The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-12
THE PIRATE.

Eighteen years ago, the ship COM
mauued was dancing on the waves, on a
mission Of mercy. Laden by generous
contributions Of Canadian city, she
was bound to the Cape de Verbs with
bread for the lamIne-Strlcken and dying.
Brighter skies never gladdened the
sailors than those which were bent over
US; pleasanter gales never filled the
sails of the seH-journeyer, than those
which sped us to the haven where we
should be.
We were all in high spirits, forward
in the forecastle and ait in the cabln.
Sailors, who are often SO hungry, liable
at any moment to be put on short allow.
ance, and compelled at times 10 fast en-
tirely, know Detter than the tandsmen
how to pity those whom famine
threatens. Jack has ready sympathy
for tue man who has no biscuit IN his
locker.
was now the fourteenth day out
III It in the trst gray OF the morning,
that the mate aroused me with the START
| ling intelligence mat a suspicious vessel
was in sigAt. With the first ray of light,
the v,gilant officer had described her,
and sne was So near as to be made out
with glass. l was on deck IN an in
stant. =
The first glance at the strange ship al
most dlspelled the fear that the mates
alarm had occasioneu.
| "Why, Mr.. Larkin," said, laughing
as spoke, "tnere's nothing suspicious
in that lubberly-looking era It. She is a
| Portuguese brigantine-She can't sail"
''She looks like that buIId,' said the
mate. ''but she is built fol sailing, and
she'll spread canvas in wind like this,
| thapll send her skImming like sea gun
over the sea. And now look at the men
on her deck"
One glance through the telescope was
enough TO satisfy me tDat the mate was
right. The vessel was sharp-built, of
light drauSht, and rugged like brigan-
tine. Her masts raked very sligaEiy;
beside the canvas usual to sucn rig,
she was fitted to carry lugger-sall,
which, when spread before the wind,
would add to her speed. In addiuon
she was pierced for twenty-five sweeps.
Her decks were crowded with men.
"Ips no honest craft, Mr.. Larkin,"
said; "but she may not be pirate, fol
all that. One need not be surprised to
fall in with a SLAYER hereabouts."
"She's no SLAYER, Captain!'
"Why DO you think soi"
because there are guns on her deck
instead OF water-casks."
81 did not say sne had cargo o.
slaves in," replied.
"Then why does she carry SO many
guns on deck? Ii without cargo, hel
guns should be below; if with one there
should be more guns on deck. If thai
aiu't pirate, never believe me again.
AS il to put an end to urspeculations
and clear up the mystery, the myster
ious craft began to spread more canvas
and as she gathered away with the
, reshening breeze, they ran up to hel
foremast flag, which, when it reached
the TUCK, unshook its folds to the wind
On a white ground we saw the terriDl,
+ insignia Of the freebooter, the death.
mead and closs-bOnes, painted in dia
bolical black.
81 thought So" said Mr.. Larkin
ou etly; land the ship has no guns"
.W hat arms have you, MI. Larkin :?
asked.
can old horse-pistol and the lock ou
I OF order.n ,,
E and a PAIR of pistols. L fear these ie
lnws viii make their own terms wit
e u.s."
, .sYes: cut our throats and administe
to our effects afterward," replied th
, mate. walking forward.
t Ne made all the sail we could; bu
fnenn minutes satisfied me tnat oscar
s was impossible. The report of d gu
S rom the pirate, and a shot Whistlin
k over us, speedily brought US to. In
e nirate came quietly along, like pal
n ther which, sure OF its pIey, was in II
s great hurry to seize it. Tue moment
l. came within speaking distance lie haile'
e aud ordered me TO launch boat an
l. "nme on board. We got out the quartz
@ | "a ahnuC ht
b tn nav my respects III person TO the VI
: iains' " hen Nj. Larkin asked leave I
u II 60. ,,o on.oin oi, /
" slat them send for him. IIl see IL ii
e mate won't answer as WELL"
o He had scarcely put his foot on I'll
IS dack of The pirate, when he again a
VI neared on the rail and descended to Il
IS hoat. which began to pull back. Almo
G at the same instant launch was swul
IL over the rail, into which twenty savag
l. looking rascals, armed To The teet
n sprang, aud pulled toward us. Ten mi
Us utes alJerward they were on board n
N vessel. and began clearing away Il
e main hatch.
is souare, compact frame indicate
a strength, ana whose eyes, black al
|: hazy, and half concealed by the lids, e
IN pressed cruelty and cunning, a
IL proacned the cabin hatch, where l st0o
o. and addressed me in tolerable Englis
8, "Are you the captain OF the vessel
eyes," replied. o.,
,e "Wnaps your cafgoT
r. "FIour"
A. "Where fromr'
1t "MOntreal."
"a "Whsre to?"
1t "Cape DE Yards."
"Why, they're all starving there"