The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-09
uthward, swimming apparently

/ lS.iuSl DONh IL "a "
wing marshes OF Louisiana waver
md flicker like O bank Of sunlit
LIQUIDS.
This restless sheet of water. IT,.
| rling its short white-capped waves be-
ween the islands and the mainland,
= Mississippi Sound, OF which Lake
| Sorgae is but a wider part that finds
| connection with Pontchartraiu through
4 broad bayou. or series OF bayous,
called the Rigolets.
l 81 River falls into Lake Borgne
| some miles eastward from the Riso-
lets, andits month, joining with many
little bayous, fills the grassy mar
on either side with a silvery network
| of water
A glance OF a good map OF the region
will show how perfectly adapted was
this whcle tangle OF lakes, creeks,
rivers, islands, marshes, swamps and
| densely timbered mainlauds to. the
purposes Of the outlaws, whost
| swift little vessels darted through
the intricate waterways like
| wild fowl in their native haunt.
What had the pirates to fear so long
as there was no government properly
so called in Louisiana? When their
pockets were we'll Tiled with golden
loot, they even ventured boldly into
New Orleans or Mobile. From Ba:S
taria Lake, on one side, to Honey
Island, on the other, New Orleans
was hedged in, SO to speak, with a
Gordon of outlaws, whose leaders
dictated, in no small degree. the
| policy of the city in trade and com.
mercc, law and politics.
Mr.. Vernon was explaining all this
to Fairfax as they sat smoking on the
deck of the little vessel which was
bearing them past Ralf-Moon Island
into the tumbling little sea called
Lake Borgne. Mrs. Vernon aud
Pauline were below, and a group Of
family servants. huddled forward.
were loungiug idly and enjoying the
lazy swing of the waves. Three men,
short, gaunt, with muscles like iron
bands on their sturdy limbs, were the
vessels crew. One, whose head was
grizzled with age, watched the tiller,
and gave orders in a queer mincing
patois.
"You do not mean to say, Mr.. YER
non, that you are abandoning 'your
place at Bay Saint Louis" remarked
Fairfax, IN the course OF their CONVEX
satior; "you surely ara not going to
leave it to go to ruin"
"I cannot say for how long; but
certaiGiy 1 am abandoning it, said
Mr.. Vernon. SIT is no longer sa te
to stay there. Besides, if the wal
reaches here everything will be de-
stroved, and even if that calamity be
averted, there remains the general
unsafe condition Of society and gov
eminent here"
Pauline just sheu came from DO
low.
"But do you think the British are
really likely to attack this coast:' Id
CURED talctaA. ,
sit is not only likely but almost
certain" was the reply.
"And with what resuls?'
"Disaster to u.s."
At this point Mr.. Vernon arose and
went to speak to the man at the tiiier.
He was beginning to fear that with
the breeze as it now set they were
not going to be able to pass the
Rigolets before nightfall, and thai,
indeed, they might be forced to anchor
off the mouth of Pearl River to await
o change of wind. The thought was
anything but pleasant.
Already the sur was slipping down
the west, and every minute the breeze
became more unfavorable and also
more tickle, putting i~rregularly and ct
dimes threatening to O alto
gether.
The negro sailors were working
hard and with q great, deal of adroit-
ness to make the most OF the
situation; for they were not unaware
Of the danger to them in spending a
night in tho track Of the Pearl River
vessels. To them the thought of fall.
ing into the hands of pirates had all
the force Of romantic terror possible
to their imagination.
Fairfax, in blissful Ignorance OF any
special significance attaching to the
situation, abandoned himself to the
pleasure of looking into Pauline's
face and listening to her voice.
Pauline NAV have been quite as nm.
conscious of the young mans admira.
ton as she appeared to be; but, doubt
less, some satisfying n OF her in
Auence upon him stole through her
mind, o watt from that wonderland OF
experience, toward which it is the
blessed privilege Of every maiden 20
drift, half expecting, half doubling.
They were both under the influence
Of q very tender and beautiful, yet in
distinct, mood, which made it alto.
gether delightful to sit or stand near
each other and merely play with the
o,k>. f~;ooa ~ aantimanf xhila tina