Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-07
ION, BASED UPON THE CONSTITUTION.

lerW1se had the Cap>n gwen orders TO DOard
| in time. In the good old days Of
''Let me raise you up" said John, sof-
tened by the sight Of the pirates agonies,
s'and you will breathe more freely" at the
same time applying his handkerchief to the
wound.
"Who speaks?' exclaimed the dying
ling man, deliriously "Are you going to
shove me overheard? Avast hcaving-I
arn't dead yet All, they come! they warn
ed me they would come, when | flung 'em
| to the sharks at Vera Cruz. Save me,
brother See, they swarm in crowds about
me now they are standing right ahead
|-now-pipe all hands to prayers-that'll
keep 'em cff!-Hah hah y and raising
himself with difficulty, the fear-stricken
wretch just managed to scramble on his
knees, and clasp his hands in prayer, when
he fell back, and lay stretched corpse at
Trevanion's feet.
AS the young man stood fixed in con-
temptation Of the CHASTITY object before him,
his ears were saluted by tremendous shout
Of 'Hurrah, the Don has struck his flag p
The sound thrilled to Johns heart like a
trump Of doom. "Gone, all gone" he
said, and Cor the moment meditated suicide
but soon his better genius came to his
aid Suddenly he heard the voice of Cap
tain Davis, in reply to the lieutenants ques-
ton Of "What shall we do with the prison
ler's ?" make answer, Overheard with them
Jail, then look to the piastres, bring them
on board, and scuttle the ship"
For some time after this brief dialogue
all was comparative silence on board the
pirate ship. At the expiration Of an hour,
however, the tramp of feet again sound
ed on deck, for the rufians were returning
from the captured vessel, laden with plum
der Ia few minutes steps were again
heard descending the companion, and Ire
vanion could distinctly hear-for he had
now retreated to his own berth-onc or
two men arranging the tables, and making
preparations for night of drunken revel-
|ry, while others were piling up bags Of moi
dores, piastres, and other treasure, in a
|spare corner Of the cabin.
No sooner were these completed, and the
corpse Of old Tom heaved overheard, than
the Captain hurried below, and accompa-
MED by the skeleton of his crew-for the
late conflict had seriously thinned their
thunderstorm his seat at the head of the
table, ''No business to night, lads" he
said, Tit will be time enough to divide the
booty Tomorrow and he tossed off large
horn-full of raw brandy to the success Of
the black flag.
From this time all was clamor and con-
fusion. Obscene songs, oaths, and fright
ful blasphemies. were banded about as so
many capital jokes-all talked, none list
ened, and it was plain from their excited
condition, that the jewellers would soon be
in state of utter insensibility. It was at
this critical period that wild, desperate
idea flashed across Trevanion's brain
What if he should remain concealed where
he was till the pirates were past all power
of movement! Nothing could be more e7-
ident than that the Captain, as well as the
crew, lad in the enthusiasm Of the hour
wholly forgotten him. It did not escape
his recollection that, on the occasion of their
last carousal, they drank like very bigots
to the bottle, and be felt persuaded that in
this instance their devotion would be still
more intense. He remembered also hav-
ing heard the cry of land from the mast
head. and could he but contrive to make his
escape in the boat, which had been hoisted
out to take up some wounded pirates who
had fallen overheard at the close Of the ac-
ton, he did not despair Of being able to
reach it in safety. But he was unarmed
He must pass through the state cabin, and
if but one eye recognised him, his doom was
sealed. No matter-better Gle so than lin
ger out existence among the very scum Of
society.
His heart swelled high with hope as he
pondered on this scheme, and sat listening,
hour after hour, the increasing uproar Of
the rioters. Shortly, to his no little d,,uoht
he heard the Captain, in husky and almost
inarticulate tones, call for ',I,obts and mere
grog-on which Their, was Sudden move
ment among some of the crew, while the
evans ..,..nent Of others under the table, sat
.sned Trevanion that the party were fast
approaching that consummation which he
so ardently desired.
Another hour elapsed, and the noise mo-
mently grew less and less, though couple
Of desperate Dutch prosers still kept up a
steady, drony hum between them, like cock
chafers on the wing. At length these too
came to an anchor with their yarns; and
now the entire fraternity worn out with ia
tigae and excitement, having glided by a
natural transition from the embraces Of BAG
chus into those Of Morpheus, John. gather
ing courage, ventured to threw epea his
door and look in. What sight presented
ITSELF The table was strewed with horns,
cans, and fragments Of broken glass. On
the floor lay many Of the pirates unable to
stir hand or foot-a few, seated on tubs,
we're leaning their backs against the wall,
their faces, and great part Of their clothes,
spotted with dried blood, while the Captain
was stretched fuA-length On bench, snor-
ing tremendous trumpet soto, With his pis-
tolls placed on the table, and his sword dang
ling idly by his SIDE Mover was seen 50
disgusting an exhibition Of vile unmitigated
debauchery Twas as if Satan and his
imps Aeld carnival there.
For some minutes John stood gazing with
a sickening sensation at the scene before
him. fearing even to draw breath lest he
might wake some of the slumbering inno-
cents, particularly the Captain, whose sleep
from his comparative lightness Of respira-
ton, appeared to be such as he might be
reused up from without much difficulty
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