The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-10-30

my ihuy, yet dSuOEe anu tAuot Jul
selves to the tender mercies Of what
ever natives there were rather than
stay with the vessel. took no stock
In the sailors promises and agree
ments. Once they got the treasure II
would follow that they would kill me
and take her.
When we got the Rose of Devon
safely hove to the men all knocked off
work at once, leaving the decks in Q
state of confusion. Indeed, save to
clear up the gear, there was nothing
to do but wait. Two or three men
were stationed on watch. and the rest
were given the freedom of the ship.
| was in doubt as to what to say
about the cabin; but strangely
enough. nobody made any effort to
take advantage of the mastery Of the
crew to quarter himself there. Indeed,
their quarters forward were almost as
good as ours. and they evidently pre-
ferred to be together. The ship was
generously provisioned. and the fare
of the men had been unusually good
They did. however. break into the
lazarette and help themselves to what
ever they liked out of the cabin stores,
| including a case of bottled spirits.
| brought out other liquor and let
them have as much as they wanted
little liquor would make them ugly
and intractable, | reasoned; lot
would make them drunk. and enough
would render them completely help
less even Joined them in their
carousal 1t was easy enough to spill
my LIQUOR and make pretense at
drinking, which soon deceived them.
They took to the liquor like ducks to
| water
The men on watch kept reasonably
sober for time, but even they were
not too abStemious. | saw to that
Later on the cook. who was not yet too
drunk. fixed them up regular ban
quet out of the cabin stores. and there
was no objection to my taking a por-
ton to my lady in the stateroom be-
low, where she kept close and remain
ed out of the way by my urgent en-
treaty.
|
with my sweet charge were necesSari-
ly intermitted and short. did not
dare to be long away from the men
on deck still wore my sword. and
/ searched through the captains cabin
and found two heavy pistols, which ]
carefully charged. concealing them in
the deep pockets of my pea jacket. |
passed among the men freely, handing
out the spirits. opening fresh bottles
and bandying rough jests. but took
care never to be in any position where
could not command the companion
hatch, which led to the cabin
Our drift was slowly but surely in
the direction of the island Indeed. |
think we had made half league or
more to leeward since we had been
hove to- From time to time | search
ed the shore with a glass. seeing that
the land was protected and completely
lnclosed by reef on that side at least.
which agreed with the chart. but the
sky continued overcast. and the mist
grew thicker. sd ! couldn't make out
mach more than that. 1t was land,
ald that was enough 1t was big
enough 70 support life. and ] thought
that | detected green patches here and
there that hetokened vegetation and. if
So water and life.
Nobody took any care to strike the
bells. but when darkness fell | declar
ed noisily that would go below and
turn in All bnt the most seasoned
and hardy drinkers were nv This time
| dead drunk There was evidently