Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 386 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

me ee eC ee he was to have fought with that sneakin’ frog- eater, Colonel Cristo, in the Palma de Cera,” Lona seemed to recoil an inch. ‘* With that infamous schemer?” she cried. ‘Yes, How did I find itout? Well, I just choked it out of the rascal himself, When he got thar, he says, he didn’t see anything of the lieutenant, and now he accuses bitin of coward- ice, There’s just where Cristo blisters his tongue with a lie!” continued Tom, his eyes flashing in- dignantly. ‘‘ The man does not live that Roland Manton fears. I know that young Yankee like a book.’ When I yet my dog— ‘There! they’re at the prison now.” Lona would have questioned Fairweather Tom about Manton’s disappearance if he had not become absorbed in the work of the m»d- dened mob which was hammering at the prison a few squares from the spot where they stood, The night wasclear and abundant with echoes, so that every blow, every shout and curse was borne distinctly to the listeners’ ears. ‘‘They’ll make short work of the twenty-six buccaneers when they batter the doors off their hinges,” said Fairweather Tom, witha glance toward the almost breathless girl. ‘‘I wouldn’t give a marline-spike for the chancesof the whole lot. Hark! there! there, Lona! They’re inside now!” Lona Seward was seized with a strange im- pulse to rush forward and witness the crowning work of the mixed mob. Her temples throbbed, her blood rushed hot through her veins; she could not stand still. All at once the wild din grew strangely still, but the silence was rudely broken by a cannon- shot from the harbor. , It seemed to lift Fairweather Tom off his eet. ‘‘ By Jupiter! that was the Huntress’s long Tom!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ We left only five men on the ship; the rest of us have been hunting the captain. There goesa broadside from the forts. In the name of reason, what has hap- pened?” More like a madman than one possessed of sanity, the Yankee tar rushed toward the quay that fronted the two forts built a short distance out in the harbor. The whole town was echoing tothe roar of the heavy guns, and while Lona, left alone, debated in her mind what to do, the mob came rushing back, She knew at once from the cries that now rent the air that the assailants of the prison had met with disappointment, and she bad but to listen a second to Jearn its nature, The twenty-six buccaneers had effected their escape through an underground tunnel, so that the howling mob had reached an empty cell for all its labors! It now bent its course toward the harbor and Lona found herself carried along with it by an excitement which she was unable to control. All at once the head of the mob was arrested by the bayonets of a lot of soldiers, and the leaders recoiled, throwing the whole crowd into confusion. ‘‘ Ab, here you are!” said a voice at the girl’s elbow and she recognized Fairweather Tom, the American tar. ‘‘ The thing least expected has happened. By Jupiter! Lona, Captain Cutlass and his Sea Spiders are afloat again, and in the best ship that ever cut the waves—the Ocean Huntress!” “Thank Heaven! down!” cried the girl. CHAPTER XII. FAIRWEATHER TOM’S EXCITING TRAIL, Iv was startlingly true that the buccaneer of the Gulf was once more afloat, and that in the very vessel which had gained the common enemy’s first victory over him. We have witnessed Captain Cutlass’s escape from the dungeon under the palace, and in a line have explained the mystery of the empty cell that greeted the mob in the prison. Fate had brought captain and crew together among the dark thoroughfares of Cartagena, and a successful attack on the poorly guarded Huntress was quickly planned. The few sailors left on board made a weak de- fense, and the long gun which Captain Cutlass fired at the main fort told the exasperated peo- ple that he was ‘float once more! Fairweather Tom fumed, and used vigorous language when he learned that the sea pest had Outwitted them all, but the triumph he had scored in taking the Huntress was doubly ex- asperating. __ hen, too, the sailor was put in a fair way for losing the reward offered for the pirate’s cap- ture; the authorities would not like to pay it, then I can hunt him Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. ——- now that the captain had escaped, and was off again to renew his sea depredations, ‘‘Got to sea and in the Huntress! May his victory be brief,” growled Tom. ‘It shall be!” said the beautiful girl who looked into his face while she spoke. ‘* There’s no ship in the harbor capable of pur- suing him, but that one lying under the guns of the fortress, and the authorities wouldn’t let it leave for a mine of gold,” ‘* Because the Government of Peru presented it to Cartagena?” ‘*That’s it, Lona. They think she must lie thar and rot to the water’s edge. Thet’s South American spirit for you.” The girl did not speak, but looked toward the forts whose guns had ceased to waste powder on the desperate ocean outlaw who had outwitted them all, ** He shall be followed!” she said at last. ‘‘ Is the Pearl of Peru ready for sea?” ‘* She’s always ready, but there she lies,” was the answer; ‘‘there she rots day after day. She’s trim and well armed, but with no crew.” ‘With Captain Fortuno and the American lieutenant on her deck how she would fly over the waves!” ‘“Bet your bright eyes she would!” cried Tom. ‘‘ Ab! I must find the captain and Man- ton. Let Captain Cutlass go for the present. I was on my way to find a certain trailer when I ran afoul of that pesky mob which, after all, accomplished nothing.” ** Yes; they battered the prison doors off their binges.” ‘* And found the rat-hole that let the sea ver- min out,” smiled Tom. ‘* Lona, go back home and wait for me, When I come I will bave news of the young lieutenant.” ‘* Do you promise me this?” exclaimed Lona, her eyes glistening, showing the interest she took in Roland Manton, ‘“‘Tdo. The trailer I am going to get will never leave the scent until he finds the offi- cers,”’ The anxious girl held out her hand, which Fairweather Tom seized and raised to his lips, then dropped it quickly and darted away, Almost immediately a woman who had watched the pair from the shadow of a building near by, started after bir. Her footsteps mada no noise; she glided for- ward unperceived by Tom, who never looked back nor dreamed that he had a trailer. Half an hour later the American sailor ap- peared in the Garden of Palms, accompanied by a huge bloodhound. ‘* Hit the trail, and off we go,” he said to the animal. ‘‘ If we find the officers in time, an- other ship will get under way before daylight, aud the Cartagenians will be surprised again.” .After awhile the dog seemed to strike a fresh trail in the depths of the park, and started off, followed by the sailor. Out of the park he went, and down one of the dark streets of the town. ‘* Struck it finally!” cried the hero of the gun- deck, ‘‘When you get ahead of Fairweather Tom, just record it in your log, will you?” Tom was certain that the hound had struck Manton’s trail in the public garden, and was leading him to the place where the young man was. He believed that both Captain Fortuno and the lieutenant had fallen into the snares of the enemy, who was, of course, friendly to Captain Cutlass, and feared that he would reach the two men too late to render them much assissance, He pressed on, keeping as close to the dog as possibl>, and with his pistols ready for an emer- gency, Suddenly the hound came back to him with a singular cry, ‘“What’s ahead?’ asked the sailor. ‘‘ What kind o’ craft bave you _ steered afoul of ? Come on, Ry Jupiter! we'll see what it is!” Tom sprung forward, followed reluctantly by the dog, which, despite bis name, exhibited Signs of terror. ae next minute the tar came to a halt him- self, ‘“What do you want?’ demanded a_ stern voice from the step of astone house. ‘* Yousee tbat you have tracked dangerous game,” Fairweather Tom advanced a step forward before be made reply. He had indeed encountered a formidable ob- stacle to a successful hunt for Manton, for he faced a strikingly lovely woman flanked hy two jaguars who showed their flashing eyes and