THE SCOTTISH POWDER – MONKEY.

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 112, 4 February 1933, Page 19

THE SCOTTISH POWDER - MONKEY.

In the tipiQ of bold buccaneers, lan Macintosh lay basking an the sun on the beach of li lovely secluded bay. He had namcd.it the Bay of Dreams. He wag then dreaming of the pirates, who, his father had told-him, at'that time roamed the seas. “How I wish I could capture a real pirate,” he said half aloud to himself.-", - . v l ' “Would you, really', now?” asked a cheery voice. lan sat up to see a bluff, hearty . sailor, looking down at him. “Qh! yes; I really truly would,” cried. lan. ■ , ■■ . ■ - “Would you like to come with me. then? We want a powder moukey' on our ship.” “Oh, yes! But'Xmust ask father ami say good-bye to him,” said Jan. “Well, I will come with you,” said Ben Bolt, which was the sailor’s name. ; Soon lan way sailing rapidly 'away in the “Rover” for the seas infested with pirates; Ten days after they left a-, sail was sighted. It proved to be a pirate- ■ The’ “Rover” gave chase. How lair was thrilled ! He was kept busy filling small barrels with powder nd carrying’them to the guns in readiness for the gunners. When they came within range • one' of the gunners sent a .shot across,'the bows of the pirate to signal her to beave-to. ■ The pirates immediately fired a broadside, for both ships were now opposite.' The steersman brought round the helm, and the

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“Rover,” charging down on the pirate, soon crashed into it with such force that the ropes holding one of the pirate’s guns snapped,’ so that the gun fell with a great splash into the ocean. The hearty sailors of the “Rover” swept over the bulwarks, into the pirate with loud shouts of “Hurrah!” lan snatched up a cutlass and rushed into the fray. As he jumped .on to the deck of the pirate ship he saw a gailydressed pirate aim n blow at Beu Bolt’s head. .With a loud cry, lan aimed a blow at the pirate’s wrist. With an oath the pirate allowed the cutlass to clatter to the deck. Beu smiled at lan, and- shouted, "Well done, lad!” Then it flashed through bis mind that if the pirates pulled down their flag, it would signify that they sufrendered. “Why can’t I pull down their flag,” he said under his breath to himself. He. steadily, advanced toward the mast. But suddenly he saw the pirate captain rusfli upon Captain Rover, his captain. With a sharp, swift stroke he hit the pirate’s sword hilt, snapping the blade clean off. The captain saw, but before he could speak lan had disappeared. With the agility of a monkey, lan swarmed up the mast and, tearing the skull and crossbones from the masthead, he wrapped it round his body, under, his shirt. He had no sooner touched the deck when one of the Rover’s crew shouted, “They have pulled down their flag. Hurrah! We have ■ won.” -

Terror-stricken, the pirates looked for their flag, but seeing it missing they sullenly threw down their weapons.

When the pirates had all been captured, the captain called for lan. “You saved my life, my boy,” he said, “and I will recommend you to be given a higher position.” As he finished speaking, the wind blew’ open lan’s shirt, revealing a grinning skull. . “What have you there?” asked the astonished captain. “A flag, sir,” said lan;, and he took the.pirate flag from his body. “You mean to. say that you, pulled dpwn their flag?” asked the incredulous captain.

lan told of his exploit. Captain Hover gazed at lan in wonderment. "You will become one of Scotland's most renowned' captains when you grow older, for such bravery as. you have shown to-day If continued will be rewarded some day, my brave lad.” lie said.

Captain Rover’s words came true, and lan Macintosh, was an honoured man among all seamen, ever courteous and gentle with his friends, but as fierce as . a lion in battle, braving all dangers, and never giving any person a task which he himself w’ould or could not do.

—Original, by “Highland Laddie,’’ aged 14 years, Featherston.