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Show 188 THE LII.Y AND THE TOTEM. succc,.scs. The treasure they lllld acquired was large, but tl1ey were not the pt>rsons to be conWnt with i~. They were apprised of another carnvclladcn with greater wealth and a more vnluablo merchandise, and they followed eagerly after this prey. Du~ she escaped them, getting in saftJty into the port of Jamaica. The governor \vas a tmbtlc politician. I fc soon discovered tho character of the men with whom he had to deal, and he wrought succcsfully upon tl1cir cupidity. lie proposed to ransom himself at an enormous pric~ ; and, with this object, they stood towards the mouth of the harbor in which the caravel had taken shelter. lllinded by their avarice, our rovers \Vcrc persuaded to suffer tho go,•crnor to despatch l1is bvo boys to their mother, his wife, in a boat which his cnptors were to furnish. The boys were to pro· cure h~ rnnsom, and supplies were to be sent to the vessel also. But the seero~ counsel of the Governor to hi~ sons, conternplatlld no such ransom as the free companions desired. They knew not tlmt, in one of the contiguous havens, there lay two or more vcs· sets, superior in burthen to their own, and manned and equipped for war. The Governor, with but a look and a word, beheld his sons depart. The lads knew the menning of thnt look, and that einglc \vord ; they felt all the ignominy of their father's position, and they knew their duty. A noble and courageous dame was the mother of those boys. With tears and tremors did she clasp her children to her breast; with horror did she hear of her lord's capli\'ity; but she yielded to no feminine weaknesses wl1ich could retard her in the performai!CC of her duty. Her movements were prompt and resolute. The Governor concealed his n.nxieties, and !'poke fairly to his captors. Quit3 secure in their str('n'!:th and 11ositiJn, eager with expectations of further gain, noting in the rich wines they bad already won, they entertained no a.pprchen· TilE MUTINEERS AT SEA. 189 sions of defeat or disappointment. They lay nt tl1c mouth of tho haven, which stretched away for two leagues into tho mainland. Here, suddenly, about the break of day, they saw emerging through a heavy fog, a couple of vessels of greater size thau their own. Apprehending no danger, the pirates were taken by surprisr. The f'ncmy was upon them before they could prepare for action, and they hnd scarcely an opportunity to attempt their flight. A volley of Spanish shot soon rang against their sides, and as the trumpets of D'Orangc, from his brigantine, blew to announce their danger to those in charge of the captured vessels, he cut his cables and stood off for sea, closely pressed by his swift.footed enemies. Then it was tl1at, watching his moment, tho Governor of .J:uuaica seized upon the enemy nearest him and plunged him into the sea. His example was followed by his people, and tho Spaniards coming up with the captured patach at the fortunnto moment, the Frenchmen, with whom it was \crt in cha.rgc, ~hrew down their arms, and yielded themselves at discretion to their enemies. Both vessels were recovered, while the brigantine of D'Orange, well navigated by Trenchant, succecdad in showing a olean pair of heels to her pursuers. The chase continued for several leagues without success; and the brigantine, pa.ssing Cape des Aigrettes, and the Cape or St. Anthony, swept on to tho Havanna. Tbis was tbo desired destination or D'Orangc; but. his p!Xlple were not wholly with him. Several of them, like Trcn· chant, the pilot, had been forced to accompany the expedition. Thcso were amciou.s to escape from a connection which wa.s not only against their desires, but was likely, by the crimes of tbeir superiors, to result in the destruction of the innocent. Accord· ingly, under tho guidance of Trenchant, a conspiracy was conceived against the conspirators. 1.'hc wind serving, while D'Orango |
