Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-05-19
Copyright, ia02, By D, Appleton Co., New Yozs.

pdIk gave nun u CuSSi anu plOCeSueu
to lower two boats.
From nearly every pirate ship in the
anchorage the proceedings of the new
~ arrived vessels had been watched.
No one wanted to board them or in any
way to interfere with them until ii was
found out what they intended to do.
The Revenge was a stranger in that
harbor, although her fame was known
on not n few pirate decks but If she
came to Belize to fraternize with the
other pirate vessels there gathered to-
gether, why didn't she do it? No idea
Of Importance and dignity, which his
position imposed upon Capt Stede
Bonnet. entered their piratica minds.
When the long-boat put forth from the
Revenge, a good deal Of interest was
excited in the anchored vessels, The
great Blackboard himself stood high
upon his deck and surveyed the strau-
gers through n glass
The men in the sailing boat
rowed steadily towards Blackbeard's
vessel Bittern knew 1t well, for he
had seen it before and had even had
The honor 50 to speak of having
served for a short time under the mas
ter pirate Of that day.
As soon as the boat was near enough
3lac' beard hailed it in n tremendous
voice and ordered the stranger to pull
Up and make fast This being done,
! rope ladder was lowered and Bittern
mounted to the deck, being assisted IN
his passage over the side by a tremen-
GUS pull given by Blackboard.
The great pirate seemed to be IN
high good spirits, and very glad to see
his visitor. Blackboard was laTge
man, wide and heavy, and the first i'm
preston conveyed by his personality
was that Of hair and swarthiness. An
untrlmmed black beard lay upon htr
chest, and his long hair hung in
masses from under his slouched hat;
his eyes were dark and sparkling, and
cleaned like beacon lights from out
midnight sky; the sleeves of his shirt
were rolled up and his arms seemed al
most as hairy as his head; two pairs
of pistols were stuck into his belt, and
great cutlass was conveniently
tucked up by his side
"Ho, ho!" he cried, BLACK Paul!
And where do you come from, aad
what are you doing here? And what
| is the name of that vessel with the
| hya Dnunp9 Has che inst gone
into the business, that she decks hor,
self out so fine? Come now, sit here
| and have some brandy and tell me
| what is the meaning of these two yes
sells coming into the harbor, and what
| you have to do with them
Bittern was delighted to know that
| his old commander remembered him,
and was ready enough to talk with
| him, for that was the errand he had
| come upon.
But, captain" said he, Il am afraid
to wander away from the gunwale for
If | have not my eye upon them, my
men will be rowing to the town before
/ know 1t. They are mad to be on
shore"
Blackboard made no answer; he
stepped to the side of the vessel al,
looked over Let go!" he shouted
the man who held the boats rope, 'e.
you rascals row out dozen stro.,
from my vessel and keep your bca
there; and if you move an oar 10
wards the town | will sink you'll" wiz
that he ordered two small guns TO b'
trained upon the boat,
The boats crew did not hesitate onf
second in obeying these orders. The
knew by whom they were given, a.
there was no man in the great body "
free companions who would disobey al
order given by Blackboard. The
rowed to the position assigned them
and sat quietly looking into the mouths
of the two cannon which were pointed
towards them.
Now then" said Blackboard, turn
ing to Bittern, Il think they'll stay
there till they get some other order
Between frequent sips at the cup OF
brandy Bittern told the story Of the
Revenge, and Blackboard listened with
many an oath and many pound upon
his massive knee by his mighty fist
"Oh, | have heard of him." he cried,
81 have heard of him! He has played
the devil along the Atlantic coast. He
must be great fellow this-what did
you say his name was?"
Bonnet" said the other.
Blackboard laughed That suits
him well; he must have clapped his
name over the eyes Of many a mer-
chant captain! Where did he sail be-
fore he hoisted the jolly Roger"
At this Bittern laughed. HE never
sailed anywhere, he is no seaman; and
If he were not rich enough to pay 9TH
ers to do his navigatin' for him he
would have run his vessel upon the
first sand-bar on his way from Bridge
town to the sea. But he pays some
good mariner to sail his Revenge, and
he now pays me. | am, in fact, the
captain of his vessel"
you mean" cried Blackboard, that
he knows nothing of navigation"
Not a whit" replied the other; "he
doesn't know the backstays from the
taffrail. 1t was only yesterday that he
thought he was already in the port Of
Belize, ard dressed himself up like
fighting cock to meet YOU"
ITO meet me?" roared Blackboard;
what does he want TO meet me for, and
why don't he come and do it instead OF
sending your"
mot he" said Bttern. He is a great
man, If not sailor; he knows what is
politeness on shipboard and as he is
the last conner you must be the frs.
caller. He is all dressed up now, hop
ing that you will row over to the Re
venge as soon as you know that he is its
commander"