San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-08

business of the Sainte- Marie-des-Ange i
have related the whole conversation as ii
passed.
Crank" says he, remember our bargain
I must not object to your holding your
tongue, which | hereby even encourage you
to do; but by the same terms you are not to
resent my telling"
could not help laughing at this; though
still forewarned him what would come of it.
1.-THE devil may come of it for what care"
says the reckless fellow. 81 have always done
exactly as | felt inclined"
As is well known, my prediction came true.
The captain had no sooner heard the news
than he cut his cable and to sea again; and
before morning broke we were in the Great
Minch.
The ship was very old; and the skipper,
although the most honest of men land Irish
tool, was one of the least capable. The wind
blew very boisterous, and the sea ragged ex-
tremely All that day we had little heart
whether to eat or drink; went early to rest
in some concern of mind; and las If to give
us a lesson in the night the wind chopped
suddenly into the northeast and blew hur-
ricane. We were awaked by the dreadful
thunder of the tempest and the stamping OF
the marines on deck; so that | supposed our
last hour was certainly come; and the terror
of my mind was increased out of all measure
by Ballantrae, who Knocked at my devotions.
1t is in hours like these that a man Of any
piety appears in his true light, and we find
what we are taught as babes) the small trust
that can be set in worldly friends; | would
be unworthy of my religion if let this pass
without particular remark. For three days
we lay in the dark in the cabin, and had but
a biscuit to nibble. On the fourth the wind
fell, leaving the ship dismasted and heaving
on vast pillows. The captain had not guess
of whittier we were blown; he was stark ig-
norant of his trade, and could do naught but
bless the Holy Virgin; a very good thing too,
but scarce the whole of seamanshp. 1t
seemed our ore hope was to be picked up by
another vessel; and if that should prove to
be an English ship, it might be no great
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 unheard-
of violence The ninth dawn was cold and
black, with great sea running, and every
mark of foul weather. In this situation we
were overjOyed to sight small ship on the
horizon, and to perceive her go about and
head for the Sainte- Marie. But our gratifi-
cation did not very long endure; for when
she had laid to and lowered boat it was inn
mediately filled with disorderly fellows, who
sung and shouted as they pulled across to us,
and swarmed in on our deck with bare cut
lasseS, cursng loudly. Their leader was
horrible villain, with his face BACKED and his
whiskers cured in ringletS; Teach, his name;
most notorious pirate. He stamped about
the deck, raving and crying out that his
name was Satan and his ship was called He'll.
There was something about him like a wicked
child or a half witted person that daunted
me beyond expression. whispered in the
ear of Ballantrae that would not be the last
to volunteer, and only prayed God they
purpose with a nod.
''Bedad" said to Master Teach, 'if you
are Satan, here is divil for ye."
The word pleased him; and mot to dwell
upon these shocking Incidents Ballantrae 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 1t was the first time | had seen this
done; my heart died within me at the spec
tacle AMI Master Teach or one of his AGO.
lytes Gor my head was too much lost to be
precise) remarked upon my pale face in a very
alarming manner. l had the strength to 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 Skiff 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
Jest or two as we were pulled aboard, By
the blessing of Godkthere was a fiddle in the
pirate ship, which Ihad no sooner seen than
fell upon; and i'll 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 u name so long as my skin was
whole
What kind of paudemOnium that vessel
was | cannot describe but she was com
manded by lunatic, and might be called
floating Bedlam. Drinking, roaring, singing,
quarreling dancing, they were never all so
Der at one time; and there were days together
when, if squall had supervened, it must
have sent us to the bottom, or if a kings
ship had come along, it would have found us
quite helpless for defense. Once or twice we
sighted a SAIL and If VIC were sober enough,
overhauled it, God forgive us! and if we
were 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;
and observed the man was very vain of his
position. | have known marshals Of France,
ay, and even Highland chieftains that were