Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-02-17

CdKSO VI . sup Sucu 1yA1S IN tlc pOlS
of the Pir8us, who. seeking a like OBJ
ject, had met with q similar fate to
my own.
"And now." said Captain Jack Jen-
kins, "how are we to get out of this
scrape? If 1 had Tim and Joe and
Black Tom. each with a entlaSs and
barking-iron here, we'd soon make a
passage, I'd warrantr'
THAT'S all very well." said Win
johnson. the supercargO. "bnt we
haven't. If I'd but the opportunity
given me, I'd guarantee
Whatever the supereargO was about
to say was cut short by the advent Of
two shoek-heads at the little opening
of our prison, and two harsh voices
calling us-as my guide, ThemistOeles,
informed us-t0 partake Of a feaSts for
We learned afterward that the chief.
in commemOration Of having made
such a good haul, had decided to allow
us, his prisoners, to partake of the
general festivity, But as prelimin-
AIRY, we had to undergo an examination
as to our capability of paying the an
ticipated ransOmS. First. we were re-
heved of our watches and rings. the
captain using language rather strong
for translation to these pages. to the
great amusement of his tOrment0rS,
who. with similar gestieUlatiOns to his.
endeavored to initiate the sound of the
captains words, which of course only
added to his wrath and their hilarity.
"You uncombed, dirty-faeed vaga-
bonds p he shouted, ~if had a few
of you aboard the Annie Martin. I'd
twist your ugly heads over the yard
arm in the twinkling of a liffyr'
OF course they only laughed the
louder at his inlpotent rage: and I
thought it quite as well that they did
not understand the language in which
he gave it vent.
The operation of stripping US Of our
valuables gave me an opportunity to
observe the appearance Of my CON-
panions. Captain Jenkins was the
beau-ideal of an English seaman. In
age about thirty-fiye. of large and r0-
bust built, a face broad. manly and
bearded, and limbs such as would de-
light a sculptor to copy, His height
was nearly six feet: and he had an air
of command about him which was
doubtless bred of his occupation. The
supercargO, VIII johnson. was per
haps ten years younger nearly as tall
as his friend, strong and aetives and
take us altogether-for l am of no
mean stature myself-we were three
men who, under any circumstances.
would be no disgrace to our country
and if any opportunity should arise for
an attempt at an escape. felt certain
that we should give rs good an ac-
count of ourselves as any scratch three.
here or there.
Having satisfied themselves Of the
value of my late fathers watch. which
l parted from with some emotion. and
of the captains gold ehrOnometer. rs
well as the supercargO'S watch and
diamond ring. we were interrpgated.
through ThemistOeles, as tO0ur means.
For myself the name of the firm was
travelling for acted with tasiSmanic
effect upon them, and l was immedI-
ately Notwithstanding my
protestations-att three hundred pounds.
At this price. too. the captains freedom
was valued; while the unfortunate
supercargO-whOse business. they per
sisted in eOnfOunding with that Of
owner of the cargo and ship-was
unanimously vo6ed to be worth twice
our ransom. Having arranged this
matter to their own satisfaction, If not
to ours. we were told to sit down and
enjoy ourselves with what appetite we
could muster.
The smell of the roast lamb and the
freshly baked meal-eakeS. however.
soon aroused pleasant sensations. and
dimmed for a time the memory Of
our griefs; more especially as. under
the apparent certainty Of obtaining his
booty. the chief condescended to be
quite patronizing toward us. carving
the joints himself for us. and delicately
handing on the point of dagger our
several portions, After we had salts
fled our hunger with more solid viands.
we were regaled with dried fruits rs
dessert; and large jar of n peculiar
sherry-eolored but bad-tasting wine Of
a resinOus flavor which ThemiStOeleS
described as the common wine Of the
country-was brought in and set down
in the midst of us. This we told them
we could not drink. and theehief very
generously ordered MS a couple Of bot
ties from his own particular store.
doubtless the proceeds Of a raid upon
some wellto-dO householder.
viii johnson. after time. managed
TO ingratiate himself in the favor Of
our SHAGGY host and his friends IN, his