Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-11

guns, STOWl6u the captain, ana LHer0 is nothing tosdo. They intend to take this brig, and that's the reason they have run up their skull and bones. They are bearing directly down upon us with fair wind; they will be firing a gun presently, and then I shall lay to and wait for them.'
 To the surprise of the people on the Black Swan there came no shot from the approaching pirate; but as she still bore down upon them, running before the wind, the captain of the brig lay to l and lowered his flag. Submission now was all there was before them No man on the brig took up arms, nor did the crew form themselves into any show of resistance; that would have but made matters worse.
 As the pirate vessel came on, nearer and nearer, great number of men could be seen stretched along her deck end some brass cannon were visible trained upon the unfortunate brig { But, to the surprise of the captain of the Black Swan, and of nearly ev- erybody on board of her, the pirate did not run down upon her to make l fast and board. Instead of that she put about into the wind and lay to less than a quarter of 8 mile away Then 1 two boats were lowered and filled with men, who rowed towards the brig
 They have special reasons for our sapture,' said the captain to those who were crowded about him; 'he may be we'll laden now with plunder, and comes to us for our gold and silver Or it may be that he merely wants the brig. If that be so, he can quickly rid himself of us.
 That was cruel speech when women had to hear it, but the captain was a rough fellow
 The boats came on as quietly as if they were about to land at a neigh ] boring pier. Dickory and Lucilla cau- 1. tiously peeped over the rail, Dfckory without his hat, and Lucilla, hiding herself, all but part of her face, be- hind him. the Manders crouched to- gether on the ,ldeck, the father with glaring eyes and a knife in his hand. The crew stood with their hats re- moved and their chins lowered, wait ing for what might happen next. I The boats neared the ship and were soon made fast; every help was offered by the crew of the brig, and not sign l of resistance was shown. The leader Of the pirates mounted to the deck l followed by the greater part of his men.
 l For a moment Capt. Ichabod glanced l about him, and then, addressing the l captain of the brig, he said: This is all very we'll I am glad to see that 1 you have sense enough to take things as you find them, and not stir up a fracas and make trouble I overhauled you that I might lay in stock of pro- visions, and some wine and spirits be- side, having no desire, if you treat us rightly, to despoil you further. So, if l you will set your men to work to get on deck such stores as my quartermas- ter here may demand of you, we shall get through this business quickly. Tn the meantime, lower two or three boats, so that your men can row the goods over to my vessel
 The captain of the Black Swan sim ply bowed his head and turned away to obey orders, while Capt Ichabod stepped aft and began to survey the captured vessel As soon as his back was turned, the captain of the brig twas approached by very respectable elderly gentleman, apparently not en- I gagged either in mercantile marine or in piratical pursuits, who stopped him and said: "Sir, my name is Felix fl Delaplaine, mercnant, of Spanish I Town, Jamaica. I am, against my will, engaged in this piratical attack upon your vessel, but wish to assure you privately that I will not consent to have you robbed of your property, and ,I that, although some of your provisions may be taken by these pirates, here \ promise, as an honorable gentleman, to pay you the full value of all that they seize upon.''
 I The captain of the Black Swan had \ no opportunity to make an answer to this most extraordinary statement, for I at that moment a naval officer, shout ing at the top of his voice, came rush. ing towards the respectable gentleman 1 who had just been making such honor able proposals. Almost at the same moment there was a great shout from !. Capt. Ichabod, who, drawing his cut lass from it's sheath, raised the glitter ing blade and dashed in pursuit of the naval gentleman.
 Hold there! Hold there!a cried the pirate. Don't you touch him: don't lay your hand upon himi"
 But Ichabod was not quick enough. Dickory, swift as stag. stretched out < both his arms and threw them around the neck of the amazed MT. Delaplaine.
 Now the pirate Ichabod reached the two: his great sword went high in air
 and was about to descend upon the na- val person, whoever he was, who had made such an unprovoked attack upon his honored passenger, when his arm was caught by some one from behind. Turning, with a great curse, his eyes fell upon the face of a young girl.
 "Oh, don'tNkill him! Don't kill him!' she cried, "he will hurt nobody; he is only hugging the old gentleman Capt. Ichabod looked from the girl to the two men, who were actually en-
 bracing each other. Ddckory's back l 1~l %co ~R