Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

- eee oo er, however, her commander realized the truth, but by this time the schooner was well clear of her vic- tim. a* The cruiser began piling on her canvas from truck to water’s edge. **COurses on our luck!’ ground the pirate leader, writhing in agony upon a couch placed on deck so that he could watch his pursuer, The cause of the strange catastrophe that had be- fallen him is soon explained. He who had lately threatened to make shark’s meat of his enemies, had narrowly escaped that hor- rible death himself. The pirates on the schooner were lifting him from the water, when there was a rush, a snap of a pair of voracious jaws and one of the pirate’s feet had dropped into the gullet of a monstrous shark. Raining terrible curses on his misfortune, the pi- rate was still game to the last. Supporgal by his men, he had actually determined to board tHe second time in order to take terrible re- venge upon his victims. At all hazards he had de- termined to secure the woman. The sight of the cruiser, however, caused him suddenly to abandon his purpose. ‘““At any rate,’’ he growled, ‘they'll meet their death in another way.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘‘One minute more,”’ he hissed, ‘‘and I shall see my revenge. Only a minute more,’’ keeping his eye fixed upon the silent brig astern—* then the accursed Yankee craft yonder will be blown to atoms, Keep our eyes on her, my lads, and you'll see some fine hre.cowks: Curse them all, I say.” CHAPTER IV. SAWBONES IN A NEW ROLE. Nor long did the Si ng have to wait to be assured of the character of their pursuer. ’ There was a sudden flash, but it was not the ex- .pected explosion. No, the round shot that whistled over their deck was proof positive that the ship in pursuit had opened her batteries. Very swiftly, now, the wind continued to rise. Every stitch of the pirate's canvas was drawing to the best advantage. As the cruiser passed under the brig’s stern, the pirate schooner’s helm was suddenly put hard-a-lee, and the next instant she was heading close up in the eye of the wind. ‘ A thorough sailor was the man who commanded er. . The cruiser was unable at that moment to follow his example without colliding with the brig. She could do nothing until she had run to leeward of the Nancy Jones. Then it was too late, for the schooner now had the weather gauge and was making the best of it. It was fhe vary thing upon which the pirate had calculated, and thoughts of the cruiser’s ability to harm him seemed to trouble him but little now. Another important matter claimed his attention at the time, “Two full minutes pa the time and yonder craft is still above water. Pedillo, come here!” cried the desperate chief. A swarthy Spaaiard approached the reclining pi- rate with a crestfallen air. ‘* You arranged the powder-keg as I told you?”’ de- manded the chief, with a darkening scowl. ** Si, senor.””’ ‘*It was to have how many minutes to explode?” ‘* ive, senor.”’ ; “It ia now three minutes past the time, you dog. Take that for your infernal bungling !’’ As he uttered the words he snatched a pistol from belt and fired point blank at the wretch before m. The man dropped dead to the deck, without a roan, ir low angry murmur broke from the pirate’s crew as they witnessed the act. ‘Avast there, my hearties!” shouted the pirate chief, his eyes shooting fire. .“*The first dog that grumbles shall have the same dose.”’ Well had these’ savage wretches cause to protest against such base ingratitude. The man shot down before their.eyes was one of the two who had short- ly before saved him from a watery grave; but a real human brute, the leader was deaf to all feeling of gratitude; indeed, he even blamed his rescuers for not having been an instant quicker with their as- sistance, for that instant would have saved him the awful mutilation. “Send. John Frazer here!’ said he, as the crew slowly seattered. pie man alluded to presently appeared before the pirate. He farmed a strange contrast tothe rest of the crew. / Tall and well-built, he had an air of quiet self-con- trol about him that marked him as no common per- son. Nor was there anything in his face that betrayed ay traces of cruelty in his nature. : ut of place he certainly was, and yet, how came he there? John Frazer quictly eyed the writhing scoundrel before him and waited for orders. “What are you gaping at me for?’ growled the pirate, angrily, ‘‘Don’t you see that I’m losing ylood from the bungling way those chaps tied u my stump? Get to work at once and have your job over with as quick as possible.”’ As he spoke, a second round shot from the cruiser’s guns came whistling over their heads, Tt was followed by a splintering of wood and the maintop-mast of the schooner dropped over to lee- ward, carrying with it the gait top-sail, — ee eee eae oo The Ocean Bloodhound. ‘‘Up with you, boys, and clear away the wreck!” ordered the pirate, coolly. “I fancy he'll give us no more trouble for we’re leaving him behind fast, and it spoils his headway to use that gun.”’ While he was speaking, the man known as John Frazer was making a critical examination of the pi- rate’s wounded limb. **Well?” asked the latter, inquiringly. ‘The leg will have tocome off just below the knee, sir,’’ was the cool reply. ; ‘‘Murder me a second time, eh?’’ replied the pi- rate. ‘* Well, if there’s no help for it go ahead!” and the pirate sunk back upon the couch, No keen surgical tools were brought into service; neither was the patient stupefied with chloroform to deaden the pain. He merely took a huge draught of rum, and then lighting a cigar, he watched the Opermior while the flesh was cut away with a sharp- sheath-knife. An ordinary handsaw was brought into requisition to sever the bones, Notwithstanding the rude instruments, the opera- tor evidently understood his business thoroughly. With dextrous fingers he tied up the exposed blood- vessels, and ended his task by tightly incasing the limb in bandages. Despite the pain the pirate must have suffered, he did not allow his cigar to go out during the whole transaction.’ No one, by looking at his impassive face, could pave guessed what a terrible struggle the effort cost iim. Courage, even if it is only of the brute kind, will always win admiration. At the sight of their leader’s iron nerve, his men stood yet more in fear of him. His temper, however, had suffered by the ordeal he had passed through. Under his cool exterior, a desperate and savage mood was raging. “Furies!’’ he muttered under his breath, “ and what will the captain say when I make my report? Curses on my luck. I’d rather have lost the other leg than to go back to him with that pretty spar mis- sing. Nearly half the crew, too, lost since I begi_o this unlucky cruise! How was i to know that the cruiser was around in these waters? I believe it’s our old enemy, the ‘ Vixen.’ I’m pretty certain I re- cognized her rig. However, we’ve shown her a pret- ty clean pair of heels again, and by daylight she’ll not be seen, I fancy.” It was even as he said. When the sun arose the next day, no trace was to be seen of their late pur- suer upon the distant horizon. Not until he was certain of this fact, did the pirate direct his men to convey him below. Then, for the first.time since the cruiser’s attack, he turned over his command to his lieutenant. ** Head for the rendezvous,” he said, gruffly; ‘* but if you happen to see any sail in the meantime, let me know at once,”’ “Si, senor,’’ was the reply, and closing the door upon his wounded chief, the man regained the deck. Meanwhile the pirate crew had gathered in a knot upon the forecastle. Spaniards, Portuguese, Lascars; what a motley crowd they seemed by daylight! The gabble of their various tongues seemed a Ba- bel of sounds to the uninitiated listener, Most of their conversation was carried on in the Spanish tongue, understood by them all. ‘“‘T call it an infernal shame,” said one of them. ““T feltlike putting my knife through him for it,” The conversation was upon the subject of Pedillo’s death at their captain’s hands. His shipmates nodded assent to the boldly spoken words. The mysterious individual, John Frazer, st leaning thoughtfully upon the rail not ten feet dis- tant, Distrustful of him as the pirates were, there was no attention paid to his presence from the fact that he was supposed to understand nothing of the tongue hep were using. d they observed the twinkle in his eyes, they might have had doubts of his ignorance. _ A few of the ruffian crew were in favor of inflict- ing summary vengeance upon their leader. The ma- jority, however, stood too much in awe of his cour- age to make the attempt. It was almost certain death to him who should undertake the task. It was finally agreed between them that the whole matter should rest’ quietly for the present. Should a favorable opportunity arise, however, it w9s to be seized at once, They were about to separate, when the cool voice of John Frazer—now speaking in excellent Spanish —chained them to the spot: _ Wait, my lads,” said he, quietly, ‘I’ve heard it all, and have a better proposal to make to you.” af poeped pe to think that they were discovered, and uncertain for the moment of the man’s inten- tions, they gazed angrily upon him, A dozen hands were laid upon the hilts of their sharp knives. Not one of them but was able to throw those knives with deadly precision of aim, and the assur- rance that the man before them was an enemy, and hee knives would be buried in the speaker's eart. _ Undismayed by it all, with an almost impercept- ible sneer on his lips, John Frazer said, quietly: “I will aid youin your purpose, men, if you will aid me in mine,”’ “You know ours already,” said one of the pirates; ** Jet us now hear yours.”’ ‘It is soon stated. Agree to put me ashore as soon afterward as possible, and I will promise to aid you by all means in my power.” ‘“‘ He speaks fair,”’ declared one of the men, in an undertone, to his companions. ‘‘ What think you? would it be safe to trust him?” It was settled, at lengta, that they should do so. ee sw es Se pe owe a SO ET a i rd a A ee a ee Pee EE TT — > 3 They soon found that the man before them was 4 born leader. To their muddled and rather contradictory pres he brought a brain quick to see the practicable and discard the reverse, John Frazer showed them, in a few words, that the schooner at that moment carried treasure enough to supply all their wants for a lifetime, He also cemented their confidence in him by stat- ing that his share could be divided among them, for he had sufficient wealth of his own if allowed to reach it. He showed them that it would be an easy matter to run into some small port, take their trea sures to other countries, and spend them as they pleased. . The picture he drew of their future was a most flattering one to the pirates, They had become ra- ther tired of the discipline to which they had so long been subjected. Supplied with all the wealth neces- sary for their needs, what wonder that the bait was so highly attractive? Before John’ Frazer had finished his harangue, they had fully resolved to follow him to the death if need be. No other man in their number could have exercised such a wonderful influence and con- trol over them. He had boldly declared his puspoms of killing their enemy with his own hand; and they had seen enough of him to know that he was as brave as their own disabled leader. In his cabin below, the latter was writhing un- easily upon his couch, and plotting how to make hia report as favorable as possible to the captain ashore, whom even he dreaded. On deck, his crew had just finished a plan that, if successful, would render such a report out of the question. a ee ge ee ee ee eee ee CHAPTER V, THE WRUMAN TIGER IN BIS LAIR, On a small rock-bound island, distant but a few miles from the spot where the brig was so lately at. tacked, stood the pirates’ rendezvous. To all out- ward appearance it seemed nothing more than a barren, deserted spot, puerta: on every hand by dangerous reefs, over which the long billows dashed apisetinly. Viewed from seaward, it seemed an in- accessible island and nothing more. 4 Yor all that, there was a channel leading to it by devious paths among the sharp rocks and submarine reefs—a channel barely wide and, deep enough to admit the pirates’ schooner, and which ended in a smooth rock-bound basin, which a jutting cliff effect- ually screened from any prying eyes seaward, should any such chance to pass the spot, Half-way up that steep ledge, and hollowed in the rock itself, stood the quarters of Pedro Santillez, the dreaded pirate chief. : A small window, giving a wide view seaward, and easily concealed if desired, opened from the pirate’s sleeping-room. | The place was reached by a succession of narrow stairs hewn in the face of the rocks; and at their foot, an armed pirate always stood upon guard, The main roomof the Lager quarters were some twenty feet square. With the exception of a small turkish rug in the center, the rocky floor was bare. The rest of the apartment, however, was furnished in the most costly manner. The choicest treasures of every clime had been brought into service to satisfy the pirate’s fastidious taste. Maps, charts, and weapons of every description, from Malay kreese with its razor-like edge, to the ore modern blade of civilization, were upon the walls, The center of the apartment was occupied by a small handsomely carved table, while the rest of the furniture was in keeping with it. Fda: the main apartment two doors led to rooms adjoining. nderneath the brightly colored rug was a small trap-door, leading by a secret staircase to the treas- ure cave below. In those quarters no man of his crew ever ventured without an express command. His followers were provided with a number of low huts on the open space behind the cliffs. It was early in the morning. Seated at the table, now spread with a snowy cloth and resplendent in silver vessels, the pirate chief was quietly eating his breakfast. Close behind him stood a dwarf awaiting his master’s orders. Pedro Santillez seemed a man of thirty or there- abouts, A trifle above the medium hight, he pos- sessed a frame powerful in proportion. |'He was clothed in a rich suit of black velvet, ornamented with buttons of gold. Around his waist beneath the belt contain.ig “is weapons, was a knotted sash of heavy crimson silk which showed in rich contrast against its velvet background. In his belt were thrust a pair of handsomely mounted pistols. His keen, hea cutlass was missing, but in its place a small and keen poniard. His black wavy hair was partly concealed by a close-fitting-skull cap matching his suit and sur- mounted by a large golden tassel. A A cur of heavy boots reaching to his knees, in- cased his feet. é; ‘“‘A fine-looking man,"' would be the generai ver- dict on first glancing at his well-shaped features. His actions, too, were easy and graceful like those of one accustomed to the best society. Still, a phy: siognomist, studying his face closely, would have distrusted those thin, bloodless lips and cat-like, un- @asy eyes; and in truth his was a nature insensible to the finer emotions of the human heart. Selfish- ness and cruelty were the ruling passions of his life ss —~ ; a2 ath ‘ : 4 “a ' ; & as Le i 5 wat * : é > 4 ’ 4 12 $4 t ; 7a) -. by -— ay. -« kl ee, p54 <1 i - CT aealies s ie ae is Oe ee Re he, Wea agly an 4 ' _" ~ _ Oe