Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-07-08
An Inventive Yankee
A Story Of the Days Of
Pirates
BY DONALD CHAMBERLAIN
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

casks Tor water. While waiting their
return two vessels appeared out on the
sea. the one a clumsy brigantine. the
other low cut. rakish craft with
enormous sails. Chandler brought his
glass to bear on the two ships and
was not long in determining that one
was merchantmen. the other Span
ish picaroon. and the picaroon was
chasing the merchantmen. The for
mer flew no flag, but the captain knew
only too well that she was q pirate
and If the wind held would overtake
the merchantmen.
This was at time when piracy had
| been almost entirely swept from the
West Indies, and few merchant ships
had means of opposing the villains.
Chandler could see no evidence of guns
aboard the brigantine, and he had but
one little barker on his own ship. He
had no women aboard, but Judged
from the size and build of the mer-
chairman that she might have passen-
gers.
But the wind was very light, and
what there was was dying down. The
sun was near the western horizon, and
| 1t had no sooner set than the last
traces of breeze set with it. The
| two vessels, now about three miles
apart, stood STILL their sails tapping
as the swells rolled under them. Chan
dler began to take thought how he
might save both his own and the 9TH
er ship from the pirate. He had some
small arms aboard. but no guns ex-
cept the one mentioned, while, though
the portfolios in the picaroon were
masked, he knew that she must be
well armed with cannon. His small
arms would be of no use against her.
Chandler ran over in his mind what
he had aboard that he might use in q
fight and remembered that he was
carrying among other things for blast
ing purposes in the Mexican mines a
Illuminating powder used in those days
But what use could be made of this
against the cannon balls of the pirate?
Chandler was a Yankee, and the
Yankees even at that remote period
were famed for their shrewdness and
inventive genius. He formed a plan to
attack the picaroon with Illuminating
powder. Noting the positions of the
ships with his compass. he waited till
midnight then, putting a crew in each
of two boats, he weighed anchor and
ordered them to tow the Wasp out to
sea. his object being to get between
the two vessels. Neither ship displayed
light, but faint glimmer Of cabin
lights was perceptible on the pirate.
Chandler stopped when he thought he
might be in the proper position. He
did not cast anchor. for the sound
would betray him. and he was not
ready to let the pirate know of his
proximity.
When the first faint dawn came
Chandler saw that the Wasp, the pi-
rate and the merchantmen occupied
the three angles of a triangle. He was
pleased to see that he was nearer the
pirate than the merchantmen. for if
the former attacked the latter before
attacking the Wasp Chandler could af-
ford no assistance. His plan did not
admit of this. All three ships had their
sails hoisted ready to take advantage
Of the slightest breeze. AS soon as
there was sufficient light the pirate
displayed the skull and crossbones
from her peak and sent shot before
the bow of the Wasp. Chandler, I'M
Outstanding this as a demand for sur
render, returned from his popgun a shot
no bigger than boys rubber ball. He
did this that the pirate might attack
him with his ship instead of sending
boats to take possession without a
fight.
With the rising of the sun ripple
was seen coming on the water and
breeze came with it. 1t caught the
picaroon first, and she approached the
Wasp, running out her guns as she
did so. but nearing her prey it was
plain that there was no armament
aboard. and she ran them in again.
The critical moment had come.
Chandler stood on the quarterback
awaiting his enemy. occasionally cast
ing a glance at a man partially con-
cealed alOft on that end of the gan
swung from the mainmast. The breeze
had reached the Wasp and filed her
sails. enabling the helmsman to keep
the vessel before it with some head.
| way. when tne DoWsprlC Ol tue plcd-
room came within a cables length of
the Wasp. Chandler gave an order to
lower the sails The pirate Tapped the
Wasp and was making ready to Crap
pie and board when a signal was given
that turned the tables. Chandler rails
ed his hand. Men concealed under the
bulwarks pulled on line fastened to
the end of the gaff. swinging it over
the side next the picaroon. The man
above, carrying a demijohn, nimbly
crawled out on it, gaining a position
nearly over the pirate, now not twenty
feet from the Wasp. Giving the demi-
john swing. he tossed it on the pi-
rates deck.
There was an explosion that blew
the little pirate so far apart that the
| into kl0 In, hn