Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-08


ruffians, seeing the determined opposition
made to their leader, made diversion in his
favor, and the fight on my side of the COM
panion way grew as fierce as that maintain
cd BY the two leaders. Standing at the
opening between the water casks, and sus-
tanned on either side by two Of the crew, we
beat down successfully every man who at
tempted to pass our defences. In this des-
Perate struggle we we're all speedily wound
ed, but still continued cheering my men,
for the thought Of our innocent companions
nerved me to the utmost. Again and again
our defences were nearly surmounted again
and again, with gigantic efforts, we hurled
back the assailan,s. Three several times
was l wounded, one Of my little party was
shot dead, and all of US were streaming with
blood, yet still we maintained the unequal
combat. For the rest of the fight all was
confusion. Shouts and oa,hs, The rattle of
blades, the crack Of pistols, the dull, heavy
sound of men falling to The deck; the groans
Of the wounded and the despairing shrieks of
the dying met the ear, mingled in a wild up
roar, like the noises in fevered dream.
During this melee was conscious only that
the gray-haired father of Ellen, taking the
place Of a seaman who had fallen, was fight
ing at my side, his slvery locks dabbed with
blood from cut in his head and the spec
tacle reused all the energy within me. But
| felt that our residence could not much lon.
ger be protrac,ed. We had suffered quite
as severely as the pirates-for every man
they lost there were three to take his place
while il had required, even at first, the whole
Of our little force to defend our barricade,
and our thinned numbers could now scarcely
maintain their footing, and with the loss Of
one or two more would be totally inadequate
to it. We had just, tor the fourth time, bea-
ten back our assailants, and a nomentary
breathing space ensued, the first since the
pause I have narrated at the opening of the
combat. A fifth attempt, feared, would be
successful. As thought thus, cast my
eyes hastily around to the sisters, who sat, or
rather covered, under the shelter of the COM
panon way. Tie eyes ofthe youngest were
fixed mutely, IN fearful agony, on her bleed
ing sire, but the elder had her gaze fixed to
windward, as il earnestly contemplating some
object. With sudden hope, followed the
direction other look.
have said that the wind had died away
before the pirates boarded us, and, since
then, every faculty had been SO absorbed in
the terrible conflict for existance, that had
not been aware Of the gradual revival of the
breeze. Now, however, when the din OF
battle momentarily ceased, my eaas were
greeted with the signing of the wind among
the rigging, and the pleasant murmur of the
water as it was parted under our bows, and
| UIidpd aInpo fI,., csJac-c,r,Io
rounds after the maddening uproar of the
mortal strife. l became conscious also, the
instant my eyes turned to windward, that the
fog, winch l have described as settling around
US, was slowly dissipatIng, and although it
still lay thick and palpable along the surface
OF the water, higher up it tllnned of, and
finally disappeared altogether. The object
which had attracted the elder sisters atten.
ton, was the tall mast Of a ship, rising ma
jeslically above the fog, not cables length
distant, and, though the hull was invisible, |
saw, with what delight my readers can ina.
CINE. that the Union.Jac of nv beloved
country was floating from the mast head.
Huzza J" | cried, exhiarated beyond
control. " huzza The days our own. Sue.
cor is at hand. Here comes our gallant fac. f"
Had thunderbot fallen at their feet md
torn up the deck beneath them-lad whrl.
pool opened under the brig and engnlfed
them, the pirates could not have shown more
CONSERVATION than at these words. Every
man looked round in search of the new com .
or, and, when the stranger was discovered
to windward, no pen can describe the ex-
preston OF amazement and alright which
gathered on the faces ofthe negroes. If the
approaching sail had been basllsk il could
not have riveted their gaze more completely.
They stood staring at the tall masts, that rose
maJesiicalIy above the fog, their eyes disten-
ding with an establishment that seemed to
have paralysed them. At last, as the shin
bore down on us. the mists rolled slowly
aside from her; first her bowsprit showed il.
self slowly out ofthe fog, then the white va
por curled along her side, and her forechains
became visible, as she approached on the
starboard tack and, finally, like a magic
picture emerging from the smoke of an en-.
chanter's tripod, the whole symmetrical hull
rose to sight, disclosing row ofleeth, frown-
ing from their open and lighted ports. At
this sight, the negroes no longer wavercd.
A cry OF alright br oke simultaneously from
them, and. regardless of their leader, who
strove to inspirit them, they turned to fight,
hurrving to their boat, into which they tum.
bled, pel nell, and pushed of, leaving be.
hing, in their CONSERVATION, third of their
number, who were yet on our decks. Avail
ing ourselves of this happy juncture, we sal.
lied from our defence, and, cutting down
those who resisted, chased the rest over
board.
The sloop of war was now close on 10 US
and, in few hurried words, we acquainted
her commander with our situation, and the
character of the lugitives, whose boat was
rapidly pulling into tho fog. Not a second
was lost in tho pursuit. The sloop glided
ma]estically by, and. just as she passed across
our forefoot, stream Of fire gusled from
one of her guns. Instantaneously l saw the
spliners flying from tho boat. which sunk al
most Immediately, leaving her crew sirug-
Cling and shrieking in the water. We could
see, even at our distance, the wounded
fighting for a plank, or squattering moment
on the water, like wounded ducks, ere they
sank forever. In few minutes all was still