Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-01-08


CHAPTER XVIII.
1t appeared as II their misfortunes wore
to cease after the tragical death of tho two
commanders. In few days tho bort had
passed through the strait Of Magellan,
and was sailing in the Pacific ocean, with
u blue sky and quiet sea. The ships com.
pany recovered their health and spirits,
and tho vessel being now we'll manned,
the duty was carried on with oheerfulness.
In about fortnight they had gained
well up on the Spanish coast, but although
they had seen many of the Inhabitants on
the bench, they had not fallen in with any
vessels belonging to the Spaniarda.
Aware that if he met with a Spanish ship
Of superior force it would attack him,
Philip had made every preparation, and
had trained his men to the guns. He had
now, with the joint crews of the vessel,
q well manned ship, and the anticipation
Of prize money had made his men very
eager to fall in with some Spaniard, which
they knew that Philip would capture II he
could. Light winds and Gains detained
them for month ON the coast, when
Philip determined upon running for the
Isle st. Marie, where, though he knew 1t
was in possession of the Spaniards, he yet
hoped to be able to procure refreshments
for the ships company, either by fair
means or by force. The bort was, by their
reckoning, about 30 miles from the Is
land, and having run in until after dark,
they had hove to till the next morning.
Krantx was on deck; he leaned over the
side, and as the sails tapped to the mAsts,
he attempted to define the lines OF the
horizon. 1t was very dark, but a. he
watched, he thought that he perceived .
light for Q moment, and which then dis
appeared. Fixing his eyes on tho spot. he
soon made out vessel, hove to, and not
two cables length distant He fastened
down to apprise Philip and procure a
glass. BY the time Philip was on deck
the vessel had been distinctly made out to
be three masted xebec very low in the
water. After short consultation, 1t was
agreed that the boasts ON the quarter
should be lowered down, and manned and
armed without noise and that they should
steal gently alongside and surprise her.
The men were called up, silence snjoined,
and in few minutes the boats crew had
possession of the vessel, having boarded
her and secured the matches before the
alarm could be given by the few who were
on deck. More men were then taken on
board by Krantz, who, as agreed upon, lay
to under the lee of the bort until the day
Light made Its appearance. The matches
were then taken off, and the prisoners
sent on board Of the bort. There were go
people on board-a large number for a
vessel of that description.
on Doing intsr4esetea, two OF ehe pris-
oners, who were we'll dressed and gentle
manlike persons, stepped forward and
stated that the vessel was from st. Mary's,
bound to Lima, with a cargo of -four and
passengers; that the crew and captain con.
sisted of 90 mon, and all tho rest who were
on board had taken that opportunity Of
going to Lima. That they themselves
were among the passengers, and trusted
that the vessel and cargo would be imme-
diately released, as the two nations were
not at war.
Not at war at home, grant," replied
Philip, "but in these seas, tho constant
aggressions Of your armed ships compel
me to rstaliate, and shall therefore
make prize Of your vessel and cargo. At
the same time, as have no wish to mo-
lest private individuals, I will land oil the
passengers and crew at st. Mary's, to
which place am bound In order to OBJ
tain refreshments which now shall ex-
pect will be given cheerfully as your ran
som, SO as to relieve me from resorting to
force" The prisoners protested strongly
against this, but without avail. They
then requested leave to ransom the vessel
and cargo, Offering larger sum than
they both appeared to be worth; but
Philip, being short of provisions. refused
to part with the cargo, and the SpaniArds
appeared much disappointed at the unsuc-
ccssful issue Of their request. Finding
that nothing would induce him to part
with the provisions, they then begged
hard to ransom the vessel and to this,
after a consultation with Krantz, Philip
gave his assent. The two vessels then
made sail and steered on for the island,
then about four leagues distant. Although
Philip had not wished to retain the YES
sci, yet, es they stood together, her supe-
rior speed became SO manifest, that he al
most repented that he had agreed to ran
som her.
At noon tho bort was anchored in the
roads out of gunshot, and a portion Of the
passengers allowed to go on shore and
make arrangements for the ransom Of the
remainder, while the prize was hauled
alongside, and her cargo hoisted into the
ship. Toward evening three large boats
with live stock and vegetables, and the
sum agreed upon for the ransom OF tho
xebeo, came alongside; and as soon as one
of the boats was cleared, the prisoners
were permitted to go on shore in it, with
the exception of the Spanish pilot, who,
at the suggestion of Krantz, was retained,
with q promise Of being released directly
the bort was clear of the Spanish seas. A
negro slave was also at his own request
allowed to remain ON board, much to the
annoyance Of their two passengers before
mentioned, who claimed the man as their
property, and insisted that 1t was an IN
fraction of the agreement which had been
entered into. "You prove my right by
your own words" replied Philip; II
agreed to deliver up all the passengers,
but no property; the slave will remain on
board"
Finding their endeavors Intellectual, tho
Spaniards took naughty leave The
bort remained at anchor that night to OK
anime her rigging, and the next morning
they discovered that the xebec had disap-
peared, having sailed upperceived by them