Chapter IV. Taking a Galleon

by Joseph A. Altsheler

　　Henry and Shif'less Sol spied upon the Spanish camp againthe next day, and returned with news that the two chiefs haddeparted, but that Braxton Wyatt had remained, evidentlyintending to accompany Alvarez to New Orleans, where they weresure the Spanish leader now intended going.

　　"I think, too," said Henry, "that they will break up camp inthe morning and march. I believe that they came up on theMississippi, and will return the same way."

　　"Then they have boats," said Paul in dismay, "and we havenone."

　　"But we can get one," said Henry significantly.

　　"If you want a thing, jest go an' git it," said Shif'lessSol. "I remember once when I wuz a leetle bit a boy back in theEast, I hankered terribly after some hickory nuts that I knowedwuz in a grove about a mile from our house. I suffered days an'days o' anguish fur them hickory nuts, wishin' mighty bad all thetime that I had 'em. At the end o' two weeks I walked over an'got 'em, an' my sufferin' stopped off short."

　　"That's just what we mean to do about our boat, step overand get it," said Henry laughing. But he did not divulge hisplan and the others were content to wait for the event.

　　As Henry had predicted the Spanish camp broke up thefollowing morning, and Alvarez and his force took up a marchalmost due eastward. They traveled in an easy fashion, andshowed no signs of apprehension, Alvarez deeming that fiftywell-armed men were not in any danger from wandering tribes. Hedid not know that five resolute borderers were following closelybehind him, even looking into his camp at night, and knowingevery important thing that he did. Braxton Wyatt may havesuspected it, but he said nothing, aware that it could not beprevented.

　　The five were well prepared. They carried a large supply ofammunition, a blanket each, and jerked meat. If their foodsupplies gave out there was the forest swarming with game, andthey knew that it swarmed in the same fashion all the way down toNew Orleans. They would camp at sunset three or four miles fromthe Spaniards, keeping watch the night through, and in themorning it was easy enough to take up the trail of Alvarez andhis men, which, to their experienced eyes, was like a high roadleading through the forest.

　　One evening just as the sun was setting Henry parted sometwining bushes and looked over a cliff. The others came to hisside and they, too, looked as he was looking. At their very feetlay the mighty Mississippi. They had seen it before, but it wasnever so impressive as now. Great at any time it was in springflood, rolling a vast, yellow current down toward the Gulf. Thewaters overflowed on the low, eastern shore, and it was so faracross that they could not see the further bank in the shadowedevening. The setting sun, nevertheless, lighted up the middle ofthe current with blood-red gleams, and the five gazed with acertain awe at the mighty stream, as it flowed ever onward. Itwas the highly imaginative Paul who was impressed the most.

　　"We know where it goes to," he said, "but I wonder where itcomes from."

　　Henry waved his hand vaguely toward the North.

　　"Up there somewhere," he said, "a thousand miles from here,or maybe two thousand. Nobody can tell."

　　Paul did not say anything more, but continued to gaze at thevast, yellow current of the Mississippi, coming out of theunknown regions of the far north and flowing into lands of thefar south, almost as mysterious and vague, once belonging toFrance but now owning the lordship of Spain. It was the homelylanguage of Shif'less Sol that recalled him from his dreams.

　　"It's purty big out thar, an' looks ez if you couldn'ttamper with it - this here river stands no foolin'- but do youknow, Paul, water's pow'ful friendly. It's always travelin'about, always on the move. Land stands still, it's always thar,an' never sees nothin' new, but water jest keeps a' movin',seein' new countries, here to-day, somewhar else to-morrow,havin' new banks, breathin' new air, floatin' peacefully on tonew people, gatherin' in their talk an' ways.

　　"Jest think! This river comes out o' we don't know whar,sees all the wilderness, whispers to the bars and buffaloes an'Injun tribes ez it goes by, takes a look at us standin' here onthe bank, an', after wonderin' what we're about, slips on downhundreds o' miles to Louisianny, gazin' at the French thar on thebank at New Orleans, an' then shoots out into the sea."

　　"Thar to be lost," said the unpoetical Long Jim.

