The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-17
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
Copyright by A. Conan Doyle.)

own Infamous haunts, and his own table
steward was haggard-faced man who
gobbled at you when he tried to talk. His
beard had been shaved, and it was i'm
possible to recognize him as the same
man whom Sharkey had placed under
the knife, and who had escaped to tell
his experiences to Copley Banks.
These doings were not unnoticed nor
yet uncommented upon in the town OF
Kingston. The Commandant of the troops
Major Harvey of the Artillery-made
serious representations 10 the Governor.
"She is not trader, but a small war
we'll to arrest Copley Banks and to seize
the vessel
What do you suspect?' asked the Gov
ernor, who was a slow-witted man, brok-
en- down with fevers and port wine.
Il suspect" said the soldier, that it is
Stede Bonnet over again
Now, Stede Bonnet was a planter of
high reputation and religious character,
who, from some sudden and overpoWering
freshet of wildness in his blood, had given
up everything in order to start off pirat-
ing In the Caribbean Sea. The example
was a recent one. and it had caused the
utmost CONSERVATION in the islands. Gov
ernors had before row been accused of
being in league with pirates, and of re-
ceiving commissions upon their plumber,
so that any want of vigilance was open
to a sinister construction.
''Well, Major Harvey said he, II am
very sorry to do anything which may Of
fend my friend, Copley Banks, for many a
time have my knees been under his ma
hogany. but in face of what you say there
is no choice for me but to order you to
board the vessel and to satisfy yourself
as to her character and destination"
So at once in the morning Major Har-
vey, with launchful of his soldiers, paid
a surprise visit to the Ruffiing Harry
with the result that they picked up moth
ing more solid that a hempen cable float
ing at the moorings 1t had been slipped
by the brig, whose owner had scented
danger. She had already passed the
Palisades, and was beating out against
the northeast trades on a course for the
Windward Passage.
When upon the next morning the brig
had left Morant Point. mere haze upon
the Southern horizon the men were
called aft and Copley Banks re-
vealed his plans to them. He
had chosen them, he said, as brisk boys
and lads Of spirit, who would rather run
some risk upon the sea than starve
for living upon the shore. King
ships We're few and weak, and they could
master any trader who might come their
way. Others had done we'll at the bust
ness, and with handy, well-found YES
sell, there was no reason why they should
not turn their tarry jackets into velvet
coats. If they We're prepared to sail under
the black flag he was ready to command
them but if any wished to withdraw they
might have the gig and row back to
Jamaica.
Four men out OF siX-and-forty asked for
their discharge, went over the ships side
into the boat and rowed away amid the
jeers and howlngs of the crew The rest
assembled aft and drew up the articles of
their association. A square of black tar
paulin had the white skull painted upon
it, and was hoisted amid cheering at the
main.
Officers were elected, and the limits of
their authority fixed Copley Banks was
chosen captain. but as there are no mates
upon pirate craft Brthmark Sweetlocks
became quartermaster and Israel Martin
the boatswan. There was no difficulty
in knowing what was the custom of the
brotherhood, for half the men, at least,
had served upon pirates before. Food
should be the same for all, and no man
should interfere with another's mans
drink The captain should have a cabin,
but ali hands should be welcome to enter
it when they chose.
All should share and share alike, save
only the captain, quartermaster, boat
swain. carpenter and master gunner, who
had from a quarter to a whole share extra.
He who saw prize first should have the
best weapon taken out of her. He who
boarded her first should have the richest
suit of clothes aboard her. Every man
might treat his own prisoner, be it man
or woman, after his own fashion. If a
man flinched from his gun the quarter
master should pistol him. These were
some of the rules which the crew Of the
Ruffling Harry subscribed to by putting
forty-two crosses at the foot of the paper
upon which they had been drawn. q
So new rover was afloat upon the seas,
and her name before year was over be-
came as well known as that of the Happy
Delivery. From the Bahamas to the Lee.
wards, and from the Leewards to the
Wlndwards, Copley Banks became the
rival of Sharkey and the terror of trad
ers. For long time the bark and the
brig never met, which was the more sim
gular, as the Ruffling Harry was forever
looking in at Sharkey's resorts; but at
last one day, when she was passing
down the inlet of Coxon's Hole, at the
east end OF Cuba, with the intention of
careening, there was the Happy Delivery,
with her blocks and tackle-fallS already
rugged for the same purpose.
Copley Banks fired shotted salute and
hoisted the green trumpeter ensign, as the
custom was among gentlemen of the sea,
Then be dropped his boat and went
aboard.
Captain Sharkey was not a man of a
genial mood, nor had he any kindly sym
pathy for those who were of the same
trade as himself. Copley Banks found
him seated astride upon one of the after
guns, with his New England quartermas
ter. Ned Galloway, and a crowd of roaring