Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-06-29
CHAPTER II.
ALIAS CAPT. LOUNsBURf,

Now the headsails being let go with run
and hanging loose over the bow, the foresail
and its travelling blocks giving out a deaf.
ening protest against it's slack sheet. the
mainsail joining in the laundering Chorus,
and the wheel Jerking violently hither and
thither with the kick of the rudder, we were
sufficiently beyond the usual order of things
to suit my purpose, and my trump card, in
the shape of a dead man lying in the SOUP
per, lay clear to the eye of anyone who might
board us. The sight was uncanny enough,
and my instinct was to have the negro heave
the body over board; but, as it was to be
silent witness to the story was about to
tell, let it bide, though, as the sequel
showed, 'twould have saved me sight of
trouble to have followed my first impulse.
confess that my heartbeats took on addi.
tional force and frequency as I stood and
watched the schooner's nearer approach.
She came on to within easy gunshot, and
swung into the wind, all of futter from
stem to stern, and then clay to" with her
headsails full aback. From the scarlet flag
at her peak to her clean cutwater she was
an object of beauty, though in a light air l
doubt she would have slid her keel through
the brine with greater speed than would the
Phantom, which had been built for fleet
ness and rapidity in stays.
With my wits by this time well about me,
and my wounds bleeding but little (as was
shown by the few drops that now dr,pped
from my fingers ends), stood by the helm
and took in every detail of the enemy, from
the crowd at her davits to the long brass
piece forward of the foremost, the gun being
trained point blank at me.
The stranger worked with the alacrity of
a man-of-war, for the schooner had barely
lest her way when I saw a boat drop from
her larboard quarter and pull toward us,
while another came around her bow and fol-
lowed. They were both filled with we'll.
armed men, as could be seen by the glitter
Of musketry, and the way they came over
the whitecaps showed their temper It
showed temper, too, in the smart manner
they boarded me, the first boat hooking on
to the main channels, the men Laundering
out with scarcely shout and no questions,
and in twinkling beheld half score of
them on my deck, they, I fancy, being
nightly surprised at having met with no re-
sistance.
The crisis was now at hand, and played
my first card with something of the despera-
ton of a ruined gambler. Striding up to an
officer whom saw coming aft with bare
sword in hand, I said:
eye show scant courtesy in boarding me,
sir. Had you turned up an hour agone,
'twould have been to some purpose"
''Who in HI are you? Where's the cap
tain of this ship" was the excited rejoinder.
Now there was something about the tone
Of his voice, the way of calling schooner
ship, as well as the get-up of the man him
self, that, angered as was at his reply, made
,.l- oe1r A ~
glance showed me I was not dealing with
man bred to the sea, much less to the regu-
lar service, for, though I then had small
knowledge of the uniforms of the British,
knew that which graced the back of the Off
Ger before me was not of his majesty navy.
knew it by it's cut and garniture, and the
land flavor of the man lay also in the fact
that he wore forage cap and carried cav
airy saber instead of a cutlass. His face, too,
lacked the true sea tan, its fair complexion
showing the effects of unusual exposure to
sun and wind. What his rank might be
had no idea, and speculation was lost in the
quick retort that naturally rose to my lips.
"Who are you, sir, to tumble aboard a
prize of his majesty's in this fashion? Ye
stand in need of a lesson in marine manners
as well as marine matters. Do We hope to
Judge of crafts cargo by squint at her
hatch cover, or Of man by the cut of his
lib? Think not to deceive yourself or me!
know my rights, and also know the differ
ence betwixt the cry of a sea bird and hen
hawk!''
III had any doubt as to the official posi-
ton of the officer, it was set at rest by the
subdued laugh that came from the group
about u.s. Piqued by the sound of mirth
rom those he had no power to punish, his
lace turned to an ugly red, and, lifting his
saber as though to cut me down, he shouted:
You insoent dog! Twill make you sweat
for this! Lay hold of him, some of you!
Tie the villain up! Damnation! are you all
,owards?' he continued, as there was
kshufle Of feet, though no one approached me.
Where is no telling what might have been
Spshot of this dispute had there been
Suption, for the fellow seeuaed deter