The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-10-22
THE PIRATE.

new England CITY, sne was bound to Cape
de Verde with bread for the famine strick-
en- and dying.
1t was the fourteenth day out, in the first
gray of the morning, that the mate aroused
me with the startling intelligence that a
suspicious vessel was in sight. With the
first ray of light the vigilant officer had
deserted her, and she was SO near as to be
made out with glass. 1 was instantly on
deck.
The first glance at the stranger almost
dispelled the fear that the mates alarm had
occasioned.
"Why, Mr.. Larkin," said l., laughing as
| spoke, there's nothing suspicious in the
lubberly looking craft. She is Portu-
guese brigantine-she's not fast sailor"
"She looks that build" the mate an
swered, but just look now at the men on
deck"
One glance through the telescope was
enough to satisfy ME that the mate vas right.
'isIts no honest craft, Mr.. Larkin," said /,
"but she may not be pirate for all that.
One need not be surprised to fall in with a
SLAYER hereabouts."
ashes no SLAYER, captain"
"Why do you think so2"
oRecause there are guns on deck, instead
of water-casks."
AS if to put an end to our speculations,
the suspicious vessel began to spread more
canvas, and as she gathered away the fresh-
ening breeze, they ran up to her foremost
a flag, which, when it reached the truck,
/ L r. 1 4hO nd ho
white fold we saw the terrible insignia of
the freebooter, the deaths head and cross
bones, painted in diabolical black.
We made all the sail we could, bat es-
cape was impossible. A gun from the pi-
rate and ball whistling over us, soon
brought us to- The pirate came quietly
along, like panther, that, sure of its prey
was in no hurry to seize it. The moment
he came within speaking distance he hailed
and ordered me to launch boat and come
on board We got out the quarter boat
and was about to jump into her, to pay
my respects in person to the villains, when
Mr.. Larkin asked leave to go.
eff they want the captain" said he, "let
them send for him. I'll see if the mate
won't do as we'll"
He descended to the boat, which began
to pull back. Almost at the same instant
a launch was swung over the rail, into
which twenty savage looking rascals, fully
armed, sprung, and pulled towards US. Ter
minutes afterward they were on board Of
my vessel and began clearing away the
main hatch.
The leader, swarthy fellow, whose
square, compact frame, and whose eyes
black and hazy, and half concealed by the
lids, expressed cruelty and cunning, ap
preached the cabin hatch where l stood
and addressed me in fair English:
care you the captain of this vessel 2"
Yes l replied
whats your cargoT
"Flour."
"Where from?"
Boston"
"Where to2"
"Cape de Verdes."
"Why, they are all starving there" he
said, opening his eyes and looking full at me
eyes, and the flour in my vessel wa
freely given by good Christians to feet
LnoSe starving people,
The rascal continued his deliberate gaz
moment, then turned to his men, who by
this time had broken into the main hatch
and in rough, commanding tone, spoke
few words in Spanish, that could not max,
out. The men looked up in establishment
and then withdrew to the side, where they
stood gazing cautiously toward their cap
tain, for such was my interrogation. HI
thrust his hands behind him, and walked t.
and fro quickly for five minutes, then h
said, sharply turning to me:
"You Americans are all heretics-why
should you send flour to feed Roman Cath
olics ~
Because they are our fellow-men, an(
their Savior is our Savior" answered, as
tonished at the conduct of the man.
eff you lie to me-" he cried, with
ferceness that startled me, "if you lie t.
me, I'll nail you to the deck Is this cargc
the free gift of your countrymen to thu
starvingT
"I'll prove it to you by my papers"
answered.
Il don't want to see your papers-sweal
by the Savior, whose name you have JUS
pronounced" AS he spoke he crossed
himself devoutly.
II swearby the holy Trinity" Unanswered
solemnlyj
The pirate lifted his cap and bent hi.
head devoutly, when l mentioned the
Trinity. He stood still with his head
bent over, while one might have moderate
ly counted fifty. When he raised himself
up it seemed to me there was less ferocity
in his countenance. His eyes were nc
longer half closed, but open and clearer in
their depths. ! looked steadily at him
captain" he said, courteously, "can you
supply me with two or three casks of water p
gave the order and the water was low
cred into the boat A word. from him sent
his cut-throats over the side; but he lin
gered behind, and after moments hesita
ton, approaced me with his hand extended
God bless you," he exclaimed, as he
felt my grasp, "and send You where the
starving are praying for bread"