Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-01-27

a soldier Alvarado's men had scarca.
" settled themselves in the thick nm.
dergrOwth beneath the trees. whence
they could overlook the buccaneers in
camp on the road below, before a shot
from the pirate sentry who had been
posted toward Caracas called the fierca
aarauders to arms. They ran to the
rude barricade they had erected cover
ing the pass and made preparation for
battle. Soon the wood was ringing
with shouts and cries AID the sound of
musketry.
Although Teach was natural soldier
and LOllonois an experienced and
prudent commander, they took no pre-
caution whatever to cover their rear
for such thing as an assault from
that direction was not even dreamed
Of.
Alvarado and De Tobar, therefore.
led their men forward without the
slightest opposition. Even the noise
they made crashing through the under
growth was lost in the sound Of the
battle and attracted no attention from
the enemy. It was not until thew
burst out into the open road and charg-
ed forward, cheering madly, that the
buccaneers realized their danger. Some
of them faced about only to be met
by murderous discharge from the pfs
tolls of the forlorn hope, and the next
moment the Spaniards were upon them.
The party holding the pass were the
picked men, veterans, among the ma
RAIDERS. They met the onset with ire
mendous courage and crossed blades in
the smoke like men, but at the same
instant the advance guard of the main
army sprang at the barricade and as
saulted them vigorously from the other
side. The odds were too much for the
buccaneers, and after wild melee. in
which they lost heavily, the survivors
gave ground.
The road Immediately below the pass
opened on a little plateau, back of
which rose a precipitous wall of rock.
Thither such Of the buccaneers as were
left alive hastily retreated. There were
perhaps dozen men able to use their
weapons. Among them Teach was the
only officer. L'Ollonois had been cut
down by De Tobar in the first charge.
The Spaniards burst through the pass
and surrounded the buccaneers. The
firearms on both sid&S had all been
discharged. and in the excitement no
one thought Of reloading. Indeed, with
the cumbersome and complicated weap-
ons then in vogue there was no time,
and the Spaniards, who had paid dear
ly for their victory, so desperate had
been the defense Of the pirates, were
fain to finish this detachment in short
order.
"Yieldr' cried Alvarado, as usual in
the front ranks Of his own men. you
are hopelessly overmatchedv' pointing
with dripping blade to his own and
the viceroy's soldiers as he spoke.
''Shall we get good quarter?" called
out Teach.
A splendid specimen he looked of an
at bay in spite of his wick
ed calling, standing with his back
against the towering rock, his bare and
bloody sword extended menacingly be-
fore him, the bright sunlight blazing
upon his sunny hair, his blue eyes
sparkling with battle lust and deter
mined courage. Quite the best of the
pirates, he!
''You shallb be hung like the dogs you
are," answered Alvarado sternly.
WED rather die sword in hand. Eth,
Iads?"
AYE, aver
'Come on, then, senors," laughed the
CALAMITY, saluting with his
sword, land see how brayely we Eng
ish can die when the game is played
and we have lost"
Though his cause was bad and his
ife also, his courage was magnificent
Under other circumstances it would
lave evoked the appreciation Of AlVa-
ado and. some consideration at his
lands. Possibly he might even have
granted life to the man, but memory
j. The sigF.,S Of the night before in
hat devastated town 5000 feet below
heir feet and the deadly peril Of his
,weetheart banished pity from his soul.
This man had been the right hand or
Morgan He was, after the captain,
he ablest man among the buccaneers.
lie must die, and it would be mercy
o kill him out of hand anyway.
Forward. gentlemenH' he cried, and
instantly the whole mass closed in on
he pirates Such a fight as Teach and
lis men made was marvellous For each
"a L.-x