The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-02-07
CHAPTER XIV.

TlHE terrific impact Of the huge
Il L ship on the sand among the
Ill breakers, which thundered and
beat upon her sides with over
whelning force, came just in the nick
Of time for Morgan. Had the disaster
been delayed a second longer the furi-
Gus buccaneers would have cut him
down where he stood. Even the Off
GERS were angered beyond measure at
him for their present situation. which
threatened the loss Of the vast treasure
already gainsd in the ship, although
they had consented to Morgan's prop
osition to attack La Guayra and Ca
racas. and the captain was in no way
responsible for the storm and the
wreck which jeoparded their booty and
their future. Therefore it is probable
that none of them, unless it We're
Teach, would have interfered to save
Morgan, and he would have been swept
from his feet by the savage men and
instantly killed in spite Of all that he or
Carib or any one else could have done.
But the yiolenc" Of the shock when
the ship took ground threw 1aem to the
deck, and they forgot fol' the instant
their bloody purpose of vengeance in
the inevitableness Of their approaching
danger They were checked in their
mad anger for few seconds and given
q moment for reflection That moment
convinced them that they could not yet
dispense with the services Of their cap
tain. With black rage and white fear
striving for mastery in their hearts,
they rose to their feet and confronted
him with menaeing faces and threaten
ing gestures.
"What's to be done now?" question
ed one bolder than the rest.
4eNow's the tme," roared the un-
daunted Morgan, striving to make him
sssf heard by all above the thunder
ing seas, ITO show your courage, lads!'
lie had quickly observed that the
force with which she had been driven
on the shoals had showed the galleon's
nose firmly In the sand. She had been
caught just before she took ground by
q tremendous roller and had been lift
ed up and hurled far over to starboard-
Although almost on her beam ends,
her decks inclining landward, the
strongly built ship held steady In spite
of the tremendous onslaughts Of the
seas along her bilge.
~Take heart, menr' he cried. 10b-
serve. She lies still and secure: "Tis
a stout hulk and will take tremen-
dous battering before she breaks We
may yet save ourselves"
1And the treasurer" roared one.
1Aye. and the treasure"
II think the storm has about blosyr
itself OUT interposed old Hornigold,
shouting out at this instant. "Look
you, matesr' he cried, pointing to west
ward. s-It clears! The ssn'll set fair
tonight"
"The bo's'n is right ," cried Morgan.
eBut first of all we must take 10
chances with our lives Even thoogh
we lose the ship we can seize another.
The world is full Of treasure, and we
can find it. Now I want some one to
carry a line ashore through the break
ers. Who will volunteer?
"I,'' said Carib instantly.
q need you here" answered Nor
gan. who did not purpose to be de
prived Of that bolyguard upon whose
Watchfulness his life had so often de-
pended.
"rll CO." exclaimed young Teach,
breaking through the crowd.
.'That's brave heart.' said Morgan
ga line herer'
Instantly light line was forthcom-
ing. Teach tore off his Jacket, laid
aside his weapons, kicked off his shoes
took a turn Of the line around his
waist. made it fast, wrung Morgan's
hand. watched his chance, leaped over
board, was caught by an onrushins
wave and carried far toward the shore
The ebb Of the roller carried him baca
seaward some distance, but be swain
forward madly. and the next ware
brought him a little nearer the beaco
He was driven backward and fof
ward. but each time managed to get a
little nearer the shore line.
The whole ships company stared
after him, spontaneously cheering and
yelling cries Of encouragement IN
spite Of the fact that he could not heal
single sound in the roaring, raging
seas. Morgan himself tended the line
skillfully paying it out when necessary
In a few moments, although the time
seemed hours to the watchers. the feet
Of Teach touched the shore, and. al
though the terrific undcrtow Of the
wave that had dropped him there al
They saw him fall
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