Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-05-21


Allen Bicknell of Darlington, R. l.,
who were now the only survivors, ran
| aloft in the forlorn hope of thus saw
ing their lives. The pirates fred at
Bicknen with pistols, wounding him
as he stood in the foretop.
Tardy now hailed the second mate,
promising to spare his life if he would
come down, as they required him to
navigate the vessel. He accordingly
descended, and was not harmed. See
ing the officer in present safety, Bick-
nell the poor sailor, already wounded,
asked if they would spare him also.
Upon receiving reply In the affirma-
tive, he came painfully down the rig
cling; but the moment he reached the
deck he was killed.
The vessel was now entirely in the
possession of these monsters, and the
feelings of Durfee must have been in
describable, as he realized the extent
of the tragedy, and his own dreadful
situation.
He knew, Of course, that the pirates
would never,i they could help it,per-
NIT him to leave the vessel alive. 1t
might serve their purposes to spare
him for time, but unless he should
be able to hit upon some manner of
deliverance, the fate of his shipmates
must at last be his.
The bodies of the victims were
thrown into the sea, and the four
murderous scoundrels then COM
menced searching the cabin, being
apparently aware that she had on
board a considerable amount Of
money. This they brought on deck
and divided, all the while talking
rapidly in Spanish.
Tardy now informed the second
mate that the brig must be taken to
South America. Durfee we'll knew
that should he carry the wretches to
that part of the world, his own doom
would be sealed the moment they
reached it's shores. He sought for
some excuse to land elsewhere and
fortunately found one.
81 can take you to South America"
he said, "but for such a voyage we
must have more water. We have
only enough to last for short time,
and we may be sixty or seventy days
on the passage"
Tardy uttered a Spanish oath or
two, and then asked if a supply could
not be obtained by entering some in
let of the coast where there would be
no danger of capture.
eyes," replied Durfee, glad that the
pirate had anticipated proposition
which he himself had intended to
make. eve could run in at night
and get out before morning. Then
we should be all ready for voyage
to South America Or anywhere else."
Tardy fourished his knife fercely
before the face of his helpless prison
err, thus indicating what would be
done in case of the least attempt at
deception. Durfee's nerves had al
ready suffered terribly, and it was
only by the greatest effort that he
could maintain anything like an ap-
pearance of calmness.
Hastily running over in his thoughts
the various inlets of the coast, he re-
solved upon making for Chesapeake
Bay. He was far, however, from tell
ing the pirates Of his decision, but led
them to suppose that the destination
was some obscure nook among islands
and promontories. 1t was fortunate
for him that they knew nothing what
ever of the coast, and were ignorant
oven of the existence of the wide
water sheet which he had in mind.
He used to relate that while the
vessel was running on the course he
mad chosen, and he was filed with
5he most Dreadful anxiety lest his
plans should, after all, miscarry ,Tardy
would come to him, and with oaths,
BOAST of the murders he had commit
ted.
Great was Durfee's anxiety as the
orig made the land! Soon his fate
would be decided. He thought with
4 sickening sensation Of the pirates
threats, but he thought, too, of the
fort at Old Point Comfort; and upon
this his hope rested. 1t must, of
course, be approached at night, and
luckily the Spaniards were as anxious
for the cover of darkness as was he
so that he was permitted to
keep off shore until past sunset.
Then the little brig stood in under
Ill sail. With fine breeze she pass
I'd Cape Henry, and continued her
course up the bay. 1t was for Durfee
IN hour of unspeakable suspense. At |