Beadle's Half Dime Library Vol. IX, No. 230: The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

‘TL do not know what to do,” replied Harry. “Then trust me, Thar ain't a man in these parts, ef I do say it, that knows better how to. tackle the Black Shereef than me.” “I trust you, then, aan your hands.” : : “All right, then! Here, Marco,” boat and reached the deck, Harry was forced tosay, that, though of the yellow race, he was one of the most perfect specimens of manhood he had ever seen. He was about six feet and four inches in hight, formed upon the model of a Hercules, straight as an arrow, with magnifi- cent muscles and well-turned limbs. ‘Marco is a Malay, and one who ain't got no love for the Black Shereef,” said the Yankee Rajah. “Hey, Marco?’ At the mention of that name the eyes of the Malay began to roll wildly and his great hands opened and shut convulsively. _ “You would like to get a whack at the Black Shereef, wouldn't you, Marco, old boy?” A harsh guttural sound broke from the lips of the savage man and his face worked strangely. “You see, Marco was his prisoner once,” said the Rajah, in a matter-of-fact tone, ‘‘and the piso skunk had bis tongue cut out, just by way of amusement. Marco ain’t forgot it, and only for me the Black Shereef would have been dead years ago.” “Why did you save such a wretch?” “Wual, [d got a use fur him, no matter what. Dve got through with him now, though, | and he may as well begin to dig his grave, when I let Marco loose on him Weare coing to run the Black Shereef to earth, Marco.” The Malay fell upon his knees and pressed his forehead upon the band of the Rajah. ‘Allright, my boy,” be said. ‘+I know you are hungry, and when he dies, I promise you he shall die by your hand.” The Malay mute uttered the same guttural ery and embraced the knees of his master. That's all right, old fellow,” said Belton. “Jump into the boat and get back to the Wave |. Witeh, Tell Jim Slocum to bead for the island and show us the way. Then come back to me.” Mareo sprung back into the boat and it shot away toward the schooner, | “Will your officers understand him?” asked Eee “They've got so used to his signs that they ean read ’em like a book,” was the answer. “You'll sea.” As the boat neared the schooner Marco rose in the stern sheets and made some rapid signs. The men on board seemed to understand him, for the schooner at once filled away and the boat turned again toward the ship. Marco sprung on board and the boat pulled away to intercept the course of the schooner. They saw the crew get aboard, the boat was hoisted in and the schooner slipped away to the south west, the great ship following. Two days and nights passed, and on the morning of the third day they were threading the Spice islands, the schooner leading the way still Now and then a proa shot out from the islands, but a look at the schooner seemed to satisfy them, for they at once ran back into harbor. _“ They don’t want to tackle me,” chuckled the Rajah. ‘They know the old man; they’ve harnessed him before and know he’s a hard hoss to ride, Keep your eye on the Witch, you at the wheel. Jim Slocum knows the islands and you don’t.” _ The island which they sought now lay before them, but scarcely had they sighted it when Marco, who rarely left his master’s side, touched him on the arm and made some rapid signs. “Oh, git out,” replied the Yankee, ‘‘'They wouldn't dare to try it.” 3 Marco only answered by pointing over the | rail in the direction of the island. “Hal” cried the Rajah, after a moment of close inspection. ‘Give me a rocket, captain; I want to signal the schooner,” “She “No need of that,” replied Harry. seems to be luffing now.” — _ 4s he spoke the schooner came quickly up into the wind and lay rocking idly on the water. The Tokio held in ber course until close under her bows, when the ship also luffed, and Marco, with Saul Belton and Harry, went on board the “You Jim $lo- achooner, ‘‘ Ahoy!” cried the Rajah. cum, signal the island, quicker than scat. You see them skunks, don’t you?” , ¥ “Ay, ay, sir! Here comes the rockets,” slocum answered. | _ One of the crew came out of the cabin, carry- ing three strangely-shaped rockets. A whizzing sound was heard, followed by a loud explosion. Rae | lay skunks have plucked up courage and are We place ourselves en- | | reo, ; | Six At his call a man came clambering out of the A moment later an answering sound came back | from the island. The Yankee R ‘“ That’s O. K.,” said the Rajah. “Them Ma- laying for me under the pint of the island yan- der. Dll make*em smell blue blazes in about minnits by the clock. Ha! there they come, lYiling hot and smoking for war, Give ’em a serenade, Mareo.” The Malay sprung to a beautiful pivot gun amidships—the only gun carried by the schooner —and trained it upon the coming proas, which suddenly shot out from the sheltering point, while at the same moment the flag of the Black Shereef was given to the breeze. No sooner had the eye of the mute glanced along the sights, | then the sullen roar of the cannon was heard, and the conical shot tore its way along the | crowded deck of the leading proa, causing dreadful slaughter. * Sarve ’em out, sarve ’em out, Marco. Give ’am blue pills till they can’t rest. MNo—hold on: there comes the Mystery!” As he spoke the second proa was seen to tremble in every joint and then she began to settle by the bead and filled quickly. Cries of her knows his biz on a raft, now mind I tell dismay were heard aboard the otber proas, as the strange craft called the Mystery rose out of the water near the sinking proa and with a strange hissing sound plunged headlong at the Malay craft which had received the shot from the long gun, With yells of fear the Malays forced the Ing sails over on the other tack, but. before the wind could fill them, the pointed | beak of the Mystery plunged into her side, tearing a gaping rent, into which the sea poured. Then the stranger craft backed away | and sunk, and was only visible by a peculiar | ripple on the water over the place where she | went on her submarine way. | The third proa had got her lugs over and was slipping away with the wind over her quarter, and Mareo contented himself with sending a | single shot after her, which tore up the low bul. watks and chipped the mainmast. — ! ** Let the sneaks go,” said the Rajah. “‘ Blame the skunks: they will know better than to run