Litchfield enquirer., 1861-11-21

my hearties ; So bear a hand to get them slewee up" And there, indeed, appeared two old shir guns, with their carriages, but from their looks | hardly hoped that they would stand charge o powder. However, the hold was quickly open ed and, by the help of an contemporary derrick our pieces of ordinance were safely hoisted or deck.
 The preparing of these guns for service I lief, for Old Joe and his shipmates, whilst I and my party collected all the old cutlasses, muskets, and pistols we could find on board. M de S- had good sword and a pair of duelling pistols Mir. Johnson had brace of pistols also, and l had a sword and pistols From amongst the rubbish on board we selected three muskets, four toerable pistols. The bayonets we set to work and spliced on to the capstan bars, and so rigged out some capital boarding spikes; the firearms We cleaned, and the cutiasses We sharpened by grinding on the carpenters stone. When all was ready Old Joe proposed to :" scale the guns and in order to appear as formidable as we could, we contriyed to fire the two guns in succession on the starboard-sde, and then run them over to port, and fire them again. By this device we appeared to carry four guns. NFe tried our small farms in the same manner, firing the mus kets and pistols in voiieys.
 Much time was collsumed in these proceed lngs and whether it was that our stratagem had told wltl some effect or not, it was evident that the brigantine's sweeps had been laid in, and that she had advanced no nearer in the interval We therefore concluded that the pirate intended o.wait till nightall before he ran us aboard- God help us. It was a fearful thought. But every one bore up Ike q hero, and VIC made the best preparations that We could devise to resist the anticipated assault.
 Nc, T, II, horizon, and tho pirate appeared to perceive her at the same moment, f>G he once more :: out sweeps" and pulle; toward the ill-fated sail at smart pace. Every eye Was strained ill watch ing the two vessels; an;i just a.: it became too dark to distinguish distant objects, flash, fol lowed by loud report, startled the stoutest heart amongst US. Further surnses were useless, for up to this moment, though some had still tried to hope against hope" that the strange craft was not pirate after all. the dreadful certainty fell like lead upon the hearts of ell That gun shot had told a tale that nono could doubt the meaning of; and unless God should send help, either by night breeze, CT some ship with which sfe might act in c0mcert, a:! beat of thi3 scoun- drcl, our doom ss;;ia;, in all l.u:nan l>ro!,.,ty, be indeed a learinl one. But it was TO use to give away to tieSpair end darkness having now closed in, We aXtnsgHstl@,i every ligh! uG board, even in tho bn:;.cp, ;.:.s! enforced tie strictes. silence fore and ar ;2 the ship. H1ed not say there sleep i5 .:} s>i |; t;la li;sriit A- xiety h d " n!uriv.: sI,.e;:,'' .nI nylc cvon at tt:n!'tc, to " t,:rt! o E@pg ;,. ,i%e;sgiy bass e the frFvIsl E:stly- ..i t:t terrible l:4!4:: ard 'y ic if-t ta:ist >tr,a!; uG :w::I.: light every eye Was strained so u ,:e r4t., ~,;s !.l sight. Alas. glance Was >;..:.c.vI.t. Not c,.Iy was tie l'i.a." t!lern u" ;.i,.,.:i' yras-I wili hiln, evidently t'ae i:.:, l., !ti espt::;ati ;i.a night tcoga. Gt t.!, ,,tt ,!.:i;.:!c& a=tern of Gs, ait! t sy&!"? t!;2t tie !:Gi>,I.,:!e cf this vessel Ea>; fr.;iE.; saved us from :c n%i. at tack w,. :.;;,I e!!''v:,',i.
 Cur ncrlca l.s;t! been 50 oYer,:g;..lialI fr!na- ny hoHrs, that some Row began to show signs 6! sYay"rng a;iti despair: under te crel!in- stances therefore, l thought it ;"tter io orjer good i:;oN&'oc of sr1;: tp he served uut to the poor fellows, an;! keep them cnl,IHye; iI cxer- cisiDS tile 2nnG, tEc, as much as our sinali s.ocI, cf powder would admit. Ghus pass e? another NrctchcG day Of suspense and l.is- cry.
 As eyeuing was approaching we saw the pi- rate again making ;a Of her sweeps, and sine ad vanced this ti:e % close to us that with the nik- cd eye We could sec her decks swarming with men and a long T'om'' jor large swivel gum amid ships. at once ordered every man to his sta ton, We ali anticipated an immediate attack !; but to our raston;slmont, after a deliberate sur vcy she went about and swept back again to- her prize She evidently thought we were rath- er oo w"'i4rmad and prepared for an easy prey during daylight, go We once more set ourselves for & long and anxious niglt-watch. Some of our men were so wear;ed out, that i sent them below to snatch a little rest; but by night-fall of their OWE accord, all hands had again mus tered on deck.
 The lights were once more cXtngushed and I was pacing the poop with silent and sorrowful steps, when suddenly felt cool air flaming my cheek. Yes, truly,it was no delusion q breeze hat5 sprung up ot hust Thank God !! h. stantly springiEg down upon deck. gave orders to every stitch upon her "heow and aloft,'' and to trim the yards so as to feel the benefit of the breeze. All was bustlo and activity; and after altering our course, by the shippers good advice we once more heard the joyful ripple of the waters as danced by the good ships bows.
 But our joy was short-lived for just as we were congratulating ourselves on our deliy- erence, our destruction was almost accom- plished.
 was standing on the lee quarter, watching what progress our ship was making, when distincly heard a sound that sent my blood ting, ling to my very eXtremties and almost paralyz cd me. lipfl2d otu's from one, two, three different points! Mercitu Goi protect us Silence was useless now, so I sprang amongst the crew, and shouting at the top of my voice "Men, to your stations the enemys boats are alongside! rushed to the gun on the larboard side and hurried O!d Joe and his comrades to the other and with tie crew abont equally di vided between us we silently awaited the attack each ofus armed with couple of cannon-balls in our hands. We had not long to wait, fo. finding by the hustle on board that they were discovered, the pirates with yell, pulled bold. | y under the main channels, and in an instant were swarmng up the ships side. In another moment the savages would have been amongst us but shouting to my men Let them have Ii boyst' hurled the heavy 'ba!ls with al! my strength into the boat and prepairad to defend
 my sword. But the avalanche of cold iron hac done its work, and the boat alongside was ; mass of shattered timbers with her ru(iian crey beaten down and struggling with the waters fol their lives except two fellows who were now ir the rigging; blow from my trusty sword dis posed of one wretch whilst a shot from one o our crew gave lis quietus to the other.
 Hearing struggle on the starboard side O. the deck l rushed over with my division and
 soon found we had enough and to spare still ol our hands.
 | Old Joe and his party had given the othe two boats much the same reception that oai enemy had received, but with not such com plete and smashing effect for one of them ap peared to have escaped damage altogether an' the other was only partially submerged, thougl
 fast sinking. The din of battle and the fasl
 of small arms were raging around us, 50, seein;
 that not a moment was to be lost we let fly the
 old carronades, depressed to the utmost at tn
 uniniured boat which from tho caios ond voll