The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-20

There II no practical use IN perceiving
good courses after the occasions to
which they apply are past. yet to rec.
ognize ones self as a fool is the first
step towards wisdom. and this / did
very fully. albeit with much chagrin.
Suddenly. and without any warning.
my reverie was dispelled by the deep
boom of q cannon. and the next min.
ute Captain Perugia entered my cabin,
very pale. but quite calm and self.
possessed. I'VE are lost" said he;
no earthly power can save US. but
we will die like men," and with great
deliberation he made the sign OF the
cross upon his forehead. and for a
few moments his lips moved as II he
were speaking. but he uttered no
sound. LOST I echoed, for I was
downright amazed: "how lost? The
ship Is sound. the weather fair and
Venice at peace with every State"
At this moment three terrific cannon
charges rent the air. Captain Perugin
shook his head sadly. The Turk Is as
yieceitful as Satan" said the captain;
'4thous speakest truly, yet stand mat.
tiers as have said. To the northvard
ride thirty-four Of the frigates in the
figure Of a crescent. and presently they
will enclose us. II they do not sooner
sink Us with their gums" But Venice
and the Porte are at peace" ! retiter-
ated. "What Of thats" retorted the
captain warmly; ut may be that the
Admiral Pasha desires sport, or the
Sultan needs Christian slaves. and no
Venetian vessel within q hundred
leagues Of us to tell the tale. I have
said It; the Turk Is more deceitful
than Satan. and you may prepare
either for immediate death or to be
chained to an oar in the galley Of the
infidel. Do as you will; and my men
elect to die" He turned and again
ascended to the deck. Hastily snatch.
ing a brace of pistols from a locker I
followed the captain up the compan-
ion-way. thinking Of the remark OF
Signor Simona when he presented
them to me, that should certainly not
need to use them while aboard the
Orio Malipietro.
On reaching the deck saw the for.
midable Turkish feet, distant not
more than half an English mile. and
disposed as Captain Perugia had de-
scribed. The captain himself ! could
nowhere see. but after had stood a
minute or 50 gazing In silent wonder
at the grand spectacle before me. and
wondering whether the Turks intend
ed to do us any mischief or not he mp
preached me from the after.part Of the
vessel. leading Anita and her maid.
Both the women appeared dazed with
fright, but they obeyed the captains
orders quieter and with greater expe-
dition than l should have expected Of
them. The stern Of a frigatoon being
large and square. It affords q better
mark for an enemy's guns than any
other part Of the vessel. and In the
captains judgment It was safest for
the women to be concealed In my
cabin. situated In the fore part; where
they were accordingly placed with all
haste. and the door barricaded on the
outside with bales Of merchandise.
ihese arrangements being speedily
made the captain addressed himself
to me and his men as we stood in
groups round about him belplessly
gazing at the huge bulls OF the Turk
ish vessels as they approached Us:
Comrades and fellow-citizens!- the
enemy Of your State and Of all Chris
teadom 10 about to add to the many
proofs Of his treachery and cowardice.
Behold, Venice and the Turks are at
peace; ours Is q small vessel. built for
trade and not for war. And It seems
that the tremendous sea strength Of
the Great Turk Is to be debased to
doing the work Of corsair's galley.
we being the victims! We have but
one brass cannon aboard. and that
good for nothing but signalling. while
the .h,rty.four Turks are well armed.
and The lightest Of them Is three times
as heavy as we. Escape Is impossible.
but though we number only eighteen
men. we can avoid being taken alive.
Let us fight with all our strength. and
50 die. remembering that life with the
Turk Is worse than many deaths"
Though second to none In valor 1t
was but q feeble cheer with which the
Venetian sailors greeted this speech.
Had they been about to engage IL q
fair battle. none would have been
more enthusiastic than they, but an
execution excites no enthusiasm. es-
pecially In the victims. and such 1t
seemed was to be the character Of the
coming encounter.
To be continued.
Checkuantcd.