gan.

"Ay, ay, sir, and quick!"

"Aloft!" yelled Morgan, "and take in the to'gallant s'l's. Close reef
the tops'l's and double reef the courses then."

The shaking shrouds were soon covered with masses of men, and as the
ship was exceedingly well handled the canvas was promptly snugged down
by the eager crew. Hornigold with young Teach to assist him went to the
helm. Morgan gave his personal attention to the manoeuvering of the
ship, and the other officers stationed themselves where they could best
promote and direct the efforts of the seamen.

Thus during the long morning they endeavored to claw off the lee shore.
Morgan luffed the ship through the heavy squalls which rose to the
violence of a hurricane, with consummate skill. Absolutely fearless, a
master of his profession, he did all with that ship that mortal man
could have done, yet their situation became more and more precarious.
They had long since passed La Guayra. They had had a fleeting glimpse of
the shipping in the harbor driving helplessly on shore as they dashed by
under the gray clouds which had overspread the sea. That town was now
hidden from them by a bend of the coast, and they found themselves in a
curious bight of land, extending far into the ocean in front of them.
The mountains here did not so nearly approach the water-line, and from
the look of the place there appeared to be a shoal projecting some
distance into the ocean from the point ahead. Some of the buccaneers who
knew these waters confirmed the indications by asserting the existence
of the shoal.

In spite of all that Morgan could do it was quite evident that they
could not weather the shoal on their present tack. There was not
sea-room to wear and bear up on the other tack. The vessel, in fact,
like all ships in those days and especially Spanish galleons, had a
tendency to go to leeward like a barrel, and only Morgan's resourceful
seamanship had saved them from the fatal embraces of the shore long
since. The canvas she was carrying was more than she could legitimately
bear in such a hurricane. If there had been sea-room Morgan would have
stripped her to bare poles long since, but under the circumstances it
was necessary for him to retain full control and direction of the ship;
so, although he reduced sail to the lowest point, he still spread a
little canvas.

The men were filled with apprehension, not only for their lives but,
such was their covetousness, for the treasure they had