Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-09-17
CHAPTER XI-
Continued.

1
her course. \ light breeze was blow
ing. contrary for the Turks. but favor.
able for us. so that we approached
each other but slowly. The Turks had
fired only four times. and our vessel
had not been touched Armed with
pistols and cutlasses our little band
lay upon the deck close 10 the side
awaiting whatever might be in store
for us. and as we so lay l could not
dismiss the hope that no harm was In
tended TO us. that our alarm was Ill
founded. and as minute succeeded min I
ute. and still the Turk did not open /
Ere upon us. I expressed my opinion I
to the captain. who lay at my side. but I
he vouchsafed me no reply.
The LEFT horn OF the crescent OF +
Turkish ships being now quite close. .
che intention OF the Turks was per-
ceivcd for the foremost vessel left
her fellows and bore right down upon
us. still. however. without firing.
"They hope 10 take our property and
lives unchanged. but remember
death. not captivity" These Wsre the
last words / heard the noble captain
speak. After a few minutes OF almost
breathlcss silence the Turkish frigate
foulcd the lee side or the Orio Mali
pietrO and. with n wild shout OF
triumph. an overwhelming force OF
Turkish sailors leaped aboard the fri
gatOOn. And then ensued n most
bloody hand-to-hand fight. OF which.
at first. the Venetians had much the
better. Our enemies were too close
upon US 10 permit or the employment
OF any weapon but the cutlass. but OF
that we made very effective use. for
being close 10 the side OF the vessel.
and our whereabouts unknown 20 the
first party OF Turks who boarded Us.
they leaped as IL were upon the points
OF our blades. and so suffered great
loss. But the odds against Us were n
thousand 10 one. and with fatal effect
the Turks hasted 20 avenge the defeat
OF their fellows. Captain pcrugia fell
dead at my feet. his heart transhxed
by the broad blade OF a feroclous Turk
whom he mad partly disabled: nearly
all 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.
I felt faint and sick. and was besides
Il
der. yet miraculously. in some way
which I I'm unable 20 describe, I con
trivcd 20 back out from the fight and
flee below 10 the women, whose condi-
tion was truly pitiable. / did so not
because OF cowardice. FOR I believe
fought as well as any man. Venetian
or Turh. that memorable day. and GER
tainly from the moment the frigatooI
was boarded l had abandoned all hop,
OF escape. but the warning OF the no
bic Perugia. Death. not captivity.
still rang In my ears. and l resolve,
that my last minute should be spent il
an cndeavOr 10 save these unhapp.
creatures from so horrible a fate.
reached my cabin. and with n might.
effort pulled away few Of the bale
so as 20 allow the door 10 OMEN wild
enough FOR me TO enter sideways bu
I had TO contend with the strength Q
the women within. who not KNOWN
but IL was the enemy who sought at
mittance. pulled the door the Othe
way with All their might. AS / e.
tered the cabin, and before coul
speak TO its frantic occupants. n
Turks rushed down the companion an
began to remove the bales. / stoo
close by the side Of the door. and II
first who entered laid low with a pi
toll shot in the head. My trump
however. was short, for the next i
slant a fearful blow from a ma
stretched me at full length on Il
door. yet was 1 only partly stunne
being conscious of yelling Turks 4
around-of Anita and her maid beiI
bound and carried out. and OF my oV
ankles and wrists being bound in SUI
brutal fashion that the blood start
from my flesh. And then kind natu
came TO my relief and 1 remember
no more.
November l9.-I was never able
ascertain how long l remained uncC
scious, but this 1 know Iull well. III
when / came to myself again l was
prisoner aboard Turkish friga
The wound In my shoulder had be
cleansed and dressed. and my wrf
and ankles unbound. but my lin
were hugely swollen by the barbara
usage to whlcA they had been 81
1ected, and the least movement oc
stoned me acute pain. Two you
Turks hardly more than boys,
watching me intently, conyersing 81
ly in their language. OF which l &C
prenended not word. was lying
a rudely furnished abin. not unlis
dismantied glinreom. and look
around me perceived nothing or
own; comparisons. my girdle conti
ing my money and papers. the We