Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-01-04

to have all hands on The alert, resolved
to lull suspicion by pretending that
gale was apprehended. AS fortune
would have it, the appearance of the
weather was all in our favor, and with
the disappearance of the sun the sky
looked wild and brassy. The cook had
been instructed to keep his coppers full
of boiling water, while the men deposited
beavers and iron Delaying pins about the
deck, when they could be utilized at
moments notice.
The mate was stationed at the wheel,
a Ratchet ground keen as razor con-
cealed in the bosom &C his shirt, while
the MILDLY and myself walked the deck,
each with pistol in his pocket and the
sword near at hand Outwardly calm
and with careless demeanor we waited
for the summons that was to decide both
the fate of the vessel and all hands.
occasionally the low warbling of the
Spanish girl could be heard as she
hummed some love song, while the stra.
tegic positions of the murderous Spaniards
were easily descernible by the small
glowing light that emanated from their
ceaseless cigarettes.
1.-THE night was calm, scarcely a
breath of air ruled the surface of the
dark expanse of waters, and the canvas
tapped idly to and fro, csusing the reef
points to dance and rattle almost con-
tinuously. l will confess to feeling OF
nervousness, with every faculty braced
to its utmost tension, my ear strained foI
the first sound that would announce the
commencement OF the deadly struggle.
But my companion, the MILDLY, took
matters very differently, and laughed,
nodded and jo<ed as lively as though
waking the quarler deck of his OVID
bonnie craft.
'Suddenly three distinct assured
raps echoed through the ship, and in an
instant the whole scene changed as If by
magic. The signal had been given con
siderably earlier than any of us had ex-
pected, but you may depend we were
not caught mapping. Far from it, as the
conspiratorS found to their cost.
II had no time nor opportunity to at
tend to anything but my own personal
safety, for one of the larger of the
Spaniards rushed at me from dark
corner, his two-edged dirU giittering oD
high, poised directly over my heart,
but it never had an opportunity to de-
seend. With cool steady aim l covered
the fellows head, and doubt if he ever
realized what was the cause that con-
signed him so suddenly to everlasting
punishment. The MILDLY had not used
his pistol, but, depending on his sword,
ran his antagonist through in the most
approved and scientific manner. The
mate had desperately wounded his assail-
ants, leaving them writhing and moan
ing IN agony on the deck, that was
slippery with their blood.
''Forward the battle was raging
iercely, the loud yells of the opposing
forces ringing through the air in discord-
ant shouts, varied occasionally by shrieks
as Sam, the cook, dealt out his stock OF
scalding water with an unstinted hand.
"The Spaniards were capering about
like French dancing masters with the
enraged seamen following them up
closely, using their beavers and Delay
ing pins against the dirks of the Span
iards. On came the seamen, flushed
with victory, charging upon the now
thoroughly cowed and denoralized
scoundrels, when suddenly from the
depths of the cabin bounded forth the
senorita, her hair steaming, eyes blazing,
and torrent of Castilian pouring from
her lips. Like a tig 7ss at bay she glared
about her, displaying at the same time
pair of superblv mounted pistols.
eat that instant, driven to close
quarters by the men, a number of the
pirates leaped overheard, leaving but
one of their number on deck. He was
by far the handsomcst one of the lot,
reckoning beauty from Spanish stand
point, and he was closely engaged with
the MILDLY, who was evidently making it
very lively for his antagonist.
1--WE were all more or less ex-
hausted with our exertions, and having
full faith in the officers ability to de-
fend himself we crowded around to wit
ness the combat. The senorita appeared
on deck just in time to behold the last
clever thrust of the light, keen edged
rapier.
''The Spaniard had wound his cape
around his left arm, leaving his right
clear to WELD the dirk as he advanced
and retreated, watching for an oppor-
tunity to sheath it in the bosom of the
young officer. | was about to brain the
rascal myself and terminate the affair
when | was saved the trouble. The
pirate had retreated before an attack of
the mildly, when, tripping over ring
bolt, he was thrown off his guard, and
like a flash of lightning the bright blade
of the officers sword passed through the
Spaniard's body.
Scarcely had the officer cleaned his
weapon of the pirates carcass when a
scream was heard, followed by sharp
report, and the form Of the Spanish wo-
man confronted US, the smoke curling
from the muzzle as she stood over the
body of the PROSTATE Spaniard.
n Iol cfo e.