The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-26

the amusement OF an idle hour. swag-
gered good deal. but am sure that in
spite of all my bravado looked but an in
different pirate.
When we returned on deck, the wreckage,
which he had not noticed at his first coming
Oh board, caught his attention.
You have been amid the terrors Of the
deep" he remarked, land yet perchance
the tempest has favored you"
You speak like a magician" replied.
may, by the prophets beard, you are the
magician" he said quickly. "You ride
the storm TO fortune; the very elements
are your slaves. A magician indeed you
are. Yet the ship hurt. The helm hangs
useless as a broken bough. nothing to guide
the ship, and over yonder is the Persian
gulf" he added, significantly.
II know it," answered carelessly.
"There you may be among friends" he
ventured, with look of intelligence.
IF am among foes, the worse for them,"
responded.
Verify, believe it." he said, with unc-
ton.
Thoroughly confirmed in the belief that
was man of desperate and bloody deeds,
he grew confidential, entertaining me with
an account OF some of his own exploits as
freebooter and corsair, and dwelling with
the relish Of q devil on scenes of cruelty
and death.
"Then you lied when l took you on
board" i said sternly, interrupting him In
the midst of his narrative. Even sea rob
Der may have his code of honor, and for the
present my foible was to hate lying
Gould guess your trade from that girl
ish face" he asked, with an impudent grin
"You might be a missionary ship"
81 am no liar" said severely, while con-
science whispered "Impostor"
"And / swear by the rover's flag l will
follow truth, " said the rogue, with broad
er grin than ever. Are we not brothers,
and should not our souls be as dials in the
sunlight9 Yea, and love the brave Eng
lishman. In Egypt and Africa have not
known him, and in the Persian gulf have
not seen viii JOY his skill in slashing of
headsS He is the angel demon of the world.
He will make good the black Ethiopian,
and sell rum and take ships and make him
self rich with what others have gathered.
love him as a brother"
Naturally | was gratified by this high
and impartial testimony To the noble quail
ities of my countrymen.
In his rummaging Abram ben Alden came
upon my armory.
What man Of arms you are to be boy
in yearsp he exclaimed, with some excite
ment. Here are weapons for whole ships
crew. And selecting a sword he drew IL
from the scabbard and began to feel its
edge.
mot 80 fast" said, stepping up to him.
"These are dangerous. You talk of magic;
let me warn you Of the magic there is In
these weapons"
"Yea, l believe in their magic" he an
swered complscently. but is IL not the
magic OF the arm that wields themi know
a good blade when see IL. Choose ye one,
and VIC will have some sport. May per
ish IL am not forgetting the ring and the
CLEAN Of steel See, see how it bendsl 'Tis
a well tempered blade. Yea. and il is light
in the hand" And he made circle of sun
beams about his head. stepped back, my
hand instinctively seeking the hilt OF my
pistol, aud said indifFerently that I was not
In the humor for sport. The truth was
WIS not In n humor TO take any present
risks not absolutely necessary. With a
shade Of disappointment and vexation he
thrust the sword back into its sheath aud
returned it to its place.
We had an early supper and went early
TO bed, my guest getting a closed OF berth
~ himself lay awake until bsxd bis