Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1139 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

© So ay wee a ee Oe oe ee te ~ thing there was as quiet as when he had left it, but a few minutes before. Placing his ear to the door leading to the dwarf’s room, he listened intently. A deep, regular breath- a show *d him tht Baba was stil soundly sleeping. satisfied on this point, he again seated himself at e table. ‘The papers lying scattered upon it caught US attcntion. **Ship’s papers,’’ he muttered. ‘This is part of the result of ‘Truxillo’s cruise, ! suppose.”’ Ue picked them up, one after the other, and glanced over their contents, “The last clew that exists of their fate,” said he, sadly. ‘“‘I must take a note of these vessels’ names in case it migit some time serve to clear up the mystery of thcir fate. ‘Wrecked at sea,’ will be the eneral verdict when we fail to arrive. Ah! how lit- le will they suspect the horrible truth that they have fallen victims to the cruel hands of the ‘ terror of the seas,’ Could I have succeeded in my plan to capture the fleet Isabeile, I should very soon have found a way to bring justice upon the heels of this monster, Surely, some power higher than his own must have put it into his heart to save my life when he was about to have me executed. As for his pretend- ed feeling of gratitude for saving his life, he is in- eas of sucha feeling. Well, while life remains I shall continue to hope. If I must perish, after all, I will die the easier for nowing that I have left no means untried to thwart him in his plans, Little did any of them suspect why that powder-keg failed to blow up the brig.” While thus musing, he had been engaged in jotting ie the names and destinations of the fated ves- sels. As he slowly unfolded another document, his face turned ashy pale. A sharp cry of surprise and pain broke from his lips, It was the manifest of the brig, Nancy Jones. In answer to that ringing cry the door before him flew open, and the face of the dwarf, lit up with an € gee of demoniac rage and surprise, gonfront- m. The long, sinewy fingers were clutching the air convulsively, and the haar crouched for the fatal Unfortunately for John Frazer, his usual self-com- mand seemed swept away for the moment by the terrible shock he seemed have received that mo- ment; but only for a single instant did his wonderful presence of mind desert him. The next, he was the same cool, quiet individual we have seen before. The misshapen dwarf looked like an enraged wild beast whose lair had been invaded. His eyes burned like coals, and a hoarse, savage cry issued from be- tween his clenched teeth. John Frazer rose-slowly to his feet, his eyes glow- ing with a deep, peculiar light. They fixed them- selves full upon the fiendish face of the dwarf. As the lion-tamer keeps his beasts in subjection by the magnetic power of a deep, unflinching gaze, so did this man seem to bring the human brute before him into subjection. A strange thrill shot through every nerve and fiber of the dwarf’s body. His furi- ous looks began slowly to cleeppeet. leaving a blank, expressionless stare upon his hideous features, A mysterious power was acting upon his savage na- ture, and he was compelled to submit to a master. Still standing quiet and unmoved, John Frazer began making slow, graceful passes in the air. A y baa suddenly seized upon the frame of the wart. Like a fascinated animal, his eyes were now fixed in astony stare upon those of the master before him. His body had become asrigid as iron—the very impersonation of petrified rage. * Sleep /"’ cried John Frazer, in a deep, command- tone. he rigidity of the dwaff’s body slowly relaxed; and in a moment more he sunk unconscious to the floor, his eyes still wide open and fixed upon va- a: John Frazer stepped forward and took the dwarf’s hand in his own. ‘The Isabelle!’ he cried, in clear, ringing tones, “Follow her, slave, and describe her movements.”’ A shiver sed through the dwarf’s frame, but he answered, the words coming from his lips in sharp, ae sentences as if tora from his lips against his ‘**T see—her—now, but the—darkness it is great—”’ he said, with an effort. The mysterious man made a few more impera- tive pes over the dwarf’s body. “You must see!’ he said, sternly. ‘‘ What make you out now?” “They are—sighting—the long-tom mgs «iy came in spasmodic pore from his lips. ‘Ah, there is a ship on her lee beam.” The words seemed to come easier now; for the sleeper seemed to have caught the excitement of the scene he was describing. ‘What now, slave?” “They have fired the gzun— There are lights flash- on the ship’s decks— She answers with a broad- ai “ Perdition! it is a ship of war and the schoon- er flies.” *“ Proceed!” cried John Frazer, impatiently, his heart beating high with hope. Slower now and at long intervals the words dro from the dwarf’s lips. “The ship is in chase—she seems to fly. Ah! the schooner is headed for the lower reefs—she will take the ge. Now she has entered.”’ “Oan it be that the scoundrel is fated to escape a. again?’ muttered John Frazer, under his He stooped to listen again for the dwarf was speak- once more. ‘The ship is stil] in pursuit~ Ah, she intends to y hs e.” ~~ a, ih : < as t." - «| e ~to bs J a = te . : 8-4" ‘ - /. 