Beadle's Half Dime Library Vol. IX, No. 230: The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 you know he goes like the wind. Someof these days we will take that island and kill every man on it.” ‘‘ Our chief was Wrong when he tore out Marco's tongue and then let him live. Marco will never forgive or forget, and he is the friend of the White Rajah.” ‘‘T'm sorry it was done at all,” said Tom, uneasily. ‘‘ But, what can you do with the Shereef when he gets a mad fit on? But, look here; you take care of the proa while I get some sleep for I have had a hard time during two or three weeks, and have actually had to work; and I am not used to it,” He rolled himself in a blanket and lay down in the bow, and the Malay, after setting a guard over the cabin door, took charge of the proa. When Ellen came to herself, and realized that she was a prisoner, she tried the cabin door, but it was fast and she turned to the stern window. The proa was moving on swiftly over a tran- quil sea, and she could hear the measured tread of the sailors on deck and the soft footfall of the guard who paced to and fro before the cabin door, She remembered nothing since Reid came suddenly into the cabin of the Tokio and stupefied her by the use of some potent drug, the effect of which had hardly yet passed of, Then night came on, and she threw her- self upon the couch for a little rest. When she awoke it was broad day again, and looking out of the cabin window, she was aware that the pron was at anchor in a sheltered harbor, sur- round by a dozen craft of the same kind. Just then the door opened, and Reid came in, fez in hand, 3 ‘Sorry I had to use you & trifle roughly yes- terday, Miss Darrel,’ he said, respectfully, “bat, I was acting under orders.” 3 a “You area traitor and renegade, then, Mr. Wescott.” : ; “So men call me,” he answered, in a bitter one. I’m down, miss? I can’t hit back, and I'm un- der obligations to the man who employed me in | more ways than one. But I came to say that you are to go ashore with me.” ‘‘T desire to return to my father. He will | pay a heavy ransom for my safe return.” “*No use, Miss Darrel. The man ate now.” “And who ishe?’ _ ‘“The Black Shereef,” replied Reid. ‘‘ That monster?’ she gasped. (a “The devil is not so black as he is painted,” he said, with a laugh. you please,” et ES ( Nellie saw no use in disobeying and accom- panied him on deck. Before her lay a city in the Eastern style, a place of some pretensions, with strong batteries on each side of the en- trance to the harbor and many buildings clus- tering about a castle-like structure in the cen- ter. An elegant boat lay alongside the proa, “But come on deck, if manned by a white crew, and into this Reid | banded his prisoner and took a seat with her, “Let full; give way!” was the order of | The oars dropped into the water with naval precision, and a few strokes quickly brought them to a flight of stone steps, where Reid as- sisted her to land. A beautiful palanquin, at- tended by four stout bearers, was waiting for her, and she took a seat in it and was carried on through the narrow streets of the city and into the castle. Here she alighted and was led up a flight of winding stairs into a room fur-— nished in the luxurious style only to be seen in the East. : * These are your quarters,” said Reid. ‘You will be at liberty as far as this suite of rooms is concerned, but | would not advise you to wan- der about much, as you do not know the palace.” He clapped his hands and a door opened at ue ae of the great room and a young girl en- tered, “ Aruna,” said Reid, “this is the lady whom the chief expects, You have your orders.” The girl, who was a rather pretty Malay made a low salaam, and turning to Nellie askec her in very good English if she wished for any- thing, “Nothing except liberty,” replied the pris- oner, sadly, ‘and that you cannot give me.” The Malay girl shook her head. “You will not answer questions which may be-asked you, Aruna,” said Reid. “ When the Shereef comes he will tell the lady all she need knew.” : The girl nodded to signify that she under- stood, and Reid bowed respectfully to Nellie and went out. Ay. | int ‘Will my lady eat?” asked the Malay maiden, “What is