St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-12-21

nat young ladye being here Will not
turn the vessel ahead of US into .
pirate"
spoke testify. for to tell the truth,
| was little jealous OF the girls SEEM
ing preference for my handsome mid
shipman. As he turned away and
walked over to leeward. the wind rose
to howl. the white foam OF the waters
cleaned through the darkness, and,
with the gale now of our weather
quarter. We tore along at a rapid rate.
The main-mast my tallcst spar. was
very weak. and when at length rath-
er heavy sea set the ship to rolling
and plunging. feared every moment
to see it 60 by the hoard.
Meanwhile had been watching tho
distant schooner BY the electric CLEANS
that still broke occasionally over the
waters. She was as sharp as a sword
hsh. had a suspicious look. and soon
had reason to regret my obstinancy in
not taking Shelburne's advice. for sud-
denly saw her alter her course. and
ucssu StralSnt LOT us.
She was not a mile distant. and with
the aid OF . powerful night-glass. to-
gether with that afforded by the light
ming. l soon beheld her crew-as fierce a
looking set OF rascals as ever manned a
lawless craft for that she was pirate
there now was no room to doubt
Ay, there on her deck they were.
about sixty tall. robust fellows. armed
with daggers. kreescs aud pistols.
thrust in sashes about their loose
trousers. with their open jackets above
flying back from their brawny bosoms.
and their red and yellow caps pushed
away from their low. broad foreheads.
They had guns, too. small guns-four
eight-pounders on side and one for
ward-looking ugly enough to annoy
me. when consider that aboard this
bulk OF a merchant ship there was
only one old twelve-poundcr. and also
when / remembered having heard that
the Mindanayans make good seamen
and know how to handle their pieces
like trained gunners.
The schooner was running along
close to the wind. but she walked up
almost into its very teeth. and be-
licved that the next tack would enable
her to reach us. which her captain was
evidently in hurry to do. as the gale
was now bowling. and the thunder rat
thing over our heads in a way which
BODIED a heavy tempest.
Presently 1 saw Miss Melton come
up from the cabin. She looked alarmed
on hearing the frequent repetition Of
the word pirates" among our men.
and was somewhat nettled to see her
60 over to the side of my midshipman,
as il he were the one on whom her sal
walton depended. My orders were
quickly given. the ship was got
round. and away We went on the
starboard tack. Then there came
q fOrcible reminder to us from our pur-
suer that we must not hope to escape
90 easily. in the shape Of an eight
pound shot. which. after viciously
knocking a chip from the cabin-house
almost into my eye. went buzzing on.
and neatly took off the mizzcn jury
mast. bringing down hamper and all
rattling about Miss Melton's ears, with
a flying rope whipping the feather
from her hat as cleanly as il it were
cut of with knife.
As the Tapping canvas almost dashed
her of her feet she shrieked. and then
l saw Shelburnc actually put his arms
around her. and almost carry her to
the companionway. gently requesting
her to 60 below. out Of danger.
''Ohr' she softly cricd-''and yoms'
MY place is on deck" he gently
answered; and then this is what said
and l ratified it out like q musket
shot:
''Of course it is! Do your duty. sir!
Clear away that wreckage at oncc!"
''Ay. ay, SIR" he replied; and he
soon got some Of the hands to clear
away the hamper that INSTRUCTED the
deck.
Meanwhile there was the pirate
banging away. as if he had not a mo
ment to spare, and down went our fore
iury-mast falling over the side in a
slow and easy sort OF fashion. for all
the world like an invalid gentleman
in his night-gown. going to bed. The
sight was exasperating. and. as soon
as the wreck was cleared away ! got
the old twelve-pounder into position.
and at the next lightning-dash. gave
the order to fire.
With loud metallic ding-dong, the
piece at once exploded. and when I saw
how the men scrambled and tumblcd
over one another. in their necessary
haste to escape the flying fragments.
which did not 60 within four feet OF
them. I was disguised. ] called the
men together and had Shelburne dis
tribute arms to them; but l noticed
that the Spaniards all looked dis
mayed. Meanwhile I perceived that
our sloop-of-war's light seemed to DO
from instead Of advancing to
ward us. In fact. at her distance from
US. and owing to her being to wind
ward, also owing to the bowling Of the
gale and to the almost incessant rat
thing of the thunder. it was evident
that none OF her people had heard the
firing. while the pirate craft being
very small and on line with our own.
had not. OF course. been seen by them.
"A pity we have no rockets aboard
10 signal the sloop WITH" said to
Yes. sir. it is. All that we had