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BY ARY gEVEREUX
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DOM C WLSON
6W JPQfifj fiMTKXfJ
CHAPTER X
A night had passed and the island
of Martinique lay drowsing in the
aleepinesb of midday In Fort Royal
bay before the sleepy town lay three
ships at anchor The one nearest
shore wag a brigantine beautiful in
model and French in build she car
Tied a long eighteen pounder amid
ships and her bulwarks were pierced
for lighter guns This was the Black
Petrel and she displayed the Ameri
can ensign now hanging limp in the
motionless as vrs the like colors
shown by the Condor rocking near
by In the lazy tide
Down in the luxuriously furnished
cabin of the brigantine Laro and La
fitte seated and in earnest conver
sation paused ocasionally to scruti
nize this craft
Perhaps she means no mischief
muttered the former but the very
flag she flies and the red showing on
her decks are enough to set my teeth
on edge
You say you heard ashore last
evening as did I that she stopped
only to fill her water butts and is
bound farther south
Lafitte laid down the glass and
laughed a little bitterly but he made
neither reply nor comment
Did old De Cazeneau seem inclin
ed to treat his granddaughter with
kindness Laro inquired after a
short silence and as if considering it
wise to change the subject
Yes for all I could see and he is
likely to do so while she makes no
demand upon his gold
Laro uttered an oath and drained
his glass
That man has been growing more
and more miserly ever since his pretty
daughter ran away with that cursed
Englishman and I have often thought
It might have been money in my
pocket if I had let Stanleys blood out
of his veins the night of the
count has formally adopted her and
she is now known as Roselle de Caze
neau
Lafitte said this with a dignified
eaidness and as if wishing by a full
explanation to dismiss the subject
Laro did not answer and Lafitte
continued
I am reminded to ask you again
if you will take my advice as to this
present cargo of slaves I tell you
that the governors recent proclama
tion will cause trouble if you attempt
to bring them to New Orleans at pres
ent Pierre told me only the day be
fore I sailed of some talk he over
heard between Governor Claiborne
himself and two gentlemen with him
when one of their coach horses cast
a shoe and they were delayed at the
smithy while our men remedied the
accident
Oh I say as seems to me I am
always saying nowadays that your
idea is the right one was the surly
answer Well up sail at midnight
when we can reckon upon slipping
away from under the nose of that in
fernal Britisher out there and make
for our own snuggery where Lazalie
has no doubt been wondering at my
being so long away Once in the
channel that brings us to the Barra
de Hierro and anchored before it all
the craft England can send would
have hard work to get at us We will
take the niggers there for awhile and
turn them out on the island to work
our crops until Claiborne takes an
other nap and forgets all about the
recent agitation
He had while speaking again pick
ed up the spyglass and focussed it
upon the man-of-war where nothing
was changed among the red coated
loungers
Have you anything more to say to
Jude inquired Lafitte after a few
moments silence upon his part while
Laro was swearing at the enemy he
was scanning
I fear Garonne make harm for all
hors ball before he levanted with the
girl
Jean let this pass without remark
but as Laro replenished his glass the
young man said If you are not care
ful you will get your brains as be
fogged as they were when I tried to
talk with you this morning
Befogged was I my son Yet not
so much but that I recall every word
you told me of what has happened
since you left Lazalie and me on the
Barra de Hierro and went to play gen
tleman awhile in New Orleans By the
way Jean he added as from an after
thought that was an odd thing for
you to do go off on a wild goose
chase to the Florida wilds to bring
Da Cazeneaus brat away from the
Choctaws
There was a smouldering anger in
Lafittes eyes as he turned them upon
Laros mocking face
I told you that the Indian runner
Bird Wing came from his tribe to
Count de Cazeneau bringing a letter
from Mrs Stanley imploring his for
giveness as she was dying and be
seeching his protection for the daugh
ter she must leave among the Indians
He asked for my services and I gave
them gladly for his daughters sake
Lafitte looked steadily at Laro who
In a mocking tone asked Did you
find her still such a charming demoi
Eelle I dare swear you did not if
there be truth in the reports that the
Englishman left her long ago left
her to wear out her life among their
red neighbors
Lafitte rose and went over to the
port hole turning his back as he an
swered I found hsr dead with the
Indians mourning for her as for one
well loved Her child with her maid
Barbe a French woman 2 brought to
the count
What is the child called and how