4 Le ate ee See Sh, te ‘ie Hh BA yt val Beadle’s HalfDime Library. be er ee ee ae ee Ce ei ee LTE PRN SN OS no RS Speen A a ee ee try the channel, too. Good! she will be dashed to pieces on the rocks! Furies! no. She has made the run safely, and is in deep water again.—Crash! what was thaty—The full force of the hurricane has struck her.—There goes her fore-topmast over the side!— She loses headway! The Isabelle is flying off in the darkness. My master has triumphed again.”’ CHAPTER XIV. THE WILL-SLAVE. A GHASTLY 3 eaten began to overspread the face of the dwarf. The terrible strain upon his newly-used powers was beginning to tell. John Frazer read those signs with a practiced eye. Again his hand moved in those passes as he released the subject from the trance and said sternly, ‘*‘Awake!” Like a man, suddenly roused from a sound slum- ber, the dwarf stirred uneasily and opening his eyes sat up with a confused air. “What has—” he began, then his eyes fell upon the silent form of the man beside him and he trem- bled violently. He remembered nothing of the scene he had been so lately describing. Stijl he realized that he had been overcome in some mysterious way. Ignorant to the lowest degree, he was correspond- ingly superstitious. A loo of undisguised terror passed over his evil face. There wasa pur ling, choking cry. He sprung to his feet only to fall back, the next moment, his body writhing in terrible con- vulsions. ** Bad!’ muttered the mysterious man; “I did not mean to punish the wretch thus. He possesses less will-power than I thought.’ Fo “sprung to one of the closets as he spoke and gia’ vedi in. “Ah, I am in luck!” he exclaimed, taking from a shelfya small and handsome case. Setting it down upon the table, he threw open the lid and hastily lifting the bottles, glanced at their labels. Selecting One of these and a small horn spoon, he hastily poured out a few drops as he approached the dwarf, still writhing in agony before him. The sufferer presented a terrible appearance. From between tightly clenched teeth, issued a mass of bloody froth. John Frazer looked unusually grave as he kneeled by the sufferer’s side. ‘* Horrible!’’ he cried in deep pity, as his eyes took in the whole truth, Yes it was horrible. In one of his spasms, the dwarf had caught his tongue between his teeth and actually had bitten it in twain. Kneeling by his h his every look tinged ‘with regret, and pity, John Frazer—in an interval of re- lief—succeeded in pouring the liquid down the throat of the tortured creature, It acted like ge In a few minutes more the stiffened limbs began to relax their tension, ‘Be quiet now, slave!’’ ordered the man sternly, as he saw that the dwarf once more recognized him. “Listen tome, You have bitten off your tongue in your unlucky fit. Unless you keep very quiet and allow me to do what I can to relieve you, you will surely bleed to death. Do you understand me?” Sitting up and spitting out the blood which filled his mouth, the dwarf uttered a guttural sound of agsent. John Frazer once more had Stipe to the medi- cine-chest, In a short time his skill had succeeded in stanching the flow of blood, ‘‘Now, Baba!’ said he. slowly and impressively “from this moment you are my slave. No secret of your heart can be hidden from my seo You are thinking now of revenge upon me. Dare to move a haud and I will strike you dead as quickly as the forked lightning shoots from the skies.” The dwarf turned pale at these words, and a look of terror swept_over his face, Right well the man before him read what, was gathering in his evil heart. He was not slow — fol- low up his advantage. ° **So long as M u obey me implicitly you Si... « re- main unharmed,’ he continued, ‘‘ Attempt any act against my life though and you shall die. Now to your room and let no living mortal know what your eyes have seen,” The dwarf rose slowly to his feet like a man weak from a long illness, e turned to reach his room, only a half-dozen steps away; but, ere he reached it, and while his back was still turned toward the mysterious man, the latter suddenly made a sweep- ing downward gesture. Not a word did he utter, yet the dwarf was arrested as suddenly as if stricken y a thunderbolt. Fora full moment as a statue. Then, with another quiet move of his hand, John Frazer released him and said: ‘*Go!’ It was enough, Fear lent strength to the limbs of the dwart. He leaped into the roam at one bound, and slammed the door behind him. | ‘*T guess he will not dare to attempt any tricks upon meafter that,” said John Frazer, lightly, and with an air of confident assurance. Then in a mus- ing tone he added: ‘* What a terrible power human magnetism may become when properly handled.