“The act was of sufficient gravity to daunt even the chosen crew of cutthroats captained by Pierre, had the proposed prey been anything but Spanish, since it was plain piracy. For two days the sloop ran on before a northerly wind, swinging down into the Caribbean Sea, but sighting no craft. On the third afternoon out Pierre spied a galleon, one of the Panama pearl fleet, which had been separated from its sister vessels in a recent hurricane. Until night shut down, he craftily kept away toward the windward horizon. Then, under cover of the darkness, he swiftly and silently approached, coming alongside at daybreak. The entire twenty-eight buccaneers boarded the galleon, leaving their sloop adrift.
“Six men rushed headlong to the gunroom, taking immediate possession. Six more went to the clumsy steering apparatus, while Pierre, with the remaining fifteen, hove the morning watch overboard and made for the cabin. On bursting into the captain’s room, Pierre found the worthy Don playing at cards with his officers, and discussing a goodly measure of Madeira.
“Before the captain could speak, the pirates swarmed into the apartment, and covered the group with their pistols. In less than three minutes the prize was theirs. The crew were marooned, and the galleon taken to France, where, she and her cargo quickly disposed of, the buccaneers left with all speed to rendezvous at the Tortuga.
“When the intelligence of this exploit reached the Tortoise, the entire island was thrown into a hubbub. Nothing was thought of but to go buccaneering for galleons. Brig after brig and ship after ship were fitted out, and in a year this species of piracy became a recognized business. Ten years later the Spanish commerce in these waters had been almost entirely destroyed. The sea was forsaken for the richer prizes on land. The rich capital of Campeche was sacked, to be, in turn, followed by Panama, and the curers of beef had become such a power as to attract the attention of every nation.”
“Is that all?” Gil asked, as Nelse ceased reading.
“Every word, and it isn’t such a bad sort of story, except that there’s not more than half enough. I wonder why your father has been keeping it in the chest?”
“I don’t believe he knew it was here. But look at the rest of this stuff! Do you suppose these have anything to do with the piece of newspaper?”
As he spoke, Gil picked up the other articles, and he and Nelse were gazing at them in perplexity when Captain Mansfield entered the attic.