Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-11-29
and N knife win end all. ,, Thus I
cOnversed with myself.


conversed with myself.
Here aud there were vessels sail
ing upon various courses, but dar-
ell not approach, dared hardly look
anthem. AS evening approached,
saw the land. 1t would he dark ere
we shouli reach it. and thus Tar all
went hopefully, Ke never had the
blood-st;t4ns upon the briggs deck
looked more hideous than now.
Hope had In a measure brS ken the
nightmare of horror, and more fully
than before I realized the awfulness
OF the tragedy. IL.
Strongly the northeastern piped-
it would not fail me now-and the
clouds were thick, and the night
would ha very dark. Then, upon
the lee bow. cleaned light, and
presently, away off the weather bow,
shone family another. Oh. the
anxiety of that mementl I was
right. There they were. two beau-
tiful lights-yes, beautiful indeed to
me. But the hour Of greatest peril
was ut hand, and / studied again
and again the various contingencies
that might cross my plans.
We passed between the lights, at
q considerable distance from both !;
and many were the inquiries OF the
pirates as to our position. / told
them we had a few miles further to
run. when we should have reached
the anchorage at the Watering
place. Darkness prevented them
from seeing the land, and they hail
not the most distant idea of their
surrounding. The lights they i'm
agined to be upon two islands-at
least they took my word for it being
so
On and on flew the Isabel and ii
ever at one time more than another
have tried to exert my nautical
judgment and forethouGht it was
then. We saw other lights but the
pirates supposed them to be upon
the ocean coast, along which they
believed themselves sailing. At
length I requested them to take in
the hight sails and the eources.
This completed. called out-and it
was with a dreadful thrill at my
heart. / assure you-''Let go to the
top-sail halyards, and clew upl"
II was done. A dark bank was
rising under the lee bow.
"Stand by to let 60 anchor" I
shouted, "while I bring her up in
the wind 7"
Iclapped the helm hard down,
while the four pirates ran to obey my
last direction. Oh, heaven ! how
my blood seemed to suffocate me
They were all forward. 1t must be
now if ever. A hundred times that
day had I glanced ut the yawl and
| tackles that held It /; and now, quick
/ ly, but with steady hand, | sprang
] to the davit falls. First the larhnard.
/ then the starboard L seiZed, but was
careful to lower away with both
simultaneously, that the boat might
not be swamped. Then, clapping
my hands on the taffrail, + dropped
into her, unlocked the tackles, and
with my handagainst the brig, push
| edwith a force that sent the yawl
shooting from under the counter.
At this moment heard the anchor
go overheard. had just time tc
grasp an oar, and commence scull
ing with all nv might, when the pi
rates ran aft. Bacalardo's tones
rang fierce and loud. His horriJ
Spanish oaths might have curdled
my blood ; but now had him upon
the hip" -
"Ahoy the fcrt :" J, shouted
"ahov there the fort - For we'll
knew the dark bank so close al
hand.
The voice that answered was the
most blessed voice / ever heard. II
was from one Of the Yankee senti.
nels, and I was gliding under the
walls of old Point Comfort. Escape
for the pirates was impossible, fol
the strong easterly winds must pre-
clude all hopes Of getting to sea,
while the fort could have disabled
4 the brig in an instant. A boat with
armed soldiers now boarded her.
Three Of the pirates were taken in
custody, but Bacalardo was found
dead in the cabin. Dismay,. disap-
pointment and the certainty of his
doom had impelle him to draw his
Spanish knife across his throat. The
others when brought to trial had
the effronterY TO profess themselves
innocent. Bacalardo, had duped
them m-Bacalardo had done all they
had injured no one-no hey robado,