Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-04-06
MARTINsBURG, Va, TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 1s5a.

closely together Then commenced combat
the most singular and appalling | had ever
witnessed No one on board seerne d 10 think
Of devising means Of assisting our champion.
No one dared to FIRE upon the pirate: for SO
closely we're they coiled together, So rand
were their evolpticns, and 50 dim the light
shed by the moon. that ii was impossible to
bit one without endangering the life Of the
other. At the commencement Of the strug-
gle, their efforts seemed TO be aimed solely al
drowning each other They whirled over on
the top Of the water, dashing it about like
wounded sharks. Both then sunk aud for
awhile were lost TO our sight Presently
they arose again, and exchanged thick and
heavy blows, and closing with redcubled fury,
sunk again. Neglectibg to use their weap
ons. which would have put speedy end to
the fray, they fought more ike savage beasts
of prey, bent on throttling each other, than
like human beings
"Shall we stand and see our man murder
cd p at length exclaimed voice from among
the crew. 1t operated like magic to break
the spell chat had fallea upon US all.
"Clear away the boat there shouted the
captain and six men sprang to execute the
order. just then. after an effort of unusual
fierceness both Of the conbatants sunk -
They remained out Of sight so long, that the
men who were letting down the boat suspend
ed their operations and we all stood breath
less with uncertainty and anxiety awaiting
their re appearance. At length about thirty
yards off, the water parted; but only one man
was seen to rise.
"Here is some of him. at least on my knife
blade, responded the free -bootor, with the
accent and laugh Of a fend; and springing
nearly to his whole length out of the water
he threw the weapon with great force towards
us. Another hollow laugh rang over the wa
tiers. and. on looking round. wide circles of
ripples were seen moving on the moonlight
sea, as if some heavy body had just sunk in-
to it.
| Vengeance was the tardy thought that now
rushed ON every heart Some, in the blind
fury Of the moment, actually discharged their
pieces into the centre of those waving et,dies,
without stopping to reflect upon its useless
ness. Others with their guns in readiness
and eyes glaring upon the sea, like panthers
robbed of their prey, stood prepared the mo
ment he would show his head above the water
But he rose no more.
| The winged messengers of death that had
been aimed at his life sped harmless!y over
his head; and had it been possible to pene-
tratc the secrets Of the great deep, be might
have been seen reposing peacefully on its san
dy bottom BY the side Of his late antagonist
a sully silence prevailed the ship
| The men looked gloomy at each other, and
with lowering brows on their helpless prison.
ers, if sufficient atonement had not been
made rendered for the life Of their comrado
10 one skilled in the language Of the human
countenance, it was evident that nothing but
che restraint of disciplin held them back from
a summary act Of vengeance and OF crime that
4 would have sunk to level with the pirates
themselves Judging Of the feelings Of the
crew from their looks, or more properly from
his own, and anxious to remove the tempta-
ton to evil, the captain ordered our eight
prisoners to be slowed under the matches
and they were accordingly tumbed in with
very little ceremony How many of this band
Of genuine dcsperadoes had been lost we bad
no means Of ascertaining, for our prisoners
either did not or would not understand Eng
sh or French. Bnt when they fred upon
US, twelve to sixteen men were visible, and
the yell that followed our discharge was such
as is never extorted from mortal man but b,
the pangs of the last agony.
Six or eight, then. Of the frcebooters, had
certainly persisted. What chance of success
they might fancy that an open boat could
have against a vessel of the Size Of ours, il
completely Sewildcred us to imagine They
must either have been intoxicated, or in the
situation of beast Ct prey. whom the goad-
ings OF hunger viii impel to rush upon foe
whose face he would otherwise have fled
Viewing it in either light, it was an act of the
most daring hardihocd The struggle had
been fierce and biostcrous but had passed
The ship was restored 20 her usual tranquil
ty, and was moving before gentle breeze
from the shore, yet SO slowly as scarcely to
ruflle the face ofthe ocean = Weekiy Instrnc.
tor.