The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-11-18

voked him to anger. Such was Silly Sam
the terrible Jack Ketch of Morgan's ro-
yer, by report, but in reality one of the
most innocent and inotiensive creatures
that ever breathed the vital air.
But TO return from this DEPRESSION. As
soon as Morgan had so stationed his men
as TO take complete possession of the ship,
and satisfied himself that there was neither
the means nor the purpose Of resistance,
he turned TO captain Fowler, and touching
his hat with cool courtesy that contrast
ed strangely enough with his proceedings,
begged permission to examine his mani
fest. 1t was produced, and running his
eye over it, he marked with pencil such
articles of the cargo as he thought proper
to appropriate. The crew of the ship and
some half dozen of the pirates, among
whom was Silly Sam, were set at work
getting upthe selected cases from the hold,
and into the boa, from the schooner and
in the mean time Morgan invited himself
into the cabin, where drew upon the cap
tain's hospitality for glass of wine and
some other slight refreshments. His
manner was polite but distant, very much
like what one might suppose that of post
captain in the navy would be, while max
ing a visit Of inspection 10 merchantmen
suspected of having on board goods con-
traband of war. 1t was well fitted, how
ever, TO dissipate the alarm and anxiety
of captain Fowler, who became every
moment more confident that the pirate
would be satisfied with the plumber he
lad designated, and that when all this had
been removed into the boat, his unwel-
come visitor would take his departure
without any display of cruelty, satisfied
that he had got all on board the ship worth
taking. He even began to accuse HIM
self of injustice for believing the stories
he had heard of Morgan's cold blooded
ierocity; and to look upon him as quite a
generous and gentlcmanly personagc--ior
a pirate-allhough he could not repress a
feeling of uneaslness, a vague emotion of
terror, when his guest began TO iondle the
boy the blooming Edward--and, taking
him upon his knee, twined his fingers a.
mong the curling ringlets of that dear head
which the anxious father had so often pill
lowed upon his own bosom, and which his
departed Mary had hallowed with bles-
sing in the last moments of her existence.
Still not word was uttered, not an in
timation Of any kind was given, that
seemed to Justify apprehension; and word
was passed below that the transfer of the
chosen articles was completed, and Nor
gan returned TO the deck, leading Edward
by the hand, the captain followed with Il
heart greatly lightened, and i'll almost UNI
doubling confidence that in few minutes
he should be left at liberty to pursue his
course.
The boat was still lying alongside, full
laden with the plumber of the Resolution /;
and Morgan directed all but six Of his
men 10 row back in her 10 the schooner,
which, having taken in her sail, had fallen
a mile or two astern, the ship slowly drift
ing TO the leeward. Those who remain
ed were heavily armed, except Silly Sam,
and Morgan himself took from one OF
those ordered to the boat, a cu,lass and a
pair OF pistols, remarking that they would
be IN the mans way while rowing, and
ordered the boat TO be brought back I'M
mediately to receive him and the others
Captain Fowler was disappointed. He
had expected that the pirates would leave
his ship at once, but he easily satisfied
himself by rejecting that the boat had re-
ally as much on board as she could carry
and that if Morgan's intentions were dan
gerous, he would not have left himsei
with SO small number Of followers. III
did not know the man with whom he ha,
10 deal.
AS soon as the boat had put of, Nor
gan ordered the ships crew to station
themselves on the forecasie, and djrecte
four of his own men, pistol in each hand
to stand guard over them. Then turnin
to Fowler, in whom this arrangement ha
excited a renewal Of his fears, he said, i
cool, business like way, yet with somJ
thing like sheer upon his countanancc
"Now, captain Fowler, il you please, J.
trouble you for those fifty thousand do
lars in gold, that were pu, on beard yol
ship by Steinmark g. Co." Had a tEai
derholt fallen upon his head, Fowler coa
not have been more asloundad. The d
mand was iearlll---the knowledge il c;
hlbltcd, still more so. He could not den