Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-15
XpTATN
BLOOD
By Rafael Sabafini
@ RAFAEL SABATINl
Appcr EEA

of all men the most anxious for the
deliverance of his city.
And as ne reckoned so it befeil.
The deputy governor added his own
passionate pleading to the proposals
CT the letter.
But Don Miguel was of stouter
heart. Let Captain Blood do us
worst at Maracaybo, there should be
a bitter reckoning for him when
eventually he decided--as, sooner or
later, decide he must-to come forth.
SO back to Maracaybo, back to his
own handsome rouse in which cap
tain Blood had sta blished his quar-
tiers, came the deputy governor to
leave the Admiral's answer.
No sooner had he departed than
up leapt Cahusac, who had been OF
the council assembled to receive the
Admiral's answer.
Your fool letter it have seal the
! doom Of us ALL" said h..
Have We done?' quoth Blood
quietly, as the Frenchman paused
for breath.
"I was hoping you'd have some
ideas yourself. But since ye're 60
desperately concerned to save your
skin, you and those that think like
you are welcome to leave us. Ye
shall have the sloop as a parting gift
from U.S."
1T is to my me to decide" Oahu
a retorted, swallowing his fury.
and on that stalked out to talk to
them. leaving the others to deliber-
ate in peace.
Next morning early he sought Cap
tain Blood again.
1--WE have take you at your word,
Captain he announced, between
s~ullenness and defiance. Cahusac
explained. Last night I send one
of my men to the Spanish Admiral
with a letter. l make him offer to
capitulate If he will accord us pas
sage with the honors of war. This
morning / receive his answer. lie
accord US this on the understanding
that we carrying nothing away with
us. We sail at once"
Bon voyage" said Captain Block.
and with a nod he turned on his heel
again to resume his interrupted
meditation.
Cahusac flung away. Before noon
he was under way with his follow
ers, some sixty detected men who
had allowed themselves to be per-
suaded by him into that empty
handed departure.
Meanwhile, nj sooner had the de-
s%erters weighed anchor than Cap
tain Blood received word that the
deputy governor begged to be al
lowed to see him again.
Captain Blood received him pleas
antly.
Don Francisco, a slight, nervous,
elderly man of high lineage and low
vitality, came straight to business.
II am here to tell you, Don Pedro,
that if you will hold your hand for
three days, I will undertake to raise
the ransom you demand, which Don
Miguel de Espinosa refuses"
Punctually on the third day the
deputy governor was back in Mara
caybo with his mules laden with
plate and money to the value de-
manded and a herd of a hundred
head of cattle driven in by negro
slaves.
These bullocks were handed over
to those of the company who ordi-
narily were boucan hunters, and
therefore skilled in the curing OF
meats. and for best part of a week
thereafter they were busy at the
waterside with the quartering and
of
While this was going on the one
hand and the ships were being re-
for sea on the other, Captain
Blood was ~pondering the riddle on
the solution of which his own fate
Since for the last tw~enty-four
hours all had been in readiness for
there was nothing now 20
them, and it was decided to
move next morning.
Such was Captain Blood's assur-
OF success that he Immediately
freed the prisoners held as hostages.
His only precaution against those
released prisoners was to order them
into the church and there lock them
up, to await deliverance at the hands
Of those who should presently be
coming into the city.
Then, all being aboard the three
with the treasure safely
slowed in their holds. the bucca-
neers weighed anchor and stood out
for the bar, each vessel towing three
.piraguas astern.
The Admiral, beholding their state
" advance in the full light of noon,
their sails cleaning white in the
glare OF the sunlight, rubbed his
long, lean hands In satisfaction, and