Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1904-08-03

they produced the efiect OF fiying
scud. and all on high seemed to re-
volve as the weeping shadows poured
AWAY into the horizon on the breath
Of the shouting wind.
In the midst OF this scene a little
brig was sailing She was the Gypsy.
Tho captain was Richard Pope, her
chief mate was Jonathan Crystal, her
second mate and boatswain was Mat
thew Grlndal and la her forecastle
and about her decks we're thirty sea-
men, counting several idlers, such as
the gunner, the carpenter, cook, cabin
servant and the like, i,ni
She was bound to the Gay lof Cam
peachy to load with logwood, and to
trade with the West indies.
To the Bay of Campeachy! So it
was said. So her papers showed
She had sailed down the river armed
with four carronades Of side, long
gun on her forecastle, and stern
chaser, twelve FOUNDER. she was
therefore a little formidable with ar
tillery. But the pirate then continued
as fxed condition of the ocean life
as the gilded and galleried West In
diaman she plundered There were
other risks, moreover, which made the
cannon necessary feature Of a ships
deck
They had dlned in the cabin. Cap
tain Pope had come on deck. 1t was
Crystals watch, and the two men
stumped the planlss together Pope
came to stand at the little skylight
to survey the scene Of his ship. and
Crystal. on wide legs, rocked beside
him.
"She lifts with splendid buoyancy.'
said the commander, Il never could
have believed that she possessed these
heels Look how she throws the seas
away to leewardl That fine Dutch
frigate which saved our lives would
not leap in loftier graces.
Certainly the little craft just then
was heroic picture for a commander
who was also her owner, to contem-
plate. Her four black dogs Of war at
side crouched In the scuppers; and
her tarpaulined forecastle gun looked
like a dead giant stitched up awaiting
burial The twelve-pounder aft was
brass; sullen CLINT broke In it when
the sun shone. 1t made formidable
show on that little quarterback clear
of the wheel, then grasped by two sea
men, one colored man, the other as
black as gypsy with hair like snakes
/ crawling out of his hat down his back
They looked pair of beauties, but
were indeed in perfect keeping with
the rest Of the crew now visible.
It was they who gave the little ny
ing ship her Wild and savage aspect.
The most formidable Of them for ugli-
ness and bulk was Mathew GrIndalI
the boatswain, who had likewise
agreed to serve as second mate.
Though an Englishman, he had been
pirate aboard Frenchman, had
also served as able seaman in
scoundrel Spanish piccaroon, and
scarce a memory of this mans for
year after year but was red and dread
full.
He was overseeing some work a
cluster Of seamen were upon in the
waist, and Captain Pope watched him.
Assuredly the Camperdown had been
shelled to some purpose. Those Of
the crew who were at odd Jobs about
the deck, or who we're gathered into
groups about the galley and longboat,
we're as completely pirate in face and
garb, in the sound Of their desperate
laughs, in their ceaseles oaths, in their
pastures, and motions charged with
the brutalest spirit OF defiance and
reclSlessness, as the heart of man or
boy could yearn to read about, and
thirst to attend to the gallows.
"Crossman has done our purpose
Justice" said Pope with a smile, with
his eyes fixed on Grindal. Il expect
that most OF these men have seen
their turn as pirates
They're here as privateeFsmen,"
exclaimed Crystal.
"They shall be undeceived," said
Pope. turning suddenly and beginning
to walk the short deck, Crystal beside
him. TAnd what's the diiference?"
"The hangman knows" answered
Crystal. i3
"was never a privateersman
hanged?" cried Pope.
"a letter Of marque is as good as
pennon," said Crystal, Then seeing
irritation In the commanders face,
he said, HAS Mr.. Staunton any sus-
picion, dye think, of the nature OF
this voyage?"
None. -Four hundred pounds in
cash, and the remainder IN bills; that
sufficiently appeased the curiosity Of
man who had a ship which was rot
ting her bottom out in the Thames.