Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 386 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. ‘Thank fortune. I'll get in to you in a minute. I’m a thunderbolt when I’m stirred ? The Yankee sailor went up the steps a piece, then turned quickly and buried himself against the door. To his astonishment it did not yield. ‘““Pve got to havea battering-ram,” he said to the prisoners ou the inside, and up the steps he went. As he reached the floor above, he heard a sud- den growl, saw two flashing eyes, and felt the weight of a mad animal on his breast! The dead jaguars mate! ‘*] trusted the jaguar witch too far!” flashed across Tom’s brain, and the next moment he went backward down the steps, feeling for his knife while the infuriated forest cat was at work on him witb teeth and claws. It was the most exciting moment in Fair- weather Tom’s adventurous career. CHAPTER XIII. HUNTERS AT HIS HEELS. Luoxy was it for the Yankee sailor that he had a friend and ally at hand in the shape of the huge bloodhound which had guided him to the stone bouse. All at once the dog took a hand in the mad conflict going on at the foot of the door, and the jaguar was forced to loosen bis hold and to turn his attention to bis new enemy. This timely help gave Fairweather Tom a chance to get at his knife, and at the first oppor- tunity he drove it hilt deep beneath the sleek skin of the spotted terror. ‘‘That’s what you get for coming back where you had no business,” growled the sailor. ‘Mebbe your mistress is somewhere near. If she is, just let her interfere with my affairs and discover that she’s waked up the wrong gun- decker.” Tom found upon examivation that his hurts were by no means serious notwithstanding the juguar’s mad assault, ‘and assuring the two anxious men beyond the locked door that he was still in fighting condition, he started off again to find something strong enough to force the portal. Fortunately he found by aid of the lamp an iron bar with which he returned to his task, ‘*When they baffle me they’ll know it,” he ejaculated, and he went to work at once on the door, Five minutes’ labor sufficed to prove that the portal of the underground prison was not im- pregnable, and as it was forced open two men sprung into the lamplight with exclamations of joy. ‘‘By Jove! alive for a fact!” cried Tom. ‘‘ Now, sir, we'll make the sea-trail hot for Cap- tain Cutlass.” Captain Fortuno and Manton gave Tom looks of amazement, ‘*Call me a fluke if be isn’t at sea again,” continued Tom, *‘ but that’s not the worst of it. He’s gone out with his same old crew in the Ocean Huntress.” ‘** Gods, no!” cried Captain Fortuno, ‘I left him safe under the palace.” ‘* And bis twenty-six Sea Spiders in the strong prison of Cartagena,” said Manton, ‘Oh, yes; but bold such fellows long if you ean,” grinned Tom. ‘ Who rescued Captain Cutlass/—who but the jaguar woman of this rascally place?” Manton and his captain exchanged hasty and meanful glances, The latter sbut his hands till they bled. ‘‘She guarded me to that cell with her jaguars!” he hissed. ‘* Fool-like, I allowed my- self to fall into her snare; likewise Lieutenant Manton here.” Manton smiled. ‘‘ We are free now,” he laughed, ‘“‘ thanks to Fairweather Tom.” ‘But our imprisonment has given Captain Cutlass the best ship that ever cut the waters of the Caribbean!” was the quick response, ‘* Woe to that woman if Il everreach her! Once I thought [ loved her; now I know [I could throttle her.” Captain Fortuno looked like a madman. ‘We heard the guns even in our prison,” be said, ‘‘but beavens! we never dreamed that they announced Captain Cutlass’s departure in the Huntress! What ships are in the barbor?’ ‘*Only one that can follow with the remotest chanoe of success—the Pearl of Peru.” ‘*The gift of Cartagena,” said Manton. “The council will not let it go.” ‘Will not? It shall go despite forty coun- ——————————— SSS cils!” flashed the Spaniard, as he started off. **On an occasion Jike this the council sbould be in session now.” ‘* We will find them at the palace.” ‘We?’ and Captain Fortuno wheeled upon Fairweatber Tom witha sternness that startled bim. ‘I will face that council. Lieutenant Manton, you and Tom will collect jour sailors and meet me in the Water Garden at the end of an hour. By the sword of the Cid! this ocean chase shall begin ere morning breaks!” The captain of the Huntress did not give his companions a chance to reply, but left them to themselves without another word, and started toward the palace, The most eventful night in the history of Cartagena had entered upon its last quarter. Excitement had kept the people awake, and the streets were by no means deserted. Captain Fortuno the Spaniard took note of no one as he hurried along, bent on having an interview with the Council of Safety which was holding a protracted and excited session in the palace. All at once when least expected he burst into their midst like a thunderbolt, and stalked bold- ly to the center of the chamber, ‘‘T know what has happened, but I could not revent it,” be said in reply to the questioning ooks showered at him. ‘‘Captain Cutlass has escaped from the lion’s den; he has reached bis pillage ground in the best ship that ever flew the flag I serve. I have sworn that the Sea Spider shall perish in his web, that the waters shall be rid of their curse, that the crimes committed by Captain Cutlass shall be avenged on his own head!” Tbe council baving recovered from the sud. denness of the Spaniard’s appearance, received his words with a shout, ‘‘ We shall appoint you avenger,” said Major Barro, the advocate, still pale from his terrible experience in Captain Cutlass’s cell, ‘* Good!” cried