The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-06
A TASTE OF BLOOD



The old man decided to make a voyage
with his son on the Pelican and had a
Gtateroom fitted up for him.
The voyage to China was unevent-
full. Jonathan Greenwill, who was a
Quaker Of the mlldest type, sat much
on deck, looking over old oceans
bosom. which throbbed gently; the
clouds above, which rolled peacefully.
and the sea birds, which sailed grace
fully. Nothing could have been more
conducive to a deepening Of the old
mans noncombatant principles.
The voyage out finished and goodly
cargo OF silks, tea and other valuabIes
having been taken aboard, the Pelican
started for home. She was sailing
southwark one afternoon on the China
sea midway between the Malay PENN
sula and the island of Borneo when a
low, rakish looking vessel appeared on
the eastern horizon that especially ar
rested Captain Robert GreenwilI's at
tention. The old man sat on deck in
his chair, absorbed, as usual, in the
peacefulness of the scene. The captain
went below, and when he returned
strange noises were heard underneath.
"What are those sounds, Robert?"
asked the father.
"Guns being hauled into position be-
bind masked openings. Do you see
hat vessel? She's pirate"
"But, Robert" exclaimed the old
nan, rising in great trepidation, what
y thee going to do"
"Fightv'
The father said nothing for some
lime, then spoke earnestly:
Robert, thee knows my principles,
II thee fight, cannot help thee"
you can go below, father, and await
the issue there"
what arms have thee?'
eve always carried three guns on
each broadside, and l have a plentiful
supply Of muskets and cutlasses."
II never knew that, or / would not
have allowed it."
'AThat / knew very well, father"
An hour later the situation was as
follows: The Pelican and the pirate
were within a mile of each other, both
heading for the strait. The owner Of
the Pelican was in his stateroom. To
enable him to keep his principles he
had locked himself in and thrown the
key out through a portfolio. In doing
30 he caught sight of the pirate just as
she "broke" the skull and bones from
her peak, and few moments later she
Bred a shot across the Pelican's bows.
Mr.. Greenwill was expecting to hear
ome response from the Pelican's guns.
but he did not. Since this was in ac-
eordance with his protested views he
hould have been pleased, but he was
Ot. He started to go and see what
ccasioned the delay, but found the
DOR locked. A profane word was on
lis lips, but he repressed it. Mounting
stool, he called through an opening
bove the door:
''Why doesn't thee fire, Roberto
But Robert was too far away to hear,
besides being otherwise engaged. Jon
Athan got down from the stool and
vent to the portfolio just In time to
ZEE the pirate fire gun that struck the
Pelican within twenty feet Of the open
Hlrate was now near enough for him to
ee the deck swarming with the ugliest
ot Of yellow cutthroats he had ever
BOXED at.
Again forgetting that the door was
cked, he tried to open it. At that mo-
ent there were three simultaneous
omings in his own ship, and he ran
elk to the portfolio to get a view. He
" activity on the pirate and new
ms run out.
The fight was now well on, and be-
een the booms were heard sounds Of
ae old mans boot against the door of
ne stateroOm, which finally yielded.
I'd Jonathan Greenwill rushed on deck
18th cutlass that he had picked up
he ran.
give 'em-more balls, Robert! Why
On't thee fire fasterT'
"An hands ready to repel boardersg'
as the captains only reply, seeing
bat the pirate was hauling in toward
be Pelican.
Ten minutes later the pirate had
trapping irons on the Pelican and a
e Of fends were climbing aboard The
elican's crew were fewer in number,
at Of q superior race. The Pelicau's
eek was higher than the pirates, and
the pirates put their hands on the
nnwale they were chopped of by the
ALIASES of the Pelican's men. Never
heless a number of them got aboard,
nd both sides fought desperately.
inally, when half Of those who had
oarded were killed. the pirate sheered
and left the rest at the mercy Of
e Pelican's crew.
Then for the first time Robert Green
III got view Of his father. The old
an, covered with pirates blood, his
res glaring, was hacking away at the
mnant Of the yellow fiends who had
1ght to take his ship.
Hold on, father! Wen take them
hOre and let the authorities hang