THE SAILOR PRIEST AND THE PIRATE.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 41, 10 December 1845, Page 4

THE SAILOR PRIEST AND THE PIRATE.

Prayers hid been said, and Macs Qwney was just nHout to commence Blair's beautiful discourse, " On the Dis rders of the Passions, ,, when Bosy, v?ho was leaning now over the poop rail, now casting a glance to leswiud, broke forth :— ' I as pardon,'captain, but the st-anger c r afc has fetched onr wake, set his fi-re-to-ga'nt sail, an' is walkin' up to'u< like winky.' ' What distance is he?' asked Macsawney, without moving muscle or feature. ' I can just make out the reach of his fore course as lie rises to the fWi-11. , ' Very goo I. Keep him in your eye and when I've done service i'll t*ke a look nt him myself. Never mind him, gentlemen,' said the skipper, with the utmost plwcidity to his pns c en!>ers, who thronged the side to catch a glimpse of the stramjer, " we'll ascertain who and what he is bye and by. In the meantime, let me heg your attention to the fie of thf. envious Hainan, which should prove it wholeBornelesson to us all.' How far Marsawney benefited by the powerful discourse, which he read with a clear an 1 earnest vrtice, it would be difficult to tell; but, to judge by tiie lewiird looks cf his auditors, th>-ir tlv Uih's were at least divided, and no sooner bad the volume been closed than an caper rush towards the taffrail ensued. The captain, after carefully replacing his hooks and seeing the main deck in its usual posit'on, ascended tie poop ladder followed by Mr. Snuffld and O'Donot'liue. Th* breeze had still more subsided, and tho Saucy Sally drew her state , y form Uscily through the water. The btraneei's hull was ijow clearly discernible, and instead of the scanty canvass which he had so lately shown, he had now parked every stitch'that he could set, which, t3 expcilie ; his junction, he was most assiduous y wetting. ' rJum|-ih !' t jaculated Macsawney, aft?r a patient survey, 'Taut fellow's more anxious to speak us than I am to exchange communications with him. His aciois seems suspicious, to say the least,-and 83 it's always to be prepared, why it may be just as W: 11 to l.jsd the waist fjuns (these were two ineffective short nine-pound gunnades) with round nrji cannister, and tocend the arm on deck. Mr. O'Donoghue, see to it my man.' ' Nivur fare, sir,' responded the mate, as an I'Himan invariably does ; ' nivur fare, sir.' And awjy skipped O'Donoghue to execute his superior's command. ' Gentlemen,' continued the captain in the quiet, sententious manner which characterized him in every emergency, ' I've seen some of you turn up the n-rliys and elbartrosses sharp arid sure ; now, as ttere may be worse kites than them coming up astern, perhaps you would have no objection to a shot should they come beyond friendly hail.' The hiut PufJieeJ, A general move ensued, and rile and fowling-piece were in instant requisition. When next I returned to the deck, I found the poop «nd m«in deck awning furled : the ship still continued her course, but every practicable arrangement had been adopted for defence, provided our persevering pursurer meditated a hostile encounter. ' Ay, ay !' said Macsawney, rubbing his hands, as he glanced corai licently at his mv teriug band; • this looks lifd-l.ke. Mr. Snuffle, call ti.e hands eft. . The mate hastened to obey. • My lads,' said the. captain, addressing his crew. I need net tel you that the manosvres of that fellow astern are something more than suspicious ; should he turn out to bs the craft I doubt he s, a knife at the throat or a walk of the plank is most likely to he our choice. Now. I hwe no fancy (or either alternative, rut am determined to fi?ht the ship whilst one plank holds by am-ther. You know my mind, lids, so you that are jo'ly boys will stand to it like trumps, and you, if there be any such among you. thiit feel qualmish, »way w ; th you to theco»l hole !' Macsawney's oation was full as forcible as the most impressive harangue of the Roman Ciceio ; at least it elicited as warm a response from his complacent auditors, who stood prepared to do his bidding in what ever manner might be required. ' Thankee, thunkee. my sons,' said the skipper; ' now. mind ree, if this fellow means mist hief, the first thing he'll do, will be to or<i?r