Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Se TE Gee _— — ee - ie eee nnn ect ee be possible that the writer of this letter and Colonel Sanders are ove and the same person?”’ ‘*Tmpossible!’’ said the old man, sadly. ‘I know his determined nature only too well. While a drop of blood was left in his veins he would use it to fight his enemies. The pirates do not spare the lives of such men ashe. There were two other passengers on the ‘‘ Albatross,’ I know. Colonel Sanders tried to ‘procure a passage for his wife in the same vessel, ut her captain refused. He had a belief that, it would bring him bad luck to have a woman on board his vessel. As the colonel could not wait longer, he was compelled to leave her behind him. Well, Pro- vidence is merciful in this case. The colonel would not have survived the loss of his wife and child, for he loved them to distraction.” he ‘‘Then that same Providence shall use us as its in- strument to avenge them both,” declared Captain Clark, earnestly. . “‘We know now where to find our enemies. Our ancher shall not again rest on bot om until the whole nest of cutthroats are swept from the sea.” The looks of warm approval that spread over the faces of the officers at these words fully expressed their feelings. mee * You will need my whe Fa now, cap’n,’’ said the Yankee skipper, rousing hi sdif to action. * My eraft yonder is’ but little more than a wreck, any- how, and I want to see those villains hung afore I pint for home again.”’ i ‘“‘T accept your offer with pleasure,’’ replied Cap- tain ‘Clark. “If there is any thing I can do in return for your kindness, let me know at once, for we have no time to lose now.” “Nothing, except to send your doctor aboard to atch us up a bit,’’ was the reply, “for we’ve been Pnocked to pieces nearly as bad as the old brig. I’m not much good at patchin’ up a man, either,’’ he ad- ded, with a smile. His request was promptly graxted. Five minutes later the second cutter was pulliny back to the brig. She was closely followed by the Vixen’s launch, wit a crew of sailors in her to remove vye loaned fore- topmast. Not an hour afterward it was safely hoist- ed alongside the ** Vixen.” Then the cruiser, without losing a moment of her valuable time, forged slowly ahead, her crew, busy as bees, engaged in fitting the hew spar to its place. The brig slowly followed behind. The second cut- ter’s crew had been placed on board to relieve her own. They had naught to do but look on while the new-comers, with practiced skill, proceeded to re- store her rigging to its Rd a) eet A spare spar from the frigate served in place of the one lost. Making the best use in their power of the materi- als at hand, the ** Vixen’s’’ men soon restored things toa presentable shape. , Under the circumstances, the old brig was getting along remarkably well. The two vessels were but a few miles from the spot where they expected to find their foe. The officers of the “Vixen” had recog- nized the very island described in the letter as be- ing the same one they had before watched in suspi- cion, On board the ‘‘ Nancy Jones ” the cruiser’s surgeon proceeded to examine the extent of her survivors’ wounds. He pronounced none of them serious, if they were careful to keep as quiet as possible, As for the victims of the pirate’s wrath, lying be- neath the flag, they were quietly sewn in hammocks, A round shot was placed at the feet of each, Captain Zeke himself read the solemn service ever their remairis, while the tears coursed silently own his cheeks. Then the bodies were committed to their deep and last resting-place. By midnight the Vixen had approached close to the island she was in search of, Half an hour after- ward, her crew were awakened to excitement by the ery from the mast-head. ‘Sail ho!” Where-away?” cried Captain Clark. ** Dead ahead, sir!” , The captain seized his glass and hastily mounted cre rigging. All ears were ready to catch his words, - *“ Set to’gallant sails and royals!”’ ** Aloft, sail-loosers!’” y The men flew to their posts at the word. Very quickly the cruiser began to gather renewed speed as the sails were sheeted home. _ “Gentlemen,” announced Captain Clark, as he re- joined his officers on the quarter-deck, ‘‘ yonder vessel is the pirates’ schooner and she’s running out ef the channel. Beat to quarters at once.” The LOPE ee of the drum, slow at first, then in- creasing to a rapid tattoo, sounded over the ship. The gallant sailors were hurrying in every direc- tion. In half a minute every man was at his post and awaiting the next order. ‘Clear away the bow-gun!”’’ van are) sap se ae a ‘I want you to put a hole through the hull of yonder scoundrel, Are you all ready?” ‘* Ready it is, sir.”’ “Then, jie /”” os CHAPTER XXVIIL THE BLOODHOUND’S DOOM. Nosty indeed was John Frazer carrying out his scheme of vengeance upon his savage enemies, As the reader has doubtless ady surmised, it was his agency that had caused those mysterious warni He was an accomplished ventriloquist. Standin at the foot of those stairs and separated from his foes by a partition of thin rock, he had cau- sed his voice to appear as if it came from the ground at their feet. Prom bis position, he could even over- The Ocean Bloodhound. ee ee ee we ee ee — + we ee ee ee _—_—_— —_ hear much of the frightened pirates’ conversation at the mouth of the cave. As Ferdinand’s men fled, at that second warning John Frazer opened the secret door and enterec the darkened cave. He moved like a man who thoroughly knew his ground. . For a few moments he busied himself in the dark- ness, and then, with a low exclamation of satisfac- tion, he hurried back to his place of concealment, It changed to one of dismay and irritation as he heard Santillez utter his bold resolve, It was then that he uttered the words: ‘‘ Hnter at your peril ‘*T hope he will heed the warning in time,”’ he scans . “IT have a different fate in store for im,” He paused only long enough to assure himself that the poe was still determined, ‘* His fate-be upon his own head, now,” said he as he hastened up the narrow stair’'ty. He had barely reached the top before that muffled rumbling sound was heard. The powder he had so carefully prepared had done its work and with it departed the life of his bitter enemy. Then he raised the trap-door, and re-entered the pirate’s quarters. The dwarf was nowhere to be seen. Assuring himself first that the latter was not in hiding somewhere around, John Frazer walked to the door and glanced down in the moonlight. He could dimly see the forms of the terrified pirates be- low, as they fled like frightened sheep toward the schooner. A smile of intense delight and triumph shot over his face at the sight. Taking a night-glass from the wall, he could clear- ly distinguish his enemies’ faces. Long and keen was the scrutiny. But that of the daring chief was missing from among them. ‘* Well, the world is at last rid of one great villain,” said he, quietly; ‘‘ but I should have preferred to see him swinging from a yard-arm. Now I will run down to the carronades at the mouth of the harbor. If Providence will but aid me, I will sink the schooner before she clears the channel,” _He turned, and snatching up a lighted candle, hur- riedly descended the secret stairway to the shore, Alas for his plans! The explosion in the cave had ruined the passage also. He returned to the other entrance. The moon, shining full upon the rocky stairs, would reveal him to his foes. ‘There was a chance that the pirates might recog- nize him, suspect his agency in what had transpired, and return. He possessed toc much wisdom to take a risk that might ruin his carefully-laid plans. So, with a sigh, he abandoned his purpose. Then, peering through the glass, he watched the schooner as she began her perilous passage through the channel. ‘*She is badly steered,’’ he muttered, in surprise. oe they are not more careful than that, they will —ah!”’ The exclamation that broke from his lips was caused by the schooner scraping sharply against the rocks at that moment, Suddenly, there came to him the recollection of the woman imprisoned near him, With a wild de- sire to share his joy with her, he determined to seek the entrance to her room, Knowing that the secret door must open from the main apartment, he began a hurried search. While he was thus engaged, a dark object bounded into the apartment, with a how] of rage. It was the form of a man that showed in the dim light; but the face was blackened and begrimed with powder, ard the veivet clothing hung in rags. The pirate had escaped with his life, after all; but too late to rejoin his crew! With a fiendish yell, he sprung at the throat of the man who had caused his terrible punishment. One bound and he was upon him. Over and over the two men rolled in that terrible death-grapple. John Frazer was still cool and wary. Watching a favorable opportunity, he seized his enemy by the head, and dashed it upon the stony floor, and thus the pirate was knocked senseless. Springing to his feet, John Frazer’s eye fell upon the arm-chair that had so nearly caused his own destruction, It wasa quick way to secure his foe, he thought, as he picked uD the pirate and forced him within its strong clutches. Nor did he notice at th* time where the chair was standing. Then he hastily resumed his search for the secret door, In a moment more he touched the ae and the door flew open. He sprung forward, onby to stand still thenext moment as if turned to stone, The lady sprung up with an exclamation of terror, but almost instantly it changed to one of great joy. The beautiful boy gave one glance in the face.of the man before him, Then, with one glad ery of ‘* Papa/”’ he sprung in- to the outstretched arms. The spell was broken. Yes, it was true. The man and woman so sudden- ly brought face to face were husband and wife! All thoughts now of the flying pirates were drown- ed in the great joy of ‘that meeting. Little had he dreamed, when he heard the woman’s voice in pray- er, that it belonged to one so dear to him, Very hurriedly she stated her story. ‘ In return, the man, no longer a mystery, related how he had come to be the only survivor of the fated ‘* Albatross.’’ The ship had been nobly defended by her crew to the last. Feeling that his own death was shortly to come, he had yet humanely pd wii to relieve the agony of a wounded pirate. The lat- ter, grateful, demanded that his life be spared and Santillez granted the favor te him, Not so much, though, because his follower asked it, but because he saw that the man was likely to prove of value to him. His judgment in this case was good, for Colo- — i —— Le RRR DORE UE Utd yEE ae ——— @eagees— --- i eee 15 oe - nel Sanders had been an army surgeon before gaining his present title. Not caring to hear his 10nored name soiled by contact with a pirate’s life, he had called himself John Frazer, and as such was known among them, Not long afterward, in attaci- ing another ship, the pirate chief was badly wound. ed, and to John Frazer’s skill he owed his life. It was in consequence of that same wound, compelling him to remain quiet for awhile, that he had intrust- ed the command of the schooner, for a short time, to his lieutenant. John Frazer had been sent to ac’ company them in case his professional skill should be needed. It was he who had damaged the keg of ,owder by means of chemicals until it was as harm- ess as black sand—which it much resembled, Little did he think at the time that the act was destined to save the life of the woman he loved so dearly, So engrossed were they in their 1° that neither of them Leard the distant guns which told that the pi- rates were stil! surrounded by difficulties. Pedro Santillez had once more regained conscious- ness. Held in that vise-like grasp, and unable to stir, he had heard every word of that {oye meet- ing. He gnashed his teeth in imPotent rage as he listened. His bloodshot eyes pers | rom. his blackened face, made him a sight fearful to behold. He would have given all the wealth the island con- tained for one more chance at the man who had so completely beaten him. With all his prodigious strength, he tugged at the springs which bound him, It was hopeless. He wag but as an infant in its grasp. Horror! the chair was standing upon that fata} trap lined with sharp knives. An accident might ress that secret spring that would hurl him into ose awful depths below. Ah, Pedro Santillez! Did you remember at that moment the slow torture you prepared for those poor wretches on the brig? Then you must have felt something as they did when they saw that tiny spark slowly creeping down to that deadly powder. Great beads of perspiration stood out on his be- grimed face. Oe eg ao he shrieked hoarsely; “spare my life, and all | have is yours!” At that instant, Colonel Sanders, his arm thrown lovingly around the slender waist of his wife, en- tered the larger apartment. The other hand was clasped in that of his child. ‘Do you ask mercy, scoundrel?” he asked, in » voice of terrible scorn. ‘“‘Was you ever known to grant it to others, you bloody monster? You shall have justice; I shall surrender you into the hands of the law you have so long defied, and you shall hang as a dog at the P {ah Dhan a A sigh of intense relief broke from the pirate’s lips. It was like a reprieve to a sentenced man, Just at that moment the curly-haired boy espied the telescope which his father had laid down on the table. He broke from his father’s grasp and sprung forward to reach it. . As his little hand rested upon the edge of the ta- bie to grasp it, there was a sudden cry of terror from the 1 pee lips. With that wild cry upon his hardened lips, he dis- appeared from their sight! The child had become the innocent avenger of them all. Hisslight weight bearing upon the spring had sealed the pirate’s fate. CHAPTER XXVIIL HOME AGAIN, UnrortunaTeLy for the schooner, her enemy was approaching from windward. On the other side they were shut off by those black, treacherous rocks that had already done them such Inu yA Still, like braye scoundrels as they were, they held out against. such heavy odds. Theii”essel was leaking rapidly, and the inj ury to her angry retarded her speed, The cruiser was flying down toward them, her guns held in readiness to deliver an effective broad- side, Nearer and nearer came the Vixen, like an avenging fate. Her gunners’ standin by their pieces, were impatiently awaiting the order to fire. Captain Clark had just delivered it when he be- held a sight that made the gunner pause. A thick mass of red flame shot up from the schooner’s @cks, followed by a deafening roar, As the smoke @leared away, all traces of the pirate’s vessel had disappeared! The Vixen's boats were hastily lowered and rowed to the spotin order to rescue any that might have escaped that fearful Sheen, One gasping wretch, and a few blackened bodies which the hungry sharks quickly seized upon, was all that rewarded their search. But one man of all the pirate’s crew re- mained to tell the story, and death soon afterward relieved him of his sufferings. But, it was not the crew of the schooner that had ‘blown up their vessel as the commander of the Vixen had first thought. A : ; that act was haa to the malice of their former chief, When Sancho had informed him of the men’s in- tentions to leavé the island that night, and without him if netic he had sworn a terrible revenge, Going on board the schooner, soon afterward, he had deliberately lighted the fuse whose existence was known only to himself. “There,” he had muttered, with a grim smile af satisfaction, “if they go without me they shall pax» the penalty. If I conclude to go with them,—why it is easy to put out the fuse, at any time.” It was the last dastardly act of as desperate and cold-blooded a villain as ever cursed the earth an’ sea with his presence, R ’ - thy «f - \ af tai b j av NAY : . ‘ 4" 9%) We eh Wy 4) °° ae7.' Come books , au o7. “id, iw a St pm ATT ¥, a \ ' « com