Beadle's Half Dime Library Vol. IX, No. 230: The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

————— —— The Yankee Rajah. The Malays made a rush, bearing the Shereef | stones were piled up, apparently blocks which | ‘If I could find Zarina we would know where in their midst, and before the Tolios could re- alize what they were doing, their enemies were safely ensconced behind the iron-studded door of | the palace. When the edifice was erected the Shereef had such an attack as this in mind, and it was built like a fort. The doors were of a sort of native wood, stronger than oak and nearly three feet thick. The walls were eight feet through, built of hage blocks of stone, and the lower windows were mere loopholes. The moment they were inside a fire was opened from the windows, which q \ sailors behind the protection of the outer walls, ‘We'll have to land a howitzer, Rajah,” said Harry, “That's all very well, mate,” was the reply, “but you seem to forget that we don't know where the galisconfiued. A stray shot might bit ber.” , Harry’s countenance fell. | Po ‘That is true, Rajah,” be asserted. ‘ What had we better do?” Them doors look tough, I tell you, Harry, but we've got to get inside, somehow.” At this moment they were bailed from the upper part of the palace, and saw the Sbereet standing at a window, Osa y at want to see the Rajah of Gadong Beg,” he ‘Waal, you can’t see him,” roared that wor- thy. ‘“' He’s too modest and retiring, and he won't show up. Whatdo you want to say?’ | “T offer you twenty thousand dollars in gold and all the prisoners I have taken except the lady, af you will go your way and leave us in eace,”” “Can't be did, squire. You see, we’ve set our mark high, and can’t give it up at a less figure.” ““ You cannot get in; our doors are too strong,” was the confident reply. _ We'll try the vartue of a howitzer and see about that,” answered the Rajah. “Try it, if you will, but [swear to you that wherever you direct your fire, at that place I will place the girl, and the same balls which de- molish our walls will be death to her.” _“ By George!” gasped the Rajah. ‘* And the thief will do it, too.” “Get the howitzer ashore just the same,” said Harry. ‘It may frighten them when they see ae You'd better let Ned Stacey attend to Ned departed on his mission, and Marco ap- proached the Rajah and made a communication in his signs. He gave vent to a long whistle. * Do youthink you could do it, Marco? You know the secret passages.” The Malay bowed gravely. ‘“T've a good mind to let you try it, and yet you know what will happen if you are taken, They will be on the look-out for you.” Marco took his tablets and wrote: “T shall not be taken; you may be sure of that, for | have a kreese and can kill myself.” “Better do that than fall alive into the hands of the Black Shereef. But you can't do any- ‘thing before dark,” Marco wrote again: ; 2 “It is near at hand. Get the big gun and make a big fire in front of the palace, and they will not dare to come out and I can do my work.” Marco stepped back, when a hand was laid upon his arm, and Arthur Carrington stood be- fore him. The kreese of Owasso had failed in its work. - bas ; “Do you think I will suffer it, Marco?” he said, ‘' No; if yougo, I must go with you, as I did before.” Marco regarded him intently for a moment, and caught up his tablets. | ! ‘You have a brave heart, Scourge of the Maiays,” he wrote. “Is it not enough that one should take the chance of throwing away his life” ‘No: I will not suffer you toenter the palace alone,” was the answer. Making asign of assent, Marco took his way along the wall out of sight of the palace, and the twe disappeared in one of the alleys in the rear, bound upon a desperate enterprise, AFTER MANY DAYS—TOM REID'S SELFSACRI- Marco advanced like a man who knew the eourse he must take, and Arthur Carrington glided like a ghost close behind him, They plunged into the thicket in the rear of the palace and reach a place where a heap of huge quickly drove the | | along the projections, the palace, of the blocks, gave it a push, The stone re- ceded and the Mute saw before him a flight of stone steps, tending