The weekly Butte record., 1863-11-14

the brigantine had given chase.
As l remarked at first, the barque
was not fast sailor, and it was soon
evident that the brigantine was rapidly
gaining. Stark walked up and down
the quarter deck with quick and ner-
vous strides, and great drops of perspi-
ration we're gathering upon his brow.
The crew were lost in wonder st his
behavior. We had reason to believe
that our chaser was a pirate, but We
could not conceive how that brutal man
could be so much moved by the circum-
stance.
In less than an hour the brigantine
fired one Of her bow-chasers, and the
ball struck the water under our lar
board quarter, throwing the spray over
our deck.
"We might as well heave to-" said
Mr.. McWane, our supcrcargo, who had
been watching the pirate, for such We
knew her to be. She may sink us, if
she peases."
"Then let her sink u.s." uttered the
captain.
"But I am not fond of being sunk"
persisted the supercargo. eff we
heave-to and let him come up, he may
show us some quarter. Of course we
cannot run away from him.
" | will heave to when | think neces-
sary,' resumed the captain, ina tone
which plainly indicated that he would
hear no more.
Another shot came from the brigan-
tine, and this time came crashing thro'
the stern, tearing off part of the taffrail,
and severely wounding one of the men
at the wheel; but the captain noticed
it not. He only looked aloft to see if
everything was drawing, and then re-
sumed his walk.
"Captain Stark" said the super
cargo, " will you dowse the stud'n-s'ls,
and lay the barque to?''
McWane was young man, but he was
firm, bold man, and the captain stop
dcd.
"Fll heave to on one condition." he
said, "and that is if you will fight like
a tiger"
"We'll fight if there is need of it,"
said the supercargo.
At that moment another shot came
crashing along, and stove our larboard
quarter boat in, and in a few minutes
afterwards, captain Stark passed the
order for taking in stud'n-s'ls and heav-
ing to. The order was quickly obeyed,
and in ten minutes afterwards the brig
antine Ito under our lee-quarter,
and threw her graplipgs.
The pirates deck was covered with
men, and as they began to pour in over
our rail, Captain Stark called on his
men to repcl them. But not man
moved to obey his order. The pirate
chieftain was first on board us, and as
his eyes rested on Stark, he uttered a
shout of triumph.
"By my SOULS salvation," he cried,
turning to his men, "here's traitor.
At him."
Stark leaped back and fired his pistol;
but one of the pirates who had at that
instant gained the shattered tafrail,
knocked the weapon up with sword,
and the ball did no damage. The bat
tie was only between Stark and the pi-
rates-not another man of the barque's
crew interfered. The gigantic captain
fought with all his might, but numbers
overcame him and he was made pris-
oner and bcund-it seeming to have
been care on the part of the pirates
not to kill him.
who is captain here?" asked the
buccaneer leader, in good English, but
with an accent that bespoke the Span
lard.
He was captain" said Mr.. Wales,
pointing to where the exhaus ed man
lay bound.
And who was next in command %
Il was" said the mate.
"You don't seem to exert yourself
much in defending your vessel"