The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-10-31
Selttt sMlistltlIang
THE PIRATE.

Twenty seven years ago the ship command |
ed was ON a mission of mercy. Laden by the |
generous contributors of a New England city,
she was bound to the Cape de. Verde with
bread for the famine stricken and dying -rE5 i
1t was the fourteenth day out, IN the gray |
of the morning, that the mate reused me with |
the startling intelligence that q suspicious !
vessel was III sight With the first ray OF light i
the vieilant officer had described her, and she |
was so near as to be made out with glass. L
was on deck in an instant. i-,.4e .@ss.:,,. ~
The first glance at the stranger almost dis
PEELED the fear that the mates alarm had oc-
asioned. ~ .-es if,. las -st-. .ri
."Why, Mr.. Larkin," said, laughing as
spoke, ''there's nothing suspicious IN that iub-
bcrly-lokipgl craft She is a Portuguese brig
antine; she can't sail" -lr.l. .r.t .-a 5
s.She looks like that build,' the mate an
swered, "but look now at the men on her
deck" -., ,.........f --,r-,'...: =. II
Ore glance of the telescope was enough to
satisfy me that the mate was right.
'.It's no honest craft, MIR. Larkin," l said,
sbut size may not be pirate, for ali that One
need not be surprised to fall in with SLAYER
hereabouts." .f..-.t. -.i,r.J .rr-,s,sr,. . ., -
'sShe's no SLAYER, captain" r.-5 a....f
/ "Why do ycu think ~ .!5.4.. ...-.t..r .sr
Because there are guns on her deck, in
| stead of water casks" ,. ,.,; Sal. 10 -
AS if to put an end to our speculations, the
suspicious vessel began to spread more canvas,
i and as she gathered away the fresheninS
breeze, they ran up to. her foreniast flag
which, when it reached the truck, unshook its
folds in the wind. On the white field we saw
the terrible insignia of the freebooter, the
deaths head and cross bones, painted In dia
bolical black. IN e..-.-,...; IL -..-. ..
We made all the sail we could, but escape
was impossible. A gun from the pirate, and
a 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
wthin.4A Aeaking distance he hailed and ordered
me to launch boat and come on board. We
J got out the quarter boat, and l was about to
jump into her, to pay my respects to the vii,
lains, when Mr.. Larein asked leave to go.
.1f they want the, Captain said he, "let
! them send for him. I'll see if the mate won
lie descended int into the boat, which began |,
4 pull back. Almost. at the. same instant !;
e launch SWING over the raj, into which twent.
d savage looking .rascals, armed to the teeth
$ sprung and pulled toward us. Ten minute
4 afterward they were on board of my vessel
= and began clearing away the main hatch
e The leader, a sTartby fellow, whose square
compact frame, and whose eyes, black AM
hazy, and half concealed by the lids, expresse
!, cruelty and cunning, approached the cabi1
q 2 hatch, where he stood and addressed me il
very fair English. ~. t-i..f .g,..,-z
!. ssAre you the captain of this vessel? ?" ~
t. .Yes," replied. 80. ..f.. ..s... ..s.s
, What's your cargo z! 5a 5,446 sv1.- eli.
lqWhere from p 'l...tss /. a...a. -. aai
Boston; y, aro>q ,-.Ha.,.iie, .,.2di z1g-
,, nGape Gnefd de- : Verde lew 1s''g <1oF3 "a "a,
,ei "W6y, they're all starving there, )" he sale
n opening his eyes and looking full at me.
'e eyes, and The -four in my vessel was freel
,e ,e given by good Christians to feed these star
l The rascal continued his deliberate gaze
er moment, then turning towards his men, wi
= had by3this time broken into the mann hatol
Id aud, in a rough, commanding tone, spoke
Il few words in Spanish which could not NAL
> i ont The men looked up in establishment, ar
- then withdrew to the side, where they stot
I'M gazing cautiously towards their captain, +
sr' such. was my interfogator. He thrust !
4 hand behind, him, and walked to and +
"A quickly for five minutes, then he said sharpl
Q q turning to me: - e,e...~.f-. q, ,,-,
z "Yen Americans are all hereticsr w
d should u ysH send -four to 5' feed g. Roman oa'n
= hes ~ 4ei -,oiarj s-,3 :. Ltsll a,.fas ,,
We Savior is or Sstfefjp I answered, astonish
ty at the eohdaet Of fhe man. 81, .I, -.
a, aIf YOU lie TO he,n he cried, with fer
10 moss that startled me, tif you lie to me,
Re re neI Won to- YOUR deck Is this cargo the fl
III a;ft, rift Of your eoupttynsen to the starving?"
.e5 "I'll prove II v ,oui BY my papers 4 -
d, bysf gsis don't wans 70 see your papers: sw'
& :. the Savior, whose haine you have Just
or peunced p As he spoke be es crossed s4In hus ms
J deyoutly. b ~ snssfii.f1a1 zarlg 5 .sr