The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-20
The friobtened slaves could tell nothing

: z
erns and would be utterly unable to,
work the ship should they be called
upon to do 80 without being given a
chance to sober up. This would take
time, and Lord Carlingford upon the
representations Of his sea officers de-
cided to wait until the morrow before
commencing work.
As he could do SO, not only personal
ly, but through his able lieutenants.
Hornigold busted himself dursng the
day and the preceding night in en-
listing as vicious gang Of depraved
ruffians as could be gathered together
in what was perhaps the wickedest city
in the world. It had been decided after
conference between the leaders that
there was no place within the confines
Of Port Royal itself where so many
men could meet without exciting sus-
picion. He had accordingly appointed
a rendezvous for the night across the
narrow entrance to the harbor. opposite
the fort, under the trees which over
shadowed the strand, some distance
back from high water mark. Slngly or
in groups of TWO or three the men
had gone across in boats after sunset.
successfully eluding observation, for
the night was moonless and very dark.
There was rum in plenty under the
trees on the point, but care was taken
by Rock Braziliano, Raveneau and the
others, even including Eelsers, that no
one should drink enough to lose entire
control of his faculties or to become OBJ
streperous No fires were lighted; no
smoking was permitted. Strict silence
was enjoined and enforced 1t was per
haps 10 o'clock before all were as
sembled.
When morning had cleared their
brains of the rum they had taken. there
had been ferocious opposition on the
part of the older men. Not that they
objected to buccaneerinG. They We're
eager for the chance once more. Bus
the memory Of AIorgans betrayals OF
his old comrades ranked deep. There
we're many besides Hornigold who hat;
promised themselves the luxury Of
vengeance upon their old commander.
There were none. however, who mad 50
dwelt upon it as the boatswain. no.
were there any whose animosity and
determination compared to his fierce
hatred. He was therefore able 1T las:
to persuade them into a suriy Wiling
ness to accept Morgan as their captain
in tirs new enterprise. Indeed. With
out him they could do nothing. fo.,
there was no one who possessed the
ability or experience to lead them save
he The best men Of the old stamp
were now IN tie south seas and far
away: they lad been driven from the
Caribbean. 1t was net difficult for
Hornigold to show them that it must
be Morgan OF no one.
Thei: feelings of anil,os:ty Were
perforce, sunk beneath the surface. a.
though they smoi1ered still witl.!:!
their breasts. They would so with
him, they said. But let him look to
himself. they swore threatea:ns!!.. Il
he betrayed them again there were
men among .Hem who would Kill him
rs remorsa.cssly rs they would stamp
on a ccntipcd. If he behaved himself
and :he eNaa:.tion on which be was =
lcad them proved successful they
might forgive :lim-all but old Horn
-o,c. Tr,l.:. to tell. there was 70 onc
among them who felt himself So
wronged OF 50 badly treated as the o.e
eyed enveno..led sailor
The bulk Of the party, which num-
bercd perhaps q hundred nen. were
simply plain, ordinary thieves. cut
throats broken down seamen. lal3s!
sharks and rascals Not much was 70
be expected Of them They We're not o.
rhc stuff OF which the Old time '1cca-
neers had been made but they We're
the best to be obtained at that time in
Port Royal. Even they would not have
been SO easily assembled had they
realized quite what was expected OF
them. They knew. Of course. that they
were committing themselves to so2e
nefarious undertaking. but to each re
cruit had been vouchsafed only enough
information to get him to come to the
rendezvous. no more.
TO BE CONTINUED
Poor Polish.