New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-14

tions, black hair, keen. dark, piercing eye
large, black whiskers; his clothing, when on
shore, Of the most fashionable cut, together with
a profuson Of jewelry, gave him the appearance
OF perfect Broadway dandy; and such were
his conversational powers, that he soon became
g. general fayorite wherever he went on land.
AT sea he was somewhat different. He dressed
plain but neat, was rather taciturf in his man
mer, and exacted rigid obedience to his orders.
He was perfect seaman, and understood well
the various phases Of human nature Such was
apparently the man with whom Harley had for
time east his fortunes, but how true this
description indicated his real character will be
seen hereafter.
In a few days the brig was reported for her
crew, and all went on board to prepare for sea,
excepting Harley, who had become so much in
terested in the beautiful scenery of Cuba, as to
nearly forget that he was supercargo Of the new
brig Halcyon, and when he returned her hold
was nearly slowed, and in q few days she was
under sail for the South seas.
Until the brig was fairly at sea, it could be
hardly said that Harley had entered upon his
duties, for the Captain had not found time to
deliver into his hands tbs books, papers, and
purse belonging to the vessel But towards
night of the day of sailing, when they had we'll
cleared the land, and shaped the briggs course,
HARLEY was sent for by Captain Tralle, when he
received all the books and papers, and the key
of an iron safe which stood in the cabin. Har
ley first proceeded, in presence u che Captain,
to count the money and give his receipt for it.,
when he retired to his state room to look over
the books and papers He first took the books
and examined them closely, made few addi-
tional entries, and then turned to the papers,
and what do yon suppose his astonishment must
be, when very few moments search revealed
4,t I. Al, Iii. {bot 1e
officer Of q pirate brig" For a moment his
heart sank within him. :.
Frank Harley had been raised by pious
parents, and if there was character on earth
that he detested beyond all others, it was pi-
rate. But what could he do Here he was at
the mercy of one hundred and thirty despera-
does, gathered from the .jails and prisons of the
world, provided he indicated dissatisfaction even
by look ya#
Fortunately for Harley, he was alone at the
time; and more fortunate still, he was one of
those calm, cool, collected men, when danger
threatened, and one that would look death out
Of countenance, if it could be done by any hu-'
man being. He soon recovered his composure
and by the time he had finished an examination
Of the briggs papers, nobody, not even the keen
scrutinizing eye of Captain Traiie, could have
told that Frank Harley had at any time lately
received the severest stroke Of i'll fortune in his
life. He walked out into the cabin with an ease
of manner perfectly astonishing to even himself;
but his iron will was at work, and he deter
mined to beat Captain Tralle and his whole
crew at their own game, deception, and trust to
chance for escape This was his only course
and his life depended upon his playing the game
successfully.
The Captain invited him to join them Gap
tain, first mate and surgeon } in glass of wine.
vph 4ooc cfc Irop uo,, ,,1ox,
gave in his turn, sssuccess to those that win y
He was fully aware that Captain Tralle closely
scrutinized every word or look of his, but he
toook not the least apparent notice of it, and the
evening passed off jovially, while all seemed to
be fully satisfied with their situations and COM
panions. T. So-j
When Harley retired that night, what must
have been his thoughts3 Where was the child
of many prayers: Where was he for whom a
gray haired father daily petitioned throne OF
heavenly grace' Where was he for whom an
aged and fond mothers heart yearned continu-
ally, as for the child of her ripper years? Where
was he on whom brothers had looked with prid,
and sisters with the fondest affection Alas
he was an officer of pirate brig, just launch
| ing upon oceans broad expanse, to deal death
desolation and destruction to those who shoul
be so unfortunate as to fall in her way TIL
second day at sea is always busy one, and il
| this there was no exception on board the Hal
| cyon. 1t is day of general regulation. Ever,
! thing that has been hurried on board toward tn
last has now to be put in proper place, the GREY
to be mustered and their places assigned II
| them. and thorough search of the ship is mad
by the officers to see that all is right, and it wa
during this latter operation that Harley dis
covered thnt the brig, instead of four guns ant
| few pieces of small arms, as he was told she
would carry, had snugly slowed away in hel
hold twelve guns and their appurtenances, anC
several chests of small arms, and good maga
zine of powder, in fact all the paraplernalia o
| a man-of-war brig; but he took it all as mat
ter Of course, for the times of surprise with hin
| were past.
Harley, being we'll skilled in the use of fire
| arms and the broad sword, was requested t,
| drill the crew when at sea as often as possible
which he did, but instead of teaching them tn
proper modes of self-defence, he taught them a
far as possible; first having ascertained that n
one on board understood anything of these exer
| cises.
After a passage of seventeen days, the bri.
made the harbor Of a small town on the coast o
Holland, for the purpose of taking in provisions
and water. preparatory to a voyage around thu
Cape of Good Hope, into the track of the home
ward bound 1ndiamen.
| 1t would be tedious to give all the dtails of tn
voyage, therefore we will suppose that the yesse
had, under IL favorable run, reached her cruis
ing ground, and was now ready to commence
her depredations upon the first vessel tha
should be considered u good prize.
| They had not cruised many days before al
| opportunity was given them for a full display O
their skill in piracy on the high seas, On
morning, just as the sun shone out full upon thu
briggs hull, the look out /" aloit gave the vel
known cry of g sail lor'
"Where away" shouted Capt Tralle, iron
the deck.
"Two points on the weather bow, sir,' wa
returned from the mast head.
| "What does she look like"
"Can't make her out, SIR
| At this time the brig was under easy sal
with the wind upon her quarter, but she wa
promptly hauled to the wind, and every sail Sc
that would assist her to get the weather of til
ship. The wind was blowing fresh at the tim,
and the brig dashed gallantly through til
waves in a style worthy of a better caus,
Breakfast was hurried out Of the way, when al
hands were busy in making preparations to re
ceive the stranger in what they would teri
their best style By ten o'clock A. NJ. the bri
had got the weather -guage ofthe ship, and wa
thus enabled to choose her own position.
She bore away, so as to near the ship an
make her out, when it became apparent tina
she was an lndiaman, of eight hundred ton!
and had on board, for some reason or other,
large number of persons. | think the balanc
of this tale can be best related in Mr.. Harley
own words, therefore | shall write in the trs
person
''About o'clock P. NJ. we had overhaule
tho shin and smoke her when she proved to h