Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

‘214 [ey am” ‘ay “Have you the courage to dive into the mysteries of this haunted ship, where, spellbound (for the crimes of ‘her master and his pirate crew), she lies as in the moment of destruction, her men torpid and insensible as rocks of granite, her coffers filled with gold.” A desperate zeal now inspired Roving Jack, and roused within him a strange feeling of curiosity. An excitement which conducted to hope was better than a nothingness worse than death. And he felt that he was fulfiling an awful doom or working out his,own destiny. | ‘“T would see all—learn all——"»): At: that moment the moon was on a level with ‘the waters. ‘| | (And the sécret of the necromantic vessel could become visible to human eyes. “To enable you to avert any danger that may threaten you in the ordeal, accept this talisman,” said the spectre. With these words, the figure placed: in the hands of ‘Roving Jacka charmed harpoon, — It was'éncrusted with the rust of ages. And a, potent.safeguard to those who might dare to intrude into-the supernatural retreat. 3 For an.instant all became again profoundly dark, and a strain of music, plaintive and soft, was heard. ‘Through a thin vapour then could be discerned this picture for-the reader’s inspection. Rocks and waters rose and-discovered the half- buried hull of the ‘‘ Vanderdecken,’’ in mid-ocean, Her ropes were green with sea-weed, her timbers much decayed, and her: windows and lanterns of painted glass broken. | Her.crew laid,about.on the sand as if in the last convulsions of the,drowned, Bales, of merchandize, chests. of gold, spoil. and plunder of every description scattered themselves around, x Roving Jack surveyed this scene with awe and wonder, ,. The more so, when shuddering, the spectre; bid him again advance to gaze upon a coffer he had opened, filled with gold. “Art thou cold? Here are beams, will warm thee.” “Gold?” “Uncounted, This inexhaustible wealth may be thine ; but first hear my story. ‘Many years ago, in the olden time, ‘ Vander- decken,’ the pirate,.and his devil crew, were the terror of every sea. ‘‘ Never. passed:a day that these decks were not crimsoned with blood enforced by violence. ‘‘ At length the bright star of destiny set ; tempest, wreck and mutiny ensued, and I was dragged from my cabin and manacled in this very hold. ‘“As I lay in my prison, fettered, loudly. des- cended to'my ear the drunken sounds of mockery and defiance, “The rage of superhuman force possessed me. _. “J burst asunder my iron bonds, and reaching the port-hole of this devoted vessel, snapped in twain as a thread the cable that held it fast, ‘In furiously dashed the booming waters, ‘With every roar the ship descended—deeper and deeper down, : “‘T cared not for myself; to die ayenged was all that Vanderdecken craved. “For the act, I and my crew, fora certain period, are doomed to visit earth; and suffer torments for the crimes we are compelled to commit thereon, ‘‘Hark! The land bell strikes ; the moon sets. Witness, but fear not ; thou art innocent, and from ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. = “as See Reel ey Mines mewn wah Sma thy ‘untainted breast the curses of the dead men will flow harmless back as sea foam from a rock of iron.” Y, : While the spectral helmsman yet spoke the moon sank below the level of the waters, changing them to cerulean, then deep blue. oe The old lanterns one by one then lt dimly up with a dull, lurid, red glare. : The clock struck, and the withering carcases of the doomed crew became animated and made alive, Silently as death they formed into small parties, as if meditating a mutiny, of which Vanderdecken was the object. They soon advanced on all sides, and attacked their phantom skipper, They stabbed him. They flashed their fire-arms at him. The flames were of crimson, but no sound pre- vailed, and the victim defied the:death blows dealt him, Suddenly the murderous band are hushed into stillness. | An unknown and human voice trespasses on their unballowed rites. Roving Jack saw no more, for the intense dark- ness of his dungeon again assumed dominion, Had he dreamed, or was it «4 fearful reality ? Through the flickering beams emitted by the opening above him he again saw the vision, The glassy eye of Vanderdecken was turned to the bright glance of a mortal. And the pirate and his crew had changed their mouldering garbs and grisly forms for those of beings endowed with life. He turned his head from the fearful scene he had witnessed, He swooned, and fell heavily on the dungeon floor. ' On his recovery, Wirth Wolfgang and his followers were standing by his side. “Ya—ya! Heish not dead yet!” exclaimed the Dutchman. “ Hist! Mein Kinchin, we haf brought you something for to haf eat.” 4 “No, no; keepit yourself,”’ replied Jack, faintly ; “you have more need of it than I. A burning fever is consuming me, and, unless some aid arrives by chance, I feel I have not many hours to live,” ‘‘While dere is life dere is hope, so say you Inglis.” . ‘““For me, none. Abandon hope all ye who enter here,”’ _ Jack ‘maintained a sullen silence for some time, then again spoke. “You will, at least, tell me your reason for bringing me here, since you see me so entirely at your mercy. Common humanity should not offer a refusal to my request,” : ‘“‘T can accord it, mein yong vriend, since you are beyond de reach ov all earthly power,” “ Speak! ‘Tell me !” ‘You can call to mind, mynheer, no doubt, that your life was attempted on de nicht you staid at de old ‘Bell Inn ?’” ‘‘T am aware only that a knife gleamed before me, and I fell covered with blood, I remembe nothing else,” _ : ‘‘Nothing of the ruined house to which you was taken after you had received vot was supposed your death-wound ?” 1 | ) “T have strange recollections of a dark abode— of a hasty flight—of a rescue by a boat; but all wild © and dreamy, I can picture nothing distinctly till COMME KOOKS, ey 4