　　"Not to be lost, never to be lost, Jim," said Shif'less Solearnestly. "That Missip water is still thar in the sea, an' itgoes slippin' an' slidin' along with the salt clean to all themold continents. It takes a look in at England, that's fightin'us in the East, an' if the English could understand the water'slanguage it might tell 'em a lot o' things that wuz wuth theirknowin'. An' then it goes on to Spain an' France an' Germany,whar they talk all them useless tongues, an' after a while ittakes a whirl clean 'roun' Africa an' Asia, an' sees goodnessknows what, an' then goes slippin' off to see islands in oceansthat I ain't ever heard tell on. Jumpin' Jehoshaphat but ain'tthat a movin' an' stirrin' life fur ye!"

　　Sol drew a deep breath and Paul looked at him with shiningeyes.

　　"You've said a good deal of what I was thinking, Sol," hesaid, "but for which I couldn't find words."

　　"We're likely to travel with the river for a while," saidTom Ross, "an' we must purvide a way."

　　"We'll do it soon," said Henry.

　　They camped that night in a dense grove near the bank, butthey built no fire. After midnight Henry and Shif'less Solslipped away and went northward.

　　"'Bout four miles on we'll strike them Spaniards," said theshiftless one.

　　It was a close calculation, as at the end of the four milesthey saw the light of a fire flaring through the trees and bushesand knew that they had come upon Alvarez and his men. Their camplay on rather low ground beside a little bay of the Mississippi,and the keen eyes of the two woodsmen saw at once that the forceof Alvarez had been increased.

　　"He's got about seventy men whar he had about fifty afore,"said Shif'less Sol as they crept nearer.

　　"They came on boats as I thought," replied Henry, "and heleft a detachment here with the boats, while he went acrosscountry. Maybe he was on an exploring expedition or something ofthat kind, when Braxton Wyatt overtook him with his proposition.

　　Sol looked at Henry and Henry looked at Sol. A ray ofmoonlight fell upon their tanned and stern faces. Then as theylooked a twinkle appeared in the eye of each. The twinkledeepened and the two broke simultaneously into a soundless laugh.

　　"We want one of those boats," said Henry.

　　"We shorely do," said Shif'less Sol.

　　"We need it in the course of our duty," said Henry.

　　"We jest can't git along without it," said Shif'less Sol.

　　"It will be much easier floating down the middle of theMississippi in a boat than it will be walking along the bank allthe way."

　　"It will shorely save the feet, an' give a feller time tothink, while the current's doin' the work. It jest suits a lazyman like me."

　　Again they broke simultaneously into a laugh that containedno sound, but which was full of mirth.

　　"It's taking what doesn't belong to us, and we are not atwar with the Spanish," said Henry.

　　"They tried to hold Paul a prisoner, and they're not at warwith us," rejoined Sol. "We've got a right to hit back.Besides, we're doin' it to save a war, and we're only borrowin'their boat fur their own good."

　　The two, without further ado, made a circuit around theSpanish camp, coming down on the northern side. Therefortunately for them the trees and bushes were thick to thewater's edge, and the shore was very low. In fact, the river,owing to the flood, overlapped the bushes.

　　They redoubled their caution, using every art and device ofwoodcraft to approach without noise. They could see the flare ofthe camp fire beyond the bushes, and now and then they caughtsight of a sentinel's head. They felt amply justified in thisattempt, for Alvarez had not only held Paul a prisoner, but wasplotting with the Indian chiefs to slay all the white people inKentucky.

　　"Here are the boats," whispered Henry.

　　There they were, eight in number, large, strong boats, everyone with several pairs of oars, and tied with ropes to thebushes.

　　The eyes of Shif'less Sol watered as he gazed.

　　"They look pow'ful good to a lazy man," he said, "I couldshorely sleep mighty comf'table in one a' them while Jim Hart wuzpullin' at the oars."

　　"I think the small one at the end nearest to us would justsuit our party," said Henry; "although it has more, it could behandled easily with a single pair of oars."

　　"Shorely!" said Shif'less Sol, "but how to git away with itis now the question."

　　It was indeed a problem, vexing and likewise dangerous. Asentinel, musket on shoulder, walked up and down in front of theSpanish navy, and he seemed to be very wide awake. Moreover, twomen slept in each boat.

