Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-06-23

selves along aide, but were Is sf,en re-.
pulsed by the mismovemeut Of the two
vessels.
l turned my eyes towards the dis
taat sail, which slowly dashed aside
the opposing waves, a. she closely
pressed against the wind, and bv the
help OF the glass, which l seized from
the b,nnacie, could piaisly discover
tho closed ports Of a sixteen gun brig,
No hope, thought !. on returning IN,
glass To ITS depository; one broadsidc
from hev will settle all controvsrsy.-
At this moment, the pirate shot across
our bow and attempted to make fa,tto
our bowsprit, but the spar. probably
weakened by some previous shot. part
ed and fell into the water; released,
she yieldsd 10 the influence Of the
wind, and swung round to the oppo-
site side.
Finding themselves foiled in this
nanpuvre, a small boat, which happi-
~ could not contain more than six
men, was launched from the deck and
manned. We were at a conjecture
concerning the cause. why there had
not appeared small boat before; but
on examination, vas convinced that
they possessed no boat Of any macni-
iudc, which probably might have been
carried away in some gale, aud know
ing 1t to be entirely useless in attempt
ing our vessel with five or Elk men, they
had exhausted all ende.vors 10 the ex-
pertinent towards flashing US together,
and were compelled TO have recourse
10 THIS Incompetent measure, and we
resolved to receive it IS warmly a.
possible.
In moment the little bark, filed
with SIX savage looking mortals. fully
armed, shot over the blue waves, with
the Intention, not Of boarding, as We
expected. but making fast q cable TO
our bulwarks. which would certainly
prove fatal 10 US if not prevented.
Death awaited US, il we presumed
to expose ourselves, and there fore with
as little danger as possible, the armed
visiters were saluted from our muskets,
which proved the death seal TO two of
their number; but plying their oars
with all the speed Imaginable, she shot
up under cover Of our vessel, and be-
gan slashing away the netting, that no
obstacle mightimpede their movements.
Was IT horror that then possessed our
frames9 No!--All sympathy--all
sense Of death--seemed wrapped in
oblivion! Was i; madness? Ay,--it
must have been madness! desperate
madness! one which chung to our souls,
and spoke with voice that smothcred
all dangerous sentiments. That our
h'es were not without price"
One OF the sailors who happened 10
be placed near the part attac ked by
the p'rate's boat. seeing a stout ruHiar.
consIderably exposed in his endravors
to make fast the cable. rushed forward
from behind his covert. aud with one
blow Ut hts fire lock, struck him bead
long into the deep.--but dozen balls
from the distant vessel, that moment
wrapped his weather beaten frame Ia
the cold mantle Of death.
now turned To behold the distance
OF our new enemy, that il there re
manned any time which could be used
to advantage in our defence, not ,o
suffer u 10 pass. | will acknowledge
n slight movement then possessed my
nerVe.--slthough prepared, and in ex-
pcctatiOn OF it;-but still when l saw
this second monster of blood, bear
proudly up to the wind. not more than
sixty yards distant, SO sudden--so near
and with all the appearance of vo-
hitting forth vengeance ia the blacklist
manner, that for the first moment,
Welded 60 the influence Of nature-but
u passed away, and | became calm
Some OF our men likewise witbcred ia
their hearts. on behol,ling the consum-
nation OF their doom so near At hand,
and murmured forth their resolution 10
tue Captain To "give up the ship
No." cried Munkton, with an cV-
cIamaiion that rung along the waters,
" Surrender! no, my good fellows, back
TO your stations, and sink With the YES.
sel that has been your home for months.
Give those Villains on the stafboafd
quarter there. the true course 81 your
bullet: show them yankee spirit"
II the vast deep bad yawned. and
engulphed the whole plIatlcal force, u
could not have called forth greater
shout Of eXultaiion than this lsconic
speech. Bot louder shout from these
- workers OF destruction" told the ae
complisbment of their object the ha~
see was made fast, and the pirate fast
closing alongside! Al hope was dead
aud Mortality shrisked IN despair! A.
NY attention was Tiveted on our dies
peraie condition, ajoyous exclamation
burst from one of our meo.-I turned.
and my eyes fell upon the rolling brig
her long waving banner Of scarlet,
which bad continually fuitered IN tho
wind, on a sudden tTembled 10 the rig