rld and dying day good-bye!

THE CRUISE OF THE RAKER.

A TALE OF THE WAR OF 1812-15.

BY HENRY A. CLARK.

(_Continued from page_ 74.)

CHAPTER III.

_The Chase and the Capture._

On the deck of the pirate craft stood a young man of powerful frame,
and singularly savage features, rendered more repulsive by the
disposition of the hair which was allowed to grow almost over the
entire mouth, and hung from the chin in heavy masses nearly to the
waist. With his elbow resting against the fore-mast of the vessel, he
was gazing through a spy-glass upon the brig he had been so long
pursuing. A burly negro stood at the helm, holding the tiller, and
steering the brig with an ease which denoted his vast strength,
scarcely moving his body, but meeting the long waves, which washed
over the side of the vessel, and rushed in torrents through the
hawse-holes, merely by the power of his arm.

"Keep her more in the wind," shouted the commander, with an oath, to
the helmsman.

"Ay, ay sir," responded the negro gruffly.

"Don't let me hear a sail flap again or I'll score your back for you,
you son of a sea-cook."

With this pleasant admonition the young man resumed his night-glass.

The captain of the pirate brig was an Englishman by birth; his history
was little known even to his own crew, but it was remarkable that
though always savage and blood-thirsty, he was peculiarly so to his
own countrymen, evincing a hatred and malignancy toward every thing
connected with his native land, that seemed more than fiendish--never
smiling but when his sword was red with the blood of his countrymen,
and his foot planted upon her conquered banner. It was evident that
some deep wrong had driven him forth to become an outcast and a fiend.
A close inspection of his features developed the outlines of a noble
countenance yet remaining, though marred and deformed by years of
passion and of crime. His crew, which numbered nearly fifty, were
gathered from almost every nation of the civilized world, yet were all
completely under his command. They were now scattered over the vessel
in various lounging attitudes, apparently careless of every thing
beyond the ease of the passing moment, leaving the management of the
brig to the two or three hands necessary to control the graceful and
obedient craft.

For long hours the captain of the pirate brig stood following the
motions of the flying merchantman; he thought not of sleep or of
refreshment