Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

oom roe: ae ato 2 ae tion thet the naajority of them were in favor of leav- ing the island at the earliest possible moment. A few of their number, however, were still coura- geous enough to face the mystery for a day lon- ger. The reason for this was that they did not care to run the channel by night a second time if it could be avoided. While they were thus busily engaged at their task, they were suddenly startled by the stern command: “* Depart /” The voice, low, deep and powerful, seemed to emerge from the very ground at their feet! With a yell of terror, they dropped the goods they “epaze Cerzyane and with one rush gained the open air eyon heir lieutenant, Sancho, was sitting outside, calmly smelsing a cigar. The mysterious voice had not reached his ears. ‘What now?" he demanded, uneasily, as the men, Recovering a little, began to assemble in a group. One of their number stepped forward and briefly told what had transpired. The recollection of that handwriting on the wall was still fresh in the lieutenant’s.mind. He could not doubt the truth of their words. A panic seemed to have seized upon the hearts of the former darin scoundrels. Human foes they would have face Boldly’; but nothing could induce them to face what they believed to be an avenging ae No threats or persuasions could compel them to step foot again in the cave. ‘Stay!’ exclaimed Sancho, suddenly. “It wants but a half-hour of midnight. Say not a word to the rest of what has happened. It will be but a short time now before Ferdinand will relieve us with his ga. If they, too, receive the mysterious warning, we shall know it is advisable to leave the island at once, In the meantime, you can take these cases around us and carry them down to the schooner.”’ The men grumblingly assented to his proposition. There was no division of opinion among them now. The boldest among them was ready, ay, and anxious to be gone from the spot that held such mysteries. Promptly, at midnight, they were relieved, as eee upon. ” edro Santillez, who had gone on board the schooner for some errand of his own, had been in ignorance of what had transpired. : As Ferdinand’s men busied themselves at their task, Santillez strolled toward the cave. Suddenly, he was startled by a rush from the entrance, In the excitement of the moment, he fancied his life was to be attempted, and laid his hands upon his weapons. _Asecond glance, however, showed that he was un- heeded, The expression upon the faces of the men, as they rushed past him, was absolute fear. It was some moments before he could gather from ‘their frightened lips what had happened; then it transpired that tuey, too, had received the same ghostly warning that had alarmed the others. ‘You have beeg fooled by your imaginations,” said the pirate, sternly. ‘“‘Send Sancho hither, at once. If his men have heard anything unusual, I shall be inclined to believe you.”’ His face pales slightly, however, as the lieutenant told his tale. It agreed exactly with what he had heard from the lips of those around him, Still, the pirate stubbornly refused to admit its truth. He was standing close to the entrance of the cave, as he ~~“ a eee iC Ce si -C—t- ‘*Men! if you are cowards to be frightened at nothing, I am not, This is a plot among some of your number to hurry us away from the island, Are there five men among you t at will volunteer to Rey me search the cave?” 0, there was not even one man to respond to that . challenge. “Very well,” said the pirate, coolly, as he laid his hand upon his weapon; ** then t will g0 alone.” As he finished s cing, and turned to enter the cave, a deep rich voice issuing from the solid rock above said sternly: " Dnter here at your peril /” _-_--- - -— CHAPTER XXV, EVIL WOR EVIL. A DEATH CE. Tut pirate’s cheek paled as those ringing words fell upon his ears. rave as he undoubtedly was, he feared to face that terrible and mysterious voice. His followers drew hastily back and watched their chief with intense eagerness. Would he still dare to brave those hidden dangers? Santillez read the thoughts that chased over their ecountenances. Hisown face suddenly assumed a look of iron determination. ‘*Men,” said he, “you refuse to aid me in this. Let me show you that I at least am not to be defiled. Ay, I will enter now, though all the devils in perdi- tion should séeck to oppose me, I fancy, though, that it will only turn out to be a human being.”’ So saying, he carefully examined the priming of his pistols. Then snatching a lantern from the hands of one of his men, he passed in the entrarice with a firm unfaltering step. At that instant a fearful explosion shook the ye ground beneath their feet. Huge volumes of black sulphurous smoke came rushing from out the mouth of fhe gave, enveloping them all in its thick folds. Well indeed had that mysterious voice fulfilled its threat! Terrified beyond measure, blinded by the smoke, the pirates with one accord rushed for the schooner ond. Heedless were they now of the rich goods the shore! Had they been ng scattered alon e fel bars of gold or glittering diamonds, they would have | knew not. words. Captain Clark was the first to speak. x passed by unnoticed. What wonder then that they stoodappalled, Many ‘ All is not lost.yet,”’ said he, Kindly, *‘* May it mo ! ‘ : ’ J ‘ . } i 4s ; 7 P ; 7. . a, : : PR 4 a ghee pa wld, (ie SIE Aa hye 12 hei af ( *, ; eh te%1) < ye ee £ wy, cia i , hay jes eA bya) x) " 4; * yeh ie At ix Ht Salt ‘F- 7 td : io ‘k i ; Wen “pn mis ie ‘ - o ory .