Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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fSlR Henrv BUCCA By CYRUS TOW Author of "The Sout of Country," "The G COPYRIGHT, 1005. BY G. W. I "Cilve !t Unci? TO mo!" lie shouted. i "You have tasted It; I drain It. Now I the lesson. Say after me. 'Ilarry Morgan* "Harry Morgan," gasped the girl. " 'I love thee.' " With a swift Inward prayer she uttered the lying words. "You have learned well and art an apt pupil Indeed," he cried. "D'ye know there are few women who can resist me when I try to be agreeable? Harry Morgan's way!" he laughed again. "There be some that I have won and many I have forced, Nono like you. So "Say ' Harty Morgan, I love you'" you lovp me? Senttle me, I thought Bp. Ben Hornlgold was right. Woo a woman, let her be clipped willingly In nrms?yet there's n pleasure In breaking In the Jades, after all. Still, I'm glad that you are In a better mood and have forgot that cursed Spaniard rotting In the dungeons below In favor of a better man, Ilarry?no, I'll say, Sir Jf^ijry?Morgan on this occasion, at your service!" hp cried, rising again and ' bowing to lier as before. She looked desperately at the clock. Thn lirtiiv ivno ?** ? Morgan, .NEER NSEND BRADY, herners," "For Love rip of Honor," Etc. DILL I.N CHAM COMPANY mi her dress at the collar with both hands and, in spite of her efforts, by a violent wrench tore It open. \ "No weapon there!" he crledi "Ha! That brings at Inst the color to your pale check!" ho added as the rich red crimsoned the Ivory of her ueck and check at this outrage. "Help, help!" she screamed. Iler voice rang high through the apartment with Indignant and terrified appeal. "Call ncolli." hiuirhrwl Mi?w? > ?> > ...... m.-.r in lllliiu. r>U KreiK A*as tlio stlain under which she was la | boring that she Celt she could not eon tlnue live minutes longer. Would Alvarado never come? Would anybody come? She sat motionless- ami white us marble, while the chieftain stared Ht her iu the Jul uses of ids monologue. lie came around the table uud uppreached her. Notwithstanding the quantity of liquor he had taken he was physically master of himself, she noticed lyitli a sinking heart. As lie drew uear sin* sprang to her feet alsc m.l backed away from liltu, throwing out l:eu left Land to ward liiui off, at ||p* same tltue thrusting her right hand Into her bo qui. lie was right upon licr now. She thrust him, unsuspicious and unprepared. violently from her, whipped out the dagger 'that Hornigoid had given |ier and faced him boldly. It wgs 10 o'clock, and 110 one had yet appeared, Tliu struck hour reveiberat<d through tlin empty room. Would Alvarndo never come? llad it not llA4.ll 41in + ulin I.,1.141.1 4V. > > lin\e driven the tiny weapon into her heart nt once, hut for his sake she would wait a little longer. "Nay, come no nearer!" she cried resolutely. "If you do, you will take n dead woman in your arms, lhiek, 1 say!" menacing herself with the point. And the man noted that the hand holding tho weapon did uot tremble lithe least. "Thlnkcst thou that I could love such a man as tliou'r" she retorted, trein bling with indignation, all the loathing and contempt she had striven to re i press (hiding vent In her voice. "I'll , rather he torn limb from limb than feel even the touch of thy poliutiug hand!" , "Dentil and fury!" shouted Morgan, , struggling between rage and in or 1111pa{io)). "Then hast lied to mo then?" , "A tUpusand times?yes! Ilad I u whip I'd mark you again! Come withlu reach, and I will drive the weapon home!" She lifted it high In the uir and shook ylt in deiionee ns she spoke. , It was a frlglitfu) Imprudence, for which (die paid dearly, however, for the hangings parted, and Cnrlb, who ha<I beard what had gono on, entered tlic room?Indeed, tlie voices of tlie man and woman tilled witli passion fairly rang through the hall. His quick eye took in tlie situation nt once. lie "V. carried nt bis belt a long, heavy knife. Without saying a word, lie pulled It ^ out and threw It with a skill born of A long prnetleo, which made him n mas^ ter at tho game, fairly at the woman's uplifted hand. Before either Morgan or Mercedes wn? nware