The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-28

A over pirates. Americans then had d. ready begun to build swift vessels. In later years the who;e world was to realize the ability of the colonial shipwrights. Tn 1759 not even the people of the colonies realized it, with the exception of the few daring spirits who employed that skill for purposes that demanded power to es- cape from the fastest of the Kings eruls- CTS.
 The wonderful escape of these snug glers, contraband traders, privateers and self-confessed pirates angered the British navy and gratihed the pride of the colon ials, though they prayed most fervently for the pirates capture and lent loyal aid in hunting down these destroyers of their own commerce.
 The landsmen of a maritime country are always ultra-maritime, and even if they shudder to set foot on a floating fab- Tie can speak more learnedly of the sea than even a sailor could. So the lands men of Rhode Island knew very thorough ly that the constant escapes of the most noted pirates were not possible nautically and could be accounted for only on the inevitable assumption that the lawless captains and crews had sold themselves to the devil.
 In the case of one noted pirate this as sumption amounted to conviction, not only among landsmen, but among sea- men, including sailors and even officers of the Kings ships. Had not more than one hard fighting old captain had the, Red Rover under his lee, that he could look almost into the gun ports that pierced the pirates blood-red side, only to have the fellow win the weather gauge of him and get clear to sea again in a way impossi- ble to an honestly sailed ship?
 The Red Rover had even sailed in com pany with cruisers whose masters had taken him for one of their own armed vessels. He had lain at evening surround ed by frigates, only to be vanished with the dawn though none knew of a chan nel by which he could escape. He was as big and as heavily armed as British sloop of war He could sail into the wind under bare poles and overhaul ships un- der press of canvas. The captain was as big again as ordinary men, with hair the color of the sun in a fog and eyes that no human being would dare look at a sec ond time.
 So did the people of the Providence Plantations tell ghostly tales of the Red Rover and shudder in delighted fear. And even while they were speaking of his ship it lay in the outer harbor of Newport, riding quietly at anchor just outside of the guns at the fort, with few idle seamen lettering on her quiet decks, and sustaining in every respect the idea among the townsfolk that it was a shaver.
 Only few observant eyes noticed that the long black vessel in question was riding by a single cable, that the slaver's $ he kept all his light spars aloft as if in readiness for immediate sailing, despite the somnolence of his decks.
 Among those who observed this was I young man of about 26 whose curly black hair fell around a sun-burned forehead that would have proclaimed him a sailor if his expression and bearing had not advertised it sufficiently.
 With him were a white man and a ne- gro, both evidently sailors like himself, but of a station more humble than his, as their appearance and behavior showed.
 That these three did not share the gen eral belief as to the true character of the vessel was evident not only from the keen interest with which they examined her from shore, but from the secrecy with which they embarked in a shore oft Jo rI- ha1 fa1I ceeded aboard.
 Only single figure was visible on the gloomy deck. The young man was led quickly to the principal cabin and entered to find himself in surroundings strange indeed to a seaman's eyes. Rich hang ings and couches, silver hanging lamps,s weapons of many nationalities and races and ornaments that looked as if all quar- ters of the world had contributed to the luxury of the place, gave startling evil dence to the success of the vessel in it's real occupation, even if the stands of muskets around the mast, the cutlasses half bikes and boarding axes arranged for immediate service had not proclaimed the fact that this was {. fighting ship of extraordinary strength.
 The young seaman perceived in one practiced glance that all the tinsel was so arranged that it could be swept aside in a few minutes and leave the cabin a warm and well-protected battery. Four great cannon were mounted in it, plainly ready for immediate service.
 The greeting given to the sailor by the master of the ship showed that they had met before and that the object of the visit was known. The captain of the Red Rover was a man under 40. His person was slight, but clearly of great strength and agility. His hair was fair and hung about his head in curls Keen, bold, in- teligent blue eyes, all the brighter for the deep tan of his determined face. looked masterfully from wrinkled brows that testified to a habit of unquestioned command.
 Few words were wasted
 You know the nature of my trade MT Wilder" said the captain. For my part l like your face, and, though you may not know 1t, I have watched and studied you ever since I heard that you were making inquiries about me in Boston town from a beggarly dolt who declared that we had robbed him of his provisions and sails, as if would spread an inch of canvas for such pitiful game. Our shipping lists cannot be opened by beat of drum in the streets, like those of the King, so I shall make you my officer, be- t1 la fr,