Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-12
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED,
DAILY,
THE PIRATE.

zoe. on business and having settled II TO my
satisfaction. engaged my passage i'll vessel
honnd 10 New York We had been but Few
hours ON the VOYAGE when lell that WEAKNESS
and main which indicates the approach Il The
yellow fever ! continued 10 grow worse, ana
10 add 10 my distress, the vessel began 10 ron
violently and sea-siC kness with all Its horrors
came upon mel would have sacrlaced every
thing for a quiet place In which 10 uif, aS
fel, that this was all could wish Tor. over
ceme a, length with weakness, ana complete
~ exhausted, l fell asleep, from when was
awakened by a confused noise. | at hrst be-
Ieyed il was merely imagination, but as it
became louder, felt convinced that what l
heard was a reality. AT length the cabin door
opened, and several persons descended. Our
captain approached my birth and told me the
vessel had been captured by pirates, and that
I've were now standing in for the land. heard
the first part Of his speech with an apathy
which my illness only can account ior:-Hui
the very name Of land seemed 10 operate Ike
a charm upon me. a young man now APP
proac he'd and told me 70 be under no appre-
hension, as no personally injury was intended,
and tina, every care should be bestowed upon
me He inquired the nature and state oil my
disease, and brought me cordial, which con-
sidurably relieved me. In short time we
were at anchor and was told our vessel would
be detained for i day or two, and after lew
articles had been taken out, permitted 10 pro-
coed on her voyage. The same person SUB.
sequently entered, and observed that couid
be much better attended on shore, where
would be relieved from the hustle and coniu-
sion Of the vessel. To this cheerfully Assem-
Ted, and in the afternoon | was placed IN
boat and carried TO hut near The beach,
n L., a,I oil
The Young man whom now discovered 10 De
captain Of the corsairl arrived, and told ne our
vessel would sail in an hour, and il wished to
proceed i'm her / was al liberty to do so, al
though he remarked, in my present state 1t
would no doubt cost me my hfe;- that II
would trust TO him, and could bear the deten-
ton of month Or so, he would convey me 10
some part Of Cuba, from whence could easl-
lv procure passage home. Believing re-
moval in my present state would be almost
certain death, added 10 strong desire 10 know
more Of a man who appeared so different irotn
what had heard Of men engaged in the pro-
fession with which he was connected, made
me assent 10 his proposal. In abou, a week
was ecidedly convalescent, and / felt really
grateful for the kindness Of the Youthful outlaw.
One evening on cn'sriag my room he EXPIRES
sed himself grailhed TO see me 50 much recor-
erred, as he was 10 sail in The morning for the
otter side Of The islands snd II was his wish
ths; ] should accompany him, IS II was likely
he would fall in with some vessel bound 10 the
United States, and could thas get home-ihe
next morning we were underweish.
It was near midnight when was awakened
by deep groan in the cabin in which | slept
] raised my head and perceived the captain
gazing on a small but beautiful dagger, which
he was holding TO the light as 1t to see more
plainly; before him on the table, as well as
could Judge, lay miniature- lie was in tears,
and appeared much affected. In few mo-
ments he placed them in his desk and wen, on
deck / unused some time on the singularity
OF this man who seemed Gtted for a situation
better than that of piraiical captain; he was
rather small in his person, but well formed
had been handsome, should think, but sor-
row seemed 10 have set her seal upon his brow;
his hair exhibited the marks of premature old
age, although he could not be more than twen-
ty>three.
The next night determined to watch and
see if he would again look at the dagger-he
at length came down, and after sitting some
time in Z con,emplatise posture, opened the
desk and again the dagger met my eye-Cur-
iosi,y could bear it no longer-"What sin
gularly beautiful dirk," exclaimed; he started
as if he had been shot, but suddenly recover,
ing himself, said, with look which seemed os
if he would reach my very ihoughts,"Why did
you MAKE that remark?"I felt abashed, bul
he Immediately added, "Since you appear anx-
ious to know my history will tell it YOU
Do you see that" he exclaimed, as he moved
the light nearer and placed the dagger before
me-"Tis Blood" ! answered sickening at
the sight-"Ay, tbs blood! blood! to save one
drop of which would give all this miserable
body s'contains-aud yet added he, wildly,
"',was that shed il" in few moments he be-
came more composed, and began his story.
The events Of my .boyhood pass over
suffice ii to say, lost my parents at an early
age, and was left TO the care of relation /
received good education, and knew sorrow
but by name until had attained my eight-
zenith year. then began new existence,
was in loye-yes, if ever man loved passion
ateIy-is nsely, | did | was singular, ro-
mantle in my ideas, and Resale was equally so.
will pass over the few happy hours of our