The Green Flag

d escaping the man-of-war. But it was impossible to retain his sailing qualities unless he periodically-once a year, at the least

uld be left high and dry at low water, fastened blocks and tackles to her masts to pull

that there was no great danger. So secure did the captains feel, that it was not uncommon for them, at such times, to leave their ships under a sufficient guard, and to start off in the long-boat, either upon a sporting expedition or

y. Such visits were not always paid with impunity. It was one of them, for example, which provoked Lieutenant Maynard to hack off Blackbeard's head, and to spear it upon

Delivery. It may have been from his morose and solitary temper, or, as is more probable, that he knew that his name upon the coast was

it was said, for the purpose of burying his share of the plunder, and sometimes to shoot the wild oxen of Hispaniola, which, when dressed and barbecued, provi

fallen into the pirate's hands, and in some freak of drunken benevolence had been allowed to get away with nothing worse than a slit nose and a drubbing. His account was recent and definite. The Happy Delivery was careening at Torbec

nd as to how he should use this chance. There was no man-of-war nearer than Jamestown, and she was a clumsy old fly-boat, which could neither overhaul the pirat

harkey and his four companions, that, of course, would be easy if they could get at them; but how were they to get at them on a large well-wooded island like La Vache, full of wild hil

physical strength and energy with which the virtues of his ancestors had endowed him. He was ingenious, fearless, and exceedingly tenacious of purpose, so that when he was still young, his name became notorious upon the

f sombre dissipation. This was the man, gaunt, austere, and dangerous, who now waited upon the Governor with a plan for the extirpation of Sharkey. Sir Edward received him with little enthusiasm, for in spite of some rumo

te, after losing sight of it for many a black year. It was through the ministration of the Rev. John Simons, of our o

ked his episcopa

eak of Sharkey, Mast

borne in upon me that if I can cut him off and utterly destroy him, it will be a goodly deed, and one which ma

ed face which showed that he was in earnest. After all, he was a seaman and a fighter, and, if it

gerous task, Master

at it will cleanse the memory of an ill

not see his way t

your plan?

arque, the Happy Delivery, came

by Sharkey, who scuttled his own sloop and moved

ip, the White Rose, which lies even now in the harbour, and which is so like the

overnor keenly, with the air of one

is man shall be deliv

d h

I will set sail for the Island of La Vache, where this man is slaying the wild oxen. When he sees me he wi

s not very sanguine, for many attempts had been made upon Sharkey, and their results had shown that he was as cunning as he was ruthless. But this gaunt Puritan with the evil record was cunning aid ruthless also. The contest of wits between two

re many seamen in the port who knew the lines and rig of the pirate barque, and not one of them could see the slightest difference in this counterfeit. Her white side line had been painted out, her masts and yards were smoked, to give them the dingy appearance of the weather-beaten

the Bay of Tortoises at the Island of La Vache, where Sharkey and his four men had been hunting. It was a well-wooded place, with the palms and underwood growing down to the thin crescent of silver sand which skirted the shore. They had hoisted the black flag and the red pennant, but no answer ca

d him greatly. Close to the shore was a boucan of green wood, such as was used for preserving the meat, and a great store of barbecued strips of

t for a ship yet? Craddock was still hesitating between the two alternatives, when a Carib Indian came down with information. The pirates were in the island, he said, and their camp was a da

ey struggled through brushwood and clambered over rocks, pushing their way further and further into the desolate heart of the island. Here and there they found traces o

they were silent and deserted. No doubt their occupants were away at the hunt and would return in the evening, so Craddock and his men lay in ambush in the brushwood around them. But no on

found themselves once more at the Bay of Palms, and saw their ship riding at anchor where they had left her

Hird, the mate, looking down w

come down to us yet," said Cradd

"I think," said the mate, "that the

y s

ou will understand it." He spoke

this, Master Hird?" he cried, springing up the side.

rded man, whom he had never before observed aboard his vessel, grabbed suddenly at his pistol. Craddo

gst themselves without showing any desire to go to his assistance. Even in that hurried glance Craddock noticed that they were dressed in the mo

range, sun-blackened faces turned upon him from every side. Not one of them did he know save only Joshua Hird. Had the ship been captured in his absence? Were these Sharkey's men who were ar

the furniture was different. His had been plain and austere. This was sumptuous and yet dirty, hung with rare

a claret-coloured coat of damask. Craddock turned white under his freckles as he looked upon the long, thin high-nostrilled nose and the red-rimmed

ed, and he broke into hi

ck's shoulder again and again with his compasses. "You poo

g, kicking, writhing, foaming. It took six men to drag him down on to the floor amidst the splintered remains of the table-and not one of the six who did not bear the pris

hat?" aske

t with cold shot, and th

lie at my mercy. I knew you for a stout seaman, you rogue, before you took to this long-shore canting. Your hands then were no clean

y ship?" as

ed in t

the h

e bay,

for the

heave him over

n Sharkey came hurrying from his cabin with an eager face. "We can do better with the hound!" he cried. "Sink me if it is not a rare p

s, and his grim spirit aspired only to make such an ending as might go some way towards atoning for the evil of his life. All night he lay in the curve of the bilge listening to the rush of

his late mate. "It's at the risk of my life

me and caught me as in a

answer for what

the point of a knife

ward, Joshua Hird. How ca

d, and, short-handed as we were, with the best of the men ashore with you, we could offer but a poor defence. Some were cu

scuttled

off to the ship. His mainyard had been cracked and fished last voyage, so he had suspicions of us, s

to see that fished mainyard?" he m

nning nort

en we are heading b

eight-k

what they mean

If you would but

rd! I have risked

have done what I

, but, do what he would, he could not free the other, and his ankles were securely fastened. From hour to hour he heard the swish of the water, and knew that the barque must be driving with all set in front of the trade wind. In that case they must b

am. The varying slope of the sail room and the sounds from the deck told his practised senses exactly what she was doing. The short reaches showed h

red, and though many had answered, there were none of the crashings which told of a shot coming home. Then, if it was not an action, it must be a salute. But who would salute Sharkey, the pirate? It could only be another pirate ship which would do so. So Craddock lay b

asked one, whom Craddock recog

then. Better leave the bracel

isel the carpenter

ng to do with me?

eck and yo

the mizzen gaff, with the colours flying at the peak. But it was the sight of those colours which struck the breath from Stephen Cradd

companion ladder. As he stepped out upon deck, his eyes turned up to the main, and there again were the B

d waving their hats joyously in the air. Most prominent of all was the renegade mate, standing on the foc'sle head, and gesticulati

leading to the town of Kingston. Not more than a quarter of a mile off was a small sloop working out against the very slight wind. The British ensign was at her peak, and her rigging

hich Craddock would himself have played had he come back victorious. It was in his honour that the salutes were firing and the flags flying. It was to welcome him that this ship with the Governor, the commanda

carpenter and the quartermaster. "Keep the ports closed, but clear away the port

" said the boatswain.

can recognise you, with your hand on the guy, and wave your hat to them. Quick, or your brains will be over your coat

had sprung the bulwarks and was swimming for his life. He had been hit and hit again, but it takes many pistols to kill a resolute and powerful man who has his mind set upon doing something before he dies

y dwelt long upon his aim before he fired. With the crack of the gun the swimmer reared himself up in the water, waved his hands in a gesture of warning, and roared out in a voice which rang over the bay. Then