Sharp County record., 1896-11-13
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Of the Cape Fear river, and about ten
miles from Smthville.
st that date it was IS miles in length,
and from one to six miles in breadth.
Its surface near the coast was low and
fiat, with O gradually elevating tend
eucy, until near the head Of the estuary,
where 1t terminated in rugged, broken
surface OF rocky lodges, alternating
from so feet below to 300 feet above
the oceans level.
The seams that cut through this
rough formation to the depths below
were filled with brine, while the rugged
sides of the steep ascent were covered
with stunted cedars and pines, and num-
bers of Fonts. pair Of which were
placed on the island by Uncle Billie
Smith, for whom both Smithville and
the island were named many years be-
fore.
In this estuary. and at It's head, in
thirty feet Of water lay the schooner;
half dozen men were painting her
sides from suspended planls.
The name had already been painted
over.
The men were working and singing
as unconcernedly as though they did
not know that a reward Of fifty thou
eand dollars had been offered for the
apprehension of their captain, and GER
tainly as If they did not know that their
own lives were forfeit.
"Sam," said one of the men, "did you
hear the captain say where next
away2"
"No, Joe, I didn't hear him say, but
no matter what he says or where he
says it, it's for us to obey. We've made
some good hauls in the past month"
Great! man, great! But my notion
Is they're getting after us mighty
thick; If I was the captain, I'm blowed
If don't believe I'd quit this here
coast"
"'Eh amt got ready yet, Sam. 'Eh
sez thet 'eh ms an important job here,
before he quits this coast. But there's
the dinner horn. Come, lads!"
All dropped their brushes, but, In
stead Of proceeding to the cooks gal
ley, they scrambled ashore and fol-
lowed ledge Of rock around to the
southward some three hundred feet,
where they suddenly seemed to con-
front an impassable barrier in the
shape of an almost perpendicular front
of rocky surface before them. One Of
the men took whistle from his pocket
and blew two blasts. In front of them
and outward swung a slab of rock, some
six feet square, and they entered the ap-
crture.
The slab closed, too, and left them
In darkness, but in front of them, and
but q few feet away, CLEANED the light
Of lantern. They followed it, as 1t
receded some sixty feet, when its
bearer sounded another blast on his
whistle.
Another door swung open, and they
assembled three steps and stood within
a cavern fully forty feet in depth and
ten to twenty feet in breadth. It was
literally lighted by oil lamps, and the
blaze Of light wood knots, while
through the seams on one side could
be discerned the light of day.
A long table was standing near the
center Of the cavern, and on 1t smoked
q roast kid and other edibles,
Black Beard was seated at the head
Of the table and members Of his crew
on either side.
"Come, ladsl Come, lads! you don't
feast on shore every day, and 1t ain't
every day you get roast kid Be eseated.
Now fill your bowls, my lads, md drink
to Angus Bruce and the Clara Belle"
"Aye, aye, sirl Angus Bruce and the
Clara Belief"
"Now, lads, there's bit Of work for
us up the coast, and then I've in mind
o master stroke for the pull OF mil
Ion or more from the vaults OF Uncle
Sam, at Washington, That DONE we
return to the island, where ! have got n
matter to settle on the Cape Fear-a
Bneuklng cur aud murderer to punish;
then II you are all Of my mind, we'll
divide the spols and scatter to the four
quarters of the globe, Not follower OF
mine will have less than $50,000, and on
that you can each live like princes to
The end, This provided, of course, the
trip to Washington does not miscarry.
What say you, lads"
"Hurrah for Wnshingtonl' cried
every man. Anywhere with you, cap
tainl"
"Now, men, finish your work on the
schooner, when you have dined. You,
Goss, paint on her stern her name
THE Fisher Boy and when we soll
into the Potomac we will have aboard
cargo OF fresh fish and seines and
fishing tackle. You'll be fishermen in
overalls and jackets, Mate, has Iton-
son returned?"
"No, captain, but It's time; this IA
bis third day, But bark! there's his
whistle now"
The door swung back and admitted
one who looked exactly like one of the
coast fishermen.
"Well, Bronson, what news from Will
mington2'
a! 4. u