The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1900-12-28

bTlk ColnlnS lOWUTu us, NuU us every
one at sea Is presumed n rogue until he
Is proved nm honest man we cleared the
decks for action and beat to quarters.
As the stranger ncared us n of Alec's
men recognized her as the brig Catch
all, belonging to Captain Fleming, the
well known freebooter. So as he was
not likely to let such n vessel as our
gallcon pass without an overhaul we
quite expected another fight. How
ever. he drew within long hail and,
bringing his ship to, signed that no
wished to speak lis.
What ships that?'
"The brig Severn OF Bristol. Alex
ander Ireland. master. What ships
thatT'
Brig Catchall, Captain Fleming.
What's the galleonT
1.-THE Lope de Vega of Vigo, n prize
to the Severn"
Of herr"
Fought for her"
"Then is there war with Spainr'
IL think 60"
You think SOP Then followed some
talk with his own people which we
could not hear. "Will you lie to and
let me bring my boat alongside? I'm
honest as the whole bench Of bishops
today"
AYE. aver
Alec called on me to come on board
the Severn, and presently a weather
beaten, thickset man Of middle age
was rowed across to us. We went be.
low and pledged II another in n jack
Of ale (as the Severn's hold was still
filed with wheat instead of the cargo
of Spanish wine we had expected to
bring back, and then Captain Fleming
vas told Of the seizure and fight In
Vigo bay. He listened attentivcly,
nodding his grizzled head mt every sen.
tence, cut making no remark until he
had heard the whole story.
at was n lucky, plucky escape, cap.
TAIN" he said, looking %approvingly at
Alec, land n that does credit to the
stuffing of your headpiece. But make
no error about It's being an affair OF
unauthorized individuals. 1t is the be-
ginning Of war, ! tell you, and n bloody
war 1t will be. I've seen 1t coming for
this year or more. Ships are being
gathered into all the ..orts, and great
mobiles are chartering vessels for other
purposes thar honest trade or a little
free cruising. King Philip of Spain
will make a big move before long.
Marx my words, sir"
England will be ready for him when
he does" replied Alec proudly.
AYE, lad, / warrant she Will, but
It's time she was stirring, or the Span
iards-curse the whole nation Of them
will be cruising about the English
channel and up to London town before
any of us are many months older.
Now, Captain Ireland" he continued,
standing up and beating his fist on the
a freebooter and an outlaw; but,
though there's many an Englishman
would be glad to heal that | was dead,
l love my country with the best of
them. So when you get back to port
spread the news of this threatened in
vasion and say that n warning shall be
brought when Philips armada sets sail
and that l am the man who will bring
it. And may God keep me and mine
on sentry go about the seas till the
crack Of doom If l fail in this my
watch over England's safety"
And he brought his fist down upon
the table with a crack that made our
ale pots dance.
Pardon me, captain" said l. I'VE
honor you for those words, but I'd like
to remind you Of one thing-Franky
Drake will hang you If he gets his fin
gers on your shoulder. l have heard
him say So"
Master Topp," he replied, looking Mt
me steadily, "if l a save England by
my news l don't mind If l swing for
the bringing of 1t, and you can say SO
from me to any n that asks"
We gave Captain Fleming n ringing
cheer as he stepped into the boat. A
watch had been stationed to guard the
honor Of England, and 1t was a COM
mon pirate who went on sentry go.
But pirate though he was he was q
patriot too. May England never have
any lack Of such sturdy sons as Cap
tain Fleming, freebooter!
ITO be continued ext,Friday.)