　　"We must get that sentinel somehow," said Henry, "not tohurt him, but to see that he doesn't talk for the next half houror so."

　　"What's your idea?" asked the shiftless one.

　　Henry whispered to him rapidly and Sol grinned withsatisfaction.

　　"Good enough," said the shiftless one. "It'll work," and hecrept away from Henry deep in the bushes a little west of thesentinel. A moment or two later the Spaniard on watch wasstartled by a sharp, warning hiss from the edge of the thicket.He knew very well what made it - a rattlesnake, a thing that heloathed and feared. He certainly did not want such a deadlyreptile sliding through the grass on his feet, and, clubbing hismusket, he walked forward, looking intently for the venomousthing. He did not see it at first and all his faculties becameabsorbed in the search. Holding the clubbed musket ready for aninstant blow he peered into the grass and short bushes. He was aSpaniard not without courage, but he was oppressed by the night,the wilderness, the huge river flowing by, and his feeling thathe was far, very far, from Spain. Under the circumstances, thepoisonous hiss inspired him with an intense dread and he waseager to slay. He leaned a little farther, swinging the musketbutt back and forth, ready for a quick blow when he should seethe target.

　　He did not hear a light step behind him, but he did feel apowerful arm grasp him around the waist, pinning his own arms tohis side, while a hand was clasped over his mouth, checking theready cry that could not pass his lips. Then before his startingeyes a figure rose out of the bushes whence the hiss had come.It was not that of a rattlesnake, but that of a man, a tall manwith powerful shoulders, blue eyes, and yellow hair, undoubtedlyone of the ferocious Americans.

　　The sentinel felt that his hour had come, and he began topatter his prayers in his throat, but the two Americans, the onebefore him, and the one who had grasped him from behind, did notslay him at once. Instead they said words together in theirharsh tongue. Then they tore pieces from the sentinel's clothing,made a wad of it and pressed it into his mouth. They also tied astrip from the same clothing over his mouth and behind his head,and, still despoiling his clothing, they bound him hand and footand laid him in the bushes, where he was invisible to hiscomrades 'and could only see a sky in which a few dim starsdanced. But on the whole he was glad. They had not killed himas he had expected, and the gag in his mouth was soft. Moreover,his comrades would surely find him in time and release him.

　　Henry and Shif'less Sol turned away and smiled again at eachother.

　　"Not much trouble, that," whispered the shiftless one. "Hewuz shorely a skeered Spaniard ef I kin read a man's face. Guesshe wuz glad to get off ez easy ez he did. Now fur the boat!"

　　"Here we are," said Henry. "We must pitch out the two mensleeping in it - you take one and I'll take the other - and thenwe must seize the oars and pull like mad, because the whole campwill be up."

　　The boat was tied with a rope to a stout sapling and twoSpanish soldiers slumbered in great peace inside. The oars laybeside them. Henry cut the rope with one sweep of hislong-bladed hunting-knife, and then he and Shif'less Sol spranginto the boat. Each seized a man by the shoulders and lifted himin his powerful arms. It was a chance that one of the sleeperswas Luiz, and, when he was snatched suddenly from blissful dreamsto somber fact, he opened his eyes to see bending over him thesame grave, tanned being who had rescued him from the ragingbuffalo.

　　But it was not a beneficent spirit, because Luiz was tossedbodily the next moment into three feet of muddy water. Heuttered a cry of terror and despair as he went down, and anotherSpaniard uttered a similar cry at the same moment. Both crieswere cut off short by mouthfuls of the Mississippi, but the twoSpaniards came up a moment later, and began to wade hastily tothe shore. Each cast a frightened glance behind him, and sawtheir boat disappearing on the river's bosom, carrying the twoevil spirits with it.

　　"I shorely enjoyed that," said Shif'less Sol, as the oarsbent beneath his powerful stroke. "That Spaniard's face as hewoke up an' found hisself whirled out into the Mississippi w'uzthe funniest thing I ever seed, an' I had the fun, too, withouthurting him. It ain't often, Paul, that you kin do what you needto do an' be full o' laugh, too, an' so when the time comes Imake the most o' it."

