New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-29

tlaH liEee or louf Knots an hour, ana IN 8S
lubherly fashion considering the but recent
practice Of the crew in that line-as could be
expected. Time crept as lazily as we did,
and doubts whether our Captains clever con-
trivance would not end in smoke were begin
ming to be entertained, when we spoke brig
bound for the Cape, a little north Of the equa-
tor, which gave US the pleasant information
that large bark she had fallen in with laden
with ivory, palm oil and gold dust, had been
plundered the previous evening by piratical
schooner, supposed to be LIE Requin. The crew,
1T was further stated, had not been personally
rnaltreated, and the bark had proceeded On her
course
This was great news, and so well did it shar-
pen the optics Of many Of US, that an almost
Simultaneous hail, from half q dozen voices, at
| daybreak the next morning, announced
strange sail, hull down astern, and steering
westward Every glass in the sloop was
J quickly directed towards the stranger, whose
| white sails-unmistakably those of a schooner
glanced brilliantly in the newly risen, un-
clouded sun. Every body felt, or affected to be
sure, it was LIE Requin and when the schooner
which did not for some time appear to see
us-turned her bowsprit towards the Curlew
and crowded sail, evidently in pursuit, the last
) lingering doubt vanished; and we, of course,
zealously busted ourselves with ostentatious
efforts to effect our escape from the suspicious
looking craft.
Dht spite Vi aIi we couId 40, so fniseraply was
cur ship handled and steered-terror- stricken
men could do nothing well-that we could
hardly get five knots out of her; and the fero-
) cIous schooner would, it was quite certain, be
up with US in less than no time. The command
, er's face deathly pale from over excitement
supposed and, as for the crew. they were in
, an ecstacy Of uncomfortable mirth. The notion
Of sloop- p-of-war running away from, and being
: chased by a SLAYER or pirate, was Joke so ex-
quisite as to defy all ordinary modes of express
sion; and the astounding capers the men cut
the grimly comcal squints and winks, and quiet
grins (sllence being strictly enforced) they ex-
| changed with each other and the advancing
schooner, were irresistibly droll. Once it was
, feared that misgiving as to whom it was he
was so eagerly pursuing, had seized our
friend, for when not more than half league
astern, he suddenly luffed, and stood across our
wake, apparently in keen scrutinizng observa-
; ton. His hesitation was but momentary-the
fierce aspect of the 'sQuakers," think, re as
sured him-and the chase was resumed. In
3 about half an hour he ranged iercely up on our
weather. beam, and as the red fash and white
smoke which heralded a shot across the Cur
LEWIS bows broke out of the schooner's side, a
7 hoarse powerful voice roared through trum-
pet from the after part Of the deck-'' Heave to
or I'll sink you !''
The commander of the Curlew leaped upon a
e gun carriage. lifted his round glazed hat, and
rejoined, in as loud and fierce, but mocking
: tone That will We, Captain LIE Reguin, and
0 in hurry, too At the same instant the sea-
men concealed about the deck sprang to their
feet, the rest of the crew tumbled with loud
: shouts up the hatchways, the ssQuakers' . were
e showed overheard, and before the astounded cap
tors well comprehended what had happened,
e they were confronted by the frowning, double
shotted battery of the Curlew, and flight or re-
sistance was out of the question As soon, how
In onrft1 1ca1 oP tox,
e ror which arose from the motley crowd that
crowded the slave pirates deck had sufficiently
4 subsided to permit of her captains voice being
heard, desperate. but Of course futile effort to
escape, was made. We were in no trim or hu.
t NOR for another chase, and at wave from
a Captain Armstrong's hand, gun after CUR
belched forth its iron shower upon the i'll starred
: schooner, and with such terrible havoc to hel
n spars and rigging, that in few minutes sh
# was q helpless log upon the water.
1t The pirate carried colors. but in this strai
e some Of the crew ran up Brazilian flag, an
: instantly hauled it down again, in token Of sur
II render. The firing at once ceased, and tn
d board the Curlew immediately In minute O
G so, it was replied that the captain had beer
e carried below. mortally wounded, was RAPIDLY
e bleeding to death, and could not therefore be
removed was standing close by Commander
Armstrong at the moment, and noticed that a
Hut; SWditHy hush pdSSeu over Ills pate eXcltlng
/, features. After a moments thought, he said
hastily. "Sutclitfe, have a boat alongside
manned and armed, as quickly as you can, !
/ must see this fellow myself, and without delay
it seems So saying he left the deck By the
a time the boat was ready he reappeared, in full
e uniform, and was swiftly rowed ON board the
prize.
. After briefly directing the men to disarm and
1 secure the crew, he hurried below, motioning as
s he did so that l should accompany him. The
n captain of LIE Requin-a tall, gaunt, but not, ]
t should think, originally Unlocking man-was
n unquestionably dying. His right leg had been
, carried away above the knee by a round shot
r and although rude tourniquet had been ap-
r piled, the loss of blood had previously been SO
q great that life, as we entered, futtered but
: teebly in his veins, and there was scant breath
e left, it struck me, in the mutilated, painting
t frame, to answer much questioning, if that were
Y as | supposed, lieutenant Armstrong's purpose
l. there. This was my first impression; but the
t ferociously- triumphant scowl that broke from
: his darkenng eyes at the sound of his visitors
e voice, Che had not seemed to recognize him by
e sight,) testified to the still untamed energy O.
r ecW which could thus force back retreating life
n to the citadel it had all but finally abandoned
t He partially raised himself. and glared at the
lieutenant, as if in fearful doubt that his fail.
j ing eye-sight and hearing had deceived him
: g You here-Lieutenant Armstrong here -
II ne HoalSely SaSpeu, as ne Iell Dack-' tnen Is
: death welcome as bride!"
# 81 am sorry to see you thus, Harrison" said
: the lieutenant, in compassionate tone e.
e would much rather have met you alive ant
e well.''
j, You could never have captured me alive,
y retorted Harrison. ''That am always proyi
! ded against. And sorry, are youi'' he wen
= on, relapsng into feebleness. The time i
/, past when that might have availed You hav
: been my rock ahead through life-always. E
If Reyna and her dusky cargo were partly mine
n and now LIE Requin's gone, Yes-ever my tri
e umphant foe-oppressor! But" he added
r again with kindling ferocity, SO the last stake il
the crowning one, and that, Mat-Lieutenan
+ Armstrong; win"
n 81 once did you grievous wrong, Harrison,
d replied the lieutenant, needless Of this idl,
d menace unintentionally so. 1t was u mis-
l. take--a blunder which L regret-although-'
rs 60 1t was murderH' screamed the dying sea
v, man. murder of soul and body. For another
le fault-not mine--you lascerated my flesh ant
,e brutified my spirit. | was a lost man iron
j" that hour! l. gently born. to be--but no mat
f. ter Well, ran--was caught-again fayed b,
as your order; yet l escaped at last, and now
as NOW ~
I'd The savagey exultant tone Of these words no
m only startled me, but also for a moment tn
k. steel-nerved commander Of the Curlew.
I'd seemed vain alarm. There was no other per
n son in the cabin save colored lad about min
is years of age. Harrison himself was lying help