The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-12-23
s@isrrilann.
A Yankee Captains Adventure.

coas, of Msine-a now fashionable summer re-
sort-sn old fisherman by the name Of Jedediah
Spinnet, who owned a schooner of some hundred
tons burthen, in which he, together with four
stout sons, was wont to 60 about once . year to
the Grand Bank for the purpose eff catching cod
fish. The old man had Ave things about which
he loved to bosst-his schooner "Betsey Jenkins"
and his four sons.
The four sons were all that their father repre-
scented them to be- and no one ever doubted his
word when he said their like was not to be found
for fifty miles around. The oldest was twenty.
teenth year, and they answered to the names of
Seth, Andrew. John and Samuel
One morning stranger called upon Jedediah
to engage him to take to Havana some iron ma.
ohinery belonging to steam engines for sugar
plantations; the terms were soon agreed upon,
and the old man and his sons immediately set
about putting the machinery on board that &C.
complished, they set sail for Havana with fair
wind and for several days proceeded on their
course without adventure of any kind. One
morning, however, a vessel was deserted off the
starbosrd quarter, which, with some hesitation,
the old man pronounced to be pirate. There
was not much time allowed them for doubling,
for the vessel soon ssluted them with the not
very agreeable whizzing of an eight pound shot
Just under their stern.
"That means for us to heave to-" remarked
the old man.
"Then l guess We had better do it, hadn't
OF" said Seth.
''Of course"
Accordingly the "Betsey Jenkins" was brought
up into the wind. and her main boom hauled
over to the windward
''Now boys" said the cid maA, a. soon AZ the
schooner came to stand, "all we can do is to
keep as COO! as possible, and trust to fortune.
There Is no way to escape that can now,
but perhaps if We are civil, they will take such
stuff rs they want. and then let 20. At any
rate, there Is no use crying about it, for it
can't be helped. Now get your pistols aud see
that they are saroiy loaded, aud have your
knives ready, but be snre and hide them, SO that
the pirates shall see no signs of resistance" In
few momests all the arms which the schooner
afforded, with the exception Of one or two old
muskess. were secured about the persous of our
Down casters, aud they quietly awaited the
coming of the schooner.
"One word MORE" said the old man, Just 10
the pirate came round under the stern. SNOW
watch every motion I make, and be ready to
jump the moment speak"
AS Captain Spinnet ceased speaking the pirate
luffed up under the fisherman's lee quarter, and
in a mement moro tho lattsr's deck was graoed
by the presence OF . dozen as savage looking
mortals as eyes ever looked upon.
Are you captain of this vessel ?" asked tho
leader of the boarders, as he approached the old
mate.
eyes, sir"
"Whst Is your cargo? ?"
"Machinery for steam engines"
Nothing else, asked the pirate with search.
ing look.
AT this moment Captain Spinxets eye caught
what looked like q sale off to the south ward and
eastward, but not sign betrayed the discovery
and while brilliant idea shot through his mind
he hssitatingly replied:
'Well, there is little something else"
Ola! what is that7"
"Why, sir, praps hadn't ought to tell" said
Captain Spinust, couutsrfeiting the most ex.
treme perturbation. "You see it was given mo
as Il sort of trust. and it wouldn't be right for
me 20 give it ap Yoa can take anything else
you please. for can't help myself"
"You are al honest codger at any rate" said
the pirate; "but il you would live ten minutes
longer, just tell me what you've got on board,
and exactly the place where it lays"
The sight of & cooked pistol brought the old
man to his senses, and in deprecating tone he
muttered:
Don't kill ne, sir; don't I'll tell you all.
We've got forty thousand silver dollars nailed
up in boxes just for'srd o the cabin bulkhead,
but Mr.. before didn't suspect anybody would
have thought OF looking for it there
"Perhsps So" chuckled the pirate, while his
eyes sparkled with delight. Aud then turning
to his own vessel, he ordered all but three of his
men to Jump on board the Yankee.
In few minutes the pirates had taken off tho
matches, in their haste 10 get at the silver dol.
lars they had forget all else. but not 30 with
Spinnes; no had sill his vita at work. and no
sooner had the lest of the villains disappeared
below tbs hstchwsy than he turned to bis bows
"Now, boys, for your lives. Seth you clap
your knife across tho fore and peak hslyards.
and ycu, John, cut the main Be Quick now. and
the moment yoa have done it Jump on board
the pirste. Andrew and Sam, you cast off the
pirates graphing. and then you jump-then We
will walk into them three chaps aboard the clip.
per. Now for it,"
No sooner were the last words out Of tbs old
mans mouth thea his sons did exactly a. they
were directed. Tho fore and main hslyards
Were cut, sad the two grsppliugs cast off A. tho
same instant, tnd rs the heavy gsff came rat.
Ting dovs, our heroes lesped on board the nj.
rate lhe moment the clipper felt at liberty.
her head swung off, aud before the xstonished
bucc'ueers could gain the deck of the fisherman
their own vessel WAS nearly half Z cables length
TO HE ieew"rd, sweeping gracefully away before
the wind, while ths three men who had b. on
LETT IN chsrga were easily secured.
"H,lios, there y shosted C.ptsir Spinnst. a.
the .8rkie's pirates crowded around the lee gang
wa! OF t"eii 9ri]e, when you get them ere ,il-
vcr dollars ise: let Il. know, will YOU.
Halle dozen pistol shots w.- the .o.,er III.
Old man got, but they did dm 70 harm and
cro' din. ~ e~il. 'e made f.r the vessel \. h,A
di'r2yered, which lay dead lre..-4 Of hin, nd
"h)rn he nov mace orf TO ~, = l,--. ,hi, ~.
clipper cot through tie ~a,,r like iolnh;u
ano IN saoFt space q time Spnu.t lu;rei NJ,
under the ships r"r; aud .,plsin,6 IN th,,
had h'ppeaed. The ship proved T., he Nm F..t
iha.s'an' bound .or Ghsr'-N'oo, h.vit,. Al! ,ola