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

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

Then the door closed, and the sailors were left to wonder. : ‘* By all the saints,” said one, “‘ but that the voyage is nigh over and the plunder has to be divided yet, I would go into that cabin for all Don Luis. But he knew what he was about when he put us under the guns of the fort. We can’t do anything till we get on the high seas, and then—we’ll see who has the, treasures.” From whence it became apparent that disci- pline on board the frigate had not quite attain- ed the completeness of that of the buccaneers, who never grumbled. Far out in the ce at the same time, on the shelving beach, tangled with mangrov that marked the site of old Panama, @ line ‘of canoes was being dragged out of the thickets in which they had Neen SEE Morgan himself, wrapped in his dark cloak, watched the embarkation of his men, four or five in each little canoe, and only fifty all told. He had conceived some vague designs of sur- prising the city with that small force, but had abandoned it when he learned of Don Luis Men- doza’s intention to set sail that night. He could not have played into my hands better,” soliloquized the buccaneer, as he watch- ed the embarkation. ‘‘I ask no better than to find him ready to sail.” Then he advanced to the last canoe, which had been kept waiting for him, took his seat in the stern, and lay back, while the canoes pad- dled out into the mist in a long line, head and rn close together. _ Fifty feet dong pana oh game m0 be oer ing in s or the mist hid eve i ut the bowaf tha next canoe. = EO But the keen senses of the buccaneers found a guide through the darkness, when every thing else failed; and the sound of the lapping waves on the beach kept them true to their direction. Silent_as ghosts glided the canoes, that con- taining Morgan being ahead of the line, the al- most noiseless dip of the dle urging them slowly along through the thick darkness. Every now and then they had to bear toward the shore, for the undertow was carrying them out of sound of the surf. At last they began to hear the noise of voices on shore, and the cry of ‘ Sentinella alerta!” from the distant right announced that they were coming to the walls of New Panama once more... Then Morgan sat up in the stern-sheets for the first time, and uttered a low signal. own canoe remained stationary, and the others glided up alongside on either hand, their bows inward so as to form a star aro the central] oe. ‘* Now, men,” said the leader, in a low tone, ‘I will tell you what lies before you, and you shall say if you will dare to follow Morgan.’ ‘We'll do that to Hades’ mouth, admiral,” whispered a voice, in another canoe. ‘ That’s my brave Coxon,” said Morgan, ‘I selected you,.men, from all my old comrades because | had watched you hg aap g I would rather command fifty devils like you than a Soune S . now listen: -this is our ruise, of you a of pieces of eight nigh your own weight eee on board the periagua. I am going to take you to-night where you can get twice as much more, if ou don’t like to go home and live in on t, you must find another captain. Wi you come and take the prize?” rT Ay, ay, we will.” A deep murmur rolled over the water, and eerie Seeman i sixty fri with e ies in a sixty-gun friga we )ndred Spaniards a How like ye still?” “ Ay, ay FB he murmur was more emphatic . yea en listen, A thousand pieces to the first man on board, a thousand for a limb lost, ten thousand for your widows if you're killed. Are you all on the price?’ «a ile ot ‘ Stop,” sai e leader, firmly. “ share must be a half of all, and, ae oe found aboard. Will you agree to that?” There was a silence of several minutes, till Coxon inquired: i Tors per be eprangh Jer $i pay us?” man n thousand pieces of eight,” said Moecan. * But — on the ere was a short whi Coxon spoke, teins ‘‘ It is, admiral, all but the women. The men say Sam can have two, but no more.” wo be it, then. 1 agree,” said the leader. ——— The Sea-Cat. ‘“Now swear the buccaneer’s oath, and for- | ward.” In a low voice, but very distinctly and in unison, the buccaneers repeated their oath of fidelity to their own wild laws: ‘** By fire and flood, by blade and blood, By hopes of life, by fear of God, Through deadly strife, we swear to keep The laws we swore on deck of ship. To the chief, till death obey, Toa comrade, help alway, To the Spaniard, naught but death, While we draw a living breath; And we swear, we swear, on a Spanish deck The foot once set shall never give back, Till victory gives the prize, Or the last among us dies.” * Forward, then!” _The canoes glided through the fog in grim silence. CHAPTER: XXI. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. THE cabin of the Trinidada was gorgeous be- yond any thing known in 6, days. Originally a treasure-ship, since she been captured by the treacherous Spaniard, the wealth of every prize had been added to her splendors, till the cabin blazed with gold. Every visible bulkhead was covered with carving, and costly velvets and tapestry covered the seats and couches, In the center of this cabin, before a splendid table inlaid with mosaic, the prize from a Geno- ese carrack, sat Don Luis Mendoza, while friend ce was unfolding a huge parchment before m. Patient Matias, with a stolid look of apath on his black face, stood guard over four little white bags in another part of the Cabin, and b the door was a dark-faced with long blac hair, whose dress was surprisingly rich and fan- tastic even for those days of brave apparel. Dona Inez was not to be seen. e was in a state-room near by, and anxiously awaiting— she knew not what. ‘* What is that paper you have there, Abram?” asked Don Luis. ‘*The deed which your lordship promised to for me. Indeed, my lord, you have taken van of the poor old man, and.driven a terribly in with me; but the Jew is honest. What he said he will keep to; and I have pa ap the sum for your lordship’s use, in good gold.” ‘*‘T am glad to hear it,” said Mendoza, rubbin his hands. ‘ Let us see