* I never thought of it as a weapon against the dwarf until I saw by his eye that he was a good subject, Much amusement have I caused in the past by the exhibition of my power; but, never did l imagine that it would one day answer me such a good purpose. wish Baba, though, were a better clairvoyant,’ he added thoughtfuty, as he proceeded to returu the medicine-chest to i place, and again seated himself at the table. ‘‘Had he possessed more vital power, I might have he remained there, as motionless EE TT LL EE IEEE <$———L learned more of this cruiser; but he will teke an- other twenty-four hours at least to recover from Ins exhaustion. The ship he described must be the same cruiser that has been watching the island to- day. Ah, I begin to see through it now. That dar- ing attack upon her was made to draw her on in pur- sult, ‘‘Santillez must have hoped that his enemy would follow his daring lead and be dashed to pieces on thé reefs. But, Providence has thwarted him in hi wicked design, and for once the pirate has made ¢ mistake. After his late narrow escape, he will be disposed to give the island a wide berth, for a few days at least. It remains to be seen yet whether the cruiser will return to examine the island, or run off to repair the damage she had received. May Heaven guide her footsteps here, is wy earnest prayer!” His head dropped upon his hands and he remained for a moment in silence, Suddenly he raised up and his eyes fell upon the paper which bad caused him such trepidation. | “Ah, my brave friend, Captaim Jones,”’ he said, sadly, ‘little did youor I dream how short was the distance that separated us in your moment of peri! Truly you escaped the hands of your enemy as if by a miracle. But I am losing valuable time,’’ he ex- claimed, starting up suddenly. “I must carry out us A plans at once if I would succeed,”’ aking a quiet pass in the direction of the dwarf’s. room, he said in strong terms: ‘Slave! you are wanted!” The next instant, the pallid face of the dwarf ap peared in the doorway. ‘Bring me sewing materials at once!’’ command- ed John Frazer. Like a figure impelled by hidden mechanism, the dwarf obeyed. Entering the pirate’s sleeping-room, he soon returned with a dainty work-basket, which spake more eloquently than words of some fair vic- tim. As he sat it down upon the table, his master said, quietly: ‘You may go, now, and sleep. I will summon you when I need you.—I shall have a treasure in that fel- low, hereafter,”’ he mused as the dwarf disappeared. ‘I’m sorry the poor wretch has lost his power of speech, but that was no fault of mine, It may in the end prove of great advantage tome. Ignorant as he is, he will be unable to communicate what has hap- aned to his master, should I fail. It looks like the finger of an overruling Providence. Ah, could I but uge the powers I possess to read the future as Ido the. past and present; but, alas, that is impossible!” CHAPTER XV. THE PIRATE'S CAPTIVE, Norty indeed did the Yankee crew rally to defend their lives. At the head of his men, the daring pi- rate leaped upon the brig’s deck, As he did s0,a slash from a cutlass, in the hands of Captain Zeke, laid his right cheek open to the bone. Point-blank the pirate fired his pistol at his antagonist. Shot through the shoulder, the brave captain drop- ped like a log to the deck, while over his fallen bo rushed@he advancing pirates. “Into them, men!” roared Santillez, fiercely. ‘“‘ Let not a man escape you! Death to them all!” The crew of the brig had gathered near the main- mast as the pirates clambered over the side. Slowly, ane fighting with desperate determination against such overwhelming odds, they retreated step. by step to the port side of the quarter-deck. Cut and wounded unto death, as some of them were, they still kept their courageous front to their ene- mies. But, it was Nening De aganes fate; they must be compelled to give in at a Just at the critical moment when all hope seemed to have fled from their hearts, a voice from the bow thrilled them like an electric shock: “Death to all pirates /” Clear and distinct rung out that stern cry, | Santillez flashed his eagle eye in the direction of the sound. Even his bull-dog courage and nerves of steel faJt- ered at the sight which met his eyes. “Wat on your faces, men!’ he managed to gasp, dropping as he spoke. is words came too late for many of his hardened wretches to take in their meaning, It was indeed a sight to appall the stoutest heart The brave mate was standing by the bow-gun joad- ed to the muzzle with grape-shot, : A smile of avenging triumph rested upon his bronzed features as his right hand applied the match to his terrible weapon. Before half the pirates could obey their leader's warning, a tremendous report shook the brig trom stem to stern, and as the smoke lifted, a sickeiing sight was revealed, . Nearly half of the pirate’s crew had been blown to atoms. Only those who had heeded their leader’s sudden warning escaped. , Like, an enraged tiger, Santillez sprung to hig ect. ‘* Follow me, lads /*’ he shouted, The crew of the brig, prepared for that territue catastrophe, had sprung to the opposite side of the deck at the sound ef that warning from the mate's lips, and escaped unharmed. : We say crew, but there were only four men le/t of their number. . Two of them went down before the pirate’s i rrific onslaught. The others were literally swij\ (G the deck and trampled under the feet of lis fc) lowers. Straight for that terrible gun they rushed, arc with good need, for brave Job Rogers was al that moment hurriedly ramming home another cartidf He stoo to lift another round of grape, Wien he saw that he was too late. Already the pirate chief was within six feet of ; ! ' : - e i! * - or vt" He) ee aa