The morning call., 1891-10-11

| foreign parts was temptation OF no mean
order, while she had no fear OF the sea,
| from her childhood almost her native eie-
| ment.
As Violet had to play the part of the
| Governors lady, she took with her several
| servants, both male and female. while
court milliner and dressmaker provided her
| with an outfit which would surely astonlsh
| the good people of Kingston, Jamaica.
| 1t was in early spring that the Saucy
| Violet started for the distant island.
The Earl sailed from Southampton His
vessel had been reftted and repaired after
| the most approved fashion, and went out OF
| dock in reality clipper.
She was indeed so swift sailer that the
commander of the Prince Charles soon
| found himself compelled to demand dimi-
mutton of sail In order to keep in sight.
| This was the more necessary at night, as
once parted they might never have met
| again except at the port of destination.
| Violet rather chafed at this. but 1t was q
wise and discreet rule. The seas in those
| days swarmed with pirates, corsairs and
| other suspicious craft bent on plumber
| Human life was treated with no respect,
while girls we've sent into worse than Bar
| barry or Algerian slavery.
The Saucy Violet, therefore, was bound
to keep good lookout, and so the yacht
| and the frigate kept In sight. They crossed
| the stormy Bay of Biscay, they passed the
| Cape de Verde Islands and soon were In the
| Gulf of Mexico.
Hitherto they had had very fine weather.
but now the sky clouded, aud the skipper in
command announced very dirty weather.
The Earl knew him to be an able and
trustworthy man, and left all to him.
Captain Norris" he said, II am sure
you will act with wise discretion. Remem-
| Der my child
ANY one who has ever experienced a
norther in the Gulf of Mexico will never
| wish to see another.
AS thew advanced under easy sail, the sky
| grew suddenly black as Erebus; the wind,
! so balmy and pleasant before, became cold,
raspiug keen. This wind, northwest, has
frozen people to death In seml-tropieal
| climate.
Gradually the gale increased. until at last
! its fury was so great that nothing but
storm stavsai could be borne on the vessel
! The sea was dashed to fury. and such dense
| darkness fell upon the scene that the ships
| lost sight of one another.
Two men at the wheel could scarcely man
| age the trim yacht, which heeled over near
| ly to its beam ends, dipped its nose in the
water, and was swept BY huge and mighty
waves that fell in such force ON the deck as
to threaten submerSlon.
Violet lay on a swinging couch in her
cabin, in earnest prayer for those who above
were fighting for her and their own lives.
| The storm lasted four days, during which
| time they never once took an observation.
They were quite out of their reckoning
| when the wind abated and the sky cleared.
Nothing was in sight but some lowland in
! the far-0ff distance.
1t was beautiful day and scarcely a
breath of wind was stirring. Still they
| forged ahead hoping to discover some clew
to their position. But for a while there was
nothing TO be seen but long, low, sandy
| shore.
| found they were close to the mainland, q
considerable distance from their destina-
| ton.
sail, hor' was suddenly shouted from
| the masthead. suspicious craft!
All looked in the direction indicated, and
| saw, coming out of creek, b0rdered by
| trees a long, low, dark vessel, n brgantine
| painted black which was urged forward
| with singular rapIdltY.
The skipper examined it with his glass,
and declared it was being set in motion by
| large sweeps.
"A pirate, my lord, or my name is not
John Morris I" he said in a low tone.
BEAT to quarters" was the EarPs re-
mark.
The orders were obeyed. and soon the
yacht was in lighting trim, her guns loaded,
and her men equipped to fight like the Eng
lishmen they were.
but in any case we must use our guns.
| We may thus attract the frlgat-."
The captain knew that with so many
women on board the better part OF valor
was discretion.
cious vessel.
That craft kent on.
After an hours run. during which they
tried their utmost. the wind refreshing
rapidly, they found the foe gaining on them.
Escape was impossible.
Then up went flag from the other ship,
and as they expected, there was the black
flag with the death 'S-head and cross-bones.
at must he fight" said the captain.
Surrender were madness as well as cow
ar1Ipp.'
A gun from the pursuer now Indicated
their inteu tons, of which there could be no
doubt
The Saucy Violet ceased to fly. Every
man nerved himself for the contest.
The Earl went below to where his daugh-
ter sat surrounded by h'r maldens.
MY child" he said, I'VE have fallen in
with one OF the vile swimmers Of the seas,
and must fight for life and honor. Be not
alarmed RELY upon it, my brave fellows will
give good account of the scoundrels-'
The girls began to cry and make use Of
lamentations of the usual Kind.
''Sencer' cried Violet, severely. Weep
ing will do no good. Be brave and resolute.
Father" she went on calmly, SHOULD vic
tory fail us do not let me fall alive into their
hands"
Fear nothing. my darling" her father
replied, fondy embracing her
He then went on deck.
Soon the swift brig ,ntlne was on level
with them, aud n running fight commenced.
The pirate was a quick sailer was heavily
manned and carried a terrible armament,
Its cannon began AT once to tell upon the
Yacht which was hulled between wind and
water several times. The smaller CARO-
nades were very effective in Gripping the
spars and rigging.
The EarpS cheek blanched as the Zoe
edged near to them.
He saw at once that 1t would be hand
to-hand fight, when brave, undaunted and
devoted as were his men they would be out
mum bered.
The enemy were as two to one, and the
result was certain aud obvious. Tho Earl,
however determined to do all that gentle
man and soldier should. He would fight to
the last gasp and then, If defeat cnsusd, he
would Stay his daughter with his own hands
and blow out his brains afterwards
Alive his child should not fall into the
hands of these wretches.
While these thoughts were passing through
his mind the brigautine came up, and, with
a fierce shout, threw the grapnels, and
lock the two vessels together.
Then came rush, as of an avalanche. of
men from the larger vessel, led by a chief
whose form was huge, whose head was COW
cred by a boarding helmet. and who in one
hand waved huge cutlaSs and In the other
carried pistol
He gave a loud and ringing cry.
Death to all who resist; quarter to those
who surrender" he cried. in terrible
voice.
There renamed on Inc deck OF inc oaucy
Violet eighty men, while the pirates were
two hundred.
Resistance was useless.
Every man threw down his arms and
cried for quarter, except the Earl
He gave one wild, despairing cry, shot at
the chief, and then disappeared down the
companiOnway.
Mad, wild, frenzied, he rushed into his
daughters presence, begrmed with gum
powder.
.. 'Violet," he said, in a choked voice, sit is
time to die! The ruffians have gained the
victory-all is lOsti"
"Tis happiness to die by the hand of a
good and loving father! she answered,
kissing him passionately Strike. aud
strike home Be quick!-they GOMEZ
Heaven, in its infinite mercy, forgive
mel" said the agonized parent, turning
away his white, livd face, as he raised his
: ieweed dagger. "But it must be my sweet
: darlingl