Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-16


e a new rudder post, the old one be-
ing full of seams and liable to be
twisted apart.
A third ship Of very different shape
from the other two was standing east
ward before a very light breeze. She
was low on the water. and her masts
leaned astern. This and the abundance
of sail she carried indicated that she
bad been built for fast sailing. Sud-
denly she veered TO the northward and
stood directly in to the bay where the
two vessels were lying.
The crews OF the anchored ships
could read only too plainly what was
in store for them. During a long sea
war between England and Spain Brit
ish privateers had preyed on the Span
ish galleons carrying gold from the
Mexican mines to Spain. The war
had ceased. and privateering had de-
generated into piracy. Every one on
board the Dole and the Pelican knew
that the incoming vessel had sighted
them and was intending to destroy
them. They looked upon her as flies
NddS 1T III q NCu "ouid ltS5dlu luG SPA-
der advancing to devour them.
And that was the intention of Cap
tain Crocker of the pirate. But, un-
fortunately for his purpose to carry out
his design at onoe. he could not get
near enough TO either of them. The
wind was so light that darkness fell
before he came within range of them.
and then 1t failed altogether But
Crocker was not troubled: his glass
had shown him that both ships were
disabled. and he saw no chance of their
escaping him during the night. In
the first place, there was no wind. and
even II breeze should spring up and
they could take advantage of 1t he
could hear the raising of the anchors.
So he dropped his own not far from
either of them to wait for morning
On board the Dole was no such quies-
cence rs on the pirate There were
men. women and children passengers
who had come from England TO settle
in Jamaica. For them as well as the
officers and crew was every prospect OF
death as soon MS day came. Men were
praying: women were huGging their
children to their breasts; the sailors
were standing about gloouily. There
was not a cannon aboard. They. Ind
some muskets and cutlasses. but what
would these avail? At any show Of re-
sistance the pirate could stand of and
sink the ship by broadsides.
Nevertheless Captain Seymour of the
Dole ordered the men to bring up what
arms there were. with a view TO repel.
ling those who might attempt to board
him. his object being to force the
rirnte to sink the ship with her guns
and thus save the women from any
worse fate than death. He divided the
arms among the men and assigned
each man To his station.
The night was still, and both the
pirates and those on the little Pelican
could bear the sounds Of distress that
came from the Dole. Now II would be
a prayer, now wall. now the cry of
child. None OF these moved the pi-
rates. who were hardened to them. but
they caused the crew of the Pelicun
10 forget their own coming death in
sympathy with these defenseless be-
ings on the neighboring ship.
Spencer. who was but TWENTY-FIVE
years old. beard the walls. and they In.
cited his brain to action. But what
could be do to avert the calamity: He
had some armament, but not enough to
protect his own vessel. to say nothing
Of the Dole. He had two six-pounder
guns. one on the port. the other on the
starboard bow. and lie had painted his
ships side to represent openings for
ordnance, bis object being to make lt