Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 386 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

" - as a 2. ie ' . 2a " re - — ag em, gy + _ —_—— Bl a EP EE ee - - ’ a ee ee 10 Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. The threat seemed to produce an immediate effect, for he said, considerably cooled down. ‘*I will let you see the prisoner, but to-mor- row you will get the best view of him,” ‘‘ Are they all to be arraigned at the same hour?” sé Yes.” ‘When?’ ‘* At ten o’clock.” cs Here?’ ‘* In this chamber.” ‘¢ What will the final verdict be?” ‘“‘Can’t you guess?’ smiled the advocate. ‘We have wanted those Gulf robbers a long time.” ‘“‘ Certainly; they will be condemned.” ‘“‘There is not the slightest hope for one of them!” A singular look of triumph lit up the Ser- pent’s eyes as the advocate made reply. He did not see it for her sweeping black lashes, ‘Very well,” she said. their doom like brave men.” ‘Or like dogs!” sneered Major Barro, ‘‘Let to-morrow decide; 1 am ready to see Captain Cutlass.” he advocate turned without speaking to a drawer in the writing-table, and took there- from a bunch of keys with which he faced the Serpent. ‘* Now,” he said; ‘‘ we will see this pest of the geas.” The woman’s eyes glittered anew as she start- ed after him, and sbe murmured as sbe clinched her bands: ‘‘'Yes, Advocate of the Council, we will see Captain Cutlass; but one of us may not come back.” Major Barro led the Tropical Serpent to the underground corridors of the palace, and every now and then unlocked a heavy door with the keys he carried. At last he stopped in front of one, and hung ay lamp he carried on an iron hook at one side of it. ‘‘ We have reached the captain’s quarters,” he said with a glance at the Serpent, and she next peraieam he began to turn the key in the heavy lock, With much impatience the Serpent watched him eagerly, her hands shut at her sides, and with flashes of fire in the depths of her eyes. After a few seconds of toil with the key, the advocate pushed back the door, and the light that penetrated the apartment thus displayed, revealed a man standing erect in the cell, but chained to the wall behind him. An exclamation of surprise burst from his throat when his eyes fell upon the woman who looked but did not speak. “This lady wants to see you,” said the advo- cate. addressing the buccaneer. ‘Very well,” said Captain Cutlass coldly. ‘* But I wish she had not come.” The advocate and the Serpent started, the latter biting her lip till it bled. Suddenly she started toward Major Barro and tore the heavy bunch of keys from bis hands, then, in the flash of an eyelash, and before he could lift a hand, she dealt him an awful blow across the face with them, and sent him stagger- ing into the cell. ** Another fool!” she ejaculated as the advo- cate sunk at the foot of the stone wall and caused Captain Cutlass torecoil with acry to the length of his chain. graidiete you have committed murder!” he said. ‘*Does that shock your sensibilities, Captain Cutlass?’ was the quick retort. ‘‘ Over the body of this man you walk to freedom.” s your bands?” air" Ae. why not?” “IT have said that I would neveraccept a favor at your hands,” “You shall!” cried the Tropical Serpent. ‘‘This is not my first stroke forrevenge. Two men who helped sink the Vampire were housed by me forever from the sunlight before I came to you,” ‘*'Who were they?” si Captain Fortuno and his American lieuten- ant. ‘*'You bhaven’t killed them, woman?’ ‘* No, but they have read their doom ere this on walls of stone.” Captain Cutlass made no reply for a moment. ‘Then, why do I want liberty?’ he suddenly asked. ‘‘The man who burned the Vampire is suc of my way. I wanted to strike him, but you—” “ ‘‘ He cannot be dead,” was the interruption. “Stay here and face the council to-morrow; “They will meet then die! Walk from the palace to-night, and be still the king of the sea in a new Vampire!” An exclamation of eagerness burst from the pirate’s throat. ‘‘T will!” be said. ‘‘I will make this haunt of my enemies tremble again at the mention of my name! Here, woman! Give me freedom, and I will give them—death!” There was among the keys which had unlocked the numerous doors between the council-room and the dungeon, one that relieved Captain Cut- lass of his chains, and the scourge of the Gulf stepped forward with an outburst of victory. tien the iron door shut on tke unconscious eavocate, and the Serpent turned the key in the ock. Ten minutes later the twain entered the coun- cil-chamber and passed through it to the dark- ened street beyond. Captain Cutlass felt like giving vent to a shout of triumph. ‘*Free! Look out now, men of Cartagena! Within three weeks you will feel the band you have spared too long. Where is your home?’ ‘“‘Not very far away,” said his deliverer. - To-morrow all Cartagena will be looking for you, Captain Cutlass’s eyes suddenly flashed. ‘Then, by heavens, I will make sure that there will be no traitors about!” he hissed. ‘* Once before you betrayed me to my foes, but I escaped.” és 1?” ‘* You—the Serpent of Cartagena!” ‘*T would die for you, Captain Cutlass,” ‘* Don’t try to hoodwink me, woman. I will find a hiding-place. Thanks for your help to- night. is hand darted straight at her throat at the end of bis last sentence, and the next minute the Serpent of the Tropics lay motionless at the foot of the wall ofa stone house. ‘“‘Now I amfree!” wuttered Captain Cutlass as he turned away. CHAPTER XI, ONCE MORE AFLOAT! Wits the dawn of another day Cartagena was thrown intw a state of great excitement, It was discovered that Major Barro, a dis- tinguished soldier of the Republic and the Ad- vocate of the Council of Safety, was missing. Mewbers of the council said that they left him in the palace when they left the preceding night, and his wife, a