The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-03-05
HENRY |. BIOSSlT, Business Manager

a shOal. | heard the captain and mate
talking about coming to anchor, but no
orders had yet been given, when the
dhow came stealing down upon us from
the east, coming ont Of the blur which
hung over the water as one might sud-
denly appear from behind a curtain.
She wasn't over two miles away when
first sighted, and after hurried con-
sultation the briggs head was permitted
to fall off and we headed to the north
with light wind abeam. The dhow
altered her course to intercept us, at the
same time signaling that she wanted to
speak us. Her appearance created sur
prise and c0nsternation and when it
was seen that she meant to lay us
aboard a consultation was held in the
cabin as to what should be DONE A de-
cision 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 that she meant us 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 score or more of
empty crates and boxes. l selected one
of these as place of refuge, having a
plenty of matches to enable me to see
my way through the darkness, but
waited while to see what would hap
pen above. l heard hail from the
dhow, another from above, and then a
In a moment, as knew by the tramp
ing overhead, we had been boarded by
a large gang. Two or thee pistols were
fired, there was shouting and running,
and after few minutes I made certain
that the Algerine had taken possession.
Men began to rummage the brig, and
as one of the matches was pulled off l
retreated to the hiding place l had
selected. Three or four men came down
| with a lantern to examine the hold, and
| heard them cursing away in the
Moorish tongue because they found no
cargo.
1t was now evening, and the wind
had died entirely out. | 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 l 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 breeze sprang
| up and we were soon forging slowly
ahead. l heard them hailing from one
craft to another, and 1 would have
given great deal to have been able to
understand the tongue. 1t was my idea
that they were going to run the brig
over to the Moorish coast as prize, and
that the crew would be sent into the in
terror as captivcs and slaves. This had
been the fate of moro 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
from the east and thus headed us off. l
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 l would be dragged
out. 1t would be only two or three days
at the longest before hunger and thirst
| would drive me out.
Daylight was not half an hour old be-
| L
might have been another thirty minutes
when the boom of cannon proved that
we had signal to heave to. The brig
was brought head to the wind, al1id a
great clamor of voices on deck, and then
every thing was quiet now made my
way across the ballast to the sliding
door, opened it little to find the fore
castle deserted, and I at once passed
through. Not hearing any one imme-
diately above me, assembled the ladder
| and got look along the decks just as a
| French naval officer came over the rail.
sprang up the ladder and rushed aft
| with such speed that no one saw me
until | was at the officers side.
Lying off to windward was big
| French frigate, and alongside was one
of her boats. Hanging in the wind,
| half mile distant, was the dhow, with
another of the frigate's boats just board
ing. On our decks were thirteen Moors
-swarthy, ragged, and sh owing the viii
lain in every movement. The fellow in
command was just opening his mouth to
make explanations to the officer when
came upon the scene and shouted:
Lieutenant, that dhow yonder is a
cursed pirate, and she captured us at
dark last night!
"Explain!" he replied, as he looked
me over with curious eye.
briefly told him who and what we
were, and the actions of the Moors cor
roborated my story. He called four ma
rines aboard and sent the boat back with
message. The frigate had drifted