The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-18
heart jump thaat the lady was soon to be ont

knew that the instant the yawl touched
the briggs side the cheat would be discov-
cred, but was prepared for the scamps
and allowed them no opportunity to es-
cape. L stationed Mr.. Cooper and five of
the crew with loaded muskets on the yes
sells rail, while another hand held n small
graphing iron for the purpose of throwing
it into the boat to prevent the men from
pushing off and returning to the vessel to
reveal our true character
Things worked just rs expected. No
sooner had the pirates shipped their oars
when they got alongside than one of them
said:
Ibis is no man-de-war; it's nothin but
merchantmans'
'Sacrel cried II Frenchman.
"'Diablop muttered n Spaniard
"'We are deceived. Shove OFF, cried q
man in the stern sheets.
mot as you know of cried Coopcr.
THE man who offers to lift an oar dies in
stautly. I'll trouble you to walk over the
side one by one Mr.. Cooper said, address
ing the pirates The least noise or resist
ance will cost you dearly. Walk up like
men and settle your accounts
Its mean Yankee trick muttered
the man in the stern sheets, who l after
ward found out WAS the captain of the
schooner and an Englishman by birth IL
had known for sure you were nothing but
a merchantmen, I'd have blown your tub
out of the water
but as you didn't know anything
about it we have saved you some trouble.
So just walk up and quit umbling, for it
will do you no good
Mr.. Cooper's advice was followed. for
the skipper came slowly over the bulwarks,
and as soon as he struck the deck his arms
were seized, and Il nice pair of handouts
was thrust upon his wrists. Hands were
also thrust into his pockets, and a pair of
pistols and huge bowie knife were found.
After this fellow was disarmed he was
showed down the after hatch with q gag in
his mouth to prevent his shouting too loud.
Every man was served in the same manner,
and then | assisted the lady on deck. md
very happy was to do so. told her folks
to take her into the cabin and give her
something to eat if she desired it, for |
wanted to be polite, but she said that she
wasn't hungry and should have no appetite
until the rest of the pirates were secured
But how to get them was question
had asked in my mind half IL dozen times,
and no satisfactory answer had been re-
turned. had the skipper and half of his
crew, but there were six more that want
ed, or my work would be incomplete, for it
was evident that the schooner was faster
chan the brig and that she could fight us n
running race | had no relish for, for you
know that it doesn't take many shots be-
tween wind and water to send a vessel and
crew TO Davy Jones' locker.
Captain said Mr.. Cooper while was
mcditating, i know what you are thinking
about, and the only way that it can be done
is TO send me on board in the boat with half
dozen of the crew and take possession of
It, We can go well armed and still make
them think that we are Uncle Sans men,
Il didn't like to run the risk, but Cooper
WAS so positive that consented to let him
undertake the job. For the purpose of
carrying out the deception | lent the mate
cap and II coat with brass buttons. and
hung sword at his waist, while the six
men he took with him put on white duck
trousers so as to appear as uniform rs DOS
sible. Well armed, the crew started in the
schooner's boat, although for the sake of
seeming all right it was piped away in
man of-war style.
II watched the course Of the boat with
considerable anxiety, for l feared every
minute that the pirates would let one of
their guns fly and send boat and men all to
the bottom. But fortune f;,vors the brave
they say, and in this instance can swear
to it. The boat got alongside without trou-
bic, and the next Instant the men had tum-
bled on deck. There was no sound of fight
ing or scutfling. but knew that the mate
was at work. At last had the satisfaction
of hearing him hail and say that the schoon-
er's crew were all his prisoners and under
hatches where they could do no harm.
Then began to breathe freer told the
mate to stay close by the brig until day
light, when we would see what could be
done, for | didn't know as yet on what
grounds we had taken the schooner. |
asked the brothers to give me an account
of their adventures, and they did So They
Aclonged to Santa Cruz, where they owned
n large plantation and were looked Ilpon rs
Al i'll rank They had bought the schooner
for the purpose of trading among the
islands, and guess for running a few car
goes OF negroes, but that they said nothing
about. They had hired man who called
himself Smith, an Englishman, as oaptajn.
and he shipped his crew, and a bad lot he
got hold of.
Zone day, when the vessel was all ready
for sea, the brothers and sister were invited
on board. While they were enjoying them
selves in the cabin the cable was slipped
the schooner put to sea, and before the
owners knew where they were or what was
going on they were out of the bay and the
mask was thrown Off. The skipper made
10 secret of his intention to visit the coast
OF Africa, and by way of making things
pleasant offered TO make the lady his wife.
IL we had not fallen in with him Just as
we did, don't think that he would have
waited Tor priest to perform the cere-
mony. However, we took the schooner
into port, and she was condemned and Tie
crew imprisoned, and made Sl0,oOO by the
job. San Francisco Call
The Importance of Uninjurcd Fruit.
There is no question about the impor-
lance of so far rs possible preventing the
bruising of fruit. From what has been
said in strong terms concerning the barrier