Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-09-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Pirate.
A SKETCH BY THE CAPTAIN.

VI Altl'ls hhhN " EthflNh ~ ~
of a New England city, she was bound 10
the Cape de Verbs, with bread for the famine
sticken and dying. Brighter skies never
gladdened the sailors heart, than those which
were bent over US; pleasanier gales never
filled the sails Of the sea-journeyer, than
those which sped us to tho haven where we
should be; "and now may God have the
ship in his holy Keeping" the prayer which
concluded the old English bill Of landing,
was heard, and granted, we felt, who trod on
the deck Of the stout craft, whose Grand it
was to succor the destitute.
We were all in high spirits. forward in
the forecasile, and aft in the cabin. Sailors,
who are often so hungry, liable at any mo-
ment to be put On short allowance, and com.
PEELED at times to fis, entirely, know better
than the landsmen how TO pity those whom
fortune threatens. Jack has ready sympa-
thy for the man who has no biscuit in his
locker.
1t was now the fourteenth day oui-iust in
the first gray Of the morning. that the mate
aroused me with tho startling intelligence
that a suspicious vessel was in sight. With
the first ray Of light, the vigilant officer had
deserted her, and she was so near as TO be
made out with a glass. ! was on deck in an
instant.
The first glance at the stranger almost dis
PEELED the fear that the mates alarm had &C.
cisioned.
"Why, Mr.. Larkir," | said, laughingly
as / spoke, there's nothing suspicious in
that lubl ely looking craft. She is a Portu-
guese brigantine-she can't sail"
"She looks like that build said the
mate, answering, "but she is built for sail
ing, and she'll spread canvass in a wind like
this, that1l send her skimming like a gull
ovar ,bo Ard l,,Iy p,u ~ tho NOR an /
her deck"
One glance at the telescope was sufficient
TO salty me The mate was right. The vessel
was sharp built, light draueht, and rugged
like a bIigantine. Her masts raked very
slightly besides the canvass usual to such
a rig, she was fitted 10 carry a luggersail,
which, when spread before The wind. would
add to her speed. In addition 10 this, she
was pierced for twenty-five sweeps. Her
decks were crowded with men.
"lts no honest craft, Mr.. Larkin," | said;
=" but she may not be a pirate for all that
One need not be surprised 10 fall in with a
SLAYER herPabouts."
"She's no SLAYER, Captain"
"Why do you think so :"
a" Because there are guns on her deck, in
stead Of water-casks."
81 - not say she had a cargo Ct slaves
in" I replied.
Then why does she carry so many guns
on deck If without a cargo, her guns
should be below; if with one there should
be no more guns on deck. If that amt a
pirate, | never swan in the Kennebec river,
and salmon amt good eating"
AS if 10 put an end 10 our speculations and
clear up the mystery, the suspicious vessel
began to spread more canvass, and as she
gathered away with the freshening breeze,
they ran up to her foremost a flag, which,
when it reached the truck, unshook its folds
in the wind. On a white field we saw the
terrible insignia of the reebooter-the deaths
head and crossbones-pain;ed in diabolical
black.
81 thought so," said Mr.. Larkin, quietly,
" and the ship has no guns"
What arms have you, Mr.. Larkin, |
asked.
San old horse-pistol and the lock out of
order"
Sand | have only an old ~fowling-piece,
and a pair of pistols. | fear these fellows
will make their own Terms with u.s."
"Yes, cut our threats and administer on
our effects afterward,' replied the mate,
walking forward.
We made all the sail we could, but fifteen
minutes satisfied me that escape was impos-
sible. The report Of a gun from the pirate,
and a ball whistling over us, speedily brought
US to. The pirate came quietly along, like a
panther, which, sure of its prey, was in no
great hurry 10 seize it. The moment he
came within speaking distance, he hailed
and ordered mo to launch a boat and come
on board. We got out the quarter-boat, and
! was about to jump into her, to pay my re-
spects in person TO the Williams, when Mr..
Larkln asked leave TO go.
"if they want the captain" said he, " let
them send for him. I'll see if the mate
won't answer as WELL"
He had scarcely put his foot on the deck
of the pirate, when he again appeared on the
rail, and descended to the boat, which began
to pull back. Almost at the same instant a
launch was swung over the rail into which
twenty savage-looking T~ascals, armed to the
teeth, sprang, and pulled toward us. Ten
minutes afterward they were on board of nv
vessel, and began clearing away the main
hatch.
The leader, a swarthy fellow, whose
square, compact frame indicated strength,
and whose eyes, black and hazy, and half
concealed by the lids, expressed cruelty and
cunning, approached the cabin hatch, where
] stood, and addressed me in very fair Eng
lish.
An You captain Of this vessel
"Yes," | replied.
Whats your cargo1"
"Flour."
"Where from I"
) "Boston."
Where to
"Cape de Verde"
, "Why, they're all starving there" he
said, opening his eyes, and looking full al
me.
Ives, and the flour in my vessel was free.
, ly given by good Christians to feed those
starving people"
The rascal continued his deliberate gaze a
. moment, then turned toward his men. who
by this time had broken into the main hatch.
and in a rough. commanding tone, smoke a
few words in Spanish, which | could moi
make out. The men looked Nd in astonisb.