Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-07-31

the breeze, and the drawing of every
sail, as I never watched before. Over
and over revolved my precious reckon
ing" Yes, yesterday 1 struck out for
the Gulf stream last night headed
thus and thus to-day was sure of my
figures. 1t must be So have made no
mistake. Yet, how, if cannot manage
at last Z A single error, a shadow of
suspicion, and knife will end ALL" Thus
1 mentally conversed with myself.
Here and there were vessels sailing
upon various courses, but L dared not
approach, dared hardly look at them.
AS evening approached, 1 saw the land.
1t would be dark ere we should reach it;
and thus far all went hopefully. Yet
never had the blood stains upon the
briggs deck looked more hideous than
now. Hope had in a measure broken
the nightmare of horror, and more fully
than before 1 realized the awfulness OF
the tragedy which had been perpetrated.
Strongly the northeastern piped-it
would not fail me now-apd the clouds
were thick, and the night would be very
dark. Then upon the lee bow cleaned
q light, and presently away off the wealth
er bow shone family another. Oh, the
anxiety of that moment! 1 was right.
There they were, the two beautiful lights
yes, beautiful indeed to me. But the
hour of greatest peril was at hand; and,
like dramatic author who fears for his
last act, studied again and again the
various contingencies that might cross
my plans, and reveal my intentions to
the murderous Spaniards.
We passed the lights, at q considera-
BILE distance from both. and many were
the inquiries of the pirates as to our .po-
sition. I told them that we had few
miles further to run, when we should
have reached the achorage at the water.
ing place. Darkness prevented them
from seeing the land, and they had moi
the most distant idea of their surround
ings. The lights they imagined to be
upon two islands-at least, they took
my word for it, and had no suspicion oi
onr real whereabouts.
On and on flew the Isabel; and if evel
at one time more than another I have
tried to exert my nautical Judgment and
forethought, it was then. We saw Other
lights; but the pirates supposed them tc
be upon the ocean coast, along which
they believed themselves sailing. Al
length, [ requested them to take in the
light sails and the courses. This com
pleted, I called out-and it was with {
dreadful thrill at my heart, L assure yor
-"Let go the topsal yards, and cleW
up /"
1t was done; and I could see that {
dark bank was rising under the lee bow
"Stand by to let go anchor" I shout
ed, "while 1 bring her up in the wind 7
clapped the helm hard down, whil'
the four PIRATES ran to obey my las
direction. Oh, how my blood seemed
to suffocate me They were all ava,
forward. 1t must be now, if ever. /
hundred times that day had glanced a
the yawl, and the tackles that held it
and now, quickly, but with stead,
hand, I sprang to the davit-falls. Firs
the larboard, then the starboard,
seized but was careful to lower ava,
with both simultaneously, that the boa
might not be swamped. Then, clappinI
my hands on the taffrail, I dropped int
her, unlocked the tackles, and, with M
hands against the brig, pushed with
force that sent the yawl shooting fror
under the counter. At this moment,
heard the anchor 60 overheard. I ha
just time to grasp an oar and commenc
scuDing with all my might, when th
pirates ran aft. Bacalardo's tones ran
fierce and loud. His horrid Spanis
oaths might at another time have curdle
my blood but now 1 had him upon I'll
hip.
"Ahoy the fort !" [ shouted /; " aho
there the fort" For [ well knew I'll
' dark bank so close at hand.
l The voice that answered was the mo
h blessed sound [ ever heard. 1t was fro
n one of the United States sentinels, al
i I was gliding under the walls at O
n Point Comfort Escape Tor the pirat
Q was impossible, for the strong easter
d wind must preclude all hope of getti1
a to sea, while the fort could have disable
n the brig in an instant. A boat, wi
s armed soldiers, now boarded her., Thr
4 of the pirates were taken in custody, b
q Bacalardo was found dead in the cabi
IS Dismay, disappointment, and the ct
e tainty of his doom, had impelled him
h draw his Spanish knife across his throt
st The others, when brought to trial, h
is the effrontery to profess themselves inr
20 cent. Bacalardo had duped them
Bacalardo had done all-they had
n. jured no one; but the United Stat
IN court thought differently, and they We
N hung at Norfolk.
De ----------