of Ills presence the}* heard the whistle of the heavy blade through the air At the same moment the missile struck the blade of the dagger close to the palm of the woman and dashed It from her hand. Both weapons rebounded from the wall from the violence of the blow and fell At Morgan's feet. Mercedes was helpless. "Well done, C'arlb!" cried Morgan exultantly. "Never has that old trick of thine served me better. Now, you she devil, I hove you In my power. Dhlst prefer death to Harry Morgan? Thou r\ slialt have It, and thy lover too. I'll a tear him llmh from limb, and In thy \ presence too." \ ?God! Oh, God!" shrieked Mercedes flattening herself against the wall, shrinking from him with wide outstretched arms as he approached her. "Mercy!" "I know not that word. Wouldst v cosen me? Host another weapon in thy bodice? I'll look." Before she could prevent him he selz "Kill mo, kill mo!" she begged. "Nay, you must live to love 1110! Ho, lioj" lie answered, taking her In Ills nriuR, "Mercy! Help!" she orle?l In frenzy, nil the woman lu licr In arms against tlio outrage, though slip knew her appeal wan vain, when, bonder of wonders? "1 hoard a laily's voice," broke upon her ears from the oilier end of the room. "He Lussnn!" roared Morgan, releasing her and turning toward the Intruder. "Here's 110 place for you. How came you here? I'd chosen this room for myself. I wish to be private. Out of It. and thank me for your life!" "I know not why you should have Donna de I.ara against her will and when better men are here," answered the Frenchman, staring with hold, cruel glances at her, benutlful In her disarray, "and If yon keep her you must tight for her. Mademoiselle," he continued, baring his sword gracefully and saluting her, "will you have me for your champion?" Tils air was as gallant as If he had lieen a gentleman and bound In honor to rescue a lady In dire peril of life and honor Instead of another rufllnn Inflamed by her beauty and desirous to possess her himself. "Save me! Save me," she cried, "from this man!" She did not realize the meaning of jlm? lutssan s words. She ouly saw a floilverer for the present. It was ten minutes past tho hour now, Sho welcomed any respite; her lover might come at any moment. * "I will tight the both of you for her," cried the Frenchman?"you, Black Dog. and you, Master Morgan. Draw, unless you are a coward." "I ought to have you hanged, you mutinous hound," shouted Morgan, "and hanged you shall l?e, hut not uptll J have proved myself yqup master with the sword, as In all other things. Watch the woman, Farlb, and keep out of this fray. Lay hand on hor at your poril! Itemember, she Is mine." i'Or Jt may ho mine.," answered Pe Pussap as Morgan dashed at him, They engaged Without hesitation, and the room was tilled with the sound of ringing, grating steel. F'^st pulling the pins froiir-her glorious hair, Mercedes They engaged without hesitation shook it down around her bare shoulders and then stood, fascinated, watchlug the fencers. She could make no movement from the wall, as the negro Btood at her arm. For a space neither of the fighters had any advantage. Do Lussnn's skill was marvelous, hut the Chief buccaneer was more than ^lq match. Presently the strength anil eft: pnclty of the older and more experienced swordsman began to give him a slight advantage. IJard pressed, the Frenchman, still keeping nu Inexorable guard, slo\yly retreated up tho room, Potb men had beeu so Intensely occupied with the fierce play that they had not heard the sound of many feet outside, n sudden tumult In the street. The keen ear of tlio half breed, however, detected that something was wrong. "Master," he cried, "some one comes. I hear shonts In the night air?a shot, shrieks, groans! There! The clash of arms! I-owcr your weapons, sirs!" he cried ngaln, as Spanish war cries filled the air. "We are l>etrnyed. The euemy Is on us!" InRtnntly Morgan and Pe Lussan broke away from each other. "Tomorrow!" cried tho buccaneer captain. "As you will," returned the other. But now Mercedes, staking all upon her hope, lifted her voice, and with tromendous power, begot by fear and liope, sent ringing through the nlr that name