The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-16

I)iBf NOS are cart hqu e S
r. %MA> and hurricanes and
MCCD\ Gains and rains in
abundance A man
can't lie down and be certain that he's not
going to wake ND with his masts over the side
or his shin on her beam ends and forked light
ming playing round the maintopSall sheets Ike
dudes round ballroom belle.
ain the wear Is49 was Master of brig
bound from the West Indies to Boston. / think
that was days sail from Santa Cruz on the
night that / am about to tell you of. The wind
was very high, and we were going through the
water no faster than two knots an honr. left
the deck at 10 o'clock in charge of my Mate,
Saem-bred boy named Cooper, and smart tel
low he was / told Cooper to keep sharp look
out for squalls and suspicious looking vessels,
for we were directly in the track Of homeward-
bound slavers, aud as j had met them number
of times without any good result / was not
anxious to see them again, and preferred CIV
ing them 3 wide berth.
~ hadn't been mapping more than two hours
when Mr.. Cooper called me.
"'Captain,' be said, the moon is just rising
through 8 black cloud, and directly in its wake
can make out a vessel braced sharp up and
standing across our hawse as though she wished
10 speak u.s.
al went on deck and took a squint at the
vessel that had somewhat alarmed my Mate. /
must confess that / did not feel quite satisfied
with her looks. for she large topsail
schooner with tremendous hoist TO her sails,
and they set though made for her toy mas
ter hand. The craft was low in the water, and
as black as pocket is reported TO be. / saw
that the schooner was damned tight in the wind
and that she would be likely to pass our bows
at the rate she was going at about 100 yards
distance; but while | was examining her
through my glass; saw her sails were shaking
and that her Roadway was materially deadened.
1t seemed to me that her skipper wanted my
vessel to draw ahead, in hope of not being no.
ticed, and possibly he would have succeeded
had not Cooper's eyes ferreted him out.
:" ] examined the stranger for few seconds,
and then came TO the conclusion that the chap
was either SLAYER, uncertain of our character,
or a pirate. But at all events I determined to
be pre- pared for either, for thought that ha
guns enough TO stand something OF tug before
conseuting to walk the plank.
q. Mr. Cooper ] said, just call all hands in
quiet way, and let's get these guns ready for
business. Don't make fuss and seem fright
ened, as there is no occasion for it,
cay, ay, SIR he answered, and in few
seconds the men were on deck and casting
loose the l2-pounders, all of which had been
loaded two days before with canister and round
shot, and all that we had TO do was TO ge. up
ammunition and place it handy, and then load
our muskets and take the boarding pixies out
Of the racks.
ave are all ready, Captain. my Mate said
in less than five minutes after he had received
the order. The men are all stationed at the
guns and ready to fight at commando
az hope that there'll be no occasion for the
use of the bulldogs / replied. but there's no
telling what that vessels intentions are. de
still keeps his lufi for his sails are shaking and
he don't draw ahead any,
80 PERHAPS he wants US to pass by and not
notice him. my Mate remarked, and ] did not
know but that such might be the case for the
brig did look very much like a man-of-war,
and, to tell the truth, ] had no objection to
being taken for one of Uncle Sans vessels, as
1t rather fattered my pride.
BY this time the stranger was off our beam,
and when ] began to think that he cared moth.
ing for as. he filed his sails and steered SO as
70 just run under our stern. did not know
but that the fellow Was determined to rake US.
II be had, there would not have been any thing
left Of u.s. However, j resolved TO let him
know that we were not asleep, so sprang into
the main rigging and hailed:
60 Schooner, ahoyi'
There was no response. but could hear
hustle as though there was some confusion at
being spoken. j fancied that there was some
scufiing on deck. but j could not make out
ANYTHING distinct. ] thought that i would
give them another chance 10 reply, SO i hailed
again:
a. Schooner, ahoy!' and this time there was
sD attempt at an answer
a. Hello!' came in gruff tones over the
water
"'what schooner is that?' demanded
"There was moments besitancy, and then
some one in the waist of the schooner shouted
IN startling tones:
"'Hep. Treachery! Murder!'
Gag the fooln cried the man who was an
swering my hail. Gag him and throw him
overheard
There was another scuffie and many sup
pressed mutterings, and then / heard
womans voice raised in imploring tones.
Have mercy, gentlemen she cried, and
spare his life. He did not mean anything, /
am sure. Oh, let me entreat of you to spare
his life.'
a. put my glass to my eye, and as the moon
had got clear of black cloud was able to see
what had TO deal with. / could make out
only half dozen men on deck, and concluded
that was all the schooner had CD board.
There was something wrong going on, and
made up my mind 10 investigate il, even if
was exposed TO some little peril. determined
on bold stroke, although i had some little
fear of the result.
az Schooner, aloy!' Ishouted, just as she was
directly astern of US.
"'Well, what is it?' was the answer
Send boat on board Immediately aud LET
me see what you are / commanded.
"who in thunder are you p was the impu-
dent question.
The United States brig Perry, bound to
Santa Cruz
"'Thore was a breathless silence for mo-
nent. when suddenly heard shrill whistle
On board of my own brig such as is used by
Boatswains OF national vessel when the crew
are to perform any work. The trick was
Cooper's, and was intended to aid NE in the de-
ssption-