The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-01-17

had a tendency to so to leeNaro Ike a
/ barrel, and oaly Morsaa's resourceful
! seamanship had saved them from the
fatal embraces Of the shore long since
The n V she was carrying was more
than she could legitimately bear in
such a hurricane. If there had been
sea room Morgan would have stripped
! her to bare poles long since. but under
| the circumstances it was necessary for
him to retain full control and direction
of the ship; so, although he reduced
| sail to the lowest point, be still spread
a little canvas.
The men were filed with apprehen-
| sion, not only for their lives, but for
the treasure they had captured, for
they stood about a hundred chances to
II Of losing the ship. Each squall
that swept down upon them was hard
er than the one before. Each time the
vessel almost went over OF her beam
ends. for Morgan would not huff until
the last moment, since each time tina
he did so and lost way temporarily he
found himself driven bodily nearer the
land. The men would have mutinied
had it not been patent to the most stu
pid mind that their only salvation lay
in Morgan. Never had that villain
appeared to better advantage than
when he stood on the weather quarter
overlooking the ship, his long gray hair
blown out in the wind, fighting against
a foe whose strength was not to be
measured by the mind Of man for his
life and his ship.
Hornigold and Teach, grasping the
wheel, assisted by, two Of the ablest
seamen, were steering the ship with
exquisite precision. Sweat poured from
their brows at the violence Of the Ia
Dor required to control the massive
helm. The men lay to windward on
the deck or grouped in clusters around
the masts or hung to the life lines
which had been passed in every di-
reetion. At Morgan's side stood Vel
sers and Raveneau, prime seamen
both.
What think ye, gentlemen" asked
Morgan, at last pointing to the point
looming fearfully close ahead Of them.
"Can we weather it.?
"Neverr!' answered De Lussan, shak-
ing his head. We'll, it has been a
short cruise and a merry one. Pity
to lose our freightage and lives"
"And yoE, Velsers?"
NO said the German, "it can't be
done. Why did we ever come to this
cursed coast:"
.Avast there!" cried Morgan, think
ing quickly. Gentlemen, well club
haul the ship"
'The waters too deep, my captain,
to give holding ground to the anchor"
urged Raveneau, struggling his Shout
ders.
ct shoals yonder, 1 think" answered
Morgan. well hold on until the last
minute and then try"
"'Tis wasted labor" growled Vel
sers.
And certain death 10 bold en-" add-
ed the Frenchman.-
"Have you anything else to propose,
sirs?' asked Morgan sharply. eve
can't TACK ship against this wind and
a There's no room TO wear. What's
to do?"
The men made no answer.
Forward there!p, cried the old buc-
cancer. And it was astonishing the force
and power with which he made himself
heard in spite Of the roar Of the wind
and the smash of the sea. Get the lee
anchor off the bows there! L'Ollonois?i
"Aye. aye!w
run a 1awser from the anchor In
aft here on the quarter. Well club
haul the ship. See the cable clear for
running"
every good, sir" cried the French
man, summoning the hardest hands
and the most skillful to carry out his
commanders orders.
Ready it is, SIR" answered Horni-
gold, tightening his grasp on the spokes
and nodding his head to his superior.
"To the braces, lads! Obey orders
SHARPLY. IL Jul ldSI SAoASO
The water was roaring and smash
ing against the shore not a cables
length away. Usually in those lati-
tudes it deepened tremendously a short
distance from the low water mark, and
there was a grave question whether or
not the anchor, with the scope they
could give it, would reach bottom. At
any rate, it must be tried, and tried
now. Morgan had held on as long as
be dared. Another minute and they
would strike.
Down HEINZ" he shouted. Flow
the head sheets. Round in on the fore
braces there! Show that canvas aft!.'
The latcen sail on the crossjack yard
had been furled, and Morgan, to force
her head around, directed the after
guard to spriag into the mizzen rig
ging with Il bit Of tarpauiin and by ex-
posing it and their bodies to tie wind
to act as a sail in assisting her co
head away from the shore.