Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-09-16

The men who constituted this
company, numbering without their
leader full sixteen, were robust,
swarthy seamen.-th greater por.
ton Of them distinguished by the
dark olive complexions and curling
black hair which denoted their ori,
gin in Portugal or other parts ol
the south OF Europe. Several wore
rings In the ears and on the fingers
and were bedizsned with strange
and outlandish iewelry. The thick
monstache and shaggy brow gave q
peculiar ferocity 10 more than one
oil the company. whilst the Close
and braided seaman D jacket, gaudy
woollen caps and white breaches
she common costume Of the crew
impaired . foreign air 20 the whols
group. Some wore rich girdles
with ofnamented pistolsand daggers
and the plainest amongst them show.
ed knife secured under o leasherr
bealt. Their only attendant was
Kate Of Warrington, Who grudgiug.
ly anwered the frequent call for
fresh potations, as the jewellers
washed down their coarse mirth
with draughts OF brandy and usque
bsugh.
Cocklescraft sat. somewh hat eleva-
ted above the rest, at the head OF
the board, where. without carous
ing as deeply as his sailors, be
stimulated their noisy jollity by
clamorous applause. A witness.
rather than partaker OF this un-
couth wassail, was The Cripple.
who, having matters OF account 20
settle with several OF the crew be.
fore they took their departure, had
now swung himself into q corner
where. with lighted fagot stuck In
crevice Of the wall. he alternately
gave his attention TO q pouch con
mis- papers of business. and
10 the revelry of the moment; child
ing the prodigal laughter OF the
crew, one moment with querulo US
reproof. and the next With q satiri-
cal merriment.
"Bowse il, ladsl" exclaimed
Cocklescraft, as he brandished a Gun
In bis hand; drain dry TO the Es-
calfadorl-our merry little frigate
shall dance tomorrow on the green
do honor TO the last might
We spend ashore. Remember, we
have q reckoning 70 settle before
We depart, with the goods folks of
81. Mary's. Are you all ready 70
follow me in an exploit of rare devil
ry?-Spsak, boysl"
"Ay, ready, Master Captaini"
was the response In q general
shout.
This outburst. reused The Crippla.
who, lifting bis head from the paper.
which at that moment he was perus-
ing. and looking from under bis
spectacles upon the crew, was heard
10 muster when the shout subsidized
AS ready as wolves 10 suck the
blood OF lambs. How can they be
else under thy nursing, Dickon2"
"Ha old dry bones, art thou
awake? By st. Iagoi I thought
shat thy leaden eyelids, Rob, had
been sealed before this. Ho, lads,
bring Master Robert Swale for ward
we shall treat him as becomes q
man OF worship:-upon the table
with him, boys"
The face OF The Cripple grew in
stantly red, as o sudden fash OF
passion broke across it. He drop
ped the paper from his hand and
drew his dagger;-then. with q
lip and kiudling eve.
spoke out-"By ST. Romuaidl the
man that dares to lay hand on me 20
move me whereit In not my pleasuret to
60, shall leave as deep Q blood stain
on this floor as iowed from the veins
Of Paul Kelly. Who are you, Dickon
Cocklescraft. that you venture 10
bait me with your bullies?"
How now, Master Rob2" ex-
claimed the skipper. as he rose from
his seat and approached The Grip
pie. Would st quarrel with friends
Twas but In honest reverence, and
not as against your will, that I
would have had thee brought 10 the
table. Come, old comrade, we will
not be ruffied when We are to par,
so soon. What would you have,
good Rob2"
These bills shall be first paid bv
your drinking registers before they
60 TO sea-" replied The Cripple
somewhat appeased by the skipper q
manner. Here are items OF sun.
dry comforts supplied-meat and
drink and lodging;-and here are
services OF Mistress Kate both In
making and mending;-here 10.
tranpling down my corn, and fol
killing"
.'Pshaw-a figs end for your
trampings and killings. and oil this
rigmarole Of washing and msndingi"'
interrupted Cocklescraft. 81 would
be sworn your conscience has un-
dercharged your com nodity:-so,
there is enough 10 content you for
the whole, with good usury 10 the
back Of IT," he said, putting q well.
stored purse Of gold into Rob g
hand. you have ever been toc
modest in your dealings. friend
Robert OF the Trencher:-when YOU
get older you will know how TO in.
crease your gear by lawful gain"
"A hang-dog-a scape- grace
kill-cow-a devils babe In swad
ding bands Of iniquity. thou art,
Child Dickoni" said Rob, laughing
with that bitter salt laugh that gave
TO his countenance the expression OF
extreme old age. Thou dost no,
lack, with all thy wickedness, or
open hand. / have ever found thee
ready with thy gold. Il comes
over the DEVILS back-Dickon, ha
hai-over the devils back, young.
ster.-and 10 goes-you know ths
proverb. This closes accounts. q