Part 22 (1/2)
”Let no e town of our approach!” shouted Captain Rogers ”Catch all who dash for the canoes upon the beach!”
”Crush the bloomin' canoes!” yelled Cook, as he saw so towards them on the sandy shore ”Crush the canoes before the devils can get there!”
”All right!” answered several of his men, as they ran for the clusters of boats ”We'll put holes in them!”
As they hurried forward, several of the natives were ahead Two jumped into the bark boats and paddled furiously for Guayaquil The _zip_, _zip_ of bullets nipped the water around the their blades into the sea and got safely off As a result, the city was all ready and prepared for the invaders
”Ho! Ho!” laughed Rogers, as he thumbed the papers of the Lieutenant-Governor ”What is this?”
”A warning to the townsfolk of Guayaquil,” said one of his ers chuckled
”Beware, all you people”--he read--”of a squadron fro shortly upon you There will be full ten great shi+ps, heavily ue, William Dampier, will be in control,--he who has plundered Puna before Be on your guard, citizens! Be prepared! Ar captain ”They think I'h time with them, for they know that we mean to assault their pretty little town”
His followers looked soleht away,” cried several, ”before the Spaniards have tiers, however, would not hear of it
”We must rest Equip ourselves Place cannon in the bows of our boats, and then ill be ready”
His ers hadto dissuade him So they collected what plunder was to be had and awaited his further orders
Two days later all was ready for the advance It was near ht--upon April 22nd,--when the command was passed around:
”muffle your oars and take the town!”
With one hundred and ten men in the jolly boats, the privateers neared the sleepy, little seaport Not a sound broke the silence, save the drip, drip of the sweeps, yet, as they approached the white-washed walls of the lower town,--a bonfire was touched off upon the shore
”'Tis well,” whispered a stout sailor ”Noe can see to shoot!”
As he said this, hts appeared in the houses of Guayaquil The townspeople ide awake
”What uide, as piloting him to the shore
The fellow had a ready answer
”'Tis the celebration of All Saints Day,” he answered sood Christians”
”They know that we are colish captain, for, as the native spoke, a Spaniard upon the shore was heard to shout:
”Puna has been captured! The eneed frouns went off Blackinto the streets
Cannon roared, and a screeching shot spun ahead of the on-coers ”The alariven