Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-01

Take off that fellow with the red SASH" /
hoarsely whispered. "PIl aim at the cox
swain. One of the two must be the leader"
My was never keener, nor my hand more
firm than at that moment One might
have counted two while 1 paused then my
piece blazed My man sprang forward and
fell, struggling convulsivey. The mate fired
simultaneously, and the helmsman tumbled
headlong forward, falling on the ruffan ! had
shot There was howl of lamentation from
the negroes, the rowers stopped, several rushed
aft, all was confusion. The boat shot for
ward until almost abreast of US, and then lay
motionless on the water
But the hesitation of the pirates was of
short duration. The cries of grief on the part
of the negroes were exchanged for shouts of
rage We could see the whites urging them
on. We had barely time to note the horrible
expressions of their faces, garing with revenge
and the most savage passions ; we had barely
time to level the remaining muskets hastily at
them and fire, though with what effect the con-
fusion would scarcely allow US to perceive
when the bow of the barge grated against our
sides, and Immediately boat hook was fixed
in the low bulwarks.
At the moment, one of the crew, with q
blow of an axe, cut the implement in two,
but as he did so, stalwaTt white sprang on
deck. where he stood, brawny and gigantic,
keeping charmed circle around him with a
cutlass Instantaneously, like swarm Of
bees our assailants clustered on the side of the
vessel, and despite our desperate resistance,
eventually gained a footing.
We now hastily retreated to the quarter
6arl whore w rod n mako stand
To reach US the assailants would have to pass
the narrow passages on each side of the COM
panion-way and these had, just before, been
partially blocked up, with such efficiency as
time would admit, by water casks that usually
stood on the quarterback. Our whole force
was drawn up within this fortification.
The pratcal leader saw our hasty prepara-
tions, and paused moment to scan our posi-
ton. Thus both parties remained for few
seconds, inactiye-eyeing each other as men
are apt to do when about to engage III mortal
conflict. On the part of the assaiants this
scrutiny was carried on with feelings akin to
those with which tiger watches the prey he
knows cannot escape him. Our emotions were
those of men doomed to death, and aware of
their fate, but resolved to sell their lives as
dearly as possible On one side was fendish
exultation, and on the other manly despair.
"Have at them," shouted the rufian in Eng
lish, suddenly and his men, answering with
yell dashed forward.
"Stand fast, my hearties, cried, confront
ing the foe at the right of the companion way
while the mate took the opposite pass on the
left. "Strike for your life or DEATH"
OF the succeeding minutes | have no dis
tinct recollection There was wild clashing
of cutlasses, mingled with reports Of pistols
and the shouts of angry combatants while
occasionally a shrill cry of agony, from some
one desperately wounded, rose above the up
roar Our stock of firearms were Scanty, SO
that we had little with which to oppose the
foe except cutasses, while most of the despe-
radoes were armed with pistols But our de-
fences slight as they were considerably retard-
ed the approach Of the enemy.
In vain the piratical leader struggled to
penetrate into our little circle. Sustained by
four sturdy old man-of-war's men, | hurled
him back on his followers as often as he at
tempted to Chamber over our defences. So
fierce was the contest in this quarter, that the
cutlasses, crossing each other in strife, formed
bridge over me and the pirate, while the
blades flashed rapidly and incessantly. The
mate though hurt had also maintained his
ground.
Three times had been wounded, one of my
little party was shot dead, all Of US were
streaming with blood yet still we maintained
the unequal combat But | felt that our re-
sistance could not be protected much longer.
We had suffered quite as severely as the sava-
ges But while, for every man they lost,
there were three to take his place, it had re-
quired the whole of our little force even at
first to defend our barricade. Our thinncd
numbers could now scarcely maintain their
footing, and, with the loss of one or two more
would be totally inadequate to it. The ca
noes, meantime, were rapidly approaching.
We had just for the fourth time, beaten
back our assaiants A fifth attack, l feared
would be successful AS | thought this, /
cast my eyes hastily around to Isabel, who
sat, or rather covered, under the shelter OF
the companion-way. Her eyes were fixed to
windward, as though earnestly contemplating
some object With sudden hope, | followed
the direction of her look.
have said that the wind died away before
the pirates boarded US, and since then, every
faculty had been absorbed in the conflict for
existence so that had not been aware of the
gradual revival of the breeze. Now, howev'
er, when the din of battle momentary ceased,
my ears were greeted with the sighing of the
wind among the rigging, and the pleasant
murmur of the water as it parted under our
bows and gliding along the s;des-gentle and
soothing sounds always, but especially so af-
the maddening uproar Of the mortal strife.
became conscious Also the very instant
nv eyes turned to windward, that the fog,
which / have described as settling around us,
was slowly dsspating, and, although it still
lay thick and palpabe along the surface of
the water, higher up it thinned off, and finally
disappeared altogether The object which had
attracted Isabels attention was tall mast
rising maiestically above the foe. not q cables