old said you she was Laro inquired
now in a more serious tone
She Is fourteen but such a pale
little slip that she neither looks nor
seems her age She bears the same
given name as her mother Roselle
but the Indians called her Island
Rose Their cabin was on a small
Island and In spite of their rude sur
roundings the mother seems to have
reared the child most carefully The
No replied the latter without tak
ing the glass from his eye for be
fogged as you thought me I gave him
his orders this morning before I came
aboard this craft
Very well said Lafitte paying no
attention to Laros covert defense of
himself Then nothintr rpmains t
be done until night
Nothing the other man assented
and Lafitte left him
The Black Petrels gunner Lopez
an old fellow of Laros leaned against
the taffrail smoking while he looked
scowlingly at the English vessel Near
Lopez lounged Garonne mate of the
Black Petrel a heavily built brutal
faced Portuguese as swarthy as his
companion
Some distance forward leaning
against the bulwark his arms folded
and his stolid face turned toward the
sinking sun was the statuesque form
of Ehewah the only Indian aboard
a young sub chief of the Muyscas
tribe inhabiting an island of the
southern seas
I have been watching him and I
tell you the dog is not to be trusted
the gunner was saying Laro seems
nowadays to have no eyes save for his
rum and this if he has not a care
will lead us all into some infernal
trap where we may feel the rope
around our necks
Have a care Lopez said his com
panion sternly that you get not the
taste of another rope first upon your
bare back for showing disrespect to
your captain
You have been over free with that
sort of rope alreacy and this lies at
the bottom of wlvt I thought It my
duty to warn you against was the
surly retort An Indan never for
gets the hurt he never forgives and
forgiving is something an Indian
would scorn as we would scorn cow
ardice
Garonne with an oath asked what
he meant
1 will stake all the silver and gold
that fell to my share from ine fight
three weeks ago with the Spanish brig
that Ehewah will -never forget the
splicing to the main mast you gave
him for stealing your rub- Every
blow of the ropes end awoke a dozen
devllf hi Ka heart and these Trill
sooner or later make a merry hell foi
you and perhaps for all of us
Garonne whose look of scowling
anger had changed to one of sneering
scorn uttered a burst of vile pro fan
ity and striking the taffrail with
broad fist brown as mahogany ex
claimed roughly Let me hear nr
more such talk from you opez olc
messmates as we are you are going
a bit too far You prate like some olc
housewife in her dotage
Lopez with an angry snarl straight
ened himself and turning away saw
Lafitte coming toward him Garonne
also sa he latter and advancing
said No sign yet captain of a visit
ing boat from over there indicating
with his thumb the man-of-war
Lafitte nodded a careless recogni
tion of the mates remark and passec
on to Lopez
I had thought that when the cool
came the Englishman might have
tried to board us for an interview
the young man remarked in the kind
ly tone his men knew as well as thej
did the coldly imperious one that nev
er failed to hold in check the mosi
lawless amongst them
Much better they keep away said
Lopez slowly in the English tongue
one he spoke but imperfectly Much
better sir but to me it the surei
shows that we are watched
Well said Lafitte still looking at
the vessel let them watch their fill
while the daylight gives them the
chance At midnight the wind will be
of a sort the Black Petrel needs and
we will give them a cleared patch
of the sea to watch when the light
comes again
Then he asked What were you and
Garonne quarrelling over as I came
up
Lopez glanced about and saw that
Garonne and the Indian had disap
peared Then turning his eyes to La
fitte he answered in a lowered voice
Do not think I am becoming soft
hearted my captain that I have tc
say I fear Garonne make harm foi
all by bastinadoing a Muycas likt
white man sailor This I was telling
him
The Black Petrel had as Lafitte
knew already from Laro some three
weeks before encountered a richlj
laden Spanish brig bound for a Wesl
Indian port A fierce fight had ended
in victory for the brigantine aftei
which the prize was burned and the
survivors of its crew set adrift ii
open boats
There were twenty slaves aboard
together with a rich cargo and in the
latter were found a number of uncu
gems from which the Indian had beer
suspected of stealing a large ruby
awarded to Garonne as part of his
share of the plunder Ehewah upoi
being accused refused to admit oi
deny the theft and Laro contrary tc
his usual custom had left the Indiai
to be dealt with as his accuser saw
fit
Garonne whose natural brutality
had been increased by generous im
bibings of spirits taken from the des
poiled vessel was not content with in
flicting ordinary punishment for such
an offense but had for several days
in succession caused the Indian to be
