Beadle's Half Dime Library Vol. IX, No. 230: The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

a die oh“ The Yankee Rajah. \ he Yankee Rajah; The Fate of the Black Shereef. UTHOR OF “HAGLE EYE,” ‘‘MUTE CHIEF,” GREYLOCK THE GUIDE,” ETC., ETC. ON THE BUND—A STRANGE YANKEE. A MAN in a dress half Kuropean and half Malay stood upon the European Bund in Shang- i SEAS, in an indolent manner against the wall of a building. Im person he was tall strongly built, and strikingly handsome, bu with a lurking devil looking out of his bright black eyes, which were fixed upon a par seated on a bench, their attention directed to the harbor. They were three in number—a gentle- man somewhat past the middle age, a handsome young man with a seafaring air, and a beauti- ful girl, just budding into womanhood. The man who stood alone never moved his eye from the group, and as he gazed the demoniac look in them grew more and more marked. | ‘‘ Have your own way for the present, Harry (Castleton:” he muttered; “*‘my time is not so wery far off,” ‘Kinder interested in that party, ain’t ye?” | ) remarked a quiet voice at his elbow. He turned quickly and saw a slightly-built man of uncertain age leaning against the wall not faraway. He had come up so quietly that his approach had not been noticed. “Who are you?’ demanded the first man, harshly; “and by what right do you mix your- self in my affairs?” | "Oh, now, stranger! Don’t you sea I'm a Yankee, and a Yankee must bits in, even if be ain't invited! Jl see you looking at them folks, and i thought mebbe you was acquainted with ?em,” ‘And suppose I am—what is that to you?’ ‘* Now, don't rile up, stranger. Take ib Say Be gentle with me; or, ef ye can’t be gentle, be as gentle as you can. Uma good-natured cuss, myself.” ‘Look you, my man!” and the stranger ad- vanced in a threatening manner; ‘*Tam not in the habit of allowing ‘any man to mix_him- | self in my business, and ] am not going to begin | with you. Take yourself out of this,” "Lain’t inno hurry,” was the cool reply; ‘* be your * Thestran ger leaped suddenly upon the Yankee and caught him by the shoulders, evidently with the intention of hurling him to the ground, seemingly an easy task, but to the assailant’s surprise the slightly built man remained lean- ing against the wall, the same provoking smile upon his face, ‘Seem to be anchored, don't I, pardner? | tleton spoke up boldly: Kinder hard to move this rock from its firm | base, hey?” tormentor furiously, but the New-Englander re- mained immovable, a merry lookon his hard, set face, and a peculiar twinkle in his deep gray eyes, ~*T'm adamant,” he budged, you know,” The other was still pulling at him when some- thing strange bappened, no one could say how. The Yankee had not seemed to move, but all at once the feet of the assailant were struck from under him and he measured his length upon the sod. “Take keer, stranger!” bawled the New-En- glander. ‘“Vust thmg you know you'll get nurt—break yer back, may be!” The man picked himself up withan astonished look, gave his body a shake to satisfy himself that he was all right, and then, in a sudden fury, fashed out along Malay kreese. But he was confronted by the muzzle of a heavy navy revolver and aresolute eye zleamed along the bright barrel. Might go off, stranger,” the Yaukee said, ““Tt’s an awiul treacherous weapon.” The other gave a short laugh as he returned whe kreese to its sheath, : “You are a cool band,” he said. ‘“‘ Td give something handsome to have you under me,” “don't go under no man,” was the reply “but, when I play with a sarpint [ always carry strong argyments under my clothes, What did ye pitch into me that way fur?” “Never mind. Perhaps you do not know me, and for that reason cannot be aware of the said, “‘and can’t be The provoked man tugged at this Yankee ! | of the naval salute, and walked up to the party on the benches, sen ying Ue Yankee standing | | removing his cap, and then turned to the oldest | of the two gentlemen. | his boot nervously with a light bamboo cane | which he carried, and his eye measured his dis- tance from Castleton as if taking ground for | | danger you are in, It don’t make much dif- ference now, but some day [’ll remind you of this thing.” i He touched the fez ha wore, after the manner with his back to the w attitude. 7 “Oh, mortal fathers, ain’t he tough!” mut- tured the queer fellow. ‘‘I guess he wouldn't have put that kreese through my midriff if I hadn't produced the barker—oh no! Now let’s watch his little game.” Sat The stranger saluted the young lady first, by in the same careless ‘You are leavi neato country, Mr. Darrel?’ ‘Yes, Captain Manton, I have spent the best years of my life here, and now, for my daugh-— ter’s sake, | must go home.” | You take passage with Captain Castleton, do you not?’ — ; ; eae ‘Yes; we have only been waiting until he sailed.” The young man sitting next to the lady said something to his companion in a low tone; the girl smiled, and again that ugly look came into the eyes of Captain Manton. e stood tapping sword-play. “Thope you may get home, safely,” he said, with his cynical laugh, ‘but, really, there is a great deal of danger upon these seas now.” _ ‘‘T suppose you mean from the Malays?” Cas- tleton remarked, ‘** Not so much as others, Bupe yee you were to fall in with the Black Shereef.” ze Mr. Darrel cast an uneasy look at his daugh- ter, but made no reply. The name of the Black Shereef was at that time a terror in these seas and all merchantmen prayed that they mi geht not meet him on their way. But Captain Cas- [hope the piratical scoundrel will dare to cross the hawse of the Tokio,” he said. “I would give him sucha drubbing as he would long remember.” LW ie pees “Don't be too sure of that, captain. If I were sailing a merchantman, bearing such love- ly freight and so much wealth as you carry, I | | should do all I could to keep ont of the way of | | the Black Shereef. When do you sail?” “With the ebb to-night. I am anxious | to be on my way home, for teas have never market.” “A