Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/220

200 overladen ships of the buccaneers it would probably have been successful; but instead of instant action a council of officers was summoned, and while they were yet in deliberation, the pirates, crowding all sail, made good their escape.

Before leaving the island of Sacrificios a partition was made of the spoils, which were divided into 1,200 shares; and it was found that each share amounted to 800 pesos, the total being valued at 960,000 pesos. Van Horn demanding for himself 80 shares or 64,000 pesos. Lorencillo appears to have been dissatisfied with his portion, for he quarrelled with the former concerning the dividend, and the dispute ended in a duel in which Van Horn was wounded in the wrist. The commander of the buccaneers paid no attention to his hurt, for trifling wounds were not regarded among his fraternity; but this neglect cost him his life. His wrist grew worse; soon mortiflcation set in; and when fifteen days out at sea, he was thrown overboard, a corpse, off Cape Yucatan, The plunder on board his vessel, amounting to one hundred thousand pesos, was bequeathed to his son, a youth of twelve, and the command of his ship devolved on Grammont, his lieutenant.