The Washington herald., 1914-05-03
CHAPTER ii
The Feast of the Pirates

CHAPTER II
The Feast of the Pirates
ZNsor
"Yes, good Captain"
we are sailing in dangerous waters tonight.
These islands infested with corsars, and when
anchor viii ask you tell the men to keep sharp
: lookout Do you know what corsairs are, Zingo?"
BAD men,"
1t just year from the time that lingo had been
picked up by the Pretty Leocadia." He was now the
second mate and looked very fit in his straight-but
toned jacket. white cap and white He
had acquired knowledge with surprising rapidy owing
doubt to the fact that in his childhood he had been
spared the frighfu mental conflicts of trying decide
whether he would give each kind lady gentleman
he met one of his curls whether he would go home
with them and be their little boy His monkey friends
had never asked such foolish questions Nor had it
been his lot, in his boyhood figure the
of paperng twenty feet long, eighteen feet wide
and ten feet high, allowing for doors and window
sashes and triangle cut off at for clothes
closet 1t his immunity from such mental throes
that ne afterwards attributed the working of
his brain and his ability to think clearly and
quickly in critical moments.
The uneasiness in regard to corsairs had come from
rumor that there had been attacks, and
that small vessels in danger in this particular
region.
They were sailing between Sumatra and Borneo,
= bound for Java, where Captain Lombrco planned to
unload of his cargo of wines in exchange for the
excellent cofees for which that island is noted.
The pleasant gentlemen known corsairs began their
career on the Barbary Coast early in the Christian
They particularly fond of wearing gay-colored
sashes and turbans, and of carrying off Christian
niaidens. They unbelievers and it entirely in
keeping with their conscience punder Christian ships.
They did this with the full consent OF their govern
ment and on strictly honorable business principle.
They duly capitalized and organized with articles
of incorporation The pirates the other hand, plum
dered unocialy and bore about the social rela
tion to corsair that burglar does fnancier,
though they were both sworn to the ideal-to
plunder while yet they might and wherever they could.
Like empires, the corsars have had their rises and
falls They reached their highest of prosperity in
the seventeenth century after which the industry degen
Grated into piracy, and piracy ITSELF industry, died
in the early part of the nineteenth century. is said
that its ghost has appeared IN another form in the
western hemisphere but only those with the inner vision
have seen IT.
AT the time of which writing, however it
ruored that on some of the islands amongst which the
pretty Leocadia" sailing scattered remnants of all
classes and conditions of pirates and corsars had col
iectedA Amongst them could be found specimens of the
Cancaf fan white race the Malay, the brown race
the Mongolian or the yellow race the Ethiopian the
black The only one too dlgnihed to JOIN them
was the American Indian, the red race.
Now the lookout to whom lingo gave the orders
fded to him by Captain Lombrco had sailed the
for many years. and had arrived at that of indf
ference to danger that all those whose duties
carry them into dangerous places. To humor his young
superior however he assured him that he would close
eye that night Then lingo, followed by sailor
carrying lantern disappeared down through the dark
of the deck he lit his pipe watched the wind
smoke, now east, west, for moment two
thought of the many ports where his many loves
keeping watch for him, yawned fearsome yawn and
fell asleep
lingo always alert continued his patrol the lower
deck his quick eye taking in the least indication of
eareessness oversight the part of the men, They
had come to the hold when he stopped suddenly and
said: -
(. Don't come any nearer with that lantern, Jack"
as there anything the matter, sir ~ asked Jack who
On account of his special duty of carrying the lantern
at Znso's heels, had been dubbed "Jack o Lantern"
DO you see that barrel in the corner?"
"Yes sir"
You must never come too close that with lighted
lantern II contains dynamite"
AI right sir" called Jack from surprising distance
away He had never obeyed order with such aacriy.
After lingo had finished his rounds he went below to
mate engaged in talking plans for the remainder
Of the voyage.
The night was calm, bright shining and,
ued by the gentle tapping of the waves all the Sailors
including the night watch, were asleep
Frou Of the smaller islands some distance away