The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-16

that. My great fear is that they may
take us on board and impress us in their
service" ...-ga -.....r
"Heavensl l hope not" I.e
i As Captain Longman ceased speaking
the pirate luffed under the fsherman's
lee-qaarter, and preparations were at
once made for boarding. 81
Zone word MORE" said the Captain in
a hurried undertone. ,"Watch every
movement make and be ready to jump
the moment speak or make the signal"
The boys nodded their heads to signify
that they understood their father and
would be ready when the critical moment
should come. ll .. .r ,ts'..
As the pirate came under. the fisher
mans lee-quarter, some twenty repulsive-
looking cutthroats came swarming on
deck, while but two or three we're left in
charge of their, own boat, so greedy were
they to secure the prize which they be-
lieved awaited them.
They were, indeed, a savage-looking.
set of scoundrels, and any one might
well be excused for trembling as he saw
them coming toward him. , .t..
care you the Captain of the vessel"
demanded the leader Of the boarders as
he approached the old fisherman"
~ am, sir" ... Mt.
"What is your cargo~ ao--
Machinery for engines"
Nothing elsew asked the pirate, with
asearching look. ra II
Captain Longman, being thorough
Yankee, possessed all the shrewdness for
which that race is proverbial. He read
the disposition of the man before him,
and understood that if the lives Of him
self and sons were endangered it would
be their own fault, for a little fnesse
would make everything easy.
The old gentleman concluded to play
the part Of the simple, honest-hearted
| fisherman, with his five gawky sons. As
the pirate propounded the last searching
question the captain glanced over his
head, and saw, away out in the horizon
behind him, what appeared to be a sail;
but no look or action Of his showed that
he had seen anything. Instead Of making
direct reply to the question, he turned
very red in the face and manifested
great deal of confusion.
"Come, speak," thundered the rover,
sure. that he was on the track of securing
some valuable prize.
Wall-perhaps," said Jared, in great
confusion, "there may be little suthin'
else"
cha! what is itw
T-I-really-hope you will excuse
me-" stammered Jared, in great distress,
and in greater confusion, while his sons
did him good service by becoming fidge-
ty and uneasy, and by '"hoping the good
gentlemen wouldn't really press the mat
ter, as 1T was getting unpleasant, and
they knew the Captain, if he had to an
swer the question, wouldn't tell lie."
The pirate became excited.
"You are an honest old codger, any
way; but if you don't tell me where that
treasure is within five minutes shall
Shoot you and your men here, and throw
you into the sea. So come, my friend
take your choice, and do it mighty soon.
You see I'm bound to get it, any way,
and you will save your lives by helping
me get it a little sooner"
"Well, ifImust tell you'll Ispose / must;
but when Mr.. Ransom gave me the
twenty thousand dollars in silver, and
slowed it away Just forward the cabin
bulkhead, didn't think I'd have to give
it up to any pirate =, J"
"No hard names, if you please; we are
simply rovers, who claim that the world
owes us a living"
"Well, 60 get the money; and / want
the men here to bear witness that it
wasn't my fault" said the old fisherman
in whining tone, like one who had
given up all hopes Of saving a coveted
| treasure. -, ..,.
"No doubt they will be glad to do it."
grinned the pirate, as he turned to the
eager, expectaht crowd behind them, and
called to them to follow him and help
him in the search for the precious prize
beneath the decks. -,<
They were only to glad to follow him,
and the motley crowd Of hirsute rascals
went down the hold like a parcel of rats
before the charge Of ferocious terrier.
The Longmans stood motionless until the
last one had disappeared, when the whole
appearance of the old man changed. He
Strengthened himself up and his eyes
/ flashed fire. ..-- .. ......ar..t r
"Now, boys, is our time. Work for
your lives. Hammond, you clap your
knife across the forethroat, and peak hal
lizards; and you, Jared, cut the main. Be
quick, now, and the moment you've done
lit,;jump aboard the pirate. Sylvester
and Ephraim, you cast off the pirates,
lgrapplings, and then you jump, and then
we'll walk into them three chaps aboard
! the clipper. Now, altogether"
No sooner were the last words out Of
1.-The old mans mouth than his. sons. did
exactly ,as they, had been ordered. The
fore and main halyards were cut and the
| two grapplings cast at the same instant;
and as the heavy .gaffs came rattling
down, our five heroes Teaped on board the
pirate. The moment the clipper felt at
liberty her head swung off, and before the
astonished buccaneers could gain the
deck of the fisherman, their, own vessel
was cables length to leeward, sweeping