The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-03-01

coulu cap eyes OH. And above all the
hellish tumult and discord rose the
weird unearthly "Oh. ho. hoe aud
"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 n stout fellow
who sat near him. "secing that we're
chained up here like dogs an can't stir
n fist to right ourselves with"
81 tell you. good fellow" replied the
old man earnestly. before another day
Is spent you shall drive n steel AK
through these Spanish hcadpieces."
I'D do 1t blithely, old man." said the
other. aye or through six or through
60 II 1t came TO that! But there, you're
babblinS. They've driven your old
brain crazy. poor master, with their
torturings."
"BabblingsT" cried the old man
fercc,y. IL tell you. jap pengony. that
MS surely as your back Is n mass of
sores today so surely shall you pay
back sword thrust for every whip
cut they have given you"
I'm the fiend's name how did YOU
learn mine? I never set eyes on you
before. Is 1t magic. MASTERY"
"Ah. ha! Magic! Oh. ho, no! Ave.
magic's the word. Jan! I've lived long
among these very good friends the
Spaniards. 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. ha..'
l could hear the scared sailor num-
bling stranGS mixture of hard words
and scraps OF prayer to keep of tho
evil spirit, and more than half shar
cd his alarm. But. though had no
wish to be bcholden to any one who
worked magic, still could not help
the feeling Of elation which the un-
canny old prophets words reused in
me. BY virtue Of his powers the old
man appeared to guess the thoughts
which were sinlmcring in my mind, for
presently he sang out. We'll. Jack. my
brawny giant. are you ready for cut
at your opprcSscrs:"
"Peacc. old man." said l. "If the
soldiers hear you. they'll smell mutiny
and fire mumchance into the lot Of u.s."
"Oh. ho, ho! No fear. Jack. A
Spanish hdalgo doesn't know our
heather tUVoue."
"Maybe not" said 1, 'but there's no
harm In being prudent And another
thing, old man, warn you not to prac-
tise your devllish arts on me. for |
know Latin, and IL you're n warlock
you'll be finding yourself in uncomfort-
able quarters"
"Oh. ho. ho. It's well for you, Jack
that the Spaniard Is too fine n gentle.
man to cumber himself with barbarous
English. Had my worthy friends on
the poop heard Your insolence-setting
yourself up rs an eXorciSt. la. ha!-you
wouldn't have escaped n beating. Veri.
ly 1t was great presumption on your
part. Know. Jack. that zone but a no.
ble Spaniard with three crafty tortur.
ers trailing on, his heels can quiet the
devil of which | am possessed now. If
that excellent devil wishes to speak
But at present lie !s 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 It's 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 filled me with
hope and the powers that inspired
them with fear; SO, unwilling to be
further beholden to his art. kept my
tongue quiet and looked out to sea.
ward.
Keeping even pace with us was o
large carrack of about 500 tons. pierc-
ed for 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 heavy lighting crew. With
sinking heart l recognized that the
three Of us would be too strong for the
Englishman. for. though l knew that
one Of his lads was 4 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 CT perhaps even sink US.
but capture us-never.
Anu SO tne Olu inau WOruS seemed
to me to be but foolishness after all
And with that thought once more tore
at my oar In sulien gloom.
Toward nightfail we had a rest. The
galley's sails were hoisted to catch the
rising breeze. and so. drawing the oars
n trife inboard. we slipped the handles
under the gangway, leaving the shin.
ing blades cooking up in the air on eli
ther side Of her. AL round us were
sickness and misery. The sun sank
behind reef Of purple cloud, and the
freshening wind began to hiss and
shrek more keenly through the oar