The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-08-26

- lure that might perhaps memo
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 to me-this particular angle
of the stream, where the tall birches
stand, being to my mind the most beau
tiful bit on my whole estate-that |
had forgotten all about angling. More
over a peculiarly fine specimen Of
anopheles las | took it to bel was at
that very moment lowering over my
hand, and was anxious to confirm my
Judgment as we'll as to enlarge my col
lection of mosquitoes. Indeed, say.
was at that very moment as happy as
a man need be, or at least as happy as
] ever expected to be. Imagine my sur
prise, therefore, at that moment to hear
a voice. apparently intended for me.
exclaim, Halt. caitiff"'
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 in this one of
our middle states. This was my own
river. or at least owned the broad
acres on both sides Of it for some miles
And l was a man Of no sinking habits.
no repulsive mien, of that | was as
sured, but a successful American of
means; lately professional man and
now man of leisure and not so far
past thirty years of age. My garb was
not of leather jcrLin, my buskins not
of thonged straw, but on the contrary
was turned out in good tweeds, we'll
cut by my London tailor. 10 be called
offhand and with no more reason than
there was provocation "caitiff." even
by voice somewhat treble and trife
trembling, left me every reason in the
world to be surprised, annoyed and
grieved.
looked up. Just at the bend, ar
rested now by hand anchorage to the
overhanging alders, lay small boat,
occupied by two boys, neither of more
than fourteen years. the younger seem
ingly 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
ish Of build, evidently was of piratical
intent. At least she was piratical in
decoration. On each side of her bow
there was painted in more or less ac-
curate design in black the emblem Of
skull and crossbones. Above her, sup
ported by short staff, perhaps cut
from my own willows, flew a black
flag. and, whatever may have been her
stern chaser equipment, her broadside
batteries or her deck carronades, her
bow chaser was certainly in commits
sion and manned for action. The pirate
captain himself was at the lanyard.
and | 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 a three
cornered gray eye, he now sighted at
the lower button of my waistcoat and
in a fashion that gave me goose1esh
underneath the button, in spite Of all
my mingled emotions.
"Halt. sirrah," began the pirate lead.
er again. "or l will blow you out OF
the water"'
sat for a moment regarding him
my chin in my hand.
mo" said at last; II already an
out of the water, my friend. But
prithee, have care of yonder lanyard
else. gadzooks, you may belize blow
me off the bank and into the water"
This speech Of mine seemed as much
to disconcert the pirate chieftain al