River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-11-09

time committed. Bacalardo remarked
that he had probably sent more persons
into eternity than any other man liv-
ing andI had little doubtof my be-
ing added to the list, whenever my
services should no longer be required.
Three days were passed in this man.
ner; and in the meantime | had as
sured the Spaniards that it would be
madness to proceed on the South
American voyage without further
supply of water. ] had at favorable
opportunity, let out the contents of
two casks in the hold. At the end of
this time, the wind sprang up and it
was decided to enter an inlet which
described as upon q wild portion of
the southern coast, with which they
were entirely unacquainted, and there
obtain the needed supply.
Though it was the month of August,
the weather now, fortunately for my
purpose became tempestuous, with
squalls and heavy gales from the south
and west. We were obliged to short
en- sail, and sometimes to lie to; and
all the while | managed to keep the
brig in the Gulf Stream, so that even
while living with her head to the west
| The pirates kept me almost. all the time
| at the helm-I dared not let them sus-
pect that this was the very thing ]
could have wished-and two or three
| times [ wedged the compass SO
that it could not play. ! was afraid
! they would discover that we were
making too much northing, and though
| their ignorance of the lay of the coast
was most hopeful circumstance in
| this connection. I dared not wnolly
| trust to 1t.
At last | ran out of the Gulf Stream,
and, just after had taken an observa-
| ton of the sun, which till then had
not shown itself for several days, leav-
ing me to be guided by the gulf weed
and the waters temperature-the wind
came out north east, piping in right
| good earnest. Ny heart beat quickly,
for the quadrant had shown me that
my hour had come. was in latitude
thirty-six, ten; longitude seventy-four,
eight.
4 Our water casks were almost empty,
| and the pirates who had all this time
| supposed me to be beating and bang
| ing about to gain the southern inlet,
were very glad when told them we
should reach the coast in a few hours.
| And You cannot imagine my sensa-
tions. Oh, if the wind should die out
if it should head MS off if morning
should dawn, and my plan be only half
accomplished Often had the villains
drawn their knives across my throat,
in Specification of what would come
should play them false and now it
| was success or death.
Headed west-north-west, the little
brig bounded along, and you may well
believe that | watched every variation
of the breeze, and the drawing of eY-
cry sail, as | have never watched be-
fore, over and over revolved previous
reckoning-Yes, yesterday struck out
for the Gulf Stream /; last night head
ed thus and thus to-day was sure of
my figures. 1t must be SOL have
| made no mistake. Yet, how, if | can
shadow of suspicion, and knife will
end ALL" Thus | mentally conVersed
with myself.
Here and there were vessels sailing
upon various courses, but dared not
approach, dared hardly look at them.
4 AS evening approached, | saw the
land. 1t would be dark ere we should
reach it and thus far Ill went hope
fully. Yet never had the blood-stains
upon the briggs deck looked more
hideous than now. Hope had in a
measure broken the nightmare of hor-
ror, and more fully than before | real
lied the awfulness of the tragedy
which had been perpetrated.
Strongly the north-easter piped-it
would not fail me noW-and the clouds
were thick, and the night would be
very dark. Then upon the lee bow
cleaned light, and presently away OFF
the weather bow shone family anoth-
er. Oh, the anxiety at 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 adramatic author
who fears for his last act, | studied
again and again the various contin-
gencies that might cross my plans, and
reveal my intentions to the murderous
Spaniards.
We passed between the lights, at a
considerable distance from both, and
many were the inquiries OF the pirates
as to our position. | told them that
we had few miles further to run,
| when we should have reached the an
chorage at the watering-place. Dark
ness prevented them from seeing the
land, and they had not the most dis
tant idea of their surroundings. The
lights they imagined to be upon two
islands-at least, they took my word
for it, and had no suspicion of our real
whereabouts.
On and on flew the Isabel; and if
ever, at one time more than another, /
have tried to exert my nautical judg-
ment and forethought, it was then.
We saw other lights but the pirates
supposed them to be upon the ocean
coast, along which they believed them
selves sailing. At length, | requested
them to take in the light sails and the
courses. This completed, called out
and it was with dreadful thrill at
my heart, | assure you,-''Let go the
top-Sail halyards, and clew up
1t was done; and could see that a
darkbank was raising under the leebow.
s'Stand by to let 90 anchor, i
shouted, ''while bring her UP in the
| wind -
/ clapped the helm hard down, while
| the four pirates ran to obey my, last di-
rection. Oh. heaven how my blood
seemed to suffocate me They were all
away forward. 1t must be now, if
ever. A hundred times that day had
! glanced at the yawl, and the tackles
that held it; and now, quickly, but
with a steady hand, L sprang to the
davits-falls. First the larbOard, then
the starboard, seized but was care
full to lower away with both simultan-
eously, that the boat might not be
swamped Then, clapping my hands
against thebrig, pushed with a force
that sent the yawl shooting from under
the counter. At this moment, heard
the anchor go overheard. I had just
time to grasp an oar, and commence
sculling with all my might when the