The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-04-15


send boat aboard
l saw that her deck was crowded
with men. that she carried number OF
| guns, but all hope did not desert me
for by running his craft to leeward of
me the lubber displayed his ignorance.
deemed it unfortunate that your
grandma should have been seen by the
rascals. but it was too late to bemoan
over that fact. The murderous devils
were already rushing eagerly aboard,
and q dozen stood ready to Jump into
the light shallop which they were hoist
ing out.
had como to tho wind, taking care
to keep stcerage way on her, cdging up
to windward the whole time, while the
pirate was drifting bodily to lceward
| watched my opportunity. and as the
boat was being lowered | went about on
the other tack, dancing up to windward
Mt the rate of nine knots an hour. |
knew it was our only chance to save the
life of your grandma and all on board
To be sure. we ran the risk of being
crippled by his shot, but l took the
chances.
"a broal sheet of flame issued from
the pirates bows, and tho iron globe
buried itself full u quarter of mile
ahead of us.
"Shot after shot followed in quick
succession, but beyond tearing our can
vas, no damage was sustained by the
sancy Mabel.
Every moment the distance between
us was increasing, and the pirate, exas-
perated to see his prey escaping, when
he deemed it safe in his clutches, waved
suddenly, displaying his entire broad
side.
[ saw what was coming. and shout
ed for all hands to lie flat on deck, while
/, grasping your grandma round the
waist. dove below. l was none too
soon to escape the whistling storm
of iron which tore over the ship. 1t
made the splintcrs fly, but no ono was
hurt, sheets and halliarls, booms and
spars remained in tact, and in less than
six hours our unwelcome antagonist
was hull down.
"Thc Mabel was kept off for Cam
pcachy Bay, which we reached in
safety but do you think we had seen
the last of the pirate? ! thought SO at
the time, but we hadn't.
81 succeeded better ut Campcachy in
disposing of the Mabel's cargo than l ex-
pccted. The prices were good, the pro-
fits large, and l nearly filled her up
with u cargo Of cochineal, loswood, in
digo, and q goodly share of specie,
which last was packed in kegs and
slowed carefully away in the run.
81 had succeeded SO much better
than had hoped for, that resolved to
clear for New York direct. [ was all
ready for sea, but before leaving, your
grandma took it into her head that she
wanted to do some trading, so | took
her ashore to buy the articles she re-
CURED.
" 1t was late in the afternoon when
We drifted into a refrcshmcnt saloon or
cafe, for a cup of coffee and roll, be-
fore pulling off to the ship. A number
of persons were coming and going con
tinually, to whom paid no attention.
their movements were nothing to me.
But suddenly | felt Betty's hand
tighten on my arm, which caused me to
glance up at her in surprise. Her face
was flushed, her eyes dropping, and |
knew that something out of the COM
mon run had happened.
"What is it, wife 2" / asked, in low
tone.
"Don't look up" she said but
there, under the large lamp in the cor
who hailed us and fired at us some
, weeks ago."
Cautiously l looked in the dircc-
ton indicated, and there, sure enough
was the black -whiskercd scoundrcl
dressed in broadcloth shore toys, with
diamond pin sparkling in his shirt
bosom, which, no doubt, he stole orisi-
nally. l made up my mind to get away
as soon as possible, for felt my temper
rising-and in those days, so l have
been told, | had the reputation Of being
something of Tartar.
Standing six feet. broad sliouldcrcd
and muscular in proportion, it was &
word and Il blow with me, the blow gen
orally coming first.
Walking over to the cashiers dcsl,
| settled my bill; at the same time sup
pressed scream from your grandma
startled me. | turned, and, youngster
what do yo you think | saw? Nothing
more nor less than my wife struggling
i'll the arms of the pirate, whose lips
were distorted by q mocking smile. But
it did not last long.
was almost blind with rage as ]
darted forward Some one tried to re.
strain me, to whisper word of caution
in my ear, bu. 1 brushed the would-be
adviser aside, at the same time the
brawny rascal released my wife in order
to attend to me. A wicked looking
knife cleaned in his hand, which have
no doubt the scoundrel would have
used, but was too quick for him.