Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-11-10
CHAPTER +.

NUnln one Oh VHc southern luROOuS up'
on the coast of Texas, Is the small bay
of Goliad. 1t Is not far from the mouth
of the Nucces, and, like most Of the la.
goons which abound upon the shores OF
the gulf, affords a most excellent harbor.
In the early part Of August. 1916, small
schooner lay Mt anchor within this bay.
She was n pretty craft: built after the
model Of our Baltimore clippers. and car
rying a wide spread Of canvas for such
hull. She had square topsail and
topgallant sail upon the fore. and gaff-
topsail upon the main. She was called
the Lone Star. and had for some years
belonged TO the Texan navy, having been
employed in cruising after those Next
can vessels that had been fitted out for
the especial purpose of committing dcprc-
dations upon the seaport settlements OF
the infant republic. And even now that
Texas had been united with its gigantic
sister, II was found necessary TO keep the
Lone Star in service, for manifold were
the robbcrcs still committed by the Mex
lean crafts. and none knew their haunts
70 well rs did the commander Of the gal
liant schooner.
She carried six brass guns, and the
pixies that stood in their beckets about
the masts were bright and sharp. Upon
the qunrtcr.deck, with one hand ahold
Of a back-stay. stood a young man, not
over fvc.and.twenty, whose uniform
marked him rs the captain of the vessel.
lie was tall, with brown hair. and rich,
dark gray eye, and possessing one OF
those peculiar conformations Of form and
feature which at once mark out the com.
mander. Ills face was one of more than
ordinary manly beauty, and Its tone OF
nobleness and authority was well sus.
tanned by the physical power which was
at once apparent In the muscular mas.
sivencss and compactncss Of his frame.
His name was Clarence Howard. He was
a Virginian by birth, and having lost his
parents when quite young, he adopted
the sea as the field Of his labor. He was
but boy In years when the struggles OF
Texas TO free herself from the Mexican
yoke attracted his attention, and In com.
pany with party of his friends he start
ed for the scene Of action: and from that
time he did his part well and truly TO-
ward establishing the republic.
Close by the captain stood small boy
He was not over fifteen, and even small
at that. In frame he was very slight
His light haxen hair was thin and wavy
and seemed to leave his high, projecting
brow almost with the appearance Of bald
ness upon the top. His eyes. light gray
in color. were different from most eyes
The pupils were long and cone.likc
square ut the base, and reaching to u
point at their upper termination. In nd
dition to this. they were bright, some
times sparkling like stars, and then al
others. burning like fire; and, moreover
they seemed to possess a phosphOrcscen
power. for In the dark they would Otter
burn. or glow, with n brightness which
rendered them visible when the face coult
not be seen. This boys name was Pete
Sythe. Clarence Howard had found him
ten years before, when he first came t.
Texas. on u wreck which had been cas-
up on the Isle dc Bagin, just north Of thu
Rio Grandc, and since that time he hn'
clung TO his noble protector, with all thu
affection of child for Its parent.
The two licutcnants were pacing Thu
quarter deck upon the larboard side. The
first was Karl Lotion. n stout, powerful
~ built man, some thirty years OF age
4 native Of New York, though Of German
descent. The second was Martin Har
another robust man, with black hal
and black eyes, and some four or five
years older than Lotion.
PETER" spoke the captain. turning 4
his boy, "go and tell the coxswain Il
have my gig manned"
"Going ashore, captain?" asked Lotion
stepping over.
EYES," returned Howard.
''Have you made up your mind ye
when you'll sail!"
"Not quite, Lotion. But ! shall sal
for the first thing that turns up. We mr.
doing no good here. Taylor and Wort
have about all the supplies they can nj
ford to wait for, and l understand tina
they are soon to start up into the coun
try further. They mean to make thci
next attack upon Monterey. thin
we'll poke along down to the southwark
and We may get upon the track Of thu
villain, Tudel-Jilok Tudel-thc most nc
torious pirate Mexico ever produced. Is
the cross, Karl, Id like to meet tina
chap"
80 would VIC all." returned the lieu
tenant, enthusiastically.
"And then there's more work, too" r.
sumcd the CAPTAIN. 1.-THE Mexican 20,
eminent has given out lot Of letters @
marQuc; so you see, the gulfll be swarm
ing with privatecrs."
but won't the United States grant an
such lettcrs!"
"NO-f guess not"
But whyY Good gracious, II Mcxic
sends ont her privateers, why shouldn
we have some to Offset thcm!'
II don't know, Karl. 1t isn't Yer
honorable mode Of warfare; but you SO,
MexicO's got no navy at all, and so she
Obliged to do this. She's got one or Nv
little scOws, but they're good for notl
Ing"
"Thcn they need privatccrs:"
"TO he sure they do; and II they'd Onl
raise their own men, ] wouldn't car,
but they've sent lot Of letters of margu
to Havana, In hopes that the Cuban
will fit ont privateers against us; and W
have the best OF reasons for believin
that privateers are being fitted out
England to cruise under the Mexica
flag. What dye think Of that:"
"Why-l'll tell ye. captain. I'm yer
glad we hold our commission regularl!
and ! only hope We may meet an Englisl
man cruising under the Mexican flag.
kind o. strikes me now that ! shOul
rather let a real Mexican pirate 60 frt
than to let of them as ought to be
better business. However, we may fin
one Of 'em. eh?'
II hope So" was Towards reply, {
he turned toward his cabin.
He then went below, and when he T.
turned to the deck, he was all ready II
going on shore. His heavy sword W,
buckled on, and a brace OF slx-barrel'
pistols graced his belt. Even tho sho
of Texas, along the banks of the Nuece