Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-04-08

was seen tnab Sne meant TO lay us
aboard consultation was held in the
cabin as to what should be done. A de-
clsion was reached very quickly. She
could sail two feet to our one, and it was
plain that she could board us whether
we consented or not. There was some
talk of getting up the arms, but this
was only among the men forward. The
head of the brig was brought to the
wind, and as darkness came stealing
down over the sea the dhow came Gid
ing toward us like serpent approach
ing its prey.
From the first appearance of the dhow
/ had no doubt chat She meant Is evil.
/ was ready to do my full share toward
beating her off, but when was told that
there would be no resistance, and when
in pistol-shot of us, ! entered the fore
castle, and from thence by means of
sliding door in the bulkhead, passed in
to the hold. We were rock ballasted,
and In the hold were a score or more OF
Of these as place of refuge, having
plenty of matches to enable me to see
my way through the darkness, but
waited while to see what would hap
pen above. | heard nail from the
dhow, another from above, and then
shock as the stranger came alongside.
In moment, as | knew by the tramp
ing overhead, we had been boarded by
large gang. Two or thee pistols were
fred, there was shouting and running,
and after few minutes | made certain
that the Algerine had taken possession.
Men began to rummage the brig, and
as one of the matches was pulled off |
retreated to the hiding place | had
selected. Three or four men came down
with a lantern to examine the hold, and
l heard them cursing away in the
Moorish tongue because they found no
cargo.
1t was now evening, and the wind
had died entirely out. l crept out of
the box and stood under the main
hatch, and as the cover was partly off |
could plainly hear what was going on,
although | could not understand what
was said. AS | heard nothing from any
of our crew, | concluded that they were
either prisoners in the cabin or had
been transferred to the dhow Up to
midnight the vessels lay side by side,
the flap of their sails proving a dead
calm, but soon after that "a breeze sprang
up and we were soon forging slowly
ahead. | heard them hailing from one
craft to another, and | would have
/ given a great deal to have been able to
understand the tongue. 1t was my idea
I that they were going to run the brig
over to the Moorish coast as u prize, and
/ that the crew would be sent into the in
terror as captives and slaves. This had
been the fate of more than one crew
shipwrecked on that inhospitable shore,
and at the very time France had man
of-war on the coast and was demanding
the release of fifteen sailors known to
be held in captivity.
The wind not only held light during
the remainder of the night, but came
from the east and thus headed us off.
sat on the hard ballast under the hatch
wondering and planning, but arriving
at no conclusion. 1t was fair to presume
that | had not been missed, as no search
was made for me; but this was little
comfort If the brig was taken into
some bay on the coast she would be thor
oughly searched and would be dragged
out. 1t would be only two or three day.
at the longest before hunger and thirs
would drive me out.
Daylight was not half an hour old be
fore | heard an alarm on deck, and i
might have been another thirty minute
when the boom of a cannon proved tina
we had signal to heave to. The bri.
was brought head to the wind, amid
great clamor of voices on deck, and thel
every thing was quiet, l now made m,
way across the ballast to the slidin,
door, opened ii little to find the fore
castle deserted, and | at once passe,
through. Not hearing any one imme
diately above me, assembled the ladde
and got look along the decks Just as
French naval officer came over the rail
/ sprang up the ladder and rushed at
with such a speed that no one saw m,
until | was at the officers side
Lying of to windward was bi
French frigate, and alongside was on
Of her boats Hanging in the wind
half mile distant, was the dhow, wit
another of the frigate's boats just board
ing. On our decks were thirteen Moor
--swarthy, ragged, and sh owing the vi
lain in every movement. The fellow i
command was just opening his mouth t
make explanations to the officer when
came upon the scene and shouted:
Lieutenant, that dhow yonder is
cursed pirate, and she captured us s
dark last night"
"Explain" he replied, as he locke
me over with curious eye.
briefly told him who and what "
were, and the actions of the Moors co
roborated my story. lie called four IN;
rines aboard and sent the boat back wit
. message. The frigate had drifte
down little near, and some of her gur
had been cast loose. This was luck,
as all of sudden the dhow spread ht
I wings to sail away. We saw the frigate
boat sent adrift, and afterward learne
that the boarding officer was cast nee
! and heels over the rail to take care
! himself 1t was desperate resolN
, / with the dhow, and it might have su
ceeded at longer range. As it was 81
, 1 had not moved hundred yards whe
boom! boom went the guns, and "
saw the splinters Nv. She at one
: luired up and let every thing go, al
, another boats crew 5 soon alongside
Every thing was soon made plain
, the Frenchman. v'hen the dho
, boarded us her hc' ,eaded crew we
ripe for killing, nd without II
, slightest proyocatio Shields was sh