Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-10-05
By FRANK R. STOCKTON

EN.~|r
By FRANK R. STOCKTON
Copyright, 1as, BY D. Appleton Co., New Yors.
CHAPTER XXVII.-CoNr1SurD
mr.. Delaplaine stared in amazement.
DO you mean to say" he exclaimed.
mat you want me to consent to your
committing piracy for our beneft?''
Yes, SIR answered the captain.
that's what I suppose you would call
IL; but that's my business
Now, sir, wish you to know that
am Christian and a gentleman "
said Mr.. Delaplaine
That's all very true, bedad." said
Capt. 1chabod, "but you're also an
other thing; you're a human being.
and you must eat"
This is terrible" exclaimed the
merchant, that at my time of life I
should consent to felony at sea, and
10 profit by it. I cannot bear to think
OF the Wickedness and the disgrace
of it,
Most respected sir" said Ichabod.
II the fellows behave themselves
properly and don't offer to fight us,
then there'll be no wickedness bedad
can make a good enough show of
men to brighten any ordinary mer-
chant crew so that not blow need be
struck. And that is what expect to
40, sir. would. not have any dis
turoance before ladies, you may be
sure OF that, bedad. We bear down
upon a vessel; we order her to sur
render; we take what we want, and
we let her go. Truly, there's no wick
edness in that! And as for the dis
grace, we can all better bear that
than starve."
Mr.. Delaplaine looked at the pirate
without q word. He could not COM
prehend how man with such a frank
and honest face could thus avow his
d1shonest principles. But as he gazed
and wondered the thought of scheme
flashed across the mind of the merchant,
thoroughly business-like scheme.
Ih1s bold young pirate captain might
seize upon such supplies as they were
In need of, but he, Felix Delaplaine, of
Spanish Town, Jamaica, would pay for
them. Thus might their necessities be
relieved and their consciences kept
clean. But he said nothing of this to
1chabod; the pirate might deem such
proceeding unprofessional and in
terpose some objection. Payment
would be the merchants part of the
business, and he would attend to it
himself. A look of resignation now
came over Mr.. Delaplaines face.
captain" said he, II must yield to
your reason; it is absolutely necessary
that we shall not starve''
1chabod's face shone and he held out
his hand. ''Bedad, SIR" he cried, II
honor you as bold gentleman and a
kind one. I will instantly lay my
course somewhat to the eastward, and
I promise you, sir, it will not be
long before we run across some Of
these merchant fellows. I beg you, sir,
speak to your ladies and tell them that
there will be no unpleasant commo-
ton; we may draw our swords and
make fierce show, but, bedad, don't
believe there'll be any fighting. We
shall want so little-for I would not
attempt to take a regular prize with
ladies on board-that the fellows will
surely deliver what we demand, the
quicker to make an end of it,
IF you are perfectly sure" said
Mr.. Delaplaine, that you can restrain
5our men from violence, l would like
to be member of your boarding par
~; it would be a rare experience for
me-
Now Capt. 1chabod fairly shouted
with delight.
Bravo! Bravo!" he exclaimed; II
didn't dream, sir, that you were man
Of such noble spirit. You shall go
with us, sir. Your presence will aid
greatly in making our hoped-for cap
ture most orderly affair; no one can
look upon you, bedad, without know
Ing that you are a high-minded and
honorable man, and would not take a
box or case from anyone If you did not
need 1t. Now, sir, we shall put about,
and by good fortune we may soon
sight merchantmen. Even if it be
but coastwlse trader, it may serve
our purpose"
Mr.. Delaplaine, with something of a
smile upon his sedate face, hurried to
Kate, who was upon the quarterback.
my dear, we are about to Introduce
q little variety into our dull lives. AS
soon as we can overhaul merchant
man we shall commit piracy. But
don't turn pale; I have arranged it
all"
"You!" exclaimed the wide-eyed
Kate.
eyes," said her uncle, and he told
his tale.
"And remember this, my DEAR" he
added; If we cannot pay, we do not
eat. / shall be as relentless as the
bloody Blackboard; If they take not
my money, I shall swear to Ichabod
that we touch not their goods"
"And are you sure" she said, that
there will be no bloodshed?"
II vouch for that" said he, "for I
shall lead the boarding party"
= She took him by both hands.
why" she said, 1T need be no more
than laying in goods from store
house; and l cannot but be glad, dear
uncle, for am so very, very hungry"
The captain came up, excited.
"Even now, bedad," he cried, there
are two sails in sight-one far north,
and the other to the eastward, beat
ing up this way. This one we shall
make for. We have: the wind with us,
which is good thing, for the Rest
less is bad sailer and has lost many
prize through that fault. And now,
MISS" he said. addressing Kate, Il