Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-07-29
MAYNARD'S REVENGE
BY F. A. mitchell.


settlement Of jamestown. in the colony
of Virginia. On board one Of them
Lieutenant Maynard was awaiting his
wife, who was coming out to him from
England. 1t being their intention to
settle In the new country A ship was
seen making slow Roadway up the
stream, and Maynard. thinking the YES
sci to be the Thetis. In which his wife
had sailed from London, took boat
and was pulled down to meet her.
A terrible shock awaited him. The
vessel was not the Thetis. but the Eu-
ropa. and she brought the news that
the former vessel had been captured
by Edward Thatch. a pirate, common
ly called Blackboard, and all on board
had persisted.
Thatch had for some time infested
the coast, running his plumber into
Bathtown, N. c. where he had gained
the protection Of the governor by d.
viding 1t with him. The governor Of
Virginia had been appealed to with
view to getting rid Of the buccaneer
and when this last outrage was per-
petrated stood ready to act. He fur
nished two soops, the war vessels fur
nished the crews. and Lieutenant May
nard was placed in command OF an
expedition to hunt down Blackboard
One day in November the sloops
weighed anchor and sailed away
down the river, followed by the pray
ers Of the sturdy settlers Of the town
and their comrades on the warships.
No one d. lbted that If Lieutenant
Maynard fell In with the demon of the
ocean he would either bring him back
alive or dead or would never come
back himself. And they were right.
Maynard had been married but short
time before his ship had sailed from
England to a girl he worshiped and
both being Of an adventurous spirit
had laid their plans to make home In
the new world. From the moment he
heard Of her death he knew but one
sensation. and that was to be re-
venged upon her murderer
-Four days after the expedition sail
ed the pirates were sighted In an inlet
near Bathtown. AS 1t was nightfall
Maynard anchored to wait for light by
which to get at his enemy. When 1t
came Thatch made an effort to escape.
but IN doing so ran aground. May
nard saw that he had his enemy at n
disadvantage, since. being In fixed
position, he could neither maneuvC"
nor get away. Maynard tried to get
near the pirate. but drew too much
water Throwing out the ballast from
the sloop in which he was. he finally
came within close range.
On the pirates deck stood Thatch.
His bushy black beard. from which he
derived his name, was tied up with
ribbons. the ends Of which wer"
thrown over his ears. On his head
was a fur cap with lighted match on
either side. Across his shoulders were
sung three brace of pistols. In a
harsh voice he hurled words Of def
ance, to which Maynard replied that
he would soon board him. which was
the only offensive method at his dis
posal, since he had no guns. The an
swer from the pirate was broadside,
which put out of the fight twenty OF
Maynard's crew and nine on his sup
porting ship.
Maynard. thirsting to get at the de-
mon. ran close up alongside his ship
Suddenly shower of hand grenades
fell on the sloop. and before the crew
could recover from the blow Black
beard and fourteen of his followers
were on the British ships deck.
Maynard and Thatch rushed togeth-
err Hand to hand they fought. now
with sword now with pistol But
since the one barrel weapon OF that
day was exhausted ia a single shot
and six Of them were but equal TO one
revolver OF the present 1t was but Il
few minutes before nothing remained
to them except their swords Thatch
fought for his life. Maynard only FIR
revenge Time and again ne luckily
escaped death from his encmy's cut
lass. His sword broke. and II seemed
that he must fall before Rlackbeard's
still perfect steel. But he fought on
with what remained OF his blade
1hrusting. cleavin%. hacking.
II was terrible sight. those two
men. the one possessed by Il demon Of
cruelty. the other demon Of revenge.
struggling In a death grip Thatch
was grotesque in his ribboned beard.
Maynard terrible in his greed for
vengeance And each knew that the
fate of all his followers depended upon
him.
At last the pirate, who had managed
to get hold of loaded pistol, stagger-
ing under dozen wounds. while cock
ing II Eel! dead The end had come,
and It had come for the pirates. Every
man Of them jumped overheard and
cried for quarter. They were taken
in to be reserved for different end
ing.
Five or six days later the settlers Of
jamestown and the crews Of the war
ships saw sails down the river, re'og-
niZed the Sleeps and waited anXiouS!y
the results of the expedition. When
they came nearer. on the end of the
bowsprit OF the foremost vessel was u
deaths head. the head of TAatch. the
pirate. with its CHASTITY. sunken eyes.
fits livid flesh. it's black beard tied I'm
in ribbons. Then they knew that the
lieutenant had wrcakcd his vengeance.
So much for Blackboard. What re-
manned was for his crew. When the
lieutenant and his men had been con
graduated hangdog looking lot con
sisting Of thirteen pirates were taken
out from the hold in irons. rowed
ashore and. after trial distinguished
only for its brevity. were swung OF at