The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

Atiswered Paul Jones. THE FROZEN CREW to the Flying Dutchman, and by so doing are en- dangering theirs, have accepted me as leader of the expedition.” Paul Jones, unable to control the patience he had hitherto exhibited, offered no remark on the audacious recital, but, with a grasp of iron, fastened on the throat of the mutineer. In vain the latter struggled. The far superior strength of his adversary com- pelled him, in a few moments, to collapse into ap- parent lifelessness. His stifled shriek and heavy plunging brought to his assistance several of the crew who hastened below, at first with different intentions. There was.a confused noise. The shouts of “ Down and seize him!’ opposed to those of ‘‘ No murder!” Black Bili and Caesar, liberating the Spaniard, hastened with Paul Jones, and brought him on deck. They were followed by the others, who took posses- sion of the forecastle, while Rotaldo, suffering from the effects of his encounter, leaned against the cap- stan. There was a low consultation between the ring- leeders of the hostile party. Their principal, with some difficulty, after a time advanced to the centre of the ship, and exclaimed to the pirates who had rallied round him— ‘“My lads, I little thought that a fire-brand would have been cast into this vessel, and, as your future captain, wish to take the sense of the crew whether our laws should be enforced on the culprit, Paul Jones?” ‘We have no animosity against him; we have cherished him, but, viper-like, he has stung us in returD.”’ ‘“‘I have one proposal to make; go by ballot or vote.’ =, ** Agreed!” shouted one and all. ‘‘ Whatever it may be I shall be guided by it,” con- tinued Rotaldo, eyeing Paul Jones, who remained gazing vacant and immovable at the scene passing before him. ‘Can I say more?” As the last words were spoken, the pirate chieftain recovered from his lethargy. The lips and muscles of his face quivered, as he entreated his faithless followers— “T have one request to make, which, if complied with, may end contention. Blood for blood is the pirates’ law, but [ am innocent of that of those who should have been my messmates, and claim exemp- tion. ** All I ask,’’ continued Paul Jones, “is that I may be sent adrift, and trust to a mercy which is denied me here.’ “T grant your petition,” replied Rotaldo. * And so will you, will you not, comrades?” “‘ Agreed — agreed on all sides!” they shouted, sheathing the weapons which they had drawn for their deadly purpose. “Then get the captain’s yawl ready for sea,” cried the Spaniard, whose order was obeyed Without the slightest reluctance on the part of the men, who un- shipped and put off the boat at the command. ‘SThe yawl is in good repair, and furnished with a month’s provision,” continued Rotaldo, addressing Paul Jones. “I have even had the precaution to place your gun in it, so that you can amuse yourself by shooting a few birds; by the way, as ourselves, you will have to dispense with a compass, and take advantage of the winds. “A pleasant voyage to you,” he added, with a bitter smile, ‘and, as your kings say to each other, heaven preserve you in its holy keeping. “And, doubtless, you will feel its vengeauce yet,” “ Although V’m abandoned to let the sentence AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. 27 the ocean, to suffer not only death, but the most horrible agony, I shall perish without a murmur, for a voice whispers in my ear the words— “« Treason and assassination will not remain un- punished.’ ”’ Rotaldo quailed before the eagle glance opposed to him, but, with assumed indifference, cried out to the crew— ‘Ts all prepared for the embarkation?” The ‘‘ Ay, ay!” of the seamen gave a ready re- sponse. “ Are you not afraid he will escape death?” said Black Bill, in a whisper to the Spaniard. te INO. he replied; ‘‘look at the colour of the sky and water—a gale is coming up from the East. If the frail yawl ‘be not engulphed a thousand times before, she will be driven into 40 degrees of latitude, and lost among the icebergs.” ‘“ He is booked then,’ cried Black Bill, closing his remark with a passing and savage grin. Rotaldo, becoming impatient, as he observed that more than one of the crew seemed on the point of relenting, desired that the yawl should at once be lowered down. It was avery small boat, having only a lug sail, and two pair of skulls in it, and was quite full when the required stores had been ‘deposited. “Come, we have no time to wait.’” “ Shove off !” Paul Jones did not offer his hand to any of the crew ; but they wished him farewell when they beheld their late leader cast upon the mercy of the wave— even those Hae opposed to him felt some emotion of pity. Although they acknowledged his absence was neces- sary, yet they admired his courage in the extremity, and with them boat quality was always a strong appeal. A few hours after the departure of the pirate chieftain on his perilous voyage, a small vessel was seen.to emerge from the stern of the El Malachor. She was well supplied with provisions and arms, and was able to leave her moorings unseen by the pirates, who were plunged once more into a stupor of drink and sleep. : Though the thunder pealed, the lightning flashed incessantly, and the rain fellin torrents, the trail bark shot out in pursuit of Paul Jones, and being doubly manned, succeeded in her undertaking. The morning dawned as the fugitives came up with the captain’s yawl, whose occupant, with amazement akin to awe, beheld in the faces that met his view, those of two of the crew of the ship from which he had been cast adrift. It was, indeed, Gonzalvi who sat at the helm, while his companion, Grandy-nose Nick, tugged at the oars. CHAPTER IX. PAUL JONES’ FIRST BNCOUNTER WITH THE ESQUIMAUX INDIANS. “Yo-ho, there, captain!” exclaimed Nick, hailing Paul Jones. ‘ Crowd all sail and bear to windward! we have ‘taken a fancy to cruise with you, so have sheered off from the lubbers on board our old craft without sailing orders.” “This is madness replied the pirate, recovering from his first surprise, “ you have foolishly encountered danger without lessening mine. You should have left me to my fate, which neither your fidelity nor presence can avert. “ Perhaps not, captain,” returned Nick, “but when the crew hoist black: and red—death and no quarter, COMniclooo CS