Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-07

| terruptlng MIN, bHe IcIlOW y NOV VI ouo
true breed, I'll swear, tho'ff our gap'n do
take to him SO hugely"
John felt that it was now become abso-
|lutely necessary for him to taks adecided
part, for all eyes were on him, and be could
mo longer temporise with safety. Advan-
cling, therefore, towards the pirate comraan-
der, shear me. Captain Davis" he said,
mot an arm will raise to DAY against the
crew Of yonder ship. !,
ssDown with him-spy traitor, coward
down with him." shouted . dozen rufians,
rushing with drawn swods towards him;
cold Tom was right; he's chicken-hearted,
after ALL"
Stopper your jaws roared Che Captain
then turning to Trennlon, ne added 40
you dare refuse obedience, sir? Do you
remember who am, end who you are =
81 am man, g replied John boldly, 'and
you are no more. You can brave death, 50
too can I. Heir, then, and respect my de-
Termination. Till the time when | was to
have made my decision has arrived, | will
not fight under your flag. have no quar-
rel with the Spaniard; ! have no wish for
plumber: and I will not shed innocent blood
This is my fixed resolve, so do with me as
you please I am at your mercy, and lscorn
to suppIicate your pity" :.
kill she spy-hew down the traitor"
roared the pirates, among whom the Lieu
tenant was the most excited.
| Trevanion eyed them with look Of cold
contempt; 'syou may bear me down by num-
bers," said he, ''and glut your vengeance
on an rnarmed boy but you shall not COM
pei me to shed the blood of those who never
Injured me. AS for you, Captain Davis. !
have merely to observe, that it is but a short
time since you solemnly plighted your faith
to me, that you would not attempt te CO.
cree nv inclinations till full week had
elapsed. AS a man, then, and as as chris
tian-for I perceive you lay great stress On
your religious duties-I call upon you to
fulfill that promise"
The pirate was evidently staggered by
this address. His first impression had ac-
corded with his crews, that the youth was
an arrant coward the cool and impertur-
bable demeanor of Trevanion, however,
soon convinced him that this could not pc
the case, and he was already hesitating as
to how he should act-for be had as sin
cere liking fer John as it was possible for
such a man to have-when this appeal to
his honor decided him. Assuming, there
fore, a less savage aspect, he said, "the
fool speaks truth, lads; | did pledge him
my word, and will not break it, be the
risk what it may One hand more or less
will be Of nc consequence; and tomorrow
he is ours, or up he goes to the yard-arm.
Twas an absurd promise on my part, but
[ stand to it as he shall to his. Heaven
help the lubber, he has missed glorious
opportunity to make his fortune z
An angry murmrr here arose among the
crew, who crowded close up to Trevanion
as if they would have hacked him to pie
ccs. The Lieutenant was the foremost, and
was actually preparing to level his pistol at
the youths head, when the Captain, after
wrestling it from his hand, shouted in
voice Of thunder, "down with your bark
ers, the first who stirs, dies. On, have
you sense Of religion, that you thus set your
Captains authority at naught? Away,
each man to his post; see. the Don is pre-
pairing his broadside AS for this young
ster, since he is resolved for few hours to
remain neutral, / will put it out Of his pow
er to be treachercus, so down with you be-
low decks. and woe to you if you play tho
same boys game tomorrow"
Left to the solitude of his cabin, whittier
old Tom had hurried him, muttering, as he
thrust him down the companion ladder, ma
ny tough curse on the Captains folly in
having any thing to do with such "fair
weather spark" Johns thoughts were Of
the most distracting nature possible. Now
he determined to rush up on deck and meet
an honorable death, fighting side BY side
with the Spaniards, and now, as he recalled
the image Of Mary, he desisted from his
desperate purpose. No, he said, while
there is life there is hope, and possibly a
few hours may procure me release from my
prison. Courage, then all may yet be well,
and the last as well as the first Of the witch's
predictions may be accomplished.
His reverie was here broken in unc-., 10
tremendous uproar that new ragged upon
deck To every broad ooured 4 Nv tho
non' .ns p'la' - responded by fierce yell
OF uefls'. "a, and cannonads that set the
'. sssel quiyering from stem to stern. Oh,
how often did john pray for the success
Of the Spaniards, though bis heart sank
within him, while ever and anon he heard
the pirate chief cheering on his men in
such terms, as Egive her grape enough,
lads-hurrah for the black aag-now's your
T time, Jack, lay US alongside her, and TWEEN
ty piastres to him who first mounts her
deck"
And now roared the full hurricane Of
battle. Hank to crash Of the falling mast
the demoniae cries Of the buceaniers-sh
blasphemous oath-the wild hurrah-the
trampling Of feet on the crimsoned deck,
and the instant rush Of life in one shrilL,
aeonized scream from some wretch shot
right through the hearth And while this
Wholesale carnage is going forward, all is
peace and gentleness in surrounding Ma
7 tturel Heavens countenance is radiant
with smiles-the wind, but Of late so fresh,
| is lulled-the sea sleeps with scarce wrin-
kle on it's surface. Oh, man if this world
be .syale Of tears" it is thou chiefly that
dost make it SO!
Three times were the pirates rcpulsed,
and as often did they make good their foot
ing on the enemy's deck. John meanwhile
kept listening to the uproar above his head
with feelings Of indescribable agitation,