Adventure Magazine Cover — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

Santa Maria “Pray don’t give yourself the trouble,” said Captain Blood. “I did what I did not for your sake, but for the sake of my pledged word, though concern for your little Indian wife’ may have had some part in it.” The Spaniard smiled almost wistfully as his glance rested on her standing near him, her fond eyes devouring him. ‘“[ was discourteous to you this morning. I beg your pardon.” ‘That isan ample amend.” The captain was very dignified. “You are generous. May I ask, sir, what is your intention regarding us—my- self and the others?” ‘Nothing against your liberty, as I prom- ised. So soon as my men return, we shall march away and leave you.” The Spaniard sighed. “Tt is what I feared. You will leave us, weakened in strength, our defences wrecked, at the mercy of Brazo Largo and his Indians, who will butcher us the moment your backs are turned. For don’t imagine that they will leave Santa Maria until that is done.” Captain Blood considered, frowning. “You have certainly stirred up a personal vengeance, which Brazo Largo will prose- cute without pity. But what can I do?” “You could suffer us to depart for Panama at once, while you are here to cover our re- treat from your Indian allies. Ah, wait, Don Pedro! I would not propose it did I not deem you from what I have seen, to be a man of heart, a gallant gentleman, pirate though you may be. Also you will observe that since you have disavowed any intention of retaining us as prisoners, I am really not asking for anything at all.” IT WAS quite true, and upon turn- ing it over in his mind, Captain ~ Blood eame to the conclusion that they would be much better off at Santa Maria without these Spaniards who had to be guarded on the one hand and protected on the other. Therefore, he consented. Wolverstone demurred. But when Blood asked him what possible purpose could be served by -keeping the Spaniards at Santa Maria, Wolverstone confessed that he did not know. All that he could say was that he trusted no living Spaniard, which did not seem to have any bearing on the question. So Captain Blood went off to find Brazo Largo, who was sulking on the wooden jetty below the fort. am not quarrelling on that. 159 The Indian rose at his approach, an ex- agegerated impassivity on his countenance. “Brazo Largo,” said the captain, ‘‘your men have set my word at naught and put my honor in danger.”’ “T not understand,” the Indian answered him. “You make friend with the Spanish thieves?” “Make friends, ‘no. But when they sur- rendered to me, I promised as the condition of their surrender that no harm should come to them. Your men would have murdered them, in violation of that promise, had I not prevented it.” The Indian was contemptuous. “Huh! Huh! You are not my friend. I bring you to Spanish gold, and you turn against me.” “There is no gold,” said Blood. “But I You should have told me, my friend, before we came this journey that you were using me for purposes of your own, so that we might deliver up to you your Spanish enemy and your daughter. Then I should not have passed my word to Don Domingo that he would be safe, and ° you could have drunk the blood of every Spaniard in the place. But you deceived me, Brazo Largo.” “Huh! Huh!” said Brazo Largo. “I not say anything more.”’ “But I do. There are your men. After what has happened, I can not trust them. And my pledged word compels me to defend the Spaniards so long as I am here.” The Indian bowed. “‘Perfectamentel So long as you are here. What then?” “Tf there is trouble again, there may be shooting, and some of your braves may be hurt. I should regret that more than the loss of the Spanish gold. It must not hap- pen, Brazo Largo. You must summon your men, and let me consign them to one of the huts in the fort for the present—for their own sake.” Brazo Largo considered. Then he nod- ded. He was aevery reasonable savage. And so the Indians were assembled, and Brazo Largo, smiling the smile of the man who knows how to wait, submitted to con- finement with them in one of the pent- houses. The assembled buccaneers_murmured a little among themselves and Wolverstone ventured to express the general disap- proval. CORnNICLOokKs (C@)