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A First Latin Reader/95

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Lesson 95
A Prize Won and Lost (Continued)
1912
 94. A Prize Won and Lost 96. A Mysterious Disappearance 
LESSON 95
A Prize Won and Lost (Continued)

Interīm pīrātae longam nāvem Americānam dē saxīs ētrūserant; quam ob rem captīvī scīlicet etiam molestius ferēbant nāvem suam in hostium potestātem vēnisse: itaque eōrum dux, Bēnbrigius nomine, litterās clam mīsit, quibus hortātus est alium praefectum Americānum, quī eōdem in marī nāvigābat, ut cīvibus auxiliō venīret praedamque ē manibus hostium ēripere cōnārētur. Ille, litterīs acceptīs, suspīciōnis vītandae causa liburnicam mīsit; quae nocte intempestā portum ingressa, ad nāvem longam cursū tam incertō nāvigāvit, ut pīrātae quī in eā custōdiās agēbant, veritī nē liburnica in nāvem inlīderētur, magnā voce gubernātōrī imperārent ut ancorās iaceret. Is autem respondit ancorās āmissās esse.

Quō responsō dēceptī, pīrātae liburnicam vagantem propius accēdere patiēbantur, cum subitō ex eā septuāgintā armātī gladiīs dēstrīctīs in nāvem longam ascendērunt atque in hostīs perturbātōs impetum fēcērunt ācerrimum. Pīrātae fortissimē dīmicāvērunt; brevī autem paene ad ūnum occīsī sunt. Tum, cum reliquī sē in mare iēcissent, ignēs multīs simul locīs nāvī longae Americānī ipsī admōvērunt, quattuorque tantum vulnerātīs, liburnicā salvā ad classem sē recēpērunt.

Paulō post oppidum ipsum classe est oppugnātum, atque invītus rēx pīrātārum captīvēs Americānōs incolumēs abīre patī coāctus est.

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