Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1117 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

é g , ' ‘ , eo 3 ‘ ™ . A> in Fa : 7 “4 i : ‘ f . Bes Ua Seo Sa baer eataM sD : rs 7 x 3 a of 4 m » reas 4 * . ; : a “if __ Like two avalanches meeting the foes met, and hot and fierce became the combat, and wild yells, shots, clashing steel, groans and stern orders mingled with the war of the waves, the hewling of the winds, and the thunder that burst from the inky clouds. It was an awful scene, this fighting of men, in that fearful tempest, and the deck was light- ed up continually by the flashing of fire-arms and ever and anon with a livid, blinding glare of ligbtning. In the front, dealing death upon all sides, was Montezuma, and the Persians shrunk from before his mighty arm as from a tornado. Step by step he cut his way forward, ‘Mezrak at his side, and his crew at his back, ‘and the Persians were pushed backward, cut ‘down, and steadily driven. — In spite of their superior numbers they saw ‘that Montezuma and the slave Mezrak were equal to a dozen men, and shot after shot was turned upon them, while many a blade that sought to catch their whirling cimeters went fiying into the sea. At last the men of the cruiser wavered, and a cry arose for quarter. But with a fearful oath for Allah to curse all cowards, the Persian leader sprung to the front, and his blade met that of Montezuma. It was bat an instant the duel lasted, and then Montezuma cut him to the deck, while he shouted savagely, and with triumph in his tones: ‘Thus die, dog Kaluta.” But the Persian leader arose on his elbow, and cried: “T am not Prince Kaluta, but Ikloo, his younger brother.”’ Montezuma staggered back, for now he knew his mistake; but Ikloo was strangely like his elder brother, Prince Kaluta, and he had forgotten that he was an officer on board the cruiser. Ikloo he had always liked, and seeing him dying now before him, he cried: “ Tkloo, my kinsman, I sought not your life, for you were obeying your orders. ‘But Kaluta, a false kinsman, I believed you to be, or I would have spared you.” “T forgive you, Montezuma, for I know Kaluta was wrong. ‘*But it was my duty to obey, and my life is the forfeit. * Kaluta is on the cruiser, and I warn you to fly, and never again set foot in Persia,” He tried to stretch forth his hand, yet had not the strength, and the next instant he dropped back dead. Seeing their leader fall, the Persians had fled to the shelter of the forecastle, and the crew of the yacht had halted, so momentarily the battle had ceased. But now all gazed upon Montezuma, as he arose from beside his dead kinsman, and saw him totter, reel, and fall forward. But springing toward him, Mezrak caught him in bis strong arms, while he shouted in stentorian tones: ‘‘Hurl those dogs of burnt grandfathers into the sea!” The crew of the yacht rushed upon the Persians, and again the fight commenced. But only for a short time it lasted, and then not one of the men of the cruiser was upon the deck, the dead and wounded even being hurled overboard, and also the body of the brave young Lieutenant Ikloo, though a kinsman of their chief, not being respected by the revenge- ful crew of the Nemesis, whom the sight of their noble leader lying prone upon the deck drove to frenzy. CHAPTER VI, THE PLEDGE OF THE SLAVES, Ayrer their fearful outburst of revengeful passion the crew of the Nemesis stood like statues gazing in silence upon the prostrate form, over which bent the slave Mezrak. The yacht still drove furiously on over the — Merle, the Middy. es furiously lashed waters, the storm still raged, the thunder roared and rattled, the wind howled through the rigging, and ever and anon the vivid flashes of the lightning illu- mined the mad waters, For some moments it was believed that Montezuma was dead; but then a shudder shook his frame and his eyes opened. ‘‘Allah be praised! You are not dead, mighty Sidi,” cried Mezrak. “No, but I am dying, my faithful Mezrak,” was the low reply. ‘“*Say not so, oh mighty master.” “It is true. Call Valik and bear me into the cabin, for I wish to gaze again upon hér face, though death’s seal be upon it, and upon my baby boy, my Merle Montezuma, for such shall be his name,”’ Valik, another huge slave, was called, and gently the two giant blacks bore Montezuma from the deck to the cabin. Upon the starboard divan, looking as though she was asleep, lay Mildred, beautiful in death, yet as white as marble. Near her sat Toolah, and in her arms she held the little infant, born amid the storm and the battle, and to become an orphan ere one day of life had passed over his tiny head, The woman sprung to her feet with a wail- ing cry as she saw the giant blacks bearing Montezuma into the cabin, and she whispered: 6 Dead?” “No, good Toolah, but soon I will be, and I wished to die here,” was the calm reply of the chief. She laid the baby upon a lounge and mo- tioned to the blacks to place Montezuma upon the port divan. As soon as they had obeyed her she tore away his rich dress and hastily set to work to examine the wounds. ‘Ob, master! you must die,” she cried. ‘Yes, Toolah.” ** You