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

diuSi l. ht,i tSulStl d ClSdT anu lie Uuu IlIlou
his pipe ac5 lighted it to his satisfaction.
shookr,y head in the negative.
It's Dot very pleasant place mt certain
seasons of the year, for there are earthquakes
and hurricanes and Gains and rains in
abundance. A man can't lie down and be
certain that he's not going to wake up with
his masts over the side or his ship on her
beam ends and forked lightning playing
round the maintopsal sheets like dandies
round ballroom belle
I'm the year 1910 was master of a brig
bound from the West Indies to Boston.
think that / was n days sail from Santa
Cruz on the night that l am about to tell
you of. The wind was very high, and we
were going through the water no faster
than two knots an hour. left the deck Mt
10 o'clock in charge of my mate, n Salem
bred boy named Cooper, aud n smart fellow
he was l told Cooper to keep sharp
lookout for squalls and suspicious looking
vessels, for we were directly in the track of
homeward bound slavers, and as had met
them number of times without any good
result was not anxious to see them again.
and preferred giving them n wide berth
II hadn't been mapping more than two
hours when Mr.. Cooper called me.
Captain he said, the moon is Just ris-
ing through black cloud, and directly in
its wake can make out a vessel braced
sharp up and standing across our hawse,
as though she wished to speak u.s.
II went on deck and took a squint at the
vessel that had somewhat alarmed my
mate 1 must confess that did not feel
quite satisfied with her looks for she was
large topsail schooner with tremendous
hoist to her sails, and they set as though
made for her by master hand The craft
was low in the water and as black as Il
pocket is reported to be. / saw that the
schooner was jammed tight in the winds
and that she would be lfkely to pass our
bows at the rate she was going ut about 100
yards distance. But while was examin-
ing 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 noticed, and
possibly he would have succeeded had not
Cooper's eyes ferreted him out.
II examined the stranger for a few sec
onds and then l came to the conclusion
that the chap was either n SLAYER uncertain
OF our character or a pirate. But ut all
events | determined to be prepared for
either, for l thought that had guns enough
to stand something of q tug before consent
ing to walk the plank.
Mr.. Cooper | said. Just call all hands
in quiet way and let's get these guns
ready for business. Don't make n fuss and
seem frightened. as there is no occasion for
it,
Aye, aye, sir he answered, and in
few seconds the men were on deck and cast
ing loose the 12-pounders, all of which had
been loaded two days before with canister
and round shot. and all that we had to do
was to get up ammunition and place it
handy, and then load our muskets and take
the boarding pixies ont of the racks.
I'VE are all ready, captain my mate
said in less than five minutes after he had
received the order. The men are all station
ed at the guns and ready to fight at COM
mand-'
i hope that there'll be no occasion for
the use of the bulldogs l replied, but
there's no telling what that vessels inten-
lions are. He still keeps his huff, for his
sails are shaking and he don't draw ahead
any,
Perhaps he wants It's 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 man
of-war, and to tell the truth, | had no OBJ
lection to being taken for one of Uncle
Sans vessels, as it rather hattcrcd my
pride
by this time the stranger was off our
beam. and when | began to think that he
cared nothing for us he filled his sails and
steered so as to just run under our stern.
did not know but that the fellow was de.
termined to rake us. If he had there would
no: have been anything left of us. How
ever, resolved to let him know that we
were not asleep, so | sprang into the main
rigging and hailed:
Schooner, ahoy!
There was no response but could hear
hustle, as though there was some con
fusion at being spoken. | fancicd that
there was some scui1ling On deck, but
could not make out anything distinct.
thought that | would give them another
chance to reply, 80 hailed again:
Schooner, ahoyr and this time there
was an attempt at an answer
HelloP came in gruff tones over the
water
What schooner is that?' demanded
There was moments hesitancy, and
then some one in the waist of the schooner
shouted in startling tones:
'Helpi Trcachery! MURDER
Gag the foolp cried the man who was
answering my hail. Gag him and throw
him overheard
There was another scuffle and many
suppressed mutterincs, and then | heard Il
woman's voice raised in inploring tones.
Have mercy, gentlemen she cried
and spare his life He did not mean any
thing, am sure. Oh, let me entreat Of
you to spare his lifep
Il put my glass to my eye, and as the
moon had got clear of n 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 on board. There was some
thing wrong going on, and made up ms
mind to investigate it even if was ex-
posed to some little peril determined on
bold stroke, although had some little
fear of the result