The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-30

want of spirits. We tried, after our breakfast, by various excuses, to keep them down below; but they laughed us aside, and gaily scrambled up the hatch way to renew their acquaintance with the stranger, full of eager hope that she might be within speaking distance. How they laughed to see her roll till her cop per showed bright and radiant half way to her keel; how they piled the skipper with questions about her; ventuTed to imagine that she might have friends of theirs on board, and finally waved hand kerchiefs to her in their guilelessness. | At last the captain made some ex- cuse for requesting the ladies to retire be- low, and having succeeded in his object, took us all into his counsel and laid the matter before us
 | as have every reason to fear, gentlemen said he, the craft astern is a pirate, we must face the fact and try and make some plan of escape. At present, l believe we are safe from him as long as this calm and this tremendous ground. swell last. He cannot come any nearer there being no wind he cannot hoist out his boats and tow up to us in so heavy a AOAt' WI AhOo hSs tAot AC WIlk wait IOE the roll to go down and the breeze to spring up, and then take us at his ease, kno 1ing that we cannot escape now. But there are one or two things in our favor: He cannot have been waiting for us, for our cargo would be worthless to him. He has probably fallen across us by accident, and he will want to know what we are be- fore he attacks us Vessels of his trade have occasionally caught a tartar, and they learn to be wary. If he thinks we are worth taking, he will not, as he might, stand of and play at long bowls, because that would result in the probable sinking of the ship and loss of her cargo. On the other hand, he will be very wary of board ing, should he anticipate determin d resistance from large number of armed men and in that case, the best thing we can do, as it seems to me, is to let him believe that we have troops on board, and that any attempt on his part to board, will meet with warm reception. What do you think, gentlemen
 The captain was undoubtedly correct in his reasoning, and his opinion was at once acted upon. All of us whe held commission in the army put on our uniforms and appeared in them on the upper deck ; while some of the hands for ward were rigged up in mess jackets, etc., supplied by the officers for the purpose, and were instructed to show themselves at intervals on the forecastle, multiplying themselves as much as possible while a soldier-servant of the majors was ordered to do sentry-go with musket aft. More over, our twenty four pounder carronades were loaded each with a round-shot and large bag of musket- bullets muskets- for we had few-were served out to the men, with a cutlass apiece; and we who had swords and sporting guns and pistols made them ready for use
 But all of this preparing of arms and unpacking of uniforms could not be done without the knowledge of the ladies of cur party. The apprehensions of the maj prs wife were first aroused, and grad ually spread in terrified whispers to the whole of the party, until at last it was necessary to take them partially into our confidence and let them know that there was danger.
 As night fell, we fancied that the swell was somewhat less in bulk, but it might be only in tancy; anyhow, the captain would not hear of us all keeping watch all night, which was what we youngsters especially proposed to do. 'No, gentle. man. said he. Go aud turn in, and get what rest you can while you have the chance
 "l went below, and turned in at his bidding, and wearied with excitement and watching, l fell asleep pa troubled, unsatisfactory sleep, it is true, but not the less sleep; and from this troubled rest l was aroused by hearing my name whis- peied and feeling a gentle touch upon my arm. l started up, and saw by the dim light of lantern the figure of our old quartermaster. Beg pardon, sir said he; but the cap'n sent me down to say the hrigantine is on the move, and he'd like you to know
 "l jumped up, seized my arms and hurried on deck. It was about in the morning ; the swell had gone down con- siderably, though still very great; the stars were all over the sky. The captain silently pointed in the direction of the brgantine. l looked, but at first could see nothing then she rose upon the swell, and saw her clearly. She was much nearer.
 But how-howr l asked. There is still no wind, and"
 The captain grasped my arm, to make me silent, and whispered Sweeps! Lis ten!
 "lntently listened, and for some sec pads without result; but, the ship pausing for one moment in her tumbling roll, aud allowed momentary cessation to her creaks and groans. heard faintly and mistily, as if in dream, the smothered cheep of the sweeps Gong oars) as the unknown vessel strove to work herself forward by this means.
 "' What can they do2' whispered.
 "' Nothing yet, while this roll lasts, ex- cept come closer up and make a nearer inspection of us. When the day dawns we must change our tactics replied ii C captain. Go down again there is noth- ing you can do.'
 '" But was wrought up to too high hitch tO 0o down aoain and thA rorta;n