Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 4 October 1848Various
General
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 4 October 1848
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
As the sailor seized him, John, supposing it to be a shark, uttered a
loud cry and lost all sensation. In this condition he was hauled up to
the deck of the privateer, where, upon recovering his senses, he found
to his great surprise and joy, that instead of being in the belly of
some voracious fish, like Jonah of old, he was in safety, and
surrounded by the crew of his former vessel, the Betty Allen,
including his master.
The poor fellow was severely wounded by a pistol shot, in the arm, but
regardless of this he was wild in his demonstrations of joy,
especially when told that his young mistress had also escaped.
Captain Greene found that he had gained little, if any, upon the
pirate during the night, and became convinced that he must again
commence firing upon her, trusting to some lucky ball to carry away a
spar, or failing, to allow the villains to escape the punishment they
so richly deserved, not only for their inhuman treatment of the crew
of the Betsy Allen, but doubtless for numerous other crimes committed
upon the seas, as savage in their conception, and more successful in
their execution.
The long gun was again uncovered, and a shot dispatched from its huge
portals after the pirate brig. The first ball fired fell short of the
brig, striking the water directly in its wake, and ricochetting again
threw up the water beyond it.
A succeeding ball, however, did some execution, crashing through her
top-gallant forecastle, but without in any degree lessening her speed.
As every fire from the Raker lessened her speed, Capt. Greene became
exceedingly anxious that no balls should be thrown away, and commanded
Lieut. Morris to point the gun, having more confidence in his skill
than in that of the gunner. The young officer aimed the gun carefully,
and as it was fired three cheers arose from his crew, as they
perceived the pirate's mizzen-mast fall away.
"She is ours," cried the lieutenant.
"Stand by, men, to take in sail," shouted the captain. "We will draw
near enough," continued he to Morris, "to fire into her at our
leisure, a pirate is not entitled to a more honorable warfare, and he
seems also to greatly outnumber us in men."
As the privateer approached the pirate they could not but admire the
singular beauty of her build. She rose and fell upon the waters as
gracefully as a free and wild ocean bird. The long red lines of her
port-holes swept with a gentle curve from stem to stern, and her stem
was so sharp that the bowsprit seemed rather to terminate than to join
it. Twelve carronades occupied a double row of port-holes, and the
deck seemed crowded with men, all armed with cutlases and pistols.
"A formidable looking set," said Captain Greene, as he laid aside his
glass, "keep the gun lively."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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