Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

- ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 175°. s U i We Anything but forego my revenge.” “Tts hour is at‘Hand !” was the'exclamation of a fresh voice that seemed to issne from ‘the ‘same quarter in which Ellen*Peveril "had made her mys- terlous appearancé, As before, Roving Jack, and the no lesg surprised Sebastien, turned to’ encounter ‘a party of whose presence they had been unaware until now, ~ He appeared a’ stalwart man, and dressed in a costume combining the ‘attire ‘of a peer and a Mahomedan. His beard was so profuse that it literally seemed to cover his'face, while the shade that covered his left eye, and the uncertain light ‘of the dungeon, | most’ effectually concealed his features from view. ““’Who is this man?” exclaimed Jack, raising a _ bar. of iron.ready to-strike him down in the event of an unsatisfactory answer. ‘A friend, as his deeds" will show,” [returned Ellen. ‘How do you know that?’’ was the exclamation of our hero, who'still} with his unweiley ‘weapon, stood in an attitude at once of defence and attack.” *T encountered him as you quitted my side, and he might have betrayed me had he so desired ; ; but, in the place of molestation, he offered to protect me, while the wrongs he has suffered at the hands of these pirates, has made them his enemies as well as your own,” Yevel ‘How are you named, and what is _ your ooanpa: tion or calling 2” , “T bear the name, senor, of Juan Velasquez. oak am a native of Mangola, one.of the Moluccas, and at the pre-ent time act as warden to the keep now tenanted by the pirates, who hold the neighbouring Bir in aWes o But you yoursele are one of this merciless band,” »* Alas, senor, man cannot control his destiny,” « Why have you come hither?” _ “To. make proposals that will prove of service both to you and myself.’’. “What if I scorn, the friendship of a banditto and outlaw.” “You can have no hesitation when the guerdon is to be life and liberty. -fTIs such our paction ?” . “Upon the word of a Christian man,” replied the pirate, “Your frail promise,” said Jack, “i is an insecure alliance as our lives rest on it.” At this moment the murmur of voices, and the clattering of steel told the listeners that the passage which they had Eraversnds in entering was now filed with armed men. - The ‘total darkness which still roped therein prevented, them from immediately discovering the door of the dungeon in which the prisoners, were confined, and which they, as already stated, had fortunately fastened with its strong, ponderous and, iron bar. As the pirate received this intelligence, he rushed to remove the same, when he found himself seized from behind; and) held) firmly, and rendered power- less by the grasp of Roving Jack. His hirsute mask was now withdrawn, and;the features of the pasreete BUIBLE, Rotaldo, exposed to view, The attack of- our hero ‘was so sudden and unex- pected, that he easily prostrated his adversary on the floor of the dungeon, _— He held him down while his right hand was | pressed heavily on the captive’s throat, He was ready to stranzle him on the slightest attempt to call for‘assistance, © ~ “Treacherous hound !” exclaimed Jack; “it is now my turn to lay down ‘the terms of capitula- tion.” “Granted.” © 1f you list to show me the private way by which you entered the dungeon, you will escape death.” ““T will do as you desire,” stammered out Rotaldo, grasping with difficulty for breath. : “TI have another condition to make; you must become my locum tenens, or substitute, in this, in- fernal den.” Jack maintained his‘fgripe. upon the ruffian’s throat, compressing it a little, while he asked questions, and relaxing it so far as to give him power of answering them. During the above proceedings Ellen Peveril had stationed herself near the door,of the apartment, She was armed with the dagger that had been taken from Rotaldo; and stood ready to pierce the first intruder who should endeavour to force an entrance through it. | ©“ Where is the secret passage into this dungeon?” demanded the vanquisher of the vanquished» | ~ Hold up the lantern to the corner of your right- hand ; you will theré discern the iron ‘which’ covers | the spring,” replied the latter. *€ So far, so’ good,” Here Roving Jack pes ete Botaldo to the. ,keep- ing of Sebastien. © _ “Do as you see me do,” he exclaimed; _ yonr hand thus on the weasand of this ‘puceaneer, | Tf he offer to strugzle or cry out, fail not to squeeze him doughtily, that is, till he swoon; there is n0 great ‘matter, seeing he designed your gullet’ ‘and, mine to harder usage,’ « If he offer speech or struggle,’’ returned Sebas- tien, “he dies by my hand. Me “That is right, man} very-spirited—a thorough going friend that understands a hint 18 ‘worth, a million.” © A notice from Ellen Peveril now warned our hero that the pirates had retired, but would im- mediately come back with numbers to attack them. On this Roving Jack pressed the spring. by, which the secret door flew open, _ | «So well. were its hinges polished and’ oiled that | it made not the slightest noise in-reyolving. _ » (The opposite side of the door was-secured. by. very strong bolts and bars, + Besides, these hung one or, two keys, designed apparently to’ undo fetterlocks. A spiral staircase, ascending up through: ‘the thickness of the SEG iano on the’ lantern tower. ““Thet ‘us now labour for your liberation, friend |) Sebastien,” cried Jack. To examine his chain was our hero’ 8 first oc-" cupation. It-was undone by means of one'of the keys which hung behind the private door. » The silken cord with which'‘Rotaldo had been bound was with some difficulty removed by him.” Unseen and’ cautiously he advanced to Ellen Peveril. A hissing laugh proclaimed his freedout! In a moment the ruffian twined himself around her person, and stifled ber cry of alarm. The maiden felt herself sinking. The hot breath was-upon her face. And a horrible mouth approached her throat, 2 élayp S Conmmiclooao