The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-10-03

lion-cases locked and sealed.
"Bravo." cried our captain, excited.
ly, when he saw them. Then there
was no mistake," The boats were at
once swung up, and next moment the
electric signal rang out ting-ting-ting.
and we moved of. leaving the dis
abled steamer lying helpless as log.
I stood by while the men broke open
the cases on deck, and was amazed
to see that they were filled full OF
English sovereigns
This is piracy,v remarked. ex-
citedly, to the captain.
We'll. mister. you needn't call it BY,
that name, seem that you're boss o.
this bloomin' tub observed the black
bearded skipper. who, until then. had
affected utter ignorance of either
French or English.
'I-boss of this ship. What do you
mean?" / gasped.
The guv'nor sold 'er to you in
Monte Carlo, didn't he? e told US you
were bit mad-like. and now it's quite
plain. From the time you woke up
after that bust O. champagne. you've
gone about like Chinaman wot's 'ad
his pigtail cut on"
Il don't understand you.' I said.
you are captain of this vessel and
ought to know who your owner is"
"Why, you are, of course. You gave
$4,000 quid for the boat-the receiptsl
in my cabin The old 'un told me to
give 1t to you when you woke up"
In obedience to my demand he,
brought it and handed 1t to me. It
was written on sheet of note paper
head, IS. Y. Garbino," and stated that
had bought the vessel for 10000,
and was signed Archibald Grant"
who is this man Grant," I de-
manded, amazed at finding myself
owner of this piratical craft.
"'E was our boss; and darned
We've 'ad lot of fun around Cape
JUDY, but the game amt quite safe
| just at present, because of the Italian
gunboats. The old boy must ave
made over million out of the stun,
we took. for my share alone In .
couple of years was 10000 golden
guilds, and all the men lad thousand
a year each"
But haven't given your owner six
pence for the boat" declared. There
must be some extraordinary mistake"
NO mistake on his part. you bet"
the skipper replied. "'E showed us
the newspaper In which it was said
that the Macclesfield was carrying bull
lion consigned to the Turkish govern
ment, and explained that although you
were bit touched you had conceived
an idea of getting hold of it by flying
the French flag, giving 'em q bit OF
bounce. and stating that war had been
declared"
But 1 was ignorant Of the whole
thing!"
| well, we've got the money. any
how" the man said. placing his cap
at the approved nautical angle. What
shall we do with it,"
II don't care" answered. sink
the lot If you like. I'll land at the
nearest port, and wash my hands of
the whole thing. It's very ugly mat
ter, this"
The remainder of the day was spent
In slowing away the guns and warlike
appliances-some of which I dis
covered were merely Of painted wood
and that evening Swale and myself
dined together In the saloon. when he
admitted to me that the mysterious
Grant, who always had marvellous luck
at Monte Carlo, had sailed in that boat
for several years, committing all sorts
of acts of piracy. disposing of the cap
tured merchandise in the smaller
towns along the west African coast.
and gaining enormous sums yearly.
Next night, having babe farewell to
Swale and his rufianly gang. I was
rowed ashore close to Marseilles, and
on landing stood watching the green
light presently move away, and stand
far out to sea-
The attack on the Furness liner by .
supposed French gunboat was made
the subject of very serious representa-
tons on the part of the British am
bassador in Paris, and the French gov
eminent, unable to prove that their
gunboat Gauges was not in those vat
ers on the day in question. were &C
tually compelled to pay q very sub
stantial indemnity.
Having no desire to be mixed up In
the affair, l returned to Monte Carlo
and kept my own counsel. ! made In
ouiries about Archibald Grant, but all
l discovered was to his discredit and
49, ~ kAfv txn 2