Page 143 (1/1)

The luck that had been ours could not hold; when the tide turned, it ebbed fast

The weather changed One hurricane followed upon the stride of another, with only a blue day or two between Ofttialley slaves; and as the heavens darkened, there darkened also the reat island of Cuba we gave chase to a bark The sun was shining and the sea fairly still when first she fled before us; we gained upon her, and there was not a mile between us when a cloud blotted out the sun The next h The storm, not as victor over the bark; she sank with a shriek fro wind Two days later we fought a large caravel With a fortunate shot she brought down our foree of her own All that day and night the wind blew, driving us out of our course, and by daere as a shuttlecock between it and the sea We weathered the gale, but when the wind sank there fell on board that black ship asilence

In the state cabin I held a council of war Mistress Percy sat besideher eyes; h he listened glooa behind him, bit his nails and stared at the floor

"For myself I care not overmuch," ended the minister "I scorn not life, but think it at its worst orth the living; yet when ala day and triumph You are a soldier, Captain Percy, you and Diccon here, and kno to die You too, h a most wicked one For us four, we can drink the cup, bitter though it be, with little trereat voice broke, and he sat staring at the table

The King's ward uncovered her eyes "If I be not a man and a soldier, Master Sparrow," she said sientlemen I will die as they died before ht else" She looked at me with a proud smile