The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-08

blessing to the master and myself
The fifth and sixth days we tossed there
helpless The seventh some sail was got on
her. but she was an unwieldy vessel at the
best. and we made little but leeway. All the
time. indeed, we had been drifting TO the
south and west, and during the tempest must
have driven in that direction with unbeard-
of violence, The ninth dawn was cold and
black, with great sea running, and every
mark Of foul weather. In this situation we
were overioyed TO sight small ship on the
horizon, and 20 perceive her 90 about and
head for the Sainte- Marie. But our gratif-
cation did not very long endure; for when
she had laid 10 and lowered a boat 1t was i'm
mediatcly filed with disorderly fellows, who
sung and shouted as they pulled across TO us,
and swarmed In on our deck with bare cut
lasses. cursing loudly. Their leader was
horrible villain, with his face BACKED and his
whiskers curled in ringlets; Teach, his name;
a most notorious pirate He stamped about
the deck. raving and crying out that his
name was Satan and his ship was called Hell.
There was something about him like wicked
child or half witted person that daunted
mo beyond expression. ! whispered in the
ear Of Ballantrae that would not he the last
10 volunteer, and only prayed God they
might be short OF hands; he approved my
purpOso with nod.
"Bedad," said 70 Master Teach, 'if you
are Satan, here is a dvil for ye"
The word pleased him; and mot to dwell
upon these shocking Incidents Balantrae and
and two others were taken for recruits,
while the skipper and all the rest were cast
into the sea by the method Of walking the
plank. II was the first time had seen this
done: my heart died within me at the spec
tacle: and Master Teach or one Of his AGO
lytes for my heal was too much lost to be
precise) remarked upon my pale face in very
alarming manner had the strength 10 cut
a step or two Of jig and cry out some
ribaldry, which saved me for that time; but
my legs were like water when / must get
down into the skill among these miscreants,
and what with my horror Of my company
and fear Of the monstrous pillows, it was all
could do to keep an Irish tongue and break
a Jest or two as we were pulled aboard. BY
the blessing of God, there was fiddle in the
nitrate ship. which had no sooner seen than
fell upon; and in my quality Of crowder ]
had the heavenly good luck TO get in favor in
their eyes. Crowding Pat was the name
they dubbed me with, and it was little
cared for n name so long as my skin was
whole.
What kind Of pandemonium that vessel
was | cannot describe, but she was com
manded by a lunatic and might be called a
boating Bedlam. Drinking, roaring, singing,
1uarreling, dancing, they were never all so
Der at one time; and there were days together
when. if a squat had supervened, il must
have sent us 20 the bottom, or If a kings
ship had come along, il would have found US
lgite helpless for defense. Once or twice we
sighted a sail, and, If we were sober enough
1verhauled it, God forgive u.s. and if we
we're all too drunk she got away, and
would bless the saints under my breath.
Teach ruled, if you can call that rule which
brought no order, by the terror he created,
an< observed the man was very vain Of his
position. ! have known marshals of France
az, and even Highland cheftains that were
less openly pulled up; which throws a singu
lar light on the pursuit Of honor and glory.
Indeed the longer we live, the more we per
ceive the sagacity Of Aristotle and the other
old philosophers; and, though ! have all my
life been eager for legitimate distinctions,
IAN lay my hand upon my heart, at the end
If my career, and declare there is not one
ma. nor vet life itself-whiSh is worth acquir-
ing or preserving at the slightest cost OF
dignity.
It was long before got private speech OF
Ballantrae; but at length one night we crept
out upon the botsprt, when the rest were
rtafc toI
,ition.
"None can deliver US but the saints said l.
"My mind is very different" said Ballan
irae; "for am going to deliver myself This
Teach is the poorest creature possible; we
make no profit Of him and lie continually
open to capture and" says he, 81 am not 20
lng 10 be tarry pirate for nothing, nor YET
10 hang in chains if | can help it," And he
iold me what was in his mind TO better the
state of the ship in tho way Of discipline
which would give us safety for the present
and sooner hope Of deliyerance when they
should have gained enough and should break
up their company.
lconfeSsed to him ingenuously that my nerve
was quite shook among these horrible sur
rQIndings, and burst scarce tell him to coun,
upon me.
Il am not very easy frightened" said he.
nor very easy beat"
A few days after there befell an accident
which had nearly hanged us all, and offers
the most extraordinary picture OF the folly
that ruled in our concerns. We were all
pretty drunk, and some bedlamibe spving n
sail, Teach put the ship about in chase with.
out glance, and we began 10 hustle up the
arms and boast Of the horrors that should
follow. | observed Ballantrae stood quiet in
The bows, looking under the shade OF his
hand; but for my part, true 70 my policy
among these savases, was at work with the
busiest, and passing Irish jests for their diver.
sion.
run up TIE colors," cries Teach. "Show
the IS tho jolly Rogerw
t was the merest drunken bragyadocio at
such a stage, and might have lost us valu.
able prize: but l thought it no part of mine
10 reason. and | ran up the black flag with
my own hand.
Ballantrae steps presently aft with smile
upon his face
You may perhaps like TO know, you
drunken dog, says he, that you are chasing
a Kings ship"
Teach ioaFed him the lie; but he ran at
The same time 10 the bulwarks, and so did
hey all ! have never seen 50 many drunken
men struck suddenly sober. The cruiser had
gone about, upon our impudent display of
,olors; she was just then filing on the new
-eck; her ensign blow out quite plain 10 see,
and even as we stared, there came puff Of
smoke, and then "A report, and shot plunged
N the waves good way short of us Some
ran 10 the ropes and got the Sarah" round
With an incredible swiftneSS One fellow
ell on the rum barrel, which stood preached
lpon the deck, aud rolled it promptly over
board On my part, made 70 e the Jolly
Roger, struck IL, tossed it in the sea- and
'ould have flung myself after, SO vexed was
with our mismanagement As for Teach,
ne grew as pale as death, and in,.ontinently
went down 20 his cabin. Only twice be
anne on deck that afternoon; went 10 the
ATRIAL; took a long look at the kings ship,
Ss-sch was still on the horizon heading after
20, ah9 then, without speech, bssck to his
'abln. You may say he deserted us; and If
Z had not been for one very caTnble sailor
We had on board, and for the lightness of
he airs that blew all day. we musr certainly
ave gone 10 the yard arm.
Ii is to be supposed Teach was Inundated !