The true Democrat., 1856-01-22
MO-. l5.


 of them, there being twenty seats in the boat and all of them except one or two at the bows and stern having four men on a seat.
 "We shall never be able to beat them off, sir" whispered Walker in my ear.
 "We are able to try, at all events," l re- piled.
 "Butjust look at their force, 2 he said, blanch- ing.
 "Then you mean to die like"
 I'd spoken thus far when he caught my arm for had begun to speak louder, and the men might,hear me
 "-sh," he hissed, "dont, pray you, say any more; of course Fll fight"
 He grasped his cutlass as he spoke, and 1 could see that his eye had changed and there was now some fire in it. By this time we could see the faces of the Maylays plainly, and in all my wanderngs I don't think l ever saw such anoth- erset of diabolical, ugly, bloody looking vil- lains In two minutes more l saw those who worked the paddles take their knives in their teeth. l had the men stand by with their pis- tos, and l ordered them to fire one yolley be- fore the boat got fairly alongside.
 At this moment, just as the pirate was with m cables length, felt cool puff of wind upon my cheek. l turned and saw that the wind had whipped out from the north'd. Quick as lightning 1 ordered the yards squared, and by some means the men obeyed me promptly; but while this was being done, the Malay was com ing on. The pirates saw that our sails had caught the new breeze, and with quick and strong strokes they sent their craft alongside | like a rocket.
 Fire." shouted.
 And my men did fire, but their hands must have trembled, for not more than hall dozen of the enemy fell 1 called the men to shove their bikes over, but I tell you those few bikes looked kind O dismal in the faces of seventy stout, blood thirsty, Malay pirates. 1 took one look into the proa, and my heart sank, for knew they would make but short work with us. We nigh kill a score of them, and even then they'd be up with us
 What do you want" 1 shouted with all my might
 'You' mooney-you' blood! you sheep, you ng dom crappoo Shawn BulIH
 The fellow evidently thoughtus John Bulls, and what the clappoo meant couldn't tell, un- less he had got the French and English mixed up. However, l hadn't time to think of that. In another moment they wouldbe along side Already were the pirates on their feet, their long knives in their mouths, clenched firmly between their teeth and in a moment more they would leap. The bows of the proa touched our side under the mizzen chain, and her stern was sweeping swiftly in as she shot ahead. At that moment something brushed past me towards the stern, and l smelt the strong, rank fumes of turpentime. Before l had time to look or to think, sheet Of smoke and flames danced before my eyes, and on the next instant a howl like the roar of hundred lions broke upon my cars.
 Beat lem off, beat 'em off = cried a sharp clear voice, which at once recognized as Ned's and as l heard it the whole truth flashed upon me. Isprung to where half dozen of the villains, all covered with flames, were trying to crowd up over the side. 1 awolle the men 10 a comprehension of the fortune that had burst upon us and the few who were trying to board us were either shot or driven back. The breeze was now fresh and in a few moments more we shot ahead, leaving the proa all envelopcd in flames, at d safe distance behind, while the crew, every man of them, had leapel into me water to eXtingush the fire that clunk Co them.
 As soon as we were safe, and our nerves had become somewhat composed we looked into the strange fortune that had saved Us, and We soon understood it. Noble Ned Grover while l thought him hiding away from the enemy, was setting on foot plan which had entered
 
 large can of pure spirits of turpentime. N ed had taken the cooks great copper kettle which held some twelve gallons, and filled it as full as he had dared with the inilammabo stuff and then he watched his opportunity. The mo- ment ho thought the proa near enough, he set fire to the spirits, and then lifting the kettle high up by its sides, he went aft, so that the wind would help him, and with a strong, care full throw he sent the fiery mass into the boat It went in one sheet, all blazing and hissng and the light, cotton clothing of the pirates lighted instantly. Of course the villains were blinded and stunned by the unexpected visita- tIon, and don't 'spose they knew much what they were about until they had got into the water The wind, which was just now starting fresh, carried the blazing liquid the whole length of the boat, and you know even dozen drops oft would have been enough to set their cotton shirts a-iire
 The old Yankee now gathered headway good, and ere long the proa and Her crew were far astern. The boat was still burning and smok- ing like mad, and we could see that most of the pirates were striking out for the island, for of course they could not go near their boat. But 'tisu't likely one of lem ever reached the shore, for the fresh breeze had kicked up q smart wave, and their heads were under water half the time. I took my glass and went up into the mzzen top, and for q while I watched t3e bloody scampS. could see lem, one after another sink out of sight, and knew that none of them would do any more murders. But in a little time the few heads that were left strug- glng above water were beyond the reach fmy sight, and 1 came down.
 'Tisnt much use of my telling how Ned Gro- yer was disposed of for you can judge for yourselves Yet he was mild and modest as ever, and begged us to say nothing more about 1t. When we got home the owners made him accept thousand dollars, and made me pro- mise to teach him navigation. Ned is now four and twenty-as noble fellow as you could wish to see-and last month he left New York as the captain of the good ship Daniel Boone. Now, who comes next?"