The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-04-26


fathom than every man of you. Never
scoff Mt fools. my masters. The EN-
peror Of the Indies has fool for his
vizier. and motley coat rules half the
courts OF Europe. All. ha. ha! Listen
to me now. At times can be the mad
dest, merriest, cleverest fool of the lot.
l can jest for you, rule for you. cast
omens for you, prophesy for you and
oil without sight Of star or burning Of
mystic charm; but now l do none of
these" He Eauled himself painfully
to his feet and looked round upon them
with gesture of frightful menace.
mo, bid you slay. Slay these cursed
Spaniards from commandant to cabin
lad. And if it be crime on my head
be 1t. Slay"
His voice rose to shrek at these
last words, and his listeners shrank
back and shuddered when they met his
eyes.
aye" he went on, "if it be murder,
care not Look at these legs-like two
gnarled and crushed old willows. Ev-
cry bone In them has been crushed by
Spanish tortures. See these distorted
arms, knotted like a conjurer's hand
kerchief. Gaze on this body, scanned
with fire. SCARED with whips and pinch
ers. Aye, am poor cripple now, but
q short score of years ago ] could have
thrashed big John Topp there as easily
as he could trounce me now with his
little finger. What could give atone
ment for these hurts? And yet do not
bid you torture these Spaniards in like
kind. but only slay them. Slay them!
Slay theml And then-then"-
IAN what then, old manr asked the
boatswain.
'Then," exclaimed the old man
Aercely, make me your captain, and
promise you gold beyond your widest
dreams. 1 will lead you to Manoa."
There arose torrent of voices as he
finished speaking. Some declared that
Captain Ireland was our leader, and
that the old mans words were treason;
others that they hated the very name
of the golden city, and. while n few
called upon the OLD man to say more,
the rest pressed Alec to speak. 1 join
ed my voice to these last and by out
shouting the others gained silence.
"My lads" he said. "there is not one
OF us here who has cause to love the
Spaniards, least Of all I, who have
lost father ut their hands, but let us
not sully our souls with their murder
No, no; we can do better than that
we can make them useful We have a
safe prison for them In the cave. and
they shall be our slaves. AS for Ma
noa, many Of us who sailed to these
seas In the Bristol Merchant have
spent years In the search for 1t al
ready, and the prospect Of continuing
the quest does not tempt us. But Span
ish galleons and plate ships litter the
main like Islands In nm archipelago.
and every one Of them contains treas
ure. Now. my plain Is to make these
our quarry. for from them n stout Eng
lish ship can reap revenge and plumber
both"
$50 she Should" put in one fellow.
''But, captain. we haven't got that
same stout Ship"
"We have hands, sirrah," replied
Alec, "and some of us brains besides.
The wrecks will afford both material
and tools. and we have, plenty Of cap
u.
There are artifcers among US, and l
myself have some knowledge of the
shipwright's craft, and so I say let us
collect our plankings at once and begin
TO set up the stocks on which to lay q
keel Has any one Of you a better plan
to offerY'
The men looked at one another and
exchanged their thoughts in half whis-
pers, and Willie Trehalion, after hang
Ing In the wind for minute or so, rap
ped his hook against his forehead and
came forward rs their spokesman.
''We bain't altogether in love WI gal
leys, Captain Ireland" said he. NOR
with any other ship that's driven WI
slaves oars. You see, slaves Is apt to
break out when you're fighting their
friends an requires lot o. victual an
attention. An this company. being sail
ors all m not soldier mariners, likes
best to maneuver in battle under can
vas an, In fact. backs one round ship to
three long ones any day"
"And am with you there, Willie.
did not mean that we should put these
prisoner dons on q galley's bank and
let them taste the bitters Of their own
prescription. No. no; leave cared craft
to nations OF land soldiers. The winds
are the ministers Of the EnglIshman,
and sails are the wand with which he
rules them. Give me a handy craft.
and I'll warrant to keep the weather
gauge Of an enemy without numbering
the waist with filthy siav and telling
on good fighting men t. guard them.
The Spaniards here shall bc far lucEicr
than they deserve. They shall work
for us as shipwrights' laborers and
shore servants; and when our ship is
built and we are fitted for the cruise
we'll give them a holiday to dispose of