Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 103 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 firm-set teeth of the questioner as the soldier spoke. POnly too well did he understandthe nature of the peril which threatened the unfortunate girl. The reputation of the queen of the harem was well known to him; merciless by nature— more tiger-cat than woman, he knew that she would not hesitate at any means and at any cost to remove a rival from her path. In some way Gulnare had learned of the ar- rival in the city of the beautiful English girl, and at once her jealous fears had jumped to the conclusion that in the stranger she would find a dangerous rival, and so she had planned to ab- duct her before she should be brought before the Dey. And, to what fate would jealous Gulnare consign the girl when once her eyes rested upon the beauty of her almost perfect face? Had not the prisoner been a man of wonder- ful nerve, and one used to concealing his emo- tions behind a stony face, he would have groan- ed aloud in anguish as these thoughts floated through his brain, and he reflected upon the terrible peril that menaced the lady. And he was helpless, too, to aid her now. Cruel For- tune had frowned and fate itself seemed leagued nst him. e walls of Algiers were soon reached, the sleepy warder roused to unclose the gates, and then passing through the portal the heavy gates clanged to, and the Lion Captain was fairly within the grasp of his foes. The Moorish captain was too well acquainted with the habits of the Algerine Dey to venture to disturb him at such an hour, though bearing with him such a prize, and he was se aay too this lowly captain, and he knew right we that if any of the great ones of the court discovered how Fnportass was the capture he had made the chances were large that they would attempt to ignore him in the matter altogether and lay claim to the credit of the deed themselves, Therefore the captain cautioned his men and in- structed them nof to breathe a word toa soul in regard to the prize which they had secured, and with his troop proceeded to their barracks where they remained until the hour of ten next morning, at which time the Dey was usually visible; then he proceeded with his troop, the prisoners in the center, to the palace. With a grand flourish the captain demanded admittance to the royal presence. ‘‘T bring a most important te pe he de- clared, ‘‘and must have immediate speech with his serene highness.” Now, although the officers of the palace look- ed with disdain upon the plainly-attired prison- ers, and with sun iy incredulous gestures indi- cated their disbelief in the captain’s statement, et they did not dare to refuse his request, for the Dey, like all the Eastern rulers, often found time to hang heavy on his hands, and was never sorry when some interruption to the regular or- der of things occurred. Therefore, with great ceremony the captain and his troop was ushered into the great hall of sta te. The Dey sat in his place as usual; by his side, amid the other officers in immediate attendance upon the royal person, was the crafty “ Holy n,” but FY Boro, the minister of war, was Early that morning, for the renegade English- man was no slug he had discove the absence of his daughter, and at once set out in search of her. The captain, ushered into the presence of the ruler of ers, at once advanced to the throne and humbly prostrated himself before it. ‘‘ All glory to your illustrious highness, Al- giers’s t Dey, the ruler of the world!” he cried, after the Oriental fashion; ‘‘ and confu- sion to your enemies, whether they be on land or sea! Your humble slave, with his own right arm, has performed a mighty deed and van- ished a foo who has long dared to brave the di leasure of your royal frown.” ‘the Dey glanced from the speaker to the pris- oners, and he was somewhat puzzled at the iloquent tone of the speaker, for the un- own captives quietly gazing around them with placid faces, evidently, if one could ee e from their features, not at all affected by e If ition. e prisoners were criminals their self- com e was repels yrs ‘‘ Allah be thanked that I am so well served!” the Dey exclaimed. “Terror of the land and ocean, our poor servant gives into your royal hands the mighty Greek pirate, the Lion of the Sea!” All within the hall at the announce- ment; the captain rose to his feet, made a sign ee The Lion of the Sea. ola, to one of the soldiers, and the fellow advancing, drew.from under his cloak the y lion-h and laid it down before the feet: of the Algerine monarch, who stared in amazement at the strange sight. “By the beard of the Prophet! this is most wonderful!” the Moor exclaimed. And the whispered title, ‘‘ the Lion of the Sea,” went. round the hall from lip to lip, Great was the exultation of all. ** And which one of these two is the Lion Cap- tain, the Greek pirate? Let him step forth!” eried the Dey. CHAPTER XV. A FINAL TRIAL, NEITHER one of the two men moved. **Dogs!” cried the Algerine ruler in a rage, “do you dare to brave my wrath? Let who calls himself the Lion of the Sea step forth at once, or on his head will I launch the bee ne of my royal displeasure!” The Moor was somewhat illogical in this threat, for until he discovered which was the Greek it would be impossible to punish him. ** Pardon me, light of the world!” exclaimed one of the men, stepping forward and prostra- ting himself before the throne. “ Your illustri- ous highness is deceived, as is also this noble cap- tain,” and then, in a plain, straightforward manner, he related the tale which he had told the Algerine officer. Plain, honest fishermen, he claimed that. both he and his companion were, blown by contrary winds off the coast of Tunis, then at sea picked up by the unknown ship, which, as he frankly confessed, was no doubt the ship of the notorious Greek pirate, but as to there being any connection between the pirate and himself and companion, why, the idea was absurd. ‘* But the lion-head?” cried the Dey, pointing to the grim and fantastic disguise. ‘We know nothing of it,” the man answered, humbly. ‘This noble captain will tell you that we had it not.” Thus called upon the officer was forced to ad- mit that some of his men had found the lion- head hidden within a clump of bushes near to the spot where the prisoners had been taken but ended by confidently asserting his belief