Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1117 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

A C 3 & e - - ‘@ Te Bee | “4 | | + -~ ~ , a ; ‘ i + < ~ * ~ 7 a oe. - - te ee See ~~ > ry ’ 7 , * - ~ Wat ~ a ~~ * — "34 _ * ve a ie a ae — u al - es —_ » ’ ~---+- ~~ aa was a strange man, and had led a strange e. He had been well-born, but turning to evil rather than good, had fled from home and had become a rover the world over. But now, in the presence of the Montezuma and the beautiful Mildred, lying side by side in death, he stood with bowed, uncovered head, gazing upon them. Just then Toolah came forward with the baby boy and held it before the eyes of the boatswain. “Holy Neptune! but it’s a beauty, what there is of it. “* A boy, you say?” ‘* Yes,” said Toolah. “Born in a storm and amid the thunder of s. “‘ He’ll be a warrior, certain. ** Poor boy! he is ap orphan and friendless,” “No, for Mezrak, Valik and myself are its guardians and friends,” said Toolah, firmly. ‘* Ah! a precious trio, truly. ‘‘ But who is the executor of the estate of Montezuma?’ , ‘‘Toolah understands not the words of the Soto Rais.” ‘No. Well, who has charge of the treasure of the prince, to keep it for the boy?” ** Valik, Mezrak and Toolah.” ‘‘ Ah! Well, as I was next in command to Montezuma, his death leaves me in charge, so J’ll have something to say about this myself.” “It was the order of the dead Sidi,” said Valik. “Well, the Sidi is dead, and Captain Brent- ford is living, and he gives orders now. ‘You take care of the baby, and Ill see honor paid the dead, and look after the trea- sure for the youth. ** As the Montezuma was heading for Amer- ican shores, I will hold the same course until it is decided what is best to be done.”’ Brentford then went on deck and met face to face a Spaniard, who had evidently heard what had passed in the cabin, for he said in a cunning way: ‘The chief is dead, his wife is dead, and we can throw the child overboard and share the treasure.” For an instant Brentford seemed about to spring upon him; but, suddenly changing his mind, he said: Yes, they are dead. * Come in and see how like sleep their death seems,” The Spaniard followed him into the cabin, and, pointing to the dead, Brentford closed the companion-way, while he said to Valik: ‘Slave, that traitor plotted the death of the child and the seizing of the treasure. *‘T leave him to you.” Brentford knew but too well that ‘leaving him to Valik ” meant death, for, ere the Span- iard could utter a cry, the knife of the huge negro was in his heart, ‘*Now, Valik, I can see that it is best that none sould know that the chief and his lady are des. .or mutiny would follow to get pos- session of the treasure, as the words of this wretch vell prove. “‘T will therefore say the chief was wounded, and until some plan can be agreed upon to get rid of tho traitors, no one shall know better. “To-nirht throw the bodies of your master and mistrecs into the sea, and also this wretch, and romaj” quiet about the affair. “No yoncll understand?” Tey bowed assent, and Brentford left the cabin o:1ce more. The -ea was still rough and astiff breeze was forcing the yacht swiftly along over the rough waters. The bulwarks were shattered in many places, the rigging was cut and the spars splintered, and the new commander of the Nemesis deter mined to at once set the crew to work repair- ing damages. Calling them aft, he told them that Monte- zuma was severely wounded, but, under the kind nursing of the Princess Mildred, would * a s . ; i> : « q \ z ° -@ ais e : ‘ vs oe 2 a 4. tt . ~ x ss $ ‘ : £22 Fe 5 are ne > y fs + 4 ee A< on a Py ”* =». pate - oy es Merle, the Middy. ere long recover; but, for the present, he was ordered to command the Nemesis, and he ex- pected implicit obedience to his every order. He looked over his crew and saw that he had a score of able-bodied men, and he muttered: ‘‘Just enough to make mischief if they knew the chief was dead, and know it they shall not until I get ready to act.” b All day long the crew worked at the repairs, and by night had the yacht onoe more in trim. After the tired men had turned in, leaving Brentford and the few needed only on duty, Valik came quietly from the cabin, bearing in his arms the form of poor Mildred, neatly wrapped in a piece of Canvas, Watching his opportunity he let the body drop into the sea, and as it sunk rapidly into the dark depths the yacht sailed on and no one forward saw the act, Returning to the cabin soon after, Mezrak appeared, also bearing a canvas-wrapped form —the body of Montezuma. And it, too, was dropped into the sea, and, glancing backward, Brentford saw the white canvas glimmering in the moonlight, and mut- tered: ‘*So ends the mighty Montezuma, the Mer- ciless, and into his royal shoes shall step Brent- ford the Adventurer, for henceforth I guide the destiny of this craft and revel in the treas- ures she bears beneath her decks, ** At last, Brandt Brentford, the star of thy destiny rises out of an ocean of gloom.” CHAPTER VIII. TWO PLOTTERS AND THEIR PLOT. ALTHOUGH Brentford believed the secret of Montezuma and Mildred being dead sacredly kept, it was not the case, fer the truth had half-way leaked out, The yacht’s self-appointed captain had each day made known to the crew that the chief was slowly improving, and would be again on deck by the time the vessel reached