The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-05-03

Smithson and I. of course, were
among those who went, and as we
drew close to the wreck We saw tnat
the fire was apparently only in the
forepart Of the schooner, though it was
making its way aft. AS the boats
drew near three men, two whites and
black, were seen to quit the wreck
and rush across the sandy beach on
which she was lying to try and reach
the fringe OF the jungle which bor-
dered it; both the whites, however,
were speared before they could reach
n by band of natives who were lying
in ambush. and the black, who turned
from them to seek refuge with us was
wounded by an arrow as he ran.
In moment we were alongside the
schooner. and | rushed to the COM
panion and called
"Juanita-Don Pedro-are you alive?"
and was rejoiced beyond measure to
hear an answer in the affirmative
said. You are safe. I'm Jack Hawker,
and the men of an English man-of-war
are on board"
In few moments Don Pedro, Juan
ita and l, regardless of all around us,
INDUCED in a long embrace.
To clear the treasure out Of the cabin
was our first work and embark il in
the boats, together with our rescued
friends, and the wounded negro, who
was made a prisoner in order that
he might stand trial for piracy. He
never came to trial, for in less than a
week he died in awful torture from
tetanus.
From Don Pedro and the negro we
learned what had occurred since the
night of the seizure OF the schooner
The pirates. secure of their prey. as
they thought, had soon come to blows
among themselves, and when she was
beached only the two Englishmen and
this negro survived. This tailed with
what Smithson had overheard when We
sus Dected 4he plot.
v hen the schooner was run ashore.
these miscreants set her on fire in the
hope of driving Don Pedro and his
companions out Of their retreat without
any risk to themselves. Fortunately
Don Pedro, knowing the desperate
character of the wretches. he had to
deal with, had decided to hold on as
long as possible, and with his COM
panions to shoot themselves sooner
than fall into their enemies hands.
Our arrival prevented this dread in
tention being carried out, and it was
with hearts overf1owing with graft
tude that they went aboard the wild
Swan" Don Pedro more han carried
out McAlpine's promise as to the re-
ward, for though the captain and crew
Of the man-of-war would not at first
hear Of his doing so he insisted until
they yielded that they should accept
the sum of sixty thousand pounds
with the permission of the Admiralty
which was readily granted.
In due time we arrived in Australia
and from there we soon came home to
England. Don Pedro desired me to
give up the sea, and paid for me at OK
ford, and when l had taken my de-
gree he allowed Juanita and me to be
married.
The property left under the charge
of Silas Warner realized an amount
which I am afraid to state, but both
Don Pedro's relations and my own
benefited largely by his generosity:
nor was Smithson forgotten, foRs he
was, having the love of the sea in
grained in him, properly apprenticed,
and when he had passed his examina-
tions Don Pedro bought large share
for him in good shipping company.
and his career since has been happy
and prosperous.
AS for myself and Juanita, we are
the happiest of the happy and Don
Pedro is the best of fathers and grand
fathdt, though his greatest love seems
to be given to our f1rst-born, a boy,
who was named Thomas McAlpine, in
memory of him who suffered so long,
and at last gave his life for the sake
of his brother.-Commander V. l.
!