EPISODES 339 



DEATH OF A PIRATE 



In the calm of a fine moonlight night, as I was admir- 

 ing the beauty of the clear heavens, and the broad glare 

 of light that glanced from the trembling surface of the 

 waters around, the officer on watch came up and entered 

 into conversation with me. He had been a turtler in 

 other years, and a great hunter to boot, and although of 

 humble birth and pretensions, energy and talent, aided 

 by education, had raised him to a higher station. Such 

 a man could not fail to be an agreeable companion, and 

 we talked on various subjects, principally, you may be 

 sure, birds and other natural productions. He told me 

 he once had a disagreeable adventure, when looking out 

 for game, in a certain cove on the shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico ; and, on my expressing a desire to hear it, he 

 willingly related to me the following particulars, which I 

 give you, not, perhaps, precisely in his own words, but as 

 nearly so as I can remember. 



" Towards evening, one quiet summer day, I chanced to 

 be paddling along a sandy shore, which I thought well 

 fitted for my repose, being covered with tall grass, and as 

 the sun was not many degrees above the horizon, I felt 

 anxious to pitch my mosquito bar or net, and spend the 

 night in this wilderness. The bellowing notes of thou- 

 sands of bull-frogs in a neighboring swamp might lull me 

 to rest, and I looked upon the flocks of Blackbirds that 

 were assembling as sure companions in this secluded 

 retreat. 



" I proceeded up a little stream, to insure the safety 

 of my canoe from any sudden storm, when, as I gladly 

 advanced, a beautiful yawl came unexpectedly in view. 

 Surprised at such a sight in a part of the country then 

 scarcely known, I felt a sudden check in the circulation 



