Consider what a power they were, armed like that, and what an opportunity they had.

If they had been energetic men and sober, and had had brains and known how to use them, they could have achieved the sovereignty of the archipelago( -- )twenty-seven kings and each with eight or nine islands under his scepter.

But nothing came of this chance.

They lived worthless lives of sin and luxury, and died without honor--in most cases by violence.

Only one of them had any ambition; he was an Irishman named Connor.