Pluck and Luck #139: Jack Wright and His Deep Sea Monitor — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

_A terrible shudder of horror passed over the boy as he saw ies the old sailor hanging there by main strength, and turning - fiercely to Mixitli, he asked: _ “For God’s sake, man, what do you mean by having that eruel work done?” & “He'll hang zere till his—hic!—his strength givesh out, an’ a zen he’ll fall,” chuckled the Carib. “He’ll get killed on zem 4 ~rocksnh below him, if —” aa “If what?” hoarsely asked the agonized boy, as he aa = “Tf you don’ t—hic!—don’t tell how to operate zish boat!” ~ said the Carib. _ Jack burst into a cold sweat, for the suspense was awful. Every moment Tim’s strength was waning, and if he did not 3 Se cay)y the old sailor would get so weak his fingers would re- lax their desperate clutch, and down he would fall to his _ destruction! . = “And if I comply?” he asked, hoarsely, of his fiendish tor- _ mentor. a “My men will pull him up!” came the Carib’s reply. The boy wavered for a moment; then his resolution was made. won’t do it!” he said firmly. ~ ~ if _t— ~ —, - CHAPTER XIX. oe _ SAVED BY THE SAILOR. A veritable howl of fury escaped the dusky Carib’s lips when Jack gave his answer, for he did not expect a negative reply. a The fumes of the liquor he had imbibed seemed to clear from his brain, and he jerked a dirk knife from his belt, _ sprang at the bound boy from whose head the metal helmet iad been taken, and, pressing the point of the weapon at his fa Sikrost, Mixitli yelled: a: oll will know at once from you how to work this electric _hoat, or by the stars above us, I shall bury this dagger in your gular! Speak now! Curse you, speak, I say!” 3 wes fhe plucky boy cast a cool glance at the enraged man. ei Bey. killing me you jiessen your chances of learning what ia ou re so anxious to know,” he said, quietly. : _ Fritz and the professor withdrew their glances from the figure of the old sailor, clearly outlined against the face of the ee iff, to the edge of which he was hanging by his hands for a vhis life. | _ There was a dark scowl on Mixitli’s face and a frantic glare in his snake-like black eyes, and he hissed: — e-*You, will not tell me anyway?” “True,” answered Jack, ringingly. “We are bound to die at your hands, and the death you are putting my friend to will . be as sudden an ending as that with which you now threaten a me. Strike, you infernal coward! Strike! I am not afraid A to die! < : ae: shall!” screamed the Carib. le drew back his arm, and the boy unflinchingly met his ag d glances: without a tremor or change of color. es e flashing knife darted toward the boy's neck. ne gone “Once he is déad we can learn niohhinges g, and the way everything” on this monitor TiS: electrified now, we dare hus touch any of the complicated’ machinery for fear a shock may kill the one who does it.” — As he said this he placed a whistle to his lips and blew it. The shrill blast went up to the cliff top where the pirates were assembled around Tim Topstay, and, hearing it, they followed the signal it meant by hauling the old sailor up on — terra firma, “What did you do that for?” asked Mixitli, in petulant, sur- prised tones. “Because, in the first place, nothing can bef gained footie it, as you have found by a trial,” replied Blackbeard, secretly nudging Jack, “and in the second place, I have got a better — plan.” | “Name it,” growled the Carib. “T shall, when we have more privacy,” answered Blackbeard, glancing around at his own men, who were the only ones be- sides themselves on the deck of the Sea Serpent. Mixitli was forced to be content with this vague reply. | He never suspected the treacherous part Blackbeard was playing against him, and knew nothing of the pirate’s offer to aid Jack in order to further his own schemes, | The boy detected at once the diplomacy cf Blackbeard in thus saving Tim’s and his own lives from the foe; it was evi- dently a stroke to win the boy’s confidence. The men on the cliifs, according to. prearrangement, con- ducted Tim out to the monitor in a boat, upon receiving the signal to lift him from his perilous position. They now brought the old sailor aboard of the Sea Serpent, and Blackbeard asked one of them: . “Have the savages and the dissenters boarded the ship?” - “Ay, sir,” replied the man, saluting respectfully, “an” they threatens ter keep the schooner back in the lagoon, an’——” “That will do. The schooner is renamed, isn’t it?” “Ay, ay, sir. She’s now called ther Terror, as you ordered.” “You may now take Mixitli ashore or aboard of the ship “Me?” echoed the Carib, in extreme amazement. “Pxactly,” was Blackbeard’s cool reply. . “What does this mean?” queried the astounded man. “Simply this—I am the master of these vessels now.” “What! Have you been playing me false, Blackbeard?” “Tt have schemed to get you and your whole crew drunk to seize this monitor and the schooner. Most of your men have deserted you and joined me to sail under the black flag and share with me the ton of gold massed in the idol lying upon the deck.” a! “Traitorous rascal!” gasped Kellenda Mixitli, in horsitienss surprise. ; The Carib uttered a groan and turned deathly pale, This blow was so unexpected and heavy that it took him some time to realize the position he was placed in. 5 He reeled back against the golden idol, trembling like an aspen, and breathed hard for a few moments, the fiendish glare in his eyes having a sullen look that portrayed the fire. of conflicting emotions raging in his bosom. Within a few moments he recovered from the shock, and, restoring his composure by a violent effort, he cried ‘in tones: fo of the bitterest chagrin: es “So this is the end of all my plans?” | ee “Precisely,” answered Blackbeard, in mocking tones. ee “Give me, at least, the satisfaction of killing my enemies.” Jia “Not one. They are my prisoners, and as such I shall pro- ser tect them.” Re. es: Mixitli gnashed his teeth. \ Sal “JT shall, then, have revenge!” he yelled, madly. ay Ana, dropping the dagger to the deck, he withdrew a pistol and shot Blackbeard, DOCReTed his aa and sprang over aS ; bars a ery of woe, zane pirate es his hand to sis woun , *, ‘ me . 7 - rr | Sieise tc ree ay ice ¥ ep =>! - - fe. > ~ ‘? ce Ag se yaa ee are etl 4 ral Te ee ef ok : board. — nt és.