Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-22
"That settles, it,, said Capt. spinnet "Now,


waters before an | know somethin' about those
chaps If that d been an honest craft they wouldn't
"a logged us in such fashion. for it's the same one
| saw last night Now, if he'd been any parti-
cular course he wouldn't a. been there for you see
he can sail twice fast can, an he ought to
a been out of sight long afore this.
"Then what are we to do, dad t' asked Seth, as
he brought the schooner once more upon her true
cousre
:: We must wait an see what he's goin, to do,
first" coolly replied the old man, at the time
raising the long glass to his eye.
There, just look at her, continued the captain,
as he handed the glass to Andrew.
"Full of men, by thunder" exclaimed the latter,
as his eve caught the heads of twenty thirty
ill-loolng chaps who were crowded around the pur-
suers bows.
Whatever may have been the doubts that existed
in the minds of our Yankees, they were all put to
rest in a short time by the very agreeable whZzing
of an eighteen pound shot just under their stern.
That means for us to heave to- remarked the
old man.
"Then guess we'd better do it, hadn't we ?" said
| Seth.
"Of course"
Accordingly the Betsy Jenkins brought up
into the wind, and her main-boom hauled over to
windward.
Now, boys" said the old man, as soon as the
schooner came to stand all we can do is to be as
cool as possible, and trust to fortune. There is
way to escape that can now, but perhaps if we
are civil they will take such stuff as they want and
then let go. At any rate there is use in cry
ing about it, for it can't be helped. Now, get your
pistols and that they surely loaded, and have
| your knives ready but be sure and hide them so
that the pirates shall see no show of resistance
| In few moments all the which the schooner
afforded, with the exception of one or two old mus
kets, secured about the persons of our Down
casters. and they quietly awaited the coming of the
| schooner.
One word more, boys" said the old man. lust as
the pirate came round under the stern. CHOW watch
every movement make, and be ready to Jump the
moment speakn
AS Capt. Spinnet ceased speaking the pirate luffed
up under the fshermans lee-quarter, and in
nent more the latters deck graced by the pres
ence of dozen savage looking mortals as eyes
ever rested upon.
Are you the captain of this vessel o. asked the
leader of the boarders he approached the old
Yes, sir.''
What is your cargo 2"
Machinery for steam ingins.'
Nothing else ?" asked the pirate with a search
ing look
At this moment Capt Spinrets eve caught what
looked like sail off to the southrd and east'rd but
not sign betrayed the discovery. and while bril-
liant idea shot through his mind he hesitatingly re-
piled
| Well there is a leetle something else.'
Ha, and what IS it e.
"Why sir, p'raps hadn't ought to tell" said Spin
net, counterfeiting the most extreme perturbation.
''1ou see twas given to sort of trust, an
twouldn't be right for me to 81 i've it up. You
help MYSELF
''You are an honest codger, at any rate said the
pirate but if you would live ten minutes longer
just tell me what you've got on board and exactly
where it lays
The sight ola cooked pistol brought the old to
his senses and in deprecating tone lie muttered:
Don't kill me, sir, don't. I'll tel! you all. We've
got forty thousand silver dollars nailed up in boxes,
and slowed away under of the boxes just for
ard O the cabin bukhead, but MIR. Defoe didn't
pect that anybody would have thought of looking
for it there"
:sPerhaps So" chuckled the pirate while his eyes
sparked with delight. And then turning to his
vessel, he ordered all but threo of his tOjump
on board the Yankee
In a few moments the pirates had taken off the
hatches and in their haste to get at the silver dol
lars they forgot all else but not with Spinnet
he had his wits at work. and had the last
of the villains disappeared below the hachway than
he turned to his boys
Now boys, for your lives Seth, you clap your
kaife across the forethroat and peak halyards, an
you John, cut the main Be quick, now, an the
| moment you've done it, jump aboard the pirate
Andrew and Sam, you case off the pirates grapngs
an then you iump-then we'll walk into them three
chaps aboard that clipper. Now for it"
No sooner the words out of the old mans
mouth than his did exactly as they had been
directed The fore and main halyards cut
and the two graplings cast off at the instant
and the heavy gaffs came rafting down, our five
heroes leaped on board the pirate. The moment the
fore the astonished buccaneers could gain the deck
of the fisherman, their vessel was half cable
length to leeward sweeping gracefully away before
the wind while the three men who had been left IN
charge easily secured.
Halloa, there y shouted Capt. Spnnet, as the
uckless pirates crowded around the lee gangway of
their prize, when you find them ere silver dollars
Just let us know, viii you?'
Half dozen pistol shots all the answer the
old man got; but they did him HARM and crowd
ing on all SAIL he made for the vessel he had dis
which he now made out to be large ship. The
clipper cut through the water like dolphin, and
in a remarkably short space of time Spinnet lufed
up under the ships STERN and explained all that had
s happened The ship proved be an East Indaman,
bound for Charleston, having, all told, thirty men
. on board twenty of whom at onced jumped into the
clipper and offered their services in helping to take
! the pirates
It Before dark Capt Spinnet was once within
trumpet to his mouth, he shouted:
V ' Schooner ahoy Will you quietly surrender
d yourselves prisoners if we come aboardE'
@ "Come and try =" returned the pirate captain
he brandished his cutass above his head in very
% threatening manner, which seemed to indicate thai
r he would fight to the last
X But that was his last moment for Seth crouch
ed below the bulwarks. taking deliberate aim along
the barrel of heavy rife, and the bloody Yillair
in the act of turning to his the sharp cracl
t of Seth Spnnets weapon rang its fatal death peal
and the next moment the pirate captainfel back in
to the arms of his men, with a brace OF bullet
k through his heart.
* Now shouted the old man, as he levelled thu
n long pivot gun, and seized lighted match, 4" IL
1e give you just five minutes to make up your minds in
ID and you don't surrender I'll blow every Of yo