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

SAAN14SS W. o"SS
and all on board. To be
sure we ran the risk of being crippled
by his shot, but [ took the chances.
GA broad sheet of fame issued from
the pirates bows, and the iron globe
buried itself full a quarter OF a mile
ahead of us.
"Shot after shot followed in quick
succession, but beyond tearing our
canvas no damage vas sustained by
the saucy Mabel.
every moment the distance be-
tween us was increasing, and the pirate
e~xasperated to see his prey escaping,
waved suddenly, displaying bis entire
broadside. i
Il saw what was coming, and
shouted for all hands to lie fiat on deck.
While I, grasping your grandma round
the waist, dove below. I was none
too O to escape the whlstling storm
Of iron which tore over the sR9p. 1t
made the splinters fly, but no nj was
hurt; sheets and halliards, booms and
spars remained intact, and i'll less than
six hours our antangonist was hull
down.
"The Mabel was kept off }ar Cam
peach Bay, which was reached in
safety; but do you think we had
seen the last Of the pirate? Thought
SO that time, but we hadn't.
II succeeded better at Champeachy
in disposing of the Mabel's cargo than
I expected. The prices we're good,
the profits large, and l nearly filed
her up with a cargo, of cochincal, log
wood, indigo, and a goodly share Of
specie, which last was packed in kegs,
slowed carefully away in the run.
81 had succeeded so much better
than I 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 I took her ashore to buy the articles
she required.
"It was late in the afternoon when
we drifted into a refreshment saloon
or cafe for a cup of coffee and a roll,
before pulling off to the ship. A
number of persons were coming and
going continually, to whom [ paid no
attention-their movements were
nothing to me-.
"But suddenly I felt Betsy's hand
tighten on my arm, which caused me
to glance up at herin surprise. Her
face was flushed, her eyes dropping,
and I knew something out of the com
com run had happened.
"sWhat is it, wife?' I asked in a
low tone.
"'Don't look up she said; but
there undJr the large lamp in the cor
ner of the room, is that wicked pirate
who hailed us and fired at us some
weeks ago.
"Cautiously I looked in the direc
ton indicated, and there, sure enough:
was the black-whiskered scoundrel
dressed in broadcIoth shore toys, witt
a diamond pin sparkling in his shir'
bosom, which, no doubt, he stole
originally. I made up my mind to gel
away as soon as possible, for I felt my
| temper rising /; and in those days. so ]
have been told, I had the reputation
~eLoius sunoUIIng Ufa Tartar.
"Standingsixfee feet, broad-shouldered
and muscular in proportion, it was q
word and a blow with me, the blow
generally coming first.
"Walking over to the cashiers desk,
[ settled my bill; at the same time q
suppressed scream from your grandma
startled me. I turned, and, youngster.
what do you think I saw? Nothing
more nor less than my wife struggling
in the arms Of the pirate, whose lips
were distorted by a hooking smile.
But it did not last long.
ct was almost blind with rage as
darted forward. Some one tried to
restrain me, to whisper a word of eau.
ton in my ear, but I 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 bis
hand, which | have no doubt the
scoundrel would have used, but I was
too quick for him. My fippers took
him full by, and he heeled over like
a ten-gun brig in a squall.
"Ina an instant the room was in con.
fusion, Cries of Kill the Yankee !!
were heard on all sides as the crowd
increased, and things looked pretty
squally as / squared myself before my
wife, who vas almost fainting away.
"tFollow me, captain, quick, as you
value your Wife's life and your own,
whispered a voice in my a ; and, as
the speaker brushed by me, I recog.
nized one of the clerks belonging to
the firm I had dealt with at Cam
peachy.
1T was growing dark rapidly. The
lamps were on the point of being Lit
as passed forward in the direction my
friend had taken. My. wife | had
almost to carry, but it is astonishin
what a man can do when his life's in
jeopardy. Asmall door, partially con-
cealed by a curtain, was quietly opened
by the clerk. The obscurity of the
reom favored the movement, and by
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