The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-14

| - ~ ""u "lIiNSu somewhere OH The
ChlIian coast, intending to make the land
ana ieel our way down, aud made short
cut 10y the way of the Straits of Magel
Ian, when we were one day startled b,
the cry
Brig no {" What was our astonish.
ment, on directing our ewes to windward
on discovering a brig with every sail set
that would draw, and bearing uown upon
us directly in our wake.
"Lor nass'," vocirrated old Romeo
dat brig look 'zactly like de Spanish III.
rate. If he cher catch us, dc sharks will
breakiis on us, dats shu-
The captain, who had been looking a,
her III the meanwhile, through his glass,
exclaimed, "Romco is correct it is the
Spanish Buccaueer, Jose NJ ,rtenus. See,
he Is running up the black flag with its
sISnifcant description. Good Col ! we
are lost. That hrig, the nigra diabLo, is
unmatched on the sea for swiftness. But
we must 10 what we can, and trust to
our legs. as it will be n stern chase, which
are always long ones. Away, aloft
there ]" roared Captain T, "shake
out every rag of canvass thnt can be
made to tell. Ship out tho booms, and
run up royal studding sails cheeriIy.
there. Now, she feels it," and the ship
gently carcencd to leeward, as she felt
the fresh impulse impaired ty such an
addition of canvass.
"She holds her own, BOYS" -
"Luff little"
STEADY there -
But our operations had been witnessed
10y the Captain Of the brig, who immedi-
aely brnced upa point or two in order
10 beat up gradually to windward, rs he
appeared 10 sail best with the wind a
little quartering. The ruse proved sue
ces>ful, rs thcy percep;ibIy diminished
the distance between ne. The brig was
now so close, we could, without the aid of
glass, SEE the dusky forms of l,er ,rur.
derous crew, aud thc long, bright guns
projecting from her black hull, ready to
send deaths lnissivcs on our devoted
heads. As we were all breathlcssIy view
| ing our pursucr, n volume of smoke cur
led up from the briggs bow, and AN iron
messenger was distinctly visible skipping
from wave To wave, but finally sunk con.
| sldcrably short of the mark. Ano her
and ano; her succeeded it, but like their
predecessors, proved waste of material.
The inutiIity OF this policy being evident
To the Captain oi the pirate brig, it was
abandoned, aud recourse had 10 crowdinr
sail, which increased her speed to u dc.
gree that would quickly terminate the in.
tcrvening distance, when we were inspired
by new hopes with the discovery of land
ahead. Our reckoning told us we were
IN The vicinity OF Telacuanha, a whaling
port in Southern Chill. The br. ha,
| again commenced firing, and now told
with fearful effect, one OF the balls bury
ing itself in the ships side. Miss Nc
Cracken now, for the first time, gave evi-
dcnce OF alarm. A deadly pallor had
overspread her ordinarily rosy counte
nance. approached her, and endeavor-
ed To administer consolation, but without
avail Her father had gone to the cabin
Tor the purpose OF arming himself, re-
solved not To sell his life without an ef.
fort. On returning, he conducted his
daughter below. Meanwhile, another
shot had shivered our hulwarks, and
received splinter in my arm, which
found excessively painful. We had, by
this time, neared the land, sufficiently
To ascertain definitely our whereabouts,
and were not little gratifed when the
Captain announced Telacuanha dead
ahead. AS we did not for moment im-
agne that the daring buccaneer would
follow us intD port-but he still maintain.
Ell his position in our wake, with the
most dogged determination we had ap
preached 10 within half mile of the
entrance 10 the harbor, Which is divided
by Rn Island, some miles in extent, one
channel being navigable for ships Of the
largest class, the other extremely shallow
aud iull Of rocks, and supposed, ut the
date OF my story to be naviga,.lc only for
vessels of the smaller class we were
making for the former entrance, when
Romeo stepped up to the Captain, with
cap IN hand, remarkiug =
"Massa Capt., no use gwine in dar {:
6at ar pirate man gwine in too, and den
what you ,gWipa TO do! Better Iearu
sometin To- Retf Romeo, and tale de
uder clissss
Why. fe4 sl.pid nigger, we should
split on The rpeks in less time than you
can boil on egg"
mo, Massa Capin, been dar before
dis day. pomeo know all about him.
right along dem high rocks, close to do
shore dars plenty OF water, yah; yah.
Romeo no been sailor man for nufiin.n
Well, Romeo. do '. . think you could
safely steer the ship through yon narrow
channel Z"
"Dat sarsain, nhassa; Romeo know ebsy
inch ob dc way I. sho,"
"Gentlemen, what ayyoui. Shall we
faust TO the ingenuity Of Romeo, and run
the risk Of laundering on the rocks, or
keep up the main channel, ~ we shaIibe
assuredly overhanled n we keep on The
present tack. and IL will be necessary 10
lay close 70 ihe wind ih order % Neather
yop projecting point The brig d much
the best sailor, close hauled, >. you can