The morning call., 1892-07-23

this bar said the first mate, ''and come
down along shore out OF the wind
II cave" said the captain, and the first
mate had his way.
II sill lacked an hour of daylight when
the Black Cat found herself under the lee
Of big bluff on the San MateO shore, from
which The start had been made early in the
evening.
We'll try il once MORE" said the captain.
and again tie little craft headed for the
OysteI-beis. In half an hour the home of
the appetiZlnE blvalve was found, but the
tide was then too high to permit the robbers
TO wade into the beds from the outer side OF
the stakes.
Twist the stakes" suggested one of the
crew in whisper.
1t was done. Two stakes were twisted,
and silently. stealthily the Black Cat sailed
into the biggest oyster-bed in San francisco
bay.
The water vas cold now and deep and the
pirates heSitated.
Come. we must have oysters" said the
first mate.
The folks will all laugh at u.s." said the
captain, IF we 60 home empty handed.
MY wife only let me go when | promised
to BRING her bag of oysters" said the sec
ond mate.
Yet the water was deem. and oh. so cold:
III we'd only got here at low tide"
walled the trio.
Then they stopped crying and took of
their clothes. They slid off into the water
one bv one but could not touch bottom.
It's high tide large" SAID the captain,
we II have TO dive"
And dive they did till they were chilled
through aud their hands and feet cut and
CRASHED TO the bone by the sharp shells
About hundred oysters were capt. red
alive. but only after a fearful struggle IN
which all hands - and feet, too = were
wounded.
Cant stand it any more" said the sec
ond mate. as he crawled out OF the water
and INTO his clothes with chattering teeth
and shivering marrow.
The other two pirates followed suit. 1t
was within an ace of daylight.
Come we must get out of here before
morning. said the captain. THE fine Is
$50 each and The guard has shotgun"
Thus encouraged the crew erasped the
oars and had all gone well the Black Cat
would have made her escape in good time.
But all did not 60 well.
The second mate lost an oar
The captain swore.
The Black Cat came to standstiE 50 feet
from Tie opening she had forced into the
stakes.
l. was almos, daylight.
However, one oar remained. 1t was used
vigorously and by dint of careful maneu-
yerlng with the rudder the captain finally
got the little craft on the other side Of the
stakes.
The guard woke up moment later and
began pacing the shore with his shotgun.
ii ne had risen Win the early bird lie
would have caught very large and juicy
worm on the inside of his stakes.
There was gentle breeze, and slowly,
with the aid Of that one oar and the main
sail ana jib, the Black Cat made Roadway
against heavy tide. till the same sheltered
nook behind the bluff off San Mateos shore
was reached.
Now It was o'clock.
No one had slept a wink. Coffee was
heated over an oil stove and breakfast
was made on oysters.
we must hurry home. while the tide and
wind fayOrs." said the captain, mindful of
the experiences IN crossing the day before
by o 80 o'clock start was made. Half an
hour later dead calm struck The bay, The
first calm Of the season.
Not breath OF air stirred for the next six
hours, and there was nothing to do but row
home with that single oar. You know what
that means
There are now three men in Alameda
County who believe it is cheaper to buy than
to steal oysters.