Mountain Democrat., 1857-12-19
The Old Nun aud the Pirate.

Early in the month Of August, 1912, a
good sized brig started from Boston, bound
for New Orleans. On board, there was an
old man named Adam Writ, seeking an
only son whom he had learned was some
where on the coast ofthc Gulfo Mexico.
Adam Writ was wealthy, but for four
years he had been alone to dwell among
Its glitter. When the old man had taken
a second wife to his home, his son Iandon
stepped from his roof, and sworc that so
long as his stepmothcr lived he would not
cross its Threshold again. The second
wife was now dead, and feeling sad in his
loneliness, the old man resolved to seek
iSchild. =.
The brig had good weather, and for
several days nothing had occurred to
break the monotony of the voyage, but
at length one of the lookouts reported q
sail to the southwark and eastward. The
wind was from the cast, and the brig had
it slightly abaft the beam as her course
lay south.
Poole brought his glass from the cabin,
and after gazing on the ranges for some
ten minutes, made her out to be schOon-
or standing OUT directly towards them.
"Whcrc do you think she's bound 2"
asked Adam Writ, as he heard the cap
tain'S report.
Couldn't sayyct," replied the captain,
again lcvcling his glass ut the stranger, Il
can tell you better after watching her
spell"
Fifteen minutes passed, and at the end
of that time Captain Poole lowered his
glass, and while slight trcmor shook
his frame he said, THAT schooner is fall
ing oil.
"And what of that ?" asked the old
man, who had failed to take notice of the
captains manner,
"What of it? why simply that fellow
is bound for this brig"
"WOnts to speak to us l suppose"
said Writ.
every likely" returned the captain, as
he went alOft; and again turning to the
old man he continued, "yOu need be un-
der no needless alarm, sir, but in all prob
ability that schooner is a pirate"
"A pirate" replied Writ, while his
face assumed livid hue. '"Thcn in IIeav-
ems name what shall we dOy"
1--WE shall have to make the best of it !;
for of two things We may rest assured
VIC can neither run away from him nor
fight him. Look, his deck is crowded
with mcn."
The briggs crew had by this time be-
como aware of the schooner, and as may
be supposed, they felt anything but COM
Portable at the conviction thus arrived at
The brig was heavily loaded, and at best
she was but an unpromising sailer; while
the schooner, with the wind full upon her
quarter, came dashing along ct furious
rate. A consultation was held upon the
quarterback and it was at length agreed
upon that the brig should be kept on her
course, and if ordered by the pirate to
hcavc to, they would do SO at once and
offer no resistance, which If offered at all,
could only render their situation worse.
In an hour and half the pirate had
come up to within mile, and fired q gun
to windward, and in a few minutes after
wards the brig was lying with her main-
top-sail to the mast.
The crew watched the schooner as shc
began to round to, and though they could
not rcpress an instructive dread, yet they
felt confident that no violence would be
used, so long as they offered no resistance;
nor in this were they disappointed, for as
the schooner ranged along side and the
pirates began to flock on board, no signs
of murdCrous intent wcrC manifested
The pirate captain was the first to board
the brig. lie was a young man In tho
prime Of life, and next 10 follow him was