Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

- undergo. ROVING JACK; THE PIRATE HUNTER. 179 “We must Row follow on thé footsteps of Violet Tremaine. The unhappy girl was eXpériéncing asad fate. | ~ Accused of sorcery, she had been arraigned. : The Holy Inquisition, crediting the idle belief | and evidence of the superstitious settlers of the _ Island of Tidore, had deemed her suilty of such a_ emcee, Fo 36 She had been tried, condemned, and sentenced to death! ! | . A fearful death, too—deéath by the pains of fire ! The morrow was to end all Violet’s hopes and ~All her suspense would cease, all her misery ter- minate. ~ Although her’ situation was appalling, she slept _ until her last sleep in this world “was disturbed by the unbatfring and unlocking of the door of her cell. The head light. © | ae Violet aroused, started from her cotich!! © She‘had been dreaming of love and happiness— but awoke to grief and sad reality: eA Gh The gaoler then desired her to put on a dress that ie Carried on his'arm ; it was of black serge with broad white stripes. gaoler made his appearaticé with a Two hours passed, and the gadler again entered the cell. | ; “ Hé now siimmoned her to follow him, She ‘was led-into a large hall. In this dimly-lighted spacious apartment she was furnished with 2 wax candle, which she was ordered to hold in her hand. ‘ Mi D8 After this another dress, called the “* Sanbenitos,” was put over the poor girl, © © Ts : ive garmént had flames painted upon it—a ter- rible' signification of the penalty she was about 'to So motionless and terror-stricken was the victim, _ during the proceeding, that one might have ima- - gined Her to have been suddenly petrified. | Anon there was an agony of doubtj“an agony worse than that of death. A poignant anguish followed the sémi-stupefae- tion ; “and it was frightful to perceive the convulsive _ tremor of Violet: “Heavy drops of perspiration’ miantled on her brow. “She shrank aghast ; and fear ! » AS the sam rose, the great bell of the Cathedral tolled, and the high altar was hung with bl&ck- clothy lighted up with thousands of tapers. » The mournful procession, leading the prisoner to exetbution, in half an hour left her dungeon. “Violet headéd the train. SOE ' She! was bate-headed and baré-footed. The banner of the Dominican was raised above her head,' while the monks of that order followed, arranging’ themselves in two lines.’ A » In this maniter they arrived at the funereal pile. All was over now, save the last and most tragical scene of the drama.’ | The stake was set upon a raised ‘stone platform, in ai Open square, in the centre of the city.’ | ~ The balconies of the buildings being thronged With ladies and cavaliers in their gayest attire, and the surrounding space filled by the’ rabble, all of whom seemed in the highest excitement, and anxiously to await the fearful ordeal ‘they were about to witness. ~The exeéctitioners, who’ had been sitting on, or standing’ by the piles of wood and faggots, await- ing their victim, now stirred at her approach. and all was “horror, dread — — — — Violet could not -walk,' © - : She was supported by the hooded. familiars. 9 These, myrmidons of. tyranny and superstition carried her-to the stake, , >, = When they put her opposite to the horrible instrn- ment of death, her courage appeared to revive. She walked boldly up, folded her arms, and leant against it. a The masked executioners now commenced their sanguinary duty. es gitks Chains were passed round the body of Violet. , The wood and faggots piled around her, . She ‘waved her hand indignantly as & monk ap- proached. ‘Unhappy woman !”” he exclaimed. ‘“‘ Had you followed my counsel this would not have happened.” Receiving no answer, he continued, ~ | ‘Now it is too late; but not too late to save your soul,” > Violet involuntarily shuddered as the monk whis- pered in herear, _ betas 4 = howe | She gaye a Scream, and muttered firmly the word— | ‘Never !” <p abr ca | : ' “Why this obstinacy? Why this hardness of heart? You are still silent.” “Tf Tam so,” replied she; “it is to show that, the flame that will shortly consume my wretched body has less terror in my eyes, than——” ary “Remember, itis the eleventh hour—the twelfth has not yet arrived.” ps “T shall welcome its coming.” Ah “T jmplore—I conjure you at least take this load ’ of guilt.from my heart,” ‘“Leave me,” There is but a minute left.” ~ * And the minute is mine own,” | “Will nothing move thee?” | “Try me,” replied Violet, firmly, “try me, cruel man. If you gain but one word from me, call me crayen—I am but woman; but I dare you—defy you.” “Unhappy woman!’ | PE CT EE re a “Say rather unhappy priest, for my suffering. will soon cease, while you must still endure thé torments of the damned. I leave you to your conscience, if conscience you still retain ; hor would T change this cruel death for thé pangs which Barabbas will undergo in his futnre lite.” | Aa The monk, who, as the reader may have suriised, was the disguised pirate. Lo . Fearing cisclosure and i treachery on the part of Violet, the wily Barabbas made no remark to her denunciation, but hastily seized a torch held -by one of, the familiars, and proceeded to kindle the faggots heaped around the stake. His murderous hand was atrested. at A wild and joyous shout of triumph resounded - in the air, And’the whole neighbourhood was in the hands of a determined band of horseman. One of their number was more daring than the rest. | Despite the tremendous opposition he encountered he cohtrived to reach the spot where Violet was bound to the stake, y? | Another moment, and he would have been too late. He only arrived just in time to strike’ down Barabbas as he was on the point of setting the pyre of sacrifice in a blaze. , | This horseman Was our hero, Roving Jack !