the deed, Abram. have one already prepared.” The Jew smiled a crafty smile. “‘ Strange that both of us should have thought of the same thing. But I should prefer your lordship to sign my deed. It was drawn by the best are in Panama, and contains all the pro- visions usual in such eases.” ‘‘I prefer to sign my own,” said Don Luis, quietly. ‘‘ My own notary drew it. Look at it. He threw a Sood: PADRE across the table to the Jew, and pr to roll a cigarette, waging Se other furtively. Old Abram took the paper, and began to tremble with excitement. He knew well that the in was not over yet, and began to feel @® vague sense of uneasiness. After all, Don Luis on shore in Abram’s palace, and Don Luis po ned og of his own frigate, were two differ- en e. e hidalgo wore an ression of furtively insolent triumph that frightened the Jew. He looked at the deed submitted by the other, and found that it was a transfer of all his rights and interests in his wife’s property ; but the wife herself was not associated in it **Ican not accept this deed, senor,” he said, firmly. ‘ Dona Inez herself must sign, as in my own i vat a trouble Dona Inez Pag = de- captain, scornfully. ‘*‘Do you think that a Castilian ‘lady is meant to chaffer with a cheating old Jew peddler? You buy the property now at a tenth of its value, and what more can you ask? [sell you my rights. My wife can take care of her own.” ‘‘ Then I suppose I must see the lady,” said the Jew, resignedly. “It is a cruel sacrifice to re- quire of me, senor,” ‘‘ Who requires it? Not I. Take your deed, and give me my money.” “T shall leave lordship instead,” said our Abram, rising. “J know my money, but I do not know my title. Matias, take the bags to the noe I go Ao i # ae ‘* Stop a moment,” and the hidalgo rose stepped. between — and the door. “ —- keep your and pay the money, or you evaspoard feed the Shaxkt: Is that plain, bram?’ . 15 The old Jew for one moment straightened, quivering with rage, for he wasnocoward. The next minute a thought seemed to strike him, and he calmed down. ‘“‘T will take the deed,” he said. ‘Is it signed?” on Luis became pleasant at once. “ Ay, ay, I wouldn’t cheat you, old man, but ou should have stipulated for my wife’s signa- ure ashore. What you get, you get. The rest is hers. Take the deed.” Abram secured the deed in his pocket, and beckoned to Matias to lay the bags on the table. ‘* Will your lordship please to count the gold?” he said. “Let the slave do it,” said Mendoza, careless- ly. 3 You wouldn’t dare to bring a short weight here. The old Jew’s eyes glittered strangely. “I suppose your lordship will not sail till to- morrow. The mist is so thick to-night that no man can penetrate it.” “Of course not,” said Mendoza. “Count the gold, Matias,” said Abram, and he turned away toward the door, saying to him- self: ‘‘ And to-morrow I'll have the information laid that will prevent your ever sailing hence.” For Abram had not been idle all day, and had found out from the men of Trini , who were drinking ashore, certain facts in the his- tory of that vessel, which he had resolved to use for revenge. Matias, in his dull, monotonous fashion, be- gan telling out the pieces on the table—‘‘ uno, duo, tre, quatro, cinque, seis, sette, otto, nove dieiz, and such is the influence of chinkin g gold on human senses, that insensibly Don Luis found himself watching the slow operation with inter- est, and checking the count. Old Abram meanwhile had been attracted by the glittering figure of the beautiful page, whom he now noticed for the first time. The lad was very dark, and his costume was composed entirely of cloth of gold, while every button of his doublet was a cluster of brilliants. But the sharp eyes of the old Jew were especial- ly riveted on his face, and as he looked, he trem- bled violently. ; He said nothing, but a leaden paleness spread over his features, for he realized that he had been duped at last. Before him stood the living image of Dona Inez, the dead Governor’s daughter, and the keen-witted Jew, who knew the secret history of every Panama family, re- alized that this must be the missing heiress about whom he had heard such rumors from the sol- diery. Blas Ortiz had spread the tale of the false Witch of Darien, and Abram had heard it, half-believing it. Here, before his eyes was the truth, While he was revolving in his mind fresh schemes to outwit this new combination and save his darling money, he heard a slight clink at one of the stern windows of the eon. It was so light that Don Luis did not notice it, ab- sorbed as he was in watching the counting of nee gold. e disguised page first time started and looked ly toward the stern. Abram’s eyes followed his, and beheld a strange sight. The stern-ports of the frigate were large and lofty, and four richly-ch guns occupied the afte of the cabin. By each of these guns an armed man, who must have climbed in from the outside; and a fifth man, short and spare in flesh, with very broad shoulders and a square dark face, was in the act of stepping out “ between She. - “ e man was armor and magnificent- ly dressed. His belt was full of pistols, and he wore a long sword which he seemed to disdain to draw. How such a party had effected its en- trance so quietly was a mystery to Abram, but none to the cat-footed buccaneers. As Abram canght sight of them, the disguised page uttered a cry of delight: The white chief. We are saved |” In the same t Dona Inez darted from a state-room to Morgan’s side; Don Luis turned with a great start, and became white as a sheet; the flew to Mo and embraced his knees, me and the leader uttered the stern command: “Silence, all, and secure the door.” In a moment four buccaneers had crossed the cabin and stood by the doors, silent and grim, while a number of others into the cabin through the stern windows, and filled the a ment, not a word being uttered by a till Morgan said: ‘‘ Now by the great God who hears us I swear that if Pepita is unharmed, I will leave the seas forever. on Luis Mendoza, you are met at heard it, too, and for the eEomicbooks (S (E@)