Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-16

Blue Jacket through the meeaphone,
stay where you are for an hour. Don't
you turn a wheel or make a signal or
I'll dot you one"
From the pilot house Pass called to
Van Moon. There was a few minutes
Of talk between them and then Van
Moon reappeared. Now, then, boys"
he said brislSIy, lets get the stuff
slowed below. The captain says that II
any sea gets up she'll roll every blessed
keg overheard"
The pirates went at the job, but as
the night was dark and Van Moon
would allow no lights to be shown,
and the kegs, moreover, we're uncon-
scionably heavy. It was near daylight
before the last keg was safe below.
Then the wornout buccaffeers sought
resting places and promptly fell asleep.
The sun was again setting low when
Van Moon aroused them. "Get up,
boys" he called shaking the sleepers.
'The schooner Is right ahead and we
want to get this stuff aboard of her
and sink little Ruby as quick as we
Of her it's all UP with us, you know"
The sleepy pirates struggled to their
feet and saw over the port bow rusty
looking tern, with dingy canvas flap
ping idly as she dipped sluggishly in
slow heaving swell. Her six pirates
had lined the rail- and as the yacht
drew near they shouted greetings to
their fellows Of the Red Light.
I'VE can run alongside, l think"
said Pass. "Our scantlings are pretty
fimsy and we are likely to smash 'em
up bit, but as we are going to sink
her anyhow 1t will make no difference,
and besides, 1t will save time.'
With series of scraping bumps ana
creak of timbers the yacht came
crunching alongside, lines were made
fast, and the pirates refreshed by meat
and strong waters, went brislxly to the
task of transferring the kegs from the
yacht to the hold of the schooner. The
work was much expedited by the ap-
pearance of a vessels lights to the
northward, and, fearful lest the indig-
nant liner had spread broadcast the
news of her despoilment, the pirates
saw in every low hung star the lights
of warship or revenue cutter hurry
ing in pursuit and toiling so bravely
chat the last keg had been transferred
before midnight The light had been
gradually drawing nearer, and when
Van Moon shouted, Nov, boys. quick's
your play! Let's get Little Ruby out
of sight!" there was a hasty scramble
from the vessel which had been con-
! cerned in the crime to the decks Of the
tern. Jake, last man to leave, an
nounced as he swung on board the
schooner's decks that all the sea
valves had been opened, and even as
he did so one could hear the hiss of
steam as the thrush of water invaded
the fireroom. The lines were cast off
and the sails of the schooner drew her
away from the sinking yacht, and in q
short space the rapidly filling vessel
flung up her bow andssettied stern fore7o
most, fog which had been blowing IN
from the eastward rolling over the
scene as the waters swirled over the
sinking craft.
sixteen men on the dead mans chest,
Sing no! and bottle Of rum"
chanted the Watch Charm as he caught
Tiddlebat Davis about the waist and
waltzed about the deck. Some exc
cuted hornpipes and some broke out
into song. Out of the noise rose the
voice of Dignifed Dick. He had a
proposition to make He had never
looked upon as much as twenty mill
lions in gold before, and he proposed
that all go below, open UP some of the
kegs and feast their eyes on bullion.
The pirates yelled back no. they had
the stuff safe and what was the good
of looking at it? They would revel
awhile in the friendly fog, and the
Watch Charm was called upon for an
other chanty.
Dignified Dick seemed hurt. Sub
marine Smith said he would go below,
open a keg and bring the contents up.
Whereupon he disappeared down
dark companionway and the mad revel
went on. 1t was at its height when
he reappeared some minutes idter.
"Boys!" said Submarine in stricken
voice, ''what dye suppose is in those
kegs2"
"Bullion. Of course!" the pirates
cried.
That's just what 1 thought" said
Submarine, pounding the top of the
hatch and looking fierce. land what
dye suppose they've handed out to us2
Paint, by gracious Kegs of white
lead-not an ounce Of bullion in the
lot
Ensued an awful pause--a pause
which seemed to have no end. ana
which was broken only by deep breathe
ing. Each pirate was alone with the
hurly- burly of his thoughts. and at