The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 183: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ser Pe ee a a ee ne wg en, OE eee, a lag A eS fev a ~~ — Se Si tai es <5, Sat - ee ——_ oe SS <a i =, = SAILING WITH MORGAN. the town,’ he said, “and yonder are seven and—see the boats!” He was right. Our full squadron of seven sail lay in the anchorage, and the decks were alive with men. The four that had come up the bay with us lay with all their canvas furled, but the other three that had been left at Maracaibo had their topsails lying loose in the buntlines, and had all the -air of recent, hurried arrival. That could mean but one thing, and that bad tidings, It was with heavy hearts that we tramped along the shin- gle to the landing where a line of boats were moored. It was a stirring scene even to us who had been used to stirring scenes. On the poop of the Black Prince the seven captains were gathered in stormy debate. Even Hetherington had had himself carried up on deck, and we could see plainly that it could have been no little thing that had caused their excitement. Their talk did not last long, and when the group dispersed the officers came down and called each tor his own boat, By some accident Morgan’s boat, instead of dropping alongside to await his orders, had pulled back to his ship, and, seeing that there was no boat to put him aboard his vessel, I spoke up. “ There is the quarter-boat, captain, and if you are in a hurry I will pull you over.” His ship lay but a couple of hundred yards from us, “Very good,’ was his reply, and down he scuttled into the boat, while I followed him and picked up ,the oars. “It is a sweet mess, Upholme,” he growled as he settled himself in the yoke-lines. “ Have you heard the news?” I told him that I had not. “Three Spanish ships - of - war ap- peared in the offing yesterday—one of them a ship of the line, I think—and ran in to Maracaibo, The fort at the entrance has fallen and Captain Jud- son has come up here to tell that the straits are closed to us, and that we are caught like rats in a trap.” problem for us! ee ee a ge ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee mM 5 ee He pondered deeply for a moment. “Caracas has ships in plenty of course in her port of La Guayra, and every port along the coast. When they hear of our having been caught in this way they will send ships and men to help to stamp us out, and we cannot force a passage against three ships-of-war and two forts when our heaviest ordnance is that in the bat- teries of the Black Prince. The straits are too narrow for us to attack in force, and ship by ship they will blow us out of the water at the first broadside.” “- Yes, sir,” 1 said." that: 4s. true, but—” “But what, boy? Speak out and tell me if there is anything in your mind.” He looked keenly at me from under his bushy eyebrows. ‘*T was thinking, sir,” I said, “ of a book I read once at home. It was a history of the Dutch war with Spain in 1585, and it told how Jenebelli, the ‘Dutch captain, destroyed the bridge at Antwerp and frustrated the plans of the Duke of Parma—” “ How did he do it?” sharply. : ‘* Fire - ships,” I answered’ briefly, and picked up my oars again. He swore a great oath. “ By all the gods, but I believe you have solved the Turn back to the the captains he asked Black Prince leave.” We had been the first to leave the side of the vessel, and we regained her decks before the group of officers had dispersed. Morgan stopped them with a shout as they were about to leave. “Wait a bit,’ he said. . ‘ Wait a bit!” He sprang to the rail. I was about to go to my cabin when he stopped me. ‘‘ Come with me, Up- holme.” Laying a broad hand upon my shoulder, he fairly pushed me over to the weather side of the deck, “What do you think, sirs? Mr. Up- holme here has given me the sugges- tion that we need.” They looked at him with questions before ECOMMICLOOOKS 885 al = (C@)