The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-08-21
VOL. Vino. s.

lieutenant bit his lips with vcxation,
and looked very shcepish-and so
did the whole of us that had been on
shore but it was all Of no use-we
had been regularly humbugged, and
there was an end of the matter. The
wind was right aft, and we soon
weighed anchor, and went to look
after the pirate; but devil bit of
him was to be seen, far or near.
The captain said lie was either
the devil or the Flying Dutchman,
or some enchanted swab that could
make himself invisible when he Tx
ed. We sailed and we tackled, and
we lay to, and we sailed airy, and
then we edged close under the land;
but it was all to no purpose, we
could not get glimpse at the pi-
rate. So the captain and lieutenant
held a consultation, and they first
thought of one scheme, and they
thought of another, but all to no pur-
pose. At length the look out from
the mast head called out, Strange
sail on the starboard!' and we look
ed in that direction and we saw a
trim little pinnace rugged sort Of
craft, coming along in good style.
But she was no pirate, for she didn't
attempt to avoid us.
Our captain hailed them, and they
came right under our bows, as we
lay too to wait for them. They were
loaded with silk and various mcr-
chandise of that sort, which they Of
fered for sale. A sudden thought
struck our captain. All Of our ports
were closed at the time, and he in
vited the master of the pinnace on
board. We quickly covered all our
guns with sailcloths, and whatever
came to hand. The mariners went
down below and kept out of sight,
and all pixies and firearms were put
out of sight so that we had not the
least appearance of being ship Of
war. The merchant came on board
with two attendants, and our cap
tain, who had pulled off his uniform,
and had put on pea-jacket, and
fur cap, told him he was a trader,
and was on his passage to Europa
with a cargo Of silks and rare goods,
and, therefore, if they had any 70
dispose of, he would deal with them.
Well, they talked bit of French
lingo and bit of Spanish, some OF
which our captain seemed to under
stand. He Bought some Of their
goods, and they received the money
and got into their vessel and sailed
away. And both of our lieutenants
seemed to be puzzled TO guess what
could be the reason why our cap
tam wished to pass himself off as q
merchant, instead of the captain of
a man of war. But he was sly old
commodore, and he thought he would
still he able to out-manGuvre the
cunning pirate; and so says he to
the officers
"Now, you sec, those fellows in
the boat are no better than the rest
of the pirate crew, for they arr all
robbers along the coast. Now, these
fellows will soon spread the news
that we are a rich merchant vessel,
having no means Of defence. II this
reaches the ears of any Of the pi-
rates, we shall be sure to have some
IF them down upon us, and then
and then rejoined the lieu
enant, well grapple the scoun-
lrels.'
As the wind was light and nicely
IF the land, and we kept close 10
shore, and as all seemed clear beth
fore and aft, we of the lorJoali
watch took our turn down below,
We got into conversation about this
same pirate that we had such ion{
chase after. Some would persist
hat it must be the Flying Nutc!imaa
Or some Of his fraternity Pat Ae-
gan swore it was ghost Of a ship,
and was quite supernaturol and
hey all laughed at Pat, and said 10
was afraid Of the pirate. And then
Pat bounced up and exclaimed
Blood and POUNDS! who says I'm
,fraid? Devil a one | fear in the
,road daylight, but ghost In tie
lark is quite another thing. pidn's
Door Paddy Hogan's ghost como 10
ny hammock two nights after 10
lied, and ask me to return that shirt
borrowed of him ? Poor fellow he
lad drop too much, and went off
10 sudden that he died before lie bud
inc to ask me for it,
'Whot, did he die through hard
thinking? inquired Joe Gibbons.
NO honey replied Pat, she broho
lis neck one morning.
sHow was that? asked Joe Gil
,ons.'
Sure, he went out early one morn
ng to say his prayers replied Pat
and, willie he was praying BY TIE
de of the priest, he fell through a
and, by some blundcr,
ONE spalpeen had thrown rope
round his neck that happened 60 hu