Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-01-17

ever in the town.
Il have no time for parleying, Senor
Commandant," said Alec shortly, "and
if your townsfolk annoy us I'll batter
the place down about their ears. But
give me what l want, and l promise
that my advantage shall not be pressed
further. must have powder and
pearls-your whole stock of each"
Your request is modest one, Senior
Englishman. You ask for all we have
GOT
And, asking, intend to have. Recog-
nize, senior, that might is right just
now, and so save further bloodshed."
The Spaniard shrugged his shoulders.
THE powder | cannot prevent you
from taking" said he. You will find
{ it. or, nj any rate, the greater part of
( It. in the magazine underneath the
/ penthouse there But the pearls, for
tunately, are out of my keeping. They
are stored in the treasury, and that lies
in the very heart of the town."
Very well. senior; to the heart of the
town ! go for them. and with you as
my guide"
FNtuOI N-dDldIls Seiid lilt NOlllA4leiAi-
dant Indignantly, consider my rank"
That is precisely what | am doing"
replied Alec dryly enough. You enjoy
at present the rank of prisoner to Alex
anlrr ireland. who win hold your body
responsible for any ambush your
tongur may lead him into.
"Aud now lads" he continued, turn
ing away from the Spaniard, there's
dawn bcginnn" 10 show over the hill,
and so the less time we waste the bet
ter Garry the powder down to the
boats. and when its safely slowed tell
the boatkeppers to shove off couple
Of oars length from the shore. Ar
morer. spike all those culverins but
one. break the pans and stocks from
the arquebuses and cut the crossbow
| strings. Willie Trehalion. I leave you
here With four men to guard the bar
rack door Slew that culverin round
end fire mumchance into the crowd Of
them if they get restiye. and If that
does not silence them post your men on
either side of the door and baptize with
your axes all those who try to come
out. You understands
AYE. aye. sir" replied the boatswain
grimly.
"The rest of you form fours and
! follow me as hard as you can run.
I Senor Commandant, after you! And,
senior. no attempts at escape, If you
value your life. I'm feet of foot, and
my sword blade will split you in the
back at the least sign of treachery."
Out we went at a good smart trot,
the don, in his shirt leading, and,
speeding along n muddy, well used
path, bore toward the town. 1t was
not very large place, so far as we
could see, and there we're no defenses,
as the fort above could, from It's posi-
tioa, have sunk any vessel that at
tempted to enter the upper harbor. But
the inhabitants had been thoroughly
aroused by the firing and now fiocked
out Of every alley, armed and resolute
20 defend their homes. a scattering
fire greeted our approach, but it touch
cd no one and only changed the more
orderly advance into a mere race for
precedence.
Alec was among the first knot, while
| was putting and blowing full 20 faith
| oms astern, and his rashness very near
| ly led him into trouble, for one big fell
1 low leaped on him from behind and
| had him on the ground before he could
| shake off the embrace. However, job
| Trehalion's lean, long legs brought him
| on to the scene in time, and Alec's cap
| tor rolled over with head split to the
| chin.
BY the time our captain had got on
| his legs again the rest Of us had come
up. and together we drove the towns
folk down their street in a body, shout
| ing that we'd fire the houses If they
| made us halt. The Spanish comman-
dant had contrived to bolt when Alec's
hands were full during the first melee,
and so we pushed on without n guide,
| trusting that instinct would lead us to
where the jewels were stored, for in
truth some of US had keen noses for
plunder
AS it turned out we made two false
searches, taking the trouble to overhaul
a couple of stone buildings which were
only food stores and dwelling places.
Indeed, we were very nearly done out
Of the booty altogether, for the Span
iards made n clever and desperate at
tempt to carry off the pearls to safer
spot
In the event, however, this effort Of
theirs gave us the very information we
needed. We spied a knot Of fellows
laden with leather pouches trying to
slink away in the confusion, and,
knowing that at n critical moment no
man troubles himself with burdens un-
less they are of unusual value. we
made after them.
On being pursued they dropped their
loads. which we promptly gathered up,
every man singing two of the pouches
to his belt, and then going to the build
ing from which we had seen the fel
lows come. we broke down the door
and fought our way in.
There was n strong defense, but 1t
was carried at some cost-to the de-
fenders-and we helped ourselves to
another score of the leather bags and
came out again. The fight was waxing
furious outside, and re-enforcements
were coming up every minute.
1--WE must get out Of this" cried Alec,
as furious rush drove us back against
the wall of the treasure houses. Hack
and thrust. lads; clear a space and
form fours again. Drop the pearls if
they're too heavy to hold. We must
reach the fort and relieve the boat
swain"
"The soldiers is got out!" bawed
voice. IT'S them that's at us nowr
There's the commandant! Ware
sword behind, Master Toppw
Down the street to the right, lads"
sung out Alec, "and make for the
shore The boats are coming to meet
u.s."
AYE, an uncle's in EN-" added Job
Trehalion with n chuckle. ''They Span
iards in the barracks been too many
for him"
When they saw our object, the Span
iards, led on by their commandant,
pressed us harder ard harder. and, in
numbered as most of us were by the
leather bags-for the men held grimly
on to their precious pcarls-we were
very nearly overcome. But the narrow
ness Of the street was In our favor,
and with Alec and Jan Pengony and
myself covering the retreat, we got
slowly down to the beach. Even then
our work was not over, FOR the boats.