The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-07-14

was seen approaching the Revenge
from Blackboard s vessel. AS soon as 1
had become known that this chief o
all pirates of that day, this Edward
Thatch Of England, WAS really COMING
on board the Revenge, not one wore
was uttered among the crew on the
subject Of going ashore, although they
had been long at sea, The shore coult
wait when Blackboard was coming
Even to look upon this doughty desper
ado would be an honor and Joy tc
the brawny scoundrels who made VI
the crew of the Revenge.
Ii might have been supposed thai
everything upon Capt Bonnets yes
sci had been made ready for the ex-
peeted advent Of Blackboard, but moth
ing seemed good enough, nothing
seemed as effectively placed and ar,
ranged as IT might have been; and
with excavations and commands Bon
net hurried here and there, making
everything. If possible, more ship
shape than 1t had been before. III / +!
Stay you two in the background. >
he said to Ben Greenway and Dickory;
you are both landsmen, ana you don't
count in ceremony such as this Is
going to be- Station your men as
told you, Bittern. and man the yards
when 1t is time
Capt Bonnet, in his brave uniform
and wearing cooked hat with a
feather, his hand upon his sword-hils.
stood up tall and stately. When the
boat was made fast and the great pi
rates head appeared above the rail-
six cannon roared a welcome and Bon
net stepped forward, hand extended
and hat uplifted.
The instant Blackbeard's feet
touched the deck he drew from their
holsters a pair OF pistols and fired
tnem in the air.
i"Now then" be shouted, I'VE are
even, salute FOR salute. for my pistols
are more than equal to the cannon of
any other man. How goes 1t with you,
Sir Nightcap-B Bonnet. ! mean?" And
with that he clasped the hand reached
out to aim In hone-crushing grasp.
His fingers aching and his brain as.
tonished, Bonnet could not comprc-
hend what sort OF man it was who
stood before him. With hair purposely
disheyelled with his hat more
slouched than usual; with his beard
divided into tails, each tied with a
diiferent-colored ribbon: with half
dozen pistols strung across his breast;
with other pistols and knife or two
stuck into his belt; with his greas
sword by his side, and his eyes CLEAN
ing brighter than ever and a general
expression, both in face and figure, of
an aggressive impudence, Black beard
stood on his stout legs. clothed in
rough red stockings, and gazod about
him. But the captain of the Revenge
did not forget his manners. He wei.
coined Blackboard with all courtesy
and besought him to enter his poor
cabin.
Blackboard laughed. Poor cabin
say you? But I'll tell you this one
thing. my valiant Captain Cap; you
have not poor vessel, not a poor yes
sell | swear that to you. my brave cap
tain, swear that"
Then, with no attention to Bonnets |
invitation, Capt. Blackboard strolled |
about the deck, examining everything, |
cursing this and praising that, and fol- |
lowed by Capt. Bonnet, Black Paul, |
and crowd of admiring pirates.
Ben Greenway bowed his head and |
groaned. Il doubt If Master Bonnet /
will ever go to the dell as feared he
would. for now has the dell come TO
him. Oh Dickory Dickory! this mas
ter O. mine was worthy mon an
good ane when | first came to him,
an a. that | hae ! owe to him, for
was In sad case. Dickory, very sad
case; but now that he has Apollyon for
his teacher, he'll cease to know right
eousness altogether"
Dickory was angry and out of spirits
HE is a vile 2oltroon. this master of
yours" said he, "consorting with these
bloody pirates and leaving his daugh-
ter to pine away her Gays and nights
within a little sail of him, while ne
struts about at the heel NJ a dirty free
booter dressed like a monkey lie
doesn't deserve the daughter he pos
sesses Oh, that | could find ship
that would take me back to Jamaica,
And | would take you. too, Ben Green
way. fer II is foul shame that a good
man should spend his days In such vile
Ben shook his head. I'm stand by
Master Bonnet" he said. until the
day comes when | shall bid him fare
well at the door o. hell. | can go no
farther than that. Dickory, no farther
than that!"
The supper in the cabin of the Re-
yenge was better meal than the vo-
racious Blackboard had partaken Of for
many year. if indeed he had ever sat
down to such a sumptuous repast. Be
tore him was food and drink 1t for
stout and hungry sea-faring man. and
here were wines and dainties which |
would have had fit place upon the table
IF gentleman.
Blackboard was In high spirits and
tossed of cup after cup and glass after |,
glass Of the choicest wine and the most
fiery spirits. He clapped his well-man-
lered host upon the back as he shouted
. liz -.