The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-12
\ PROTECTING FOG
lOrraaLl

propriatn decoration to a yardarm. This was Dixon. called "Crocky" Dixon. Crocky was a sobriQuet that be ac- aulred when it became known that everything weaker than be that came ln contact with his powerful jaws must be crushed He was a mild looking it- tie man. slender as a girl and upon oc- casion quite as much of a fury aa girl scorned. In 1865, when the Ala bama visited the Indian archipelago, Dixon deserted and made things lively for that region for long time.
 The best thing in the way of a cruis' CT Crocky could get was small schooner. which he named In honor of bis late commander the Raphael H. semmes. How or from whom be took her doesn't pertain to this yarn. Dixon was sitting In the cabin one evening at anchor in Singapore strait with a bottle or wine beside him that had been intended for the table of an Eng ush nobleman.
 There was but one light aboard, and a tarpaulin stretched across the sky light interfcred with its being seen. The pirate was waiting for day, and when day came he proposed to snap hls laws above and below a bark that was trying to get through the strait without a pilot and was consequently laying up nights.
 ft may be supposed That those aboard the said bark. the Pelican. were slumbering. innocent or danger. By no means. Captain Burt had seen the Semmes crawling along the surface of the water the evening before and suspected her Had she been recog- nlE,d for a pirate an on board the bark might have taken to the boats during the night They certainly would have done SO, for the captains daugh- fer. the bride of his second officer. was with him on her wedding trip. Cap tain Burt decided to send this second ofi,er in charge Of four men in the dlnzey ten miles up the strait to United States gunboot with a request that the stranger be investigated. That ths captain regarded the mission an important one is manifest from his sending the young husband. who would hold the safety of his bride of para mount importance.
 When day came the bark was shut in bv fog. But Dixon had noted her position by the compass the night be- fore and. getting mp her anchor, pro nasrd to feel for her. Captain Burt had suffered a night Of anxiety and the more he thought Of the schooner the more he believed that she was piratic- ally inclined. When he found the man. Gle or fog thrown over hi- vessel he gave orders that not a sound should serve as a guide to any one trying to discover her whereabouts.
 About eight bells in tle morning the captain was standing on tae quarter d.rk. ustern. and heard voices and the sound Of oars approaching. They grew more distinct, and presently Crockys voice struck the thick air, volley Of oetas and orders. together with sum cirat reference to what be vas about tc conyince Captain Burt that be was 1-mg hunted for by pirate. The ap- proacning boat or vessel passed per haps a hundred yards astorn Of him. and the sounds grew indisCnct
 The captain In agony fer he knew the pirates would roturu-ienewed his cautlou to an aboard hR vessel Co maintain absolute silence then waited for ths next time the pirate would pass hln. Not having a gun ohoa-d. defense would be useless. He did not have to wait long. when Crocby, di7gusted at having missed his object pulled back nearly over the same tract this time passing the bark's stern oeain and tride nearer. Every soul gboard the Pelican now knew that a pirate was paaslng back and forth in the fog and H their vessel was discovered all wuuld have tO walk the plank. AS the schooner went by they stood huddled together amidships listening to Crocky Dlrons blood curdhng language, not daring Co whisper. Fortunately once more be missed them
 When Crocky came back be put his schooner or few points and passed far beyond the Pelcan's bow. lt was lucky that he did SO, for by this time the fog had percepubly thinned
 Dixon had slipped his cable on start Ing out to find the Pelican. and when he pulled back the second time, though he ualssed the bark again be ran on to the cable buoy. This was a great ad- -antage. Having the compass direc- tlon. be made another effort Those on board the Pelican when they heard him coming knew by the sound that he would surely strike them. Then 1t oc- cured to Captain Burt that there was a tide In the strait. which was then running in. and. though be knew the pirates would hear the cable slide through the hawse pipe be gave orders to have 1t slipped. Dixon the moment he heard the sound knew well enough what the captain was about and. cal- cllat.ng on the tide. turned her nose slightly in a curve. On came the pirate following the exact direction Of the drifting Pelican. Captain Burt stepped down from the quarter deck and took bis daughter in his arms convulsed with agony. All hope was gone.
 Suddenly every one started. Close by sounded a steam whistle. As suddenly the sound Of oars ceased. The whistle sounded again, and at a signal from