Morris tribune., 1905-12-09

yet their situation EecGme more and
more Drecarious. They had long since
passed Ia Guayra They had had
feot.--g glimpse of the shipping in the
harseer driving helplessly on shore as
they dashed by under the gray clouds
which had overspread the sea- That
town was now hidden from them by
bend of the coast and they found
themselves in a curious blight of land.
extending far into the ocean in front
of them. The mountains here did not
so nearly approach the water line, and
from the look of the place there ap-
peared to be shoal projecting some
distance into the ocean from the point
ahead Some of the buccaneers who
knew these waters confirmed the indi-
cations by asserting the existence of
the shoal.
In spite of all that Morgan could do
it was quite evident that they could
not weather the shoal on their present
tack. There was not sea room to wear
and bear up on the other tack. The
vessel, in fact, like all ships in those
days and especially Spanish galleons,
had tendency to go to leeward like
barrel, and only Morgan's resourcefuI
seamanship had saved them from the
fatal embraces of the shore long since
The canvas she was carrying was more
than she could legitimately bear in
such a hurricane. If there had been
sea room Morgan would have stripped
her to bare poles long since, but under
the circumstances it was necessary for
him to retain full control and direction
of the ship; so, although he reduced
sail to the lowest point, he still spread
a little canvas.
The men were filed with apprehen-
sion, not only for their lives, but for
the treasure they had captured, for
they stood about hundred chances to
one of losing the ship. Each sQuall
that swept down upon them was hard
er than the one before. Each time the
vessel almost went over on her beam
ends, for Morgan would not luff until
the last moment, since each time that
he did 50 and lost way temporarily he
found himself driven bodily nearer the
land. The men would have mutinied
had it not been patent to the most stu
pid mind that their only salvation lay
in Morgan Never had that villain
appeared to better advantage than
when he stood on the weather quarter
overlooking the ship, his long gray hair
blown out in the wind, fighting against
a foe whose strength was not to be
measured by the mind of man for his
life and his ship
Hornigold and Teach, grasping the
wheel, assisted by two of the ablest
seamen, were steering the ship with
exquisite precision. Sweat poured from
their brows at the violence of the la
Dor required to control the massive
helm. The men lay to windward on
the masts or hung to the life lines
which had been passed in every di
rection. At Morgans side stood Vel
sers and Raveneau, prime seamen
both. I
what think We, gentlemenY asked
Morgan, at last pointing to the point
looming fearfully close ahead Of them.
"Can we weather it?'
"Neverw answered De Lussan, shak-
ing his head "Well, it has been
short cruise and merry one. Pity
to lose our freightage and lives"
'And you, Velsers?'
NO. said the German, 'it can't be
done. Why did we ever come to this
cursed coast?'
"Avast therev' cried Morgan, think
ing quickly. Gentlemen, We'll club
haul the ship"
'The waters too deep, my captain,
to give holding ground to the anchor"
urged Raveneau, struggling his shoul-
ders.
"It shoals yonder, think answered
Morgan. "We'll hold on until the last
minute and then try"
"'Tis wasted labor" growled Vel
sers.
"And certain death to hold on" add
I'd the Frenchman.
Have you anything else to propose,
,irs?" asked Morgan sharply. 1--WE
can't tack ship against this wind and
,ea. There's no room to wear. What's
20 do?"
The men made no answer.
Forward therev' cried the old buc-
,aneer. And it was astonishing the force
md power with which he made himself
heard in spite of the roar of the wind
md the smash of the sea. "Get the lee
lnchor off the bows there! L'Ollonois ?"
"Aye, ayev'
run a hawser from the anchor in
lft here on the quarter. Well club
laul the ship. See the cable clear for
'unning."
Every good, sir!' cried the French
nan, summoning the hardest hands
md the most skillful to carry out his
commanders orders.
Ready it is, sir" answered Horni
,old Tightening his grasp on the spokes
nd nodding his head to his superior.
"To the braces, lads! Obey orders
harply. It's our last chance"
The water was roaring and smash
ng against the shore not a cables