Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-12-20

CHAPTER XVI.
That telltale lightning fash came
just a moment too soon and put an end
to any hope of surprising the Span
iards by rush from the darkness. The
other six Englishmen were released as
fast as our swords could cut their lash
ings, and the band of us made for the
Interrupted songsters round the fire.
Fortunately for US, few of the Span
iards were armed. and before our fierce
onset they gave way at first like
flock of frightened sheep. The ten
prisoners had seized whatever weap-
ons they could lay their hands on
swords. daggers, logs of wood even
and were hacking and buffeting right
and left like maniacs. But the Span
iards began to rally. and as the alarm
spread re-enforccments came flocking
from the cave. Ard those, of course,
were fully armed.
We were in n tight place.
Jack. Jack" ! heard Alec shout
Loose Willie Trehalion and then run
the boat down, The rest of Us viii
keep these mosquitoes back. Quick,
though. for the lives Of us all.''
Hitting out right and left. got clear
aud waded into tie wafer. but it was
a full minute before managed to set
cur old buGlswa.u aa"ift I.e VAS sob
bing like q ly1ic..,;ll Sraaaigirl in his
excitement and tears Of sheer JOY were
chasing Cnc another down tie fgiTows
of his cheek
Il cant stand. Master Toppr' he
cried as tie q, thong which held i'm
up vas severed The water llaS i..ade
my legs as limp - pgch thread Leave
me an save your own ska. Its no
use my trying. ! Iaust just drown in
my own depth o water But thankee
kindly all tie same"
Not yet. Willie You're heavy, but
not too heavy fJr Jack Topp to carry;
so wen just ride YOU ont of it. Be
sides. the water will help to keep you
up"
With that hoisted him on my back,
holding him with my left hand and
keeping my sword arm free.
We did not gain the boat without
trouble and my sword screamed afresh
before we reached her IN went Willie
plump on to tie floor boards like n
sack Of grain. and desperately strain
ed every muscle TO get her adoat. Inch
by inch il was done. while the fight
surged nearer and nearer to rs. Every
man of the English was far too busy
to come and help me, but at last got
her into four feet Of water. Rushing
back. joined in the furious battle,
shouting to our lads to gain the shore
as each man could.
One by one they scrambled into the
boat, and the Spaniards followed shoul-
der deep into the water. But they
could not torch us there Two hand1
were Topped OFF a9 they chung to the
gunwaie. and then a few vigorous
shoycs with the paddles took us into
deep water
"Hasta manana. Senor Don Miguel
del Cassamaro. late OF Whitby." sung
out Willie Trehalion. raising his round
head with a great effort above the gun
vale. and then we shot into the shadow
OF the opposite shore out of sight of the
Spaniards and lay on our oars to count
heads and examine our damages. There
were 13 men in the boat Where Were
the other two?
"Davy Crifiths is gone" said one of
the men. ~ seed i'm, with foot G
smoking steel showing through his
back, beat out the brains O the chap as
put it there"
"Joe the Cooper is killed, too" said
another "He an the Spaniards' cargo
intendant fell foul o one another an
wrastled on the ground. The don had
a dirk, Joe nothing but his bare hands.
| The don carved Joe's hide into fish
ing net, an Joe tore the don's throat
out WI his teeth"
1T was a warmish corner while il
lasted"
AYE, an we'sc all more or less
scratted. You've n rib there peeping at
The starlight"
That's so. An you've nasty hole
| in that neither arm"
"Tim there has half an ear shredded
away, an Jan Pengony's cOuntenancC
is opener than ever natur' made it."
"Where's the little cordwainerE'
"Sorely wounded, poor lad. He's ly'
| ing senseless here by Willie Trehalion
| in the biIge. This here clip on his head
] needs surgeons needle an pack
| thread to calll it sound again"
"Aye, an Sans beside him with
hole in the ribs. Sans done, I'm think
| ing"
"Let me bind this rag round your
| thigh, Master TOpp. Got that cut In
! the last rush. did you? You're bleeding
! like pig with a slit weasand."
Captain Ireland, not scratchedf The
wonder OF. How did you do it, sir|
mo fault o the captains" put in vii
lie Trehalion, for | watched him. NJ
fault O them Spanish devils neither
lie was ever where the blows was the
! thickest, an they rained them on hin
| like autumn leaves in hurricane"
Good luck armored me-" said Alec
| "Come, lads, out oars again and give
me one. Willie, can you manage to 81
up on the stern thwart and steer? I've
shipped the rudder."
AYE, aye, captainl Or row, either, a
a pinch I'm nigh all right again now
though but for Master Topp | should "A
had to stop beside the post. They lash
ings had shrunk so WI the @ater tina
my feet was like dead mans. Where
shall | make for, captainY
"You know the island that shields
the harbor MOUTH"
Yes, captain. Shelter island W.
called it,"
ITS steep, too, on this side, but there
should be a sloping beach to nOrrard
Make round for there aud see If yo,
can't put US ashore. Now, lads, giy'
way with a Will"
The night was pitchy dark, but TIN
boatswain's solitary eye pierced th'
blackness ana steered us on an arrow
course till hc made the Carrack rock
Then, bearing away n point to the west
ward, he guided US by the direction o
/ A. L. r. 4