Amador weekly ledger., 1858-01-09

name what shall we do?r.
We shall have to make the best of It.:
for of two things we may rest fully assured
we can neither run away from him nor can
we fight him. Look, his deck is crowded with
men"
The briggs crew had by this time become
aware OF the schooner, and as may be sup
posed, they felt anything but comfortable at
the conviction thus arrived at. The brig was
heavily loaded and at best she was an unpro-
missing saier; while the schooner with the
wind full upon her quarter, came dashng
along at furious rate. A consultation was
held upon the quarterback and it was agreed
upon that the brig should be kept upon her
course, and if ordered by the pirate to heave
to, they would do so at once and offer no re-
slstance, 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 a gun to wind
ward, and in few minutes afterwards the
brig was lying with her main-top-sal to the
mast.
The crew watched the schooner as she be-
gan to round to, and though they could not
repress an instructive dread, yet they felt con-
fident 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 murderous intent
were manifested. The pirate captain was the
first to board the brig. He was young man
in the prime of life, and next to follow him
was fair-haired handsome youth, who SEEM
ed to hang upon his commanders stepA with
apparently strange mixture of devotion and
fear
"Do you command this vesse?" asked the
pirate leader of Captain Poole.
eyes, sir" replied Poole.
'Then of course you will make no obiec-
tion to my oyerhauing your cargo, sir" said
the pirate, with smile; "for you may have
some articles to which | may take fancy"
'If | am not mistaken" returned Captain
Poole, "you will need no permission from me,
as | am unable to resist
"You show your good Judgment at least,
and if you will lead the way, | will look at
your cabin first"
As the pirate captain spoke he turned to
the companlon-way, aud was just on the
point OF starting for the cabin when his eye
caught the eye of Adam Writ, and at the
sight he started back as though he had seen
a spirit from the other world The old man,
too, seemed to be equally startled, for as he
gazed on the face Of the pirate, fearful
tremor shook his whole frame, and he gasped
for BREATH the bueaneer gazed into the
working features before him, and then stepp-
ed forward and laying his hand upon the old
mans arm, tremblingly said
"Iell me, old man, from whence you came
and what name you bear?p
Men call me Adam Writ" replied the
old man, half recoiling from the touch that
rested upon him.
Great God! my fatherr broke from the
pirate captains lips, and he would have fallen
on the old mans BOSOM had the latter not
put forth his hands to keep him off
"Thy father" repeated old Writ, moving
back from where he stood, mo, no, lam not
thy father. 0 God once thou mightest
have been my son, once | gazed with a pa
rents pride npon thy features, and once |
called thee my soul But-Oh, Heaven is
this fearful dream? Can my boy be pi-
ratew
Father" still urged the pirate, following
the old mans backward movement, Gown me
as your son, and you shall"
"No! away, bloodthirsty mani / know
thee not. o Godl and is it thus | have
found my boy"
Listen to me one minute, my father ex-
claimed the pirate chief, in tone and man
ner little in keeping with his vocaton-
"These hands are not stained with drop of
blood; save where the flag of England has
waved, have not until the present time in
truded any deck but my own. And now,
though have gold in my lockers, | am in
want of bread, yet | will leave you and go
in peace. You shall receive no further trou-
BILE from me.n
The old man covered his face with his
hands and the deepest agony dwelt in his bo-
som, and while he thus stood, the pirate cap
tain ordered his men to return to their yes
sell The gallant youth who had followed his
chief on board the brig, at this moment APP
preached the spot where Adam Writ stood,
and elasping the old mans hands in his own
he said
"Oh, sir, if you are this mans father, speak
to him one kind word Smile upon him aud
own him as your son. One word from you
may reclaim him from all his errors.n
Boy" uttered the old man, as he gazed
upon the pure and heavenly features that
were turned earnestly towards him, "you
know not what you ask. have left my
home in search of my son, but such as | find
him will never own him. Back again will
go, and alone will travel my weary way
through life"
20, sir, think once morew urged the youth
seeming to hang every hope upon the result