> wee vT,.> yeu Py Ss ae we ah Yr Oa ra ie) ses Ami I. ‘ fs : Mad Bis hi * sae a + ORV et : ; a, 4 ” ‘y weit : i KN " T eid, tl Ue A my | rye fo Beadle’s Eee na ee rene meneame eaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiaaaaaaacaaaaaaaagaacaaaaacaaaaamaaaaaacaaaaaaaaaceaeaamaaaamaaaceacceaaacaceaseceaacecccccccce—————————_———————————— el i oe ee ee Se ~~ ee A terrible fear had seized upon them all. Their only thought now was to fly from the spot that held such horrors. Their Lieutenant Sancho hurriedly gave his orders to get the schooner under way when informed by Ferdinand of what had noe yened., There was little need of hiswords. The crew were already madly working to that end. And foremost among them was Baba, the dwarf! Never had he been known to step foot upon the schooner’s deck sinee his first arrival among them. Frightened at the sudden meeting with his mysteri- ous enemy, he had hastened from his old quarters. Uncertain at first what to do, he had finally joined Ferdinand’s gang. His eyes had also beheld the awful fate of his master. Very swiftly did the pirates do their work. With- in ten minutes’ time from the moment of the explo- sion, the schooner’s sails were spread, her cable cut loose, and she began to gather headway. Sancho seized the wheel himself. There was a wild light in his eyes and his brawny hands were a trifle unsteady. The scenes he had passed through that night had caused him to drink deeply and often. He showed it plainly enough, too; but the men were too much frightened to pay heed to him then. The moon was partly hidden behind flying clouds. Occasionally its light would disappear altogether, and then the pirate at the helm was compelled to trust to luck. Outside, the wind was blowing ueavi- ly, throwing the spray high in the air, as the waves broke over the reefs. The schooner, as if possessed with the same wild frenzy that had seized her crew, reeled unsteadily on her course, for her helmsman was unfit for the task he had undertaken, Ah! well did she need the strong sinewy arm of her former commander at that critical moment! Had he but heeded that terrible warning, he might now be with his followers, instead of lying a black- ened corpse in the cave yonder. But there was no time then for vain regrets. Half a mile distant was the open sea; but the most dan- gerous part of their task was still to come. Crash/ The schooner’s side rasped against the black rocks with a grating sound that threatened to tear the timbers from her frame. Every tongue was mute, : Then the schooner dashed madly on her way again, Reeling like a drunken man, she struck the rocks on the other side witha force that nearly car- ried them from her feet. Clear once more and rushing on; but by this time the crew has realized the truth, ‘Aft with us, boys!’ cried the second-lieutenant who stood among them. ‘That drunken fool will send us all to the bottom in another minute.” ese ie his lead, the pirates made a rush, for the wheel. Yor an instant they hesitated. The helmsman, now literally maddened with liquor, leveled a pistol at ther heads. ‘Back, you fools!” he cried, in thick, husky tones, ‘* T command this vessel now, and I'll stand no non- sense.”’ Only for an instant did the crew hesitate. Then,. With one desperate rush, they were upon him, There was the sharp report of a pistol and Ferdinand dropped to the deck shot through the heart by San- cho’s hand. In an instant more, the madma hting with desperate strength, had been forced back, from the wheel, It was instantly seized by one of the pirates, while the rest strove te disarm their leader. Thrice did he break from their united grasp and strive to reach the wheel; but, foiled in this, he seized a handspike, and swinging it around as a club, mowed down his nearest enemies. Before he could again raise his terrible weapon, the crew were upon him, With one wild rush they bore him to the deck. There was a flashing of knives in the moonlight. In another moment the had found a bloody ‘sheath in the heart of their fallen comrade. Then, seizing the quivering body they hurled it over the side, with a yell of inferna triumph, Revenge!” they cried, little thinking in their ex- citement of the perils still surrounding them. It was to be a night filled with terrors, The pi- rate at the wheel had glanced over the side as the body of the madman was swept astern, That short interval of time was fatal. He did not notice that black rock raising its head just before him. Once more the struggling schooner struck heavily against her hidden enemies. Away went the main-boom, broken short off at the neck, and away went both topmasts at the caps. The gallant vessel recoiled heavily from the shock; then slipping away from the shelving rock that had obstructed her path, she darted on again like a wounded bird. A dozen contradictory orders fell from as any different lips. The crew were wildly demoralized. There was no clear head among them now, to assume command, and bring order out of confusioz, No man among them now believed the timbers would hold together after that last terrible collision. Some one, more thoughtful than the rest, sounded the pumps. A foot of waterin the hold and