M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-02-18

DurlnB Inc uay the Wlnu was from
the westward, though not very fresh,
the brig making not more than an ay-
erage Of six knots. Just as the sun
was sinking below the horizon, one OF
the men reported a sail to the east
ward. Capt. Barnard got his glass,
and ere long he was able to make out
that the strange craft was q topsail
schooner, with new canvass, and very
rakish mNsts.
It's the pirate, sure as fateV he
whispered to his son.
DO you think sog returned Ira
trembling.
Pm confident Of it,
The Lord help us!'
But its close on to night said the
old man, and we may run away from
him.
Run away from whatG asked Jack
Phipps, who had overheard the last
remark.
From that schooner the skipper
replied. Il don't like the looks other.
PhippS was very inquisitive, for he
had noticed the old man and Ira whis.
pering together, and he mistrusted
something, and finally he succeeded
in getting the whole story.
Just as the sun disappeared below
its bed Of waters, Barnard got a fair
view of the schooner, and he had no
doubt left upon his mind. She an.
swered exactly to the description San
ders had given him of the pirate, and
she had changed her course, tOo.-
When first seen, she was close-hauled
upon the larboaId tack, standing to
the nolth'rd and west'rd, but now she
had gone about, and was standing up
towards the brig.
The men were nervous; butas night
closed in, and the schooner was shut
out from view, they hoped to run away.
Some Of them proposed to down with
the helm and run for the coast. But
the skipper said, no. lie would stand
on his course, and run the risk. The
pirate would be as likely to run for
the coast as any way.
BY jimmeny,' uttered Phipps, 'if
we had men enough, Bill and could
get our drum and fife a goiEg, and
trighten 'em'
'Yes-and if we had men enough,
we could fight 'em, returned the cap.
tain.
This seemed reasonable, so all
hands united in wishing they had plen,
ty of men, and plenty of arms and
ammunition.
A strict watch was kept, and at
midnight Bill Sawyer discovered the
schooner upon the lee qnarter. lie
was in the main-top, and could just
make out dark mass upon the Starlit
water. Capt. Barnard went aloft with
his night glass-a powerful one, BY the
way--and he could see the schooner's
masts clearly defined.
She's overhauling u.s. he said as
he stepped upon the deck; 'and,' he
added, reluctantly, we are sailing as
fast as we can. We have no more
canvass to spread
The crew were terror-strjcken.- -
There was no back door to glide thro',
and no woods to hide in. They might
do their utmost, and yet the sails cod
move them only SO fast. At two
o'clock the pirates topmasts were
clearly defined against tile sky; and
in an hour more the heads OF her fore
and main sails were seen. Captain
Barnard paced his quarterback very
uneasily. His position was a hare
one. Had he not known the pirate
from the description he had received
of her, the fact Of her chasing him thu!
would have been sufficient.
'Half-past three-and in less thar
an hour it will be Daylight" groanec
the captain, in agony. The pirate i,
ovorhauling as fast. Look-you car
almost see her bulwarks!'
The men looked, and it was even az
Barnard had said. The whole ofthC
schooner's canvass was visible agains
the sky, and she carried a cloud of it
too. Once more the captain took hi
glass end went aiof. Just as he hac
gained tue crosstrees a lantern was
brought upon the schooner's deck and
carried forward. As the light CLEAN
ed out upon the surrounding objects
Barnard could see that the deck was
swarming with man, and that most o
them were forward, gazing after hi;
vessel. He saw the CLEAN Of knives
and pistol barrels, and also the heavy
forms cf two or three brass guns.
Its all upp he said as he came
down. Her deck is full of men, anC
they are all armed to the teeth