Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-15

experience ntu luuSIlt, So csSetllial Il
victory. By this time one-half of tn,
assailants lay dead or wounded upor
the deck. Their cheering shouts wer,
still heard, though faint, and almos
drowned by the clash of arms, and tn,
shrieks and groans of tho wounded ana
dying. Again they faltered and retir.
! ed pace, but then the voice of the
commander was heard above the ruth,
less din, urging them TO another effort,
again they formed, rushed madly upon
our seamen, but they met the same
pertinacIous opposition as before, and
they once more broke and rctreated.
Al this critical moment, when the ri.
rates were re.reating step by step from
our quarter deck, their chieftain rush.
ed forward, and cutting a passage with
his sword, sprang down the hatchway,
rushed into the light room, and seized
the burning lamp, then shivering the
partltionof glass that separated it from
the magazine, he entered. Those upon
deck beheld the strange movement with
wonder that can be better imagined
than described, and both parties drop
ped their weapons to learn the issue of
so strange an adventure.
Our commander, accompanied by
few of the officers, Immediately dc.
scended, and the sight that met their
agonized gaze was truly terrifying;
the Buccaneer was amongst the open
powder with lighted lamp in his tight
clenched fist, his face was blackened,
and stream of blood gushed down his
check from sabre cut in the forehead,
while with knit brows and resolution
stamped in his countenancc, he stood
regarding those who began to crowd
the light room.
"Stand back" shouted he, elf you
regard your own safety stand back,
for, by my soul, he who first advances
seals the doom of all on board"
There was something so terribly re.
solute in the tone and gestures of the
pirate, that those around receded a
pace, but still continued to gaze, with
blanched checks and trembling lips,
upon the daring form of the Bucca.
ncer.
'In the name Of heaven, what do
you intendf' asked our commander,
breaking the painful silence,--and
scarcely believing the scene arsayed
SO palpably before him.
"LiSten. Years have | cruised in
these seas, but never have assaulted a
vessel but those that wore that Getest
able ensign of tyranny that now floats
over your gait; fortune has hitherto
favored me, and have been a scourge
to your hated kingdoms; to-day fate de-
creed it otherwise; but though defeated,
still have the means Of purchasing
my freedom, and now, Briton, it re-
mains for you either to grant my re-
lease or to suffer the death that your
refusal must inevitably bring"
'Our orders were especially TO cap
ture you," returned the commander,
evasively, "and you are our prisoner. !"
"Am II" said the Buccaneer, glanc-
ing with a signifcancy that could not
be mistaken, upon the deadly material
that lay opened before him.
"Will your own safety prove no bar
rier to the execution Of your hellish
schemc?'
81 would ask you, sir Briton," re-
sumed the Buccaneer, "whether it is
more preferable to be hanged amidst
the SCOTS and gibes of Implying vic
tors, or TO end ones existence by his
own hand, and purchase with his death
the destruction of his victorious enc
mics? Believe me, sir, there is great
discrepancy between self destruction
here. and perishing ANONYMOUSLY at
the extremity of the yard arm"
"Your life may yet be saved" said
the commander.
"Were the probability ever so fiat
tering, would not submit it to the or
deal-but it is useless to parlcy; will
you suffer me and my vessel, with all
my brave crew that has survived this
bloody conflict, to proceed on our
course?"
"On conditions that
"No conditions will | accept" inter.
rupted the Buccaneer; Kit is who have
the power TO name and exact condi-
tons, not you, sir Briton; you rest in
my power--the lives of all on board
are at my will--what is to prevent me
from firing the magazine, and reveng-
ing myself by destroying my captorsl
I've seen the day when my own life
would prove no greater obstacle to the
accomplishment Of my revenge, did
such an opportunity as this offer, than
the smallest particle of sand against
the clashing of the rr 2;;;,,i, wave. Bm
do you accoede to my purpose?"
esThera is no altarnativa - sa;d tho