　　"It was worth seeing," said Henry, "and we've been in greatluck, too. There, hear 'em! They've got the water out of theirmouths and are giving tongue again! Pull, Sol! Pull!"

　　Loud shouts came from the sentinels who had risen from theirbath and it was followed by cries in the Spanish camp. Torchesflared, there was the sound of running footsteps, and duskyfigures appeared at the river's bank.

　　"Pull, Sol! Pull!" exhorted Henry again. "We're not yet outof range!"

　　Shots were fired and bullets pattered on the water but nonereached the boat. They heard angry cries, imprecations, and theysaw one figure apparently giving commands, which they were surewas that of Francisco Alvarez.

　　"Now if they had our Kentucky rifles and real marksmen,"said Shif'less Sol, "they could pick you an' me off without anytrouble. Thar's light enough. But with them old bell-mouthedmuskets they can't do much. No, Henry, we're bold pirates on thehigh seas an' we've been an' took a Spanish gallyun - ain't thatwhat they call their treasure ships? 'Pears to me, Henry, Ikinder like bein' a pirate, 'specially when you do the takin',an' ain't took yourself."

　　"That's so," laughed Henry, "but we'd better keep pulling,Sol, with all our might. They're sure to pursue, and, as theyhave plenty of men for the oars, we need all the start that wecan get."

　　They were well out in the middle of the stream now, and thedeep, powerful current of the Mississippi was aiding themgreatly, but both glanced back. The shore was lined with men andanother volley was fired. All the bullets fell short, andShif'less Sol laughed contemptuously.

　　"Now they are beginnin' the pursuit," he said.

　　Four boats had been cut loose, and, filled with Spaniards,they were pushed from the bank. Henry turned the prow of theirown boat until it bore in a slanting direction toward the easternshore.

　　"What's your plan?" asked the shiftless one.

　　"The river, you know, has overflowed on the eastern shoreover there for three or four miles; we must lose ourselves in theforest on that side."

　　"An' let 'em pass us?"

　　"That's just it. We want 'em to go on ahead of us toLouisiana, while we follow. Besides we've got to pick up Pauland Jim and Tom."

　　Shouts arose from the pursuers and more shots were fired,but they were still beyond the range of the Spanish muskets andthe two were untouched. They were not even alarmed.

　　"There's a lot of confusion in the boats," said Henry, wholooked back again with a critical eye, "and as they don't pulltogether they're not gaining. The night is also growing darkerand that helps us, too. Keep it up, Sol."

　　"All right," said the shiftless one, increasing his stroke."It's fine to be a pirate, Henry. Wonder why I never tried itafore! But I believe I'll always be a pirate at night whenyou've got more chance to git away."

　　"You're right as usual, Sol," said Henry as he, too,increased his stroke.

　　They pulled away for some time without further words, andthe pursuers, also, settled into silence save for an encouragingshout now and then to the rowers. Henry thought that hediscerned both Alvarez and Braxton Wyatt in the foremost boat andhe could imagine the rage and chagrin of both.

　　"I believe they're gaining," he said presently to Sol.

　　"Yes," replied the shiftless one, "that big boat thar iscreepin' up."

　　"Crack!" came a report and a bullet embedded itself in thestout wood of their own boat. Both recognized the report. Itwas not that of a Spanish musket, but the lashing fire of aKentucky rifle like their own.

　　"That was Braxton Wyatt," said Henry. "I thought I couldmake him out in that boat. He's got a rifle that reaches andhe's a danger."

　　"Why don't you talk back?" asked Shif'less Sol.

　　"I will," replied Henry. "We're not at war with Spain, butwe are surely at war with Braxton Wyatt. I think the second manin the boat is Braxton. Hold her steady just a second, Sol."

　　Henry shipped his oars, knelt a moment, and up went thelong, slender barrel of his Kentucky rifle. As he looked downthe sight he was sure that the man at whom he was aiming wasBraxton Wyatt, and he was sure, moreover, that he would not miss.But a feeling for which he could not account made him deflectslightly the muzzle of his weapon.

