Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-04-06

Follow me, captain. quick, as you
value your wlfe's life and Your own,
whispered a voice in my ear, and az the
speaker brushed by me, recognized one
of the clerks belonging to the firm / had
dealt with in Campeachy.
SIT was growing dark rapidly. The
lamps were Oh the point of being lit as
/ passed forward in the direction, my
friend bad taken My wife I had TO all
most carry, but 1t is astonishing what
man can do when his life 5 in jeopardy.
AAssmall door, partially concealed by a
curtain, was quietly opened BY the clerk.
The obscanty of the room favored the
movement, and by rapid movement,
II passed through, leaving the excited
throng yelling and cunning behind me. !
= 'Throngh anarrow passage the young
man hurried US, urging me to renewed
efforts by various vague, dark hints,
which ! but half comprehended. ! could
not understand what l had, to fear from
pirats, now that was almest under the
guns Of the Spanish soldiers. b8giis =
captain you have been kinu to me
since you have been here, and | have
tried this night TO, pgoys that lamIvery
grateful. Ysnder' lies yoursboata; lose
no time in quitting the city, or theshar.
Dor, either Tor that matter, The man
you struck itoznight is desperate ,ehar-
7acter, who will have revenge. 81 ram in
possession ofinformation that your vesA
sci will be attacked tonight if you res,
main. Do not ask me hoagi I know, but.
be warned in time. Adlos;'s and with a
wave of his hand the clerk disappeared.
ss.Idiad heard, butsnever credited, that
certain Spanish merchants received a
| percentage Of profit from piratieal YES
sells, in the fitting, out Of. which Il was
more than suspected they were inleresa
ted. But 1amade, up my, mind to teach
upprineipled raseals lesson which they
would not forgotten while. = sa3i -
sThe harbor of Cappescly, yopng1
ster, has but little depth OF, water,a and at
| that time wac not capable Of admitting
vessels drawing more than six feet Of
water-those OF heavier draught were
necessarily compelled to anchor three
miles from the city. This was my.case,
but The land brseze bad set in, and was
freshing, | felt no particular aIpEprehen-
sion for the Mabel. 81 bs5iiszg. bas ssf
Gas soon as dreachea the deck I
bundled your grandma below out Of the
way; thea calling all hands, ! explained
to them the nature of the visit expect
ed, They were all anxious to man to
have blow at the scoundrels. 7ei
'I4oosing all sails the anchor was lift.
ed and the position q. the vessel sltered
by running mile further to seaward.
The ancher was then let gov under foot
sails lowered down, but zhaifiards strech-
ed along deck, ready to be manned at a
momsnt's notice, ---,.,oa r. -'H
THE long nine FOUNDER was crsplnl..
ed to the muzzle with nails, bullets and
scrap iron, while cutlasses, indskets and
pistols all that could bs niusteied---r
were put. IN readiness for use and dis
tributed to the olewsiex 70 vaa -. -
''Alf hands wersaon deck, the mate
taking charge Of the Afoieeastle with his
watch, while I remained aft with there's
mainder. All, lights had been .extins
guished, the.Nessel was wrapped appar
srentlysin slumber and silence,I an easy
prey for the scheming scoundrels who.
had designs upon us. '@ sssi'oa 80 ifsl
1T was a clear, star light night,
scarcely cloud was visible, the white
walls of the town cleaned white and in
E-distinft IN the starlight, while the hori
zon seward was clearly defined. No
/ sound was hesrd except tie reyefbas
lions of the surf breaking along the
beach, The skipping OF iporpoise,whieh
occasionally came to the surface while
above my head listened to the well
come music of the stiff land breeze sigh
Ing through the rigging. 90 ~
1 s.Thee hours rolled slowly on.d Mid
night came, and sweeping the horizon
with ny. eyeglass, ! detected two long,
heavy bostsgpplliag rapidly but quietly
from the shore directly for The, vessel; :
+ / felt stern. joy as L trained the long
line carefully and deliberately upon 9the
calculating rssosls who imagined they
we're on the point Of winning an easy
victory. d ssW II ysaa saaia aliaa
liira.a watched every movementth through
my glass, noted. the CLEAN OF their arms
| as they glittered in the, full light Of the
moon, and could almost count count their he !.
dark, swarthy faees.aoa sgv booh lsaoi
b s'Ths'soassawere2 pulling side by side
heading for the port bow Of che Mabel,
and stepping r. he rear S. Of the gun, ]
glanced along the sights- They wers
in good range, the opportunity was
good, and, applying the'match, theuold
| gun poured forth her torrent Of missiles
which swept through the crowded ranks
of the pirates with deadly effect, judg-.