Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-07

pirate ships were fitted out there, and
investors must get their share Of the
plunder. When supper was ready my
captor invited me to join him, and l
accepted his invitation.
4 scheme was forming in my mind.
There was but little chance It would
win, but it was not hopeless. We were
five unarmed prisoners, guarded by
eight pirates. With death staring US
in the face we were all ready for any
desperate enterprise. hoped pos
sibility for such might arise during the
night and would have liked to speak to
my mates about 1t, but dared not be
seen talking with any Of them. ]
therefore went in to supper with the
captain without having been able to
tell them to be on the lookout.
There was hard drinking in those
days, and many villain who would
have been invincible while sober got
his deserts from his thirst for liquor.
1t was soon plain to me that the cap
tain was bound to drink hard. but he
was smart enough not to get drunk,
leaving me sober. He would not begin
a fresh bottle himself without forcing
me to finish the one before me.
Suddenly l remembered the expert
ence with olive oil that my father had
given me. There was none on the
table. but a-plenty IN the ship. that had
been taken aboard when we took on
the wine. told the captain that with
his permission l would make him
salad such as he had never before
tasted, but to do so must go for some
oil. He consented, and, taking a small
pitcher. filed 1t snd drank half Of 1t.
Then. replacing what had taken,
carried it, with head Of lettuce taken
on with supplies at Kingston, and
went back to my host. / then pre-
pared salad of the lettuce and fruits.
which the captain pronounced excel
lent.
After this kept up with the captain
in finishing my bottle. then began to
get ahead of him. 1t piqued him to be
beaten by Il beardless boy, and he
poured down bottle after bottle. do
ing the same, but feeling compara-
lively little effect from the fumes Of
the wine.
Suddenly ! heard loud laugh for
ard. 1t was followed by shout, then
yelp. My heart bounded with de-
light. The crew had doubtless seen
me drawing the wine from the cask
and had appropriated more Of 1t to
their own use. The captain heard the
noise, and it tended to sober him since
he knew what it meant He started to
rise from the table, but was unable to
do so. / passed him his bottle and
filled his glass. He forgot what he
had intended to do and drained 1t.
now waited for the captain to fall
into stupor and the men outside to
follow his example Their shouts grew
louder for awhile. then fainter as one
after another they dropped Off into un-
consciousness. Meanwhile the captain
was snoring under the table.
Seizing pair Of pistols. l went out.
battered In the door Of the cubbyhole
in which my mates We're confined and
released them. AS soon as they were
armed We held a consultation as to
what to do next. We decided to bind
the captain and his men with view
IL we could get away-to take them to
England for trial. Rope is easily
found on ship. and without awaken
Ing the pirates we bound them and put
each one in Il separate compartment.
Our next problem was to get away
from the pirate vessel, which was
standing near us. We must not hoist
sail for fear Of being heard. Besides.
there WAS Il scant breeze. The night
was cloudy. with no moon. We low
cred boat. mutlled the oars. attached
hawser to the capstnn. took the other
end to the boat and pulled away. We
could see the pirate. but not plainly
and hoped that our movement would
not be noticed.
1t was not long before we lost sight
of her. Then we redoubed our eff
forts and after an hours pull returned
to our ship. hoisted Il jib and with this
slender motive power sailed till we
dared hoist more canvas. When day
came the pirate was hull down on the
southern horizon.
Our crew was small, but we man.
aged to get the vessel safely to Eng
land. made Il search for the treasure
box and found 1t under the flooring In
| the captains cabin. We concluded that
since we could not return 1t to its own
ers we were justified In keeping 1t our
selves. So we divided it among US,
and every man jack Of us was made
rich.
The only person I told how l had
made my money was my father, who
had furnished me with the information
that had enabled me not only to make
| It, but to save my life. gave the old
| man every comfort for the rest Of his
life.
Was ever man saved from death and
made rich by being told how to put
| another under the table?