us to heave to. 1 shall obey ; mark me, the maintop-sail is to the mast —her stun' snils, and main-royal, and sky-sail clue lines—what ever chances, tuere can be no harm in keeping the ship under easy command. You understand me, my men.' And now as you value life, have ready ears and willing hands. Stations, lads stations!' By the time that these several dispositions had been made, the stranger, a beautiful brig, had anproached within long gun-shot. \V e (that is, officers and passengers) were congregated upon the poop-deck, in anticipation cf momentarily receh-" ing an iron summons to heave to. This, however, did npt appear to be part of the unknown's policy; uiid whilst he was fast drawing ahead, Macawney' who carried on the duties of his ship as if she floated unquestioned mistress of the blue expanse, ordered eight bells (having taken the sun) to be struck, and invited his passengers to partake of iheir customary meridian. They were in the act of descending, when Bosy reported that the brig, having given a broad yaw io leeward, shewed Spa. ni-h cr.lours at her peak. These were scarcely set, ere they were dipped, in indication that it was their wish to fpeak us. The atrocities which have degraded Spain's once imperial banner, couple] with therakisn loom rf the itranger, and our proximity to the Cape de Verd Islands, the favorite resort of tho lawless, caused us to survey him \vi:h a curioeityin which apprehension was not slightly min-led. Our doubts and tVnre were in course of speedy so . lution, for the soi disant Spaniard had now lee e.-ncd his,distance to a couple ot hundred yards A more exquisite hull it w»s impossible to look upon,—long, low, and of exceeding bea<u,~tl lfc now round as nciapple, with a. cm water >h*rp hs a wedjt*, from which projected a female figure-head «t the most gracefel pro, onions. Every line was symmetry itself,—her bottom beautifully moulded,

hpr copper b.iglit as burnished goU, and her run clean and fine ks the lieels cf a racer; in Bhort, the very model of what nn Engish nobleman's yacht should he. Tiie capacity might amount to some. 3 '0 tons. The b°au'y of the bull was fully equalled by the gear hlift, which was taunt, tapering and w -11 set np ; the lower masts clean scraped and bright varnished, with long heads painted white. He carried courses, topsails, with a (lib reef to mjke them stand better, —top gallantsails, fore'opmas-'t ttaysail, jib boom mainsail, a thundering ringtail, forftoptnast, and foretop gallant studding sails ; his royal yards were sent down, and his flying-jib-boom housed : —all his yards were renv rkably square, his canvass wall cut, an 1 it was iupossibls to surpass the light, airy tracery of his taper masts, wi h all their mszy lines of superincumlietit cordage. As approximated, we i?ave our meteor flag to thebrees - , —his Spanish ensign fti 1 floating at hi 3 peak. His lovely was in perfect command, and having drawn a little befoiu our lee-benm, he imineoiatt-ly hailid. ' Ship, alioy ! ' ' Hsllo ! ' responded Mncsawney. ' What ship's tl-ac ?' ' The Saucy What brio's that. , 'The Voniito piou-o," was the answer. 'Where are you from ? ' ' The Cape of C-'or.a iTrpe. , ' Heave t^— his"'- , ; to-1 I have intelligence to communica'e.' ' Ay, Ay ! ' ;iU:«? out -Mac. ' Cheerily, my lads, round in tae Wcaiher, man, and topsail braces. Foretop, there ! down to' gallant stun'sail; in with big Ben; clap on the topma>t stunsail downballo ! That's it—with a will, men. So—o ! Man royal and skysail clue lines ! ' Jn a surpii.ingly short space, the Saucy Sally was reduced to top ami top-sjalant sails, jil>, and spanker the fore and main course hanging in the brails. The Vom to P.e-ro was still und-r sail, while our ship was obyeing her injunctions, fhe had hauled up so sharp in the wind as not only to deaden her way, but u> drop some short distance astern. Perceiving our maiotopsail to the mast, be once more ranged wi hln hailing distance. ' Ship, ahoy ! Send a boat aboard of me, d'ye hear . " Brig, ahoy • " shoutpd Mac. " No boat cf mine Laves this ship. If you have anything to communicate, send your own boat." " Send your boat this instant, sir, or i'll fire into you ? " I "Blaze away 1 ,, sung out the imperturable Scotchman. " D wn on the dsck, l&ds ; you shall pepper him by and by." A