The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-02-07


who was much the heavier man, fell back
wards overheard, dragging his antagonist
With him. They boih sunk but soon rose
gain abou, four rods from the ship, cling
ing closely together. Then commenced a
comba, the most singular and appalling |
had ever witnessed. No one on board
seemed 10 think Of 6evsug means to assist
our companion. No one dared 20 fire upon
he pirate; for so closely were they coled
together, so rapid were their evoulioDs and
40 dim he llgh, shed by the moon, ,ha! il
was impossible 10 hi, one wilhout endanger-
ng the life Of the other. A, the commences
nent Of the struggle, their efforts seemed TO
timed solely at drowning each other. They
Hhirled over on the top Of the water, dash
ing it about like wounded sharks. s.-Bo,h
hen sunk and for while lost 10 our sight
Presently they rose again, and exchanged
hlck and heavy blows, and closing with.
redoubed fury sunk again. gecting the
use of :heir weapons, which would have
pu. speedily end to the fray, they fought
more like savage beasts Of prey, bent on
,hrouling each other, than like human be-
ings.
Shall we stand and see our man murder
ed! a. length exclaimed voice from among
The crew. I,opetaed like magic to break
he spell that had fallen upon us all.
Clear away the boat there! shouted the
captain, and six men sprang 10 execute the
order. Jus, then, after an effort OF unusual
lierceness both of the combatants sunk.
| they remained out of sight SO long, that
he men who were letting down The boa,
suspended their operation, and we oil stood
preathess with uncertainty and anxiety a
waiting their re-appearance. A. length a.
oout thirty yards of the water parted, but
only one man was seen 10 rise.
is it you, Raph!' cried the captain, in a
suppressed voice.
Here is some Of him, at least. on my
HniCe-blaGe,' responded The freebooter with
lie accent and laugh of iend and spring.
ng nearly to his whole height out Of the
water he threw the weapon with grea, force
owards US. Another hollow laugh rung
,ver the waters. and, on looking round,
vide circles Of ripples were seen moving in
he moonlight sea, as if some heavy body
lad just sunk into it.
Vengeance was the ,ardy though, that
now rushed on every heart. Some in blind
ID fury of the moment actually discharged
their pieces into the csn,re of those waving
addes, without staying 10 retec. upon this
inter useessness Others with their guns
IN readiness and stood glarng upon the sea
like panthers robbed of their prey, stood
prepared to fire the momer, he should show
his head above w,,er. But he rose no
more. The winged messengers of death
tina, had been aimed at his life sped harm
essIv over his head; and had it been posi-,
ole 10 penetrate the secrets Of The great
deep, he ght have been seen raposing
peacefully on its sandy bottom by The side
Of his late antagonist A sulen silence
pervaded The ship. The men looked
gloomy at each other, and with lowering
brows on their helpless prisoners, as if a
sufficient atonemenl had not been for the
life of their comrade.
TO one skilfu IN the language Of the hu-
man counlenance, it was evident that moth.
ing but the restraint Of discipline held them
back for summary acI Of vengeance and
Of crime that would have sunk them to IA
level with the pirates themselves. Judging
Of The feelings Of his crew from ,hsir looks
or more probably from hs own, and anx-
lous 10 remove the lemplation 10 evil ,he
captain ordered our eight prisoners under
he hatches and they were accordingly
lumbled in with very little ceremony
How many OF this band of genuine despera
does had heen lost. we had no means Of as
pertaining for our prisoners did not or would
not understand English or French. But
when they fred upor us, twelve or sixteen
men were visible, and The yell ,ha, follow
!. ed our discharge was such as is never ex.
torled from mortal man, buI by The paDgs
ll Of The last sgony. Six or eight, then, o