The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-10-19
THE PIRATE.
BY A SEA CAPTAIN.

Eighteen years ago, the ship !
commanded was dancing over the
waves, on mission Of mercy. Ia
den by generous contributions of n
Canadian city, she was. bound to the
Cape de Verbs with bread for the
famine-stricken and dying. Bright
er skies never gladdcned the sailors
hopes than those which were bent
over us; pleasanter gales never filled
the sails of the scajourneycr, than
those which sped us to the haven
where we should be.
We were all in high spirits, for
ward in the forccastlc and aft in the
cabin. Sailors, who are often so
hungry, liable at any moment to be
put on short allowance, and compell-
ed at times to fast entirely, know
better than the landsmen how to
pity those whom famine threatens
1t was now the fourteenth day out
just in the frst,gray of the morn
ing, that the mate aroused me with
the startling intelligence that a sus:
picious vessel was in sight, With
the first ray of light, the vigilant Off
Ger had deserted her, and she was so
near as to be made out with a glass.
/ was on deck in an instant.
The first glance at the strange
Ship almost q NddiispciIcd the fear that
the mates alarm had occasionod.
|. "Why, Mr.. Karkin,'' said, laugh
ing as l spoke, there's nothing sus-
picious in that lubberly-looking
craft. She is Portuguese brigan-
tinc-shc can't sail"
One glance through the telescope
was enough to satisfy me that the
mate was right, The vessel was
sharp.built, of light draft, and rigg-
ed like brigantine. Her masts ra-
ked very slightly; besides thecanvass
usual to such a brig, she was fitted to
carry a lugger-sail, which, when
spread before the wind, would add to
her speed. In addition she was
pierced for twenty-five sweeps. Her
decks were crowded with men.
"It's no honest craft, Mr.. Larkin,"
1 said; "but she may not be a pirate,
for all that. One may not be sur
priscd to fall in with SLAYER here
abouts."
"Shc's no SLAYER Captainl"
"Why do you think SOP"
because there are guns on her
decks instead of watercasks."
u did not say she had cargo of
slaves in" l replied
"Thcn why does she carry so many
guns on deck? If without u cargo,
her guns should be below; if with
one, there should be more guns on
deck. If that amt pirate, you may
never believe me again"
As if to put an end to our spccu-
lations and clear up the mystery, the
suspicious craft began to spread more
canvass, and as she gathered away
the frcshening breeze, they ran up to
her foremost a flag, which, when it
reached the truck, unshook its folds
to the wind. On a whiteground we
saw the terrible insignia of q, free
bootcr, and the death's-hcad and
cross-bones, painted in diabolical
black.
~ thought So" said Mr.. Larkin,
"and the ship has no guns
"What arms have you Mr. Lar
kim" / asked.
"Au old horso-pistol, and the lock
out of order"
"And 1 have only an old fowling-
piece and pair of pistols fear
these fellows will make their own
terms with u.s."
ayes; cut our throats, and admin
lister to our effects afterwards y ropli-
ed the mate, walking forward.
We made all the sail we could, but
fifteen minutes satisfied me that Cs-
cape was impossible. The report of
gun from tho pirate, and a shot
whistling over us speedily brought
us to. The pirate camoquictly along,
like panther, which, sure of its
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