happy voyage to you. Ihave only one good wish now.” ‘And that?” “That you may pass the Straits of Sunda without meeting the Black Shereef.” He turned upon his heel and walked away, clinched hands and flashing eyes. A GLANCE AT OUR CHARACTERS, manded the young lady, with a laugh. Harry drew a long, deep breath. “T don’t know why it is, but whenever I meet that fellow I wish I had a sword in my hand, and could fight it out with him to the death. But, pshaw; we shall never see him again, hope. Let us think of getting aboard.” “Why are you uneasy?” asked Mr, Darrel. “1 don't like that fellow, Manton,” replied Harry, quickly. “Strange asit may seem, I feel az if we should be more safe if he remained in this port until the Tokio had sailed.” At this moment the Yankee, who had been watching the party with observant eyes, came _“Going to sail soon?’ he inquired, addressing Harry. “Ves; to-night.” “I s'pose I couldn't git you to listen to me, but if it was me I wouldn't go through the Straits of Sunda or the home trip.” ‘Do you think [ am going to run a hundred leagues out of my way because there is talk of pirates in the Straits?” cried Harry. _ “ Didn't you hear me say I didn’t spose yowd listen? There's one thing I will say, though: don’t you hamper your guns, for like enough you'll need ’em before you see the Indian Ocean,” “And who might you be, friend?’ said Harry. “T’ve had so much good advice to-day that I am not hungry for any more. Attend to your own business and [ will attend to mine,” - “That's all right,” returned the Yankea, with | for 8 been higher than just now, in the American | “Wat isthe matter with you, Harry?” de- | | ting,” said the Yankee, ley agrin. “I don’t blame you for getting riled; you've, had enough to make you, when that ‘izen, long-geered, piratical shark of a Manton hasyjust crossed your hawse. Look out fur that villain, whatever you do!” . “The man means well, Harry,” said Mr. Dar- rel, “‘I am sorry we cannot take his advice, but I thank him all the same.” “You area gepleman} sir, I'd do sug nip ; ou, or the hansome miss here, but | ante ain, Perhaps the time will come when I can help you, and when it does, sing out for Saul Belton, and Saul Belton will be on deck.” Without another word he hurried away and was lost among the narrow streets beyond the Mr. Darrel was an American who had spent nearly fifteen years in Shanghae and had grown rich In the tea business. As it became plain | that so much of his life must be spent there he | had sent for his wife and little daughter and for twelve years Ellen had lived in the European | quarter of the great Chinese port—Mrs. Darrel having died however two years before the open- ing of our atory : Harry Castleton had started as cabin boy on board one of the company’s ships, and now he was part owner and master of the Tokio. Who Captain Manton was no one could say, | He often ran into port in bis beautiful schooner, to refit, but he never took out acargo. Those | who claimed to know him said be was a gentile- man of leisure, whose one delight was the life ofasailor. During the last year he had been a creat deal in Shanghae, and had haunted the Darrel house until Harry, who was betrothed to Hllen, began to get uneasy, He was satisfied, however, when Captain Manton proposed for Ellen’s band, and was ory rejected, Yet he had reason to believe that Manton cherished in his heart the desire for revenge, and watched him closely. Nothing was done, however, to show that Manton did not take his defeat calm- ly. From time to time he would disappear and be gone for months, when he would again sail into the harbor on bis beautiful schooner to re- main perhaps two months, most of his time being spent in the cottage of Mr. Darrel. Harry did not like bim from the first, per- haps for the reason that he was well aware that an attempt had been made to rival him. And so matters went on until the time had come for the Tokio to sail, and Ellen Darrell with her, never again to see the green shores of China or the motley assemblage on the European Bund, THE YANKEH AND HIS FRIENDS—A VILLAIN BAFFLED. Saunt Briton, when he left the American party on the Bund, walked rapidly away and turned into the Malay quarter. The door ofa shop where arrack was sold stood invitingly : : y, | open, and he entered. Two men were sitting at leaving Harry Castleton glaring after him, with | | a table with glasses before them, but they were not drinking. i One was a Malay of gigantic proportions, with a wonderfully strong, reso- | : 2 aae lute face and the other an American, with a handsome figure and a face which would have been handsome but for its deathlike pallor. “He is here, Arthur,” said Belton, with a | rim smile, ‘and the cuss is in mischief, too; he’s jest laying himself out to destroy another | beautiful girl.” The pale man half started from bis seat and clutched at the butt of a revolver in his belt. “Keep your setting, Arthur; keep your set- ook at the Malay ng his hand upon the other’s shoulder. “ Jes al | He's as hungry to climb thet skunk of misery as you ever was and he knows the time ain’t come yet. So he keeps cool.” “T have waited long years for vengeance’s sake,” hissed the other pale man. ¢ And the time ain’t fur off nuw; meantime, let’s hold a confab.” He took a seat atthe table and the three en- gaged in a whispered conversation—or rather, the two Americans did so, while the Malay, al- though he seemed to Hsten intently, said not a word. Then they paid for the arrack and went away together. In the mean time, night had come on and pre- parations were being made in the Darrel cot- tage to go on board the Tokio, Everything had been sent on board through the day, and about eleven o'clock tle three stepped out of the cot- tage and started toward the harbor. They had not proceeded a dozen yards when there came a shrill whistle and half a dozen men sprung upon them, So sudden was the onslaught that Harry had no time to draw a weapon before he was in the grasp of two strong men with whom he struggled_de<per {3} D3