Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-02-09

captain he addressed his letter to the
governor Of the town, and in it he stated
that he had understood that certain
companions Of the coast. for whom Le
had great sympathy-for the French
and the buccaneers were always good
friends-had been captured by the gov
ernor, who. he heard, had threatened to
execute them.
The French captain, BY the hand of
Roc, went on to say that il harm should
come to these brave men, who had been
taken and imprisoned when they were
doing no harm to anybody, he would
swsar, in his most solemn manner, that
never for the rest of his life would he
give quarter to any Spaniard who might
fall into his hands, and he moreover
threatened that any kind of vengeance
which should Become possible for the
buccaneers and French united to inflict
1pon the Spanish ships, or upon the
town Of Campeachy, should be taken AZ
soon as possible after he should hear Of
any injury that might be inflicted upon
the unfortunate men who were then
lying imprisoned in the fortress.
When the slave came back to Roc,
the letter was given to him with very
Particular directions as to what be IVES
to do. With il. He was to disguise him
self as much as possible, SO that liz.
should not lie recognized by the people
of the place, and then in the night be
was to make his way out of the town,
and carly in the morning was to return.
as it ho had been walking along l. g
shore OF the harbor, when he was, r.,
state that he had been put on shore froul
the French vessel in the oifing with q
letter which he was ordered to present.
to the governor
The slave performed his part Of the
business very we'll. The pext day, wet
ami uedraggie'l from maki..g bis way
through thu w,e,is and mud of the
coast. he presented himself at the for.
u, 81 with his letter, and when he was
allowed to- take it to the governor no
one $, spectcd ,.sat he WIS person en-
rloyeA :.buEr the place Having fulfill
i.;s lssion he Departed. and when seer,
3 IN be y $ the SAME servant " !jo.e
;;,aslnt. lii y. ;.s to carry food tn he pris.
i.s,; =.
he governor read the letter with a
,.isupitt lind. He knew tht the
F'slush snip. which vas lying outside
TX, harbor was Il powerful .essel. aud
he dl! Iot ~ French SHIPS anyway.
l.'hs ton lid oncls heeu taken and very
: IT. ated by ll.elo Act OF French
Il, 4, ,-Jslish buccaneers and he was
'sry ansiuus mat no.hing OF the kind
. f,'t.i happen again.
- vas no s-4astive Spanish force
liz ta@ ~ ut 1T time, a.l he did
net |. ,i,w many ,s:ccans aIins yes.
hels might ba able - gather tt;se er in
tie bay ii it should become lsn, ,yn th..
the great ri ate Roc had been put To
Death in lanpeacby.
It was unusual for q prisoner to have.
powerful friends so near by, and he.
governor took Roc $ case into most ear.
nest G. lside.ation a few hours refec-
Cion was SD aiclent to convince him that
1t would be very uasafe to take risks
with such q dangerous prize as the pi-
rate Roo, and he determined to get rid
Of him as sUoO as possible. He felt Ain,-
self in the position Of q man who has
gtclen q baby bear and who hears
through tho woods the roar OF an. up.
preaching parent To throw away tia
cub and walk Off as though be. had uo
idea there we're any bears in that forest
would be tie inclination of IL man SD
situated, and to get rid Of a GREAT pirate
without plo-oking the Vengeance ut his
friends was the natural inclination Of
the governor.
Now, Roc and his men were treated
we'll and. having been brought before
the governor, were told that in consc-
quence of their having committed 10
overt net Of disorder they would be set
at liberty aud shipped to Spain upon
the single condition that they would
abandon piracy and agree to become
quiet citizens.
To these terms Roc and his men
agreed without argument. They 6e-
clared they would retire from the buc.
caneering BUSINESS and that nothing
would suit chem better than to return
to the ways Of civilization and virtue.
There was ship about to depart for
Spain, and on this the governor gave
Roc and his men free passage to the
other side Of the ocean, There is no
doubt that our buccaneers would have
much preferred to have been put on
board the French vessel, but Roc made
no suggestion Of the kind, knowing how
astonished the French captain would be
If the governor were to communicate
with him On the subject.