Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

The Ocean Bloodhound. 13 = but regaining his temper by an effort, he said slow- \ ON weet ROI ee _._ een ene he eee ae ee ed " = a we Ce ae -_—— — ww — —_—_- oO ee Ct eee — -_———_ _- --+ --~- - — Ae eee ee — ae steals gold when he can by no means carry it away? | of provisions sufficient tc sast the occupant for a few [ cannot tell the men (this, else they would tear me a at least, to pieces, They would declare that I had hidden it 4ying prone upon his stomach, his keen, gray eyes for my own use, for spirits are not in the habit of _ peering through the entrance, he had seen his blood- performing such tricks. Baba, leave me!” | thirsty enemies pass beneath him in their search. “I see my way out of it, at last,’’ said the pirate | From the words carelessly dropped from their li when he was again alone. _he gathered the information that they were search- 1 must tell them it is too much to risk all our treas- | ing blindly. He saw that they did not even suspect ures at once in the schooner, | his identity. This surprised him not a little, and he The gold, then, is securely hidden until we can re- | resolved to use the information to good service. kick. ‘* Who, then, is this mysterious person that | ten gold was aon lying, Beside it was a quantity e “They are very considerate, indeed, to arrange my plans for me. Perhaps as they’ve been kind enough to do that they will choose another to lead them—y ourself perhaps.”’ The words were spoken lightly but there was a deep meaning beneath them. The pirate evidently fancied that his chief officer had been working to supplant him in authority, and distrusted him ac- cordingly, Sancho had got safely through the most difficult —_ ii ie eee ee | | part of his task. He had greatly feared that his life would pay the penalty for telling the chief the men’s determination. The rest of the task was compara- tively casy. oe all the man’s faults he was still loyalt “is chief, ‘No, senor,” he replied, ‘“‘ you cannot mean that. test assured they would fight under no other leader but yourself. They say, thon rh, that the woman’s ery When you robbed her of her brat, still disturbs their dreams. She has brought a curse with her, and no good luck can come of it while she is with tis.'7 ‘Probably, they would be content if I should throw her over the cliff!’ the chief suggested, with evident scorn. “They might, senor; I cannot say,’’ replied San- cho, not heeding the sarcasm that lurked beneath his chief's words. ‘Shall I see what they say to the proposal?” ‘*No, you fool! Think you I have ruled this band so long, only to be dictated to now? When Lleave the island, the woman goes with me. Tell the dogs that is my answer. They can accept it if they choose or stay where they are until doomsday, Go to them and report my words, and let me hear their answer at once.”’ It was ef half an hour before the burly lieuten- ant returned. “ They refuse to listen to it, senor,” said he grave- ly. st ever have I seen men so determined as they.’ “Then they can stay where they are.”’ ‘* Pardon, senor, but they swear they will not re- main on the island until daylight.” “Ha!” gasped the pirate, springing to his feet, “this is mutiny! The devils shall not defy me thus,’ CHAPTER XXITI. THE PIRATE’S HOARD, _ Tar right hand of the irate pirate rested upon a cocked pistol, “It is no fault of mine, senor,’’ said Sancho, dog- dly. ‘“‘ No mortal man can say aught to turn them Front their purpose.”’ Yor a full minute Santillez stood undecided how to act. His burly lieutenant expected instant death at his hands. At length a ogi cruel smile crept over the pirate chief’s face, Thrusting the pistol slowly back in his belt, he again seated himself, ‘* Very well, Sancho; need must go when the devil drives. Tell the men that I grant their kind request. It is the first time I have been called ieee for such a sacrifice, and they can rest assured it will also be the dast.”’ No mistaking his meaning, now, Well they knew we ® menace lay beneath those quiet-spoken words, The two men touched their caps in salute and re- tired. Glad enough were they to escape unharmed from the presence ef their angry and excited leader. “T wouldn’t go through such a job as that again for a handsome sum,” remarked Sancho to his com- panion when they were well out of the pirate’s hear- ing. ‘Nor I, either,”’ was the laconic reply. “At any rate, we have done better than I expect- ed. Rest assured, though, he means to have satis- faction upon us. Wait until we are safely in our ney ers and you will see I have spoken right- y.’ Meanwhile, Santillez was pacing the floor of his apartment like a crazed beast. The men he had lways looked upon as merely slaves to do his bid- ding had actually defied his power! Turn in what direction he would, the chief could see no way to ™- gain his lost power. ‘It is useless for me to fight against them now,” he muttered, with an angry scowl. ‘Let them be- ware of the future, though! Pedro Santillez neither forgets nor forgives. And now I suppose I must see to it that my gold is ready for removal.” So saying, he turned and entered the room he oc- cupied as atbedchamber, ‘ Here I was safe,” his thoughts ran, his mind still brooding over his troubles. “Tt will be long before J can find a spot with so many accommodations as { newalling. toward ll et h Walking toward a small closet, he opened the door, but only to start back with a loud org ' “What! he gasped. ‘‘ Js ¢¢ gone ?” Yes, he had spoken truly. Instead of the heavy bags of gold and the glittering bars of the precious metal, his eyes fell upon—emptiness! A hoarse cry of rage broke from his pallid lips. “‘Perdition seize me!’’ he gasped. “AmI dream- ing? Baba, come here!” __ The dwarf appeared at his side. ‘‘What means this? Where is the gold I left in your keeping?” The dwarf glanced for a moment at the empty closet. Then he dropped on his knees at’ the pirate’s st in abject terror. it he knows nothing of it, I see!’ muttered turn for it without fear of our Yankee enemy, That story ought to satisfy them and it must. He saw also that if the crew believed him to be the sole possessor of such a secret, they would be far less liable to do him an injury. Feeling anxious to know how much influence he still possessed over his desperadoes, he prepared to go down among them. A wicked smile crept over his scarred face as he took up the deadly poniard he could throw with such | skill, and thrust it up his sleeve. removing their valuables from the cave. They worked on moodily and in silence. He strolled carelessly in among them. Not an eye met his own; but a look of grim deter- | mination rested upon the faces of all, and turning on his heel, he returned toward his own quarters. As he ascended the rocky steps, something glit- tered at his feet in the moonlight. Actuated by mere curiosity, he stooped and picked it up. Suddenly his whole manner changed to one of in- tense excitement and surprise. He hurried back to his room to examine the article more closely by candle-light. It was a small and curiously-shaped pocket-knife mounted in silver, which he had more than once seen in the possession of one of his men, and that man was John Frazer, whom he had be- lieved dead. He saw his mistake now. The truth of the whole mystery came to his mind like a flash. The individual who had invad- ed his quarters in his absence was the man whom he had once so nearly hung. This, then, accounted for much that had ap- peared mysterious. All but the late handwriting on the wall, and that at least could hardly be pro- duced by human agency. **Ah!” hissed the pirate ‘he thinks to measure skill with me, does he? But he shall not escape from me thus. Nor shall the Isabelle hoist a sail to leave the spot until he is found. With him alone rests the secret where the gold is hidden, He shall reveal it if I have to tear it from him by slow torture. I begin to see my way clear at last.’’ Let us go baek to the man now uppermost in me pirate’s thoughts, and see what he has been oing. For once in his life, John Frazer had been caught off his guard. Worn out with his exertions in carrying away the pirate’s gon to his own hiding- piace, his body was unable to stand the strain. is overtaxed energies were compelled to rest. As he dropped the last bag of gold among its fellows, he sat wearily down to rest, and in a mo- ment more he was soundly sleeping. Little did he calculate how long would be that slumber. Na- ture at last held full sway, and kept it until she was satisfied. When John Frazer again awoke, the sun was well up in the heavens, narrow crevice that formed the mouth of his hid- ing-place, and looked out. rom this spot he had a clear view of the chan- nel. To his unbounded dismay, he saw the pirate schooner approaching the channel under a full spread of canvas. “He has seen the signal and taken the alarm,” said Frazer, coolly, ** Fate seems to be against me still,”’ he remarked; ‘but, while there is life there is eh At any rate | I have taken all due precautions. Ere long he will see something that will make even Ais nerves trem- ble, I fancy. It is a fortunate thing that I secured | They may prove to be of | that case of chemicals. considerable value to me yet.’ Let us pause for a moment to explain to the read- er the meaning of his words. Among the pirates’ stores he had found a valuable case of chemicals. As the pirate knew nothing of the nature of the contents, he had probably taken the case for the fine workmanship on it. In this case was a vial of phosphorus. With this substance John Frazer had traced upon the wall of the pirate’s room the warning which had caused him such terror. With another substance he had painted a ring around each candle at the same distance from the bottom. All this had been accomplished in the dwarf’s ab- sence, sO he was ignorant of it. At the time he had merely done it as an act of precaution, little think- ing that it would aad be of service, fow was it, theugh, that the daring man had so cunningly contrived to escape the prying eyes of his enemies? The answer is soon given. Well up on the face of the cliff, with an entrance SO narrow that it seemed a mere crevice in the rock, was the spot he had chosen. way through it. foot to scale its sides, of its existence. Situated as it was, it formed a most admirable place for his purpose. Within, the cave was nearly three-sided, and about six feet in its widest part. ’ _ment opened on the face of