollen by
their capture. AS our season is nearly
up and the time approaches for lr re-
turn to our island retreat in the Ba-
hamas we must needs make up on the
land what we have failed to obtain on
the seas.
"'Let us visit some of the wealthy
planters along the coast suggested my
mate They will surely help us out of
our difficulty
"a good plan quoth l. So we bore
away for this inlet, and here 1 am,
with the modest request for ten thou
sand pounds at your hands"
''Ten thousand pounds" gasped the
planter why, 1 have not that amount
were all my slaves, stocks, lands and
buildings converted into money"
"You will think differently of that,
my dear sir, within forty-eight hours.
If at the end of that time ten thousand
pounds are not forthcoming, this house
shall be levelled to the ground, your
negroes transferred to the hold of my
vessel, and you, yourself, with this
young man here, whom l presume to
be your son, will find yourselves pris-
oners in my cabin, held at high ran
som, which if not paid-and by whom
] care not-you will be allowed to
walk the plank when we reach blue
water And now / will bid you good
night But, mind you, my guns are
trained upon this house and any act of
treachery on your part will be the sig
nal for its immediate destruction and
your own death" So saying the fierce
buccaneer turned on his heel and strobe
away to his boat, leaving his two hear
ers transfixed with dismay.
what shall be done?" exclaimed the
planter, when he could command his
voice. What shall be done?''
There is only one thing that can
think Of" replied Herbert. THE
black-hearted villain has graciously
awarded US forty-eight hours time.
Now have learned from a
coasting vessel that two of the kings
vessels are cruising off Cape Hatteras-
i will try to slip out in my boat to-
night and go in search of them, and If
fortune favor me, will find them and
hurry them hither."
"'The very thing, my son. Prepare
at once for your journey, for there is
not a moment to be lost"
But Herbert was not destined to
make the nocturnal trip in search of
succor, for wheIi Black Beard reached
his boat he dispatched two members
of his rascally band to stand guard
over the occupants of the house, and
getting on board his vessel, sent ten
more to their assistance, so that it be-
came impossible for the planters son
to get away.
Much chagrined at his failure to
elude the vigilance of the pirates, he at
'>ngth evolved a plan which was at
once put into execution.
Stealing a moment when he was un-
observed Herbert wrote these words
upon piece of paper which he gave to
q faithful negro with orders to bear 1t
ut once to his mistress.
"Black Beard, the pirate, holds us
for ransom. Our only hope is to OBJ
tain assistance from the royal frigates
which are somewhere about the
northern entrance to the inlet l
have seen you handle my sailboat
alone, take it, and try to find the sloops
Of war, but by no means come near
the house. We have forty-eight hours
respite. Herbert"
The trusty black succeeded in steal
ing away from the mansion and found
his young mistress and her maid as
they were slowly riding toward their
house.
When Rowena read the message she
sprang quickly from her saddle, and
bidding Enoch, the slave, to follow her,
and instructing Stella to go to the
house, she plunged into the thicket,
and by little narrow path reached the
creek where her brothers boat was
moored.
Enoch, who would have laid down
his life for his beloved mistress, quick
ly hoisted the sail and seated himself
upon one of the thwarts, while Rowena,
with one hand on the tiller, guided the
craft out into the inlet. The two voya-
gers plainly discerned the outlines of the
pirates vessels where they lay riding
at anchor, but were themselves unob-
served by any of the buccaneers.
On, on, sped the boat, containing the
l,ra,,a Il ayI ha,. I,,olrry attendant ha-
fore the strengthening breeze. Mile
after mile of water was covered until
the heavy swell of the mighty ocean
was felt beneath their keel. While
hesitating whether to head up or down
the coast and just as the first gray
streaks of dawn appeared in the east a
bright line of fire was seen to shoot up
toward the heavens from the bosom
of the waves, and when high in air
burst into myriad of sparks
"a rocket, a rocket, Enoch," ex-
claimed Rowena. 'Pray God it was
discharged from kings frigate."
'It must be, missus, it must be.
''Oh, If we had some means to signal
the vessel, whatever it might be, be-
fore it passes u.s." groaned the heroic
maiden.
The negro was quick to think.
Searching through his pockets he found
Hint, steel and tinder box and with the
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