Captain Joe; or, The Days of the Mint — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

THE HALFPENNY STANDARD. do for you. I promise that this night’s work zhall never be mentioned by me.” ‘" Why that,” said Vandergrift, “is all we want. The word of Captain Lindrake is more sacred than she oath-of most men.” ; “ But,” said Lindrake, ‘‘I do not say that this night’s work will be forgotten by me. If you ever again, Heidrich Vandergrift, or any of your men, come between me and my duty, I will hunt you down to the death. Dick, keep your pistol in the powder keg till I have made our safety sure.” “ [ intend to,” said Dick, quietly. *‘ Captain Heid- Yich Vandergrift,” said Lindrake, ‘you will show your men a good example. Yon are well armed, I know, so are your men, so put your a weapons on the es 1 and he may takethem away. Thoee he brought to-night, no others.” “Damn!” said Vandergrift. a geuerons enemy, and [ am _ not sorry that young tiger saved your life, None the less he will have to settle a heavy score with me. Sherlock ee . “Well.” * You will see my Jugger in the bay on the morning of this day week, and you will have those tubs on the beach for me.” ‘‘They shall be there, Vandergrift.” ‘Tf you turn traitor,” said Heidrich, darkly, He turned to the first of the men—it was th | ruffian who had knocked in the bung of the “But you are | powder keg—and said : “Come, take a torch, and go in front, and do not drop the torch, for I shall be close behind you, and you would have a bullet through your back.” cue The man obeyed him with a docility singularly at variance with his sullen brow and fierce expres- sion, and leading him through the passages and cellars to the outer door, David pointed signi- ficantly to the beach. ‘Tf you are wise,” he said, ‘‘you will be ready to weigh anchor table here. David £2 Sherlock will search ——— you one by one.” Se Not sorry for the a task imposed upon ee him, David beyan \ with Vandergrift, from whem he took two brace of pis- tols, ashort, broad- bladed dagger, keen as arazor, and a long clasp knife that closed with a strong spring. The others did notcarry quite so many, but by the time Sher- lock had finished the table was piled up with arms enough for twenty men, “What next, captain?” heasked, respectfully. “Take a pistol in each hand aud conduct these gen- tlemen singly to the door of your very excellent tavern, “The Alba- tross,’ As each one goes out you will Jock and bar the door behind Lim.” “And return for the next ? “Yes; leaving Captain - Vander- grift, this honest aster of a tradiny vessel, to the last.*’ The Dutchman ground his teeth, and his broad chest moved with the longing that was in him to strike Lindrake down and legain his mastery. “One question ?” he said. ‘' What is to become of the cargo. I brought here to-night ?” ‘“You have my promise that with to-night’s work I have nothing to do ; that promise includes your cargo,” “Then I may remove itat any time ?” Settle that as you please between Sherlock and yourself. I have nothing to do with it in my way.” “Then we will take it back,” said Heidrich. “Not to-night,” Sherlock said, shaking his head. ‘‘Itis quite safe with me—my orders are to se you out, unarmed and empty handed.” “Pot his tubs on the beach for him to- morrow, or any time he likes within a week, ‘* RELEASE HIM,” SAID DICK, ‘SOR YOU DIE,” ‘*ag you seem more than half inclined to do, you know the penalty.” “‘T know the penalty.” “There is no corner on earth in whieh you could hide from our search ; there isno power on earth that could save yon from our vengeance.” ‘Tf I wished to be a traitor,’’ Sherlock said calmly, ‘‘I could shoot you down as you stand— you and your men—one by one; let your bodies float out to sea when the tide begins to turn, and scuttle your lugger in the darkness of this night. But an idle threat does not make me angry.” and set sail in ant hott, for the cay tain’s promise only concerns your skip- per, and for the morning of this day week, At any tithe, before or after, you will be in danger.” The man departed without a word, but when the door was locked and * barred behind him, | he shook his fist at it, and used some expletives that would have made even a Dutchman | ashamed of his own cil Me amen” language. He went to the beach, there 4 boat was left, and waited for his comrades. who joined him— crestfallen and sul- len, It was curious with what unani- inity they, with one exception, said hard things of Dick, while they spoke of Lindrake in terms of praise. “But,” sald the ruffian who had f opened the powder | key, ** to be beaten 4) bya boy!” ‘* A tiger rather,” said a second, ‘‘ an imp of Satan. We mtist find a way to silence him, for he would know us any- where again, and our lives would be at his mercy.” “‘ Nay, nay,” said the flaxen-haired Hans, ‘‘ the lad is a good lad, brave and true. He did | hisduty nobly, and they who fear him as an open foe shall not strike at him in the dark.” ** Who will pre- > ventit?” asked the | kero of the powder ‘keg. ‘'T, HansSteinitz, and you know me, Max Barsdoffer.” Evidently Max Barsdoffer knew him well enouch, for he did not carry on the conversation, and not much more was said while they manneii the boat and waited for their captain. Whien Vandergrift appeared no one dared speak to him. They saw the demon in his face, and half ex- pected that his pent-up fury would break out be- fore they were on board. When they were on the deck he turned hie bearded face over his shoulder, while on the point- of Sescanding OMAMCLOOOKS Conn