The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-04-28
and other places, and sundry mer.

chandiSe delivered to divers traders in
those places who dealt in Venetian
commodities. 1t was on the sixteenth
day after our departure from Venice
when we put off from LemnoS. and
all had gone we'll with us in that time.
Our journey being almost accom-
plished l sat in my cabin cogitatinS
return Anita 10 her father. for / had
gathered from her discourse that she
entertained the hope Of my returning
with her 10 Venice in the Orio Malipie-
tro. and that. if disappointed in that
expectation, she was prepared to ac-
company me for so long as chose to
travel in the dominionS of the Great
Turk. Now l was fully determined
neither to do the one nor permit the
other, but concerning the manner OF
acquainting Anita with my resolve
stood in pause. Weakness is fatal
thing. and cursed my folly in leaving
Venice in circumstances such as to in
volve me in this dilemma, and saw
clearly, now that it was too late, that
my proper course was to have plainly
told Signor Simona that l had no feel
ing for his daughter other than that
of common friendship, and to have
left Venice as I had entered it-alone.
There is no practical use in perceiving
good courses after the occasions to
which they apply are past, yet to rec.
ognize ones self as 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 a cannon, and the next min
ute Captain Perugia entered my cabin,
very pale, but quite calm and self
possessed. 1--WE 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
few moments his lips moved as If he
were Speaking. but he uttered no
sound. LOST I echoed, for l 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 Perugia
shook his head sadly. "The Turk is as
deceitful as Satan" said the captain;
"thous speakest truly, yet stand mat
ters as have said. To the northward
ride thirty-four Of the frigates in the
figure Of a crescent, and presently they
will enclose us, if they do not sooner
sink us with their guns" But Venice
and the Porte are at peace" l retiter-
ated. What of that:' retorted the
captain warmly; "it may be that the
Admiral Pasha desires sport, or the
Sultan needs Christian slaves, and no
Venetian vessel within a hundred
leagues of us to tell the tale. 1 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 locker l
followed the captain up the compan-
ion-way, thinking of the remark Of
Signor Simona when he presented
them to me, that I should certainly not
need to use them while aboard the
Orio Malipietro.
On reaching the deck l 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 l could
nowhere see. but after l had stood
minute or so 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 ap-
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 frigatoon being
large and square, it affords 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.
These arrangements being speedily
made the captain addressed himself
to me and his men as we stood in
groups round about him helplesSly
gazing at the huge hulls of the Turk
ish vessels as they approached us:
Comrades and fellow-citizens!- - the
enemy of your State and of all Chris
tendon is about to add to the many
proofs of his treachery and cowardice.
Behold, Venice and the Turks are at
peace; ours is a small vessel, built for
trade and not for war. And 1t seems
that the tremendous sea strength OF