The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-10-08
CHAPTER III.
NEARER VIEW OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW

4
on the coverings OF the upper deck guns,
and on the many small boats swinging
in readiness from the davits was the
word "Wanderer.
| AS on the Sea Hawk, everything on
board the Wanderer was in the state Of
perfect order which old sailors desig-
nate as "ship-shape.
The crew were powerful. fierce look
ing fellows, and, though there was not
one man with gray hair or beard visible,
all were in that golden prime of life
when experience restraints the impulses
Of youth, without lessening it's activity
or vigor.
| The majority of the crew was de-
cidedly English, but accent and face
told that the minority was composed of
many nationalities; not an unusual
thing in this day when England, in or
der to recruit her warships, sent press
gangs on shore, and. If occasion re-
guired, did not hesitate to force into
her service the sailors of merchantmen
overtaken on the high seas.
When nations became robbers in SELF
| defense, it is not to be wondered at
that pirates were plenty, as much for
their contempt for law as their desire
for plumber.
With one or two exceptions the OFF,
GERS were men between 80 and 40 years
of age, and there was that in their man.
ner that told Of perils daringly met in
the past; and the adventurous spirit in
their stern, restless eyes showed that,
like their beautiful ship, they were
wanderers, impelled on and on by the
spirit of adventure. which, though rife
in that age, cannot be said to be pecu-
| liar to any.
Capt. William Fox, commander Of the
Wanderer, looked like a man in every
way qualified fer his duties. He was
about IS years OF age, rather slender
and Of medium height. with hair and
beard that would be called golden by
| the poetic and rod" by those OF pro-
| sale turn. His eyes were blue, but with
that steely CLINT that is rarely seen ex-
| cept In eyes OF gray.
Capt. Fox must have been in these
waters before, for when a yacht came
alongside Offering a pilot, he shouted
down:
| Il know the channel, and can't fail
| If keep In the wake of the Sea Hawk. ;"
He seemed the very personification Of
activity, but it was activity without
nervousness. His short, quick COM
mands were given with decision, and
obeyed with the promptness and regu-
larity of fine mechanism.
| After the anchors werc down, and tho
sails furled, Capt. Fox said to black
eyed officer, some years younger than
himself:
| Come to my cabin, Mr.. Frcnauld.
wish to speak with you.
Aye, aye, sir, replied Lieut.. Free
nauld, touching his cap and following
the Captain down the companion way.
| The cabin of the Wanderer was quite
| in keeping as to neatness with the other
parts of the ship, but the furniture was
such as even an admiral could not have
afforded. The place was crowded with
works of art. The walls were covered
with pictures, the most homogeneous re-
| ligious pieces being hung side by side
with fierce battle pictures, and rudo
| cuplds placed in companionship with
| winged cherubs and seraphic madonnas.
Through the open doors OF some Of
| the staterooms opening into the cabin
| the same lavish adornments could be
seen, giving tho idea of floating art
| gallery, rather than the quarters of OFF,
GERS on a ship of war.
| And this lavish profusion OF wealth
was visible in the persons Of the Off
/ GERS, certainly in the two who now re-
tired to an inner cabin.
Their fingers were half covered with
rings, in which cmeralds of deepest tint
and diamonds of purest water flashed,
and the buckles on their shoes, or
pumps" as they were then called, were
masses Of the same gems.
After closing the door of the cabin be-
hind him Captain Fox pointed the lou
tenant to chair and sat down himself.
This done, he deliberately pulled OIL
his pumps, and drawing a palmer pail
from drawer near by he put them on.
He then removed his finger rings and
threw them, with the shoes ne had taken
off. into box.
I'VE must put away these things for
the present, Mr.. Frenauld, said Captain
Fox. at is well enough to wear them
at sec, where the sight OF thom will in
splre our men to deeds of greater valor,
but here they may create suspicion, and
that is the very thing We must avert.
"Of course, sir, replied Lieutenant
Frenaald, and he at once removed his
| Jewels, going into another room to ro-
move his pumps. Coming back, he
asked:
Shall 1 instruct the other officers,
| zap dils
NO; 1 have ordered them to wear
nothing that does not accord with their
rank as officers in the service Of the
| good Queen Ammo"
Captain Fox hesitated, and Mr.. Fren-
auld nodded, and said:
Il understand, sir.
Il expected that Captain Denham
would have done me the honor Of q visit
20 instant the Sea Hawk came to ON.
nor"
Cad, sir, he would have visited us
before that # he knew who we were,
said Lieutenant Frenauld, with low
laugh.
The Captain frowned, bit his lips, and,
evidently ill-pleased with his subordi-
mates levity, he continued as II he had
not heard it.
Perhaps I should not blame Captain
Denham, for this is his homo. and the
home of most of his officers and men
and 1t is natural thatn and they should
hurry ashore to see their kinsmen and
sweethearts.
a sweetheart in Denham's case, sir
for, as we know, no has no kin here"
You forget, said the Captain, tap
ping the table with the tips of his finger:
and frowning.
Pardon me, sir. but did not think,
said the lieutenant, alphabetically. thai
| 1t would be amiss to allude, under tbs
circumstances, to what we both know
about Captain Dcnnam's ancestors"
1T is amiss, S r. Zoundsl If an echo