The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-14
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
After this show of authority on my part
there was no more trouble with the men.
Yet. beneath their quietude lurked a spirit
| of expectations; for 1 had let it be known
| that we were bound for Cape Town. from
whence we could have news of what vessels
| there were at sea and TO be ex
| pected in those ATTITUDES. AS for
| the fellow we had keelhauled, he
was a grewsome sight TO behold, and,
perhaps. a cripple for life, having been
| horribly scared by the sharp shells on our
vessels bottom i'm his voyage beneath her.
| Otway told me in private that the crew
somewhat grumbled at his treatment, but
| L knew that once King Williams colors
were hauled down from our peaks and the
terrible pirate flag up in their place, they
| would forget all that
And at the thought of that flag I would
| have repented of my Intentions; but had
now gone too far.
| And so at last, one morning, the great
| fiat top of Table mountain rose out of the
mist ahead and by midday we had gained
| our anchorage.
No sooner was our anchor down than the
Dutch captain of the port came off and,
| learning we English man-of-war.
did. giving them twenty-one guns.
My fellows who had shipped in New
York fraternized with the colonists, being
| of their own nation, for it was but thirty
| years since New York was New Amster-
dam, a Dutch colony. Besides which We
| now had Dutch king, so that, altogether,
we were made much Of and hailed as
| brothers; especially as we were war YES
sci and not a trader the great jealousy
betwixt English and Dutch being on ac-
| count of the East India companies of the
two nations.
1 at once began to provision the ship. and
found the merchants on shore willing
enough to do business with me. and. whilst
at it L took to inquire as to what
vessels were on the way.
IT'S the time of the homeward fleets"
said the man of whom 1 asked, one Graf
Reynet MANY have already sailed by"
Have you had little ship here b. name
Cicely Bonaventure?' asked /.
| Why captain" replied he, "she was
| scarcely out of sight when you anchored"
/ had much ado to conceal my vexation.
"She is for London he continued, land
| is said to carry a very choice freight, and,
withal, some treasure
| Ayr thought l. land he goes home in
triumph, and ere long she will be in his
arms, drunk with his kisses. No! John
Dartonr' and L swore a deadly oath.
Never shall you touch her again, if ]
have to chase you to England. 1t is hard
if our good ship cannot outsail q deep
| laden trader"
And / went back aboard, filled with wild
fury, and so hurried every one to make
haste that it was easy for all to see there
was something in the wind. So much So
L
know they understood, for. standing at the
break of the poop. watching the prepara-
tons. L heard two fellows talking aloud
on the main deck, just below me.
IT'S certain he hath wind of a prize
Eli"
"Ay." returned the other. Some fat
ship that shall line all our pockets. Well
good luck to the Adventure galley and her
crew.
Our haste was such that in two days We
were off to sea again and carrying all sal
to a southeast wind. / allowed that the
| Cicely Bonaventure was bat seventy OF
eighty leagues ahead. We could soon make
that on her. and she would sight the
Island of Saint Helena / knew the course
to keep. And so day and night we carried
every sail that would draw.
Three days out the trade wind slackeneC
| so that at sunset we We're scarce sailing
four knots by the hour. Just as the great
god of day sank into the waves and the
heaven was all one golden glory the look.
out at tho topmasthead hailed the deck
Sail ho!'
And every eye became alert
, Where away?' cried Lieutenant Otway
Right ahead
All hands turned to me- expectantf Ny
hour was come. and for good or evil / mus
take 1t.
Send the ships company aft. Mr.. OF
/, way" said l, and the pipes of the boats
vain and his mate followed on his order.
''All hands lay aft ahoy.'
,, An upturned ring of faces stared at m,
as stood by the roundhouse; ali w,iteC
for me-
Men, L cried, 1--WE English have never
been too particular at sea and usually a
war with some country"
a roar of "Ay! ayr answered me. TIL
fellows were hungrier than 1.
BY daybreal can overhaul yon YES
sci. What say your
Enough Master Kid" cried one fellow
, whose voice rose above the chorus of yells
Down with the jack union from the peal
and give a flag we fight under"
With that rose horrible sound like tn
| Snarllng OF hungry dogs at bone
$ raised the devil within me and / cried
Down with the flagl" Then, as / drew
; my sword i continued. "A free life. Dealt
to all who withstand us. a short life an
5 a merry one"
l. "Hurrah, hurrah,'' yelled the men 4
1 answer. and. looking round, l saw an ev
grin on Otway's pale face.
r What say you. lieutenant" / cried.
n Il am with you. Captain Kid" he an
Q swered.
Pipe down. sir | said And steppin
e forward, he gave the order and, somewha
v to my surprise. the men turned at tn
: sound OF the whistles and went quietly FOL
!, ward.
y A sharp lookout was set and orders give
n that after midnight the men should be ker
at quarters. AS for me, / retired to m
), | cabin with load OF my soul.
Satan himself. him whom / had chose
" for my god. seemed 10 drive me on an
a the thought OF John Darton homewaI
J. bound TO Clcely's arms steeled my purpos
He should never have her. And l. when
d had gained enough treasure as an adveI
7, J turer on the sea, would return and clai