Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-01-21

Long familiarity with the New Eng
lang coast now stood him in good SER
vice. He ran his craft so close to the
shore that it was dangerous for one
not familiar with the channels to fol-
low.
Its no use, Captain" tho first
mate said after long pause. IF
that's Captain Low he knows every
inch of this water. He's better ac-
quainted with this coast than any
whaling captain from Portland to New
Bedford"
"Well, if il amt Ned Low, well
| give him chase among these rocks
that he won't forget very soon" re-
piled gruff Captain Bald, pulling his
long whiskers nervously.
In short time the black flag of the
/ pirates indicated even to the crew what
mission the ship was bent ON. There
was a short time of general fear when
stout hearts quaked and rugged faces
turned pale. Every sailor knew the
cruelty of the pirate captain and his
horde OF savages.
Then Captain Bald called the crew
together and addressed them in these
words.
1--WE may as well face this little
difficulty brayely, my men, and not
mince matters. That's Ned Lows
ship, and we know what he's after; he
never shows mercy toanybody, espe-
cially TO New Highlander, and we'd
better die fighting than be strung up
To the yardarm or have our lips and
noses cut off for fry. We've got
harpoons and axes aboard, and every
one Of We knows how to use 'em. So
just get 'em and stick together and
fight until ye're dead. Just remem-
Der that it's better to be killed than
to fall in their hands. I'll use
my wits to get away from them, but il
worst comes to worst, We must fight
That's ALL"
The stout words of the grim old
whaling captain lent new courage TO
the crew, and they gave little cheer
that meant more than the loud huzzah
of crowd. Every man felt that he
was about to face death, and he was
determined to do il with brave
front.
Nearer and nearer approached the
threatening boat, on whose decks
black swarms of armed men could he
seen. A small swivel gun sent ball
ricochetting across the waves toward
the whaling schooner, but the latter
continued to thread her way carefully
among the sunken rocks.
The pirate craft, when she reached
the outlying fringe of rocks, hove to
and beat up and down like q duck
uncertain which way to go.
ats dangerous water here il you
don't know your way" muttered Cap
tain Bald, and / guess you don't know
it,"
He was scanning the ship through
his sea glasses.
"Aha! Now Captain Low takes the
wheel. His pilot don't know the way.
Now we're in for it,"
There was change noticeable on
board the pirate Then she directed
her course once more toward the rocks
and plunged boldly between them,
following the narrow, tortuous chan
mel.
Captain Bald watched her in silence.
Then his light blue eyes, shaded by
thick, shaggy eyebrows, grew worried
and restless. He scanned the sea and
the shore, and then he returned his
gaze to the pirate.
"We can't lose them here" he said
finally to his first mate. "rhey'll
overhaul us before night, and then"
He shuddered involuntarily.
eve might run her aground and
swim for the Shore" he CALCULATED
finally. "No, well run her M the
river. This is Machias Point, and we
might reach the river ahead of 'em.
IL was late in the afternoon when
the Carrie sailed up the mouth of
the river against n strong tide, with
the pirate craft less than mile astern.
The coast at this point was bleak and
deserted in those days, and it was al
most as certa, n death to land and
desert the ship as to face the pirates,
">till. well do it," Captain Bald
said. "It's better To fall among the
Indians than among these human
fiends. I'd rather be eaten by wolves
than have my tongue and eyes gouged
out"
The pirates were 80 certain OF their
prey now that their loud shouts could
be distinctly heard by the whaling
crew. Suddenly Captain Bald started,
and, knowing that the best way to
keep his men brave was to find employ
ment for them, he gave orders quickly.
sect the whaleboats ready for
action lie shouted,
There were four Of these, two on
either side, and each one was manned
with a rraw az tIraa aailors and an