The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-18

| loINCG up luC HcstlNiTuS.' SnOuCpu,
and then the men left their stations and
performed the work without the usual &c
| compartment of noise.
| II put my helm hard a-starboard, and the
brig came quickly to the wind and remained
| stationary, with her maintopsail to the
| mast. Then we were heading in the same
| direction as the schooner, but the latter did
| not seem to be in a hurry to obey my orders
| and send boat on board. l could hear
some loud talking on the quarter deck of
| the stranger, as though the officers and
crew were debating the feasibility of at
tempting to escape or fight. / sincerely
hoped that we should be spared the latter
| alternative for | knew that at the very
first fire they would discover our imposition
and rage for revenge.
| I'm the meantime the schooner continued
to draw ahead slowly, as though to get be-
yond the reach of our guns, but 1 deter
mined to prevent them by bracing up and
maintaining my position. The instant,
however, that we had boarded the main
tack and were making some Roadway
through the water l again hailed the
| schooner.
"'Hellop was the gruff answer.
DO you intend to send boat on board
| and give some account of yourself?' de-
nanded.
Aye, aye. sir, as soon we can make
her tight
1.-The answer I did not deem satisfactory,
for it seemed to me rs though the crew
were attempting some dodge that WAS dan
gerous to our welfare, and determined to
prevent it if possible by taking them by
surprise.
"'Nfr. Cooper said, bring one of the
port guns to bear on the fellows bow and
see how near you can come to him. Don't
miss if you can help it,
1--WE are all ready Mr.. Cooper said.
blowing josh stick with which we used to
| touch off our guns.
II looked towNal the schooner and saw
| that there was no movement for lowering n
boat, and after listening quietly for mo
ment became satisfied that desperate
quarrel was raging on board. but what it
| was all about could not guess.
"'Give them the gun Cooper said. l
| had not much more than spoken when
there was a stunning report, and the brig
shook from truck to keelson.
II heard crushing sound as the iron hail
struck the schooner, cutting the halyarls
of the iib and letting that sail down by the
run, and could see numerous rents in the
foresail, through which the grapeshot had
passed.
Get the other gun ready, Cooper
said. You have done splendidly with the
first one. Keep the brig well to the wind,
SO that the stranger shan't get away from
u.s., continued to the man Mt the wheel
1.-The gun is all ready, sir my mate re-
piled
We'll don't fire until give the word.
don't want to kill the poor chaps if can
help It, III try them with another hail
and see if they have found their senses
Schooner, ahoy,' shouted. do you in
tend to send your boat on board or must I
sink you with broadside.
Again | could hear the angry discussion
going on, for we were just abeam of the
schooner and were holding our own with
her, no attempt having been made TO hoist
her jib. Suddenly saw man spring upon
her bulwarks.
There j. treachery and murder OH board.
don't desert'-
His speech was cut short by a blow on
his head. and with II loud splash he fell into
the water But the poor fellow had strength
TO swim, for | saw him strike out toward
our brig, although we were moving about
three knots an hour
Clear away the boat, Mr.. Cooper. and
pick UP that man. Mind and do it in ship
shape fashion. No confusion or fear, for we
should have had n gun from the schooner il
she had been armed
ut WAS only the work of n few minutes
to clear away the starboard quarter boat
and to send four men in it for the swim
mer could see that the crew of the
schooner WAS watching the proceedings
from their vessel, and managed TO count
IL men. which | SUPPOSED was all they
could muster The boat soon reached the
swimmer and took him on board and then
returned TO the brig The stranger was
helped over the rail- for he was quite weak
from the effects of cut upon his head.
which bled profusey
Sir he said, grasping my hand and
speaking with Il Spanish accent, YOU have
saved my life, and owe you n thousand
thanks. My gratitude, however, shall be
more substantial than words. | have n
brother ana sister on board, prisoners and
III the power of Il desperate man. Save
them. and we are your debtors for life
iii do what | can for you. replied.
but my force is small, us you can see
Is this not a United States vessel he
demanded. looking over the deck in aston
ishmcnt
Its United States vessel. but not {,
| naval one answered.
"''rhen, for heavens sake. keep up the
deception, for the schooner is armed, and
the crew will fight desperately. They sup
| pose that you Il brig of war and the
reason why hailed was because half of the
ruilians were advising "A surrender and the
other half wanted to fight you Mt ull haZ.
ards"
Here was n pretty kettle of fish and no
mistake. had supposed all along that the
schooner was unnrmed. and that II few dis
| charges from our guns would be sufficient
| to compel surrender. If these scamps
| should discover the deception that we had
! practiced before we secured them. our lives
and our property would pay for it, Impu-
dence was the only thing to carry us
| through, and determined to exercise "A lit
tie of that which sometimes answers as
well rs courage.