Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

N oe ~~ Having finished his meal, Santillez carelessly lit a cigar. Then he strolled over to his window and looked out, A sail moaning the neighboring headland imme- diately attracted his eye. Snatching a telescope from its bracket, he gazed long and earnestly at the Gpproaching craft. A cruel, vindictive smile spread over his face as he did so. ‘** So, ho!*_he muttered, savagely, “‘ my burly Trux- illo has been tn a fight with the schooner, it appears! My pretty ‘ Isabelle’ has lost her main-topmast; and there’s a couple of shot-holes in her canvas. But, never mind, my beauty, you shall be amply avenged for it all, never fear.”’ hie touched a cali-bell as he spoke, and instantly | down with the vessel, of course. the dwarf appeared before him. Terribly misshapen, he possessed, nevertheless, a frame as powerful as that of a gorilla, “ Baba, my pesneys said the pirate chief, grimly, * go down and tell the men below to stand by to give the ‘Isabelle’ a hand in picking up her cable; and “#3 soon as the schooner is secured, i wish Truxillo to come to me.”’ ‘Si, senor,” responded the dwarf, as he hurried off to obey his master’s orders. Very impatiently, with a quick, cat-like tread, San- titiez paced his apartment, Often he would stop to agaim criticise the schooner, now working her way fnto the channel. At length the yam of the blocks, as the sails were lowered, told him that the schooner was at an- chor in her isual place. A few moments afterward, the burly form of Trux- fllo was seen hobbling ashore with the aid of crutches. ‘Ah, ha!” sneered the pirate, with a demoniac smile. **So it seems that my drunken lieutenant has received his own share of bad luck! Never mind, my man; it’s only another item in the long list I’ve got against your name.”’ Truxilio slowly and laboriously made his way up the steep stairway. At last, after many muttered curses at the pain the effort cost nim, he reached the narrow ie fronting the pirate’s quarters and knocked at the <loor. ‘‘Ceme in, Truxillo!” said the chief, in a hard, metallic tone. ‘ You're rather a stranger to these parts. Let me see; I believe, three months since, ou left us for a cruise, Lost a leg, too, it seems? ell, it might have been your neck just as well. Take a chair yonder, and let me hear how you have enjoyed yourself with my pretty schooner. he words were vi peep a mock-humorous tone that foreboded mischief; and the lieutenant realized thai his neaster was in one of his dangerous moods. He waited sullenly for an opportunity to speak; but, still running on in that same strain, the chief continued: ‘* Been in a bad blow, too, I wnt aeons I see the main-topmast is carried away. great pity, too, for # was a shapely spar. By the way, I noticed a couple of patches in your canvas. They looked as if they nu ee have been made with round-shot, but that can hardly be.” be t’s the use of growling over bad luck when it, can’t be jelped, senor?’’ retorted the late com- mander of the schooner. “* Bad luck, 2h?’ retorted the chief, with a danger- ous cur! of his thin lips that showed his gleaming white teeth. ‘Has it come to pass, then, that my pretty Isabelle aas escaped so often under my charge only to begin it in your hands?”’ ‘"So it seems, senor,” replied Truxillo, sullenly. “A wan can only do tis best and if luck is against him —why, that’s the 2nd of it,” “I don’t iike to hear of bad luck,” replied the chief, with a wicked glitter in his dark eyes. ‘‘ How did you lose that leg? Did you tumble down a hatch- way in a drunken fit, or how?”’ “Tf you'll only stop your chaffing I'll tell you all about it, senor,” growled Truxillo. ‘“ Thefactis, we overhauled several craft on the start without getting anything much worth our trouble. I didn’t care to come back empty-handed, Yesterday afternoon we sighted a brig, which looked as if she might be worth the risk. As soon as it was dark we ran down to her with a gentle breeze, Afore they knew it, we had full ession of her deck. She wasa trader from *Rio’ and in lookin’ over her papers I spied the name of a woman passenger.” “You hrosent her along, of course. Where is she naw?’ asked the pirate, his scowl relaxing, some- ah wut. , ‘*] tried to,” was the reply, “ but to tell the truth, I was interrupted by the mate who was a regular devil. He got clean away from three of us. We chased him on deck but he turned as quick as me ning and settled two men, Afore I could fire but one pistol, he had picked me up in his arms like a haby and flung me clean over the stern. The boys in the schooner pulled me out but not afore an in- fernal shark had grabbed my leg.”’ “So you came short by @ foot,” said the with a harsh laugh. seems; go ahead taken for all this.” : “TY would, if I had been given time,”’ was the PY * Just as I was getting ready to go back on the brig what should we see but a cruiser bearing down upon irate, A fine revenge you must have ‘“ Where was your look-out?” “On deck with the rest of the boys, I believe; at any rate, the first we knew the cruiser was close d +) ‘* And you ran?”’ “Not afore we had passed a ke the brig with a five-minutes fuse,”’ replied Truxillo, growing nervous as he spoke. “This is getting interesting, it | Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ee | i ee ite FC | eee SSeS of powder aboard” ee. ee ee CHAPTER VI. PIRATIC AGAINST PIRATE. Tne burly lieutenant knew that what was to come would anger the chief far more than anything he had yet. told. ‘** You see, senor,”” he continued, “the brig’s crew | glance full of malediction on had retreated to the fo’castle and barred themselves in. The mate I was telling you of had got clear of our men, and diving into the cabin, shot the bolts. There wasn’t time to smoke ’em out, so we just lighted the fuse and left.” **So all you gained by the attack was the loss of a keg of powder and the blowing up of the brig, it seems,’’ snarled the chief. ‘**And the woman went Was she old and ugly, as usual?”’ ‘* As pretty e craft as ever I laid eyes_on, senor,” replied Truxillo, his ey~s glowing with the recollec- tion of her beauty. ‘* Bad luck was with us all through the affair. We hadn't time to scuttle the craft as usual, and some- how or other, the powder didn’t explode.’ ** What!’ cried the chief, with a sudden start that made the lieutenant jump. He saw the dark storm gathering in his leader’s face, and yet there was nothing fet him but to make a clean breast of if all. So he proceeded to describe the chase and the man- ner in which he had at last evaded the enemy. . ‘* That isn’t all, senor,” he added; “for that same night the crew laid a plan to kill me and seize the schooner.”’ The chief’s eyes flashed lightning. ‘“* Why should they to do that?’’ he asked. ‘Well, you see, senor,”’ began the lieutenant, un- easily, ‘‘ I shot the man who bungled the job in blow- ing up the brig. It happened to be Pedillo, one of the two that pulled me out of the water. The crew seemed to think I ought to have spared him, for that, I believe.”’ “How did you find it out?” ‘‘ Through one of the crew, senor. Hecame to me and told all. I clapped the ringleaders in irons at once and locked’em up. The fellow, John Frazer, that you’ve allowed so much liberty to, was at the head of it all. You see, the crew didn’t suspect who had betrayed ’em, so they was sort of confused.”’ ‘* John Frazer was the ringleader, you say?” asked the pirate chief, who had now recovered his com- sure. ‘*Yes, senor; I had a notion at first to string him up at once, but then I thought I’d better wait till I had seen you.”’ ‘* Lucky you did,” said the chief sternly, in tones of mingled scorn and passion, Thén suddenly check- ing himself, he said, pac ‘Go down and assemble the men on shore at once; then bring your prisoners ashore and wait till Icome. I will join you as soon as possible.” With these words and an cog rina glance toward the open door, the pirate chief closed the interview. A very short time afterward he appeared in the pi- rates’ quarters, where his coming had been awaited. On the left arm of the pirate chief, rested a long coil of snowy white cotton rope, light but strong, In the end of it was fixed a running noose, Across a stunted palm tree a close by there hung a short, stout spar having a block affixed to one end, “Up, now, and reeve our halliards!” exclaimed the pirate, tossing the coil to the man nearest him. The prisoners, four of them, and still tightly bound, stood silently watching the proceedings. John Frazer, the man who was to have been, their leader, was as cool and collected as if he was only to be aywitness of the scene. He, at least, was pre- ared to meet his death with the same brave front he had always shown. As the long rope came twisting and squirming round to the ground, the pirate chief stepped in the midst of his followers. There were black looks gath- ering upon the faces of the pirates, as, with low- ering brows, they watched the BROCOESINES. The pinioned men were watched with looks .of co- vert sympathy. They looked like men who only awaited a leader to break out into open revolt—all of which did not escape *” 2 sharp eyes of Pedro Santil- lez. " :; Striding fearlessly among them, he held up his hand as a si for silence. “Men,” said he, in deep, determined tones, ‘*‘ you all know that the late cruise of the Isabelle was a most unlucky one. Only afew paltry ounces of gold has been added to our treasure store, while, to offset that our gallant Isabelle has been battered up until she looks like an old drogher. But, as if.that was not sufficient for one trip you must plot..to get up a mutiny on board.”’ Darting a terrible glance upon the pinioned men, and from them to the dangling rope, he proceeded: **T do not propose to be unjust, and hang a man without a hearing. John Frazer, you shall have the _ first privilege to explain your strange conduct,”’ The man addressed fixed his eyes quietly and _ calmly upon those of the pirate, ‘Tf you hope to hear an excuse from me you will be disappointed,” gaid he. ‘“‘I only regret that we failed.’ ‘‘ You admit the fact then,” said the pirate, with a | _ one of the Isabelle’s crew. sneer; “have you no defense?” ‘* Not a word that could influence your cruel heart, you monster,” was the defiant <—y ‘‘T have, though,”’ said another of the gang, stand- ing next to him; and very volubly he proceeded to narrate the cause of disaffection among them, and the particulars of Pedillo’s death. A low murmur of anger ran through the crowd as they listened, and many were the black looks be- stowed upon the lieutenant standing by. SMe ' “Tt was a piece of ingratitude, I admit,’ said ee eee ee Oe ee eeeEeEeEeEeEeEeE———eee—eeee = | | | | Eee aaa eee — — —— ee — — = — + eee — — -- ee ee. ne the chief, sternly; ‘* but even that was no excuse for mutiny.’ Turning toward the remaing pirates, he said: ‘Now, my brave lads, I shall make you the judges in this case. Shall you string up these men alone, for wishing to avenge your companion, or ’’~—with a ruxillo—" shall we first run up the man whose drunken and care less management has been the cause ofall the trouble?”’ Acry of surprise and approval broke from the throats of the swarthy crowd. The bull-dog face of the lieutenant presented a picture of rage and terror. The cry broke into a roar. “Hang the lieutenant, senor chief! Hang the lieutenant!” ‘** You hear the verdict, Truxillo,”’ said the pirate, addressing him in tones of mock regret. “ Your mates have heard the case and decided against you. Well, sobeit. It will be only the end of your usual bad luck, you see.”’ The cowed villain made no reply to these taunts. His right hand slipped to his side. Then he quickly snatched a pistol from his belt. He raised the weapon to avenge himself upon the chief, who had really been instrumental in securing his death sen- tence, But, the k, keen eye of Pedro Santillez had no ticed the lthy movement. Quick as lightning, almost, his right described a circle in the air. There was a hing of bright steel in the sunlight. The next imstant the voniard of the chief, flying with deadly precision through the air, bu its point deep in the villain’s wrist. Truxillo dropped his pistol with a howl of rage and ‘* Seize him, lads, before he tries any more tricks,’” said Santillez, coolly. In another moment the doomed lieutenant was bound and helpless in their hands. “Up with him,” ordered the chief, in the same hard, cruel tones. ‘* Careful, there, of that injured leg though it will not long trouble him now.”’ espite the terrible struggles of the villain, the fatal noose was slipped over his head and drawn ht. Meith a fiendish yell, a dozen of the Pisater nig we the other end and ran him up to the block, body bringing up against it with a sharp jerk. There were a few mae ly 3 struggles, a quiver of the massive limbs, and then the hardened scoundre] was acady The only pity was that his executioners who so richly deserved the same treatment, escaped the same fate. Satisfied that life was extinct, Santillez directed the body to be lowered, Once more the noose was readjusted in prepara. tion for the next victim, CHAPTER VII. SANTILLEZ'S DARING GAME, Nor one of the pirates but was certain that John Frazer would be the next man to pay the penalty for his rashness, | ‘** Release all but John Frazer,’’ commanded San- tillez, sternly. ‘‘ As for you,” said he, to Frazer, “I have a word to say. You saved my life some two months ago, and I owe you something for that. Mu- tiny even among pirates deserves punishment by death. Still 1 am not the ungrateful dog that Truxito was. A life for a life, says an old maxim, and I spare yours this time.”’ A cheer broke from the pirates’ lips, for John Frazer’s courage had now the sympathy of all. **Remember,”’ added Santillez, sternly, ‘‘ we stand quits now.’ The first suspicious move on your part will be the signal for the death you have this time so narrowly escaped. Release men.”’ This order was obeyed with alacrity. It looked like a most magnanimous act on the of their bold leader. Little did they suspect that the crafty Santillez had decided upon that very result, the instant the lieutenant had finished his report. As for the man, John Frazer, he took his release from death as que he had prepared to meet it. Not a muscle of face had changed through- out the whole terrible scene. As the cords dropped from his wrists, he gave the chief one undaunted glance and walked quietly away, without a word. ‘*Sancho,”’ said the chief, turning to one of his men, ‘‘from this moment you are next in command, Ferdinand, I appoint you second lieutenant of our crew. Tell Carlos that my men are to have a double allowance of liquor, to-night. Ah, here he comes now. I wonder what brings him hither, in such haste?” The pirates, who had begun to scatter, quickly re- gathered as they saw the man stavioned on the look- out or opi fore toward them. Out of breath nearly, from his rapid haste, the Seay managed to gasp, as he hastily touched his at: ** A vessel in the offing, senor chief, and she looks like the ‘cruiser who chased us off Jamaica, twe years ago.”’ ; ‘‘Tt’s the same one that chased us last nigh then,’ remarked one of the men, who had form “To your posts, every man!” ordered the chief. ‘“*T will go to the look-out at once and see if Carlos is right. Sancho, you will get ready the carronades on the cliff. We'll give yonder chap all the work he wants if he grows too inquisitive.” So saying, the pirate strode with rapid steps to his quarters on the cliff. Taking up his most powerful telescope, he leveled it at the sail visible in the dis. tance. *“Full-rigged and carrying royal-masts,”’ he mut- Pa Aim oo ea ss books. com. — ra = j ; = aa