The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-06-06


reached by flight Of somewhat peril
Gus stairs, the Cookies, for SO the
ancient tavern was called, set square
ly toward the sea, and opened wide it's
shell, as It were, to all waits or
stormy petrels blown in from the
foamy deep.
Good men. bad men; Republicans,
royalists; FrenchEngllsh, English
French, the landlord-old Pierre La
roche, retired sea-captain and owner
of a number of craft employed in
dangerous, but profitable, occupation
received them willingly, and in his
soltcitude for their creature comforts
and the subsequent reckoning, cared
not jot for their politics, morals, or
social views. 1t was enough If the
visitor had no lenten capacity; looked
the heshpots in the face and drank of
his bottle freely.
The past few days the character of
old Pierre's guests had left some room
for complaint on that score. But
small number of the crew of the
swift-looking vessel, well-known to
the Islanders, and now tossing in the
sea-nook below, had, shortly after
their arrival toward dusk of a stormy
day. repaired to the inn, and then they
had not called for their brandy or
wine in the smart manner of seamen
prepared for unstinted sacrifice to
Bacchus. On the contrary, they drank
quietly, talked soberly, and soon pre-
pared to leave.
something has surely gone wrong"
thought their host. "Why did not your
captain come ashore?" he asked mot
see his old friend, Pierre Laroche, at
once!% 1t is most unlike him"
And on the morrow, the islanders,
or English-French, more or less pri-
vateersmen themselves, were equally
curious. Where had the ship come
from? Where was it going2 And
how many tons Of wine, bales of silk
and packages to tobacco, or "ptum,"
as the weed was called, had it cap
tured? Old Pierre would soon find
out, for early that day, despite the in
clemency Of the weather, he came
down to the beach, and, followed by a
serVitor, got into small boat moored
close to the shore.
He is going aboard"
WHO has better right? His own
vessel"
No; Andre Desaurac-the Black
Seigneur's! They say he long ago
paid for it from prizes wrested from
the Governor Of the Mount"
"At any rate, old Pierre entered
into a bargain to build the boat for
him"
and added to his wealth by the
transaction"
Later that morning the old man
came ashore, but, according to habit,
preserved a shrewd silence; in the
afternoon a small number Of the
crew landed to take on stores and
ammunition-of which there was ever
plentiful supply at this base; that
night, however, all, including their
master, betook themselves to the
Cookies.
Glad to see you ashore, mon CAPT.
tame" Pierre Laroche, standing at
the door, just beyond reach of the
fierce driving rain, welcomed the
Black Seigneur warmly; but the
young man, one of whose arms seemed
bound and useless, cut short his
greeting; tossed bruskly aside his
heavy cloak, and called for a room
where he might sit in private with
companion. This person the landlord
eyed askance; nevertheless, with
show of bluff heartiness, he led the
way to a small chamber, somewhat
apart, but overlooking the long low
apartment, the general eating and
drinking place of the establishment,
now filled by the crew and. number
of the islanders.
Your capitaine has been hurt?
How?" A strapping, handsome girl,
clad in red and of assured mien, pass
ing across the room, paused to adj
dress a man of prodigious girth, who
drank with much gusto from a huge
vessel at his elbow.
did not your father Pierre la.
roche, tell your"
He? No; all he thinks of is the
money"
Then must lie capitaine speak for
Mistress Nanette."
you are not very polite, Monsieur
Gabarie," she returned, tossing her
head; but suppose there is rea-
son; you have been beaten. In an en-
counter with the Governors ships?
Did you sink any of them? It would
be good news for us islanders"
"You islandersl" derisively.