The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

894 he roared approval to me as I came over the side. “ Well done, lad! Well done! Shalt have thy reward this day—” “| have it now, sir,’ I answered, “and I have come to ask you to pro- tect it for me. I mean this lady who is to become my wife.” He roared with laughter as I led Dolores forward. ‘“ What need for that last, man?” ‘Then he sobered in- stantly. “ I ask your pardon, madam,” he said, for the rogue could be courtly enough when it suited him to be so. ‘The wife of Mr. Upholme is en- titled to the gratitude of every man in the fleet. ‘Take her to my best cabin, Upholme, and tell my steward to get what she desires.” I took her below, and selecting the cabin with the strongest bolts upon the door, | showed her into it. “ You must bolt the door, Dolores,” I said, “ and open to no man but to me or Captain Morgan. He is as good as his word and will protect you. I will come to you at the earliest possible mo- ment.” I called the steward, a young negro who had come with us from Tortugas, and bidding him get food and wine, | took them to Dolores; and with a light- ened heart I heard the bolts click into place as [ hurried up to the deck. It was the beginning of the end, though we did not know it at the time. With the destruction the forts became more accessible and every available man was thrown ashore, and a rush was made for the works upon the headland, but with no success. | We were driven back with a loss in killed and wounded of near eighty men; and, seeing that there was no prospect of taking the place by storm- ing it without sadly depleting our al- ready weakened force, Morgan with- drew to Maracaibo, where he could at any time cut off the supply of water and victual upon which the occupancy of the fort depended. We lay there for a week, during all of which time Dolores remained upon THE ARGOSY. the Flying Stag. It was, of course, im- possible for her to go ashore, and the place was abandoned by the people. That week was passed by the crews in looting for the second time the un- fortunate town. When every peso that could be found had been taken, word was finally sent by a prisoner that-un- less a ransom of ten thousand pesos was paid every house in the place would be burned to the ground. Hard as it was, and naked as the people already were in worldly goods, they managed in some manner to pro- cure the funds, and I shall never for- get the day that they were brought to the Flying Stag by two Spanish priests —worthy men who had done their best to incite the people to fight as long as there was any chance of success attend- ing their efforts, and subsequently de- voted their attention to the palliation of the hardships resulting from our occupancy of the place. ‘“ Senor,’ said one of them, “we have brought you the money, but there is blood upon it. May it prove to you like the wedge of gold that Achan took. Take it and go, and leave us to the mercy of God, which is all that can now avail us.” 7 For a short minute Morgan was an- gered; then he laughed grimly. ‘ I can not blame you,” he said. ‘ A man does not bless the surgeon for cutting off the leg, however it hampers him. Be- think you, though, father, I have made it possible for every man of you to get to heaven? ”’ The priest looked his surprise, and Morgan went on: ‘“Do you not know what the Bible says about the camel and the eye of the needle? You have no rich men now here in Maracaibo, and all will have an equal chance. Wait a bit!” For the priest was about to leave. “ Upholme, is there not some little favor that this gentleman can do for you and your betrothed before he leaves us?” _ ‘* Indeed there is, sir,’”’ I said eagerly. “ T was about to ask it as a favor. Sir, I wish to ask you to marry me,” COPMICLOOOLK< (C@