The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-03-28
CHAPTER XXV.

L
- aEFoRE it was submerged by the
lRl great earthquake which so re-
fa mendously overwhelmed the
shores Of South America with
appalling disaster nearly century and
q half later, great arid rock on an
encircling stretch Of sandy beach, re-
suitant of untold centuries of struggle
between stone and sea, thrust itself
above the waters a few miles north
ward OF the coast Of Venezuela The
cav was barren and devoid Of any sort
of life except for single clump Of
bushes that had sprung up short dis
tance from the huge rock upon little
plateau sufficiently elevated to resist
The attacks of the sea, which at high
tide completely oyerfowed the islet ex-
cept at that one spot.
-Four heavy iron staples had been
driven with great difficulty into holes
drilled in the face Of the volcanic rock.
TO these four large chains had been
made fast. The four chains ended IN,
four fetters, and the four fetters inif
closed the ankles and wrists Of man.
The length Of the four chains had been
50 cunningly calculated that the arms
and legs Of the man were drawn far
apart. SO that he resembled gigantic
white cross against the dark surface
Of the stone A sailor would have
described his position by saying that
he had been spread eagled" by those
who had fastened him there. Yet the
chains were not too short to allow
little freedom Of motion. He could
incline to one side or to the other, lift
himself up or down little or even
thrust himsef slightly away from the
face OF the rock
The man was in tatters, for his cloth
ing had been rent and torn by the vio-
lent struggles he had made before he
had been securely fastened in his
chains. He was an old man, and his
long gray hair fell on either side OF
his lean. fierce face in tangled masses.
"a strange terror OF death-the certain
fate that menaced him-was upon his
ceuntenance. With the bravado OF
despair he had locked with seeming In
difference on the suKerings of his own
men that same morning. After be-
ing submitted to the tertures Of the
rack they had been hanged to the
outer walls, and he had been forced
10 pass by them on his way to this
heIrsh spot. But the real courage OF
the man was gone now. his simuia-
Hon had not even been good enough to
deceive his enemies. and now even
that had left him.
q He was alone, so he believed. upon
the island, and all Of the mortal fear
slowly creeping upon him already ap-
peared In his awful face, clearly ex-
Aibtted by the light Of the setting sun
streaming upon his left hand, for he
was chained facing northward-that
Is. seaWard. AS he fancied himself the
only living thing upon that island, ne
took little care to conceal his emo
lions indeed, it was impossible for
him any longer to keep up the pretense
OF indifference. His nerves were shat
tered, his spirit broken Retribudon
was dogging him hard. Vengeance was
close at hand at last. Besides, what
mattered it? He thought himself alone,
absolutely alone. But in that fancy
ne was wrong, for in the solitary lit
tie copse Of bushes of which mention
has been made there lay hidden man
s-an ancient sailor. His single eye
cleaned as fercely upon the bound,
shack,ed prisoner as did the setting
sun itself.
Old Benjamin Hornigoid, who had
schemed and planned for his revenge.
had insisted upon being put ashore on
the other side of the island after the
boats had rowed out Of sight OF the
captive. that he might steal back and.
himself unseen, watch the torture OF
the man who had betrayed him and
wronged him so deeply. Alvarado had
compiled with his request and had fur
ther promised to return for the boat
swain in two days. They calculated
nicely that the already exhausted pris-
oner would scarcely survive so long.
and provisions and water ample for
that period had been left for the sus-
tenance Of Hornigold-alone.
Morgan, however. did not know this.
He believed bis only companions to be
the body of the half breed who had
died for him as he had lived for him
and the severed head Of Teach, new
er comrade who had not betrayed him.
The body lay almost at his feet; the
head had been wedged in the sand so
that it's sightless face was turned to-
ward him in the dreadful, lidless staring
gaze Of sudden death.
They had said to the buccaneer as
they fastened him to the rocks that
they would not take his life. but that
he would be left to the judgment OF
God. What would that be? He
thought he knew.
He had lived long enough on the
Caribbean to know the habits Of that
beautiful and cruel sea. There was a
little stretch Of sand at his feet, and