The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-01-05


the Avon and bound to Savanna la
Mar, lay helpless off that Jamaican
port i'll what is known to sailors as o
'sheet calm
The water floated like o breast of
liquid glass, and solemn, long-drawn
heave of swell ron through it, The
Bristol trader, in strict correspondence
with her proportions, rolled very I'M
comfortably indeed from side to'side,
bringing her wide spaces Of canvas
into the mast with many savage sound
ing whacks, until the atmosphere all
about seemed filled with the noise q
exploding artillery.
The heat was intense; tho hour
about two in the afternoon. The dark
blue land about Blowfeld's Bay swan
i'll the stoamy haze, and wlithed as
though it lived.
Seward the junction of heaven and
water was scarcely distinguisbable in
the parched and brnssy air. The land
went sloping into mere films, and
nothing showed upon the face of the
ocean save q large cutter-rigged YES
sci, lifting and sinking upon the swell
ut the distance of about two miles
away from the Bristol trader in the
direction of Blewheld's Bay.
cdr. 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, cit is not my intention
to founder upon bottom of coral or
go to pieces on st. Johns Point Clew
up and haul down everything light,
and let go the anchor"
These orders were duly executed.
The seamen made the decks busy with
their figures in active motion, and the
chain cable roared hoarsely as the
weight of the big anchor swept it
through the hawsepipe.
Some half-dozen male passengers
women there were none--lounged upon
the little poop in the sultry shadow
east by the awning. 1t was disheart-
ening to see the narrow entrance to
Savanna Ia Mar almost within reach
OF q twenty-four FOUNDERS throw of
its ball, and be as little able to enter
it as to walk to it.
elbow long is this going to last, ex-
claimed q planter.
"Perhaps II week, sir" answered
Captain Rogers, large, short, purple
faced man who hated to be asked ques-
tons
The planter rolled the yellow
"whites" Of his eyes to the heavens
and tossed his hands, with maledic-
ton betwixt his teeth.
whats that yonder, coming round
that corner of land?" exclaimed an
other passenger, pointing to the line
of coast which the rolling cutter lay
becalmed abreast of.
Captain Rogers went to the com.
phnion-way, picked up the ships tele-
scope and levelled it.
"a piccaroon!" he exclaimed; ont
the roar of his voice went in thunder
along the decks as he bawled to his
liveliest to tumble up and load the
carronades, and to see all ready with
the small arms, and to stand by t.
sink the scoundrels should they dar,
attempt the ship. But it was speedily
evident that the pirates quarry wa
the cutter, and not the Bristol mer
chairman.
The piccaroon was long, blacl
schooner, setting very low on tn,
water, heavily rugged, showing not al
inch of canvas as she stealthily crawlel
over the FURNISHED blue heave to tn
impulse of her long oars, or "sweops,
as though she were some gigantic ma
rine reptile forging her way through
it with movements of her antenn@.
The cutter rolled helpless, with a
occasional blazing flash sunwnrd a
she lifted her wet, sparkling cope
out of the water. On a sudden, how
ever, and as though the men abonrt
her had but just walked from sleep
down dropped her swinging, big main
sail, oars were thrown over, and sh
made in the direction of the Bristc
trader, slipping her cable as sh
rounded, without stopping to buo
her anchor.
But the piccaroon buzzed fast in he
wake, A puff of white cloud occasion