have half a dozen wounds,” “Yes, but I bore up as long as I could.” The woman arose and motioned to the slaves, Mezrak and Valik, to move the divan upon which Montezuma lay alongside of that whereon was the form of the dead Mildred. The chief smiled as they obeyed, and reach- ing over he took Mildred’s cold hand within his own and said, quietly: “TI can die now. “T have never feared death, and only cared to live for her sake.” ‘f Ah, Sidi, would that you could live for the sake of your boy,” and Toolah brought to him the infinitesimal bundle of humanity. He took the roll of silk gently, gazed upon the tiny face for an instant, and then said, ina voice that was perfectly firm: ‘*Mezrak, Toolah, Valik, to your devoted care Lleaye my little Merle. ** ‘You have servéd me wel] in the past, and I have done my duty by you; but now, with the shadow of death upon me, with the icy touch stilling my pulse, [ command you not to desert that boy, my little son, Merle Montezu- ma, the true heir to the name and birthright of his grandmother, the Princess Zulah. ‘‘ (pon this vessel there is a treasure worthy of a prince, and all I intrust to your keeping, Mezrak, for you to hold for my boy. “Valik, seek the island home upon the gulf shores of America, which you well know, and rear my boy up to know who were his parents, and that he has a sacred mission in life. ‘* My papers are bis, and by them he will see what my life, and the life of his mother, have been, and the duty devolving upon him in future years. ‘*Upon that island, where my treasure was, and some of it yet remains, Valik, you, Mez- rak and Toolah remain with my boy until he needs a tutor’s care, and then take him to New Orleans, and seek Senor Andrea Angelos—you know him well, Valik?” ‘‘'Yes, mighty master.” ‘‘ Bid him, from me, to educate my son, and place in his hands gold sufficient for all needs. ‘When Merle reaches his eighteenth year, give to him the fortune on Treasure Island, and Heaven grant that he use it well. ‘“You have heard me, slaves?” ‘‘' Yes, mighty Sidi.” ** And will obey?” ‘*We will, mighty Sidi,” again answered the three slaves in a breath. ‘‘ By Allah you swear it?”’ ** By Allah we swear it,” “‘May Allah curse you forever if you fail in your duty.” ““May Allah’s curse rest on us if we fail, mighty master,” ‘* So be it ‘* Now, Valik, Toolah and Mezrak, you are no longer slaves, and to your care I commit my boy.” With strange, guttural sounds of joy the two giant blacks and their female companion prostrated themselves before Monteztima, and long they remained thus in silence. At last they arose, and Valik started, for he met the sightless eyes of his chief fixed upon bim. Upon his broad breast slumbered the little Merle, by his side was the form of Mildred, Death’s seal upon her lips, and grand even though dead lay the form of the mighty Monte- zuma, whose life had beeen one long, strange romance, CHAPTER VII. A TRAITOR’S END. I HAVE said that the crew of the Nemesis represented almost every known nation, and it was true. In his life in the United States Montezuma had gotten a crew for his vessel as circum- stances offered, and there happened to be a couple of Americans, twice as many English, several Irish, a Scotchman, half a dozen Mexi- cans, two Portuguese, a few negroes who had been plautation slaves im Louisiana, and the number had been added to in Persia by sailors of that country, Turks, Greeks and a smatter- ing of Moors and Algerines, captured on cor- sair vessels, In the battle with the cruiser the Eastern men had suffered more, perhaps, because they fought the more desperately and risked greater dangers on account of their religion, so that the English-speaking seamen and Mexicans were in the majority when the sun arose the next morning and fell upon the Nemesis still drifting rapidly along over the rough waters. Though the remnant of the crew had avenged the death of Montezuma most thor} oughly, as soon as the excitement was over they began to look about as to what was to follow. Montezuma was, when alive, sole chief, and had under him no officers other than a boat- swain, who was a huge Englishman. Valik and Mezrak were his slaves and his body-servants, and had held no command on the vessel, and yet in their charge Montezuma had left his son and his treasure. As the sun arose, and Montezuma did not return to the deck, Brentford, the English boatswain, came to the cabin and asked: ** How is the chief?” ‘* The Sidi is dead,” answered Vali. “Dead! and the Lady Mildred?’ cried Brent- ford, in surprise. ‘The princess is dead also,” replied Valik. ‘‘Then I command the yacht!” cried the boatswain, in sudden triumph. ‘The Sidi’s son lives,” responded Valik. ** His son?” << Yes.” “Whose son?” ‘‘The son of the mighty Sidi and the Prin- cess Mildred.” “The devil! Was there a child born last night?’ cried the astonished Englishman. ce Yes, ” ‘¢ And is alive?’ és Yes. ” The boatswain stepped into the cabin and instantly removed his hat in respect for the dead. el Ag it wil i ) : . af : H — ye, me ey ’ - " oe ip ES SS ae 5 a . , - a i 4 “4 a he 2 -, ‘+ “ ext >" « s b a +: j —# Wet ee ok acs a