stripped tied to the mast and flogged
unmercifully after which he was
treated with unsparing severity bj
the mate
Ehewahs back bears scars that
only revenge will heal declared Lo
pez in conclusion and now speaking
in his own tongue He has been
changed ever since No man evei
had a kinder care or softer touch foi
a mate who was sick or hurt as 1
have to remember from the time two
years ago when I was laid up with
a cracked head at Tobagga But now
he glares like a wild cat when one
of us crosses his way and he has not
spoken ten words since he was bas
tinadoed
Lafittes only comment was to bid
Lopez keep silence upon the subject
and to have a watchful eye upon Ehe
wah
To be continued
EARLY CARRYING OF MAILS
In 1747 Newspaper Changed Day of
Issue to Suit the Carrier
The New York postoffice is the larg
est supporter of the postal depart
ment to which it returns 6000000 or
more clear profit This is some ad
vance on the good old times as may
be seen from Bradfords New York Ga
zette of Dec G 1747 Cornelius van
Denburgh as Albany Post designs to
set out for the first time this winter
on Thursday next All letters to go
by him are desired to be sent to the
postoffice or to his house near the
Spring Garden
During the Hudson river navigation
the Albany mail was transmitted by
sloops but in the winter a messenger
as above mentioned was required and
it is probable that he traveled on foot
The winter average of the eastern and
southern mails is given in the same
paper and same date as follows
On Tuesday the Tenth Instant at
9 oclock in the Forenoon the Boston
and Philadelphia Posts set out from
New York to perforin their stages
once a Fortnite during the Winter
months and are to set out at D oclock
Tuesday morning Gentlemen and
Merchants are desired to bring their
Letters in time N B This Gazette
will also come forth on Tuesday Morn
ings during that time
It is evident that the Gazette which
was a weekly published on Wednes
day changed its day to accommodate
the mails Troy Times
An Oriental Answer
It was in a Maine Sunday school
says Lippincotts Magazine that a
teacher recently asked a Chinese pu
pil If he understood the meaning of
the words an old cow
Been cow a long time was the
prompt answer
- -
AHTTO
Where away demand Lafitte
when he had admitted the mate and
was making himself ready to go on
deck Laro was already there for he
could be heard shouting to his men
Heap up the shot Lopez he rear
ed Heap them knee high I say for
that cursed Britisher shall swallow
them by the wholesale if she comes
meddling here
Where away I say Lafitte re
peated with a note of sternness as
Garonne instead of answering had
paused in the doorway and was look
ing intently over his shoulder at some
thing in the main cabin
Three points on the starboard bow
sir the mate now hastened to say
with an apologetic gesture She is
not yet to be made out clearly but
the lookout reports her as very like
the man-of-war we left in Fort Royal
last night
When Lafitte came from his room
he found Garonne who had left him a
few minutes before still standing in
the outer cabin and looking around
keenly as if something were amiss
Lafitte questioned him and he re-
plied that when entering the formers
cabin he had seen the Indian Ehe
wah glide from that of Laro and dis
appear hastily as though not wishing
to be observed
Lafitte laughed lightly
If he was in there while you were
knocking at my door Garonne he
would scarcely unless he has sudden
ly become deaf fail to realize that he
would surely be seen coming out
What cause for suspicion can lie in
his coming here You know well that
he is in the habit of doing so and that
Captain Laro permits it
Garonne growled something under
his breath doubtless profanity but
this was suppressed as Lafitte seldom
failed to emphasize his disapproval of
such language in his presence
Have you a positive reason for sus
pecting anything wrong from Ehe
wahs being here now he demand
ed sternly
Only that he has not been coming
about here of late said Garonne
sulkily
Has he been forbidden to do so
was Lafittes next question and Ga
ronne admitted that he had not
Then Lafitte dismissing the subject
went above followed by the mate
who as the former had long known
was about the only man among his
followers who had in secret but little
liking for him
The sun had lifted above the hori
zon but its rays were dulled by the
t
M
JjscisiAr
BY MARY gEVEREUX
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DOM C WILSON
CCopyrAt 02 6y I tffc nn7l tf Company
C4 jPSVj fie jmeoJ
CHAPTER XI
Soon after midnight with a south-
sou west wind that was all the Black
Petrel could desire for a speedy fill
ing of her sails the ship started north
ward to a safe retreat the island
known to Laro and his followers as
the Barra de Hierro
The day was coming gray and
heavy looking with a misty cloud
bank in the east promising fog later
on Overhead the pale dawn was ex
tinguishing the stars above the sea
that stretched a dull green floor in