which to her meant salvation: "Alvarado! Alvarado!" CHAPTER XIX. mUE highway between I,n Ouayrn and Caracas was exceedingly rough and difficult and at best barely practicable for the stoutest wagons. The rond wound around the mountains for a distance of perhaps twenty-five miles, although as the crow tiles It was not more than five miles between the two cities. Between them, however, the tremendous ridge of mouutalns rose to a height of nearly 10,000 feet Starting from the" very level of the sea, the road crossed the divide through a depression at an altitude of about 0.000 feet and descended thence some 3,000 feet to the volley li which lay Caracas. Till* was the rood over which A1 vurado and Mercedes hnd come and 01 the lower end of which they had beet captured. It was now barred for tht young soldier by the detachment o buccaneers uuder young Teach ant L'Ollonols, who were Instructed t< hold the pass where the road crosses through or over the mountalus. Ow lug to the configuration of tlio pass those fifty could hold It against a thou sand. It was not probable that new: of the sack of Lu (luuyra would reucl Caracas before Morgan descended upot It, but to prevent the possibility or ti check any movement of troops toward the shore It was necessary to hold thai road. The man who held it was lr position to protect or strike either cltj at will. It was. In fact, the key to tlu position. Morgan, of course, counted upon sur prising the unfortified capital as In had the seaport town. It was tin boast of the Spaniards that they need ed no walls about Caracas since un turn had provided them with tlu mighty rampnrt of the niountah range, which could not be surmounted save In that oue place. With that on? place In the buccaneer's possession Caracas could only rely upon tin number and valor of her defenders To Morgan's onslaught could only b< opposed a rampnrt of blades am hearts. Had there been a stale ol war In existence it Is probable that tin viceroy would have fortified and gar risoned the pass, but under present conditions nothing had been done. As soon as n messenger from Tench In formed Morgan that the pass had been occupied and that all seemed quiet in Corneas, a fact which had beer learned by some bold scoutlug on tin farther side of tho mountain, he wnt perfectly easy as to the work of tin morrow. He would fall upon the un walled town nt night and carry every thing by a coup de main. Fortunately for the Spaniards in tlili instance, It happened that there was another way of access to tlio valley ol Caracas from I,n Ouayra. Directly uj and over the mountain there ran i narrow and difficult trail, known firs to the savages und afterward to wan derlug smugglers or nmsterlcss out laws. Originally and until tlio Span tarda made the wagon road It had beet the only way of communication be tween the two towns, but the path win so difficult and so dangerous that ii had long since been abandoned over by the classes that hud Urst disco v ered and traveled It. These vagabond! had formerly kept it in such a state 01 repair that it was fairly passable, bui no work had been done on It for near ly 100 years. Indeed, In some place: the way had been designedly oblitcrat ed by thy-Spanish government about i century ^ince. lJy nearly all the in habitants'its very existence ha?l heoi forgotten. U was this tVflU that Alvarado de terminod to ascend. Tho dlfticultle. in his way even under the most favor able circumstances might well have np palled the stoutest hearted mountain eer. In the darkness they would be in creased a thousandfold. Along the base of tiro mountain tin trail was not difficult, although It wa. pitch dark under the trees which; ex eept where the mighty clKTs rose slieei in the air like huge buttresses of tin range, covered the mountains for tin ? uuiu i*A|uui!?: ul lueir great umuuic Alvarado made his way upward with out trouble or accident at first, and h< made good progress for several hours In spite of darkness. It had been long past u^iduigltt wliei |iu started, and it 'was not until day break that lie passed above the fanill lar and not untrodden way and en tered upon the most perilous part o: his Journey. Hie gray dawn