Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-17
E6ought the thing would end in a flood OF

have thee eternally in his keeping" May
| thy hands rot for their greediness, 0 most
wicked of robbers" "Mayest thou seethe
in the fiery food" such were some of the
cries with which the pillagers carried on
their scramble.
In the midst of the strife, when the tu-
| multi was at its height and the company so
intent on clutching and tearing from each
other that they had no eyes for anything
else, suddenly there rang out a startled cry
that sent burdens rolling on the deck and
hands gripping in girdles for pistol or blade.
Enemy, enemyr' yelled man who
CHANGED to look out to sea, and sure enough
there, less than q tenth of league off, were
two large boats full of men coming swiftly
toward us under the combined impulsion
of sail and oar. Perhaps a sixth of a league
beyond these rode at anchor a vessel of
| strange rig and build, from which it was
plain they had come.
The crew on board the Bird of Paradise
acted with the valor of surprised thieves.
Evidently of the mind that half loaf is
better than no bread, many of them leaped
into the boats alongside and tried to make
off with what booty they had managed to
secure. But before they could get away
the strangers were among them, and in a
twinkling half the boats were floating keel
up. 1t was surprising to see the rapidity
with which boat after boat canted over
and emptied its contents, human and in
animate, into the sea. A push, the touch
of an oar, jerk on bows or stern seemed to
do it. But skill always gives an idea of
ease and it was plain the present performers
were playing familiar parts.
The fellows in the water Spluttered, bel
lowed and threatened, but as the tongue
was the only weapon they were able to use
with any freedom, their opposition scarce
counted as hindrance. The strangers laid
about them with their oars with such vigor
and deXterity, such lightninglike quick
ness and precision, that ere one could say
the thing had we'll begun hardly boat re
manned right side up.
Having worked confusion in the water
the conquerors came clambering over the
sides of the brig, their ugly crooked swords
in their teeth and light in their eyes that
was uglier than the CLEAN of their steel.
There was a pretense of resistance by the
remainder of the first Corners, but before
there was any chance of slaughter they
were lodging about the deck and playing
hide and seek about the masts.
At this signal of surrender weapons were
put up with promptneSs that would have
astonished one entirely ignorant of Arab
ways, and with one accord all hands-first
Corners and last alike-fell to the old game,
only lIlttG uOW lLSOS}tu VI DSlHS lO"6T6u IuIO
boats the goods were thrown into the sea,
which was soon quickly notified with bales
and boxes. 1t did not take long to relieve
the brig Of her cargo and as soon as the
last bale was overheard the robbers follow
ed it to continue the scrimmage outside.
For me who remained on the brig there
was no lack Of entertainment. There was
eXhilaration amounting at times to pleas
urable excitement in watching the nimble-
ness and straits of the combatants and the
frequency with which booty changed hands.
The incidents were often such as would
have made crowd of spectators on shore
roar with delight. Now there would be
knot of men inextricably entangled as it
might seem, and just as you thought the lot
must go down together lucky boat would
dart clear. Then there would be exciting
pursuit and capture, or the runaway, Civ
ing all its attention to its pursuers, would
rush into the clutches of a skirmiSher lying
in wait on the outskirts.
Again a cluster of boats would be locked
into u sort of pontoon bridge, which would
sway and rock for awhile till in the energy
of the action it would suddenly tilt or ca
reen, pitching men and goods into the wa
ter Or again two men wrestling would
lose their balance and turn over like re-
volving buoys, to come up blinking, splut-
tering and streaming at the mouth as if
they were automatic pumps. Then, shak-
ing themselves roughly like n couple of
drenched dogs, they would probably close
again to repeat the same diverting per-
Torrance. Thus the sport went on with
endless variety of incident, and no blood
shed that could see to mar the enjoy
ment.
By degrees the combatants drew away
from for hpSiHaS tho taDAonnv IF SUCh
a battle to spread the ebbing tide was carry
ing the wares out to sea- making it neces-
sary to follow them. 1t was clear the last
corners were getting most of the spoil \
few of the others, lodging and watching
their chance, managed to make off, carry
ing freight for ballast, but the frequent
trips to and fro between the center of war
and the anchored ship told where most of
the plumber was going.
There are no reaperS with a 1.-THE of the
energy and speed of pirates. In spite of the
time wasted in useless contention, in spite
of races, captures, somersaults and the
thousand and one egregious hindrances,
INDUCED in as might almost appear from u
spirit of sheer frivolity, the harvest was
quickly gathered, and very soon the only
floating objects to be seen We're the ship
with her boats near at hand and in the dis
lance other boats running for life with the
tide.
AS the diversion declined my mind natu-
rally reverted to my own miserable condi-
tion. What was to become of me? Was
to be left to my own devices with a strand
ed ship and no commons? And if so, what
should l do? Should l make my way
ashore and risk the savageness of man and
beast or remain on the brig to await de-
velopments?
While was thus thinking and debating,
boat put off from the pirate ship and came
toward me. Coming alongside its crew
climbed on board the brig, and Judging it
best to be civil received them with pro-
found salaam and cordial marhaba, or
welcome. l might have saved my pains.
Instead of returning my salutation the
leader came forward with drawn sword,
demanding to know whether there was any
treasure on board and intimating that if
he caught me in a lie my throat would be
cut on the spot. / assured him that /
knew of no treasure, but invited them to
search for themselves since there might be
secret recesses in the ship that had not
discovered.
Thou shalt be guide" said the fellow,
land, as thou valuest thy life, true one.
Perhaps thou knowest the taste of steel"
l meekly complied, conducting them
faithfully into every corner above and be-
low, for the fear OF death gives wondrous
fidelity. They examined very deliberately
as they went along, probing with their
sword points into dark recesses and sound
ing with the hits the boards for concealed
chambers, sometimes even kicking furious
ly in their fits of chagrin as time passed
and no discovery was made.
Their bad humor showed itself also In an
ugly inclination to hold me responsible for
their i'll luck They would squirt out angry
questions about the former occupants of
the brig, and before l could reply turn
upon me with menaces that more than once
fairly brought my heart to my mouth. One
fellow, muttering that was playing the
innocent just a little too much. thrust at
L :.