Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-05
Sir Henry Morgan,
 buCCaneer
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY, Anther ef sTbe Sosthernefs," ," sFos Love of country," 'sThe 0dp
 Of hosoe," Etc.
CHAPTER VII.
Copyright. 1908. bp c. W. DMtn0hdm
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 'o"po"v J CHAPTER VII @lHE Almirante Recalde, for such was the name of the galle0n. II was easily and speedily repair ed by the skilled seamen or the Mary Rose under such leadership and direction as the experience of Morgan and the officers afforded. By the be- ginning of the first dog watch even critical inspection would scarcely have shown that she had been in action. With the wise forethought of sea- man, Morgan had subordinated every other duty to the task of making the vessel fit for any danger of the sea, and he had deferred any careful exam ination of her cargo until everything had been put shipshape again, although by his hurried questioning of the sur viving officers he had learned that the Almirante Recalde was indeed loaded with treasuse of Peru, which had been received by her via the isthmus of Pan- ana for transportation to Spain. On board her were several priests return ing to Spain and also m aged aDDess' Sister Maria Christina.
 In the indiscriminate fury of the as- sault one or two of the priests hao been killed, but so soon as the ship had been fully taken possession of the lives of the surviving clerics had been spar ed by Morgan's express command. The priests were allowed to minister l to their dying compatriots so long as they kept out of the way of the sailors. In the hold of the ship nearly 15O wretched prisoners were discovered. They were the crew of the buccaneer ship Daring. which had been com handed by famous adventurer nam 1 ed Ringrose, who had been captured by a Spanish squadron after des- perate defense of the port of Callao, Peru. They were being transported to | Spain, where they had expected sum- mary punishment for their iniquities. l No attention whatever had been paid to their protests that they were Eng ] lishmen, and, indeed, the statement was hardly true, for at least half of them belonged to other nations. In the long massage from Callao to the isthmus and thence through the Caribbean they had been kept vigorously under matches. Close confinement for many days and l enforced subsistence upon . scanty l and inadequate diet had caused many to die and impaired the health of the ! <1,n hotoh were opened, the chains unshackled and the miserable wretches brought ! on deck their condition moved even some of the buccaneers to pity. The galleon was generously provided for her long cruise across the ocean, and the released prisoners, by Morgan's orders, were literally treated. No work was required of them; they were 1 allowed to wander about the decks at pleasure, refreshed by the open Fair. ! 4he 'nrst good meal they had enjoyed in several months and by a generous allowance of spirits. As soon as they learned the object of the, cruise, with out exception they indicated their de- sire to place themselves under the command of Morgan.
 As soon as 1t could be done a more careful Inspection and calculation sat isfled the buccaneer of the immense value of his prize. The lading of the galleon. consisting principally of silver bullion, was probably worth not far from a million Spanish dollars-pieces 1, of eight! This divided among the 1s0 survivors of the original crew meant afiuence for even the meanest cabin boy. It was wealth such as they had not even dreamed of. It was . prize ! the value of which had scarcely ever been paralleled.
 They were assembled forward of the quarter deck when the announcement was made. When they understood the news the men became drunk with joy. It would seem as if they had been sud denly stricken mad. Some of them stared In paralyzed silence; others broke into frantic cheers and yells: some reeled and shuddered like drunk | en men. The one person who preserved his imperturbable calmness was Nor gan himself. The gratitude of these men toward him was overwhelming. Under his leadership they had achieved such a triumph as had scarcely ever befallen them in the palmiest days of their career. and with little or no loss they had been put in possession of . prodigious treasure. They crowded about him presently with enthusiastic cheers of affection and extravagant vows of loving service.
 The general joy. however. was not shared by the rescued buccaneers. AL though they had but . few hours be fore despaired of life in the loathsome depths of the vile hold and they had been properly grateful for the sudden and unexpected release which had giv- en them their liberty and saved them | from the sibbet yet 1t was not in any
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