the Gulf of Mexico, whither it was bound, though with no direct destination in the mind of Brentford. The princess, he said, was also ill, and a baby had been born to the Sidi and his wife,. he told the crew, and as this was the only truth he did tell, he gave proof of it, by having Toolah bring the baby boy on deck for general inspection, The youngster was greatly admired, said to be the exact image of his father and mother both, and then returned to the seclusion of the cabin by his faithful nurse. But, for all this proof, the crew began to suspect, and their suspicions were based upon the fact that one of their number had gono down to the cabin, in search of Brentford, when a sail came in sight, and found that worthy eating his supper at the table that was sacred to Montezuma and his wife. Standing in the shadow the seaman looked within, and saw Mezrak waiting upon the new captain, while Toolah was seated upon a divan with tbe baby on her knee, and Mezrak lay at full length upon the floor. Remembering the almost idolatrous respect paid by the slaves to Montezuma and Mildred, the seaman thought it strange that there should now rest upon them an air of disrespect, while Brentford the boatswain should be eating in the cabin and drinking the costly wines of the chief, There was no look of a sick-room about the cabin, and it seemed strange that both Monte- zuma and Mildred should be lying ill in the small state-rooms, and not out where they could get pure air and every attention. Tne beholder of these suspicious signs said nothing then, but called to Brentford, told him of the sail in sight, and went forward to his duties, For a day or two he carefully watched all that transpired aft, and was the more con- vinced that both the chief and Mildred were dead, At last be made known his suspicions to his most intimate shipmate, wbo at once said: “I tell.you I believe you are right, for I eo 5 _— ee ee eee now remember, the night after the battle, when. I was on watch, seeing one of those big niggers come out of the cabin with a large bundle and throw it overboard. ‘“‘T then thought it might be clothing stained with the blood of the chief, for I knew he had been wounded near a dozen times; but now, I guess ’twas the chief or the lady, one or t’other that was dropped into the sea, ‘‘ But why did not Brentford tell us?’ asked the first man, and it was evident that the two Englishmen, for such they were, felt hurt toward their countryman. “Do you know what’s in this craft, sbip- mate?” asked the other. ‘** Yes, the chief’s treasure.” ‘There you have it, and I’m blest if I don’t think that Brentford is playing a deep game to get his clutches upon it.” ‘“‘T know you are right; but I guess we'll get a share too.” “So I’m thinking, for there’s enough for all.” “ There’s millions, I’ve heard, on board.” “Yes, and it will make us all rich,” “Tf the chief was alive Id stick to him, o to his lady if she was living; but it’s askiny too much to go poor all the rest of our day for a baby as don’t know the good of anything, and I, for one, won’t do it.” ‘We'll have a fair divide, and then each man go his way.” ‘‘We'’ll give the niggers something, so, if they want to, they can have enough to take care of the little one,” ‘Yes, and I guess they'll wan, to, for they loved the chief and the lady.” ‘* May be they’ll fight for it,” ‘¢ Let ’em,” ‘** They’re a bad Jot to tackle.’ ‘What can they do with us al?” ‘ Perhaps all will not join us,” ‘* Well, we'll see. “Pll take half of the crew, and you t’other half, and we’ll tell’em what we suspect, and see how they are on the divvy of the treasure,” Thus it was decided, and that night the two friends and plotters set to work to carry out their plan to seize the treasure of Montezuma, CHAPTER IX. THE MUTINY, THE whispered suspicions of the two plotters soon went the rounds of the crew, and instantly there was a general feeling of ill will felt toward Brentiord and the slaves in the cabin for keeping from them the knowledge of their chieft’s death. They saw the affair in the light the two Englishmen wished, that is, they beheld their own advantage in the death of the Montezunie and Mildred, The treasure would have to be divided, and the lot was to give Brentford, Mezrak and Valik nothing, and in fact, punish them with death for their treachery toward them, ani tu allow ‘'oolah so much on condition she would toko oath to care for the little Merle during his lifc, or until he grew to man’s estate. By .his act of kindness toward Toolab and the baby boy, they atoned to their consciences for stealing the treasure of the little heir, they thought, All this time Brentford remained in the belicé Uhat his stories of Montezuma’s improved condition were believed, and having sighted land, which he knew to be the Bermuvas, he came the conclusion to at once furm some definite plan of action. Had he his own way he would have taken the most precious jewels of the treasure for himself and decamped upon arriving in some port; but this he knew the slav«: would not allow, , If le sided with the crew he would make it a case of “lone division,” as the treasure would have to bu. divided between many, His best chance then was to side with the blacks, get rid of the crew, and then see what was to be done, es J ec J ee z ~ . ~ - — . —— ai ah « a — - > ay p ~ ad a», . e = : ' 4 " é a a ‘ i RLS el Lh oks.com