The Privateersman | Page 4

consisting of the old planter and his wife and his three
daughters, two of them very beautiful, was secured in one room. No
words can express their terror at thus finding themselves so suddenly in
the power of a set of ruffians, from whose brutality they anticipated
every evil. Indeed, the horrid excesses committed by the privateersmen
when they landed on the coast fully justified their fears; for as this
system of marauding is considered the basest of all modern warfare, no
quarter is ever given to those who are taken in the attempt. In return,
the privateersmen hesitate at no barbarity when engaged in such
enterprises.
Dumb with astonishment and terror, the old couple sat in silent agony,
while the poor girls, who had more evils than death to fear, drowned in
their tears fell at the captain's feet and embraced his knees, conjuring

him to spare and protect them from his men.
Captain Weatherall, who was, as I have before stated, a generous and
humane man, raised them up, assuring them, on his word, that they
should receive no insult; and as his presence was necessary to direct the
motions of his people, he selected me, as younger and less brutal than
most of his crew, as a guard over them, menacing me with death if I
allowed any man to enter the room until he returned, and ordering me
to defend them with my life from all insults. I was then young and full
of enthusiasm; my heart was kind, and I was pure in comparison with
the major portion of those with whom I was associated.
I was delighted with the office confided to me, and my heart leaped at
having so honourable an employment. I endeavoured by every means in
my power to dissipate their terrors and soothe their anxious minds; but
while I was thus employed, an Irish seaman, distinguished even
amongst our crew for his atrocities, came to the door, and would have
forced his entrance. I instantly opposed him, urging the captain's most
positive commands; but, having obtained a sight of the young females,
he swore with a vile oath that he would soon find out whether a boy
like me was able to oppose him, and finding that I would not give way
he attacked me fiercely. Fortunately I had the advantage of position,
and, supported by the justice of my cause, I repelled him with success.
But he renewed the attack, while the poor young women awaited the
issue of the combat with trembling anxiety--a combat on which
depended, in all probability, their honour and their lives. At last I found
myself very hard pushed, for I had received a wound on my sword arm,
and I drew a pistol from my belt with my left hand, and fired it,
wounding him in the shoulder. Thus disabled, and fearing at the same
time that the report would bring back the captain, who he well knew
would not be trifled with, he retired from the door vowing vengeance. I
then turned to the young women, who had witnessed the conflict in
breathless suspense, encircled in the arms of the poor old couple, who
had rushed towards them at the commencement of the fray, offering
them their useless shelter. Privateersman as I was, I could not refrain
from tears at the scene. I again attempted to re-assure them, pledged
myself in the most solemn manner to forfeit my life if necessary for

their protection, and they in some degree regained their confidence.
They observed the blood trickling down my fingers from the wound
which I had received, and the poor girls stained their handkerchiefs
with it in the attempts to staunch the flow.
But this scene was soon interrupted by an alarm. It appeared that a
negro had contrived to escape and to rouse the country. They had
collected together from the other plantations, and our party being, as is
usually the case when plunder is going on, very negligent, the videttes
were surprised, and had hardly time to escape and apprise us of our
danger. There was not a moment to be lost; our safety depended upon
an immediate retreat. The captain collected all hands; and while he was
getting them together, that the retreat might be made in good order, the
old planter, who, by the report of the fire-arms and the bustle and
confusion without, guessed what had taken place, pressed me to remain
with them, urging the certainty of our men being overpowered, and the
merciless consequences which would ensue. He pledged himself, with
his fingers crossed in the form of the crucifix, that he would procure me
safe quarter, and that I should ever enjoy his protection and friendship.
I refused him kindly but firmly, and he sighed and