Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-06
LARK AND AMARIND.

llE1lC1A AMI M llllNDs
1t was the night of the governors state
ball 100 years ago a languid, tropical
night.
At the darkest and a~uietest part of the
balcony a knot of naval officers had gath
cred together in eager conversation. Their
voices were half suppressed, but the gov
ernor's astute secretary drew the curtains
close as he passed by
"Only my respect for the uniform which
you wear prevents me from calling you a
coward and a liar" said Captain Hawke
of H. M. S. Lark in a voice made hoarser
and fiercer by it's restraint.
"You boast safely, sir, since the COM
manders of his majesty S vessels may not
meet here" replied Captain Blade of H.
M. S. Tamarind in tho same strident whis-
per.
"Does that apply to their seconds"
breath.
"Aye, ave." said Blade.
"And to their other officers, too" said
old Hawke, hopping his red face vigor-
ously.
"But not to a MILDLY, suggested young
Blake of the Lark, with a grim smile upon
his smooth young face.
"May l, sir?' inquired little Hanson Of
the Tamarind, with his hand readily upon
his dirk.
"D-n you, mol" roared Hawke.
"What business have you boys here inter-
fering in your elders quarrels? Get out of
it!'
"Put back your dirk, Hanson" said
Blake in his quiet way, land peace, gen.
tlemen all. The quarrel is Captain
Hawkes. and mine. Some day we shall
doubtless settle it,.
"No, no." broke in the other voices.
"It Is our quarrel too"
"Faith, sir, " said Blake lightly, cit is
the quarrel of the two ships. There isn't
a man of us that wouldn't like to fight it
out fair and square,"
For the two vessels had long been rivals
in suppressing the pirates who infested
the islands and had cut each other out in
turns. Hawke had gained the decoration
for which Blade would have given a limb.
Blade had secured the great haul of prize
money which Hawke, who was poor and
proud, so sorely needed.
The first lieutenants had quarreled over
a woman, and tho other officers over their
wine. The middies had collided in their
dingeys and had come to blows over a
game.
smug gled key of rum and the carpenters
over the way to stop a bow leak. The sail
ors had fallen out over the Mans and Bets
and Sues, black or white, of every port
where the ships had touched.
Now a meddlesome admiral, newly come
from home, had ordered them off together
after some particularly well armed and
daring freebooters. So the quarrel had
reached fever point. And the cure for fe-
yer in those days was nothing but some let
ting of blood.
"Since these internal pirates have paint
ed their ships to resemble ours, there are
less likely things than a mistake some
foggy night. I, for one, should not regret
it, though we carry ten men and two guns
less" muttered Randall, the first lieuten-
ant of the Lark, who had lost the lady.
"For the matter of that, l shall leave
ten men ashore, and two of my guns need
repair. The foreman of the yard shall
have them tomorrow, said Captain Blade,
bowling c~ourteously. "Of course it would
be a great calamity should such a mistake
happen! But
"Do you mean to suggest asked the
ruddy Hawke, with his eyes boiling al
most out Of their sockets and flaming like
live Goals.
"Nay, sir, I suggest nothing. You will,
I am sure, take care to avoid such an
event." replied Blade, with the softness
that sets ones teeth on edge, like the touch
of satin.
"Gentlemen, gentlemenl" e%xpostulated
the governors secretary, appearing through
the window.
So after a polite contest in yielding pre-.
in. This mutual forbearance lasted right
up to the time when they went to sen, and
the magnanimity Of the officers in forget
ting their notorious feud when allied upon
his majesty's service was a common theme
of admiration to the %colonials.
Nevertheless they persuaded the new
admiral to let them make sure of the one
my by falling round the island in opposite
directions, though their foolhardiness in
going single handed moved every one to
astonishment, for at least two of the pirate
vessels were as large and as well armed as
those Of his majesty.
Blade oven carried his folly to the ex-
tent of landing two guns on account of
defects which the master gunner ashore
failed to discover and Of proposing to
leave ten men behind. "They are in indif-
ferent health, /" said he, land 1t is but fair
that Hawke and l should overcome the nj
rates on equal ter MS.
The men, however, declared that they
were fit, and the little MILDLY, Blades ia
vorite, who was to stay In charge, cried
like a girl.
"There be four or five of our men,
please, sir, that be related by marriage to
those in the Lark, and always side with
them. Maybe they would be willing to be
shipped in her, and make us square"
And SO 1t was arranged.
The Tamarind, which sailed to the east,
had the best Of the breeze, and made quick
Roadway. But the coast upon that side Of
the island ran in and out like a baby's
pencilings upon a slate, making capricious
little bays and long, winding creeks.
Lest a pirate vessel should be hiding In
them, 1t wa necessary to enter each inlet
which drew water enough to admit them,
while the shallower waters were searched
at night by the boats, with oars mufied
in the rowlocks and eager, whispering
crews.
When four days had passed, they came