The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-08-18

ceived a percentage of profit from
piratical vessels, in the fitting out Of
which it was more than suspected
they were interested. But I made up
nv mind to teach the unprincipled
rascals a lesson which they would not
forget for a while.
"The harbor of Campeachy, young.
ster, has but little depth OF water, and
at that time was not capable of ad-
hitting vessels drawing more than SIX
feet-those of a heavier draught We're
necessarily compelled to anchor three
miles from the city. This wa my case,
but, as the land breeze had set in and
was ~freshening, I felt no particular ap-
prehensions fol the Mabel.
Gas o as I reached the deck, l
bundled your grandma below out OF
the way then calling all hands, [ ex-
plained7to them the nature of the visit
I expected. They were all anxious to
a man to have a blow at the scoun-
drels.
"Loosing all sails, the anchor was
lifted, and the position Of the vessel
altered by my running her about a
mile further to seward. The anchor
was then let go under foot, sails low
cred down but hallards stretched
along deck, ready to be manned at a
moments notice.
"The long nine-pounder was cram
med to the muzzle with nails, bullets
and scrap iron, while cutlasses, mus
kets and pistols-all that could be
mustered--were put in readiness for
use and distributed to the crew.
"All hands we're on deck, the mate
taking charge of the forecastle with
his watch, while I remained aft with
the remainder. All lights had been
extinguished, the vessel was wrapped
apparently in slumber and silence, an
EASY prey for the scoundrels who had
designs upon us.
cit was a clear starlight night ;
scarcely a cloud was visible the walls
of the town cleaned white and indis-
tinct in the starlight, while the horizon
seward wa clearly defined. No
sound was heard except the reVerber,
ations of the surf breaking along the
beach, or the skipping Of a porpoise
which occasionally came to the surface,
while above my head I listened to the
:, welcome music of the stiff land breeze
signing through the rigging.
,"The hours rolled slowly n Mid
/ night came, and, sweeping the horizon
? with my eyeglass, I detected two long
r heavy boats pulling rapidly but quietly
from the shore directly for the vessel
Youngster, I felt a stern joy as J
trained the Longtime carefully anc
deliberately upon the calculating ras
Gals, who imagined they were on the
t point of winning an easy victory.
IT watched everymovementthroug
e my glass, noted the CLEAN Of thei1
arms a. they glittered in the full ligh
of the MOON, and could almost coun
their dark, swarthy faces.
4, "The boats were pulling side b.
!, side, heading directly for the port bow
b of the Mabel, and, stepping to the rea
t of the gun, I glanced along the sights
e They were in good range, the oppor
t tunity was good, and, applying tn
match, the old gun poured forth he:
| t~orrentof missiles, which swept through
the crowded ranks of the pirates will
deadly effect, judging from the shrek
and groans tha~Were borne to gu.
a ears. y
"The unexpected reception which
they had met with e~fectually dampet
, the ardor of the assailants, leaving MI
a time and opportunity to carry out will
q success the remainder of my plans.
, "At a signal from me, my mel
jumped to their allotted stations ant
: duties. The anchor was slipped, sal
8 made, and in an inconceivable. shor
f.. space of time the Mabel was undel
way ~careening to the breeze, cutting
her way through the toam-crestec
waves with the speed of a dolphin.
: "Then it Vas the pirates plucket
. up sufficient courage to discharge thei
. small arms at us, mingled with a vel
of rage and disappointment. But
was not through with them, youngster
s by long shot. ...
3 farming the men with cutlasseI
. and boarding pixies 1 stationed then
< L0rWard, and along the rail then put
eTting the wheel down, l tackled, stand
ing directly for the two boats.
"Your grandma begged me to lie
, them alone and rest satisfied; but m,
| blood was up, and it was no use talk
ing.
awe were dashing along at the rat
of ten miles per hour. The survivor
in the boats saw the doom which
, awaited them, and strove to escape
but their boats were cumbersome anc
: heavy, the men dispirited, while we
were elated with the success which
had crowned our efforts.
Gone boat, by a vigorous use of the
long oars, managed to escape, but the
! other was struck directly amidship;
by the sharp stem OF the Mabel, and
quick as lightning the wreck dissap
peared meath the keel of the vessel.
"a few of the rascals succeeded in
gaining a foothold on the head-gear.
back-ropes, etc., but a blow of the cpt
lass drove them back, and I headed
out to sea, made all sail, leaving Cam
peachr astern. well satisfied with the
drubbing I had administered to the