beautiful woman whom he had lately led to the altar, declared he had not come home. What bad become of the advocate? As the search advanced some one made a second startling discovery. The keys to the dungeons beneath the palace were missing! Not until then was it dreamed that Captain Cutlass the captured buccaneer was in any way connected with Major Barro’s disapp2arance, The first door yielded reluctantly to the ham- mers of strong men, and the searcbing party advanced down the underground corridor. Door after door was battered down, for the keys were not to be found. At last the cell of the buccaneer was reached. The first blow brought a voice from the in- side. The men stopped and listened. It was Major Barro, found at last! This door yielded as the others had done, and the Advocate of the Council] was dragged from what had almost been his living tomb. In a few words he told the story of the pirate’s rescue. Suddenly the bells of the town were set going, word was sent to the commanders of the forts, and Captain Fortuno was hunted for. Hunted for, but not found! The people could hardly realize that Captain Cutlass bad escaped and that on the very eve of bis trial and condemnation. Some professed to know the woman who had liberated bim, and others declared that she had never beep seen before in the town, Standing at a window, and listening to the pealing bells that continually increased the excitement, was a pale but beautiful young girl. ** What! that red-handed monster at large again?’ she suddenly exclaime’. ‘‘ Well, I am not sorry, for lcan throw myself on his track again, and pay bim for the iast crime commit- ted on the wave, At liberty! Captain Cutlass, I can re-devote my life to the fulfiilment of the vow taken on the deck of the Huntress, Rest assured that I would not turn you over to the men who hunt you high and low!” All through the day the search for Captain Cutlass and his deliverer continued throughout the town. Every house was inspected; soldiers were every where, ‘** Another mystery has deepened since morn- ing,” said Lona’s uncle, a fine-looking man of fifty, as he came into the room and found her still at the window. ‘ The menof the Huntress can’t find their chief officers. I have just con- versed with one of them—an American called Fairweather Tom—who declares that bis friend Lieutenant Manton has met with misfortune here in Cartagena.” The fair girl started at the mention of the lieutenant’s name, ‘* Where is this sailor?” she asked eagerly. ‘* Somewhere on the hunt, I expect. He told me he would not give up the search until bis friend is found. h! would to Heaven Cap- tain Cutlass bad never seen the light of day.” ‘*Tve echoed that prayer in my heart a thou- sand times,” said Lona, ‘‘If he bad never been born 1 would have a father to day; but I will find him!” ‘*You, girl?’ ejaculated the surprised rela- tive. ‘¢T—Mosjor Seward’s avenger!” was the an- swer. ‘‘1 know this American sailor. Tell me where you saw him last.” ‘‘Near the front gate of the Palma Je Cera Garden. It was fully thirty minu es ago, and he announced himself on the way to get a fe that belongs to a Spanish friend of his,’ ‘‘The Palma de Cera, eh?’ murmured Lona, moving from the room, ‘Yes; but of course he is not there now.” ‘* Never mind; I will encounter him,” ** Not to-night; you are liable to insult. The escape of Captain Cutlass bas maddened the people. They talk of assailing the prison that contains bis sailors. Cartagena seems in a drunken frenzy.” ‘*T will fiud him, anyhow,” persisted the girl, her eyes glowing with determination. She passed into an adjoining room, and ere she left the house armed berself with a pistol, which she concealed among the folds of her dress, ‘‘Lieutenant Manton is my countryman and friend,” she said to herself as she passed from the step into the street. ‘‘I owe him a favor for kindness received at his hands. Missing? That word means a great deal, these times, in this town.” Lona’s prime motive in leaving her uncle’s house was to find Fairweather Tom, in whom she reposed mucb corfidence. She had seen the giant tar on board the Huntress, had noticed that be was strongly attached to Manton, and knew that in him she would find an excellent and powerful ally. The young girl bad bardly reached the street when her ears were assailed by loud cries and the rapid discharge of pistols and muskets. The next moment the head of a column of shouting men rusbed into view and forced Lona into the mouth of an alley to escape being trampled under foot. On came the crowd, yelling at the top of excellent lungs, and brandishing clubs and fire- arms over their heads, ‘*Let the ‘tarnal fools go. Vll go and get my dog and track for myself.” Lona started at the sound of these words, and saw the stalwart speaker, who bad halted within ten feet of ber and was gazing at the mob, which was rushing furiously on. Her beart seemed to leap into her throat. ‘‘Thank heaven! I have found you again!” she exclaimed, springing forward and seizing the-man’s arm before be was aware of her presence, ‘Lona, by Jupiter!” was the sailor’s exclam- ation as he wheeled upon the girl. ‘‘Did ye see that mob of mad fools? They’re goin’ to break open the jail and make short work of the buccaneers,” The girl followed the crowd with ber eyes before she replied. ‘¢ It?s a terrible strong prison, Tom,” she said, speaking almost unconsciously. ‘But they'll get inside!” laughed the sailor. “Walls of brass couldn’t hold that set of demons long in check, Listen at them, girl. Shiver my binnacle! if I ,don’t wish they were goin’ to break into where the lieutenant is.” | A light cry parted the girl’s lips at Fair- weather Tom’s reference to the missing Ameri- can sailor. ‘‘Tbhen you have not found him yet?’ she cried. ‘*T should reckon not. I know that last night ae —~~ - “se —