The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-02-26
SrlrttrO nlistrllanB.
CARREBA, THE PIRATE.


1 once had the misfortune, while yet q
mildly" 20 fall into the clutches Of Car
reba. the Pirate Chief, who at that time was
known from the Canary Isles to the Capes
Of Florida, as being ono Of the most daring
as well os the meat successful freebooters
that ever hoated over the broad Atlantic.
had been appointed to a berth in the old
Constitution, then cruising in the West
India Islands, and was forced TO take pas
sage in 3 small merchantmen trading be-
tween Charleston and Porto Rico, in order
the more speedily to join my ship.
Our captain was o hale, bluff old SEQ dog,
who had weathered more gales than l had
counted years, and who was fond OF spin
ming long yarns. l was much entertained
by this quality in him, as We walked the
deck together, while nearing the lower lati-
tudes, where we found Light breezes and
pleasant weather. He was apt TO speak OF
his personal exploits witha b~mggadocio air.
that 10 n unaccustomed as / thou was
% the skippor's %fancies, seemed to me not
only marvellous, but truo. II is difficult
for me now 10 recall the number Of battles
that be had been engaged in, the names Of
the pirates no had slain, or the names Of
the vessols in which he had distinguished
himself. After ono Of these confidential
conversations, / said 10 him:
But those times have passed, Captain
Willis. There are no pirates nov"
He looked OF me some time in silence,
with O view TO detect on my continuance
some expression that would belle my
words. But as l really thought ssI had
said, his glance went for nothing.
why bless your landlubbers heart, - he
replied, when satisfied. I'm course there
are pirates nov, and powerful nasty ones,
eAaf 1Tan II l1aa NIa .sTgg,IaW - 49, az
I don't expect to fall in with some of the
sharks this cruise"
Fall in with pirates" I exclaimed, in
surprise, land this trip, tool'
AYE, my lad-but I hope you aren't af-
raid, be your"
"Airaidl oh, mol am anxious to rec o
real pirate"
"0h, you be, eh2 Well, youngstOr, you'll
haul in your stun soils II you ever do come
athvart the bows Of one Of them free ira
defs. You like 10 see one, eh? There's
one cruising ell the way from the Canaries
70 tho Gulf-up and down the coast, that
it would shiyer your toplights to sse."
"Who is her what do you coll him?"
Hes known 10 us as Carreba, the Anti
qua bucconeer. He's a dare devil, and
wouldn't show his heels-no, not 10 one Of
Uncle Sans trigates. He commands tAut
AANkAN NAAAAH NV AnAAAAN ANA 10 4 hOAAd u
mnrlin-spike,"
and have you ever CHANGED to meet
him2' Inquired.
"Meet him, youngBtori In course Ibave.
/ rooollect some throo years ago, when l
had the Bouncing Fanny and On voy-
age 10 the Azores and a market, while lAz-
lily creeping along on the edge Of the trade
winds, falling in with this same pest Of the
sea, May l never splice the main brace
again, i'll wasn't allowed to meet him face
70 face"
And what did you do9 Made all sail
Hauled out your bowlines and rue, sh2"
mo sirl hauled aback, and waited for
him to run down, just as l should do now
II he should appear. Run2 You don't
know Captain Willis. He runS from no
mani
Would you then fnce him if he should
appear now2'
''Of course l would. Haven't wo got o
long Tom in the bows, and a stern chas-
err to boot2 Then look at our armament
cutlasses, pistols, and boarding pixies
enough for any emergency"
Sail o cried the man aloft.
The tussy, bngging captain turned pale
with flight % he Inquired:
where away
Three points of the weather bow"
what docs she look like2"
"a low, long, black schooner, 3 slaver, I
reckon, bound TO Cuba"
'It's CRrTeba, ! know it," DRIED the OK.
cited captain. Square the yards. Keep
her away, you nan at the wheel. Quick,
put her before the wind"
why, captain, A." 1 demonstrated, where
" your bravery You were anxious to meet
him"
GAY, boy, butt not on this tack. We will
como about soon"
/ saw ut onoe that he was q coward. His
orders we're obeyed, and soon we we're sail
ing with a free sheet, directly before the
wind Itook a seat upon the mAin-topsail
yard, and with the ships glass watched the
motions Of the stranger, who had by this
time como fully IN sight.
Captain Willis" l said, NOV is the
time for you 10 haul aft your sheets endlay
TO the wind. This vessel is coming down
upon as"
He did not answer me, but shouted, at
the top of his voice:
LAY aloft there and rig out them STUN
sail booms. Quick, men, or we are lostl'
Then turning TO me, he said, apOlogst-
eally:
Il have too valuable a cargo TO risk the
chances with him. Besides, l must not as
y AAANhAAA LOnAAAAIAANAN Ahh AlN kAkNg AAAhAA
az it is, into any danger, Bot We shall
meet him on our return; then, ifhe is cruis-
ing here, let him beware of mel'
/ was Disguised with his evasion, and
almost boy as l was, determined 10 take
command by appealing 10 the men, and
hght Carreba myself shouldit, indeed, b6h
Meanwhile, IL became evident that the
schooner was nearing us, and II was q mere
matter Of time and the relative qualities Of
the two vessels, whether or not we should
be oyerhauled. Again l urged the captain
to reconsider his act, but with dignity III
becoming his trembling accents, he then
replied, 'My reasons have been given =
How dare l basely Retray my trust2 The
owners Of this vessel have q right TO de-
mand that / should use every effort 10 save
her and / shall do So"
"Then, sir, you will not only have the
credit of haying attempted an escape, but
you viii also nave TO give up the ship for
see, this craft is close aboard of us, even
now. Come, Sir Valiant, haul down your
nag and surrender at discretion"
l was not prepared for the readiness dis
played by the poltroon in acting upon nay
remark. What l had uttered In ba6inage,
he seized upon as advice.
''Well, sir, II you think we had better
yield without imperiling the lives Of the
crew, / am forced to follow your advice
Haul back the mainyard."