Beadle's Half Dime Library Vol. IX, No. 230: The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

He removed the bands from her feet and raised her, and still clasping her wrist, led her through the long passages. | ‘When this palace was constructed those secret passages were built. Two of them were known to Marco, but the men who knew of this passage were killed after its completion, and the knowledge died with them. Now then, my lady, I must stop your mouth.” He hastily formed a gag with a silken cord d ae handle of his dagger, and eteciually arded against any outcry upon her part. Having taken this precaution, he Jed her up a short flight of steps, touched a Spring and opened a trap door which led into asma build- ing in the rear of the palace, used for the stor- age of munitions of war, Before leaving the building he opened the doora little and looked out to satisfy himself that the coast was clear before making any movement to escape. “All safe,” be whispered. ‘' Now then, we will go.” They stepped out of the building together, and Nellie cast an anxious look in the direction of the palace, which was lighted up and many forms flitting here and there before the win- ‘dews, She knew that her father and her lover were there, and prayed that they might quickly ‘take up the trail of the villain who had her in his power, and run him to earth. He smiled scornfully as he made his way through the deserted place, dragging her wit him, and Reaping a watchful eye for every pos- -sible event. His eyes gleamed strangely in the ight of the moon and he muttered to himself: *T have escaped them all save Marco, but my life is not safe a moment while that black dog ecumbers the earth, Why did I not kill him while [had him in my power, instead of cut- ting out his false tongue? Ihave learned a les- gon: dead men tell no tales,” He stopped suddenly in the edge of a little wood, and a shudder passed through his frame. He felt chilled to the very marrow, a feeling for which he could not account, Perhaps the shadow of his approaching fate fell on him at that moment. Why did he think of Marco now, when he was aboutto triumph? He knew that on the other side of the point, scarcely two miles away, a swift cat-rigged boat was riding at anchor, provided for just such an emergency as this. The question now was, would Tom Reid remember the precaution he had taken and attempt to cut him off, It might be, and as the thought came to him he hurried the steps of his captive and in half an hour they stood upon a ridge, looking down upon the little bay where the boat lay atanchor. He drew a long sizh of relief as he found the craft safe. | ‘**¥ou don’t know how much relieved I feel,” he averred, turning to Nellie, ‘'The traitor Reid knew that this boat lay bere, and I am in- elined to think that he has been killed, or he would have sent some one to secure it, and so prevent my escape. It is a beautiful night for asatl, and long before they suspect. where we are gone we shall be out of their reach.” He released his hold on her wrist for a mo- ment as he stopped to look back toward the palace and instantly the brave girl sprung away,running likea deer over the path they had lately traversed. He gave utterance toa savage oath and bounded after her, bulscarcely had he taken a dozen steps when he saw in his path a giant figure, which he knew too well, the torm of Marco the Mute, his eyes blazing like stars in the night, Brave as Richard Manton undoubtedly was, the sight of that ominous figure utterly appalled him, and with a ery of fear he whirled upon his heel and ran toward the boat. As he turned he saw that a dozen men were hurrying down the slope and that foremost among them were Arthur Carrington, Tom Reid, Harry Castleton and Saul Belton.” He was perhaps a hundred paces in advance of Marco when he turned to fly, and he had been noted for fleetness of foot. Surely he could reach the boat in time and so escape his enemy. But it was nearly a quarter of a mile to the boat and the Malay was tireless and fleet asa stag. Perhaps it would be better to turn and fight it out than to runfurther, and even as he ran he loosened his revolvers and prepared to fight, although he knew the desperate man pursuing was an awful foe with whom to con- ‘tend. The beat of his coming feet sounded ominously near,and yet he was close to the | shore, and he mightreach it in time to save himself, “Follow them close,” cried Arthur Carring- ton, “If Marco gets to bim first I would not fie a sea-shell for Manton’s chance of long Still the doomed man ran on, with his savage the folds of sult of years of robbery on the high seas. the breast of his white sarong was stained with foot, giving and taking awful wounds without The Yankee Rajan. enemy in close pursuit. Once he looked over his shoulder and calculated the distance and his right band closed upon the butt of his revolver. Then he wheeled secdenly when close to the shore and fired shot after shot, Marco bounding from side to side to disconcert his aim, but cor- tinuing to advance. He held the last shot until scarcely ten feet separated them, and knew that the Malay was hit, but it did not stop him, and with asnarl like that of an angry tiger, Marco sprung upon him and struck one stunning blow with his clinched hand which laid his enemy senseless at his feet, Then, to the surprise of all, he caught the senseless form in his arms and ran into the water, placing the body ina boat, and cutting the ancbor rope with his kreese, he sprung in, and before any one could reach the shore had passed through the line of surf and gained the open sea. ‘God help bim,” cried Carrington, covering his face, ‘‘ much as I hate Richard Manton I can only pray that Marco struck him dead by that blow, for he will get no mercy at the hands of | the Malay.” | Marco, with his hand upon the tiller, ran out until he had left the shore a league be unti hind and Manton recovered from his swoon to find his hands bound, and Marco looking at him with ferocious joy imprinted on hisface. ‘You have won, Marco,” he said, bitterly, ‘and of all men I have wronged I hoped to avoid you. What do you mean todo with me?” The Malay answered by a look so savuge that the prisoner shuddered through all his frame. There wasa terrible menace in that burning glance. phe ‘Do youmean to murder me? Make some sign; do something, that | may know my fate,” pleaded Manton, a : _ Marco pointed to his tongueless mouth ina way which the villain understood but too well. All the suffering which the Mute had endured would be repaid a