Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee — —— _ le ee ee a eee ee - SEE ee oe il tit gests ee le a : — ca A ee me eee —_ wee ne ew ewe eee spread of canvas,and within an hour her hull wes plinly visible from the pirate’s deck. ‘Send all the men below but a half-dozen,”’ San- tillez ordered. As he spoke he disappeared in the cabin. When he returned he was clad in the rough garb of an or- dinary sea-captain. Presently a flag fluttered out from the main-mast of the merchantmen, As it unfolded to. to the breeze t displayed the well-known Stars and Stripes, union own. ‘‘ Another Yankee, and he wants assistance, eh?” hissed the pirate, savagely. ‘‘ Well, they owe us something for the run their cruiser gave us last nicht. Hoist their own. colors, Sancho; I don't care to have them suspect us yet. You can lay our own Hag where it will be ready when we want it!” s the well-known ensign fluttered from the schoo- ner’s peak, a gun was fired to windward from the brig in recognition. “So they are armed, too, it seems?"’ growled the pirate. Bn must have something, then, w6rth our trouble. They shouldn’t waste their powder so carelessly, though, for they'll need it pretty soon.” While he was speaking, Sancho was surveying the vessel through the glass, ‘*Pardon, senor,” said he, ‘‘ but that’s the same craft we boarded when the cruiser came down on us ' go suddenly.” ‘*Are yousure of that?”’ “Ay, senor, that I am, particularly.” ! heen they’Jl recognize us and give us a lively ght. ‘*No, senor, we boarded her in the darkness. They had no chance to notice us before we were on them.” ‘* So,” mutterad the pirate, his eyes gleaming with a new light. “I am in luck after all, it seems. Truxillo told me that she carried a heavy treasure, and ‘then there’s that lovely er uy, he was telling about thrownin, The last petticoat that fell in my hands was an old crone as homely as Satan. It was unfortunate for her, for she had to walk the plank with the rest of them. Well, I shall soon see if the dead rascal was right in his description.”’ The brig, meanwhile, had hove to and was waiting for the schooner’s arrival, Captain Zeke was standing aft, watching the schoo- ner through his glass. ‘‘A handsome craft,’’ he exclaimed, admiringly. **T'll bet a dollar against a sixpence she’s Baltimore built.” ‘* Looks so to ma, too,” responded Job Rogers. Less than a quarter of a mile intervened ‘between the two vessels now, Suddenly the Stars and Stripes dropped from the schooner’s mast, and the hext in- stant the black flag shot up in its place! ‘* Pirates again!’’ excitedly exclaimed Captain Zeke, but in a moment he had regained his cool- ness. . ‘‘Serve out the arms at once, Job,’’ was his auick order, ‘‘and pass oF the shot for our gun for’ard. Lose no time, for that feller is coming fast. Fight like true Yankees, boys, for yonder rascal gives no uarter, It’s death to every man of us if they take the brig.”’ No need of further nreing. As rapidly as possible the forward gun was loaded. ‘I'll take keer of this. shootin’-iron, boys,"’ an- swered the mate, running his eye over the si rhts as I noted the fellow’s rig rn ee ee ee ere The Ocean Bloodhound. deck and back before the brave mate could again bring his weapon to bear, the sharp bows of the pi- rate schooner grated against the brig’s side. With a flendish yell, the pirates swarmed on the New Englander’s decks, Desperate indeed was the odds against the Yan- kee crew. aie CHAPTER XT. THE NIGHT PROWLER, Wauat had become of the mysterious man whose disappetrance had caused the pirate no little un- easiness? Sancho had spoken the truth when he declared he had been seen on board the schooner at the moment of her departure; but, that was before the vessel had begun to gather headway for her run through the channel. No eye was upon John Frazer as he quietly lowered himself over the bows, and silently swam away in the darkness, In the excitement of the danger ahead and sur- rounded. by darkness his absence passed unnoticed, He had at last eluded his watchful enemies. Before the schooner had rounded the cliff and en- tered the channel, he had clambered up the sloping beach and disappeared. “So much gained, at least;’’ he said, in deep satis- faction. ‘‘I had almost begun to fear that I should never be able to evade their suspicious eyes. Oh, that the vengeance of Heaven might overtake those wretches and scatter their bones upon the reefs yon- der! Must I be compelled to drag out a weary ex- istence in this horrible spot while my friends mourn for me as lost? No. Heaven is merciful! There must be some means by which I may yet outwit my foes.”’ As he spoke, he walked slowly on to the foot of the staircase leading to the pirate’s quarters. He was about to ascend, when he suddenly paused with the remark: ‘‘No, [ must not take unnecessary risk. I forget that [am not yet the sole inhabitant of this island. The dwarf stiJl remains to keep guard over his mas- ter’s treasures. Well, I shall have to be doubly cautious in my movements until he is rendered harmless, that is all.’’ He passed around the foot of the rock to that part of the cliff facing the sea. Proceeding but a short distance, he again paused. It was intensely dark, yet he acted like a man who understood thoroughly what he was in search of. ‘** This is the spot from whichI have seen the dwarf emerge when he fancied no one was watching his movements. There must be a secret spring about here somewhere, and now to find it.”’ To all outward appearances, however, there was no sign of a door, | before him was apparently the solid face of the cliff, Stooping down, he began carefully groping over the surface. It was a good ee before he found anything to reward his search, Yinally, his hand rested upon a small iron knob almost concealed by the rank sea-grass that lin the shore at that point. - Pressing his foot upon this, a small section of the rock slid ‘back, followed by a rush of cold air from within. The space thus revealed to him seemed scarcely large enough.to admit a human body; but, stoopin down, with much exertion he forced his way through the aperture, As he did so, the door slid back into its place with — + ee ee eee Se ae — ow 60 oe ee stepped to a carved swinging book-rack and cera examined the volumes it contained. A pleased smile spread over his face as he selected a small volume whose sides were covered with sheet lead. Ghancing at the title he read: ‘“* United States Navy Signals.”’ The volume was thus bound to insure its sinking if thrown overboard to escape the enemy's hands, * Good!’ exclaimed ont Frazer, coolly, *“I had begun to fear that I might be unable to find this, af- ter all. I wonder how he managed to secure two copies: for I know thereis one on board the schooner. Pedro Santillez must consider his quarters very safe from intrusion at all events, or he would not allow such valuables to lie around so loosely. Now, then, for pen, ink and paper."’ The required articles were very soon found and placed upon the table, fs Drawing up a chair beside them, John Frazer saf own. He was careful, however, in doing so, to choose r ata giving him full view of the door leading rom the dwarf’s bedroom, Cautious to a degree, he . also piideneonr examined the pistol which he took from the wall, and laid it down upon the table withip easy reach of his hand. Then, opening the book, he began rapidly to copy the signals from its pages. | ' ‘* Help!” he remarked, thoughtfully, as he jotted down the corresponding number. ‘I'll need that sig- nal, by all means, I wonder whether I will be as lucky with the next? Let me see now. Ah, here I have it, sure enough! Pirates—No. 734, There, I have that down. Those two signals will be all-sufficient for my purpose, Even if I should suc- ceed in my intention during the pirates’ absence, it will be no easy matter for a strange vessel to find her way through the channel. However, I'll see some way to get over the difficulty if that emergency should arise, “The next thing on the programme is to hunt up some bunting with Which to make the necessa signals, I wish there was some way to barri- cade Baba'’s door,"’ he added, eying it distrust- fully as he spoke. ‘This place seems to be full of ag on every hand. The first thing I know, 1 may find myself caught in one, and then my long-lookeds | for opportunity will be thrown away. It would have been an easy matter to have ended the dwarf’s career forever.” Many aman in John Frazer’s place would have | done so as a measure of self-defense; but the mys. , terious and haps, individual was’ repugnant. to tals ing life if it could be avoided, He glanced at the door again, but there was no bolt from the side to ward him. ‘*Never mind; I must run the chances, I su pose,”’ said he, coolly, as he again picked up candle. é He opened another door, leading to the pirate’s bedchamber. ‘ | ! ‘‘A pretty nest for such a scoundrel,” sald he, uietly, as he purverte the handsome bedstead, with | its rich silken hangings; ‘it is about as appropriate» as putting a hyena in a church pew.” | n every hand were scattered treasures and knick- knacks of immense value, thrown down in a state. of indescribable confusion. te In one corner of the room stood a small ebo table, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Lying upon it was a small, handsomely-mounted pistol. —-f -— he spoke. ‘Give a pull on that port tackle! There, | a sharp click. John Frazer picked this up, and satisfied himself stand back!” “Tt is lucky I thought to provide myself with a | that it was loaded before thrusting it in his pocket. Grasping a handspike he lowered the breech until | candle,” said the man, quietly, as he produced it Then, hearing a sudden noise, hé wheele he had gained the necessary elevation, His sharp gray eyes once more ran over the sights and then he applied the match. There was a flash and a stunning report, followed by a puff of smoke. Asthe wind swept the latter away all eyes were fixed upon the schooner, “Good shot!” cried Captain Zeke, approvingly. “You've knocked his jib-boom clear to thunder, Mr. Rogers! Give him another dose of the same.” Tn fact the shot had carried away most of the pi- rate’s head-gear and considerably impeded his pro- ress, | 3 Santillez was not slow to return the compliment from his long-tom amidships, but the ball went wide of the mark. f Now that the pirate had thrown off his mask, his decks were filled with villainous faces. “There’s a better mark for you,” exclaimed Cap- tain Zeke, as the schooner fell off a couple of points, ** Give ’em Hail Columby this time!”’ ‘* Were she goes, then,” was the reply, as the gun was again discharged, This time Job was still more fortunate in his aim, tor the shot raked across the pirate’s forecastle, making a huge breach in her bulwarks and sending death to a half dozen pirates who were engaged in repalrias damages, still the schooner kept steadily on with grim de- termination, while again her gun spoke—this time sending its shot across. the brig’s decks but injuring none of her crew. | | ‘*Wait a bit, my hearties,’’ shouted the mate, cheerfully, “ we'll give you another dose.”’ Bang! went the gun as he spoke and a roar of de- light broke from the brig’s crew, for that last shot had struck the carriage of the long-tom, knocking it to splinters and een ee man who was at that mo- rnent about to apply the match. ‘‘ Hurrah?’’ cried tain Zeke; * afew more doses like that and I fancy that chap will feel like dropping us as he would a hot potato,” But, Captain Zeke understood not the determined character of the man he had to deal with. The pi- rate kept on as unconcernedly asif nothing had hap- vig Oe to your places!"’ was shouted from his from his pocket. This, after a few trials, he suc- ceeded in lighting, carefully shielding it with. his hand from sudden draughts. He found himself in a long and very narrow pas- sageway. The marks still plainly visible upon its rugged sides showed that it was the work of man, With cautious steps he proceeded until he found his further passage barred by the solid rock. A careful search for hidden doors failed to reveal any. ‘*Am [to be baffled at the very outset?” he gaid, sadly, as he slowly retraced his steps; carefully ex- amining the walls on either hand. Presently he uttered an exclamation “f satisfac- tion. He had solved the mystery. On one side of the wall were a number of niches cut in the rock and barely sufficient for a focthold, Placing his feet in these, and bracing his back against the opposite wall, he slowly ascended, and emerged at length upon a narrow shelving rock, Another narrow passage led from this; but, unlike the other, this was a natural cleft in the rock, Passing through this a distance of about fifteen feet, he found his further advance barred by another door; but found the spring without difficulty and pushed it open. A surprise was in store for him. He found himself in a small apartment nearly fill- ed by a bed, upon which lay the huge, misshapen body of the dwarf! He was soundly sleeping. Shutting the door behind him as lightly as possible to avoid disturbing the sleeper; the man passed through another door and left him. “ Baba sleeps unusually sound to-night,’’ he mut- tered, softly. “I litte thought that I would stum- ble upon him thus; but, all the better for me—and him, So long as he ati we Shall not quarrel. He evidently believes that he is the sole inhabitant of the island to thus relax his usual vigilance,”’ The room which John Frazer had entered was the pirate’s main apartment, already fully described, On the table lay a number of papers thrown care- lessly down. They were the same ones brought in by Truxillo when he made the report of his bad luck which afterward proved his death. John Frazer stuck his candle into the neck of an empty champagne bottle upon the table. Then he around and cocked the weapon, CHAPTER XIM. THE UNWILLING SLEEPER. | | His alarm, however, was groundless, The dwarf had started up in his sleep, but that was all. The articles John Frazer was in search of were not in that room, as he soon discovered, Satisfied of this fact, he retraced his steps to the larger ppartment, Two more doors were opened, but they, proved to be closets, : “Strange,’’ muttered the searcher, thoughtfully around. “I know that there is an ree! ge to the treasure from this spot, if\I can but né AD The Turkish rug in the center of the floor caught his attention. He pulled it hastily aside; and there before him lay the secret to the passage—a smak trap-door let into the floor. Graspin an iron ring secured in its face, he threw it open. Folding down his light, he could see » flixht of steps leading downward, ery cauticusly, the man megan his descent. There was no telling what pitfalls might lie concealed be fore him, At the foot of the stairs he was confront ed by an iron door, which was closed with heavy bolts from the inside. It was but the work of a moment to slip these back. The door swung open, giving him ingress to a large roomy cavern, that was half-filled witk boxes and bales of costly goods, for the pirates.’ never troubled themselves with anything but the choicest of what fell into their hands. | After a short search, John Frazer came across @ number of rolls of various-colored bunting, With the aid of his knife, he cut off such & quantity of each as he thought would suffice his PURO and bundling them together, he prepared to return to the apartment above, \ Fortunately, he had taken the precaution to shoot out the bolts of the door by which he had entered. ; We say fortunately, for it was built in such a man ner as not to be discernible from the solid rock of the cave when it closed. Passing through, he secured the door as he found , it and ascended again to the room above. 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