Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-09-21
THE LAST BULLET.
An Incident of Commodore Stewards Algeril

modOre Preble, having on board, among other
officers, Charles Stewart, then an Acting Lien
tenant.
1t was the watch of young Stewart, and he
was parading to and fro on the deck about
half an hour after sunset, when he saw small
boat, containing a single person, coming off
from the Old Port, the western part of the
town is so called, and heading directly for the
ship.
This person was rowing with all his might,
and Stewart was not long in discovering the
cause. Close behind the single boatman
was seenSa large rover filled with men, whose
presence was announced by continued firing
at him of whom they were in such determin-
ed pursuit, holding on their way until they
were under the very guns of the ship.
stNow, by my soul!'' cried Stewart, s'may
be shot if don't teach those fellows les
son. Stand by, Mr.. Rogers he added. ad-
dressing a fayorite gunner, "to throw little
grape into that fellow. !"
Just after wreath of smoke curled up from
the side of the ship, and the report went
booming over. the water the iron messenger
sped on its way, crashing into the pursuing
boat, severely wounding two or three of her
crew. She instantly turned TO put back, at
the same time that the fugitive reached his
destination, and came up the side into the
presence of the officer of the deck. He was
an elderly man, with stout frame and brow
nish features; but it required but single
English or American. When he sufficient
ly recovered from his over exertion to breathe
he went on TO tell his story, to which Stewart
listened with much excitement.
The new conner was American citizen,
named James Collins, native of New York,
who, with his wife and daughter, had been ta
ken from an American vessel at the same time
as its commander and crew, two years before,
by an Algerine pirate. His wife had since
died, and he and his daughter had been en-
during since his capture all the horrors of
hopeless and aggravated captivity; but the
worst part OF the poor mans story, and that
which moved Lieutenant Stewart the most,
was the announcement that his daughter, q
| gentle and beautiful girl. was on the eve of
being forced into detestable union with the
| very wretch who had bought her and her father
as slaves.
ssMy agony at these circumstances culmina-
| ted not two hours ago. finished the father,
Eswhen | struck the prosecutor insensible TO
my feet and fed. BY dint of eKertion l man
aged to reach the water side, and embarked
before the pursuerS could prevent it. But,
though | have succeeded in reaching this
| place of safety, my poor Alice is still in the
| power of her tormcntor, exposed to his ven
| geance and l am almost crazy at thinking
| that she may even now be subjected to fate
worse than death. If could only guide a
! boats crew, under your order''-
Gone moment interrupted Stewart. ;tStay
| where you are until have seen Commodore
| Preble."
One moment the young lieutenant was en-
gagged with his commander in the cabin, and
| then he came forth with stern smile of sat-
| isfdction on his features. Ten minutes more
| had not passed before cutter with twelve
| chosen men pushed off in the darkness, with
the lieutenant and the stranger in the stern,
and rapidly struck out for the shore.
s:Our Owner," said Mr.. Collins, s'resides in
] - ssnnC
guard established, but do not apprehend that
we shall have any especial trouble from that
| source. l think we can land below, go up the
street to the house, and carry off my child,
and all without losing a man.
! The boat landed after twenty minutes of
| rapid progress, at small wharf near the Ge-
| leta, in the western part of the town. The ar
| rival was certainly observed, but not great
| deal of attention was bestowed upon 1t by the
stupid Algerines. Leaving part of his men
| in the cutter, with orders for them to lie down
| under the wharf, Lieut.. Stewart and the re-
mainder of his force followed the footsteps of
Mr. Collins, who led the way rapidly up the
| Intervening streets.
On arriving at his late prison, an old, dingy
| looking structure, extremely spacious, having
all the looseness of the Moorish style, the par
! ty discovered that silence and darkness were
| the principal features of the scene. Not a
sound was heard nor a word uttered. The
whole building seemed deserted. The agony
| of the father was extreme.
go, my childl my childl'' he cried, no
| longer able, to control tho terrible emotions
which had-been surging through his soul du-
| ring the last hour, ''shail L never see thee
more ?'
A Moorish slave came around from the rear
! of the building and assured his fellow captive
| that the girl had been carried off by the mas
ter, and that no one was at home save himself.
But even as the lying rascal uttered the con-
| Guiding words, wild shrek was heard in the
chamber, and the next moment young and
beautiful girl of seventeen summers appeared
at one OF the front windows, looking like a
| spectre in her garments of spotlesS white.
ssMy child, my Alice - exclaimed Mr.. Col
lins.
ssSave me- father 20 was the response, and
while shouts and groans were heard proceed
| ing from the interior of the building, the
maiden threw herself from the low window,
| falling into the very arms of her father and
| Lieutenant Stewart.
The very moment of this reunion was deS-
! tined TO be that in which company of Alge-
rne troops came round the nearest corner,
marching up the street in the direction OF
| Lieut.. Stewart and his men. 1t was also at
the same moment that the old Moor, who had
so long considered himself the proprietor OF
| Mr.. Collins and his daughter, came to the
window and set up startling yell.
ssThis way 20 cried Mr. Collins, and he dash
| ed open the front door of the building, and
conducted the entire party within. ''Look to
your weapons, and take the rascals OF their
1pins the instant they halt,' said Stewart.
A sharp and determined struggle soon COM
menced. in the course of which half the Moor
jsh soldiers were killed, and the remainder
finally gave way. But the rescuers had ex-
pended all their ammunition, and only single
bullet was remaining that was In large
horse pistol in the possession OF Lieut.. Stew