Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

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I2 THE COLLEGIAN. vessel so that in thirty minutes a flag of surrender went up. The crew of the Ranlion thought that being prisoners in the hands of that most dreaded pirate band could not be worse than the fiery or watery grave that they saw opening to them. So they surrendered and'were taken from their burning ship to that of the brigands. Jack saw that at last he had found adventureg yes, and ex- citement, plenty of it. The leader of the band was a hard man with a stern dark look, sharp cutting black eyes, and a harsh voice that could al- ways be heard above everything else storming commands to his sailors. 'lack went in line with the other prisoners to the lower deck, where they were left chained together until they should get to the port of the pirate's den. He had often heard of the deeds of this dreaded pirate band. The cruel things they did were spoken of in awed tones by all. A person was never known to escape when so unlucky as to fall into the hands of such a captor. After a three days' sail south the vessel came to port at a little island, which was unknown to any of the crew of the Ran- lion. It was unknown to the world and was held by the pirate band as their den. lt was scarcely more than a mile square. In the centre, surrounded by trees and much undergrowth, was a castle, dark, grey and very forbidding in its appearance. It was surrounded by a high wall with a huge iron gate in front, which was well barred and locked and was guarded by a very fierce looking soldier. Inside of this wall was a clear compound of some size and then one came to the door of the castle itself. This was barred almost as securely as the gate and guarded well. As the prisoners were led up from the ship these great gates were opened to admit them, and it was with the greatest fear that they would never see the outside world again that they saw these barriers close behind them. Jack went with the prisoners, and it was with the greatest minuteness that he took in every detail along the way. He was going in there to come

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THE COLLEGIAN. II leave, it was with a very dejected, hopeless feeling that he signed his name. the last of a list of passengers to sail on the morrow for Spain, where they would change the little ship, The Crest for the man-of-war Ranlion which would bear them back to the new world. ' His search had been fruitless. This world was a farce after all. nothing to suit this wild. romantic character. nothing of a nature exciting enough to arouse his interest. He had given up in despair and was now going home to try to be content with Common things, with teas and parties and banquets and all such fuss as they have in a fashionable place: but he hated it all. It was the last day of the voyage before they would come to the Acklin island and there they would stay in port all night. But before they reached this island a very funny thing hap- pened, a very unusual thing that made .lack start from his deck chair, drop his book, open l1is sleepy eyes and wonder. He gave a low whistle a11d then got up. The captain saw it too and looked very hard for a moment, the11 a troubled expression came over his usually pleasant face. He left his post very abruptly and went to the mate who was at the other end of the deck. They both looked very hard for a few minutes at the object of concern. Qne or two straggling deck walkers looked that way and stopped when their eyes fell on the object. No one said a word. but somehow all feared something. The ap- pearance of that object over the bend of the sea seemed to send a terrible spell over them. The object was a Hag or ban- ner of black on the topmast of a ship, on which could be seen embroidered in the cruelest red a skull and cross bones, with a sword overhanging. Later a second and then a third, both like the first, came into view. No one on board said a word to his companion, but the pale faces and terrified looks told each other plainly enough what was feared. The captain ordered the propeller to have full sway and told the soldiers to see to the guns and ammunitiong they might need them. llut it was useless. for in a few moments the great sea monsters swooped down upon them like some bird of prey and stormed the little

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THE COLLEGIAN. I3 out again, not to die as all before him had done. His whole being tingled with life and activity. He was at last awake, fully awake to the present situation. He had traveled all over the world to get waked up, and when back home, at his very door, he found the greatest call to his daring spirit he could ever wish. Inside the First gate all was alive with excitement, men were hurrying here and there with loads of stuff, the booty of some poor ships, and putting it away. They were storing the bags of wheat and all such spoils in great barns that were now filled while all valuables, such as bags of gold, silver and jewels, were taken to a vault in the castle. The underground floor of the castle was all used for dun- geons and it was here, with a number of other unfortunate prisoners, that the crew of the Ranlion was placed. ,lacks cell was a very dark, damp place with no window at all and no noticeable break in the stone wall, when viewed with a careless eye and by the light of a tiny candle. Here Jack stayed for three weeks without seing any one, except the boy who brought his meals. Things seemed rather gloomy and he was getting rather low spirited when one day he made a discovery. He had examined the wall several times, but not very closely, and today he de- cided to test them with his penknife again and see if by chance there should be some loose stone that would in some way aid him in his pull for the outer world. In the very back corner he found a loose pebble. He pulled it out and to his surprise there was a hollow space behind it. He quickly pulled away another and saw the cavity growing considerably larger. Hope sprang up in his breast and gave him strength to go on with greater zest, for here was a way to change the monotony of these four square walls, and perhaps-dared he hope so-a way to get out. He tugged away for an hour and then he had cleared an opening some three feet high and two feet wide in the back of his cell. He took his candle and trembling very much stepped, or rather crawled through the opening and then found himself in a long, dark passage. lt was high enough for