Into it they rushed with such ferocious yells and so terrific a fusillade
of shots that the frightened inhabitants, taken utterly by surprise, fled
in mortal terror, leaving the place to its captors. These quickly seized a
number of horses, and made haste to retreat on their backs, hotly pursued
by the Spaniards, who soon discovered to what a handful of men they had
surrendered their city.
On receiving the report of their scouts, the freebooters determined on the
desperate venture. They had little to convey except their spoil, which,
the result of numerous raids, was valued at about one million dollars. It
chiefly consisted of gold and jewels, all heavier valuables, even silver,
being left in great part behind, as too heavy to carry. The spoil was very
unequally owned, since the gambling which had gone on actively among them
had greatly varied the distribution of their wealth. To overcome the anger
and jealousy which this created among the poorer, those with much to carry
shared their portions among their companions, with the understanding that,
if they reached the Antilles in safety, half of it should be returned.
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