Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-11

SiptStill lldu DecI lOulu. IL was now
conceded that they had left the Caro-
lima coast.
| On the evening of the 18th of August
there passed into the mouth of the
Ashley river, and anchored off Charles
ton, a two-Inast schooner, of apparently
the same tonnage as the Clara Belle, and
she seemed to ride the waters, as she lay
Mt anchor there, as lightly. There was
evidently small cargo, If any, aboard.
The Clara Belle, when last seen plying
the waters of Cape Fear wore u coat
of white paint, and her master took
pride in seeing that it should be kept
so clean that her sides should glisten in
the sunlight.
This schooner was painted dark
green, and her name as painted in bold
letters on her stern was "The Rang
err"
The Ranger then had ridden at anchor
something like an hour, and it was pos
sibly eight o'clock, when q man of more
than ordinary stature and Of athletic
build, stepped from the cabin. He wore
a pair of dark blue trousers, which were
'S5thihSi tiodAo VIC NtLiSU ny IL llSSLNy
leathern belt, and within two pockets
of the belt, on either side, protruded the
stocks of pistols, while within its
sheath at the back rested the sheath
knife.
His blue wooden shirt was open at
the neck, and soft felt hat was on
his head. His features it was hard to
judge of, as an immense black beard
covered his face almost entirely, ex-
tending fully 10 inches below his chin.
His large. expressive eyes were of q
dark blue cast. and his every movement
seemed to speak of great energy.
AS he stepped out of the cabin, he
was wiping his long, black beard with
q red bandana, as though he had just
partaken of his evening meal.
Mate" he sang out, "lower a yawl,
and send Hendricks and Bullion ashore
with me-"
AYE, aye. sir! but who. Bull
hon?"
why, he that eats SO much soup. Ono
of the men we shipped at Port au
Prince"
The yawl was soon lowered, and tho
captain, who had donned his coat, ac-
companied by the two sailors, descended
into 1t.
A few minutes pull at the oars, and
they drew up at the wharf.
"Now, my lads" said the captain,
"go aboard and wait my signal-th
whistle three times; remember now,
bear an ear. and don't both get foggy
at once-there may be action before
morning"
"Aye, aye, airi" and the yawl dis
appeared in the gathering darkness,
while the captain passed from the
wharf to the opposite side of the street.
Here he turned to the left and pro-
ceeded south along the quay.
He entered several saloons, and along
here nearly every building was a
saloon.
In each place he stepped to the bar
and took drink or cigar, and threw
down silver dollar, and while waiting
for his change scanned every face and,
without remark, took his departure.
He was evidently looking for some
one. He had traversed fully three
blocks. when he entered q saloon mid
way of the block, and bearing on the
sign above the door the words: Sail
ors' Rest; Jim Holland, Proprietor
"This should be the place; old Jim
won't know me-"
He entered the door. A pock-marked
man of middle age was standing behind
the bar; he was blind Of the left eye,
and had q long, deep scar on his left
cheek, which even his stubby beard
failed to conceal.
The captain walked up to the bar,
leaned over 1t, and gazed intently at
the others features, which seemed to
annoy him.
"Well, Black Beard, when you've
looked your fill, order your drinks"
"Then give us two straight whistles
-here! hold here your head, Wattsi
Bill Watts! two stiff ones, do you hearT'
The others hand dropped to his hip
pocket on the instant.
Easy, pard! Easy, San Domingol"
Thunder! I had never knowed you;
thought you'd croalsed long ago.
Where did you cultivate that beard?"
That's one, shipmate, that I culti-
waited in an hour"
81 thought as much; but where do
you hail from, TOMB"
From everywhere; my schooner lies
at anchor in the river"
"oh, no! then you're equipped again ?
What is it, the same old lay?"
"Well, rather, rather. Any old ship
mates around?"
Eyes, Doud and Batson are here, as is
Plunkett and Cobb; but they're in Jail,
Plunkett and Cobb are"
"For what?"'
"Why, I believe they called it murder
here. They wuz relievin' planter of
his roll one night and he resisted, and
made such fuss that Plunkett and
Cobb wuz surrounded, and they got
| jagged. They stretches hemp next Fri
day lessen weget them hought;an' then
I'm gettin' tired of shore. I'm skeered
I'm gettin' suspicioned here. It was a
bad day for us when the Nancy foun-
dered; but what kind OF craft have you
got now?"
"A two-mast schooner, and q clipper
she is, too; with fair wind she can
| A