revealet to him the appalling dungers he must face. Sometimes ellnging with Iron grusj to pinnacles of rock he swung litmseli along the side of some territlc preel pice, where the slightest misstep meam a rush into eternity upon the rocks t thousand feet below. Sometimes lu had to spring fur apross great gorge! Ip the mountain^ that ll?d once beei bridged by mlglity trunks of trees, lonj since moldered away, Sometimes then was nothing for him to do hut t( scramhlo down tlio steep sides of sonn dark canyon and force himself througl cold torrential mountain streams tlia flllrinat MWOIll tllm tm111 Ilia fnnt Am?! his path lay over cliffs green with mom and wet with spray, which afTorle* most precarious support to his grasp Ing hands or slipping feet. Sometimei he had to force a way through thlcl tropic undergrowth that tore his cloth ing Into rags. Had he undertaken the ascent In i mere spirit of adventure he would havi turned hack long since from llio dan gers he met and surmounted with sucl hardship and difficulty, With the pale beautiful face of Mercedes to lead him and by contrast the hateful, cruel coun tenance of Morgan to force him, eve before his vision, the man plunged up ward with unnatural strength, bravlni dangers, taking chances, doing the Im possible?and Providence watched ove him. It was perhaps 0 o'clock In the morn Ing when he reached tho summitbreathless, exhausted, unhelmed, weap onless. coatlcss, In rags; torn, bruised bleeding, but unharmed?and looke< down on tho white city of Caracas se In Its verdant environment like a hand ful of pearls In a goblet of emerald lie had wondered If he would he h time to Intercept the viceroy, and hli strained heart leaped In Ills tired hreas when he saw, a few miles beyond th< town on the road winding toward tin Orinoco country, a body of men. Tin sunlight blazing from polished helms o pointed lance tips proclaimed that tho; were soldiers. He would be In time thank Qod! With renewed vlgo^ he scramble* A l down the slOe of the mountain?and this descent fortunately happened to - l?e gentle nhd easy?and. running with ? headlong speed, he soon drew near the ? gate of the palace. lie dashed Into It s with reckless haste, indifferent to the f protests of the guard, who did not at 1 llrst recoglitae In the tattered, bloody, ? wounded, soiled specimen of humanity I the gay and gallant commander. lie - made himself known at once and was , confirmed In his surmise that the vice roy had set,forth with his troops early i in the mornlhg and was still In renclil ing distance on the road. ? D'rectlng the best horso In the stables ' > to l?e brought to him, after snatching I a hnsty meal while It was being sadi The slightest miutep meant death IJk \ r died and hot even taking time to re? clothe himself he mounted and galloped after. An hour later he hurst t through the ranks of the little army i and reined In his horse before the astonished viceroy, who did not recognize i lu this sorry envaller his favorlto oft fleer, and'stern words of reproof for i the unceremonious Interruption of the ? horseman broke from his Hps until t they were chocked by the first word ; from the young captain. "Morgan and his buccaneers have - taken I,a Guayra and sacked It'." gasped Alvarado hoarsely. J "Morgan! That accursed scourge ? again In arms? And my daughter"? C "A prisoner! For God's love, turn ? hack the mou!" v "Instantly!" cried the viceroy, t lie was burning with anxiety to - henr more, but he was too good a soldier to hesitate as to the flrst thing to * be done. * Raising himself In his stlri rups, he gave a few sharp commands, o ?.1 it- _ IU.I- ... - - - uuu uif uuie unny, wnien ua<l United * when he had, faeod about and began t the return march to Caracas ut full i tpeed. As soon as their maneuvers had been completed and they moved i off, the viceroy, who rode at the head f with Alvarado and the gentlemen of t his suit, broke into anxious question" 1 ng. \ i "Nowi-captaln, but that thou art a " skilled soldier I could not believe thy 1 tale." , N i ... "My jdhl, i >we:tr It Is true!" 1 ''And you left Donna Mercedes a prisoner?" Interrupted De Tobar, who bad been consumed -with anxiety