The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-27
CHAPTER NJ.
Continued.

ing. contrary for the Turks. but favor
able for Us, SO that We approached
each other but slowly. The Turks had
fred only four times. and our vessel
had not been touched. Armed with
pistols and cutlasses, our little band
lay upon the deck close to the side
awaiting whatever might be In store
for Us. and as we SO lay I could not
dismiss the hope that no harm was in
tended to us. that our alarm was ILL.,
founded, and as minute succeeded min
ute. and still the Turk die not open
Ere upon rs. I expressed my opinion
to the captain. who lay at my side. but
he vouchsafed me no reply.
The left horn Of the crescent OF
Turkish ships being now quite close.
the intention Of the Turks was per-
ceIved. for the foremost vessel left
her fellows and bore right down upon
us, still, however. without firing.
They hope to take our property and
lives undamaged. but remember
death, not captivity" These were the
last words I heard the noble captain
speak. After few minutes Of almost
breathless silence the Turkish frigate
foulcd the lee side Of the Orio Mali
pietro and. with q wild shout Of
triumph. an overwhelming force Of
Turkish sailors leaped aboard the fri
Eatoon. And then ensued q most
bloody hand-to-hand fight. Of which.
Ut first, the venetiaps had much the
better. Our enemies were too close
upon us to permit Of the employment
u any weapon but the cutlass. but Of
tiiat we made very effective use, for
being close to the side Of the vessel.
and our whereabouts unknown to the
arst party Of Turks who boarded us.
they leaped as It were upon the points
sf our blades. and 50 suffered great
toss. But the odds against us were a
thousand to one. and with fatal effect
the Turks hasted to avenge the defeat
~ their fellows. Captain Perugia fell
3ead ut my feet. his heart transhxed
5y the broad blade Of ferocious Turk
whom he had partly disabled; nearly
lll our little band were dead or dying.
and above the din Of the fight resound-
ed the shrieks Of the women i'm
prisoned below.
! felt faint and sick. and was besides
bleeding from q wound In my shoul-
der, yet miraculously. in some way
which ] am unable to describe. con.
trived to back out from the fight and
dee below to the women, whose condi.
don was truly pitiable. ] did SO not
because Of cowardice. for ! believe.
fought as well as any man, Venetian
or Turk. that memorable day. and GER
tainly from the moment the frigatoon
was boarded I had abandoned all hope
Of escape, but the warning Of the no
bic Perugia. Death. not captivity"
still rang in my ears. and resolved
that my last minute should be spent in
an endeavor to save these unhappy
creatures from SO horrible fate.
reached my cabin, and with a mighty
effort pulled away a few Of the bales
20 as to allow the door to open wide
enough for me to enter sideways, but
I had to contend with the strength OF
the women within. vino. not knowing
but 1t was the enemy who sought ad.
raittance. pulled the door the other
way with all their might. As en-
tered the cabin. and before could
speak to Its frantic occupants, the
Turks rushed down the companion and
began to remove the bales. ! stood
close by the side Of the door. and the
frst vino entered laid low with pis-
tol shot In the head. Ny triumph,
however. was short, for the next in
slant q fearful blow from a mace
stretched me at full length on the
door. yet was ! only partly stunned,
being conscious Of yelling Turks all
around-of Anita and her maid being
bound and carried out. and Of my own
arkles and wrists being bound in such
brutal fashion that the blood started
from my nesh. And then kind nature
came to my relief and ! remembered
no more
November 19.-I was revc. able to
ascertain how long ! remained uncon-
scious. but this know full well. that
when / came to myself again I was
prisoner aboard Turkish frigate.
The wound in my shoulder had been
cleansed and dressed, and my wrists
and ankles unbound. but my limbs
were hugely swollen by the barbarous
usage to which they had been sub
jected. and the least movement occa-
stoned me acute pain. Two young
Turks. hardly more than boys. sat
watching me i1tently. conversinG soft
~ II their language, Of which ] com
pretended not q word. ! was lying In
q rudely furnished cabin, not unlike a
disE,antled gun-room, and looking
around nc I perceived nothing Of my
ovn: companions. my girdle contain
ing my money and papers. the Vene-
tan merchants chests af sequiDs-
everything was gone. The terrible in
cidents which Immediately preceded
my present miserable condition. and
the horror; probably awaiting me.
crowded vividly upon my mind. and.
exclaimins vebemently against my iii
fate. ! fell into q delirium. and SO re-
mained Cor know not how long.
When again / recovered myself !
was reposins on q pallet On the deck
OF the same frigate in charge Of the
same two young Turks. who sat cross.
legged on either side and eyed NE with
m air Of grave curiosity. We were
elose 10 n mort the like of which for