the cliff, He found the men busily engaged in the task of | careless step and his body would between his set teeth, | He groped his ya rt the | -if it could be avoided. So narrow was the en- | trance that it was with difficulty he could force his | So smooth was the face of the cliff | be.ow him that it seemed impossible for a man’s | Not a man save himself knew | Motionless as a log, be remained until darkness closed in upon the scene. Then slowly and cautious- ly he emerged from his retreat. There was little fear in his heart now of being discovered. The cliff faced toward the sea, while the pirates’ quarters were upon the other side of the rocky wall, As light-footed as a mountain goat, he proceeded to make his way up the steep face of the cliff in a di- agonal direction, He intended, if possible, to gain the spot where the windows of the pirate'’s apart- He could see the place clearly in the faint light of the rising moon. Foot by foot, he crept on his pee way. One 6 dashed to pieces on the rocks below, Every line of his features be- trayed astern purpose. He was within a dozen feet of the place. Suddenly he stopped, and, bending forward, listen- ed with bated breath. CHAPTER XXIV. SANTILLEZ DEFIANT. Ir was the voice of the pirate chief that had thus arrested his attention. e€ was speaking impera- tively to some one, and that one evidently a woman. John Frazer had gained the spot at the moment San- tillez was ushering his victim into what was to be her prison. The listener strained forward to catch her reply; but the woman remained silent. As the pirate uttered his parting threat, the steely gray eyes of John Frazer flashed fire and his fist clenched tightly. , Again he reached forward to listen, for the woman was speaking earnestly enough now. Ah, yes! She was a her bended knees, praying sr at to Heaven for deliverance from her -ene- mies. ‘That prayer is heard and will be answered,” was the thought that gh into John Frazer's heart. "’ Heaven designs me for the instrument that is to _ thwart the villain in his purpose. Now I n to see way my former plans have been allowed to fail,” 6 listened again, but all was now silent, ‘Tf it lies in my power, I will B rmigron her heart + Ab the knowledge that a friend is near,” said he, rmly. Unfortunately for his purpose, the spot from whence the sound proceeded, was beyond the win dow of the pirate’s room. ‘ More than that, the face of the cliff at that point was absolutely inaccessible. No chance there to find a foothold he saw ata glance. Nothing but a few a vines clinging to its face with their delicate ten, 8. He slowly made his way forward until he had gained the pirate’s window, and again listened. ; e could hear the voices of the pirate’s lieuten- ants as they greeted their chief. He was also a de lighted listener to the pirates’ terror fat the sight of that strange handwriting on the wall. His eyes glit- tered with pleasure at the success of his plans and the turn affairs had takén. He reasoned in a moment that the pirate would not wish to take his victim's life, On the contrary, he would probably contrive some way to return for her after his men’s fears had been lulled to rest in their new retreat, He at last understood thoroughly the nature of the villain he was endeavoring to outwit. Should his reasoning but prove true, he could easily release the prisoner the moment the island was abandoned, It puzzled him some, though, to think how he had managed to overlook the apartment whose existence he a now, for the first time, become aware of. While the pirate was cursing his luck and hurling anathemas upon the head of the man who had stolen his treasures, the thief—if such he could be called— was enjoying his discomfiture within a few feet of where he stood. When at last the pirate left the room to join his men below, John Frazer proposed to carry out the daring plan he had already conceived. First assuring himself that his way was clear, he pushed aside the vines and crept through. Passing from the bedroom into the er apart- ment, he came suddenly upén the dwarf. The latter was now. completely terrified by the complication of strange mysteries going on so rapidly around him. He gave one startled glance in the face of the man be- fore him, and dropped on his knees in an attitude of mute entreaty. He had survived all fear of his mas- ter’s wrath now, and life was doubly dear to him. But, John Frazer had no wish to do him an injury “To your room, slave!’’ he cried sternly; “I need you not,”’ With an expressive glance of relief, the dwarf obeyed. Opening the trap-door in the floor of the anart- ment, John Frazer descended the narrow steps laga. ing to the secret entrance to the cave. Reaching the bottom, he could distinctly hear the pirates as they busied themselves in removing the treasure. For a long time he remained motionless, for every scrap of conversation that dropped from their lips San yziving the poor dwarf a seontemptuous In that spot every particle of the pirate’s ill-got- | was valuable. From them he gathered the informe al: 43 . ‘ : 7 =" wy Yt: : ® a » vr} we en wy 2 PO oad. a ; . ves ‘ > : Y; : ‘ae t ae . 4 , " ee MP ai =" r ete r. . : oy AN o . ‘eri ‘ ae ~~ - ; ‘ ’ ar SS ~ i ( al = - st Sao CO J00KS:com