The morning call., 1892-04-28
TEE FREEBOOTERS.
TConcluded ]

low and tried to pull aside the barrels oil
beef and pork slowed about the cask. The
pirates rugged a fall, and by the aid OF this
some barrels were hoisted out or swung
aside until the coveted cask was in sight
But so much stuff still was WedPed aoout Il
that the thirsty ruffians became impatient
At their order Jack DuttOn brought an
auger from the carpenters room, and seiZlng
IL one of the pirates jumped below. A hole
was quickly bored into the cask, and with
long reed plpestem he was able to reach the
liquor. which he sucked up greedily until
his eager companions clamOred that he
come GA deck and allow them their turn.
Once started TO drinking. the pirates con-
tnued II at lively rate. They kept Abel
and Jack on deck to help haul tie ropes,
but al first took the precautiOn that two OF
their number should remain above while
the other drank. But, unused as they were
10 responsibility or self control, as the
liquor showed its effect presently two Of
them were at the cask at the same time, and
they refused 10 leave a. the call OF the third
one, who at last joined them, and singing
swearing, laughing, the three carouSed
without care or precaution. The man at
the wheel was SCARED and swaIthg rutflan,
with gold rings in his ears, red handker-
chief knotted about bis head, and two large
pistols aud a cutlaSs at bis belt Missing
his comrades. lie grufliy called Jack aft
''What are my mates doing f0rward?" he
inquired.
They've tapped the barrel of rum in the
forehold," said Jack
That's pretty work for 'em to be at, with
the craft to sail ana prisoners to guard, u"
growled the pirate, with an oath. Here
you young hellhoCnd, catch hold of the
wheel. and watch your steering"
With cutlass IN hand he ran forward to
the hatchway and shouted to his comrades
TO come on deck; but, recklesSly drunken.
they replied Unly by Inviting him to Join
their carousal or so to lplaee warmer than
Havana.
While they exchanged threats and curses.
Abe, standing by the foresheet, saw that
the vessel, through lack Of Skillful handling
had fallen fully mile behind the pirate
craft, Hb perceived a chance TO make a
bold stroke. for the lives Of himself and
his comrades, and knowing that, as mat
tiers stood. their doom was sealed in any
event, he acted promptly and resoluteIy.
AS the ruIfian standing at the hatcAway
alternately cursed his comrades and in
plOred them to come on deck, Abel, under
pretense Of pulling in the slack OF the jjb-
sheet, e0ntriyed 10 get near him. The
pirate heard his movements, turned, aud In
sta ntly raised his eutlass.
80 you were trying to steal on me-" he
snarled. 'Pll put you out of the way"
The steel flashed down as he spoke. Abel
instinctiyely lodged back al tho motion,
but that would not have saved him had il
not been for the dangling tackle that bad
been used in moving the barrels in the
hold. Ii swung IN the way OF the falling
blade, catching and turning tie blow so
that the edge Of the Cutlass sunk deep into
the wooden bio OK. Before his enemy could
dIseDgage ii tie mate spTdng fOTRa ard, and
his heavy fist landing SQuareiy upon the
jaw, knocked the pirate backward into the
hold.
" tb n strapa.b M cr,io1-pos, bo ,-,,r5
not have shown 10 a lesser emergency he
flung the hatch down into place Quickly
as II was done, he caught glimpse of the
three pirates grouped about the cask half
sOoered by the sudden alarm, starting Up
and grdspiIg their weapons. Directly be-
meath him the fallen wretch, as he lay on
bis back with his head bleeding where il
had struck the edge of a barrel. had pulled q
pistol, and with the sIamming down Of the
hatch there came from below q fash and
report that the confined space was deafen-
ing WhlstIIIg bali tore upward through
the woodwork and cut q long swath through
Abefs beard. and a thin smoke wreath
curled along tie hatch's edge as the mate
forced the clamp on the staple aud secured it.
He sprang to tie foTecastle and, opened
the door
Come out, come out. Captain Knowlton."
he cried; I've got the pirates under
matches"
STEADY" he shouted TO the imprisoned
crew, eager 10 rash out 'One at time
and only two. Of you. If too many of US are
about the deck We'll rouse the suspicious Of
that fellow ahead; anG If we do we're worse
of than ever"
Captain hnOwlton. with two men, handled
the ropes, and with Abel at the " heel still
keeping the Dolphin headed for the pirate
craft, they contrived to spill so much wind
and so TO steer that the vessel should make
the least headway possible. The distance
between the two schooners steadily in
creased until they were two miles anart
Then the wind fell, leaving the Dolphin
rolling on the swell with Tipping sails.
The last puff, dying away to the leeward,
carried the fToQua along some distance
faltheT, and the three vessels lay bacalmed
al equal distances apart. La anxious sus-
Iense the D0lphin'S crew waited for the
next rise of wind, for upon its direction
would depend their fate.
Al Jour bells In the afternoon the captain
and his mate stood aaxiously at the wheel,
their gaze turning from the pirate on the
east 10 the western water smooth and CLASSY
to the horizon line.
At last little catspaw from the west
RULED the surface, and coming after ii.
growing and deepening, a dark ripple showed
that there WAS wind behind The mainsaiI
swelied out and there came beneath the
bows the gurgle Of water cut by the Doiphin's
Prov.
All hands on deck!'s cried Captain
knowlton Haul aft the sheets. Head
her southwest by south, Abel"
The schooner rounded ND into the hreeza
and the hecalned pirates saw their prize
drawing OF With gathering head way
Would the Pir0qua leave her chase of tie
Drlg 10 pursue her when the wind came
his was soon revealed. With his spyglass
captain knowltOn could see q cOmmOtion
On her decks, and as the breeze reached the
pirate and gave her steerage wav She
headed close-bauled toward the ESCAPING
schooner. But the Dolphin had the first
pull or the freshening wind and drew
IaIther ana farther away from her pur-
suer.
The merchant schooner had gained q fine
start, but as the wind became steady the
Firoqaa, hanging on her quarter, held her
own fnd began to creep closer. and a
cnange or falling Of the wind might again
throw the Dolphin into her cruel enemy;s
clutches.
AS the pirate, crawling up into the wind
drew nearer and nearer, a sail far ahead
gradually lifting into view revealed n great
spread OF canvas, union Jack flying at the
peak, and the black and white portfolios of
British maG-oi-war The pirate onickIv
recognized the character of the coming yes
Sc, ana wanted no closer acquaintance.
lacking, she spread her sails free, and went
OH ike shot abeam of the wind and was
soon hull down In the distance.
AT Captain Knowton's signal of dIstress
there came to him from his Majesty's cruiser
terror a boat manned by dozen blue
jackets IN command Of lieutenant The
situation was quickly explained, the hatch
thrown on, and the pirates. at the sight of
tue man-of- wars men, surrendered without
astrnggle. Justice in those DAYS was swift
Ior ireebooters of the sea, and before tina
dolphin left ST. Thomas, rho four nira,as