Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-10-12
northward to ono Of his favorfte r.

ben GreenWay, the ScOtchman, touch
ing his hat
"And what do you want?" cried the
burly pirate. Haven't they given you
your prize money yet, or isn't ii
enough?"
prize money!" exclaimed Greenway.
II haze none O. it, nor will I haze any.
What money hae-an' it is but little
came to mo fairly"
"Oho!" cried Blackboard, land you
have money then, have you? Is 1t
enough to make it worth my while tC
take it,"
I'VE can count it an see, whenever
ye like" said Ben. But it isna money
that l came to talk to We about.
came to ask ye, at the first convenient
season. to put me aboard that ship out
there, that may be in my rightful
place by the side O. Master Bonnet"
"And what good are you to him, OF
he to you." asked the pirate with a
fine long oath, that should put myself
to that much trouble?"
II have the responsibility O. his
soul on my hands," said Ben, IAN
since we left Charles Town I haze not
seen him, he bein' On ane ship an
on anither."
"And very we'll that is too," said
Blackboard, 'for I like each Of you
better separate. And now look ye, me
kirk bird, you have not done very well
with your responsibilities so faI
and you might as well make up yoE1
mind to stop trying to convert that
sneak of Nightcap and take up the
business of converting me. I'm in great
need of it, can tell YOU"
"You!" cried Ben
81 tell you, yes" shouted Blackboard
1T is I, myself, that I am talking
about. I want to be converted from
the evil of my ways, and I have made
up my mind that you shall do it. You
are a good and pious man, and it. is
not often that get hold of one of that
kind; or, if do, slice off his head he
fore discover his quality"
Il fear me-" said the truthful Scotch
man, that the job is beyond my abeel-
ity."
AVN @ VIZ VI IL, uOL d VII VI
shouted the pirate. II am so times
easier to work upon than that Night
cap of yours, and hundred times bet
ter worth the trouble. I put no trust
in that downfaced farmer When he
shouts loudest for the black flag he is
most likely to go into priestly orders
and the better he Is reformed the
quicker he is to rob and murder. He Is
of the kind the devil wants, but it is
OF no use for any one to show him the
way there, he is we'll able to find it
for himself But it is different with
me, you canny Scotchman, it is differ
ent with me. am an open-handed and
an open-mouthed scoundrel, and new
er pretended to be anything else
When you begin reforming me you
will find your work half DONE"
The Scotchman shook his head. IL
fear me-" he said.
mo, you don't fear yourself" cried
Blackboard, land I won't have it; l
don't want any of that lazy piety on
board my vessel If you don't reform
me, and do it rightly, I'll slice off both
your ears"
At this moment a man came aft,
carrying a great tankard of mixed
drink. Blackboard took it and held 1t
in his hand.
''Now then, you baking chaplain
he cried, heres a chance for you to
begin. What would you have me do?
Drain of this great mug and go slash
ing among my crew, or hurl it, mug
and all"
NAV, nay" cried Greenway, "but
rather give half O. it to me; then will
it no. disturb your brain, an mine will
be comforted."
''Heigho!" cried Blackboard. "Truly
you are better chaplain than !
thought you. Drain half this mug and
then, by all the powers of heaven and
hell, you shall convert me- Now, look
ye," said the pirate, when the mug
was empty, "and hear what brave re-
pentance I have already begun I am
tired, my gay gardener of all these pi-
racies; have had enough of them.
Even now my spoils and prizes are
greater than I can manage, and why
should strive to make them more? l
told you of my young lieutenant, who ran
away and who gave his carcass to the
birds of prey rather than sail with me
and marry my strapping daughter.
liked that fellow, Greenway, and If he
had known what was in store for hin,
there might be some reason for me ia
keep on piling up goods and money
but there's cursed little reason for II
now. I have merchandise Of value al
Belize and much more of it in these
ships, besides money from Charles
Town which ought to last an honor
able gentleman for the rest of hi.
days.
Aye" said Ben, "but an honest gen.
tleman is sparing of his expenditures u
And you think I am not that kind
of man, do you?" shouted the pirate
'But let me tell you this. I am sailing
now for Topsail Inlet, on the North
Carolina coast, and I am going to run
in there, dispense this fleet, sell my
goods, and
BE hanged?" interpolated Greenway
in surprise.
MOT bit of it, you croaking crow
roared the pirate. mot a bit of It
Don't you know, you dullhead, that
our good King George has issued q
proclamation to the Brethren of the
Coast to come in and behave them.
selves like honest citizens and receive
their pardon? I have done that once
and so I know all about it; but
backslid, showing that my conversion
was badly DONE"
"An' Master Bonnet?" he asked. I'll
ye go out O. piracy he may go too. and
take the OATH"