Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-04-15

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"a y Pirate.

Twenty-seven years ago, the ship |
commanded was on a mission Of mercy.
Laden with generous contributions of a
New England city, she was bound to the
Cape de Verde with bread for the famine
stricken and the dying.
1t was the fourteenth day out-in the
first gray of the morning. that the
mate aroused me With the startling in.
telligence that suspicious vessel was
in sight. With the first ray of light IT, e
vigilant officer had described her, and
she was near as to be made out with a
glass. was on deck in an instant.
The first glance at the stranger almost
dispelled the fear that the mates alarm
had occasioned.
"Why. Mr.. Larkin.' said, laughing
as l spoke, "there's nothing suspicious
in that lubberly looking craft She is
aPortuguese brigantine-she can't sail. :"
''She looks like that build.' the mate
replied, "but look now at the men on
her deck"
One lance at the telescope was enough
to satisfy mestks mate was right.
ats no honest craft. Mr.. Larkin,"
said; "but she may not be pirate for all
chat. One need not be surprised to fall
in with SLAYER hereabouts
"She's no SLAYER, Captain"
"Why do YOU think so ;"
"Because there are guns on her deck !,
instead Of water Casks"
As if to put end to our speculations,
the suspicious vessel began to spread
more canvass. and as she gathered away
with the freshing breeze, they ran up to
her fore-mast a flag which when 1t reach
ed the truck, unshook its folds in the
wind. On a white field we saw the
terrible insignia of the free bootcr. the
death head and crossbones, painted in
diabolical black.
We made all the sail We could, but
escape was impossible A gun from the
pirate, and a bait whistlins over US,
speedily brought US to- The pirate came
quietly along, like panther, which is
sure of its prey, ani in no great hurry to
seize IT, The moment he came within
speaking distance, be hailed and ordered
me to launch a boat and come on board
"o Sot puV thc quarter podt anu was
about to jump into her to pay nay res
poets IN person to the Williams, when Mr..
Larkin asked leave to go.
III they want 'ne captain SAIL ne
''let them send for him .'ll see ii TIL
mate won't answer as we'll
He descended to the boat which be-
gan 10 pun oaek. Almost at the same
instant lau ich was swang over tho rnIl,
into whieh twenty saNase-look KIM rascals,
armed to the teeth, sprans, and pulled
towards US en- minutes Afterwards
they we're on board OF my vessel and be-
gan clearing away the ma'n hatch.
lhe leader, swalthy fellow, whose
square, compact frame, and whose eyes.
black ana haHy ani hali concealed by the
lids, expressed cruelty and cunning, ap-
proaehIns the eahtn hatch, where
stood, and addressed me IN very tan
I'm SlSn.
arc you the Il ~ lin OF this vessci
ics' replied.
nav y04f cargo
"F lour,
:" h-re from
"Bost'n'
NV he'e to
"Cape a' verde.
y" ny they re all starving there, he
sa'1' op"hini hss eyes and looking iAI'
at me
es, and the toar IN my vessel was
frec.y gwen hy the god CHRISTIANS to
feed those starving ofte
Ihe rascal continued MS deliberate
gaze moment. then tarne toward his
men, who by thus time had broken into
the m IN hatch, IN r9lsh commanding
tonr,spoke 4 'ew WORT, IN spanish, which
could not mike out, lh2 men looked
up in astoni>hmnnt' and then withdrew
to the SIDE, where they stood gazing
cautiously to their captain for such was
my interro gator, He thrust his hand
behind hin,and walked to and fro quick
ly for five minutes; then he SAID, sharply.
turning to me
you Am ricans are all here'ics-
why should you send flour to feed Cath
olics p
"Because they are our fellow men, ,an'
their Savior is our Savior, answered
astorished at the conduct of the man.
''lf you lie to me, he cried with a
fierceness that started me ii you lie to
me, ii nail YOU to your deck. Is this