Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer

of the Mary Rose under such leadership and direction as the experience of Morgan and the officers afforded. By the

been put shipshape again; although by his hurried questioning of the surviving officers he had learned that the Almirante Recalde was indeed loaded with treasure of Peru, which had been received by her via the Isthmus of

rgan's express command. These unfortunate women had been forced into the great cabin, where they were guarded by men in whom confidence could be placed. The priests were allowed to minister to their dying compatriots so long as they k

ng passage from Callao to the Isthmus and thence through the Caribbean they had been kept rigorously under hatches. Close confinement for many days and enforced subsistence upon a scanty and inadequate diet had caused many to die and impaired the health of the survivors. When the hatch covers were opened, the chains unshackled and the miserable wretches brought on deck, their condition moved even some of the buccaneers to pity. The galleon was generously provided for her long cruise across the ocean, and the released prisoners, by Morgan's orders, were liberally treated. No work was

ipally of silver bullion, was probably worth not far from a million Spanish dollars-pieces of eight! This divided among the one hundred and eighty survivors of the original

bable calmness was Morgan himself. The gratitude of these men toward him was overwhelming. Even those who had good cause to hate him forgot for the time being their animosity-all except Hornigold, whose hatred was beyond all price. Under his leadership they had achieved such a triumph as had scarcely ever befallen them in the palmiest days of their career, and with l

proposed distribution-of so vast a treasure and feel that he could not share in it. The fresh air and the food and drink had already done much for those hardy ruffians. They were beginning to regain, if not all their strength, at least some of their courage and assurance. They congregated in little groups here and there among Morgan's original men and stared with lowering brows and flushed faces at the frantic

prize probably that floats on the ocean. There are pieces of eight and silver bullion enough beneath the hatches

d by another yell

nued, "I hardly know

hich was greeted with uproarious l

h his eye the man who

noted. England is at peace with the world. There is not a French or Spanish port that would give us a haven. If

who had spoken before. "Divide the treasure. Burn the ship and

an, a

ll be the

ns is

ill pilot the ship!" burst in confused cla

me. I'm a marked man. You can disappear. I should be taken, and Hornig

what

n away to the South Seas! Great as is our booty, there is still more to be had there for the taking. We'll be free to go where we please with the whole South American coast at hand. There are

his Utopian dream wa

had done most of the talking from

h reckless temerity. Flushed by the victory of the morning, the rum he had imbibed, intox

k her there. There are plenty of spots where she can be cast away safely and none to know it. We'll obey you there and no

ou will be hanged as soon as you

fficers who surrounded him. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, we'd have you understand, and we're content with what we've got. We don't take no stock in them islands of yours. We can get all the women we want, a

u are!" roared th

forward in a perfect fury of rage, and his

as apparently brewing. But he said nothing. The argument was between Morgan and his crew, there was no need for him to interfere. Teach, Raveneau, Velsers, and the officers drew their pistols and ba

in this manner! He did not hesitate a second. He rushed at Master Bartholomew Sawkins, and, brave man as that sailor was, he fairly quailed b

nd waist belt ere he fell to the deck from the force of the blow, and lifting him up literally pitched him overboard. Before the crew had recovered from their astonishment and terror at this bold action, the buccaneer officers closed behind their captai

the South Seas," continued the speaker, a man named L'Ollonois, noted for his cruelty, rapacity, and success, "and the captain speaks truly. There are a

ade as he struck the water had been followed by another. A Spanish priest standing by the r

that gratin

answered the priest,

a pistol from de Lussan's

d the huddled, frightened men, "get back to your duties unless you wish instant death! Scuttle me, if I don't blow up the galleon unless you immediately obey! [Pg 138-140]Bear a hand there! If

a pistol from de Lussan's

ried in terror. "We'

letely master o

ed, "implicitly, without qu

, a

ll, we

e body of the priest. "Now we'll go back and pick up Sa

ointing to leeward. "The squall! 'Twill be soo

the head sheets there! Hard down with the helm! Aft, here some of you, and man the

lous command of her and the best men on the ship were at the oars. Sawkins had managed to catch the grating and was clinging feebly when the boat swept down upon him. They dragged him aboard and then turned to the ship. The sinister squall was rushing down

em there and I'll wait for

der the quarter of the galleon before the squall broke. The tackles we

ngside. "Swing the mainyard and get the canvas off her. Aloft

uds and rigging, but everything held. Taking a great bone in her teeth the old Almirante Recalde heeled far over to leeward and ripped through the water to the

ture?" cried the captai

will, sir," an

im forward, men, and let him have all the rum

each, who had been told of Morgan's refusal to fill a

d Morgan, glad to have made at leas

tain?" asked Hornigold as s

rgan, who had taken an observation that n

he old man, who was charged with the du

ayra and

Jago de Leon, Caracas, t'other side

a rich place and has been unp

nd there was no way for Master Ben Hornigold to learn that the object that dr