Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 een ee ewe ee while he was thus engaged, Job Rogers slowly opened his eyes. ‘*T’m weak as a cat, boys,"’ he apologetically mur- mured, “ Ain’t ft queer, though, that I should drop off that way again like a great lubber? Ah, cap- tain,’’ he added, as he saw what was being done, **l’'m afeared it’s all of no use. I’ve hung on hard, but I'm afeared those rascals have given me a settler this time.”’ “You'll live long after they’re in their graves, I hope,”’ replied Captain Zeke, with tears of quiet joy ‘*Here’s the bullet running down his bony cheeks. that did all the mischief. It missed ea heart by a hair's breadth only. Your life will spared to us after all,” Job Rowers pet from one to the other as if to assure himself that they were not trying to encour- ade with false hopes, Satisfied on this point, he repued: i Then I may yet have the pleasure of seeing that scoundrel hing. I’d give something for that sight. Ah! it‘’would be worth a dozen years of my ‘lotted life to see them rascals swinging in the air with a good piece of half-inch stuff knotted around their necks. Poor Mrs. Sanders! It riles me when I think of her being in the clutches of that beast of a Spaniard. Pass me the bottle, boys; I feel weak when I think of it.” Captain Clark turned away to hide the emo- Ma that swept through his honest heart at the words. “The breeze is freshening up once more,” he said presently. ‘May Providence grant that we may be spared another hurricane in our disabled condition, om,’’—addressing one of the three sailors—*‘ do you feel strong enough to take the wheel a bit?"’ ‘“*T’ll try it, cap’n,’’ was the brave reply. Tt will remembered that the brig had a few sails set at the moment the pirate appeared in sight. Bringing the wheel into service, she began to slowly forge ahead. ‘Ugh! exclaimed the mate as he glanced at the decks littered with the dead men, “‘it was a terrible fight. What shall be done with these pirates, cap’n? They don't deserve Christian burial.” ; ‘We're too short-handed to give it to them, any- how,” replied Captain Zeke rg f “We'll toss the bodies overboard at once. As for our own five brave lads, we will at least bury them decently. La them side by side in the main gangway. Poor fel- lows! [little thonght they would leave me thus.” Pausing only to possess themselves of the dead gee weapons, they proceeded with their sicken- ng task. Then the dead crew of the brig were tenderly laid side by side on deck, Over their silent bodies was stretched the flag un- der which they had fought so nobly. There they must wait until the enfeebled survivors could perform the last solemn rites over their re- mains before consigning them to their last home. This unwelcome task ended, they threw a few buckets of water over the deck to wash away the last traces of the frightful scene so lately enacted. The mate, still weak, but firm of will as ever, pro- ceeded to light ‘a fire in the galley for their evenin meal, for the cook was one of those now lying de under the national emblem. While the water was heating the mate rejoined his pray phn onthe quarter-deck, “How was it you managed to slip out of their clutches, Job?” asked the captain, “It’s a puzzle to myself, cap’n,” was the reply. * You see, [had just rammed the powder home for a second dose afore the rascals were on top of me, so to speak. It wasn’tatime for foolin’ just then, soT ii touched off the powder slap in their faces. The ullets war flying around me then'thicker’n hair on adog. The fust thingI knew I felt something hit me kerslap in the chest, an’ that war a bullet. It war certain death to face the rascals longer. ‘ Well,’ thinks I, ‘better go to the bottom at once than ter wait fer them devils to sead me there.’ With that I jumped overboard, You know I was allus a good swimmer. I didn’t feel hurt much in the excitement and when I went under I staid as long as I could. I came uP at last, on the other side of the bows. From what I heerd ’em say, I knew these given me up fer a gone coon, sol jest kept quiet. the end of the main-sheet was d overboard, so 1 jest h on to.it like grim death. From where { war I could overhear that scoundrel in the cabin, The way the lady pleaded with him went straight to my heart. She might as well have axed a favor of the iron anchor for’ard, Thunder! but it made my blood boil to hear the villain tell her he war her mas- ter. I'd have given agin to hev bin in the cabin, post at that minnit. owsomever, that warn’t possi- 1a, Thar was nothing left for me to do but lay low so long as them bloody rascals war on deck. It seemed like a mighty long time afore I heard him give the order to leave. I expected of course, to find you ail dead and the ship scuttled. Still, I darsn’t show my head on deck so long as they war around, you see. IT hadn’t the least notion, though, of what the scoun- drels had really done, ‘‘Why, that was a wuss torture nor I ever heerd tell on among the Inguns, an’ they don't purfess to be civilized.”’ * Ain't. that a sail yonder, cap’n?” exclaimed Tom Longstreet, His long, ho er was pointed toward the same point from which their late assail- Oiinutada Take cahabt oy bis tel d gazed in } eke ca up escope and ¢ the tion indicated. ‘** Yes, you’re right, Tom,” ““What do you make her out, cap’n?” asked the mate. WB ce: pth aim’t goin’ to be visited by any more pirates eye ‘*Wot this time,’ was the reply. “It is a large Lucky for me, Beadle’s Half-Dime Library — ee ee eee Oe ee 8 ee ee ship. Her foretop-mast has been carried away and some of her head-gear gone. Hurrah!’ he added, in another moment; “it isa man-of-war (I can see her guns) and she flies our own colors!” Our signal of distress is stilly flying, and she will be sure to see it.”’ But, one hour, and still another passed by without a sign of recognition. , In fact the two vessels were every moment draw- ing further apart in their,course. ‘They'll miss us, after all,’ said Captain Zeke, sadly. ‘Thunder!’ exclaimed the mate, suddenly; ‘“* what hev we been thinkin’ on all this time? We can make her see us by firing our bow-gun.”’ He rushed toward it as he spoke only to meet a heavy disappointment. The piece was split from end to end. CHAPTER XVII. A MOTHER’S SUBLIME THREAT. Prpro SANVILLEZ, after getting safely clear of the brig, stood watching her with basilisk eyes as the schooner siowly glided away. ‘*Ah, Sancho!’ he remarked to his lieutenant, ‘that was alucky thought of mine. How those fel- lows must enjoy the amusement I’ve prepared for them! It may be, too, that a stray spark will send them up at any minute. That was the reason I w in such a hurry to leave her.” ’ Sancho laughed in unison with his chief. It was rarely that the latter was in such a wonderful good humor. ** How long before the fuse will burn out, senor?’’ ‘Perhaps an hour yet. We'll be too far away to see the fun, but the report will reach us.” Ah, little did he dream that his deep-laid and in- roa plan was destined to be so wonderfully frus- trated. Soon afterward, the man on look-out reported a sail in sight. It was but barely visible from deck. The pirate seized his glass and ran aloft to investi- gate. ‘*Tt’s the Yankee cruiser’ again,’ he muttered, with an oath. ‘*‘ We’ve nothing to fear from her, just now; but I don’t care to have them see me, at pres- ent. I must not have my lady-bird below disturbed by ay more excitement,’’ he added, with a grim smile, ‘*On deck, there !’’ *“ Ay, ay, senor.” **Keep her off.a couple of points.” ‘Two points off it is, senor.”’ The pirate watched the cruiser a short time longer. Then, feeling assured that the latter had not noticed him, he descended to the déck. ‘Now I must go down and see how my beauty is getting on,» he muttered. ‘“‘I must keep a sha eye on her, too, or she will give me the slip. Ah! have a plan.” Descending to the luxuriantly furnished cabin, he oe the door of her room was locked from the nside, . “Thinks to lock me out, eh?’’ he said with a light laugh. ‘As if bolts and bars could keep me from her! Open the door; my beauty,” said he, speaking as soft and gentle as possible. But no sound greeted his listening ears. ‘*T hope she hasn’t done herself an injury,’’ was the anxious thought that flashed through his mind. **Come, my birdie, open that door and save me the trouble of bursting it in,”’ Still no answer. The pirate drew back to put his threat in execu- tion, but paused and began feeling his pockets. “What a foollam! I forgot I had a key.” Producing it as he spoke, he inserted it in the door and softly turned the knob. ** Ah, she is asleep,’’ he muttered; ‘* that is well.” He spoke truly. Worn out with excitement and fatigue, the woman had thrown herself upon the cot and was soundly sleeping. Nature had come to blot out, for a while, her troubles. How the Pade eyes gazed in admiration Gpob her lovely form! Her hair} golden as the sun, had escaped from the comb, and lay in rich masses upon her pillow. The left arm with delicately molded st and shapely hand upon ch glittered a heavy gold wedding-ring, was extended: while up- n that arm, nestling close to her side; was the autiful child she loved so fondly. Lovely as the mother who bore him, he seemed, He slept the sleep of innocence, little dreaming of the savage whose gloating ey Sy vere fixed upon the mother he adored, ’ ‘* Ah!” muttered the pirate softly, ‘‘ Fairer woman than that my eyes have never seen, My drunken lieu- tenant was right when he described her beauty. Never would my eyes have rested upon her, though, if he had captured the prize. Luck is with me again. I could find no better chance to get rid of arow. [ll just take the little brat out of the way before she wakes. She will be all the easier to manage when the youngster is in my hands.”’ So es he stooped over and very softly raised the little sleeper from the bed. The mother stirred uneasily in her sleep; but did not waken. Moving for- ward on tip-toes the pirate crept toward the cabir with his burden. Just as he reached it, the child stirred as,if to awaken, » ge as hopent the pirate’s huge paw was clap over its mou Ascending to the deck he said hurriedly: “‘ Here, Sancho, take this brat forward and tell one of the men to take good care of him. I, may want him n before long, and—”’ | words were suddenly cut short by a cry of ter- ror, so wild, so piercing that it seemed to freeze the very life-blood in their veins. ‘Quick, Sancho!” exclaimed the pirate, tossing _are, until morning. Perhaps she aa Np O20 ge the child to his lieutenant. ‘‘ Out of sight with it, at once; the woman has wakened!”’ Ay, the mother had indeed discovered her terrible ' loss, and as the pirate chief turned, he saw that his prisoner had gained the deck. In one glance she took in the whole scene. ‘*Men!"’ she cried wildly, “if there be human hearts in your bosoms, give me hack my ehild!” She spoke in clear, fluent Soanish. The little fellow, now wide awake, was crying lustily to be restored to his mother’s arms, The crew gazed entranced upon the woman’s face, and from that to their chief, as if uncertain how to act. Out of sight with the brat, I tell you!” cried the pirate, flercely, as he started forward to secure the woman. She divined his purpose, and with one bound reached the low rail at the stern. Her eyes flashed with a deadly purpose. ‘* Bring back my boy!” she cried, in clear, ringin tones; “or, as true as there isa God above us, I wi throw myself in the sea!”’ Well, indeed, had she calculated upon the power her beauty had made upon the pirate’s feelings, for heart he had none. Pedro Santillez hesitated. She placed her right foot upon the low rail for the ' fatal plunge. “Hold! I yield to beauty,” exclaimed the pirate, with a forced laugh ‘Ho there, for’ard! Bring the brat to me,”’ He raised the frightened child in his strong arms, and approached the mother. ‘* Back!” she cried, seeing his purpose. ‘Come not near me, monster, or the child shall see his mo- ther’s sacrifice.”’ The pirate grated his teeth i D rage. ‘‘Ah, my lady,” he hissed, softly, “you will lose much of that flery spirit before I am through with — ou,”’ Aloud, he said, in pretended indifference: ‘*You are needlessly alarmed; my sweet one. However, you shall have it as you please.”’ He placed. the little fellow upon the deck. The child scampered to his mother’s Ss, ‘*Can I oblige you in anything further, my dear?” asked the pirate, with an attempt at conciliation. ‘*Yes; go away, that I may again reach my room undisturbed.”’ ‘Certainly, I will oblige you in that,” replied the parares with SUEY for he was far from easy so OnE as she remained in her present position. Well aa cnew what a desperate woman is capable of oing. As he strode forward a few yards, the woman’ stood gazing thoughtfully after him. Then she glanced for a moment into the blue waters below. ‘** Would it not be the best for us both, my child?” *“*Ah, my boy, you little real- she murmured sadly. No,”’ she added, ize the dangers that surround us. with a sigh; ‘‘ Heaven’s will must not be defied. God sees the terrible danger we are in. We pray to Him together, my darling.” s ith these words she disappeared in the cabin. “Ah! but that was a most narrow escape!’ ex: claimed Santillez, breathing freer. ‘‘ She had half a notion to ‘slip her moorings ’ and leave me, after all, Tll see toi fright like that.”’ **Senor,” said Sancho, appmnasning him, “it is growing night. Whither shall we head our course?” “To the island,” was the quick reply. ‘‘ Make the channel by morning, if you can.” With these words he disappeared in the cabin. ‘* He’s clean gone on his prize,”’ muttered Sancho, with a scowl. ‘‘ He’s like a youngster with a new toy when he gets hold of a pretty lass. me; but [ wouldn’t mind making love to her myself. What a screech she gave when she missed her brat! Ugh! It makes me nervous to think of it,” and oh ging his shoulders uneasily, he again turned to s duties. Once more the pirate found himself baffled. The door of the prisoner’s room was bolted from the in- that she does not give me another: Perdition seize: side. ‘* Well,” he muttered with a look of rage and dis-' appointment, * there’s no use in raising another row just at present.’ I'll let things rest quietly, as they ul be in a better humor by that time,” So saying, he threw himself heavily upon his cot and was soon soundly Reser | His trusty lieutenant awakened him at daylight. ‘* Pardon, senor; but the island is in sight. ere are some queer flags flying from the cliffs.” The pirate was wide awake in an instant, and Hear up his telescope he sprung on deck ata un CHAPFER XIX. INFERNAL DEVICES. Joun Frazer took up the sewing materials laid be fore him and was soon busily e ed upon the vart ous-colored bunting at his feet, and long in the night he continued his task. At length it was completed, Before him lay ten curiously shaped flags, each one of which represented a figure, from one to naught. By their various combinations, aided by the informa- tion already gained, he could signal the truth to any ship belonging to the American Navy. ‘‘There!”” he remarked, quietly, as he laid aside his Waren cs se made a better job of it than I ex. pected. I hopethat my plans may not failin their pu se. There is work still ahead of me before y ole I must be careful that the dwarf does not suspect my purpose.”’ So saying, he gabherec up the only long enough to. assure himself was sleeping, he out of the Desce ¥ stoop stairway. he pi and paus at the ae cked up a light : : Sind, ir j : é At - a 4£ ‘ ~ comircpo0o front entrance. - - ys | . - an * u ee Ee | . : =“ ‘ ~e at * ‘ , are 4