still the open sea was not yet reached) A scene of indescribable confusion reigned o.. ‘he deck of the doomed eraft. The schooner’s days were fast drawing to a close. The fact of her going to the bottom was only a questionof time. Ut might be an hour or it might be but ten minutes. They Half-Dime Library. vy. of them were in favor of attempting to reach the island again, Their mysterious foe could hardly be as much dreaded as the certain fate that awaited them there. They had not even a boat to depend on. In the excitement of leaving the island and gaining the schooner’s decks, no one had thought of securing the painter and so that was lost. [ven had they possessed it, not half their number could be placed within it. While they were still hurriedly debating the ques- tion, the schooner had gained the open sea. epre! sently the moon emerged from the clouds, with re- newed brilliancy. “The cruiser/” they cried, in a breath, as ‘they saw a huge ship bearing down toward them. ‘‘ We must run for it now.” No one had noticed it before in their excitement. Half a mile distant, with every sail set and flying like the wind,’the avenging cruiser bore down upon them. She had sighted her foe and her bow-gun al- ready spoke her purpose. No desire had the pirates, now, uf being hunted into their holes like rats. Bet- ter at least to take the desperate chance of escaping by flight, even though they knew that their g t vessel had received its morta’, wound, CHAPTER XXVI. THE MISSIVE AND THE MISSILE. WHERE was the pirates’ rendezvous? That was the question that puzzled the officers of the Vixen to answer. Right quickly would they have entered upon their vengeance did they but know where to find their daring foe. While they were debating the question, and trying to get at some tangible clew, a young tar ap in the doorway. ‘*Second cutter has returned, sir,’’ he announced, respectfully. ‘“How’s this?” demanded Captain Clark, a little angrily. ‘‘I told Mr. Jackson he was to remain on board until further orders.” ‘Mr. Jackson is still on board, sir,’’ replied the messenger, ey ‘*He told me to put this note and this bottle into your own hands immediately.” As he spoke he handed a note to the captain and deposi an unsealed bottle upon the table before im, So Sas his eye over the missive, the captain read aloud: **CAPTAIN CLARK, OF THE VIXEN: ‘Dear Str—I have the honor to report that the accompanying bottle—tightly sealed—has just been picked up by one of the cutter’s men alongside, ‘‘As soon as I read the contents I concluded to send it to you at once, as it contains news of great importance, if true. As lcannot retura myself, un- til further orders, I place it in the hands of the cox- swain for delivery. : “Very respectfully, ‘ ARTHUR JACKSON, Midshipman,” With a rather shaky hand, Captain Clark snatched up the second paper protruding from the neck of the ottie, It ran as follows: % 2a Any honest man in whose hands this may chance to ate ; ) ‘‘ This is to inform the world that I am a prisoner in the hands of pirates. Six months ago I was a pas- senger in thes Albatross, bound from Rio Janeiro to New York. hile in these waters we were cap- tured by Pedro Santillez, the pirate, otherwise known as the Bloodhound of the Seas, Of all the souls on board, I am the only one surviving, and my life was ared by the merest chance. Under great difficulties T have learned the secret of the pirates’ retreat. Tt is a small, rock-bound island, surrounded by reefs, and entered by a narrow channel running between two tall cliffs. This is the tenth missive I have cast into the sea in the hope of making my situation known to some kind heart. Please forward it to the United States Government, to which country I belong. My every movement is closely watche iby the scoun- drels, so that it is with the greatest difficulty I write this. Even now—”’ : The writing ended abruptly with a long scratch of the pencil, as if the writer had been suddenly startled and compelled to leave his task unfinished. The faces of the officers were a study as the cap- tain dnished his reading and glanced towa:d them. Surprise, delight and exultation were expressed upon them all, | We must except one, and that one was their new acquaintance—the father of their first lieutenant. e arms of the Yankee skipper were resting upon the table, and his face was buried in his bronz- od hands. He seemed as if stricken with some great calamity. ‘What now, Captain Jones?’ said the Vixen’s commander, in some astonishment. ‘* Here the very information we've been kde for has suddenly dropped into our hands at the righ moment, and yet you do not seem to share in our re- joicing.’ “Teh the will of Heaven and the hand of Provi- dence that has done this,” answered the old man, reverently, “‘It is wrong for me torepine. When I tell you why I am sad, you will wonder no longer. My late passenger’s husband was suddenly called home, as I have already told you. I believed that he was safely there, before this; but, the letter you have just read tells me Iam indeed mistaken. He was one of the passengers in that fatal ship.” A deep silence fell upon them all at these startling ie T 4 eas » . ’ t » - ay — Cn Den a Ree eT - = -_ a a +. b _ z < : a den, e - <2 J - 2 x s -_ _ Ae : J - ay ~~ aft aa heleetenetae ane rss —- eg rr gg yy ree —_— eee ao ye ne -- . > Ps " s=- 4 “ £S. bad *s; Pate a ar,