The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-05-19

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Beneath an awning on the quarter deck,
reclined fierce man, under the common
height, but of powerful frame. Full white
trowsers, girded smooth and close around
the waist with crimson belt, scarcely hid
the outline of a leg too large to be called
handsome. A pair Of Morocco slippers
completed his dress, leaving bare broad
shaggy chest, and muscular arms of Hercu-
lean size. Two large pistols and long,
glittetlng knife, which weapons he never
laid aside, were stuck into his belt. His
face, almost covered by whiskers and mus
taches of enormous growth, was terrible as
the storm of the desert. An eye that would
scare murderer's ghost back to his sheet
less gibbet glared intensely under bushy
mass of hair that overhung his brows:
Such was Bernardo, the pirate chief. He
commenced his villainy in early youth, by
numbering an aged and only relative in ia
maica, his native land; he fled, and became
freebooter. Growing more daring and
desperate as blood thickened on his hands,
he now acknowledged no superior in crime
but his great master, the devil, and was Of
ten heard in his drunken revelry, to vow a
hard fight for empire with that potent ate on
the sulphurous Styx!
Feared and hated by his gang, the ten
ure of his authority was the sabre's point;
yet lie maintained his sway by that consul
mate boldness and cunning, which men of
his rank and calling never want. The glance
of the chief darted restlessly from time to
time among his tameless CREW, and then,
like the panther in ambush, travelled keen
ly around the horizon.
High amid the angry oaths of knot Of
gamblers at the forecastle, arose the: :gruf
voice of Antonio, gigantic mulatto, of a
most villainous aspect. Inferior to none
but Bernatdo in piratical accomplishments,
he was acknowledged second in power, and
no one dared to dispute his claith. Oppo-
site him sat Withholding, long-haired
youth; Of slender but active form. His fea-
lures were once singularly handsome, but q
cOmpanionship of vice, and his own unta-
med passions, had lent him the reckless
bearing Of the outlaw. His losses were
rapid and heavy: with an impatient curse
he threw down his last stake; the cards
were played; the mulatto won, and swept
the gold into his pocket with fend's
laugh.
Antonio, you are base cheat" mutter-
ed the youth, grinding his teeth with pas
sion.
81 a cheat!" returned Antonio, rising
wrathfully. "Look you, Arnold Kell, when
man calls me so,--a man, mind you,--
this is my answer" touching the handle Of
his knife; "but when cross boy, l correct
him, as would his mother, thus" and with
his open hand sent the youth reeling back
wards.
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rage, the young man flashed his knife in
the sun and bounded at his huge antagonist.
In an instant his uplilted arm was stilled,
and his naked throat clutched in the vice.
like grasp of Antonio. 'Die like puppy
as you are, unworthy of bullet or STEEL"
growled the ruthless negro, and he laughed
hideously at the starting eyes and hanging
tongue of the gasping Arnold. The crew
rushed towards them, and Antonio, bent on
the death of his victim, slept back. The
strangllng boy in his last throe, triPped his
foe dexteriously as he retreated. Antonio
loosed his hold and caught vainly at the
shrouds; wildly, triumphantly did Arnold
send home his knife in rapid succession,
and ere the mulatto fell, his hearts blood
was smoking on the deck. The maniac
yell of the victor was followed by the
curse, the death-rattle of the fallen!
"Hell and furies!" thundered Bernardo,
throwing aside the crowd, "who dares my
authority on this deck! who has done this
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