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

lasw al him with the fierceness OF a lge
they closed and after balancing momeI
between the deck and the water, the pirat
who was much lhe heavier man, fell back
wards overheard, dragging his antagon
with him. They boh sunk, but soon rOS
gain about four rods from the ship, cling
ing closely together. Then commenced
combat the most singular and appalling
had ever witnessed. No one on boar
seemed 10 think of devising means to asst,
our companion. No one dared 20 fle upo
the pirate; for so closely were they cole
together so rapid were their evolutions, an
80 dim the light shed by the moon, that
was impossible 10 hit one wiIhOut endanger
ng the life Of the other AT the commence
nent Of the struggle, their efforts seemed II
imed solely at drowning each other. They
whired over on the top Of The water, dash
ing 1t about like wounded sharks. Boil
hen sunk and for while lost 10 our sight
Presently they rose again, and exchanged
hlck and heavy blows, and closing with
red0ubled fury sunk again. Neg gIecting The
use Of ,heir weapons, which would have
put a speedily end to the fray, they Tough
more like savage beasts Of prey, bent on
throuIing each other, than like human be-
lngs
Shall we stand and see our man murder
sd!' al length exclaimed voice from among
he crew. Ii operated like magic to break
he spell that had fallen upon us all.
Clear away the boat lhere' shouted the
captain, aud six men sprang to execute the
brder Just then, after an effort Of unusual
herceness both of the combaIants sunk
rhey remained out Of sight SO long, that
he men who were letting down the boa,
suspended their operation, and we all stood
)rcalhless with UncerIaiaty and anxiety A.
waiting their re-appearance. AT length a.
'out thirty yards off the water parted, but
lnIy one man was seen to rise.
is it you, RaIphH cried the captain, in a
voice.
Here is some of him, al least, on my
responded Ihe freebooter with
lie accent and laugh of tiend and sprirg,
ng nearly TO his whole height ont Of the
water he threw the weapon with great force
Owards us. Another hollow laugh rung
,ver the waters, and, on looking round,
vide circles of rippIeS were seen moving in
he moonlight sea, as if some heavy body
,ad just sunk into it.
Vengeance was The iardy thought that
,ow rushed on every heart. Some in blind
d fury OF the moment. actually discharged
heir pieces into the csntre Of those waving
'd1es, without staying to reflect upon this
liter useIessness Others with their guns
n readiness and stood glarng upon The sea
ike paulhers robbed of their prey, stood
prepared to fire the momerI he should show
ls head above wl,er. But hs rose no
more. The winged messengers Of death
hat had been aimed at his life sped harm
essIv over his head; and bad it been posi-.
ole 10 penetrate the secrets Of lhe gIeal
deep, he night have been seen roposing
peacefully on its sandy bottom by the side
of his late antagonist. A suIen silence
pervaded the ship. The men looked
gloomy at each other, and with lowering
brows on their helpless prisoners, as if a
sufficient alonement had not been for the
ufc of lhejr comrade.
To one skilul IN the language Of the hu-
man cOunlenanCe, II was evident that moth.
ln2 but the restraint OF discipline held them
back (or a summary ACT Of vengeance and
Of crime that would have sunk them to a
level with the pirates themselves. Judging
Of the feelings Of his crew from ,hsir looks
or more probably from his own, and anX.
lous TO remove the temptation 10 evil ,he
captain ordered our eight prisoners under
he halches and they were accordingly
tumbled in with very Iuie cetemony.
How many Of this band Of genuine despera
does had heen LOST, we had no means Of as
certainiDg 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 that follow,
ed our discharge was such as is never ex.
lorted from mortal man, but by the paDgs
Of the last agony. Six or eight then,