The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-08-05
A PROTECTING FOG

pellation, there was one man aboard
her who would have been most ap-
propriate decoration to a yardarm. This
was Dixon, called "Crocky" Dixon.
Crocky was sobriquet that he ac-
CURED when 1t became known that
everything weaker than he that came
In contact with his powerful jaws must
be crushed. He was mild looking lit
tie man, slender as girl and upon oc-
casion quite as much Of fury as a
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 cruis-
er Crocky could get Twas a small
his late commander, the Raphael II.
Semmes. How or from whom he took
her doesn't pertain to this yarn. Dixon
was sitting in the cabin one evening
at anchor in Singapore strait with a
bottle Of wine beside him that had
beer intended for the table of an Eng
fish nobleman.
There was but enc light aboard, and
tarpaalin stretched across the sky
light fnterfered with its being SEEN
The pirate was waiting for day, and
when day came he proposed to snap
his jaws above and below bark that
was trying 80 get through the strait
laying up nights.
It may be supposed that those
aboard the said Bark, the Pelican. were
slunbertng, innocent Of danger. BY no
means. Captain Burt had seen the
SenlGles crawling along the surface
Of the water the evening before and
suspected her. Had she been recog-
nfzed for a pirate all on board the
bark naight have taken to the boats
during the night. They certainly would
have done SO, for the captains daugh-
ter, the bride of his second officer, was
with him on her wedding trip. Cap
tain Burt decided to send this second
officer in charge of -Four men in the
dingey ten miles up the strait to
United States gunboaT with a request
that the stranger be investigated. That
the captain regarded the mission an
important one is manifest frcm his
sending the young husband, who-would
hold the safety of his: bride OF para
mount Importance.
When day came the bark, YVES shut
In by teg. But DiXore had noted her
position by the compass; the night be-
fore and, getting up her anchor, pro-
posed to feel for her. Captain Burt had
suffered night of anxiety, and the
more he thought of the schooner the
nose he believed that she Was piratic-
ally inclined. When he faund the man.
tie of FOG thrown over bis vessel he
gave ORDERS that not d sound should
| serve as: guide to any. one trying to
| discover Aer whereabouts
| About eight bells in the morning the
captain was standing on the quartes
deck, astern. and heardi voices and the
sound of oars approaching. They grew
more distinct, and presently Crocky's
voice struck the thick air, Il volley of
oaths and orders, together with sutfir
eient reference to what he was about,
to convince Captain Burt that he was
being hunted for by a pirate. The APP
preaching boat or vessel passed; per-
haps hundred yards astern of him.
and the sounds grew indistincs.
| The captain In agony-for he knew
caution to all aboard his vessel te
maintain absolute silence. then waited
for the next time the pirate would pass
him. Not having gun aboard, defense
would be useless. He did not have tt
wait long, when Croelky, disguised a
having missed his object, pulled bacl
nearly over the same track, this time
passing the bark's stern again and {
trifle nearer. Every soul aboard thu
Pelican now knew that pirate wa!
passing back and forth In the fog ant
If their vessel was discovered al
would have to walk the plank. AS tn
schooner went by they stood huddlet
: together amidshlps listening to Crock.
2 Dixons blood curdling language, no
/, daring to whisper. Fortunately ono
, more he missed them.
When Crocky came back he put hi
a schooner off a few points and passe
! far beyond the Pelicans bow. 1t wa
lucky that he did so, for by this tim
: the fog had perceptibly thinned.
v Dixon had slipped his cable on star
J ing out to find the Pelican, and whe
: he pulled back the second time, thong
9 he missed TIE bark again, he ran on t
the cable buoy. This was a great az
. vantage. Having the compass dire'
g ton, he made another effort Those 0
v board the Pelican when they hear
ii him coming knew by the sound that b
y would surely strike them. Then 1t o.
Cured to Captain Burt that there we
7, tide in the strait, which was the
I, running in, and, though he knew tt
o. pirates would hear the cable sliC
through the hawse pipe, he gave orde
to have it slipped. Dixon the momel
\ he heard the sound knew well enoug
e what the captain was about and, Ca
3 culating on the tide, turned her no.
: slightly in curve. On came the pirat
q following the exact direction of IL
g drifting Pelican. Captain Burt steppt
3 down from the quarter deck and too
p his daughter in his arms, conyulSt