pause endued : the vessels gradually separated; the f'ietro hove lo some s xty yards foiward of the isaucy Sally's lee b α-n, and, without further ceremony, exchanged the Spanish ensitin for the skull and marrow-bones. At this moment, both vessels had nearly lost steerage way, the wind having fallen dead calm. " We must be guided by circumstances, ,, said the Captain, addressing us ; "but m no case must we allow them to obtain a footing upon our decks. Better go frj the bottom like men than to be flung into v like dogs. He will, no doubt, peek to board, \an<ier cover of his long guns. Ltt him try; but don't, I implore you, throw away a shjt until each of you is sure of his man; every one they loose adds to our chance of escape." The captain was right in his corjecture; For scarcely had he ceased speaking, ere the Vomito, appHrently satisfied with reconnoitring, launched both her quarter-boats full of tuen. No sooner ha J they couched the water, then they sent forth a w Id yp 11, to which, as a fitting accompaniment, the roar of their long eighteen opened ts deadly throat, happily without any material injury resulting. Emboldened by the non-return of the fir*, tie boats, after a brief conference, under the Vomito'e stern, commenced pulling, Q aking somewhat of a sweep, apparently w th the design of assailing the Saucy Sally on either quarter. "Divide yourselves," contined the watchful Mac ; *' but, above all be cool—be steady. Ah ! " he exclaimed, rubbing bis hands with gre t delight, '• it vco-iIJ be a noble chance; I'll try it by George : at the worst it can but fail. Look a'ive ' a hand or two ; ease off the Wiatner, and haul in tl-e he main brace*; there's a cat's paw sloft, the ship alrfady feels it. and there will be more ere long. Jump aft, O' Donoghue, take the wheel, run the pirate alongside; an<i, d'ye mind me, let every mother's soa or you, as he wishes to see kith and kin again, pay the strictest attention to my command." — Cncumsrances had indeed, altered the Scotchman's pUns. At the very moment he was endeavouring to give a warm receptioa to the five-and-twenty or thirty wretches, armed to the teeth, fa?t approaching in the pirate's cutters—at that very moment a light air swelled the Sally's sails. Like other tropical flaws, this air was extremely partial, und did not extend to the Vomito, which lay a motionless log on the water. Fresliing in its course, aUength ;t struck theguiltybrig, bu> too late to save her from the g- apple of the Saucy Sally ,who was a'ready speeding under its full influence. Two minutre sufficed to lay ber along side, but tew mo*e to pour her resistless crew upon thecorsaii's decks; and while the main body ha'tied the astonished ruffians, one or two secured the helaa, and got the brig before the wind,-—Saucy Sally bearing her foi hful company, her passenger riflemen picking off the banditti with surprising accuracy. Discomfits on every hand, the survivors hurried below, le,v rig their trophy in the Sal'y's power. The boats, meanwhile, foiled almost in the moment of possession, rowed with all the energy ot despair: but the breeze h.id once more set in strong and steady, and bosh the Saucy Sally and Vomito were dropping I them fast. Their m.mi c yell rent ihe «ir—che water flashfd under the f-iry of their strokes, ad the boats were urged oow.irds with a strength almost superhuman. At the moment, when hops muse have ben all but deed with n them, the Vomito mddenly h*ve up in thewind's eye. Could it b> ? J-I-id the mercn/miman failed, and were theircomrades victors? They paused on heiroars. joining company, as it to pondr the course proper to be pursued. Brief was the space permitted fur consider- tion. A pah, a stunning rep ,rt, and an iron shower, sped its fata! fli»ln, dashing their si 1 ntered oars from their nervier crasp,—catter ing, wi h one crash, the dym,< «nd the ue&d, with the shattered skiffs that bore tte.n, in ruin,-.a fragments upon the devouring de.p 1 One i.is.unt, and Lhe welking rung with the Uowl .f desiring iie.nns; another, and nought was heard s*ve the famt and

~a«sine st-u ? gle of mo:tal agony-fea.f 1 nut just retribution I Their own trusted weapons ha-J been turned "pon (hem-elves; ami O'Donoghue, by the mouth of their boasted Long Tom, had sp. d them unaanealed to their account.