their noses into my cruising ground again, IT reckon. Head her in, you at the wheel, and the Mystery will take care of herself. _ THE YANKEE RAJAH AT HOME. THe Mystery could only be traced on her sub- marine way by the ripple on the water, which | showed that she was running close to the sur- | face. Every one on board the Tokio was | watching her course with great interest, for all felt that this strange craft would have much to | do with the rescue of Ellen Darrel—if, indeed, she was to be rescued from the hands of the black-hearted villain who had taken her captive. When near the island the strange craft rose to the surface for a moment, as a whale rises to breathe, Before her was a rocky wall, which seemed to encircle the island, and to shut it out completely from the outside world, Harry saw her plunge straight against this wall and disap- pear, : She is gone,” be said. ** Reckon you'll see her again some day,” said ‘'The man that navigates you. Ease her off a little, Garry; now you can | make the harbor.” | As the head of the schooner swung round they could see a narrow opening beyond the point, 80 harrow, indeed, that it seemed almost impos- sible for a heavy craft to enter. But the man at the wheel understood his business, and she shot in between two gigantic walls, higher than the masthead, followed by the Tokio, and the anchor went down in a beautiful little harbor, before what appeared to be quite a town. ““My realms, mates,” said the Rajah. ‘* You are welcome bere.” They quickly landed, and the people came | out to stare at them curiously. | Harry was completely taken aback as quite a number of the inhabitants were white people, and Americans at that, and the neatness of the houses, as well as the tusteful manner in which they were ornamented, proved that they had been here a long time and meant to stay. **[ wonder the Malays have left you here in peace,” said Harry. } **They’ve tried to bite me on two several times, but they found me the toughest piece they ever attempted to masticate. Just take a wale with me, and [ll show you how we ¢o to | work to defend ourselves.” | _** We must not waste time. Remember that Nellie must be rescued at all hazards,” Mr. Darrel. ‘““Pve taken the contract and mebbe it’s a big one, but Vll stand the racket and I never was known to bite off more than I could chew, You can’t bate the Black Shereef any more than I do, and yet I will say 1 don’t think he means to do the gal any harm now.” — _ “I suspect Tom Reid of being the Black Shereef,” interposed Harry. “J don’t; Tom Reid is mean enough, but he ain't the Shereef. Oh, Lord, no; not by na means. The Shereef is a boss of another color, But come along, and I'll show you how I defend this island when it is attacked.” They turned to the right after leaving the | village, and ascended the lofty bluff which rose on both sides of the harbor and completely sur- rounded the town, Upon the erest of this bluff on each side was a battery of three guns, so placed as tosend a plunging fire upon the decks of any approaching craft, when it reached a certain point, over which it must pass to enter the harbor, <A similar battery on the otberside erossed fire with this. Below, upon a wide shelf, were two other guns, loaded with erape and canister, The rocky wall which encireled the valley in the rear was a regular fort, with guns mounted at intervals, and which could only be Bpproncned by steep paths, which could be swept by a terrible fire at any moment. _** And that ain’t all,” declared the Rajah. “The island is surrounded by shoals except on this side, and if they attack with proas it must bein front. And I’ve got torpedoes laid down in such a way that it would be mighty orkard for a ship manned by fellers that didn’t know the ropes to get in here. 1 feel tolerable safe, and I only wonder that these fellers dare to ap- proach my island. They wouldn't cnly they know that the Mystery and I are old friends, and they want to get athim throngh me.” ‘“ Who are these people with you.” “The whites are Yankee sailors, who ‘have got tired of the Old World and want to make a new bome. The others are good fellers of all nations that I've picked up Tere and there, as the case might be. There ain’t one of them that wouldn't get up and fight if I asked him to and even take a little risk of life or limb fur my sake, and I’d do'as much fur them.” - ** Where does the Black Shereef live?” “He's over yonder,” answered the Rajah, pointing toward the Papuan coast. ‘‘ That's the trouble about him—he’s easy enough to find, but most people think he’s a Malay—but he ain’t, durn his hide! I've only been waiting to get help enough, and now we won't rest until we hey wiped him and his gang off the face of the created airth; Lhev sworn it.” | And the Rajah raised his hand solemnly o high as he registered his vow, D'S ARRIVAL AT THE BLACK 8B PALACE. WE have seen Elien Darrel a prisoner in the hands of the traitor, Tom Reid, and that bis proa escaped from the strange craft, the Mys- ; The two proas which were left headed past the coast of Borneo, and Reid carri is Ln: [EREEF'S : ' carried his insen- sible victim into the cabin and laid ber on a couch. For a moment the man stood looking at her intently, with a lowering brow, and then went on deck. SS Where is the Shereef?’ asked a tall Malay. “Why is he not here when his sons are beaten by the Spirit of the Ocean?’ “He ought to have been here before,” an- swered Reid. ‘I don’t know why he didn’t come, but probably be thought we ought to be a match for the Tokio: and so we were if that bhnes, accursed torpedo had not come to help them, ts : “We cannot fight the Spirit of the Waves,” declared the chief. “My blood turns to water when I think of him.” Curse him, I “I don't blame you much. is a Barsakaw,” replied the Malay. | wonder who he is?” |The brood of the Malay are brave, but they know that he who strikes at the Barsakaw might as well waste his blows upon the empty air. But we have the whitemaiden; the Shereef will forgive us when he sees her.” _ “Pd have jumped overboard if I did not have her to take to him,” averred Reid, ‘I | wouldn’t have been the one to go home empty- handed for a lac of rupees, lis sails?? The chief shook his head, ; “Then we may as well make for home. And see here; that cursed Yankee Rajah at Gadong Beg had something to do with this. He was in - books.comi Can you make out Shanghae wi