The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-10-25
TIE PIRATE.


commanded was on q mission Of mercy.
Laden by the generous contribution OF
New England city. she was bound to the
Cape de Verd with bread for the famine.
stricken and dying.
1t was the fourteenth day out, in the
gray Of the morning, that the mate reused
me with the startling intelligence that a
suspicious vessel was in sight. With the
first ray Of light. the vigilant officer had
described her, and she was so near as to
be made out with glass | was on deck
in an instant. 2Ut 20 Il
The first glance at the stranger almost
dispclled the fear that the mates alarm
had occasioned -'s
"Why, Mr.. Larkin,"'I said, laughing
as spoke. "there's nothing suspicious in
that lubberly- looking craft. She is Por.
tugues brigantine; she can't sail"
"Shc looks like that build," the mate
answered, but look nov at the inen on
her deck" a.s srt lr.
One glance Of the telescope was enough
TO satisfy me that the mate was right. H
"lps no honest craft, Mr.. Larkin," l
said; "but she may not be a pirate, for al
that. One need not be surprised to fail
in with SLAYER hereabouts."
"She's no SLAYER, captain
"Why do you think?' HaH 'ra
"Because there are guns on her deck,
instead of water casks" lrt ..s
AS il to put an end to our speculations,
the suspicious vessel began to spread more
canvas, and as she gathered away the
freshening breeze, they ranup to her fore
mast flag which, when it reached the
truck, unshook its folds in the wind. On
the white field we saw the terrible insig-
ma OF the freebooter, the deaths head and
cross bones, painted 10 diabolical black. 4.
We made all the sale we could, but es-
cape was impossible. A gunfrom the pi-
rate, and ball whistled over us, speedily
brought us to. The pirate came quickly
along. like a panther which, sure Of his
prey, was in no great hurry to seize it,
The moment he came within speaking
distance lie hailed, and ordered lne to
launch boat and come on board. We
got out the quarter boat, and | was about
to jump into her, to pay my respects to
the villains, when Mr.. Larkin asked leave
10 go. ..f l stv-at ,u-.. o.
"If they want the captain" said he,
'let them send for him. I'll see if the
mate won't answer as we'll" ...
He descended into the boat, which be.
gan to pull back. Almost atthe same in
slant a launch was swung over the rail,
into which twenty savage looking rascals,
armed to the teeth, sprung, and pulled to-
ward u.s.. Ten minutes afterward they
we're on board Of my vessel, and began
clearing away the main hatch. a g.
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 he stood
and and addressed me in very fair Eng
lish. .... ..,.
care you the captain Of this vessel?"
"Yes." l replied. "... ..
"What's your cargo?' ...
"Flour." s. s.
"Where from?" s. ... ....... r.
Boston" ..r.
"Where to?' .-.
"Cape de Verde"
"Why, they're all starving there" he
said, opening his eyes and looking full at
me. ...-..
eyes, and the -four in my vessel was
freely given by good Christians to feed
these Starving people"
The rascal continued his deliberate gaze
moment, then turned toward his men,
who had by this time broken into the main
hatch, and, in rough, commanding tone,
spoke few words in Spanish, which l
could not make out. The men looked up
in astonishment, and then Withdrew to
the side, where they stood gazing cautious
ly towards their captain, for such was my
, interrogation. He thrust his hand behind
him, and walked to and fro quickly fol-
FIVE minutes; then he said, sharply, turn
t ing to me:
"You Americans are all hereticsl Why
should you send flour to feed Roman Cath
. olics?'
) "Because they are our fellow men, ant
their Saviour is our Saviour" answered
astouished at the conduct OF the man.
"If you lie to me-" he cried, with
= = 6erceness that startled me, "if you lie t
= me, III nail you to your deck! Is thi
: cargo the free gift of your countrymen tt
i the starving? .r
"1ll proveit it 10 you by my papers,"
:, answered.
IL don't want tc sec your papers,
;. Swear by the Savior, whose name yo
7 have Just pronounccdl" AS he spoke h
crossed himself dcvotedly,
II swear by the Holy TrinityP' l re
. piled, solemnly.
= = The pirate lifted his cap and bent hi
= head devoully when mentioned the Trim
u ity. He stood still, with his head Der
over while one might have moderated
counted fifty. When he raised himself VI
% it seemed to me there was less ferocity
l. his countenauce. His eyes were no or
+ ger half closed, but open and clear in the
a depths. looked steadily at him.
"Captain," said he, courteously, "cO
~ YOU supply me with two or three casks
water"
IT gave the order, and the water was lov
3 cred into the boat A word from hi
sent his cut.throats over the side; but
fingered behind, and after moments he
itation, approached me with his hand