Morris tribune., 1905-12-09
CHAPTER VIII.

1.-Two days later they made a
landfall off the terrific coast of
II Caracas, where the tree clad
mountains soar into the clouds
abruptly from the level Of the sea,
where the surf beats without intermis-
sion even in the most peaceful weather
upon the narrow strip of white sand
which separates the blue waters of the
Caribbean from the massive cliffs that
tower above them.
In the intervening time the south
sea buccaneers had picked up wonder
fully. These men, allured by the hope
of further plunder under a captain
who had been so signally successful in
the past and in the present, constituted
most formidable auxiliary to Nor
gan's original crew. Indeed, with the
exception of the old hands, they were
the best of the lot. L'Ollonois had
been admitted among the officers on
suitable footing, and there was little
or no friction among the crews. They
were getting hammered into shape, too,
under Mofgan's hard drilling and 1t
was a vastly more dangerous body OF
men than the drunken gang who had
sailed from Jamaica.
Like a polite captain, Morgan had
done his best to get the men whom
he had subdued by his intrepid cour-
age and consummate address into good
humor. Rum and spirits were served
literally, work was ,light-in fact, none
except the necessary seaman's duties
were required Of the men, although
an hour or two every day were en-
ployed in hard drill with swords,
small arms and great guns. In martial
exercises the veterans were perfect,
and they assiduously endeavored to
impart their knowledge to the rest.
1t was Morgans plan to run boldly
into La Guayra under the Spanish flag.
No one could possibly take the Almi-
rante Recalde for anything but Span
ish ship. There was no reason for sus-
pecting the presence of an enemy, for
Spain had none in these seas. II there
were other ships in the roadstead-for
the harbor of La Guayra was really
nothing more than an open road-tne
buccaneer could easily dispose Of them
in their unprepared condition. Indeed,
Morgan rather hoped that there might
be others, for after he captured them
he would have a greater force OF guns
to train upon the forts Of the town,
which he expected to take without
much difficulty, and then be governed
in his maneuyers toward Caracas by
circumstances as they arose.
Two days after the capture of the
galleon, then, with the wind fresh from
the northeast, on gray, threatening
stormy morning, she was running to
the westward along the shore. A few
hours at their present speed would
bring them opposite La Guayra, whose
location at the foot of the mighty
La Silla of Caracas was even then
discernible. Morgan could see that
there were two or three other vessels
opposite the town straining at their
anchors in the heavy sea. Every prep
aration for action had been made in
good time, and The guns had been load
ed. The sea lashings had been cast off,
although the gun tackles were careful
ly secured, for the wind was blowing
fresher and the sea running heavier
every hour.
The men were armed to the teeth.
There happened to be a goodly supply
of arms on the Spanish ship, in addi-
ton to those the buccaneers had
brought with them, which were all dis.
tributed.
Everything was propitious for their
enterprise but the weather The vet
erans who were familiar with local
conditions in the Caribbean studied