handred-fold. — : * Look you, Marco,” said the prisoner, quick- ly; “Lean give you wealth enough to make you. a prince, if you will set me free,” Marco laughed and thrusting his hand under his sarong, drew out the belt which contained the preciaus gems which were Pee Manton understood that his plan of buying his safety was useless, and he uttered a hollow eroan. F | “You are a coward, Marco,” he cried, an- gerily. “Free my hands, give me a weapon, and fight me like a man.” Marco only answered by the same bitter smile, “T have never bearel of a Malay prince who was so faint-hearted that he dared not meet his enemy in battle,” cried Manton. ‘Dog, cow- ard, slave, I spit at and defy you, May your father’s grave be detiled.” With a howl like that of a mad beast, the Malay turned the head of the boat toward a point perhaps a league away, and refusing to notice Manton even by a sign, he ran the boat upon the shore and dragged his enemy out. Then Manton saw that be was wounded and fresh blood. Once upon the sand he flung down the bagof cems upen the beach, cut the cords upon the hands and feet of his enemy and put a kkreese in his hand, Then, raising one hand as if in appeal to his EO he whirled his kreese in the air and rushed at Manton with the swift leap of a panther, The last ball sent by the hand of Manton had pierced the Malay through the right shoulder, and only such a man could have stood up under the grievous hurt. Manton saw that he was badly wounded, and he thought that he could conquer even Marco after the loss of so much blood, and all his native hardikood came back as the kreeses hissed together. Hach knew that it was a batile to the death, and put forth all their skill and strength. But Marco, knowing well that the battle must be short, caught Manton by theleft wrist and they stood foot to a groan, They suvk to the earth together striking dreadful blows, and the sand was red with their flowing blood but still the desperate enemies fought on under the light of the moon, At length, leaninggpn his elbow, for he had not the strength to riSe, Marco struck a last blow and fell senseless. The party in pursuit, who had followed them along the shore, came running up five minutes | later, They saw Manton lying on his back, the sand all gory about him, still clasping in his nerveless hand the blade with which he had fought so well,while Marco lay face downward, his hand still clutching the hilt of the kree = = ze, | bas Este pedo oO mil G boo = a which, with a last effort, he had buried in the heart of his foe. After many years he had avenged the shameful mutilation which he had suffered at the hands of Richard Manton, : _ Arthur Carringtcn came up and looked stead- stly at the handsome face of the dead man, who, even as he lay, wore a mocking smile upon his lips. | ‘My deadly enemy has gone, and after all mine was not the hand tostrike the blow which laid him low. Well, be it so; he wore a villain’s heart under the form of an Apollo, Friends, let us bury him here where he fell.” The party silently set to work and scooped out a shallow grave, in which they were about to lay him, when an aged Malay stepped out of the woods and came toward them. At the sight of this venerable personage Reid called to them to stop, and the man addressed bim in the Malay tongue pointing again and again to the body. ny | , “This is the High Priest of the Sun Wor- shipers, gentlemen,” said Reid, turning to the others. ‘And he asks for this body, to give it to the flames, after the manner of their wor- ship.” eDia Manton belong to their order?’ asked Carrington. ‘*No man knew better than be how to keep the love of this people. See.” : E He parted the clothing of the dead man, and there, upon his breast, blazed the symbol of the Order of the Sun, Pee. 2 ** Let them take him,” said Arthur. ‘Better that his ashes should be scattered to the four winds of heaven than leave a trace behind.” The High Priest gave a signal, and a hun- dred men came pacing from the wood, each bearing upon the front of his white robe the mystic symbol of their faith, They carried among them a litter, upon which they placed the body. Then, uttering a low wailing chant, they bore the body to the east, and were seen no more, CHAF TER 2a pS TOM REUWD'S REFORMATION—MATED AND MAR- RIED—A HAPPY END. WHEN the battle was ended in the palace, and the last of the Malays had fallen—for they took no quarter—and Harry was making a frantic search for his lost Nellie, a party of the Tokio’s men assailed Tom Reid, who cast away his sword and faced them, with his arms folded on his breast. ‘You're the cuss that shipped aboard the Tokio under false colors and stole Miss Nellie,” roared Ned Stacey, ‘' Take up your sword and fight it out like a man.” “Yes, [am the man,” was the reply. me, for I deserve no better at your bands,” Half a dozen, blades were raised against him. when Edith Carlysle—Zarina no more—rushed before the lifted weapons. ce ‘No, 00, no!” she eried. ‘This man must not be harmed, fer he has been a true friend to me, Help him, Arthur,” , “Put up your swords, men,” said Carring- ton, striking up the blades, ‘' This man has been promised safety, and he shall have it.” ‘“Let them finish me, Arthur,” pleaded Tom, sadly. “I have little to live for now.” ‘No you don't,” said Saul Belton, striding in, * You've got the making of a man in you and I want you myself. Now, Edith, tell the men what he bas done.” “You understand as much as this, men, that seven years ago the fleet of the Black Shereef took the ship Cairncross, of which my father was captain, and made me a prisoner, I saw my father and my lover die, as I thought, and the sight drove me mad. I know now that Tom Reid, the lieutenant of the Black Shereef, loosened the bonds upon Arthur’s arms so that he kept himself afloat after he left the fatal plauk, until picked up by Saul Belton. As for mo, I was treated as a queen, and bad as Richard Manton was, he dared not wrong one who had lost her senses, for that the Malays would not havé endured even from him, In the years I have been here this man has been my constant friend, and braved Manton when he would have had me shot down in cold blood. For this he was cast into the den of the pan- thers, butI, whom only the black beasts obeyed, saved him from them. No one shall harm Tom Reid while I live, for he will be a good man yet.” | “Yes, God helping me, while I live I will never do an act which an honest sailor need blush at. But where is Ellen Darrel? cried Reid, wage | ““We can't find her, and the Black Shereef <SnGOimn tt ail