The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-12-28
m sieurs, and lumberman.' y

took letter from his greatcoat pocket.
He went up to the little Frenchmap.
"And smuggler, Pierre Baptiste De-
lorme," said the captain. The idea vas
absurd. The little fellow laughed up
roariously, took flask from his coon-
skin coat pocket, and gallantly passed
it around. 1t was filed with fine French
brandy.
"Ah, no, m 'sieurs," ho said, taking
a deep drink, II have My wife and the
little Pierre and Baptiste at home, and
sshing is better than this" " He pointed
toward the three pound gun.
Once more through the fog the signal
gun sounded, followed by the whistle.
"What ship is that:" asked the cap
tain.
"Oh, that is the Rosal;e F., m'sieur,
with Goldfish for Three Rivers.
"Codfshr' said the captain. "And
what is the gun for::''
The little man shrugged his shoul-
ders. "The fog is very thick, NJ sieur. I"
The captain went to the wheel. "Do
you know these waters well, NJ. De-
lorme?"
"Know them!" A smile spread over
the Frenchman's bearded lips. "Yes,
m'sieur, from a boy"
"Andrews, give this gentleman the
Wheel" said the captain. "He shall
take US to this Rosalie F. at once. I
want to look over that goldfish" The
captain threw open his bearskin coat
and showed bis uniform. "On her maj
esty's servicen' he added significantly.
The little Frenchman again shrugged
his shoulders, then laughed. "With
pleasure, m 'sieur!' He stepped lightly
into the pilothouse and spun round the
wheel with airy ronchalance. The cap.
tain stood beside him watching.
AREN'T you running her few points
off on the south:" he asked, studying
the chart.
The Frenchman laughed uneasily.
"M'sieur, was born on these waters, !"
he said simply.
was Oh the bow beside the lookout.
Suddenly the wind came up and the fog
lifted. There, 200 yards away, lowered
the great rocky shore of the lower St.
Lawrence Our pilot was deliberately
running US upon the rocks!
The captain sprang forward and sig
nailed "Reverse engines" Half a milo
up the river lay black tug with red
funnel, and a six cared boat was plying
between her and the shore.
The captain and tho Frenchman look.
ed at each other, but neither spoke for
a moment. Then the little Frenchman
laughed uneasily and spun round the
wheel. "Oh-h-h!" he cried, with mock
distress. II was mistaken, N sieur, aft
er ALL"
The captains hand was on his pistol.
Yet he could not help smiling.
We had no sooner swung slowly round
than the black tug picked up the open
boat and scurried away. In two minutes
we were after her. Snow began to fall,
and the early midwinter twilight set
in, but still the chase kept up.
Finally we put ball across the black
tugs bow. Her only retort was a rifle
shot that spliutered our pilothouse and
made the Frenchman say something un-
der his breath. Our next shot was in
earnest and caught her just above the
water line. We could SEQ the crew run
ming hurriedly about, while the tug
turned and ran head on for land. A shot
or two sang over our heads. Then boat
put out from her and made for the
shore.
When we came alongside the Rosalie
L., it was almost dark. We found only
a red funnel showing above the water.
An empty cask foated past US with the
tide.
"Ah, the rascals, m'sieurn' cried
the little Frenchman. lit is brandy
cask!'
The captain laughed He had done
his work and could afford to laugh. A
boat was lowered and half a dozen men
raced merrily after the disappearing
cask. Darkness had fallen by the time
they got back, and the burden was
hauled up on deck. It is always the du-
ty of revenue officer to ascertain
the nature Of the goods he has confiscat-
ed. The captain stove in the bunghcle,
and did So 1t was barrel of the finest
brandy ever shipped cut of Cognac. 1t
may not have been necessary for all the
crew to verify the captains decision,
but they did 50.
"Wait," said the captain. "M. Pierre
Baptiste Delorme-where is he? We
must drink the rascal's health. "
But NJ. Pierre was not to be seen.
We rushed to the stern where the little
dory had been tied only to hear the
sound of his oars as he slipped away
through the night.
"Haltn' challenged the captain.
Halt there, or we firen'
4 rifle shot or two rang out on the
cold night air. Then 4 mocking voice
came back across the water. "Au reVoir,
m sieurs, and happy new year to
you all" And the s,noothcst little
smugglcr on tbs St. Lawrence slipped
away in the darkness.
ARTHUR J. STRINGER