Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-12-06

ned by rapscallion landsmen, of whom
there seemed to be very liberal sup
ply.
\ soldier commandant and five sol
dier officers, mighty fine armor clad
gentlemen all, took possession of the
coach and cabin on the spar deck. \
handful of dirty. lubberly sailors and 4
company OF soldiers were stationed for
ward. and when a few handfuls of
maize burgoo had been distributed
among US slaves the drivers on the
gangway cracked their whips, and we
swung out our oars and got under way.
The galley had been pretty lively as
she plunged at her anchor, and the
Spanish cutpurses and cutthroats be-
side US were beginning to feel uncom-
Portable. but when she got some way
on and the motion became easier they
thought their qualms would pass away,
and so they broke out into a monot-
the rowing.
But their song did not last long. By
rapid degrees the "cheep-cheep" Of
the tholes drowned it as the long roll
ing swell Of the Caribbean sea rocked
us up and down. and the swarthy faces
of the rogues became sallow as old
ivory.
And then began a scene of misery
that sickeDs me even now to think Of.
The poor wretches in the agony OF
their sickness would fain have drop
ped the oars. but the merciless drivers
lashed them. lashed us. lashed all with
in reach. The helm was put up to run
along the coast, and the beam roll
made the sufferers sicker. They could
not do a doit's worth of work and in
their loathing bade the drivers fling
them overheard.
We English could not each do the
task Of six and cursed the drivers for
our unearned stripes. The officers in
the stern swore haphaZard at all they
could clap eyes on. And above all the
hellish tumult and discord rose the
weird unearthly "Oh, ho, hoT" and
"Ah. ha, ha.' of the old man.
Crack" came the drivers whip
across the old mans bare shoulders.
BEST keep your wind to yourself.
old prophet" growled a stout fellow
who sat near him. seeing that we're
chained up here like dogs an can't stir
a fist to right ourselves with"
~ tell you, good fellow" replied the
old man earnestly, before another day
is spent you shall drive n steel ak
through these Spanish headpieces."
''I'd do it blithely, old man." said the
,ther. AYE, or through six or through
so if it came to that! But there, you're
babblng They've driven your old
brain crazy, poor master. with their
torturings"
"Babblings?" cried the old man
fiercely II tell you, Jan Pengony, that
rs surely as your back is mass of
sores today so surely shall you pay
back a sword thrust for every whip
cut they have given you"
''In the fiend's name how did you
learn mine? | never set eyes on you
before. Is it magic, masterY
"Ah, ha! Magic! Oh, no, hoI Aye,
magic's the word, JAM I've lived long
among these very good friends the
Spanlards, and the devil, who is their
patron saint, has taught me many
things. You needn't cross yourself,
Jan. They say he doesn't like it"
"The Lord be between me and
harm" exclaimed the man devoutly.
"Ah, ha, ha, hap
1 could hear the scared sailor num-
bling strange mixture of hard words
and scraps of prayer to keep off the
evil spirit. and | more than half shar-
ed his alarm. But, though l had no
wish to be beholden to any one who
worked magic, still 1 could not help
the feeling of elation which the I'M
canny old prophets words reused in
me. BY virtue of his powers the old
man appeared to guess the thoughts
which were simmering in my mind, for
presently he sang out, "Well, Jack, my
brawny giant, are you ready for cut
at your oppressors"
peace, old man." said l. 'Tf the
soldiers hear you, they'll smell mutiny
and fire mumchance into the lot of us" F"
"Oh, no, ho! No fear, Jack. A
BpdlHSH uOCSh hnOW Jul
heather tongue"
Maybe not" said i, but there's no
harm in being prudent. And another
thing, old man, l warn you not to prac-
tise your devilish arts on me, for
know Latin, and if you're a warlock
you'll be finding yourself in uncomfort-
able quarters"
"Oh, no, ho! It's well for you, Jack,
that the Spaniard is too fine gentle
man to cumber himself with barbarous
English Had my worthy friends on
the poop heard your Misunderstanding
yourself up as an eXorcist, ha, ha.-you
wouldn't have escaped beating. Veri-
ly it was great presumption on your
part. Know, Jack, that none but no
BILE Spaniard with three crafty tortur-
ers trailing on his heels can quiet the
devil of which l am possessed now, II
that excellent devil wishes to speak.
But at present he Is dumb, Jack, so get
on with your toll, for though we are
heading for the place of deliverance
there are many weary leagues left to
row before we reach it"
Then, with his teeth close set and q
constant stream of muttering and sub
dued laughter forcing its way be-
tween them, he swung to his oar with
an energy that his wasted muscles
seemed to be incapable of supplying.
The old mans words filed me with
hope and the powers that inspired
them with fear; so, unwilling to be
further beholden to his art, l kept my
tongue quiet and looked out 10 sea-
ware
Keeping even pace with us was a
large caryack of about 500 tons, pierre
ed for a great quantity OF ordnance and
crammed to the bulwarks with SOL
diers. Hanging on her windward quar-
ter was another galley, rowing four
oars fewer than ourselves, and she, too,
carried a heavy fighting crew. With a
sinking heart l recognized that the
three OF us would be too strong for the
Engllshman, for, though | knew that
one of his lads was Il match for eight
or maybe ten OF these glittering Span
iards any day, still against odds Of 90
to his chance was hopeless. He might
beat us off or perhaps even sink us,
but capture us-never.
And so the old mans words seemed
to me to be but foolishness after all.
And with that thought | once more tore
at my oar In sullen gloom.
Toward nightfall we had Il rest. The