The Delta independent., 1889-10-08

y. And then Phillips asked the
same question.
Fright there-just over the star
board quarter" returned the manlwho
had spoken.
We looked and sure enough, there
was a sail in plain sight, which must
have come out from behind Samana-
johnson went below and got his glass,
and when he returned he examined the
she must be Il schooner.
Suppose it should be tho piratem
suggested one OF our party. Milk
street bookkeeper named Paine. There
was a tremulousness in his tone as he
| spoke.
mo. there's no danger of that"
said Phillips. Il don't imagine we re
going to fall in with u pirate so easily.
I've followed the sea now going on
twenty years, and never saw one yet"
''Uniess that's one." persisted Paine.
'.Pooh-nonsense.
Our vessel was close hauled upon the
starboard tack, and the stranger was
coming down almost before the wind,
with fore-topsail ana topgallant sail
set and starboard studding sails draw
ing. In half an hour more the fellow
was in plain sight. 1t was schooner,
long. low and black, and just such
one as Senior Torrijos had described
the pirate to be. There was no mis-
taking this. And then her deck was
full Of men, as we could plainly see
with the glass.
What dye think now?" asked Paine,
tremulously.
"By the piper. there may be snuff
of powder here after ALL" returned
Phillips. rather obviously.
Minutes fled rapidly, and ere long
the schooner was within couple of
miles. There was no room for doubt.
Her whole contour was rakish and
bloody, and then no Other craft would
carry such quantity of men,"
"Well, boys" said Phillips, there
can't be no mistake about that fellow,
and now what shall we do?"
'.Why-run OF course" said Paine:
and We all coincided.
So without further consideration our
helm was put up, the sheets eased off,
and in few moments moro we were
| bowling off before the wind in fine
| style. For some ten or fifteen minutes
we watched the pirate with the utmost
anxiety, and at the end of that time it
was evident that he was gaining upon
Th<af
"They never spare anybody" whis-
pered young salesman, by the name
of Bolster. He spoke to Phillips. and
seemed to hope that something might
be done to increase our speed.
| But Bolster was not the only man
who bore fear marks upon his face. l
think we all came in for our share of
that. Whether tho pursuer was a
pirate or not, had been settled in our
minds, and the only thing upon which
we now hung was the thought of
escape. To be captured was sure
death, and that, too, most horrible.
'.Can we escape?" was II question
asked by more than one, and asked by
one more than once. Captain johnson
knew moEt about our vessels sailing
qualities, and he was appealed to; but
he only shook his head in doubt.
1t was stern chase and we felt sure
it must be long one. Perhaps we
could hold off until night and then
steal away.
''Tm afraid not said Phillips, who
had been watching the pirate narrowly,
as the hope was spoken to him. "The
case will be settle before night"
1t was now ten o'clock, and the
wind was moderate. our schooner rum
ming off seven knots. 1t was fixed
fact that the pirate was gaining upon
us = 1t was very slowly done, but yet
we could see it. The fellows hull be-
came gradually more plainly develop
ed to our sight, and one utter another
OF his ropes became defined against
the blue sky. 1t was just twenty-five
minutes past ten when he fired the
first gun. We had not been able to
see any ports before. but now that
point was settled.
THAT means for us to heave TO-"
| cesiN CohhoohS 10 IhC bOuuu VI ttlt Tc-
port had fairly died away.
But we won't heave to-" exclaimed
half a dozen OF voices.
"Of course we won't!' cried Paine.
We'll use the only means OF safety
we've got while it lasts"
And this was the general impression.
To calmly stop and let the rascals
come up and cut our throats was some
thing we were not prepared to do. for
though the pirate was gaining upon
us, yet 1t was SO slowly that there was
a strange sense OF hope while the dis
tance was anything between us. Per-
haps some other sail might heave in
sight-and perhaps a great many
things might happen to help us.
At eleven o'clock we could plainly
sec the heads and shoulders of the
pirates, and we could now sec that her
ports were open. and the guns run out.
They were brass guns. for we could see
them glisten in the sunlight There