even * greater than that of the viceroy. "Alas, 'tis so!" "How can that be when you are free, 00 nor?" "Let me question my own ofllcer, l>e j Tobar," resumed the viceroy peremp" torily, "and silence, all, else we learn nothing. Now, Alvarado, what Is this strange tale of thine?" , In his eagerness the viceroy reined 4 In liis horse, and the officers and men, even the soldiers, stopped also and ] crowded around the narrator while he , told the tale of the sack of La (Juayra , ami the capture of Mercedes qud himself. l "Apd how eauie you here, after leaving my daughter on the word of the buccaneer?" nskod De Lara when Alvarado had finished. f "Straight over the mouutuin, sir." j "What! The Indian trail? The Engt lish way?" "The same." } "What next?" j, "At 10 tonight the sailor who released ine will open the city gate, the t west gate, beneath the shadow of the ^ cliffs. We must be there!" ^ "But l?qw? \w\\ take the pass? ^ It la strongly held, you say." "My lord, give me fifty brave men who will volunteer to follow me. I * will load them buck over the trail, and we will get to the rear of the men J holding the pass. Do you make a feint at engaging tliem in force iu J front, and when their nttention is distracted elsewhere we will fall on and 1 drive them Into your arms. By this J means we open the way. Then we will post down the mountains with speed and may arrive in time?nay, we iiiusi arrive m time: llornigold, L the sailor, would guarantee nothing beyond tonight. The buccaneer3 are drunk with liquor, tired out with 1 slaughter. They will suspect nothing. B Wo can master the whole Ii50 of them with fivescore men." 1 "Alvnrndo," cried the viceroy, "thou ' hast done well. I thank thee. Let us ' but rescue my daughter and defeat these buccaneers and thou mayst ask 1 anything at my hands?saving one thing. Gentlemen and soldiers, you * have heard the plan of the young captain. Who will volunteer to go over r the mountalus with hlmV" brandishing their swords and shouting with loud acclaim, the grent body of troopers pressed forward to the K service. Alvarado, who knew them * all, rapidly selected the requisite uum- | her, and they fell In advance of the * others. Over them the young captain " placed his friend I)e Tobnr as his sec' ond in command. 1 " 'Tls bravely done!" cried the vlce? roy. "Now prick forward to the city, nil. We'll refresh ourselves in view of the arduous work before us and s then make our further dispositions." The streets of Caracas were soon full r of armed men preparing for their venf ture. As soon as the plight of La '' Guay'ra and the viceroy's daughter became known there was scarcely a clvil* lau even who did noL otter himself tor the "roscue. The viceroy, however, I would take only niur.iie-l men, und of these oulj- tried soldiers. Alvarudo, whom excitement and et tlou kept from realizing bin fatigue, v in provided with fresh uppurel, after which he requested u private utiilieiiee f >r a moment or two with the viceroy, and together they repaired to the little cabinet which hud been the scene of the hnpiienlngri the night before. "Your excellency." began the young man slowly, painfully, "I could not wait even the hoped for happy Issue of our plans to place my sword ami my life In your hands." "What have you done?" asked the old man, Instantly perceiving the seriousness of the situation from the anguish In his olHcer's look aud voice. "1 have broken my word, forfeited my life." "You promised to say nothing, to do nothing." "Hint promise I did not keep." "Explain." "There Is nothing to explain. I was weak; it was beyond my strength. I offer no excuse." " 'Twns deliberately done?" "I told her that I loved her, again"? "Thou double traitor! And she"? "My lord, condemn her not. She Is young, a woman." "I do not consider Captain Alvarndo, a dishonored soldier, my proper mentor. 1 shall know how to treat my ! daughter. What more?" "Nothing more. We abandoned ourselves to our dream, and at the first possible moment I am come to tell you all?to submit"? "But your reason? Why do you tell me these things? If thou art base enough to fall, why not base enough to conceal?" "I could uot do so, your excellency. I am not master of myself when she Is by. 