that one of the captives had placed it there. _ ‘“Confess!” cried the Dey, loudly, and with anger in his tones; ‘‘ confess, and so save your- selves from the consequences of my wrath. One of you is the Greek pirate; let the other speak and reveal which he is, and so save himself from fearful torture.” And then the other prisoner stepped forward and bowed his head before the throne. ‘‘Tam the man you seek; let my companio go free!” ‘No, no!” cried the other, springing to his feet; ‘‘ 7am the man; take me and let him go!” In dire perplexity all within the council hall stared at this unlooked-for announcement. There was but one Greek pirate, but lo! here were two! ‘Base sons of unclean dogs!” roared the Dey, ina rage. ‘‘Am I bereft of reason that you think to impose on me in this way? First, you declare that en know nothing of the Lion of the Sea; and then, in the next breath, each claims to bethe man. Inshallah! you shall both die, and there is an end to the matter!” ‘Most illustrious monarch!” cried El Tokar, a brilliant idea occurring to him. ‘“ Summon great Ali of the Blue Beard; he knows the pi- rate—he has met him in single fight—he can eat tell which of these two men is the true reek.” ““By the white tomb of our holy Prophet!” averred the Algerine monarch, “there is wis- dom in your thought. Let great Ali be called at once.” Pasha Blue Beard was not far off; he came in haste at the Dey’s call, and when the nature of the business was explained to him, he at once declared that no doubt he could detect the pirate at a glance; but when he came to examine the two men, who bore the scrutiny unflinchingly, the veteran sea-rover was puzzled; he shook his head gravely, and was about to declare that in his judgment neither one was the famous Lion Captain, when, happening to glance at the Al- erine ruler, he saw an expression upon Aboo n’s face that warned him that he was ex- pected to identify one of the men, and so, likea skillful courtier, he at once laid his hand upon the shoulder of the man nearest to him, and ex- claimed: ““By my head! I believe this is the man!” El Tokar, in the meanwhile, had been whis- pering words of counsel in the ear of the Dey, and so when Ali had declared his opinion, t Dey proceeded _to put into execution the plan that the wily Holy Man had suggested to him. ‘* Let the prisoners be removed at once to the dungeon and placed in separate cells, and under pain of death let no man hold communication with either of them.” The order of the Algerine monarch was obeyed at once. Dark and gloomy indeed were the cells to which the captives were conducted. Men of iron they seemed to be, for neither one uttered even a word against the harsh command. Into these damp and noisome dens the blessed light of the all-glorious sun never came; so chill the air—so foul the vapors that arose on all sides, that few prisoners ever spent mnny hours as captives to the Dey without showing of these terrible dungeons for many years af- terward. The prisoners were i in separate cells; the heavy doors clanged to; the rusty bolts shot home in their sockets, and they were left to their own meditations. But not for long, for within fifteen minutes the guards conducted El] Tokar along the dark assage, and behind him came two dark and sinister forms; negroes, black as jet, and bearing ominous silken cords in their hands. One used to the Algerine court would, at a lance, have recognized these two dark, muscu- ar men. They were the stranglers, the stern ministers alike of j ustice and of vengeance, El Tokar paused at the portal of the dungeon where the first prisoner was confined. The jailer unlocked the door and the Holy Man entered, the stranglers se oer without. The captive sat on a low stool, the only piece of furniture within the cell, gazing wistfully up at the little window, through which, between its bars, the light stole in. The fat and greasy Moor came close up to the ee and peered with eager curiosity into is face; the captive, with a questioning glance, returned the look. ‘Tt is an unpleasant — that I come upon,” the Algerine remarked, with a shake of the head. ‘**'Yes?” said the prisoner, questioningly. ‘* Without the door wait the chief stranglers of the court.” “The stranglers?” «You are doomed to die.” “Tt is Allah’s will,” replied the other, with true Moslem indifference, but there was a pecu- liar eT in his eyes which gave the lie to the Cc El Tokar was not a keen observer, and did not notice it. . ‘“* Ali, of the Blue Beard, has said that your companion is the Lion Captain; is it true?” ‘No, it is not.” ‘*You are the Greek pirate then?” ‘*Bah! what nonsense!” exclaimed the pris- oner, impatiently. ‘If the Dey had the wits of dog he could have seen at once tixat Ali Pasha rat neither of us, but he feared to speak the ‘Well, be that as it may, the Dey has deter- mined to give both of you to death, so which- ever one of you is the Greek his vengeance will be satisfied; but if you are only honest fisher- men, as you claim, why did both of you own to being the Greek?’ the oly Man asked,shrewdly. _A smile came over the dark face of the cap- tive. ** Old friends are we, great lord, and wi ly eee of us would peril much to help the other. E] Tokar shook his head, doubtfully; this sort of thing he could not understand at ali, for such sentiments were entirely for to his nature ; not to have saved his own father from as would he have taken the slightest bit of blame upon his shoulders, broad and fat as they were. “ Oh, no, my friend, I cannot believe that story,” the Holy Man replied. ‘‘T am not quite such a fool as that. I have lived some time in this world and never yet have I seen a man will- ing to suffer for another.” ‘A look of contempt passed across the features of the captive, but he did not trouble himself to reply. f . a now at this moment, with death staring you in the face, you have power to avert your ate if you are only inclined to act like a sen- sible man,” El Tokar continued. ‘‘ My royal master, the Dey, would give much to really know the truth in regard to the Greek pirate, for to strangle the Lion-head quietly in his dun- n is very small satisfaction, considering that he fellow as destroyed the best frigate in our " Ah, yes, I see; the great and munificent ruler of the sea and land would like to make a public show of the man whom accident placed com : ‘ : - : | - : ; : | ebooks com)