The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-17
-LAFITTE,
THE BARBARIAN CHIEF.
TALE FOUNDED on FACT.
CONTINUED from the issue Of the Sd inst.)

CONTINUED from the issue Of the Sd inst)
By a violent effort, and before he
! could save himself from my impetuous
attack, / had dashed him to the deck
and was on the point of transfxing him
with my sabre, when my feet which were
wet with blood slipped, and [ fell upon
my antagonist. He was too much in
iured by the fall to be able to avail
himself of the advantage my accident
had given him-but l was instantly
seized by half dozen of the pirates,
and should have been sacrificed, had not
Capt. Bowden thrown himself among
them, and with his death dealing sabre,
freed me from their grasp. [ was hard
ly on my feet before the cry they are
boarding US on the starboard quar-
ter p was heard; and | perceived a
fresh band of murderers were already
on board
Z" If we must die let us sell our lives
at as dear a rate as possible said [ to
Capt. Bowden; and rushed upon the
gang who were pouring on the starboard
quarter of the Cleopatra. Our swords
soon thinned their numbers, but we were
weary with slaughter, and there appear
ed no end to our tolls. Four only Of
our crew were left, and we felt that we
must soon sink under the overwhelming
force which was pouring upon us from
all sides. At that instant volley of
musketry killed every man of our crew,
who had hitherto escaped to assist us in
stemming the torrent, and Capt. Bow
den and myself were surrounded by
wretches, whose yells, oaths, and impre
cations, made them more resemble de-
mons than human beings. To prevent
being placed in situation where we
could keep our enemies at bay, we re-
treated, or were rather carried by the
crowd of assailants to the corner of the
vessel, where pile of slain rose around
us, and the deck flooded with gore.
" Fools to throw away your lives in
this manner ~ shouted stentorian
voice from person who was seen strug.
Cling through the crowd of assailants
give them the cold lead !" And this
order was obeyed by volley of balls
which brought Capt. Bowden to the
deck, while the life blood flowed in tor
rents from MS numerous wounds. Oh,
my dear wife and children Great
God project them was all he could
: utter before he was lifeless corpse
The man who had given the order, and
who from his commanding manner ap-
peared to be the chief of the pirates,
had cleared way through the assailants
and with his drawn sabre now confronted
J me. | rejoiced to see him, for his
strength and the manner in which be
: welded his instrument of death, con-
vinced me that if he conquered my
death could not be lin roring-and if he
fell | should have TIE satisfaction OF
freeing the world Of 42nster
, The combat was obstinate, [ fought
with the hopelessness of desperation,
and pressed my 'saiIant so closely that
he found himself unable to resist the
t assault, when by an unlucky blow my
! sabre was snapped in dozen pieces
) and | stood before him unarmed and
defenceless Barring my bosom, | in
wardly commended myself to my maker
: and told him to strike: but to my sur
prise he dropped the point of the weap
y on, and looking me earnestly in the face
!, as he wiped the blood from his brow
: exclaimed, =" Not when unarmed
. brave men honor the brave you are
{ safe, Lafitte !" and in
@ stantly recognized him as the person
o who had so strongly attracted my at
r tention while on our voyage from New
n Orleans to the English Turn.
! Who is this that breaches safety ?
) exclaimed voice half choked will
Q rage, and in tones that made me shud
. . der : may damnation seize me, if h'
. shall not atone with his blood for thu
murder of my brother ~ So saying b,
fired pistol which would have shat
tered my brains, had not Lafitte, by al
u instantaneous and dexterous movemen
of his sabre, thrown his pistol into The
: air when the assassin vas in the act o
:, !. firing, by which means l was preserved
although | was so near that my face
q was severely burnt by the discharge
q Were it not, Laborde," said Lafitte
b that l apprehend the injury on you
:, head has made you raviDg, this act o
% rebellion to my authority would be you
70 last but be careful how you tempt ~,
y forbearance too far"
8 Cowardly miscreant !" cried La
q borde; "you think to rob me of m!
} victim-but should hell with all it
!, legions arrayed against me appear,
:. !. would be revenged-this vessel is m!
II prize, this sabre shall keep possession
!, and this sabre shall revenge my brother.
4 Touch but hair of this mans heaC
}. to injure him." answered Laftte, in
d voice which showed he was accustomed