Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-08-24
Copyright, lsn. By D. Applssop 4 ca. a.v You.

IL was DlckOry, half daZed by what
he had heard, who now stepped up to
Paul Bittern. The latter, his coun-
tenance blacker than it had ever been
before, first scowled at him, but in a
moment the ferocity left his glance.
"Oho!" he said, there's a pretty
pickle for me and you, as well as for
Bonnet and the Scotchman!"
DO you suppose" exclaimed Dick
DRY, that what he says is true? That
he has stolen this ship from Cant.
Bonnet, and that he has taken It for
his own"
"Suppose!" sneered the other, "I
know It. He has stolen from me as
well as from Bonnet. l should have
commanded this ship. and I had made
all my plans to do it when I got here"
Then you are as great rascal
said Dickory, "as that vile pirate down
below"
"Just as great" said Bittern. "the
only difference being that he has won
everything while I have lost every.
thing"
What are we to do?" asked Dick
DRY. Il cannot stay here. and 1 am
sure you will not want to. Now, while
he Is below, can we not slip overheard
and swim ashore? l am sure I could
do it,"
Black Paul grinned grimly. But
where should we swim to-" he said.
"On the coast Of Honduras there is
no safety for man who fees from
Blackboard. But keep your tongue
close: he is coming"
The moment Blackboard put his
foot upon the deck he began to roar
out his general orders.
Il go over to the bark" he said,
"and shall put my mate here in charge
Of her. After that I go to my own
vessel, and when have settled mat
tiers there will return to this fine
ship, where I shall strut the quarter
deck and live like a prince at sea.
Now look We, youngster, what is your
name?"
Charter" replied Dickory, grimly.
"Well, then, Charter" the pirate
continued, II shall leave you in charge
Of this vessel until I come back, which
will be before dark"
'Me!" exclaimed Dickory. in amaze
ment.
Eyes, you," said the pirate. II am
sure you don't know anything about
ship any more than your master did,
but he got on very we'll, and so may
you. And now, remember, your head
shall pay for 1t If everything is not
the same when I come back as it is
now"
Thereupon this man of piratical
business was rowed to the bark, quite
satisfied that he left behind him no
one who would have the power to
tamper with his interests. He knew
the crew, having bound most of them
to him on the preceding night, and
he trusted every one of them to obey
the man he had set over them and no
other. As Dickory would have no Or
ders to give. there would be no neel
OF obedience. and Black Paul would
have no chance to interfere with any.
thing.
When Bonnet had been left by
Blackbeard-who, having said all he
had to say, hurried up the companion
way to attend to the rest Of his plans
the stately naval officer who had so
recently occupied the bench by the
table shrunk into frightened farm
er, gazing blankly at Ben Greenway.
Think you. Ben" he said in half
voice, that this is one of that mans
jokes? have heard that he has a
fearful taste for horrid jokes
The Scotchman shook his head.
Joke! Master Bonnet" he ex-
claimed, lit is no joke. He had ta'en
your ship from ye; he has ta'en from
ye your sword, your pistols, an your
wicked black flag. an he has made
evil impossible to ye. He has ta'en
from We the shame an the wretched
w1ckedness O. bein' a pirate. Think o.
that, Master Bonnet. ye are no longer
pirate. That most devilish O. all
demons has preserved the rest O. your
life from the dishonor an the infamy
which ye were laborin' to heap upon
1t. Ye are poor mon now. Master
Bonnet; that Beelzebub will strip
from ye everything We had. all your
riches shall be his. Ye can no longer
afford to be pirate; ye will be COM
PEELED to be an honest mon. An tell
70 that my soul lifteth itsep in
thanksgivin' an my heart is happier
than it has been since that fearsome
day when We went on board your yes
sal at Bridgetown."
"Ben," said Bonnet. 1T is hard and
It is cruel that in this, the line of my
great trouble. you turn upon me. I
have been robbed; I have been ruined:
my Nfe is Of no more use to me- and
you. Ben Greenway, revile me while
ohat I am PROSTATE"
> "Revile!" said the Scotchman. II
glory, I rejoice! Ye hae been con.
verted, ye haze been changed. ye haze
been snatched from the jaws o. hell.
Moreover. Master Bonnet, my soul was
fejoiced even before that master dell
came to set ye free from your tolls.
TO look upon ye an see that, although
re called yourself q pirate, ye were no
like ane O. these blackhearted cut
threats. 'Ye were never as wicked,
Master Bonnet, as ye said ye were!"
''You are mistaken" groaned Bon
not; 81 tell you. Ben Greenway. you
are mistaken; am Just IS wicked as
I ever was. And I was very wicked,
q you should admit, knowing what I
have done. Oh, Ben, Ben! Is it true
that / shall never 60 on board my
good ship again. f. ...
And with this he spread his arms
upon the table and laid his head upon
them. He felt as II his career was