The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-06-11

bAAb N0ul ltAhApu AtuAtis VA NY way up
met black sambo, the cook. Though
nature had put it out of his power t
look pale, the poor fellow looked tn,
picture of terror. The pallor of frigh
seemed positively struggling through
his skin, and his eyes had that expires
sion of alarm, which terrifes more thar
even the pallid cheek or the quiverint
lip.
"Forheaven's sake" I asked, "whai
is the matter2"
"Sharks, Sal" he replied, in an in
tense sewhisper-seemingly afraid to speal
above his breath.
els that alll"
CAM" he Instantly said. "Piratesl'
"Where9" asked, my heart suddenly
bounding against my ribs.
"Seel" said Sambo, pointing aft.
I looked in the direction indicated
and my eyes rested on an object yet al
some distance, but TO strike fear into the
stoutest heart. It was ''the strange
ship, which the captain had been scan
ming the preceding night, and there
could now be little doubt as TO her char.
acter. A smart breeze had sprung up,
and she was gaining on us. Her rig and
hull were now recognized by some Of
the older hands on board; she was a no
torious pirateship, in full chase of our
vessel, and, but for some merciful inter
position of Providence, we seemed
doomed for capture.
I walked up to the captain: "Well,
said, "the secrets at last outl"
eyes" I knew her from the first, but
l tried the chance of an escape, not
knowing whether she might have seen
us or not; but, you see, we have failed.
She is one of the most determined
pirates in these manned by crew
of about the biggest rufians that ever
trod deck.
''But what is to be done?" 1 asked.
"Surely, you do not think of offering
resistance2"
''There is no other way for it; at all
events, we must try. We may wing
her, and escape"
but, if you fail, you will only have
eXasperated them, and provoked their
revenge"
''Resist or not, we have no mercy to
hope for from them, and my minds
made up"
''But what means of resistance have
you9 Your vessel is short manned; you
are without guns or ammunition"
''You have not yet seen our means:
and such as they are, we must use them
against that rufian.
His eye glanced again in the direction
Of the pursuing ship. She was long,
low sort of craft, evidently very swift,
Her foremast and bowsprit were i'm
strong, and of great length,
out covered with canvas, under press
Of which she came bowling along, the
now freshening breeze filing her sails.
The rapidity with which she gained on
US, showed that we had no chance of es-
cape by fight. Our every rag of can
vas had been for some time set, and the
old numbering ship, heavily laden as
she was, went snorting and groaning
the water. The match was as
unequal as between a cart-horse and a
thoroughbred racer
Turning my eyes again towards the
deck, I found the men all activity and
hustle. Oce group I observed busily
engaged in breaking and saving old
ron hoops and spikes. These were for
"But where are the guns9" 1 asked of
the captain.
"You shall see presently" he replied;
'the men are dragging them from their
below, for we carry more
than the regulation number. In the
L ask you to go below, and
break the matter to your fellow passen-
gers. There may be some gentlemen
not unwilling to aid in the defense of
the ship. At present cannot leave the
deck. My wifef"-a shudder seemed to
pass over his face, and he added
''would to heaven she had not been
here!"
I pressed his hand and went below.
Need 1 say what screaming, sobbing,
aud crying there was, when I informed
my fellow passengers of the danger so
near at hand. One tender girl there
was fair and graceful, beautiful as light,
who displayed the most charming cour-
age and self-possession. She was on
her way home TO England in search Of
health which she had lost amid the hot
swamps of the tropics. 1t might be
that she felt the hand of death already
upon her and the ties that bound her to
life were thus feeble. She tried to
soothe the shrieking women, cheered
those who seemed as if stricken by their
terror, and urged upon all to reflect,
that it was their duty rather to aid and
encourage those who were about to risk