The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

848 spoke Sparlish, I said: “ Yes—a little.” “It’s a pity you said that,’ said Oakes. “ That'll be another point that they'll use against us to convict us—-’’ “Of what?” I asked. “Of being Brethren of the Coast,” he said simply. ‘‘ You know—Mor- gan’s men, If I’m not very much imis- taken, they'll ask us about that. Ah, you devil! You fear even the name, do your” | For at the name of Morgan one of the soldiers had struck him violently across the back with his pike. They marched us slowly up the steps to the main guard-room, where fish and dry bread were given to us witha cup of warm water, and when we had eaten we were bidden follow the guard to the great room on the floor above, where we were to be questioned by the governor. : The governor sat at a long table with a dish of nuts and raisins before him. Near him at a small table sat a clerk and-a couple of priests in the black robes of the order of Domin- icans sat behind him in the shadow. We were hustled unceremoniously up the room and for a moment no one spoke, the only sound that broke the stillness being the crackle of the stiff paper as the clerk flattened the page. For a moment the governor eyed us sternly. Oakes’s brows drew tense under the supercilious scrutiny, and for all his fifty years he flushed with anger at the lack of consideration shown us. “Who are you?” the Spaniard asked shortly. “Two Englishman, seior, I ama sailor; my friend there is a gentleman planter—”’ | ‘Whence come you? ” ‘From the plantation of Albemarle, east-bound with a cargo of tobacco and corn. We were driven out of our course and dismasted, and we lost three men—” “How comes it that you speak Spanish? ” THE ARGOSY. Oakes explained that he had traded along the coast from time to time. “In absolute defiance of our orders in council! It is a bad time of the year for you to be driven into a Span- ish port. The failure of Morgan’s at- tempt on Nata brings him new men, it seems. I fear you have made a bad landfall and that the northern coast Was your goal.”’ One of the priests spoke to him in a whisper. He listened attentively for a moment. “You can give me no proof of your identity,’ he said angrily. “To us you are not only masterless men who are vagrants and dangerous characters, but I fear you are on the way to join the freebooters who infest the upper coast—”’ T started a denial. “Silence, dog! Who spoke to you? Will you enlist under our colors to repel the attack of these pirates?” “Will you fight against Englishmen, however bad they may be, Mr. Ste- phen, to save your own skin? These men have no intention of living up to. their promises.’ Oakes spoke in a low voice, ee Not Ee “Whether you enlist or not,” said the governor smoothly, “ you will both be required to work daily in the ship- yard under guard. I will have no idlers here.” I felt the blood run back to my heart at the words, for I knew now what they meant. Oakes, too, fell silent, and we were led back to our little cell, the door shut noisily, and the sound of the footsteps in the vaulted corridor died away in the stillness. CHAPPER ITIL IN THE HANDS OF THE SPANIARDS. For a little while neither of us spoke. Then Oakes: “ Well, lad, this is a pretty kettle of fish that we have landed.”’ He fell silent for a space. COMIC OO KS (E@)