Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-21

the pirates, in the event of their having escaped
the sloop, for was aware that Malone had
overheard the whole confession, from my find
ing him listening at the cabin door. Without
hesitation the Lieutenant at once agreed To ac-
company me; and engaging some hands ont OF a
vessel newly arrived, VIC soon mustered party
of fourteen men. As it wanted only SIX DAYS
of the festival of st. Jago, and the distance
across the Caribbean sea, was great enough
to require all our eXertiuns to be there in time,
we embarked aud sailed that very night.
Our cutter proved prime sailer-atd though
the winds were light and variable, by the help
of our sweeps we made the Rocc,s on the even
ing of the sixth day. As the Spaniard had fore
told, the moon was climbing the western sky,
and pouring the fulness of her splendour with a
mild aud beautiful cffulgcnce on the uutroubled
deep, rs we slowly drilted with the current be-
tween the Wolf ROC, and the adjacent isle.
All was silent and calm over the whole desert
archipelago and the vast surrounding waters,
save now and then the sudden flight of a sea
fowl awakened from IFS slumbeIs as we passed or
the occasional roar of the jagar family waited
from the main land. We ran the cutter iato a
deep and narrow creek; moored her safe, and
proceeded, well armed, to the eastern extrerni-
tv-There we found the projecting point of
land, and the old vanilla tree exactly in the stu
alton describcI-its huge, twisted trunk was
still entire; and from the end of its solitary
branch, which was graced by few scattered
leaves, the body of a man in the garb Of n sailor
hung suspended in irons. The clothes had pre-
served the body from the birds Of prey, but the
head was picked clean AMI bare, leaving the
evclcss and bcached sculi tn glitter white in the
moonlight. In perfect silence, and with some
thing Of awe spirits impressed by the soil
tude, and drearincss of the scene we seated our
selves on the rocks and with my ti.nc-piecc in
my hand, began 10 mark the progress of the
shadow. For nearly three hours we atched in
this manner, listening attcntively for the slight
est sound from ses,ward; but every hing con-
tinucd huslled and still, except the creaking of
the chain rs the dead man swang 10 and fro in
the breeze. Midnight was now drawing near
the uroon, radiant and full; was careering high
through the deep blue of heaven, and the slia-
dows of the branch and stem were approaching
each other, and towards the desired point. Al
length the hand of my Time, piece pointed 10
within one minute of the time. Ii pas ed over
Tho h:ancl. and stem now merged into one, and
threw tIer shadow due east; and the first spad;.-
full of earth had been thrown out, when the
man who had been stationed 10 keep a look out
came running to inform us that boat was ra-
pidly approaching from the east. We immcdi-
ately concluded that they must be part of the
Darts and their long and vigorous
strokes, they stretched out to the full extent
of their oars, showed that they knew the i'm
portance of every minute that elapsed. Our
implements for digging were hastily laid aside,
and we concealed ourselves among the rocks
till they should come within reach. In a short
time the boat was seen ashore, and eight armed
men came forward, partly Spaniards and partly
the ships crew; among whom recognized the
boatswain, and 10 my surprise, Malone, whom
l had shot and left for dead ia the cabin.
Without giving them time 10 prepare for the as
sault, we quilted our shelter and sprung among
them at once, laying about with our cutlasscs
For little space the shirmish was tonghly
contested: for the pirates were yesolute and recl-
less, and fought with tie desperation of men who
knew that the only chance for their lives Law in
their own exertions. In the confusion of the
fray had lost sight of Duff, and was closely
engaged with one of the Span;aris, when the
voice OF the boatswain, Shouting for: Il horrible
imprecation, sounded Immediately behind me-
turnei round, and sprung aside from the sweep
OF his cutlas, and as my pistols were both empty,
retreat'd, acting on the defensive; when he
pulled out his, fired, and hurled the weapon at
my head. The shot passed without iniuring me
but the pistol aimed with better effect struck
me full on the forehead. a thousand sparks of
light flashed from my eyes--I felt myself reeug,
and on the point of falling, when a cut across tLs.
shoulder stretched me at once on tie ground
When recovered from my stupor and opened
my eyes, the morning was far advanced-the
sun was shining bright overhead, and | found
myself at sea ly ing the deck of the cutter, and
Duh busily engaged in examining my wounds.
From him learned that the pirates had been
mastered after severe connict-in which four
had been slain, and left on the island; two had
escaped unobserved during the fight, and made
of with their boat, and two had been wounded
and were prisoners on board, one of whom was
Malone. On our arrival at Porto Rico. we
delivered them over TO the civil power; and soon
afterwards Malone was tried for the murder of
the priest when he was convicted on our evil
dence, condemned and executed.
Under good nursing and care | gradually re-
cOyercd and by the :all of the season, once
more landed safe in Scotland. Isabella is
not now that destitute and unprotected or
phan whom | first saw on the middle of the
western ocean-but the happy mistress of a
happy home, diffusing life and gladness ON all
around her. My friend Duff has lately been
placed on the list of post-captains, and is anxi-
ousy waiting for more bustling times, when
there will be more knocking about and more
hard blows got, than what our present peace es-
Enlistment admits of. JohnWyllie, too, has had
in bis line, being now master of
one of the finest ships in Clyde: and | have the
additional satisfaction Of knowing that none of
the crew had reason TO regret their having
leopardized their lives in fighting for the Cpl
rates treasurer IL
The following circumstance recently occurred
in church in New-York. IN y. Post.
The Rev. Pastor had mentioned from his pul-
PIT, on the preceding Sunday, that a respectable
shoemaker of his congregation, had requested
tim 10 preach sermon from the Iih verse of