Old Virginia and her neighbours

354 OLD VIRGINIA AND HER NEIGHBOURS.the chief command, and it was decided to capturePanama. On arriving at the isthmus they stormedthe castle at the mouth of the river Chagres andput the garrison to the sword. Thus they gainedan excellent base of operations. Leaving partof his force to guard castle and fleet, Morgan atthe head of 1,200 men made the difficult journeyacross the isthmus in nine days. Panama was notfortified, but a force of 2,000 infantry and 400horse confronted the buccaneers.In an obstinatebattle, without quarter asked or given, the Spaniardslost 600 men and gave way. The city wasthen at the mercy of the victors. It containedSackaboutof7,000 houses and some handsomePanama.churchcs, but Morgan set fire to it inseveral places, and after a couple of days nearlyall these buildings were in ashes. By the light ofthose flames most hideous atrocities were to be seen,— such a carnival of cruelty and lust as would havedisgraced the Middle Ages. After three bestialweeks the buccaneers departed with a long trainof mules laden with booty, and several hundredprisoners, most of whom were held for ransom.Among these were many gentlewomen and children,whom Morgan treated savagely. He keptthem half dead with hunger and thirst, and sworethat if they failed to secure a ransom he woidd sellthem for slaves in Jamaica. Exquemeling drawsa pathetic picture of the poor ladies kneeling andimploring at Morgan's feet while their starvingchildren moaned and cried ; the only effect uponthe ruffian was to make him ask them how muchransom they might hope to secure if these things