Year: 1874

the speaker. He read at once the meaning
Of the language, and though anything like
repentance Or sorrow might never enter his
soul, yet he could not but realize his own
baseness and shame in the presence of one
like his prisoner. He did not care to en-
counter the gaze of the youth at that mo-
ment, SO, raising his glass to his eye, ho
took another look at the approaching brig
antine.


"Mr. Cowley," said the Captain to his
first mate, "the pirates are aiming their
long gun. Call the men aft and distribute
the arms. Look we'll to the pistols"


"Then you are determined to resist
them," said the mate, in tone that be-
trayed considerable fear.


We must do it, returned the Captain,
exhibiting quantity and quality of couT-
age that must have cost strong effort in
its production. "I know the character Of
those men too well. They never leave live
men to tell tales against them"


The mate shuddered as he thought of the
coming conflict, but he strove hard to keep
hAD AStsA w hiAhoOh1 uhu Cttllinb upOH OuO VI
two Of the men, he went below to bring up
the guns.


The briggs crew consisted all told, OF
eighteen men, Orlando making nineteen,
and ere long each man was armed with
heavy cutlass and brace of pistols. Our
hero readily took the weapons which the
mate handed to him, but he did it with no
fixed purpose, only he felt that his own
life should be sold as dearly as possible
AS soou as the men we're all armed, the
Captain call them aft and explained TO
them the situation in which they were
placed-he knew that if the pirates captur-
ed the brig, the crew would be mercilessly
put to death and he appealed to his sailors
to sell their lives at dear cost They
could but die, and they had better die like
men than be killed like dogs-and, they
might drive the enemy Off


During the Captains speech he seemed
actually to have worked himself up to
pitch of real courage by the fearful picture
he had drawn for the purpose of melting
his men to bold resistance, and his new
found fearlessness had considerable effect
upon the crew.


The brig carried two carriags-guns upon
her deck, each capable of throwing
twelve pound ball. They were lashed to
the bulwarks, one on each side, and point
ed fore and aft, the ports having not yet
been opened, nor the guns cast loose. At
length wreath of smoke curled up from
the deck Of the brigantine, and ON the
next instant an eighteen pound ball camo
dashing along directly under the briggs
bows


The pirate was yet at a considerable dis
tance from the brig, though she was gain
ing vantage rapidly, the latter vessel having
kept steadily on her course, and the former
only varying sufficiently to keep her head
towards the object of her chase. AS soon
as all other matters had been arranged on
board the brig, the two heavy guns were
cast from their lashings and drawn aft,
where they were loaded half way to their
muzzles with every sort Of missile that
could be procured, such as iron bolts, nuts,
spikes, ETC., and then they were both point
ed towards the spot where the pirates
would probably board, though if the point
Of attack should be varied they could be
moved in moment.


Again the long gun of the pirate sent
forth her iron messenger and it came
with some effect, for it struck tho brigs
side Just abaft the main chains, and went
crashing and ploughing across the deCk.--
The splinters flew in every direction, one
of them wounding Orlando slightly upon
the leg. The youth started, az the felt the
twinge Of pain, and casting his eyes toward
the brigantine, he uttered
IF had my trusty rifle here you'd not
fire that gun again."


The Captain heard the youths exclama-
tion, and stepping up to his side, he ask
ed


Are you sure Of your aim with rife ?'


With good one am"


IL have two on board"


"Then bring them TO me, " said our hero,
as he stopped down and bound his hand
kerchief around his leg.


In few moments the Captain produced
two long, heavy rifles, and at the first
glance the youth knew them to have been
made for the best. They were speedily
loaded, and taking one Of them in his hand
Orlando walked aft to where he could com
mand a view of the pirates long gun. He
had not baen long an tha watch xvhan he