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Article THE FIRST CRUISE OF THE " VIXEN." ← Page 15 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
completely imprisoned , or docked in a kind of miniature roads from xvhich there xvas no escape ; nor xvere the designs of her neighbours noxv beyond suspicion , for , uttering a loud yell , the tliree galleys pounced upon the schooner , and in another instant the Moors swarmed upon her deck . This scene xvas xxitnessed by a merchant brigwhose attention
, xvas first clraxvn to the disaster of the schooner by her guns and her dismasted appearance . The brig , which was bound to Malaga from Sierra Leone , took a hazardous tack inshore , to afford what aid it might to the sufferer . Having witnessed the piratical attack of the galleys , and being manned xvith a bare crew of fix'e menthe master bore away for Gibraltarwherein
, , , passing , he gave his intelligence . The admiral instantly despatched the steamer Nemesis to the spot , xvhere no signs xvere at first A'isible of the unhappy schooner . The boats , hoxvever , xvere manned , xvith orders to proceed up the river Sous . TXA'O hours before daylight the launch and the cutter pulled
away from the steamer , crossed the river-bar in safety , ancl disappeared amidst the dense jungle Avhich concealed , while it denoted , the mouth of the stream ; in an hour they re-appeared , bringing with them the news that they hacl discovered the schooner embedded in the mud of the river bank ; she had been toAved up the stream , ancl , aided by the spring-tide , the pirates
had run her into a kind of forest xvhich bordered the river , and xvhere she lay xvedged in betAveen the trees as hard and fast as if she had been on the stocks . On searching the A'essel she xvas found thoroughly gutted and rifled ; the luxurious fittings of the cabins xvere torn doxvn , the floors of xvhich were deluged in blood . In the fore-cabin xvas discovered the body of a
gentleman , a deep gash divided the back of Ms head obliquely ; the Aveapon had severed the backbone at its junction with the neck . This was the only thing the Moors had left on board , xvith the exception of a small Skye terrier , xvhich was found lying beside its master , xvith scarcely strength to xvhine . It had been for five days Avithout food . The body xvas transferred on board the steamer , and carried to Gibraltar for identification . " But xx'hat xvas the name of the yacht ? " saicl Tom .
" The Skylark , " replied our informant , who xvas the second lieutenant , and had been in command of the boats on the occasion . " She was a roomy , nicely-built craft enough ; Ave haA'e searched the lists of the different yacht clubs , but Ave clo not see the register of any such vessel . " "And xvhat do you suppose became of the rest ofthe crexv ?" said I . " Well ! " replied the lieutenant , " there is a ready grave for
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
completely imprisoned , or docked in a kind of miniature roads from xvhich there xvas no escape ; nor xvere the designs of her neighbours noxv beyond suspicion , for , uttering a loud yell , the tliree galleys pounced upon the schooner , and in another instant the Moors swarmed upon her deck . This scene xvas xxitnessed by a merchant brigwhose attention
, xvas first clraxvn to the disaster of the schooner by her guns and her dismasted appearance . The brig , which was bound to Malaga from Sierra Leone , took a hazardous tack inshore , to afford what aid it might to the sufferer . Having witnessed the piratical attack of the galleys , and being manned xvith a bare crew of fix'e menthe master bore away for Gibraltarwherein
, , , passing , he gave his intelligence . The admiral instantly despatched the steamer Nemesis to the spot , xvhere no signs xvere at first A'isible of the unhappy schooner . The boats , hoxvever , xvere manned , xvith orders to proceed up the river Sous . TXA'O hours before daylight the launch and the cutter pulled
away from the steamer , crossed the river-bar in safety , ancl disappeared amidst the dense jungle Avhich concealed , while it denoted , the mouth of the stream ; in an hour they re-appeared , bringing with them the news that they hacl discovered the schooner embedded in the mud of the river bank ; she had been toAved up the stream , ancl , aided by the spring-tide , the pirates
had run her into a kind of forest xvhich bordered the river , and xvhere she lay xvedged in betAveen the trees as hard and fast as if she had been on the stocks . On searching the A'essel she xvas found thoroughly gutted and rifled ; the luxurious fittings of the cabins xvere torn doxvn , the floors of xvhich were deluged in blood . In the fore-cabin xvas discovered the body of a
gentleman , a deep gash divided the back of Ms head obliquely ; the Aveapon had severed the backbone at its junction with the neck . This was the only thing the Moors had left on board , xvith the exception of a small Skye terrier , xvhich was found lying beside its master , xvith scarcely strength to xvhine . It had been for five days Avithout food . The body xvas transferred on board the steamer , and carried to Gibraltar for identification . " But xx'hat xvas the name of the yacht ? " saicl Tom .
" The Skylark , " replied our informant , who xvas the second lieutenant , and had been in command of the boats on the occasion . " She was a roomy , nicely-built craft enough ; Ave haA'e searched the lists of the different yacht clubs , but Ave clo not see the register of any such vessel . " "And xvhat do you suppose became of the rest ofthe crexv ?" said I . " Well ! " replied the lieutenant , " there is a ready grave for