every direction
Lafitte asleep in his cabin was
aroused by a knocking upon the door
and to his instant query Garonnes
voice replied with a suggestion of sat
isfaction in its gruff tone She is
after us sir sure enougn
uoth men were silent for a while as
they watched the stranger drawing
nearer Then there came a noticeable
softening of Laros face as he turned
suddenly to Lafitte and laying a hand
on his shoulder said in a tone which
caused the dark eyes to turn from
the approaching ship and rest wonder
ingly upon the speaker Jean lad
dost remember the old days when we
first met at Le Chien Heureux where
I taught thee to sing As tides that
flow as winds that blow Madre de
Dios but thou wert a boy to make
any mans heart hold thee close as
mine has done all these years And
I wonder aye oft do I wonder has
my love of thee brought thee to last
ing evil I have been rough with
thee lad at times aye surely I have
of late But my love for thee is the
same this day as it has ever been
Never doubt that Jean my lad what
ever befalls
Startled at the manifestation of such
a mood in Laro Lafitte looked at him
with a silence due to amazement
I had a strange dream last night
Jean continued Laro in a tone curi
ously unlike his usual one a dream
I feel is meant as a warning I have
Indian blood in my veins and so you
can better understand the dream and
what it means to me for it comes
only to those of my race whose end is
near Eut I have no fear and care
nothing as to how my end comes
whether it be by shot shell or the
sword
He stood more erect as he said this
and spoke with an air of braggadocio
But somehow it has stirred old
times to light Jean this dream of
mine he added relapsing into the
odd softness of look and voice
Rouse yourself Laro what has
come to ycu said Lafitte sharply
for he was beginning to wonder if this
were anything more than a new phase
of maudlin excitement
Garonne growled something under his breath
low lying cloudiness stretching away
across the zenith from end to end as
would a gray wall To the southward
the sky was clear and defined against
it like a phantom ship that seemed to
be sailing toward the Black Petrel
was a large craft which growing
more and more distinct appeared to
have fresher wind than that now par
tially filling the brigantines sails
Laro standing beside Lafitte as
they both watched her muttered a
curse
She is getting the benefit of what
we have had and left in the way of
breeze But well trust the devil to
foul her hereabouts and help us to
better wind farther along although
I am of half a mind to let her catch
us if that be her intention and then
if she tarries to ask impertinent ques
tions give her a good dose of iron
Better keep away and mind our
own matters unless she has the wish
and gets the chance to Interfere with
us replied Lafitte moodily
But Laro remained silent his eyes
fixed upon the deck
What is this dream which seems
to have affected you so powerfully
presently inquired Lafitte thinking
that perhaps it might be better to
humor Laro than to show disrespect
for his peculiar mood
The broad brown hand went again
to rest upon Lafittes shoulder and
Laro looked off over the sea with eyes
which seemed for the moment to have
lost all interest in the approaching
vessel
It was this my lad I sat at a table
heaped with fruits and wines and
about me was such as makes the heart
of man glad to be alive But sudden
ly there came a flash of lightning
with an awful peal of thunder and
looking out upon a portico near me I
saw a form clad like an Indian warrior
riding a horse black as the gates of
hell Straight up the steps of the por
tico the steed galloped and into the
room where it circled around the
table until the warrior drew his bow
and let fly an arrow that struck my
glass and sent the wine blood red
pouring over me and my guests in a
stream which grew and grew until it
was a red river flowing over the table
and washing it away and I awoke
shivering to see Ehewah standing by
my bunk telling me that a craft was
in sight which looked like the English
man
Laros bearing so changed and soft
ened no less than the dream he had
related made Lafitte feel at a loss
what to say He could not deny that
the recital had affected him strangely
seeming to bring him into closer ouch
with Laro as the latter added I have
always known that to dream of this
Indian and his black horse means
death to one of my family
The pressure of his hand grew heav
ier upon Lafittes shoulder and he
raised his eyes now filled with a soft
er expression than the young man had
ever seen them hold
Jean my lad if anything happens
to me you will always take care of
Lazalie Even though you have no
love to give the girl you will let no
harm come to her
The sound of her name brought La
fitte to his proper senses and the per
plexed look vanished trom his face as
he exclaimed Mon dieu Laro what
nonsense are you talking You to be
so upset by a mere dream Drop all
wilnfY tn
thought or It ano give j uu
