The Pirate City | Page 3

richly chased silver-mounted pistols and
yataghans or curved swords. Some wore the turban, others the
blue-tasselled red fez or tarbouch of Tunis, while a few contented
themselves with a kerchief tied loosely round their heads.
One, who appeared to be the captain of the vessel, stood near the
steersman, leaning on the bulwarks, and scanning the horizon with a
telescope. His costume was similar to that of his men, but of richer
material.
"It is certainly a sail," said he whom we have styled the captain to one
who stood by his side, and might have been his lieutenant or mate.
"She bears sou'-west, I think," replied the latter.
"So much the better," returned the captain; "let her fall off a little-- so,
steady. If this wind holds for half an hour we shall get well abreast of
her, and then--"
The captain shut up the telescope with an emphatic bang, by way of
termination to his remark, and, turning on his heel, paced the deck
rapidly by the side of his mate.
"We have been unlucky hitherto," he observed; "perchance fortune may
change and now be favourable. At all events, we shall be ready. See,
the breeze freshens. Go, call up the men and clear for action."

The breeze had indeed been freshening while he spoke, and now came
down in a series of squalls that caused the piratical-looking craft to lie
over as if she were about to capsize. The vessel which they were
pursuing also bent over to the breeze and crowded all sail; for well did
Francisco, its owner and padrone, know, from past experience, that
Algerine corsairs were fast sailers, and that his only hope lay in
showing them his heels! He had often given them the slip before--why
should he not again?
While thus doing his best to escape, however, the bluff merchant did
not neglect to make preparations for defence.
"Clear away the big gun," he said to Mariano, who acted as his first
officer, Lucien being the scrivano or supercargo of the vessel; "'tis a
good piece, and has turned the flight of many a pirate with its first
bark."
The latter part of this remark was addressed to Bacri, who stood,
leaning over the taffrail, looking anxiously at the vessel in chase.
"If it be Sidi Hassan," muttered the Jew half aloud, "there is little
chance--"
"What say you?" demanded Francisco.
"I say that if it be the vessel of a man whom I happen to know, you will
have to trust to your sails for deliverance--fighting will be of no avail."
Francisco looked at the Jew with some surprise, not unmingled with
contempt.
"A warlike spirit, it seems, does not always consort with a powerful
frame," he said; "but how come you to have scraped acquaintance with
these pirates, whose existence is a blight upon the commerce of the
Mediterranean, and a disgrace to our age?"
"None should know better than thyself that a trader, like any other
traveller, becomes acquainted with strange bedfellows," replied Bacri,

with a quiet smile. "As to a warlike spirit, of what use would it be in a
despised Israelite to display such?"
"There is truth in that," returned the padrone in a more respectful tone;
"nevertheless, if fighting becomes needful, I trust that one furnished
with such thews and sinews will not fail to lend effective aid."
"That he will not, I dare say; and here is a cutlass for him, wherewith to
carve a name and fame," said Mariano, coming aft at the moment and
presenting the weapon to Bacri, who took it with a half-humorous smile,
and laid it on the seat beside him.
"Hast got the big gun ready, boy?" demanded Francisco.
"Ay--loaded her almost to the muzzle. I ordered her to be
double-shotted, and that big black rascal Manqua slily crammed in a
handful of nails without leave. I only hope she won't burst."
"Burst!" exclaimed the padrone, with a laugh; "if you were to load her
even beyond the muzzle she wouldn't burst. I remember once loading
her with a full dose of canister, and clapped two round shot on the top
of that, after which the same negro you have mentioned, (for he has a
tendency in that way), shoved in a handspike without orders, and let the
whole concern fly at a pirate boat, which it blew clean out of the water:
she well-nigh burst the drums of our ears on that occasion, but showed
no sign whatever of bursting herself."
"Nevertheless," said Bacri earnestly, "I advise you to trust entirely to
your sails."
"We haven't another stitch of canvas to set," said Francisco in reply;
"and if we had, the old schooner couldn't stand it, for, as you may see,
the strain is already as much as she