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


that the lady was soon to be out of danger.
counted seven persons in the boat, including
tho girl and her brother. and, rs the boat Was
pulled by four oars, IL did not take long for IL
to got alongside. knew that the instant the
yawi touched the briggs side the cheat would b
discovered, but was prepared for the scamps
and allowed them NO opportunity to escape.
stationed Mr.. Cooper and Eve of the crew with
loaded muskets on tho vessels rail, while
another hand held . small graphing iron for
the purpose of throwing it into the boat for the
purpose of preventing the men from pushing
off and returning to the vessel to reveal our
true character.
fittings worked just rs I 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
merchantmaps.'
"'Sacre!' cried Q Frenchman.
Diablo!' muttered Spaniard.
"'We are deceived. Shove off," cried q man
in the stern sheets
"'Not as you know Of cried Cooper. The
man who offers to lift an oar dies instantly
"'Ill trouble you to walk over the side, one
by one Mr.. Cooper said, addressing the pirates.
The least noise resistance will cost you
dearly. Walk up like men and settle your &C.
counts
"It's mean Yankee trick muttered the
man in the stern sheets, who afterward found
ont was the Captain of the schooner and an Eng
lishman by birth. II had known for sure
you were nothing but merchantmen I'd have
blown your tub out of the water
a. But as you didn't know anything about it
we have saved yOu some trouble. So Just walk
up and quit grumbling, 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 nice pair of handouts was thrust upon
his wrists. Hands were also thrust into his
pockets, and pair of pistols and huge bowie
knife were found. After this fellow was dis
armed he was showed down the after hatch with
a gag in his mouth to prevent his shouting too
loud. Every man was served in the same man
ner and then l assisted the lady on deck. and
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
dozen times and no satisfactory answer had
been returned. had the skipper and half of
his crew, hut there were six more that /
wanted, or my work would be incomplete, for
it was evident that the schooner was faster than
the brig, and that she could fight us q running
race had no relish for. for you know that it
doesn't take many shots between wind and
water to send a vessel and crew to Davy Joness
locker.
Captain said Mr.. Cooper, while I was
mcditating, i know what you are thinking
about, and the only way that it can be done ID
to send me on board in the boat, with half
dozen of the crew and take possession of it.
We can 90 well armed and still make them
think that We are Uncle Sans men,
:" didn't like to run the risk, but Cooper
was SO positive that consented to let him un.
dnr ful fHn ypb EaV &c
out the deception, / lent the Mate cap and q
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 as possible. 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.
siderable anxiety, for feared every minute
that the pirates would let one of their guns fly
and send boat and men all to the bottom.
But fortune favors the brave, they say, and in
this instance can swear to it. The boat got
alongside without trouble, and the next In.
slant the men had tumbled on deck. There
was no sound Of fighting or seuffiing, but
knew that the Mate was at work. At last
had the satisfaction OF hearing him hail and
say that the schooner's crew were all his pris-
oners and under matches, where they could do
no harm.
Then began to breathe freer. I told the
Mate to stay close by the brig until daylight,
when We would see whet 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 belonged to Santa Cruz,
where they owned large plantation, and were
looked upon as A in rank. They had bought
the schooner for the purpose of trading among
the islands, and / guess for running few car
goes of negroes but that they said nothing
about. They had hired man who called him.
self Smith,-an Englishman, as Captain, and he
shipped his crew, and bad lot he got hold of.
One day, when the vessel was all ready for sea,
the brothers and sister were invited on board
while they were enjoying themselves 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 ont
Of the bay and the mask was thrown off. The
skipper made no secret of his intention to visit
the coast Of Africa and by way of making
things pleasant offered to make the lady his
wife. II We had not fallen in with him just
rs We did / don't think that he would have
waited for priest to perform the ceremony.
However, We took the schooner into port and
she was condemned and the crew imprisoned,
and made $4,000 by tho job."-San Francisco
Cdu