The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1905-12-06

The Mary Rose haG the wind on her
quarter. her best point of sailing, anG
she was covered with canvas from hei
trucks to her decks. from her spritsail
yard to her huge miZZen crossjack. 4
lateen sail The wind was light. but
she was making rapid progress toward
the approaching strangers. who. with
their larboard lacks aboard. We're beat
ing up toward the English.
Attended by the maroon. Morgan. piS
fol in hand. went forward to the fore
castle, kicking his way clear through
the sullen, black browed mass of
sailors. He ran short distance up the
weather fore shrouds and took a long
look at the strangers. They all flew
the yellow flag of Spain. One was a
huge galleon. the other two smaller
ships. though larger in each instance
than the Mary Rose, and all heavily
armed.
One Of the plate ships from Porte
BellO was due in this latitude about
this time, and Morgan instantly sur
missed that the galleOn was she and
that the two others were Spanish frig.
ates to give her safe convoy across
the ocean. Spain was at peace with
all the world at that time, and the two
frigates would have been ample to
ward off the attack Of any of the small
piratical craft which had succeeded the
buccaneer ships of the Caribbean. The
Spaniards had no idea that such vul.
ture as Morgan was aflOat: therefore
although they had sighted the Mary
Rose long before she had seen them, be.
cause they kept better watch. they
came On fearlessly and without hest.
tation. 1t was evident to the expert.
enced officers among them that the yes
sci was an English frigate, and as Eng
land was a country with which there
was profound peace at the time they
apprehen1ed nothing
The position OF the approaching ships
with reference to one another was
somewhat peculiar. The first and
smaller frigate was perhaps half mile
ahead Of her consorts. who were sail
ing side by side, cables length apart
Morgan at once determined to attack
them. He knew that he possessed the
handieSt ship. and he believed that be
had discovered Il way to master the
other three. The two frigates We're
the most dangerous antagonists. If he
could dispose of them the galleor
would be at his mercy. He did not
hesitate TO encounter such odds, and
even i'll the minds of the craven part
of the creW one English ship was
thought to be good for any three
SpaniardS that ever floated.
Presently Morgan sprang down upon
the forecastle and faced his men
Lads" he said, those are Spanish
ships"
Aye, aye, sir" came from one an
other as he paused a moment to lei
the significance OF his announcement
sink in.
And" he continued. raising his
voice so that it was audible through
out the ship, the great one will be
one of the plate ships homeward bound
but she'll never get there-fron
Porto Bello"'
A perfect yell Of delight drowned his
further remarks The men shrieked
and shouted and hurrahed at the Joy
Gus announcement. as If all they had
to do was to go aboard and take the
ships. When the hullabalOo had sub
sided, Morgan continued
I'm glad to see you take 1t so brave
~. for while there is treasure enough
under her matches to make us all rich
yet We'll not get it without fight, fol-
yOnder are two heavily armed frigates
Well have to dispose Of them before
we get at the galleOn. 1t means Q
little fighting. but think Of the prize"
he cried. playing skillfully upon the
cupidity of his men Some Of us will
lose the number Of our messes perhap
before nightfall, but" he continued,
making most singular and effective
appeal. there will be more to divide
for each man that is left alive. Are
you with me!
ITO the death" cried young Teach,
who had come forward and mingled
with the crowd. lifting naked cutlass
as he spoke. His cry was taken up
and repeated. first by one and then
another, until the whole body was yell.
ing frantically to he given Il chance
60 fight the Spanish ships.
.GTi,af'S wall said Aoruau 1rimly