The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-16
: AN ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATES

lng gray eye, bushy, grayish red whis-
kefs, with head Of bristling shock
hair, and voice as clear and ringing as
DC NC. oattle trumpets such were the
noticeable characteristics of Jared Long
man, the fisherman of Mount Desert.
Jared owned a trim little schooner Of
about a hundred tons burden, with
which he generally went about once a
year TO the Grand Banks OF Newfound-
land, after Goldfish. He was the proprie-
I tof Of seven things upon which he de-
9 lighted 10 bosst--his wife, Molly, his
schooner, Saucy Jack, and his FIVE sons
And he certainly was entitled to boast
! about the latter, for fve finer young men
III every respect could not have been
fouAl by searching through the whole
State Of Maine. The oldest was thirty,
4 while the Youngest had Just completed
histwenty-first year. Their names were
Jared, Ephraim, Isaac, Hammond and
Sylvester. They piled their regular vo-
: cation with great success. They annually
! made their visit to the Grand Banks, and
always came back laden with the Goldfish,
for which they obtained d good price.
None of the sons had yet married, yet
they were beginning to have grave sus-
picions regarding Jared and Hammond,
who had lately shown a great interest in
a couple of blue-eyed lasses, some miles
up the Coast Of Maine. The father was
not unwilling to see them take this step,
for they had served him faithfully many
years, and had laid by snug little sum
with which to begin life but neither of
the "boys" seemed in great hurry about
1t, aud the matter seemed to approach no
nearer completion, till at the end Of one
of the voyages the old gentleman de-
clared that he would think no more
about it, and would not believe they
were going to be married until he saw
each with his wife engaged in house
One pleasant morning in summer
stranger called upon the. e.olS fisherman
and said he wished to engage him and
his Saucy Jack to transport some iron
machinery to Havana, to be used upon
the sugar plantations 81
The two sat down to arrange the terms,
aand, as may well be supposed, little diff
Guilty was experienced.
In one hour from that time the Saucy
Jack was skimming up the river in the
direction of the great throbbing, pull
sating foundry Of Mr.. Wheeling. 1t
rounded to at the wharf with all the gal
liant grace Of blooded charger, and the
crew, assisted by the men from the foun-
dry, Immediately began loading the ma
schinery. ~. NJ :a.s
This completed, they came back to the
Desert, where they laid in provisions for
their voyage, and completed their
preparations. .'...
The next morning at early light they
set sail for Havana, witha fair wind. :.
The weather remained good, and they
sped on their journey with an ease and
rapidity that promised them fine voy-
age and quick passage.
But one morning a vessel was deserted
off the. starboard quarter, which wore an
exceedingly suspicious look.
The old man surveyed it a long time
through his glass, and then, lowering
his instrument, said to his boys gath
cred around him: "No use of mincing
matters, boys; that 'ere customer is a pi-
rate" '
care you surep inquired Jared, the
youngster. ,E.s.. ,sssze.-.,.-.
''No mistake" was the reply. "Pve
seen them gentlemen before. I've cru
ised in these waters before you were born,
and l suspected the cut-throats the min
Ute sot ewes on them"
The vessel came up with such aston
ishing rapidity as to make it Useless to
think of running. Shortly after puff
of smoke issued from the stranger, fol-
lowed by the bomb and ricochetting of
an eig'iteen-pounder underline stern.
chats slight hint that'we had BET
ter heave TO-" remarked the old man,
without changing his position.
'If he intends 1t for that, the best
thing we can do is to obey orders, isn't
it~ asked Sylvester, .s.s -. 4
eyes; there is no help for it. If we
come down ,graceful.like ne might let us
off easy, although I don't fancy losing
this machinery for Mr.. Rowling, after
engaging to- take 1t to Havana; but
what's The use 81 talking at such time
fas thisT' -a .fi'~.<.sl =. j.,
!. !. s Accordingly the saucy Jack was
brought up into the wind, and her main
boom hauled over to windward.
"Now, boys" said the old man, as
soon,as the schooner lay at crest, tall we
can do is to be as cool as possible, and TO
trust to Providence. Itwon't do TO get
mad or sullen, or to show the white
feather, for, as you've heard me say, I've
had dealings with these customers.b before.
Take everything, as q matter of course,
land answer their questions respectfully,
sif they have any to ask. The first thing
to do is to see that your knives are
ready" continued the father, 'and see
that your pistols are loaded, but take
mighty good care that You don't etythe
pirates see them" .s5sla se 10
owe have attended to that" said
Hammond. "We all have our knives
and pistols shout us; and here are your" 7"
4 The old man took the weapons with d
smile and lost no time in making them
invisible, though he was sure they were
within immediate reach. I