The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-07-03

Run away from whati'' asked lack
Phipps, who had overheard the last remark.
"Rrom that schooner" the skipper repii.
ed. al don't like the looks Of her."
Phipps was very inquisitive. for he had no.
ticed the old man and Ira whispering togeth.
sr, and he mistrus.ed something, and finally
succeeded in getting the whole story.
Just as the sun disappeared below its bed
of waters. Barnard 20, fair view Of the
schooner. and he had no doubt left upon his |
mind. She answered exactly to the descrip-
tion Sanders had given him Of the pirate, and
she had changed her course, too. When FIRST
seen. she had been close hauled upon the
larboard tack. Standing to the nor.h'rd and
west'rd, but now she had gone about. and
was standing up towards the brig.
The men we're nervous ; but as night clos
ed in, and the schooner was shut out from
view, they hoped to run away. Some Of
them proposed to down with the helm and
run for the coast. But the skipper said, no.
He would stand on his course, and run the
risk. The pirate woul6be as likely to run
for the coast as any way.
by jimmeny," uttered Phipp.. ]" IL we
had men enough, Bill and could get our drum
and fife going, and brighten EN-"
"Yes--and if we had men enough, we
could fight EN-" returned the captain.
This seemed reasonable. so all hands unit.
ed 10 wishing that they had plenty Of men,
and plenty Of arms and ammunition.
A strict watch was kept. and at midnight
Bill Sawyer discovered the schooner upon
the lee quarter. He was in the main-top.
and could jus, make out dark mass upon
4 fha eiarlIN Nanf I'll al
with his night-glass--a powerful one. by the
way-and he could see the schooner's lnasts
clearly defined.
She's overhauling u.s. he said as he step
ped upon the deck Z" and" he added, relue.
family, eve are sailing as last as we can.
We have no more canvass TO spread"
The crew were terror-stricken. There
was no back-door 10 glide through. and no
woods 10 hide 10. They might do their vt
most, and yet the sails could move them on.
" so fast. At Two o'clock the pirates top.
masts were clearly defined against the sky !;
and in an hour more the heads Of her fore
and main sails were seen. Captain Barnard
paced his quarter deck very uneasiiy. His
position was hard one. Had he mt known
the pirate from the description he had reeriy-
. ed OF her, the fact Of her chasing him thus
would have been sufficient.
"Half-past three-and IN less than an hour
i will be daylight groaned the captain. in
agony. The pirate IS everlasting Us fast.
Look-you can almost see her buiwarks !"
The men looked. and il was even a. Bar.
nard had said. The whole Of the schooner's
canvass was visible against the sky. and she
carried 4 cloud Of il, too. Once more The
captain took his glass and went slofi. Just
as he had gained the erosstrees q lantern was
brought upon the schooner's deck and carried
forward. As the light cleaned out upon sur.
rounding objects. Barnard could see that the
deck was swarming with men. and that mos,
Of them were forward. gazing alter his YES.
sci. He saw the CLEAN Of Knives aud pistol
barrels. and also the heavy forms Of two or
three brass guns.
Its all Up" he said. as he came down.
I" Her deck is full Of men, and ,hey are all
armed 70 the teeth"
!" How could you see 7" asked Ira.
"a lantern was carried across the deck
while | was aloii. aLd I saw plalaly. Oh
il we only had men enough 2"
MAKE EN-" said Jack Phipps.
:" Make 'em wish to the Lord ! could
Make 'em out Of shocks" pursued Phipp.
The captain gared upon the SPEAKER. but
said nothing. Tie vas thinking the matter
over.
Make your men. and then let me and
Bill play the drum and fife."
Phipps and Bill Sawyer had formerly been
musicians for a military company. and whea
they engaged With Capt. Barnard. they took
their drum and ife with them. aud when the
mood was upon them. they used 10 play for
their mates to dance.
The skipper soon comprehended the whole
scheme, aud ere long made arrangements for
putting il in operation. II was very evident
that the pirate would overhaul them 10 lev
hours IL they kept on thus. and unless some
strstagem could be successfully carried out
they were doomed. II would be daylighl 10
less than an hour. 50 IL was necessary that
they should work smartly.
The haIehes were thrown OF, and forty
shocks passed up IRON the hold. and so ar.
ranged that the main sail would hide them
from the pursuer while the brig stood on her
present course. A. soon as this was done
the men ransacked their chests. and every
conceivable article nf clothing the brig could
afford was brought forth. Some Of the shocks
were dressed 10 jackets. some 10 frocks. while
others had 10 put up with old trowsers drawn
down over them. Hats and caps were fash.
toned from strips Of tarpaulin, and when this
article failed recourse Was had 10 bits Of can.
yass.
When the wooden men we're thus rugged
out. they we're arranged 80 a. 10 mske as
much show as possible. and yet hide their
true character. some were set up against
The lee bulwatks, some against the long boat
and some proppsd up in the gangway BY
means Of checks and lashings. Ia fact, these
innocent bundles Of slaves made quite for.
midable appearance. Barnard was well a.
ware that they could not stand The foil light
Of day, bat he meant TO have them perform
their duty in the dusky gray Of early dawn.