The Lady and the Pirate

Later despatches received at Baton Rouge, so the New Orleans journal

said, might or might not clear up the mystery of the stolen yacht's

disappearance, although the senders seemed much excited. One story

from a down-river point, brought in by an excited negro, told of a

dozen bottles found floating in the bayou. The negro, however, had

broken them all open, and declared they had contained nothing but bits

of paper, which he had thrown away. He also told a wild story that the

plantation store at Hamlin's Landing, on Bayou Henry, had been looted

in broad daylight, by a young man and a boy, apparently members of the

pirate crew. The younger of the two ruffians was masked, and on being

asked for pay for gasoline, refused it at the point of his weapons,

declaring that pirates never paid.

While no attention should be paid to rumors such as the latter, the

despatches went on to say, it was obvious that a most high-handed

outrage had been perpetrated. It was supposed that the swift yacht had

been hurried forward, and had passed New Orleans in the night. Once

out of the river, and among the shallow bays of the Gulf Coast, the

ruffians might, perhaps, for some time evade pursuit, just as did the

craft of Jean Lafitte, himself, a century ago. Meantime, only the

greatest anxiety could pervade the hearts of the friends of these

ladies thus placed in the power of ruthless bandits. Such an outrage

upon civilization could, of course, occur only under the

administration of the Republican party. The journal therefore

hoped:--and so forth, and so forth.

"Peterson," said I, after digesting this interesting information,

"you've read this. What have you to say?"

Peterson was more despondent even than was his wont. "It looks mighty

bad, Mr. Harry," said he, "and I don't profess to understand it."

"Did you order the supplies?"

"Oh, yes, but they may forget to send them after all."

"It is your intention to stick by me, Peterson?"

"Well, there must be some mistake," he said, "but I don't see what

else I can do."

"There is a mistake, Peterson," said I. "This is more newspaper

sensation. Mr. Davidson is excited over something he doesn't

understand. If I had him here now I could explain it all easily. But,

before the matter can be explained in this way, we must wait until

this excitement dies down. Why, at this gait, it would hardly be safe

for either of us to be recognized here in town. We might be arrested

and put to a lot of trouble. The best thing we can do is to run on

down the river and wait until Davidson gets down and until we get this

thing adjusted. That is why I wanted the supplies to-night."