Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Tt will avail you little to know,” replied the more taciturn prisoner. of Spéak freely, in order that Lmay indge of eh a matter,” replied our hero, with a slight abruptness. ‘‘ Well; then,. Tomaz Sebastien. is my pAMes I was called also the ‘ Tiger of, the jSea.?’’;.. “Tf T am‘not mistaken, you jwere. the. pirate I chased in} company with your friend the aideaply exeerated Barabbas 2”. .;, “Yes ; 1 was his best puawaend am now his worst foe,” | “Wherefore?” “ He was the leader Of the hana who, two monthe | since, surprised the castle of a Same grandee on the neighbourin g coast. _ “Tt wag richly stored, and avarice tempted | the pirate to. possess the wealth report gave out it contained. ‘We, the daring rovers of the main, ascended the cliffs on which the structure stood by ladders of sapling, drawn ‘up. by, an accomplice who had | sought the service of its master., “The eagle screamed around us’ as we hung *twixt heayen and earth. “The tide.and wave roared a) ainst the ¥ock, and dashed asunder our brave ak iff, yet the heart of no man failed him—in the morniug there was blood and ashes where there had been peace and joyance at sunset.” “Thave heard of this matter,” interrupted Roving Jack. “During the attack an ane bid! Oath had pos- sessed himself of a diamond necklace, which Barabbas demanded as his shate of the” booty, a request that was refused by him’ who ‘held the spoil. Exasperated; the As, chieftain drew his knife. “And the boy fell lifeless from ‘its pean | blbw.” : “That boy,” continued Seuaaient sé Wal my son, and I vowed sere break,”’ ‘* It may be so, for I must confess that reyenge is a sweet morsel ; but, before you attempt»to carry out your purpose, be careful that/he is;mendered © harmless. I know the monster before to ‘day,and should he suspect, you hé-may change the manner of © your execution from simple hanging -to breaking your limbs on the wheel with the coulter of) a plough, or puning you to death otherwise by tortures)? He does suspect me, and, for that reason, cae confined. me:a» “prisoner in this living tomb, for he will never again permit me ‘to quit it with lite. ss ‘Your hate still:éndures ?” ‘‘Yes, and wil endure for ever; dearer to me was the child that fell by the-yhand ofthe base: Barab- bas than the five sons who are: mouldering in earth, or, are-preyed upon, by the fowls of the air,”’ : There. was,.a brief pause, then the aged pirate continued his ESA: in a tone of strong emotion. “ Yes, my. sons, b! ‘ood i my blood, bone of. my bone, they are all dead. Why should I wish.to survive them? The old trunk, will feel less. the rending up of its roots than .it, has felt the lopping off of its branches ; but my favourite offspring must be avenged. ‘The ‘old eagle must stoop on his.foe, I will purchase, for my boy’ 8 sake, life and freedom, by discovering his assassin to his direst enemies. ee ‘You may attain your end more easily,” said a third voice, mingling in the conference, * by en- trusting your seeret to me,” All pirates are superstitious, . Tomaz Sebastien was no exception to the rule, the shade of a. dark Jantern, by. whose ‘Peveril, young English’ mariner. It'is a vow that IL will never “The aya enemy, of ae naa is Ammons us ! "he cried, springing;to his feet.» \iav © mo His manacles and chains, plattexed: -as he rose, while he drew himself.as far.as they | “permitted fromthe quarter | whence. the voice apposed to proceed, - hives jon Pe His fear in some degree Ferrata PEO ment. to,our~ Mero, who, LiKe WAC: barneds his Sate to. | the same Spot.s: to fy There, is. no; cause Ear eared ed HS voice that had’ been heard. -before ; ‘ though. L come strangely among, you, Iam a mortal like yourselves, | and my) assistance |may avail you, in ;your present strait, if you are-not too,proud to, be counselled.” . While: the. new-comer, thus spoke, he_ withdrew eeble glimmer Roving Jack could. only. discern that the speaker who had thus mysteriously, united “himself | to their fellowship was a young man, and habited in the costume of one of the company a Als | own | sae “The Sy EneEt | . ‘3 } [ —_——-—---— . ‘ o CHAPTER Uxxxn ae it THE PIRATES’ DUNGEON—HOW ROVING JACK AND “ELLEN PEVERIE CONTRIVED TO “GET OUT OF THE SAME. THE first since of our hero was at the feet of, the stranger. . .. +: But he, saw, neither the cloven, Foot. which the ancient legends assign to the foul, fiend; nor the horse’s hoof by which his satanic majesty. 1s distin - | guished 1 in central Evrope, On a closer Scrutiny he was delighted to find that the supernatural intruder. was no other than Ellen who still maintained her disguise as a “So, Jack,” she cried, in a lively manner, 2G took me for an evil spirit, aad supposed I: “passed to you through the keyhole of yonder doot, which, by- the-bye, I have made secure’ to prevent any inter- ruption during our discourse.” ‘Ellen,’ answered the. Pibaesiain ts, r3 you are a brave cirl, and deserve the laurels of a hero forthe part you have taken in our dangerous entérprise ; : but, tell me what-diseovery you hive made; for, by the bright beaming of your‘eye, I can readily learn that some adventure has befallen you.? =>")! ‘“‘T shall not reserve my: secret,” she’ cried. The remainingcaptive, either in suspicion or dis- dain, paid no attention to the conversation that had taken place between his fellow-prisoners. | ‘Are’ you! aware: that death ‘awaits ug 270: adil Ellen; addressing Sébastien ; . ‘Sand that tomorrow you will leave this dreary place for the gibbet.” “Those who; are’ dearest ito mo,” pes he, ““have trod that path before me,” “Then you would do BOLD E to shun followin’ them,” , The pirate writhed in his chains before answer- ing— “I would do much,” he at length pxalapried « “not for my own life, but for the sacred vow J have taken to have Rotaldo’ ‘8 life,?? “Rotaldo Mo altail Yes; he who commands this; stronghold i in the absence ‘of our chief Bayabbas,... Even this morning it. was my purpose to,have stabbed him to.the heart, but at)the sound, of footsteps, my. hand forsook the dagger, and the hourof revenge had passed away.” “Good; Isee I)may trust you, . But it is,getuing late, and; we have much on our hands. I doubt not you ‘will do ee ae for your liberty.” ek FoOmichbooks=Ge