Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-06
A CLEVER RUsE.

OF the ninibie keel coppered 10 the bends.
and a thar square Of blood red bunting
which when run sloft 10 the maintop-
mast bead signiiied NO quarter" A
round bowed Bristol trader. bark Of
about 900 tons. three months out from
the Ayon and hound TO savanna IL Mar.
Law helpless OF that Jamaican port in
what is known - sailors az ''shewt
calm."
The water foated like breast Of liquid
glass. and solemn. long drawn heave
or swell ran through H. The Bristol
trader. in strict correspondence with her
proportions. rolled very uncomfortably
indeed from side 10 side. bringing her
wide spaces Of canvas into the mast with
many savage sounding whacks. until the
atmosphere all about seemed filed with
the noise Of exploding artillery.
The heat was intense: the hour about
. ia the afternoon. The dark blue land
about Blewheld's bay swan in the
stesmy haze and writhed rs though 1t
hved.
Seward the junction Of heaven and
water was scarcely distinguishable ia
the parched and brassy air. The land
went slopiug into mere films. and moth
ing showed upon the face Of the ocean
save large cutter rugged vessel. lifting
and sinking upon the swell at the dis
lance Of about two miles away from the
Bristol trader in the direction Of Blew
fields bay.
Mr.. Jenkins" said the master Of the
Bristol ship. drop the hand lead over
the side and observe the vessels drift
This was done and the rate Of drift
reported.
Sir" said Mr.. Rogers. the captain. to
his mate. lit IL not my intention TO
founder upon a bottom Of coral or go to
pieces on st. Johns point. Clewu up and
haul down everything tight and let 70
the anchor"
These orders were duly executed. The
seamen made the decks busy with their
fingers in active motion, and the chain
cable roared hoarsely a. the weight of
the big anchor swept Ii smoking through
the hawsepipe.
Some half dozen male passenger
women there were none-lounged upon
the little poop IN the snltry shadow cast
by the awning. IL was disheartening TO
see the narrow entrance to Savanna Ia
Mar almost within reach of "a pound
er's throw OF its ball. and TO be as little
able to enter 1t as to walk to IL.
How long Is this going to lastP ex-
claimed planter.
Perhaps q week. SIR" answered Cap
tain Rogers. a large. short, purple faced
man who hated 70 be asked questions.
The planter rolled the yellow whites"
Of his eyes 70 the heavens and tossed his
hands. with a malediction betwixt his
teeth.
What's that yonder. coming round
that corner of landy exclaimed another
passenger. pointing to the line Of coast
which the rolling cutter lay becalmed
abreast OF.
Captain Rogers went 10 tho companion
way. picked up the ships telescope and
lsveled IT.
"a picarooni- be exclaimed. and the
roar OF his voice went in thunder along
the decks as be bawled to his livelies TO
tumble MP and load the carronades. and
10 see all ready with the small arms. and
TO stand by TO sink the scoundrels should
they dare attempt 10 board the ship.
But II was speedily evident that the pi-
rates quarry was the cutter. and not the
Bristol merchantmen.
The picaroon Was long. black schoon-
er. setting very low in the water. heavily
rugged. showing not an inch 81 canvas
"a she stealthily crswled over the bur-
nished blue hesve TO the impulse Of her
long oars. or sweeps" a. though she
were some gigantic marine reptile forg-
ing Der way through it with movements
OF her antennR.
The cutter rolled helpless. with an oc-
casional blazing fash sunward AS she
lifted her vet. sparkling copper out Of
the water. On sudden. however. aud
a. though the men aboard her had but
Just walked from sleep. down dropped
her swinging. big msinsail. oars were
thrown over. aud she made In the direc-
tiou Of the Bristol trader. slipping her
cable as she roanded. without stopping
q buoy her anchor.
Dot the picaroon bnzzed fast in her
wake. A pun II white cloud occasion
ally broke from her bow. and the black
ball. III aimed. -ssnt skimming ahead %
the cutter In the direction Of ths BRISTOL
merchantmen hike a parchei pea along
q tabia
Before the cutter had measnred half .
mile the pirate was alongside and LASH
ing the vessels togssher for boarding ~
. spider rs.alvesa fy in tie web before
trotting aloft % dine of II In its hole.
There vas some small cracking of
blanderbssees and pistols. shouts faint
IN tn. distance aud = iistls lifting q
White srnoka. TIE business vss then
ended. and with true pirate CELEBRITY the
schooner vss making for shs hlns nesp
Of cossT. wltn tae unhappy cuss~s towing
sni rolling ard flashing In her wake
This thievish piece % work hal Der,
watched With helpless wrath By Captain
Rog--s and kis shfy's company sni WITH
10 snail alarm by Ne pas~eaFsrs The
captain sait ~ could swear 80 th-
s.lsoanrr ah@ wss the wirk.6a-t - =
10 rscArooFi pests - tbo~s vafsrs Hs
f pronnunosi b@r name. sad bis faos wss
TAI q blood wish tsznper - - dad A.
An kear laksr an inshcrs bresEe s,J-sns
m The archar v.s swifsiv csth.s.ls1
( e = cheery ehovus. sni ths B-isfol trades
vs stored for 10 narrow paszlre Il