The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-28


 over pirates. Americans then had already begun to build swift vessels. In later years the whole world was to realize the ability of the colonial ship wrights. In 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 escape from the fastest of the Kings cruisers.
 The wonderful escapes of these smugglers. contriband traders, priva- gersd the British navy and Kratified gered thee British navy and gratified the pride of the colonials. 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 maritime country are always ultra-maritime, and even if they shudder to set foot on a float ing fabric can speak more learnedly of the sea than ever a sailor could. So the landsment of Rhode Island knew very thoroughly, that the constant es- capes of the most noted pirates were not possible nautically and could DC accounted for only on the inevitable assumption that the lawiess captains and crews had sold themselves to the devil.
 Tn the case of one noted pirate this assumption amounted to conviction, not only among landsmen but among seamen, including sailors and even of- ncers of the Kings ships. Had not more than one hard-fighting old cap tain had the Red Rover under his lee, so 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 of to sea again in way impos- sibIe to an honestly sailed ship?
 The Red Rover had even sailed in company with cruisers whose masters had taken him for one of their own armed vessels. He had lain at even ing surrounded by frigates. only to be vanished with the dawn, though none knew of a channel by which he could escape. He was as big and as heavily armed as q British sIoop of war. He could sail into the wind under bare poles and overhaul ships under press of canvass. 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 second 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 speak ing Of his ship it fay in the outer har- OOA OA ANCNPOItg Alo&u8 QQ1cUJ 2l hH~ chor just outside of the guns at the fort. with a few idle searnen lettering on her quiet decks. and sustaining in every respect the idea among the townsfolk that 1t was slayer.
 Only a few observant eyes noticed that the long black vessel in question was riding by single cable, that the siaver's boarding net was all tricsd ID and that he kept all his light spars aloft as if in readiness for immediate sailing. despite the somnolence of his decka. .
 Among those who observed this was young man of about twenty-six, whose curly black hair fell around . sunburned forehead that would have proclaimed him 6 sailor if his express sion and bearing had not advertised it sufficiently.
 With him were white man and a negro, both evidently saiiors like him. self, but of station more humble than his, as their appearance and be- havtor showed.
 That these three did not share the general belief as to the true charac- ter of the vessel was evident. not on- ly from the keen interest with which they examined her from shore, but from the secrecy with which they em. parked in a shore boat after darkness had fallen and proceeded aboard.
 Only q single figure was visible on the gloomy deck. The young man was led quickly to the principal cabin and entered to find himself in surround ings strange indeed to a seanan's eyes. Rich hangfngs and couches, silver hanging lamps, weapons of many na- tiOnalities and races and ornaments that looked as if all quarters of the world had contributed to the luxury of the place, gave startling evidence to the success of the vessel fin its real occupation, even if the stands of mus kets around the mast, the cutlasses, half bikes and boarding axes arranged for immediate service had not pro- claimed the fact that this was a fight ing ship of extraordinary strength.
 The young seaman perceived fin one practiced glance that all the tinSel was so arranged that it could be swept aside in a few minutes and leave the cabin warm and well-protected bat tery. Four great cannon were mounted tn 1t. plainly ready for immediate ser vice.
 The greeting given to the sailor by the master of the ship showed that they had met before and that the ob- Ject of the visit was known. The cap tain of the Red Rover was a man un- der 70. His person was slight. but clearly of great strength and agility. His hair was fair and hung about his head in curls. Keen, bold, intelligent blue eyes. all the brighter for the deep tan of his determined face, looked mas terfully from wrinkled brows that tes- tihed to habit of unquestioned com mand.
 Few words were wasted.
 You know the nature of my trade, MT. Wilder" said the captain. For my part I like your face, and, though you may not know 1t, have watched and studied you ever since I heard that you were making inquiries about me in Boston town from beggarly dolt who declared that We had robbed him of his provisions and sails as if I would spread an inch of canvas for such piti- fui 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. because. to be frank, am badly In need of one. The first service I shall demand from you is to take charge Of yon Bristol trader that Is lying in the Inner har- bor. ready to sail for the Carolinas. Her master has had an accident. Here are letters, sir. obtaned from my secret friends on shore. which will gain you the position without trouble, as the ship must sail tomorrow and her own CTS are at a loss for a good seaman"
 1t turned out so. The next day found Wilder on the quarter deck of the Royal Caroline, preparing for sea. Suddenly he started. A short boat pulled alongside with two ladies, who. his mate informed him, were a Mrs. wyllis and her charge, Miss Gertrude Grayson, who was bound to her fatherS home in the Carolinas.