The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-08-13


in the captain, "and perhaps should have
found my port just as well without your as.
sistanco"
''SboW me your papers,
"Hcre"
There was nothing In thc papers inconsis
tent with what had been stated The vessel
was bound, apparently, for gold dust; and
as far as observation went, there was Moth
ing to justify her detention. The midship-
men reported, indeed, that the vessel, though
empty, was not guiltless of that peculiar
aroma, that, to the nose of experience, de-
notes the recent presence of negroes. And
a shaclie or two had been found but be-
yond this there was nothing to bear out The
suspicion that this notorious craft was still
engaged in the neiarious traffic she had hith-
erto pursued
Stay. How came you to stick up that
flag in the wrong place, yestcrdayw resum-
ed Mr. Hall stcrnly.
"Thero, Mr.. Rawloy," CALCULATED the slay-
er's captain, addres,ing his mate with a sane
titled look "See what men get for doing a
good turn. There we're we, up half the
night straining our blessed eyes out, with
ropes and everything ready to render these
people assistance, and this is the reward to
be treated as slaves and pirates :"
"Tha. doesn't answer my question, sir, 50
said the officer. Come, you must see the
captain; and as We cant afford to part COM
pan" with such kind and well intentioned
folks, just weigh at once and out with you,
alongside the sloop.'
"Weigh for YOURSELF was the sulen re-
ply Il ,han't go out of this till better
weather If you star, my anchors l hold
you responsible for any thing that may hap
pen to the vessel. Mind now, sir-I tell
you before YOU begin, not man Of mine
shall render you the least assistance. The
instant you touch my anchors give up the
charge Of the vessel and hold you responsible
to lis owners. Mark the exact time. And
now, sir, begin as soon as you please"
The officer hesita.ed he knew the danger
Of the passage The wind was very light,
the sea still running heavily on shore, and
it was far from certain he could take the brig
out in safety. In this dilemma he despatch
ed one OF his boats to the Rosebud, giving
ali account Of what he had seen, and request
ing further orders In the meantime he got
| into the other boat, and examined the sound
ing Of the cove.
No sooner had he left the vessel than the
captain sent men aloft to unbend the fore
top-sail, slightly split near the starboard
clue, but which could have been quite as ca
silly repaired where it was
On the return of the boat sent to the sloop
the midshipman handed a card to Mr.. Hall,
who at once pulled back to the SLAYER.
"Iou will get under way, cir, and go out
to the sloop. There are your orders. About
it, with no more paayer."
a shall do nothing of thc kind, was the
answer. 81 am in safe harbor and here /
stay till my sails are repaired and my rigging
set up. If You choose to take charge Of her
do so, but you get no help from me-"
"Very good. Then | relieve you from all
responsibility. Board her, men.--Somo OF
you get that top-sall alott just as it is. The
rest weigh anchors-smartly now, Winds
dropping,
The mate here interlered
why give yourself and us more truoble
than is necessary? You know very well we
shall be back here in a couple of hours"
"Will you?" said Hall doubtingy.
"At all events well take the chance. so
why not slip the cables and buoy the ends,
There's nobody here to steal the wood"
''All right. I've no objection to that Sc
slip and buoy, my lads"
Giving this direction while walking for.
ward, Hall remarked that the larboard an,
chor, which lay in three tathom water, wa:
upside down. He therefore ordered his mer
to slip the starbOard cable; and as he came
aft again observed to the captain;
"As you've so little cable out on the lar
board anchor we'll weigh that
"Why so?" asked the other uneasily.
"Because if the wind fails us, as seem,
most likely, we may have to anchor outside
Now bear hand alolt there with the topsai
and jump up, one or two Of you, and loose
| lnc Sdl!n Oh lae lndiAHIt't'
Meanwhile the mate had run forward and
was seen assisting busily to unsplice the
lower cable.
"nelay that" cried Hall, "Unsplce the
other, the starboarl cable, men"
The mate made a desperate effort to com
plcla the work. by attempting to let the cn(
slip through the hawse-hole But he wa
again frustrated, for some of the Rosebud
men had stiilencd the cable before all, an,
brought to the messenger,
By this time the sails were looscd, and tn
men, assembled by the captain, began t
heaye around,
The result must, think, have been autc
| ipatcl, Very few who have acquaiute
themselves with the but too authentic nal
ratiyes of the barbarity practiced by slay
, captains at this period will doubt the trut
, OF this They need not for the circumstances
names excepted, are perfectly accurate.
) When the anchor reached the bows,
brought up with it, lashed to the shank an
1 gagged to stille her cries, the corpse Of poo
= Judy.
This condemned the Arrow as prize.
Such, however, was the Indignation Of Il
= Rosebud's men that it required the encrget
It interference Of Mr., Hall to protect the caI
$ tain from summary yougenance. UnhapE
ly for Rlw!cy, the active instrument in Il
n murder, that mjscroant, hoping to escape q
n together, lcapcd into the sloop's boat viii,
lay alongside with only The keeper remai
/, ing in il, Syikug the latter on the he
with some heavy instrument and sendil
him into the water, the mate jumped oy,
board and made for the shore,
"C,me back, you numbering scoundrc
shouted Hall, whose quick eye had caught t