The Galleon Treasure (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... CHARTER XIV. IN WHICH WE USE OUR WITS INSTEAD OP WEAPONS. 'twas a merciful choice the governor gave him and the fellow came bounding forward with the anger of a wounded beast. For, belike, he opined that if he could but carry it with victory, there would be yet a chance for him and his knavish crew, seeing how they might then have but our company to deal with, bereft of a leader. For I doubt he held that 'twas naught but the little governor's stout heart that was keeping the blood a-going through the veins of all our crew. Their weapons clashed and I watched the combat with a thumping heart. The thievish Worley's blade played ever dangerously near the little governor, but, I minded how His Excellency had ever a little smile playing about his mouth, as he parried the thrusts. The desperate, blustering fellow roared with anger while he was at it, as if, forsooth, the oaths might avail him in the stead of practised skill. But his yelling and stamping and desperate swinging of his ugly weapon only shocked the air, for the little governor stood silent and smiling, and his polished blade gleamed here and there as it dextrously 'scaped every curse-driven stroke. At the last of it the sneakish varlet, seeing how his blustering and swinging served him for naught, of a sudden, drew forth a pistol, aiming it full in His Excellency's face, but with a quick gleam, the governor's sword dashed the weapon from the cowardly villain's hand, and in less than a breath more it was buried in the pirate's throat. He went down all in a heap, for even ere he fell his dastardly career was over. A little afterward, when the time was more favorable for discoursing, His Excellency told us anent the fellow's vile career; how he had sometime been in the royal service, and being aboard ...