Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-12-07
CHAPTER III.
A GENTLE PIRATE.


the every movement of the whaleboat
as she drew near the Ranger. Old
Price saw that whip and a boat
swan's chair had been rugged on the
main yardarm to swing his passengers
on board. The sight Of the dangling
rope awakened a fresh fit of apprehen-
sion on the part of the timOrous maid,
and 1t was with great difficulty that the
amused seaman persuaded her that she
was not to be hanged outright Entire.
ly unconvinced, but resigning herself
TO her fate, she finally sat down on the
small board and was swung to the
gangway.
The mistress gently laid the head Of
the PROSTATE officer against one of the
thwarts, and. leaving the handkerchief
as rest for it. followed the maid.
Then the old cockswain secured the
lieutenant TO the chair. and when he
had reached the deck. where he opened
his eyes and recovered consciousness
with incredible promptness, the boat
was dropped astern. the Ialls hooked
on and she was smartly run up to her
place at the davts, and the, Ranger
filed away. O'Neill was at once as
sisted below to his cabin, and his
wounds. which were not serious, were
attended TO by the surgeon.
When the young woman Joined her
maid on the deck her glance compre-
hended curious picture. In front of
her, hat in hand, bowling low before
her, stood small dapper, swarthy,
blue uniform of a naval officer. He
had the face of a scholar and a stu
dent, with the bold brilliant black
eyes Of fighter. Surrounding him
we're other officers and several young
boys similarly dressed. Scattered
about in various parts of the ship. as
their occupation or station permitted,
where a number Of rude, fierce, des-
perate looking men. nondescript in ap-
parel. None of the navies of the world
at that date, except in rare instances.
uniformed its men. On either side OF
the deck black guns protruded through
the ports, and here and there a ma.
rine, carrying a musket and equipped
in uniform of white and green, stood
or paced a solitary watch.
81 bid you welcome to my ship, mad
am. So fair face on a war vessel IL
as grateful a sight as the sun after a
squall," said the officer, deliberately
bowling.
Sir" said the young woman, trem-
bling slightly, Il am a person of some
consideration at home. My guardian
will cheerfully pay you any ransom ii
you spare me. am a woman and
alone, beg you, sir, TO use ME kind
ly." She clasped her hands in be-
seeching entreaty, her beautiful eyes
filling with tears.
At this signal the fears of the maid
broke out afresh, and she pumped
down on her knees and grasped the
captain around the legs, bawling vo-
ciferously and adding a touch of COM
edy to the scene:
"Oh, sir, for the love of heaven, sir,
don't make us walk the plank" 1t
would seem that the maid had been
reading rOmances.
The seamen near enough to hear and
see grinned largely at this exhibition,
and the captain, with a deep flush and
a black frown on his face, struggled to
release himself.
Silence, woman" he cried fercely
at last. Get from your knees or,
by heaven, will have you thrown
overheard, and you, madam, for what
do you take me?"
Are you not "a pirate, SIR" she
answered. hesitating. They told me
on the ship that you
No pirate am l." interrupted the
man proudly, laying his hand on his
sword, Il am an officer and, with
these gentlemen, am in the service Of
the United States Of America, the new
republic. This Is the American Cont
mental ship Ranger. You are as safe
with us as you would be in your own
parlor at home-safer in fact. There
you would be surrounded by servants
here are men who would die to prevent
harm coming to you. Is It not so, gen.
tlemen?'
A deep chorus OF aye, ayes" rang
through the air. Fhe captain contin-
ued with sudden heat:
Fore God, madam, ] don't under
stand how you could insult me with an
Of offer of money!"
oh, sir" said the girl, visibly re-
heved they told me that you were a
pirate and would murder us all Are
SOU not
Captain John Paul Jones, at your