Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-27
A Piratical Trap.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

JACK kempton and L came home
together in the old seventy-four Del
aware, early in the spring of "A, and
were paid off at Norfork. Through
our own folly, we were very soon
fleeced of our money, and in order to
reach Baltimore, we were forced to
work our way upon one of the Ches-
apeake steamers. Arrived at the lat
ter city, we at once set about finding
berth on shipboard, for to "hand,
reef, and steer" was our calling, and
we knew no other. Out in the stream
lay beautiful brig, neat, tidy, and
rakish, bound for Fayal so the bit of
lettered canvas upon her main rigging
announced. ~
II declare" said Jack, "I should
like to make trip aboard that craft.
Ant she a beauty ?" 1t was towards
the middle of the forenoon, on Sunday,
and We stood upon pier, looking off
upon the brig.
Hardly had Jack spoken, when a
hand was laid upon his shoulder, and
a voice said:
"All right, my boy. We are three
hands short, and | must sail to-day.
Ship for the round trip, aud I'll give
you one-third extra wages. What
say ?"
"Do you want both of US ?"
"Of course"
"Then we are your men,"
We did not stop to reflect; we
knew of no occasion. Here was a
fine new brig, bound for a pleasant
port, with a gentlemanly commander,
extra wages offered, and a sure show
of grub without sponging or begging
why shouldn't we jump at it.
The captain of the brig was a young
ish man, not over thirty, very stout
and strong, and evidently a Cuban,
though he spoke English with perfect
freedom and fuency. His name, as
inscribed upon his manifest, was Carl
Lorraine; and | must say | rather
liked his appearance, though l could
see that he would be tiger, if arous-
ed to hot anger. But then | never
meant to arouse the anger of my su-
periors, so | cared nothing for that.
Enough to say, Jack and | went with
the Captain to the private residence
Of a shipping agent, where we signed
the necessary papers, the date being
carried back day, in order to take
our business out from the Sabbath. A
visit to our boarding house, and the
securing of very small bundle of
clothing, finished our shore duties,
and by noon we were on board the
brig. ---.
The beauty and symmetry of the
vessel, together with her extreme neat
ness, and the perfect order of every.
thing about the deck, struck me very
forcibly, and remarked to Jack:
"No man-o'-war was ever kept more
trim"
"And why shouldn't merchantmen
keep as clean face as a war-ship p
suggested Capt. Lorraine, who had
been standing near us.
We did not answer him, and he
quickly added:
81 hope you'll both do your part
towards keeping my Lovely Nell il
good and safe condition )" after which
he handed US over to the steward, and
then walked aft.
The name of the brig, as painted
outside, was simply "Helen." but the
Captain called her "Neli," prefxing
such adjectives as suited him at the
moment.
We did not get under way unit
: nine o'clock in the evening, after which
Jack and 1 turned in. There were
no hunks in the fOrecastle, the crew
, sleeping in hammocks, which suited
me bravely. In the morning, when
turned out, | found between twenty
and thirty men on deck. A big crew
| thought, for such a vessel; but i
was soon explained to me that half of
t them were passengers-men whom
4 Capt. Lorraine had consented to lan(
, at the Bermudas. for the service Of
t vessels that lay there helpless. |
Y was far out of his way but he ap
). peared to be a kind-hearted man, ant
willing to accommodate.
: For two days nothing occurred un
usual, save that we were striking
course to the westward of the Bermu
9 das. On the morning of the thir,
- day, however, the brig assumed a ney
? face; or, she threw off her mask, an
:. showed her true face. We found tn
twelve men who had been represent
ed as passengers, hard at work. An
such strange work The topgallan
= forecastle was built in sections, tn
. . midship half so contrived that it coul
be lowered to the main deck, and rails
ed again even with the high rail, b
. means of the windlass. And upo
/ this section of the forecastle-no,
resting on the deck--a part of tn
r crew were mounting long black gun
<, but | could see, where the paint wa
t Clipped off at the muzzle, that th
( piece was of the finest bronze. An
g others of the crew were mounting
e second gun upon the quarterback
1. What did it mean? l had just turf
l. ed to speak with Jack, when Cap
d Lorraine approached US.
n "Well, my boys, do you begin to Sc
y what sort Of trade my Pretty Ne
e is engaged in 2" The speech was mad
f to Jack, who replied
= at looks kind o. roverish-like, sir
"Aye, and 4roverish' it is. You al
e old men-o'-war' s-men, and used to bi
1t guns. When | found you on the doc
,r | knew you were hard-up, and l fal
g cied you would take anything ths
1t would pay. for job; and here yo
At are, part of free-hearted and lii
IS eral crew. Do your duty and ask n
4 l.