the use of hitting me when | | who had | you brought here alone has power over your | The Yankee Rajah. | softly. | obe r her.” : . | Nellis Darrel was only mortal and began to | feel the pangs of hunger. She signified her i wish for food, and Aruna clapped her hands | and two women appeared. | ‘The lady would eat,” said Aruna. | The women quickly spread a feast which | would have been a temptation to an epicure. Nellie seated herself and made a very unroman- tic meal, When she had finished, the table was drawn away, and just then acannon boomed at the port and cries of joy were heard in the | streets. : : | ‘What is the matter?’ the prisoner asked, turning to Aruna. ) “The Shereef comes,” replied the girl, proud- ly, ‘‘and our people delight to honor him, Would the white lady see how they welcome him on his return?” Nellie stepped to the open window indicated by the girl and looked out. All the population of the city—men, women and children—seemed to be in the streets and hurrying toward the seen rapidly Srproaching the landing. A min- ute later a tall and martial figure, clad in the dress of a Malay war-chief, appeared at the head of the steps, attended by a glittering reti- nue, They came rapidly up the street, the wo- men strewing flowers in the 'a song in praise of the Blac came nearer the ! " were of somber black and that his face was hid- | den by a black mask. He appeared to take the adulations of the multitude quiteas his just due, and waving his hand to the people, disappeared within the portals of the castle, | “The Shereef is a great war-chief,” said | Aruna, proudly. te. “Yet his hands are red with the blood of in- nocent men,” said Nellie. ‘ | | “He is a warrior,” averred the girl, ‘and | preat warriors delight to shed blood in battle. | | Shereef. As he Since the days of the sable kings of the Malay | there has been no chief so great as Selim Ben Mahoud, the Black Shereef.” The door opened, and he appeared upon the threshold, ’ | Eien DARREL shuddered at the sight of this | | man, when he spoke in a melodious voice: | _“ Peace be with you, Aruna; leave me with | the white maiden.” shoe The Malay girl bent her head obediently and | hurried from the room while the Shereef stood | looking at Ellen Darrel intently for a moment | before he spoke again, and she gazed back at him with undaunted eyes. | more than ordinary stature, a model of manly | grace, whose face was completely hidden by the black mask, through which his eyes shone | ike twin stars. 2 hae | ‘‘T am the Black Shereef,” he said, in good | English. ‘‘ You do not bid me welcome.” __ ‘“T do not know you,” she answered, “If you are a warrior, as you claim, you will not make war upon a woman,” | to | ‘“T do not make war with you, sweet maiden. | Isaw your face in Shanghae, and it | Black Shereef loves—he takes. You are mine now, never to leave me.” a weapon into my own heart,” she declared. ‘The white maiden has a stubborn heart, but more stubborn spirits have been broken within these walls,” he asserted. fe ety father and my lover will come to my aid.” ‘Tet them come. They shall be made wel- come with fire and kreese. What now, Shereef Reid?” ‘*] have something important to say, as 500m as you are at libertv.” “ i “Go!” said the Shereef, impatiently, waving /hishand. “I will come soon to the judgment | hall, and you may wait for me there.” ‘ | Reid turned away, grumbling a little, and the | Shereef again turned to Nellie. | “Child,” he said, ‘f you will learn before you have been long in my city that I have only to | lift my finger to be obeyed. The Malays fear | meso, that if I bade one of them cast himself from the highest wall of the palace he would obey me. My will is law: I speak, and they “You will find in me one who will not be obedient, sir. More than that, my friends will | leave no stone unturned to rescus me.” | pect you to listen to reason at harbor, and a boat, manned by six rowers, was She saw a man of | like.” path and chanting | | A /for and much cause to hate you, and yet, [ girl could see that his garments | | was fairer | | than the face of any Malay woman. What the ‘Never yours, while I have a hand to strike | | | neoa , | | | would do me no harm, and I feel that she is my | yor did, — a “Aruna is here as her slave and only to | ‘They will find usready to meet them. Enough of this for the present as I did mot ex- first: but I hope,, for your own sake, that you will listen socn, for’ Tam not very patient. Ha! What are you doing here, Zarina?”’ fo ‘“‘T have come to see this new toy which you have brought home, Shereef,” replied a musical voice, Nellie turned quickly, and saw a beautiful wom clad like a Pence and wearing a: tiara of precious stones, which were in them- selves worth the ransom of a prince. Nellie thought, at the first glance, that she had never seen a more beautiful woman. Her face was of the Roman mold, haughty and clearly cut, with great, luminous eyes and firm lips. Her hair swept from beneath the band of the tiara in great masses of the hue of the raven’s wing. reaching nearly to the floor. She wore a loose, flowing robe of figured silk, confined at the waist by a girdle with a golden buckle, and in -itshe carried a curved Malay kreese and two elegantly mounted revolvers. : | : “T repeat, what are you doing here, 4arina?” hissed the Shereef. __ ‘* And I answer, that I came to see your new toy, which you have picked up on the sea. Shereef, you do no not know Zarina yet, If | you would not try to frighten her y blustering words. I have little to thank you would not see harm come to you—not yet, at le ie a ‘Go out, Zarina. I will speak to you soon,” said the Shereef, sternly. . ‘(At your pleasure. I have seen the girl and she looks ¢ ood and pure. And I swear by the ods the SMalaya worship, here and now, that. [ will drive my kreese to the hilt in the heart of any man who does her wrong, Fear nothing, sweet maiden, Zarina is your friend, although she came as an enemy.” The Shereef raised his hauds and clapped them loudly. Half a dozen Malays ran in at once, “Seize this mad creature,” cried the chief. ‘‘Put her in charge of Mahmond the Parsee, and bid him look to it that she does not wander alone about the palace any more.” Zarina retreated a single step, and, with a rapid motion, drew one of the revolvers from | her belt, ‘(Malays!” she cried, ‘“‘take warning before you throw away your lives. I will kill any man who lays the meinbt of a finger on me.” The Malays, who had begun to advance, stopped in trepidation. Zarina evidently meant just what she said. | ; ‘Look you, Shereef,” she cried. ‘* You know that 1 have ever been free as air. Counter- mand your order, or I will put my mark upon some of your slaves in a way they will not ‘Go, men,” said the Shereef. ‘I will admit that I ought to know you better, Zarina, but when you rave in this manner you ought to be pat under restraint. No one could be more kind to you than I bave been.” ; ‘‘ Then let me alone. I love this sweet maiden, and it is the first time in long years that I have met one who isa fit mate for me, and now you try to drive me from her. Iwill not endure it.” ‘You will frighten her,” said the Shereef, ‘‘ because you talk so wildly.” | “‘ Ask her if she fears Zarina,” said the girl, quietly. ‘‘If she says so, I will go.” ~*T do not fear her,” replied Nellie, ‘She only friend here.” Then I will leave you together for awhile,'” said the Shereef, ‘‘ but beware how you set her against me, Zarina, or in any way betray my secrets, for if you do, nothing shall save you,” ‘‘Fear not. Since that awful night when the ship fell a prey to your proas, and all I loved were lost, my brain has Jain in darkness. I can remember nothing, neither my own name nor the name of my Stiness But if I meet bim L shall know him, Yes, yes, yes; I am sure of that.” : : ; ‘“ You need not. fear Zarina, sweet maiden,” said the Shereef. ‘* The affliction she speaks of drove ber mad, but she will do you no harm, and will be a companion to you. There is noth- ing I have ever repented so much as the calam- ity which drove her mad, for no more beautiful woman than Zarina, not yourself even, lives om earth to-day.” aoe ) He panned quickly on his heel and left them. going down into the great hall, where Tom Reid was pacing up and down in deep thought. . ‘“]¢ is closing in upon us, Shereef,” declared ‘the man. ‘I begin te think that it is time te (ECO AMUCE LOOX KS, EOra