Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-10-18
CHAPTER XVI
THE SERVICE OF KING
WILLIAM


One of the boats bumped along
side the Arabella, and up the en-
trance ladder came first a Slight,
spruce little gentleman in coat of
mulberry satin laced with gold,
whose wizened, yellow, rather peev-
ish face was framed liz a heavy
black periwig. His modish ard
costly apparel had nowise suffered
by the adventure through which he
had passed, and he carried himself
with the easy assurance of man of
rank. He was closely followed by
one who in every particular, save
that Of age, was the physical op-
posite, corpulent in a brawny, Wig
orous way, with a full round,
weather-be beaten face whose mouth
was humorous and whose eyes
were blue and twinkling.
AS the little man stepped from
the ladder into the waist, whittier
Captain Blood had gone to receive
him, his sharp, ferrety dark eyes
swept the uncouth ranks Of the as
sembled crew Of the Arabella.
"And where the devil may I be
now?" he demanded irritably. Are
you English. or what the devil are
your"
Myself, l have the honour to be
Irish, sir My name is Blood
Captain Peter Blood, and this is nay
ship the Arabella, all very much at
your service"
Blood" shrilled the little man.
80 Sblood! A pirate" He swung
to the Colossus who followed him
"a damned pirate, van der Kuy-
len. Rend my vitals, but we're
come from Scylla to Charybdis.'
"So?" said the other gutturally.
and again, "So?" Then the humcur
OF it took him, and he yielded to it.
"Damme! What's to laugh at, you
porpoise?" spluttered mulbery-coat.
"A fine tale this'll make at home!
Admiral van der Kuylen first loses
his feet in the night, then has his
flagship fired under him by a
French squadron, and ends ali by
being captured by pirate. I'm
glad you find it matter for laughter.
Since for my sins l happen to be
with you, Pm damned if | do
There's misrepresentation, II |
may make so bold as to point It
out" put in Blood quietly. You
are not captured, gentlemen. YEA
| are rescued. When you realize it,
perhaps it will occur to you to
acknowledge the hospitality am
offering you. 1t may be poor, bat
lit is the best at my disposal
"Damme! Do you permit yourself
to be ironical?" he disapYroyci
him. 81 am Lord WilloUghby, il:ag
Williams Governor General cf tie
West Indies, and this is Admiral
van der Kuylen, commander of J;i3
Majesty's West Indian fleet, at pres
ent mislaid somewhere in this
damned Caribbean Sea.
king William" quoth Blood.
"And who may be King William,
and of what may he be King?"
81 am abiding to His Majesty
King William III-William of
FOrange-who, with Queen Mary,
has been ruling England for two
months and more"
Dye mean, sir, that they've
reused themselves at home, and
kicked out that scoundrel James
and his gang of ruf1ans?"
SIife! Hadn't you heard?
Where the devil have you been at
an?",
Briefly he gave an account. After
that, with renewed assurances that
aboard his ship they should be
honourably entreated, Captain
Blood led the Governor-Generai and
the Admiral to his cabin, what time
the work of rescue went on.
: Go home, if you will" said his
lordship when comfortable. Here
is a great chance for you, since
YOU declare yourself sick of piracy
Should you choose to serve King
William out here during this war,
vour knowledge of the West Indies
= should render you very valuable
, servant to His Majesty's Govern
, ment, which you would mot find
ungrateful. You should consider
it. Damme, sir, repeat; it is a
= great chance you are given.
, Pitt came in to report that the
work of rescue was at an end, and
the men picked up-some forty-fiye
r in all-safe aboard the two buc-
= cancer ships. He asked for orders.
Blood rose.
81 am negligent of your lordship's
: concerns in my consideration of my
own. You'll be wishing me to land
you at Port Royal"
"At Port Royal?" The little man
sauirmed wrathfuliy on his seat
3 Wrathfully and at length he in
formed Blood that they had put
into Port Royal last evening to
find its Deputy-Governor absent.
, "He had gone on some wildgoose
chase to Tortuga after buccaneers,
taking the whole of the feet with
I him"
T. us RivaroI aware of this?" Blood
: cried sharply.
t It was the. Dutch Admiral who
: answered him. would he go dere
r II he were not? M. de, Rivarol he