, 1883-09-22
STORY OF A PRIVATEER

1t was in the year l779, the red sun
had just come up out Of the Atlantic,
and now frightened the slightly rip
pied waters Of Salem harbor. The
sails Of the Tyrannicidc privatcer,
Capt. Scawaif, had been looscd her
cable hove short, and she only waited
for the change Of the tide to COM
mencc her cruise.
She was for that era astOnishimgly
clippcrish, raking in spars, sharp in
hull, and calculated to carry an as
tonishing quantity Of canvas. Her
rig was that Of wotopSail schooner
her lower masts being very long
and heavy, 50 as to carry large fore
and aft sails. Her burden appeared
to be about three hundred tons. She
was pierced for eight twpnty-four
pound carrOnadcs ON a sidc;a long
brass thirty-two FOUNDER, working
on pivot, shOne bright as gold be-
tween her masts, mounted high
enough to work about her hammock
nettingS. Around her masts could
be seen the CLEAN of boarding-pikcs
and battlc-aXes. At her main-mast
blood-rcd flag flolted out, bearing
the motto, death to Tyrants" At
the fOre-truck, another red flag bore
the name Of the schooner "Thc Ty-
rannicide." Her figure head was Il
serpent striking his flngs into the
heart Of man who wore crown.
Taking her altogether, she was in
deed a dangerous and slucy-looking
craft, calculated to both fight and
sail well. Upon her deck many men
could be seen, showing that If she
hail "teeth" she had also strength to.
use them.
All Of her boats had been hoisted
up but the captains gig, and the Off
GERS were watching the tide very
impaticntly for its turn.
Presently Scawaif appeared at the
end Of the wharf. The young cap
tain sprang into his boat amid the
applasc Of hundreds Of citizens who
had gathered there to see the priva-
teer go to sea, and in a few moments
he was on board his vessel.
With a clear buglc-like voice,
which needed no trumpet, the young
commander shouted;
"NIan the capstan bars, lads, and
run the anchor up with Il will. Stand
by the jib and tlying-jib halliards-
lay the head-yards aback.
His orders were obcycd readily ;
and in a few moments the second
officer, who stood on the forecastlc
looking over the bows cried:
"She's broken aground sirp'
every well, sir run up to the jib
and fying-jib, and haul the sheets to
starboard-man the tOp-gallant and
topsail sheets and hallilrdsi Round
with the capstan, men, and run the
anchor up the bows ~
"A moment later, and the head sails
up, the vecring bow Of the schooner
proved her to be all aweigh, and then
came the order:
"Sheet home, and hoist away top
sail and top-gallant sails :"
This was done; and, as the fore
and aft sails, already up, filled, the
schooner began to gather headway.
Then as she fell off before the wind,
she was far out Of the harbOr, her
square sails filled, and she shot ahead
with increased velocity. The crowd
on shore looking with delight at the
splendid vessel and gladdened, too
at the thought Of her errand, rent the
air with cheers.
Never waFa craft in better battle
trim, on deck, below, or aloft, than
the privateer, after Seawaif had got
her rigging stretched. Conscious
that he was ready to meet any foe Of
his tonnage and weight of metal, he
boldly headed off from the coast for
the track of the inward-bound YES
sells from England.
One morning soon after, he was at
breakfast in his cabin with the first
ofiicerand the doctOr--young Morley,
the second officer, being in'charge
on deck.
But each Of them bounded from