The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-06-14


able to stop YOU
And this in the end was what we
dd. The mermcn. or Neptune. or the
current, or whatever agency had
charge OF our heels. swept the two vps-
sells nearer and nearer together till at
last couple Of clevcrly thrown Crap
pies caught hold and our bulwurk
ground against the galleou's suuare
stern.
Her crew had no intention OF letting
US set foot In their stronghold without
n tussie and did what they could with
freballs and grenadoes. cold shot ana
naked steel to stop us. But with n
ladder of boarding axes driven into
their tlmbers we scrambled up anI
soon bad footing in the cabin.
HcmmCd in by the packed masses
behind, the front rank had the alter
native Of light or fall. They fought
long and desperately, and then thr.i
fell, for they expected no quarter and
asked none. We on our side fought as
ruriously as they, Stabbing with short
ened weapons where there was 10
room to swing them and thr,lS;ing
many foe through the open portfolios
into the sea. 1t was n bloody conflict.
for not until two-thr!s of the cabins
defenders lay dead and dying did the
Spanards suffer themselves to be driv.
en- out into the waist.
We ourselves had lost Jan Pcngony.
his friend George and three others XII.
ed outright. and two more were so
sorely wounded that they died there
Cn the cabin floor. Scarce one of us
but had his red cash to show
But it was no time TO groan or lick
our wounds. The two doors under the
poop were closed and barred with fur.
niturc piled up against them. loaded
patarcrocs were thrust through the
loopholeS to command the waist. ana
the hatch of the treasure room WAS
cleared of bodies and thrown open
inc pieces of eight we found SnuSly
slowed in oHk chests. and while half q
dozen Of us stood ready by the swivel
gun tho rest made all haste they could
TO hand up tho treasure and lower IT
through the windows on to the
Scourgc's deck below.
But rapid as were our movements
Don Miguel had no notion OF allowing
us to spoil his ship unmolcStcd
Scarcely had we got into the swing of
work than he and a strong party with
him mounted the poop again and com.
menced annoying the little craft whose
bulwarks were grinding against his
ship far below. They hurled down ey.
crything wcighty and unpleasant that
came to hand. anh finally they droppcd
barrel OF powder. which on bursting
scorchCd several OF our lads so severely
that they cried to us in the gallcon'S
cabin that the deck was too hot to hold
any longer.
at this Alec. leaving me IN charge of
the cabin. returned TO lis own vessel
and hailed the poop above.
"Don Miguel ahoy"
The tall Spaniard appeared above
gritting his yellow teeth with rage.
"Don Miguel. if you do not cease from
annoying my people yoH shall have
something else to think about. | swear
to You that if you do not permit me to
finish my task unnioleStrd I'll sweep
your crowded waist with n hurricane
of patnrcroe balls. and that the surviv
ors may not want employment to kcCr
them out OF mischief I'll fire your gal
Icons hold before I leave hcr There's
keg OF spirits under the table that
will help her to burn"
"And If | permit you to carry off
your robbers booty in peace:"
''MIeasurc your words. Don Miguel.
If you permit me to carry off my law
full PRICE
The Spnniard interrupted him with
harsh laugh Of impo:cnt rage
my lawful prize. | say. taken from
my country'S enemy" went on Alec
calmly. and if you offer no further an.
noyancc to my men. |. Oh my part.
faithfully promise to do you and yours
no further injury for the present For.
tune will. hope. grant lis another
meeting on some future day. when ac.
! counts may be settled. Meanwhile.
| senior. your answer is awaited"
Don Miguel. who seemed almost be-
side himself with suppressed fury, was
evidently about to hurl Il defiance ai
us and raised his hand to clinch hi,
refusal with n pistol bullet. But h:
officers and undcrlings had had all IT,
lighting they wanted. Though cac
might have stake I'm the golden carg
below. each remembered that with al
other throw of the dice hr would los
not only that. but life as we'll An.
choosing. like wise men. the lesser o.
the two evils. they laid violent hand
on their reckless commandant an
dragged him down. Then one Of thci
jumped up into his place and sgnitic.
that they agreed to the arG,istice. They
promised. lie said. not to molest us fun
thcr. and they locked to us to keep !;
like faith with them. With ringing
| cheer our lads set to work again OH til,
, sid chests, but none the less we kcDl
| the swivel gun trained on the crowd IN
the gallCOliS waist for he is Il hpSol