or. At length, however, a large number of the pirates being
killed or wounded. Teach was about to blow up his ship. Before,
however, he could get below, his ship was boarded by his enemies, and he
had to defend himself from the attack of the gallant English officer.
For a long time he fought most desperately, but at last he was brought
on his knees; and as he would not surrender, he was cut down, and died
on the spot. Scarcely a third of his men were taken alive, and they
were mostly wounded. His head was cut off and carried to Virginia,
where it was stuck on a pole; and where the greater number of the
pirates taken were hung in chains, to show to others what very likely
would be their fate if they should design to follow the same course."

"Why, you seem to know so much about the matter, I suppose you were
there, sir," said one of the passengers, intending his remark to be
jocose.

"That is possible, young 'un," answered the old gentleman, fixing his
eyes on the speaker. "Perhaps I formed part of the pirate crew; but you
don't fancy I was hung, do you?"

The young man did not venture a reply.

"I'll tell you where I saw some service," continued the old gentleman.
"The Spaniards had for a long time ruled it insultingly over the English
in these seas, fancying that, because we didn't bark, we could not bite.
At last a fleet was fitted out in England, and despatched to the West
Indies, under the command of Admiral Vernon, in 1739. He first touched
at Jamaica, where he refreshed his men, and took on board a body of
troops and some pilots, as well as provisions; and, on the 5th of
November, sailed for the Spanish town of Porto Bello, which lies on the
north side of the Isthmus of Darien. Its harbour and strong forts
afforded protection to the Guarda Costas, or Spanish cruisers, which
attempted to put a stop to the commerce of other nations in these seas;
and it was, likewise, the great rendezvous of the Spanish merchants from
various quarters. The town consisted of five or six hundred houses, and
some public buildings. The inhabitants depended almost entirely on the
fair, which was held there every two or three years, and which lasted
about six weeks. The fair took place according to the time when the
galleons arrived from Carthagena, where they first touched to dispose of
part of their goods. At Porto Bello they were met by the merchants from
Lima and Panama, who came, with millions of dollars, to purchase t