Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer

abruptly from the level of the sea, where the surf beats without intermission even in the most peaceful weather upon the

among the officers on a suitable footing, and there was little or no friction among the crews. They were getting hammered into shape, too, under Morgan's hard drilling, and it was a vastly more dangerous body of men than the drunken gang who had sailed away from Jamaica. Though not the equal of the former buccaneering bands who had performed in their nefarious careers unheard of

re served liberally, work was light, in fact none except the necessary seaman's duties were required of the men, although an hour or two every day was employed in har

seas. If there were other ships in the roadstead, for the harbor of La Guayra was really nothing more than an open road, the buccaneer could easily dispose of them in their unprepared condition. Indeed, Morgan rather hoped that there might be ot

site La Guayra, whose location at the foot of the mighty La Silla of Caracas was even then discernible. Morgan could see that there were two or three other vessels opposite the town straining at their anchors in the heavy sea. Every p

se the buccaneers had brought with them, which were all distributed. Many a steel cap destined for some proud Spanis

and as the struck bells denoted the passing hours, with each half-hourly period it grew appreciably stronger. If it continued to blow, or if, as it was almost certain, the strength of the wind increased, it would be impossible wi

on which he had determined, and as he had rapidly run down his southing in this brief cruise his determination had been quickened by the thought of his growing nearness to th

untains-the Cordilleras of the shore-had touched at Jamaica. There she had been received with due honor, as became the daughter of so prominent a personage, by the Vice-Governor and his wretched wife. Morgan's heart had been inflamed by the dark, passionate beauty of the Spanish maiden. It was only by a severe

ch he was to be the founder. That Donna Mercedes might object to this proposition; that she might love another man, might even be married by this time, counted for nothing in Morgan's plans. He had taken what he wa

inced of the necessity. It was blowing a gale now and they were so near the shore, although some distance to the eastward of the town, that they could see the surf breaking with tremendous force upon the strip of sand. The off

ke boldly. "The wind freshens. We're frightfully near. Should it come on to bl

organ, yet frowning heavily. "Curse th

"See, the wind shifts already! It

with apprehension the outstretched finger of the old

headed out to seaward on the starboard tack. The wind was now blow

off her, I'm thinking,

sir, an

e to'gallant s'l's. Close reef the tops

ed down by the eager crew. Hornigold with young Teach to assist him went to the helm. Morgan gave his personal attention to the mano

re precarious. They had long since passed La Guayra. They had had a fleeting glimpse of the shipping in the harbor driving helplessly on shore as they dashed by under the gray clouds which had overspread the sea. That town was now hidden from them by a bend of the coast, and they found themselves in a curious bight of land, extendi

eons, had a tendency to go to leeward like a barrel, and only Morgan's resourceful seamanship had saved them from the fatal embraces of the shore long since. The canvas she was carrying was more than she could legitimately bear in such a hurricane. If there

almost went over on her beam ends, for Morgan would not luff until the last moment, since each time that he did so and lost way temporarily he found himself driven bodily nearer the land. The men would have mutinied had it not been patent to the most stupid mind that their only salvation

their brows at the violence of the labor required to control the massive helm. The men lay to windward on the deck, or grouped in clusters arou

t last pointing to the point looming fearfu

. "Well, it has been a short cruise and a mer

ou, Ve

an't be done. Why did we eve

thinking quickly. "Gentlemen

give holding ground to the anchor,"

wered Morgan. "We'll hold on unt

labor," gro

h to hold on," ad

organ sharply. "We can't tack ship against this wi

made n

nd power with which he made himself heard in spite of the roar of the wind a

, a

re on the quarter. We'll club-haul the

mmoning the hardiest hands and the most s

d, tightening his grasp on the spokes

Obey orders sharply.

ort distance from the low water mark, and there was a grave question whether or not the anchor, with the scope they could give it, would

head sheets! Round in on the fore b

rected the after guard to spring into the mizzen-rigging with a bit of tarpaulin and by exposin

Hornigold, who with his men was

ves beating upon her bows with a noise like crashes o

t yard!" roared Morgan. "C

h as the anchor d

" he shouted. "Everybo

ulling the ship's stern around so that the wind would take her on the ot

se that showed the anchor had not taken the ground. The drag of the cable to the anchor, however, and the still uns

captain. "Meet her with the helm! L

yet touch and go, however, and the breakers were perilously near. They were writh

"Flatten in forward! Haul

e carried sharply off at the hounds. Relieved of the pressure, she shot up into the wind once more and drove straight i

tions upon him. He stood with folded arms, a scornful smile on his old face, looking upon them, Carib watching and ready by h

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