downward. They entered /at once, and replacing the stone by a touch, began to advance through a passage just wide enough to permit a man to passeasily. The mute glided on with a step as noiseless as that of a cab until his course was stopped by a wall upon which he laid bis hand, and began to feel p | All at once a clicking sound was beard, and they could see beyond a dimly-lighted room, which was apparently un- | tenanted. ‘Look to your weapons, Mareo,” whispered Arthur, in the ear of the Malay. ‘* Remember tbat there is no merey for us, if we are taken,” Marco pressed his hand and made no reply as they stepped into the room. fSearcely had they done sv when the sense of hearing’, which was developed in this strange man fo a won- | laying bis hand upon Arthur’s breast to keep | him back. A moment later Marco sprung toa corner of the room and was engaged in a des- | perate struggle with some one. Arthur darted to the door, and having gatisfied himself that | it was closed, opening the slide of a small lan- | tern whieh he carried, and which, by the more }act of opening the slide, was lighted by a | chemical contrivance of his own invention, Mareo was down upon the floor, bis knees upon the breast of a prostrate figure in whoru they recognized Tom Reid, the man whom we last saw cast into the den of the panthers by order | of his infamous chief, The creese in the hand of Mareo gleamed blue in the light of the lan- tern and was about to fall, when Carrington arrested hisarm. | “Do not strike,” he whispered, hurriedly. “This is the lieutenant of that base wretch, and he may be of service to us.” ; te “JT am his friend no more,” replied Reid. “JT thank God, Arthur Carrington, that your | death will not be counted against me at my dy- ing day.” i ‘“You know me, then?’ e fatal plank. crew of the Cairneross, from th I did all I could for you, too, in loosening the | bonds upon your arms, and as God is my judg e, | | if I could have saved all those innocent men, 1 | would have done so.” — - “But you have followed this wretch ever since,” said Arthur, douotfully. ‘*Mollowed him: I have been hig slave from that hour, but in the midst of my evil deeds, I have paused sometimes to curse myself because Ididit. The man has been my curse through life, and yet, after all I have done for him, be- | canse [drew my sword to defend a brave wo- man, he had me thrown into the panthers’ den, | to be torn in piecesby them. But for Zarina—” strange way. es “What of her; who is Zarina?’ demanded Arthur, )my life, You had better spare me now and let me work for you, and when all is done, kill me if you will; I deserve no better fate at your hands.” = ‘You will not turn traitor?’ “Ask Marco, who is a reader of inens thoughts. Look in my face, Marco, and then tell Arthur Carrington | whether be may trust me or not.” . Marco released him and they rose, facing each other. For several minutes the burning gaze of Marco was fixed upon his face, and then he turned to Arthur. 7 | | ‘‘Shall we trust him, Mareo?’ ‘‘The Malay bowed gravely, and Arthur Carrington ex- tended his hand to his new ally. i | ‘*Let us be friends, Reid,” he said, ‘‘T be- | lieve you when you say that the wrong you did | me was In a measure enforced, for 1 know that this demon had a wonderful power over you. Now let ua work, We are here to see if it is possible to get Ellen Darrel out of the hands of this ruffian before we begin the attack.” Reid shook his hesd gravely. ‘It is a hard | task, Even I, knowing the interior of the pal- ace as I do, have been repeatedly in danger since Zarina got me out of the panthers’ den. | But we willdoall we can, nd perhaps it may | be done, Let me think a minute,” He stood in deep thought for some time and a | last raised his head. had been rejected by the workmen in building | Marco mounted to the top of the | pile and laying his hand upon the point of one | derful degree, warned him that there was some- | thing in the room beside them, and he paused, | ‘T have never forgotten your face as you | went down with the rest of the passengers and | He paused and looked at the Avenger in a | ‘““A brave woman, who, by the power she | has gained over these savage beasts, saved | the prisoner is confined. Let mego alone and take the chances. Inthe confusion which now reigns, I may be able to do something.” He had scarcely spoken when a low whistle sounded in the corridor outside, _ By heaven,” he cried, ‘I believe Zarina is there, and if she is, and is not suspected, all may yet be well.” — ; He darted to the door and flung it open, while Arthur closed the slide of the lantern. _ “Hist,” answered Tom Reid. ‘Is that you, Zarina?” ) ‘Are you there, Shereef Reid?’ replied the musical voice, of the mad princess. ‘‘ Yes; ay into this room,” — | Harina glided in and closed the door. “You are not alone, Shereef Reid,” she said, suspiciously, making out the forms of the two strangers in the balt light of the room. ‘These are friends, Zarina,” replied Tom Reid. “‘Wait; [T have a hope in my heart which may fail, but if 1t does not, 1 can make amends for a great wrong done you years ago. Do not speak, sir, but listen. Marina, can you remember nothing cof your past life “Only conftusedly at times,” she answered, pressing her hands upon her forehead. ‘' There are times when I seem to be sailing on the ocean in a great ship, and then 1 see black roas, With the fae of the Shereef above them, lear the sound of battle, and after that all is | dark,” ‘“ Nothing more?’ 3 * Your face is mixed with my dreams, to- gether with the Black Shereef, and | see a man in a uniform of blue, wearing a cap with gilt cord and letters on the front, See, Shereef Reid; I found a letter to-day which nad the nae of a ship which troubles me strange- iy.’ “The name of the ship,” cried Arthur Car- rington, ‘Speak it quickly.” “The Cairncross. Ha, who is it that speaks!” I told you to be silent, sir,” cried Reid, “You may ruin all.” ‘What is this which is boiling in my brain?’ eried Zarina, pressing ber hands again wpon her throbbing temples. ‘ Let him speak again.” With a wild ery, Arthur Carrington eprong the slide of the Jantern, and faced her. T ‘Vision from another werld,” be whispered, ** shall I call you Edith Carlysle?" “The name!” she gasped. ‘* The neme Lbore in the foreuteen past. And your name—speak, and sea if [ can remember.” ‘Ha, Zarina!” hissed a voice close to her ear. ‘Have we traitors here? I will tell the Shereef.” There was a flutter of female garments, and some one was heard running threugh the long passages beyond. Marco sprung after her, for eknew thatif the woman escaped they were in danger, But the two, who stood staring at one another in the flaring light saw nothing, except each other’s face, “Tam Arthur Csrrington,” he whispered. "Can you remember?” It struck a pang into the heart of Tom Reid as he saw her fling herself into the arms of the man who had loved her so well. In that mo- ment reason came back, and she remembered all. Bad as he was, Reid had loved her honest- ly and well, and had protected her from wrong manyatime, But, the sound of hurrying feet broke the silence, and Marco came fi Ane bacls The quick motion of his hands told that the woman bad escaped. : - Into the passage,” cried Reid. “I will show youthe way out, for you must escape at once,” Arthur Carrington raised the half-insensible form of his restered love in his arms, and hur- ried into the passage. Reid followed, and Marco | also stepped through, Lut within the dcor he stopped and drew his long kreese. Bending bis knee at the feetof Arthur Carrington, he seemed to ask his blessing, and Arthur understoed that he would remain to immolate himself in order that they might escape, and to keep the pas- sage open for the others. ne: _* You are a brave man, Marco,” said Arthur, ‘In my new happiness, I had almost forgotten that there were others to he saved. Reid, to you I intrust her. Take her safely to the Rajah and tell him that we are here, to keep this passage open, and you must guide him on the way.” ! i “7 will not go without you,” she cried. ‘I have lost you too long, Arthur,” ‘7 will stay,” said Reid, quietly. “Go, and go quickly, for I hear the sound of feet already.” Arthur saw that they were wasting time, ‘God be ID fester men,” he cried, ‘* Away, 0 LAC OT NlGOOOKSEGOM