'Tis only when away from her I see things in their proper light. She blinds me. No, sir," erled the unhappy Alvarndo, seeing a look of contempt on the grim face of the old general, "I do pot urge this In defense, but you wanted explanation." "Nothing can explain the falsehood of a gentleman, the betrayal of a friend, the treachery of a soldier." "Nothing; hence I am here." [ "Perhaps I have estimated you too highly." went on the old man musingly. "I had hoped you were gentle, but uuor iimiiu 1111us< run in your veins." "It may bo," answered the young man brokenly, and then he added, as one detail not yet told, "I have found my mother, sir." "Thy mother! What is her condition V" cried the viceroy in curious and interested surprise that made him forget his wrath ami contempt for the 1110l rnent. "She was an abbess of our holy church. She died upon the sands of La Guayra liy Jmr own hand rather tliau lend aid to the sack of the town." "That was noble," interrupted the old De Lara. "I may he mistaken after all. Yet 'twere well she died, for sho will not see"? He paused significantly. "My shame?" asked Alvarado. "Thy death, senor, for irhnt you lim* done. No other punishment is meet. Did Donna Mercedes send any message to me?" Alvarado could not trust himself to etinnk 11.. -1 1 ? I v|>vi?n. nv mi uirqii^. i "What was It?" The young man stood silent before | him. "Well, 1 will learn from her own lips If she he alive when we come to the City. I doubt not it will exeuse thee." "I seek not to shelter myself behind a woman." "That's well," said the old man. "Rut now what Is to he done with thee ?" "My lord, give me a elianeo, not to live, but to dje honestly. I.et me play my part this day as becomes a man, and when Donna Mercedes Is restored to your arms"? "Thou wilt plead for life?" "Nay, I will not live dishonored Life Is naught to ino without the lady. 1 #wear to thee"-? "You have given me your word before. sir." said the old man sternly. "On this cross?it was my mother's." He pulled from his doublet the silver 1 On this cross1 crucifix and held it up. "I will yield my life Into your hands without question then and acclaim before the world that you are Justified in taking It. I swear if I survive the day 1 will go gladly to my death at your command !" "I will trust you once more thus far. Say naught of this to any one. Leave me!" | "Your excellency," cried the young ! man, kneeling before him, "may (iod ! reward you!" He strove to tnke the hand of the ; old man, but the latter drew It away, j "Even the touch of forsworn lips is degradation. You have your orders, r Go!" I Alvarado buried bis face iu his j hands, groaned bitterly and turned away without another word. CHAFTBB XX. mT wns Hearing 11 o'clock lu the morning when, after a hurried conference in the patio with the viceroy and the others, Alvarado and De Tobar marched out j with their fifty men. They had discarded all superfluous clothing; they were, uuurmored and .carried no weajy ons but 8words aud pistols. * In vFew of the lmrd el'.nib before them and tbe baste that was required they wished to be burdened as lightly as possible. Their horses were brought along iu the train of the viceroy's party, which moved out upon the open road to the pass at the same time. These last went forwurd with great ostentation, tho forlorn hope secretly, lest some from the buccaneers might be watching. The fifty volunteers were to ascend the mountain with all speed, make their way along the crest as best they could until they came within striking distance of the camp of the pirates; then they were to conceal themselves lu the woods there, and when the viceroy made a feigned attack with the main body of his troops from the other aide of the mountain they were to leave their hiding place and fall furiously lionn llir? runr ?0 .