Amador ledger., 1905-12-01
AN ATTACK BY PIRATES.
By Maud Anderson.

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cabin when the captain came dow1
and told me there was vessel jus
appearing on the horizon to wind
ward, and asked me to go and Sc,
what she was, for he could not max,
her out at ali. | went OIL decl
mounted into the maintop, and begar
my scrutiny.
"Well, what is she?" asked the
captain from the deck.
IL can hardly make her out, but
think she's a schooner.
whats her course
fSou'-west by south, 1 think; about
the same as ours. " l remained on the
top for few minutes, and continued
looking at the stranger. 'tShe seems
tonder of the sea than l am" con-
tinued. ''for she might have her tor
sails and top gallants, and studding
sails to boot, all set, instead of slipp-
ing along under her lower sails.''
The captain made no answer, but
was looking hard at her with his
naked eye. l now perceived through
my glass white speck above her fore
sail, Tapping against the mast.
"WelI,' said, "she must have
heard me, for there goes her foretop
sail.''
The captain now went to the com
panion for his glass, and after look
ing attentively at her for short
time, "What's that" he asked. "Is
that her square sail she's setting? l
can t very we'll see from the deck.''
l looked again. Eyes, tits her
square sail. AS I'm alive, she's
changed her course, and is bearing
down upon usl" But by this time
the captain had mounted the rigging,
and was standing beside me; he was
cycling the distant vessel keenIy.
After having apparently satisfied
himself, ne asked me to go with him
to the cabin, as he wished to talk
with me alone. We descended to
the deck, and l followed him to the
cabin. He motioned me to take a
seat, and after carefully shutting the
door
81 rather expect" said he, "that
fellows pirate ~
Pirate" cried in alarm.
eyes, L say pirate, and I'll tell you
why. In the first place, you see, he'd
no business to be sneaking along in
that do little sort of way, as when
we first saw him. Whoever, that had
any honest business to do, would
allow such a fine breeze to go by
without showing more canvas than
powder monkeys old breeches to
catch it? Next, you see, what the
mischief has he to do with US, that
as soon as he's clapped eyes on US,
he must alter his course, and be so
anxious to get out his square sails?
Again, he looks just like one of those
imps of mischief, with his low black
hull and tall raking masts. No use
talking; the only thing is, what shall
we do? The Patrick Henry amt a
Baltimore clipper, and that ere
blackguard will just walk up to US
like nothing. Ii we let 'em aboard,
it's most likely we'll all walk the
plank, so we'd better try to keep 'em
out. We've only got an old rusty
carronade and two six-pounders, and
L don't believe there's a ball on
board, we came off in such a hurry.
There's two muskets and an old re-
gulation rifle down IN the state-room,
but they amt been fired l don t
know when, and ID as lief stand afore
'em as behind 'em. But our ships as
handsome looking craft as you'll
see; and couIdn It we look wicked like
now, and try to frighten that cut
throat rascal?''
l confess was at first stal tied at
the captains opinion of the strange
sail; but his cool and collected man
ner impressed me with confluence
in-hls management, and l told him
that he knew best what we should do,
and would second him as we'll as l
could. He walked up and down the
cabin twice; then rubbing his hands
together, as it pleased with his own
idea
81 have it," he cried; "I'll just go
on deck to put things in order, and
IN the meantime you'd better amuse
yourself looking out your pistols, if
you have any; for if he won't be con-
tent with look at US, we'll have to
fight.' 1 hurriedly took my fowling
pieces and pistols from their cases,
for L fortunately had both; and
though | somehow refused to allow
myself to believe there would be any
occasion for their use, yet | loaded
them with ball, and in each of the
pistols put brace. This done,
went on deck, where l found the
captain surrounded by his crew, tell
ing them his suspicious and plan of
action.
Maybe. " said be, well have to
fight. If them scoundrels have a
mind to try US they'll send a boat
on board, and L want to know if
you'll help me to keep them off.
You see, it's most likely they'll make
you walk the plank whether you fight
or not. if thew get on board: and [