Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-05
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Protecting Fog.
IOriginal.l

was Dixon, called "CrOcky" Dixon.
Crocky was a sobriquet that he ac-
quired when it 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 n girl and upon oc-
casion quite as much of q fury as
girl Scorned. In 1865, when the Ala
bama visited the Indian archipelago,
Dixon deserted and made things lively
for that region for a long time.
the best thing in the way of cruis-
er Crocky could get was small
schooner, which he named in honor of
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
bottle of wine beside him that had
been intended for the table of an Eng
lish nobleman.
There was but one light aboard, and
a tarpaulin stretched across the sky
light interfered with its being seen.
The pirate was waiting for day, and
when day came he proposed to snap
his jaws above and below a bark that
was trying to get through the strait
without Il pilot and was consequently
laying up nights.
1t may be supposed that those
aboard the said bark, the Pelican. were
slumbering, innocent of danger. BY no
means. Captain Burt had seen the
Semmes crawling along the surface
of the water the evening before and
To- oh
nized for u pirate all on board the
bark might 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 request
that the stranger be investigated. That
the 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 by fog. But Dixon 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 n night of anxiety, and the
more he thought of. the schooner the
more he believed that she was pirGtic-
ally inclined. When he found the man
tie of fog thrown over his 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 the morning the
captain was standing on the quarter
deck. astern. and heard voices and the
sound of oars approaching. They grew
more distinct, and presently Crocky's
voice struck the thick air. vOlley of
oaths and orders. together with sutfi-
cient reference to what he was about.
to convince Captain Burt that he was
being hunted for by pirate. The APP
proaching boat or vessel passed per-
haps n hundred yards astern of him,
and the sounds grew indistinct.
The captain in agony-for he knew
the pirates would return-renewed his
caution to all aboard his vessel to
maintain absolute silence. then waited
for the next time the pirate Wsuld pass
him. Not having gun aboard. defense
would be useless. He did not have to
wait long. when Crocky. Disguised at
having missed his object. pulled back
nearly over the same track, this time
passing the bark's stern again &nd
trifle nearer. Every soul aboard the
Pelican now knew that pirate was
passing back and forth in the fog and
IL their vessel was discovered all
would have to walk the plank. AS the
schooner went by they stood huddled
together amidships listening to Crocky
Dixon's blood curdling language, not
daring to whisper. Fortunately once
more he missed them.
When Crocky came back he put his
schooner off few points and passed
far beyond the PeIican's bow. 1t was
lucky that he did so, for by this time
the fog had perceptibly thinned.
Dixon had slipped his cable on start
ing out to find the Pelican, and when
he pulled back the second time, though
he missed the bark again, he ran on to
the cable buoy This was a great adj
vantage. Having the compass direc-
ton, he made another effort. Those on
board the Pelican when they heard
him coming knew by the sound that he
would surely strike them. Then it &C.
Cured to Captain Burt that there was
n tide in the strait, which was then
running in, and, though he knew the
pirates would hear the cable slide
through the hawse pipe, he gave orders
to have it slipped. Dixon the moment
he heard the sound knew well enough
what the captain was about and, cal
culating 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
his daughter in his arms, convulsed
with agony. All hope was gone.
Suddenly every one started. Close by
sounded steam whistle. AS suddenly
the sound of oars ceased. The whistle
sounded again, and at signal from
Captain Burt every one on board the