>???? "?A * ?A, ?...x >vm? vi tur i?ni vj r Ui'lUIlUlC* ly they were not required to ascend j such a path as that Alvarado had trav| ersed on the other side, for there were I not fifty men In all Venezuela who j could have performed that tremendous feat of mounteeriug. The way to the summit of the range and thence to the pass was dlllleult, but not Impossible, and they succeeded after an hour or two of hard climbing In reaching their appointed station, where they concealed themselves lu the woods unobserved by Teaeh's men. The viceroy carried out his part of the programme with the promptness of a soldier. Alvarado's men had scarcely settled themselves in the thick undergrowth beneath the trees, whence they could overlook the buccaneers in camp on the road below, before a shot from the pirate sentry who had been posted toward Caracas culled the fierce marauders to arms. They ran to the rude barricade they had erected covering the pass and made preparation for battle. Soon the wood was ringing with shouts and cries and the sound of musketry. Although Tench was a natural soldier and I/OUonols an experienced and prudent commander, they took no precaution whatever to cover their rear, for such a thing as an assault from that direction was not even dreamed of. Alvarado and I>e Tobar, therefore, led their men forward without the slightest opposition. Even the noiso they made crashlnir through thn growth was lost In the sound of the battle ami attracted no attention from the enemy. It was not until they [ burst out into the open road and charged forward, cheering madly, that tho buccaneers realized their danger. Some of them faced about only to be met by a murderous discharge from the pistols of the forlorn hope, and the next moment tne Spaniards were upon them. The party holding the pass were die picked men, veterans, among the marauders. They met the onset with tremendous courage and crossed blades in the smoke like men, but at the same Instant the advance guard of the main army sprang at the barricade and assaulted them vigorously from tho other side. The odds were too much for the buccaneers, and after a wild melee, la L which they lost heavily, the survivors gave ground. The road immediately below the pass opened on a little plateau, hack of which rose a precipitous wall of rock. Thither such of the buccaneers as were left alive hastily retreated. There were perhaps a dozen men able to use their weapons. Among them Teach was the only officer. l/Ollouols had been out down by I>o Tobar in the tlrst charge. The Spaniards burst through the pass and surrounded the buccaneers. The lirearms 011 both sides had nil been discharged, and in the excitement no one thought of reloading. Indeed, with the cumbersome and complicated weapons then in vogue there was no UuieK and the Spaniards, who had paid dearly for their victory, so desperate had been the defense of tho pirates, were fain to iinlsh this detachment lu short Ofder, ' Yield.'" cried Aivarudo, as usual in the front ranks of his own men. "you are hopelessly overmatched!" pointing with dripping blade to his own and the viceroy's soldiers as he spoke. "Shall we get good quarter?' called out Teach. A splendid specimen he looked of an Englishman at bay in spite of his wicked calling, standing with his back against the towering rock, his bare and bloody sword extended menacingly bofore him, the bright sunlight blazing upon his sunny hair, ids blue eyes sparkling with battle lust and determined courage, c^uite the best of the pirates, lie! "You Klin 11 lie hung like Hie dogs you are," answered Alvarado sternly. "We'd rather die sword in baud. Eh, l?A/. 'j't inun ; "Aye, aye!" "Come on, then, lienors," laughed the Englishman gallantly, saluting with his swonl, "and see how bravely we English can die when the game is played and we have lost,". ? [to bb conrnrtnaxl .' ? PERT PARAGRAPHS, Youth is said to he egotistical, but the man of forty sometimes makes you weary telling how much more ho knows than he did at twenty. The woman with a new hat thinks that if all the world is not looking at her it is missing something. Almost Ilnmnn Inlrlllgencf. Mrs. McBryde?John, I'm simply disgusted. While I was out this morning the cat got into tho pantry and ate every single thing except a cake I had Just hnked. Mr. McBryde?What a wonderful thing animal instinct is, to be sure!?Cleveland Leader.. When a boy with a baseball guide for the current year deigns to speak to his fellows they thoroughly appreciate the honor. k