ferocious teeth, Tom seemed to recognize the speaker in an in- stant of reflection. a ‘The Jaguar Queen Captain Fortuno fell in 11 love with when we were here before!” he mut- tered under bis breath, ‘I haven’t tracked the wrong person down after all. Vll wager my pey phat somewhere behind her is the lieuten- ant. ‘*'You’d better go back,” said the Serpent of the Tropics. ‘‘ Why didn’t you remain on board your vessel and keep it from falling into Captain Cutlass’s hands?” ‘* Because business of importance kept me here. Where's the captain?” The woman’s eyes seemed to blaze at this. question. ‘* And the lieutenant, too?’ continued Tom, Tbe reply was a glance at the jaguars crouched at her feet. ‘Very well; Tl force my demands upon you,” grated the sailor and the next instant bis pistols covered the crouching cats, ‘“Where’s the lieutenant?’ be demanded. ‘* Answer me, or by the beard of Neptune, [lI stretch your guards at your feet unfit for ser- vice.” “Tf you dare!” cried the woman. ‘‘ Touch one of my pets and the American sailor rots where his captain is.” “We'll try it anyhow!” exclaimed Fair- weather Tom, ‘I would as soon fight my way to the lieutenant as not. I'll open the fight with my stern-chasers from where I stand. Look ouf§ my jaguar beauty!” A moment later the report ofa pistol rung out on the night air, and one of the beasts sprung up with a death-howl. The woman sbrunk toward the door and seemed about to rush into the house. ‘* Halt!” cried Tom. ‘ You’re no better than the cat I've kilied. When you rile Fairweather Tom, you shake upatyphoon. Halt! 1 say.” She turned with a half-tigerish growl and stood at bay. ‘‘ Where's the captain and his best officer?— Will you answer now?” said Tom, ‘¢ Ah! you have a good trailer at your feet,” was the answer as the Serpent glanced at the bloodhound, ‘‘ See! you bave put an end to one of the best friends I ever bad. Pedro my big jaguar is dead!” ‘* And the other one will follow suit unless I speedily find the lieutenant!” said Tom fiercely. The Serpent of the Tropics saw the blazing orbs of the man who now covered the living jaguar with bis Joaded pistol; she saw, too, the steady band that held the weapon, ‘“I'count five for you, Queen Jaguar!” con- tinued Tom, “Show me the trail to the lieu- tenant or lose the second game as you’ve lost the first. Here goes.” The Yankee began to count deliberately, and at the third numeral he saw the woman turn to the door. ke next second it flew open, displaying a room dimly lighted by a lamp that sat in a niche in the side wall, ‘* Wind him! he is in there!” she said with a glance at Tom as she pointed inside, ‘‘ Il swear, American, that the two cfficérs are under this roof,” ‘* Alive?” ‘Why not? I left them both so awbile ago,” The speaker made a movement to leave the spot, and Tom did not.interfere. ‘‘The Serpent of the Tropics will meet the jaguar’s slayer egain,” she said fiercely. ‘Allright. Call on this Yankee at any time and you'll find him the most accommodating son of a gun youever met. Take your jaguar with you; there’s a good robe on his body. Ah! off you are, eh? Good-night!” The discomfited woman made no verbal re- ply. but her looks were enough, If they had been arrows, the sailor of the Huntress would have been transfixed in the twinkling of an eye. He was eager to bound forward and search the stone house, which, like its immediate neighbors, seemed deserted, but he kept his position till the Serpent bad moved away drag- ging her dead pet after her. Then a bound carried Fairweather Tom across the threshold, and snatching the lamp from the niche he began bis search, Room after room he went through until the bloodhound which had guarded the entrance, came in and struck the trail to the underground apartment. ‘‘ At last!” cried Tom as he halted before the padlocked door. “If I find ’em dead inside, woe to the jaguar witch!” He tried the heavy door but it was solid. ‘‘ Who is there?” came from the depths of the place beyond the portal. ‘*Tom himself. Ah! lieutenant, is it you?” ‘‘ Me and the captain.” £ y. yet “ . @ } ak beg ck? % | 2 > we | > 4 Abas iv oj } 2 : [ya | =