Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-20

was about to jump ihto her, to pay my
'respectssin person to the Williams, when
Mr.. Larkin asked leave 10 GO.
" IF they want the captain" said he,
let them send for him. I'll zee if the
mate won't answer as WE'LL"
He had scarcely put his foot on the
deck Of the pirate, when he again APP
peared on the rail, and descended 10
the boat, which began 10 pull back
Almost at the same instant a launch
was swung over the rail, into which
twenty savsge-looking r~ascals, armed to
the teeth, sprang and pulled towards US.
Ten minutes afterwards they were on
board my 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 1 stood, and address
ed me in tolerable English.
"Are you the captain of this vessel %
Yes" I replied.
What's your CARGO"
Flour"
Where from ;"
I" Boston,"
Where to?"
cape de Verbs"
Why, they are all starving there"
he said, opening his eyes and looking
full at me.
Yes /; and the -four in my vessel
was freely given by good Christians to
feed those starving people,"
The rascal continued his deliberate
gaze a moment, then turned towards his
men, and, in a rough, commanding tone,
spoke a few words in Spanish, which |
could not make out. The men looked
up in establishment, and then withdrew
to the side, where they stood gazing eau
tiously towards their captain, for such
was my interrogater. He thrust his
hands behind him, and walked quickly to
and fro for five minutes then, turning
to me, he said sharply
You Americans are all heretics-
why should you send flour to feed star
wing Catholics?"
Because they are our fellow men
and their Saviour is our Saviour"
answered, astonished at the conduct Of
the man.
" If you lie to me-" he cried, with
startling ierceness, "if you lie to me,
I'll nail you down to your own deck J.
Is this cargo the gift Of your countrymen
to the starving?"
"Pll prove il to you by my papers,
| answered.
" | don't want TO see your papers,
he returned "swear by the SAVIOUR
whose name you have Just pronounced.
As he spoke he crossed himself de
voutly.
swear by the Holy Trinity" l re
piled, solemnly.
The pirate lifted his cap, and bent hi
head deyoutly, when / mentioned tn
Trinity. He stood still, with head ben
over, while n might moderately hav
counted fifty. When he raised himsel
up it seemed to me there was less ferc
city in his countenance. His eyes wer
no longer h~alf-closed, but open and clear
er in their depths. l looked steadily
: him.
| Captain" said he, c~ourteously, "ca
you supply me with two OF three cask
Of water"
J gave the order, aud the water wa
, lowed into the boat. A word from hir
sent his cut-throats over the side, but h
4 fingered behind, and after a moment
hesitation, as though he h~alf-repented {
$ his resolution, and was almost ashame
OF what he was doing, be ~approache
Y me with his hand extended.
: God bless you." he exclaimed, as h
; felt my grasp, and send you where th
starving are praying for bread"
|, The next moment he was gone. II
very probable that the piratical rasci
G was afterwards hung, as no doubt he DE-
S served to be. But however terrible hi
fate, | am sure that from his heart, sea
! ed and callous by crime, and ~selfdesecr;
ted, there burst forth a little warm Gin
o mer Of light which mitigated somewhi
the desolation, and relieved, though
could not entirely dispel, the gloom
his dying hour.