Black Pete—Ship's Boy THE OLD MARINER TALKS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21578, 14 September 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

Black Pete—Ship's Boy THE OLD MARINER TALKS

"Well, sir, I'm getting old now, but I've had my day. Aye, that I have. Seeing as how ycu're a young 'un, you might like to hear the talc of my life. Eh?" "Well, when I was a nipper about your age, my parents apprenticed me to the master of the schooner Nautical Pride.

"I set off from home the morning she sailed, lull of ideas about life on board a ship, but tney were soon knocked out of my head. I was ordered about and bullied by all from the sail-trimmer to the second mate and I tell you, by the time we'd crossed the equator, I was ready to run away at the first port we reached. "But that didn't come to pass. One night, just after I had taken to my bunk—the night was as black as pitch, not a star to be seen —I heard cries of 'All hands on deck,' so I rushed up and plyed the first man I saw with questions. I was told that we were being attacked by pirates. Judging by the noise, something queer was going on.' "At that moment, a dark head appeared over the side. I stood as if glued to the deck. The owner of the head had a cutlass in his teeth, and a flaming torch held high. Behind him were several others, who immediately set to, to capture our crew. "The first one who had come on deck ordered me to go over the side into the waiting boat below. I did so, quickly, for I was afraid of what might happen to me. When I reached the boat, there were a

few pirates w&o scowled fearfully at" me. Soon after this, tee noise on deck stopped, and the pirate 3 and their captives swarmed oveff the side into the other boats. The rowers then pulled off to the pirate-ship, not a moment too sooii, for our ship blew up and then sank.

"Well, the rest of the story I cannot tell you, except that I could not escape the pirates, and soma time after I was made their captain, which shows you that company COUntS - X. 1 J "Soon after that we attacked A Spanish treasure ship and took tha loot. We then put into one of tha many coral islands dotted about there and divided the treasure. Tha crew was nretty rough, so I decided to bury mine, in case they attacked me and took it, as they were wont to do. "One morning I crept away from the camp, a very cowardly action you might say, but-you didn't know, the crew. "I went—Ah, but that's the secret. I buried the treasure there. I wrote out a code, and I have carried is ever since,, but I've never been back to collect the treasure, for I don't need it, I'm quite happy here with, my old pipe and someone to tell a tale to.. .. , , "So there, young man, there s my story. What? Ay! Exciting as you say. 1 My blood was hot then. Well. I'd better take a stroll on the beach now to stretch my,old legs. Come back some other day and I'll tell, a good tale like yon one." -JUNE HAMILTON, Glenavy. i