Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-08-26

front an impossible barrier, IN the
shape of an almost perpendicular front
of a rocky surface before them. One of
thc men took whistle from his pocket
and blew, two blasts. In front of them
and outward swung slab of rock, some
six feet square. and they entered the ap-
erture.
The slab closed, too, and left them
in darkness, but in front of them, and
but few feet away, cleaned the light
of lantern. They followed it, as IT
receded some sixty feet, when its
bearer sounded another bias; on his
whistle.
Another door swung open, ana they
assembled three steps and stood within
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 it smoked
roast lid and other edibles.
Black Beard was seated at the head
of the table and members of his crew
on either side.
Come, lads! Come, lads! you don't
I
every day you get roast lid. Be seated.
Now fill your bowls, my lads, and drink
to Angus Bruce and the Clara Belle"
AYE, aye, sir! Angus Bruce and the
Clara Belief"
'tNow, lads, there's a bit of work for
us up the coast, and then I've in mind
master stroke for the pull of a mil
lion or more from the vaults of Uncle
Sam, at Washington. That done, we
return to the island, where have got
matter to settle on the Cape Fear-a
snealing cur and murderer to punish;
then if you are all of my mind, we'll
divide the spoils and scatter to the four
| quarters of the globe. Not a follower of
mine will have less than $50, 900, 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 Washington cried
| every man. Anywhere with you, cap
| tain!''
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 sail
| into the Potomac we will have aboard
a cargo of fresh fish and seines and
fishing tackle. You'll be fishermen in
overalls and jackets. Mate, has Bron-
son returned?'
''No. captain, but it's time; this IS
his 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.
|
mington?"
CLAP your head well on your shout
ders, captain. The reward for Black
Boards capture, deed or alive, is raised
! to 100000. North Carolina and Mary
land join with South Carolina and
| Georgia.
Maryland! Why, lads. that's wrong.
We haven't tackled Maryland at all,
and here she joins against US. We will
| lay in our next supplies at Baltimore:
but what else?"
why, $4,000 for the head of each man
of your crew. and a pardon OF any of
them that turn against YOU
why didn't you turn informer?"
Captain, do you think I'd give your
| life away to save my own? / didn't
| think you had that opinion of me-" and
! buccaneer.
No, Bronson, no. Fill up your glass
man, for tomorrow you leave here for
Washington; you must go finely
dressed, and apply for position in the
treasury department. Whether you get
it or no, hang around there constantly,
until you ascertain who carries the
vault keys, who locks the outer door at
1 ifrht
also after Is days watch the harbor for
the Fisher Boy
Captain, Herbert La throp has bought
Kendall, and become a planter. He
is administrator of his uncle's estate.
| without bond: he was left besides $780,
600 by the bankers will"
why, then all is plain as day; but
| We'll leave him until the last. Now, then.
as the next two months will probably
he risky ones to every man who follows
| me, IL there is a man in all my crew who
wishes his release, let him speak now,
and he shall be put ashore, with his full
proportion of the spoiIs, and no one
shall blame him."
| There was none who spoke.
The painters now returned to their
work, while most of the other men dis
PoSeu VI eheif lille cIedninR ana polish
| ing their arms.
At the upper end of the abin was an
immense fireplace, seemingly carved in
the rocks. and over it huge cranes hold
ing pots and kettles; the smoke from
the fire beneath them assembled through
the assures in the rocks, coming out in
100 places, and cooling in its ascent, so
| that when it reached the surface it was
not discernible.
The culinary department was pre-
sided over by the only negro Black