THE LIVERPOOL BUCCANEERS. 361 



through their glasses, the vessel which had been the object of their 

 attention on the preceding night. " I know her well now," said the 

 latter, as he laid down the telescope. " It is the brig Frederick of 

 Malta, and a famous passage she must have made of it ; for, when 

 we left the island, she had not even the promise of a cargo." 

 " It is quick work with them, I must say," observed Delano, " for 

 they have got a pontoon already laden, and the jolly-boat is out to 

 pull it into the harbour." " Aye ! and clumsily enough they pull 

 her, too," exclaimed Thompson, " such lubbers are not worth their 

 grub." " I shall hail them as they go by," said Delano, descending 

 from the stern to speak the boat as it passed them, " and ask what 

 cargo they have. Boat, a-hoy ! what news from Malta ?" he shouted, 

 as the boat neared them, on its passage. " Hand a rope here, Webb, 

 the captain is coming on board.'' But ere Webb could .obey, the 

 person he had hailed was on the deck, and Delano had already 

 stretched out his hand to greet him, when the stranger sounded a 

 shrill whistle, and at the same instant the tarpaulin that covered the 

 lighter was cast off, and a troop of armed men leaped upon deck, 

 while the stranger held a pistol to Delano's head, his followers secured 

 the mate and the rest of the William's crew, and made them prisoners. 

 It was indeed a wonderful intervention of Providence that brought 

 to light the diabolical crime of Charles Christopher Delano and his 

 fellow-pirates, at a moment they felt not unreasonably assured that 

 no earthly evidence of their guilt existed. For a lengthened period 

 of years Delano had borne an unimpeachable character as a master in 

 the merchant service, trading between Liverpool, Malta, and the 

 Levant ; and, by prudence and economy, had amassed a considerable 

 sum of money ; but, shortly previous to the period already referred 

 to, having been detected in introducing some trifling articles of con- 

 traband for his private use into England, he was proceeded against 

 in the Court of Exchequer, and only escaped the larger penalties 

 attached to his offence by the sacrifice of his entire previous gains. 

 His long-sustained good character excited the utmost commiseration, 

 at his loss, in the minds of those who knew him ; and one of the 

 most respectable houses in Liverpool immediately engaged him on 

 the voyage already described, upon the most advantages terms ; and 

 he left the shores of England with a crew, who of themselves offered 

 an assurance in their conduct of honesty and good faith. Thompson, 

 the mate, was of a most respectable family ; and indeed all the crew 

 (with the exception of a black steward) were men possessing better 

 means of information than is generally to be found in their station of 

 life. The temper of Delano had been dreadfully influenced by his 

 loss of property ; its recollection embittered every hour of his life ; 

 the hatred of those, by whom he had been prosecuted, rankled at his 

 heart ; home and country became associated with the objects of his 

 dislike, until, in his deep detestation of all and every thing English, 

 he solemnly swore, whenever occasion should favour him, to wreak 

 ample vengeance on the world. The liberty of his cabin, his table, 

 and his liquors was freely accorded to his crew, who he treated as 

 his companions ; and they indulged in his liberality too frequently to 

 excess, until their passions became aroused, he ever calm, cool, and 