　　Braxton Wyatt richly deserved death for crimes already doneand he would be, as long as he lived, a deadly menace to theborder. But Henry felt that he could not be both judge andexecutioner. He and Braxton Wyatt had been young boys together.So, when he deflected the muzzle of his rifle, it was to turn thebullet from his heart to his arm.

　　The rifle flashed, the sharp report echoed over the flowingwaters, and a cry of pain came from the pursuing boat, whichquickly slackened its speed.

　　"I hit him in the arm only," said Henry.

　　Shif'less Sol glanced at his comrade and he understood, buthe made no criticism.

　　"Ef you've stung him in the arm," he said, "it ain't likelythat he kin use that rifle o' his ag'in, an' I notice, too, sinceyou shot that them oarsmen ain't burnin' up with zeal. Now yourow, Henry, while I plunk a bullet in among 'em, an' they'll burnless than ever."

　　Shif'less Sol fired. He did not shoot to kill, but hisbullet whistled unpleasantly near the heads of the rowers, and,as he had predicted, they rapidly lost zeal. The captured boatslid swiftly ahead.

　　"Here we are among the trees," said Henry. "Now, Sol, keepon rowing and I'll look out that we don't run into anything."

　　The swollen waters rose far up on the trunks of the trees,which grew thickly here, and Sol rowed slowly, making no noisesave a slight ripple, while Henry pushed the prow of the boataway from the trunks and the bushes. It was very dark here and ina few minutes the pursuing boats were shut out of sight.

　　"Thar ain't eyes enough in that Spanish camp to find usnow," said Shif'less Sol.

　　But they rowed deeper and deeper into the forest, and then,in a cluster of trees where they could not be seen ten feet away,they stopped and listened. Not a sound but the lapping of thewater came to their ears.

　　"We'll take a good rest and then row Northward, stillkeeping in the forest," said Henry.

　　They shipped their oars and drew long, deep breaths ofrelief and satisfaction.

　　"Henry," said Shif'less Sol presently in a tone of greatexultation, "have you noticed that this is a shore enoughgall-yun that we've took? We didn't know it, but we jest boardedand sailed away with a real treasure ship. Look!"

　　He opened a locker and took out two fine ornamented guns."What are these?" he said.

　　"Why, those are fowling pieces," replied Henry, "and theyare of the very best English make. We'll certainly borrow those,Sol."

　　"Yes, an' this end o' the locker is full o' powder an' shotfur 'em. Thar's no lack o' ammunition, an' look here, Henry, atthese!"

　　He took out of another locker three beautiful rapiers withpolished hilts and decorated scabbards.

　　"Spaniards like sech tools ez these," continued theshiftless one, "an' they're mighty purty to look at, but ez furme give me my good old Kentucky rifle. At a hundred yards whatchance would them things have ag'in me?"

　　"We'll borrow them, too," said Henry. "We may have a use forthem later on. They're weapons that never have to be reloaded."

　　Sol drew forth one of the small swords and held it up so ashaft of moonlight fell across the blade, and showed the keenedge.

　　"They're such fine weepins they must hey belonged to thatthar Spanish commander hisself," he said. "After all, a thinglike this mightn't be bad when you come to it right close. MebbePaul could handle it. You know Mr. Pennypacker used to teach himhow to swing the sword. This is how it goes: Ah, ha! Aa ha!touched you thar! How's that my hearty!"

　　Shif'less Sol lunged at the night air, slashed, cut, swepthis sword around in circles, and then laughed again. But none ofhis exclamations was uttered above a whisper. Henry was forcedto smile.

　　"Put it down, Sol," he said, "and let's see what else we'vegot. It may be that we've taken Alvarez's own private boat."

　　Sol opened the locker again, and held up a curiously shapedstone jug, which he contemplated for a few moments. Then he tookout the topper, smelled the contents, and looked appreciativelyat his comrade.

　　"Henry," he said, "I'm going to risk it."

　　"It's no risk."

　　Sol turned the jug up to his lips, took a mouthful, which heheld for a moment or two, and then swallowed. After waiting ahalf minute he uttered a deep sigh of content, and rubbed hischest.

　　"It tasted good all the way down, Henry," he said. "Here'ssomething writ over the label, but I guess it's Spanish, anothero' them useless tongues, an' so it tells nothin'."

