Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-21
CHAPTER g.
In Which { Am a caItrH.

twas sitting at one OF my favor
tie spots engaged n looking
through ny Gy book for some
lure that might perhaps mend
my luck In the afternoons fishing. At
least / had within the moment been so
engaged. although the truth is that
the evening was so exceptionally fine
and the spot always so extraordinarily
attractive 70 me-this particular angie
OF the stream, where the tall b-cbes
stand. being 10 nay mind tba most beau
tiful biz 90 my whole esCate-that
had forgotten an about angling. More
over a peculiarly fine specimen of
anopheles Gas Z took It to bel was at
that very moment lowering over my
hand. and I was anxious 10 confirm my
Judgment as wei as to enlarge my cod
lection OF mosquitoes Indeed, ! say, l
was at that very moment as happy as
a man need be. or at least as happy as
I ever expected 10 be. Imagine my sur
prise. therefore. at that moment to hear
voice, apparently intended for me,
exciaim. Halt, caitid-
The situation seemed to me singular.
Had the time been some centuries ear
lier, the place somewhere in the old
world. such speech might have had bet
] ter fitting But the time was less than
year ago, the place was in America.
] was on my own lands, Ia this one Of
our middle states, This was my own
river. or at least Z owned the broad
acres on both sides of fl for some miles
And / was a man Of go sinking habits,
no repulsive mien. OF that 1 was as
sured but successful American Of
means; lately professional man and
now a man OF leisure and not so far
past thirty years of age. My garb was
not of leather jerkIn, my buskins not
Of thonged straw. but on the contrary
] was turned out n good tweeds, well
cut by my London tailor To be called
offhand and with no more reason than
there was provocation a "caitif' even
by a voice somew hat treble and Il tri3e
trembling, left me every reason in the
world 10 be surprised. annoyed and
grieyed-
looked up. Just at the bend. ar
rested now by hand anchorage to the
overhanging alders. lay q small boat.
occupied by two boys, neither Of more
than fourteen years. the younger seem
tngly not more than twelve.
A second glance gave me even more
surprise. for It showed that the boat
though not precisely long, low and rak-
fish OF build. evidently was OF piraticaI
intent At least she was piratical in
decoration on each side OF her bow
there was painted In more OF less &C
curate design in black the emblem OF
skull and crossb0nes. Above her. sup
ported by short staff. perhaps cut
from my own willows. few black
nag. and, whatever may have been her
stern chaser equipment her broadside
batteries or her deck carTouades her
bow chaser was certainly in counts
sion and manned for action. The pirate
captain himself was at the lanyard,
and I perceived that he now rested an
extraordinarily large six shooter in the
fork of short staff. which was fixed
In the bow Along this. with three
cornered gray eye. be now sighted at
4be lower button Of my waistcoat and
IN fashion that yeFe me gooSetesh
underneath the button. IN spite Of al
my mingled emotions
Halt, sirrah,' began the pirate lead
ct again. OF / will blow you out or
the waterr
| sat for 3 moment regarding him.
my chin in my hand
"No,' said { at last: Il already am
out of the water my friend guC-
prithee. have q care Of Wonder lanyard,
else. radzooes. yoa may belize blow
q
This speech of mine seemed as much
20 dfsconcert the pirate Shiertain as
sidu Ass ue, Ae stood erect shifting
his long tom. 70 the great ease OF my
waiStcoar burton.
Won't you beave TO ana put OF
small boat for parley:" inquired
what ho. mates2" demanded the
captain in as gru1 voice as he could
compass. we've heard his speech.
and he has struck bis Tag,
Suppose the villain plays US false"
reJoined the mates, or rather, the
mate in voice so high or quavering
thar Tor moment fl was difficult for
me TO repress g smile. although these
three years past / rarely mad smiled
at all
The captain turned to one side. SO
that now I could see both him and his
crew. The leader was as fine speci-
men OF bog rs you could have asked,
sturdy OF bare legs. brown OF face. red
Of hair. ragged ard tumbIed OF garb,
His crew was setive though slightly
less robust. a fair haired. light skinned
chap. blue eyed and somewhat better
clad than his companion There was
something winning about bis face Al
& glance / knew MS soul He was
dreamer, an ideal!st. an artist in the
bud My heart ieaped out 10 hia Ia
8 sttnetively in a great impulse of sym
patay and understanding. Indeed, sad
denly / felt the blood tingls through
my hair. / looked apon life as l had
not these three years. The imagination