more Important matters for i we are
to reach the Ba ra de Hierro thl
aside such unsub
night we must put
stantial things as dreams and keep
lookout for the Englishman
The stranger was surely drawing
nearer and the past twenty minutes
had brought her close enough to be
made out distinctly She wasbeyond
doubt a man-of-war and presumably
the same that had been the brigan
tines neighbor in Fort Royal harbor
Have you the gun in prime rder
Lopez asked Lafitte who now came
and stood beside the old gunner Ah
that you have I see he added with
a smile after glancing at it now di
verted of its tarpaulin covering and
I look to you for its proper handling
should occasion arise
Lopez who stood with his assistants
clustered around him replied with a
grin Never you fear my captain but
that the gun and myself will give a
proper account of ourselves
There now came a shout from aloft
the lookout announcing that the ap
proaching vessel was the Englishman
and that she seemed to be preparing
for action
Curse the wind why wont it hold
with us muttered Garonne standing
near the group about the gun and
Lafitte noted the gleam of hatred that
for the second made Ehewahs face
fiendish as he glanced at the speaker
Wind or no wind returned Lopez
in a growl we are taking our own
course and if yonder gentlemen
trouble us their own fault it will be
if burnt fingers they get for meddling
Stand by to take in the stun sails
the voice of Laro broke in The cap
tain seemed to have recovered fully
from his recent mood and to have for
gotten the dream that inspire it
Lively you dogs he shouted
Lively there and if that craft wants
to overhaul us let her make the
trial
The Black Petrel now changed
her course and the other vessel did
the same this indicating that she in
tended to give chase but the brigan
tine was by far the better sailer and
had Laro chosen to run southward he
might have escaped
This however would have carried
the Black Petrel away from her
proposed destination a thing that La
fitte no less than Laro scorned to per
niit especially as the pursuer was of a
nation hated by both of them Thej
were therefore of one mind in the de
termination not to submit to persona
inconvenience on account of the Engj
lishman
The latter drew still closer as tn3
day wore on when a little after noon
the fog bank which had been proinj
ised at sunrise rolled in over the sea
enveloping pursuer and pursued as in1
the folds of a heavy blanket
Lafitte was for keeping straight tc
their course but Laro with sulky
persistence claimed that their better
plan would be to anchor He knew
that early the next morning should
the fog lift by sunset he could reckon
upon reaching the channel flowing-in
ward to the Barra de Hierro and al
though its bars and reefs while faJ
miliar to himself and his men guarded
a course the stranger could not follow
in safety he did not care to risk point
ing out the way to his island retreat
To be continued
Germany Has a Perfect System for the
Collection of Debts
Writing from Bamberg Consul W
Bardel calls attention to a German
way of doing things
The most influential and most im
portant credit agency he says is an
association called the Verein Creditre
form This association is composed of
the best element of bankers manufac
turers merchants and tradespeople in
over 400 cities in Germany 175 in
Austria Hungary 75 In the Nether
lands and with branches in every large
city of Europe While these work en
tirely independent each in its own dis
trict they exchange their experiences
in a systematic and honest way
The object is to look after delin
quent debtors to inquire carefully Into
the solidity of business houses and to
give verbal or written reports on their
standing A responsible secretary 13
constantly in charge of each office His
pay depends upon the amount of fees
paid by the members The associa
tions issue cards of introduction foi
the use of traveling salesmen which
enable them to obtain fairly correct re
ports on the trade they have to visi
in any place no matter how remote
from home
Finger Bowl Unnecessary
So you had a good time in the city
Hiram
Oh bang up Martha Why cousin
took me out to dinner and it was
great
I hope you knew how to conduct
yourself properly Hiram
Oh yes but at the tail end of the
dinner the waiter
brought me a glass
bowl full of water
Of course Hiram
But Martha I
had drunk so much
by that time that I couldnt drink a
mouthful more Yonkers States
man
That One Vas Enough
They had been married six
month nni tlio -
Ions
VUMUWU tau
dently disappeared for keeps
Ive only had one wish ungratified
since our wedding day she said
And what is that he asked la a
tone redolent with indifference
That I were single again
she re
plied
The Soft Inpeachment
Widow Do you know that my
daughter has set eyes upon yoa
Gentleman flattered Has sne
really
Widow Certainly only to day she
was saying Thats the
sort of a gPn
tleman I should like ior my papa
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