　　"Put it back," said Henry. "It's some of those fancyliquors, but we'll keep it for times when we're wet or cold ortired out."

　　"All right," said Sol, "an' here's three more little jugslike it."

　　"What else do you find?" asked Henry.

　　"Oh, look at these, will you!" exclaimed Sol, holding up twosplendid double barreled duelling pistols of Spanish make.

　　"Now I'm sure that this is the boat of Alvarez himself,"said Henry. "Such fine things as these could belong only to theCommander. Those are duelling pistols, Sol, but they can be mademighty useful, too, for our defense in case of a pinch. We'llkeep them, too."

　　The shiftless one put them back and opening another lockeruttered a little cry of delight.

　　"A hull carpenter shop!" he exclaimed. "Jest look, Henry! Afine axe, hammers an' hatchets, an' saws an' augers an' a lot o'other things pow'ful useful to fellers like us that have to cutan' bore their own way out here in the woods. This is shorelyone o' them gall-yuns that Paul tells us about, an' I guess we'reabout ez highfalutin' an lucky pirates ez any o' them."

　　"You're right, Sol," said Henry. "This boat is a great find,and it's lawful prize as they began the war upon us by seizingPaul. Keep on looking, Sol."

　　"Here's some beautiful blankets," continued the shiftlessone. "Guess they were made to trade with the Injuns. But it'smore'n likely that this here most gorg-y-us one will, onoccasions, shelter, warm, purtect an' otherwise care fur thedeservin' body o' one Solomon Hyde, a highly valooable citizen o'the new country they call Kentucky. An' say, Henry, what do youcall this?"

　　His voice took a rapidly rising inflection, as he held up aglittering garment, puffed with magnificent lace.

　　"That," said Henry, "is what they call a doublet, and Ishould say that it is the finest one belonging to CaptainAlvarez. Oh, won't he be angry!"

　　Sol slipped off his hunting shirt, and slipped on thedoublet.

　　"It's a little tight in the shoulders," he said, "but Icould wear it in a pinch, that is, I guess I'd hey to wear it ina pinch. Say, Henry, ain't I a beauty?"

　　He stood up in the boat and turned slowly around and around,his arms extended and the doublet glittering. Henry leanedagainst the side of the boat and laughed.

　　"It doesn't suit you, Sol," he replied, "you're a finelooking man, but it's in your own way, not the Spanish way."

　　Sol took off the garment, folded it up carefully, and put itback in the locker.

　　"Anyway, I'm goin' to claim it," he said. "I want it to makeJim Hart jealous. An', Henry, thar's a lot more things here, alittle tent all rolled up, some bottles o' medicine, some moreclothes, two big bottles o' brandy, and a whole lot o'housekeepin' truck, like pins an' needles an' thread, an' themthings that kin be pow'ful useful to us on a long journey. An'jumpin' Jehoshaphat, Henry, here's a little bag o' silver an'gold!"

　　"Put that back!" said Henry hastily. "Put it back, Sol! Theirgoods we'll borrow as fair spoil, but we won't touch their money.Put it back and none of us will ever take that bag out again."

　　"You're right, Henry," said Sol soberly. "I wouldn't handlea single coin in that bag thar. Here she goes right under thebottom o' everything in this locker, an' thar she'll stay. But,Henry, our gall-yun is the biggest find we ever made in ourlives. I never dreamed o' travelin' in sech style an' comfortdown the Mississippi."

　　"Do you think it's going to grow lighter?" asked Henry.

　　"No," replied Sol decidedly. "It's been a shy kind o' moonto-night, an' it's a gittin' so much shyer that it's plumb afraidto show its face. In three minutes it will hide behind a bigcloud that's edgin' up over thar, an' we won't see it no moreto-night."

　　"Then we'll pull down to the edge of the woods and see ifthe Spaniards have given up the chase."

　　"An' be keerful not to run into any snags or sech like. Wedon't want to wreck a magnificent gallyun like this when we'vegot her."

　　They had been lying in the flooded forest about two hours,and now they pulled very cautiously toward the main stream. Itwas a large boat for two men, however strong, to handle, but theygot through without colliding with snag or tree trunk, or makingany noise that could be heard a dozen yards away.