Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-10-07
THE TYRANN!CIDE.

The sails of the Tyrannicide priva-
teer, Capt. Seawaif, had been loosed,
her cable hove short, and she only
waited Tor the change OF tide to com
mence her cruise.
. She was, for that era, astonishing
iy clipperish, raking III spars, sharp
IN hall, and calculated to carry an
as onlshing quantity Of canvas. Her
rig was that Of 4 two-topsail schoon-
ef-~her lower inasts being very long
and heavy,.so as te carry large fore
and-aft sails. Her burden appeared
To be about 500 tons She was pierc
ell for eight twenty four poan,! car
ronades on side, and long brass
thirtf-two FOUNDER, working on q
pivot, shone bright as gold between
her nas's. mounted high enough to
work above her hammock nettings.
Around her masts could be seen The
gicam OF boarding-pikcs and battle
axes. At her maiiI-mast head a
biood-reti flag iioated out, bearing the
motto, death TO TyraDts. At the
fore-trnck another red flag bore the
name Of the chooner-''The Tyran-
nIcide. Her figure-hcad was q ser
pent striking lis fangs into the heart
OF man who wore a crown. Taking
her altogether, she was indeed q dan
gerous and saucy-looking craft, cal
culated to both sail and fight we'll,
Upon her deck many men could lie
seen, showing that she had teeth, -
she had also strength TO use them.
All of her boats had been hoisLed
in except The Captain 5 gig, AMI the
officers were watching the tide very
imp atieptly for It's turn.
Presently Seawaif appeared at the
end Of the wharf. The young Cap
tain sprang into his boat amid the
applause Of hundreds Of citizens who
had gathered there TO see the f.riva-
tecr 90 10 sea, aud in a few moments
he was on board Of his vessel
With ii clear, buglc-like voice,
which needed no trumpet, the young
commander shouted:
Man ihe capstan-bars, lads, fnd
run the anchor up with will. Stand
by the iib and fyiug.jib haIiiards-
lay the head-yaros aback!''
His orders were obcycd readily.
and in few moments the second
officer, who stood on the forecastlt
looking over the bows, cried:
Z ktSbAtl I.yIly rr,a,,,I -
Every well. sir; run up the jib and
| flying -jih. and haul the sheets /,
star r-board--man the top gallant ano
| topsail sheets and halliards! Rouno
with the capstan, men, and run tn,
anchor up to the bows."
A moment later, and the headsail:
up, the veering bow OF the schooner
! proved her TO be all aweig!l, and tller
came the order:
Sheet home, and hoist way top
sail and top-gailant sails -
) This was done and. rs the for,
and aft sails, already up, filed, .hl
schooner began 10 gather headway.
Then, as she fell off before the wind
which was far out Of the harbor, he
square sails filed, and she nj once
shot ahead with increased velocity
The crowd on shore, looking with de
light at the splendid vessel, and glad
dened, too, at the thought of her er
rand, rent the air with cheers.
Never was "A craft in hettcr battl,
trim, on deck. below and alott, thar
the priyateer, after Scawait had go
her rigging stretched. Consciou
that he was ready to meet any foe O
his tonnage and weight Of metal, h
/ boldly headed oif from the coast 70
the track Of the inward bound vessel
from England.
One morning, soon after, he WAS q
breakfast in his caEin with the frs
officer and the doctor, young Morley
the second officer, being in charge o
deck. But each of them boundc,
from the table as he heard the shout
'sSat. hor' from the look out ut til
top gallant crosstrecs.
Where away. and what does sh
look Iilsc?' cried young Morley, i
reply.
! Scawaif and his companions hcl
their breath and listened for the al
swer.
+ Il see three sails. sir. dead ahead
they seem square.ngged, ami comm
right down before the wind,' W.
,he reply.
"Englishmen, and making for tt
coast, III wager my first prize mel
i cyl said the Captain, ;ts he hufre
OH deck.
John Bull-men's, be gar! l shall
get my instruments ready for amp,
tat!'' cried the delighted doctor,
Frenchinaa. az- s.=s
$50 will r. said MI. Doolittl,
the first officer, as he buckled on h
sharp but short cutlass, and foliowe
his commander on deck.
The breeze was fresh, and tIi
schooner, with only her lower sal
and top-sails set, WIS going off to ii
eastward on taut bovine. her tol
gallant and royal ards pointed 70 Il
wind, and her larboard tacIls aboart
There was quite a heavy sea rt.lline
land, asshe pitched into and throue
it, she threw the snowy foam ovt
her Prov almost as high as her for,
top.
s'sSee all clear for action, fore an
aft-reeve preventer stays and brace
have the spare spars cleared away
Gunners, look to your children the
may have play soon. Boarders an
pikemen, see that your tools are
their places!'' cried the Captain
cheertully, as be came on deck, an
then lie seized a spy-glass and scam
ed the vessels in sight.
s'What do you make oGt,sir, if yo
please?'' asked Mr.. Doolittle, who's
hopes for work and prize-money wei
now on the rise
81 see six vessels but they al
!. yet too far off. to make out wheth,
they are armed or not,'' was Il
reply.
.sShall the gunner open the mag
zine, sir?''
Eyes, after all the galley fires d
put out
The men went to their work ar
their respective stations quietly. b