Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

40 share with us. For if we must perish you shall perish with us. But there is one chance—one slender chance—of life for us and for you if you will agree to do as I shall bid you.” | Behind him Don Diego laughed aloud, the exaltation of martyrdom on his white face. : “There is no way,” he cried in a vibrant voice. “Provide none for him. Let us die rather, and long live Spain!”’ Captain Blood did not heed him; his at- tention was entirely given to those ten prisoners, and on the sullen faces of those hinds he saw the light of no such exaltation as their captain sought to kindle in them. He turned to those who guarded Don Diego. “Lash him across the mouth of that can- non,” he commanded, pointing to’ the nearest stern-chaser. By, < a i THE order quenched some of that ' Roman spirit that Captain Blood observed and secretly admired in his prisoner. A man may not fear death itself, and yet be appalled by the manner of it. Don Diego glared maniacally, his eye- balls rolling in his head, and then he fell to struggling in the arms that held him whilst from his lips poured blasphemy and insult whose source was horror. But for alt his -vain struggles his body was swiftly and re- lentlessly strétched in an arc across the mouth of the gun, and his legs and arms lashed to the carriage on either side of it. Thence he addressed his tormentor in a tone of frenzy. “You foul barbarian heretic! You in- human savage! Will it not content you to kill me in some Christian fashion?” “Gag him,” said Captain Blood. ‘ And in this he had a certain subtle pur- pose. In a moment, surprize being spent, the Spaniard might recover his intrepidity of spirit, and seek again to instil firmness into his followers. -To these the Irishman now turned, ob- serving with satisfaction the horror stamped on every face of the ten. He commanded the gunner, who was a personable fellow with an air of authority, to stand forward from the rest, and then very deliberately he explained himself in the excellent Castilian of which he was master. “That ship,” he said, ‘‘will presently be opening fire upon us unless meanwhile we Adventure can take measures to avert it. Now, we are in no case to fight, as your captain well knew when he abused his parole to steer us into this trap. “But if we are not in case ‘to fight, neither are we in case to surrender, which would mean.eur death or worse. If die we must, we will die fighting. And if we are driven to fight, it is this gun that will open fire on our side.’’ And his hand touched the stern-chaser that bore Don Diego stretched across its jaws. “T trust that you understand me.” Esteban, the gunner, stared white-faced into those pitiless light eyes. “Tf I understand?” he cried. “But, nombre de Dios! How should I understand? You speak of averting a fight. But how?” “A fight might be averted; escape might be possible,’ he was answered, “if Don Diego were to go aboard that frigate and by his presence properly accredited satisfy her that the Cinco Llagas is indeed a ship of _ Spain as her flag announces.”’ He pointed aloft to the gold-and-crimson banner of Castile that floated from her mast- head. “But since Don Diego is otherwise en- gaged he can not go in person. He must be represented. You might go’as his lieuten- ant in a beat manned by these countrymen of yours to complete the illusion. * “Should you return without accident, having so played your part that we shall be free to continue on our voyage, Don Diego shall have his life, as shall every one of you. But if there is the least hitch through treach- ery or misadventure the battle will be opened on our side by this gun, which will be trained upon your boat.” He paused, then asked— “What have you to say to that?” A silence followed, broken at last by the Spaniards behind the gunner. “But accept!” they exhorted him, sev- eral speaking at once. ‘‘Accept, and do it, name of |”? Captain Blood smiled. “You hear,’ he said, and added, “Be- lieve me, it is good advice.” Esteban moistened his dry lips, and with the back of his hand mopped the beads of sweat from his brow. His eyes were upon the figure of his captain, and he saw the man’s muscles heaving as he attempted to writhe in his bonds. COMmMiclboo oN ) CO