Captain Fortuno. ‘‘Give me what [ want and I will throw Captain Cutlass into your clutches once more,” ‘‘ What do you demand?” ‘The Pearl of Peru—the vessel that lies equip- ped for the sea hunt under tbe guns of the forts.” The demand, astounding in its nature, seemed to drive every vestige of color from the faces of the members of the council. A grim smile wreathed the corners of the Spanish captain’s mouth while he waited fora reply. f We cannot dothat,” said the major. “‘ When we accepted the ship at the hands of our sister government, we agreed ‘that it sbould ever lie in our harbor for defense only.” Captain Fortuno’s black orbs flashed with sud- den fiercevess. “To the winds with the letter of the agree- ment!” he said, ‘*Captain Cutlass, boastful and victorious, is at sea. He has pulled the flag of Spain from my topmast and in its stead flies the pirate’s pennon! To Hades with ycur agreement! Let me cutit with my cutlass, I will answer to Peru for its violation, Give me the armed vessel in the harbor, and ere morn- ing dawns Captain Cutlass will have an ocean bloodhound on bis track!” But not a member of the council stirred, not a word answered the audacious Spaniard. ‘Then he shall be hunted for private ven- geance!” he went on after several minutes of silence. “I go witbont the sanction of the council too timid to speak when ic has been in- sulted. When I am on the seas I will forget that Cartagena has wrongs to avenge. I will think only of my own insults, and the wrongs of the gir) who transformed the Red Mogul into the Ocean Huntress. Keep your chairs, men of Cartagena, and plan against the Sea Spider; but ‘never ask Captain Cutlass again for the service of his sword!” He started toward the door with his drawn cutlass flashing back the light that streamed from the brilliant chandelier that hung above the heads of the council. ‘‘ We will buy you a ship,” ventured Major Barro, the advocate, as he Jeft his chair, with approving nods from his colleagues. ‘‘Buy one when a sea swallow rots in the harbor?” was the disdainful rejoinder, ‘‘I will put to sea in the craft that suits me best, no thanks to the timid hares of Cartagena!” ‘*We forbid you to leave the town without our consent,” said the advocate, madly. ‘Very well,” langhed the Spaniard, as he stopped at the door and with arms folded on his broad chest looked down on the council. ‘*T have faeed fiercer Jions than those in C irta- gena before to-night. Arrest me? Very well, hares of the city. Touch Captain Fortuno and you touch the Ring of Spain! The listeners recoiled in their seats, while the last sentence of the Spanish captain ended with a fearless laugh. ‘*Ho! bo! touch me, touch Spain!” continued Captain Fortuno, and with the insulting and triumphant laugh ringing in their ears, the men of the council saw the Spaniard walk out of their presence, There was a look of quick determination in the captain’s eyes while be walked from the palace with the astonished Council of Safety behind him. ‘‘There’ll be music in the air at daylight,” he laughed to bimself. ‘‘ Look out, Captain Cutlass, The bloodhounds are sharpening their teeth for your flesh,” Just before dawn the sleepy sentries on the walls of tle harbor forts thought they saw the Peruvian vessel move slowly from her old anchorage, They looked the second time, and, concluding that they were mistaken, relapsed into the con- dition of unwatchfulness. At last they were roused by a wild cheer that came up from the water that slept placidly in the soft light of the morning stars. What did it mean? . Only that the Pearl of Peru, the handsome ship intended for show, not for fight, had actu- ally crept away from their protecting guns, and was moving off with a stiff wind among the white sails! ‘¢This for the hares of Cartagena!” cried the man who stood on the quarter-deck of the Pearl and snapped his fingers at the vanishing lights of thecity. ‘‘Iam once more afloat. Captain Fortuno and his ocean serpents are on the buccaneer’s track! Ah! Manton, my boy, isn’t this glorious, and wasn’t it splendidly done?” Before Manton could reply a footstep fell upon his ears, and he turned to behold Lona Seward, beautiful and blusbing, yet with triumph writ- ten on her features. ‘* What! you here?” he exclaimed, astounded.’ ‘Why not? Isn’t this a hunt for vengeance? Have I forgotten the victim of the raft—my father? Never! I am going to be in at the death,” ‘* But how came you here?” **1 overheard your plans for the capture in the Water Garden and J beat you on board; that is all.” oF CHAPTER XIV. A DAGGER AT WORK. CAPTAIN FoRTUNAS mission to the council had failed, but the coup which followed had proved successful. The Pearl of Peru, well equipped for an ocean chase instead of rotting under the guns of the forts, had got to sea again, and the man who commanded on her decks was Captain Cutlass’s greatest enemy. The Huntress had the advantage of several hours’ start before a stiff breeze tuat sent her like a swoellow acrcss the sea, but nevertheless the Spanish captain was in ber wake, Fairweather Tom was in bis element again. ‘*T reckon t!e next time we catch the ocean outlaw, he'll not get away before I get my re- ward, eh, lieutenant?’ he said to Manton, sev- eral days after the inauguration of the chase, ‘*T hope not, Tom,” was the answer, ‘‘ Cap- tain Fortuno promises to attend to that,” ‘‘ What does he intend to do?” asked the stalwart Yankee sailor, quickly. ‘‘ Look here, Mr. Manton,” be went on before the lieutenant could reply. ‘‘ By my toplights! I have sworn that Captain Cutlass goes back to Cartagena when we’ve caught bim. I want the reward that slipped through my fingers the other night, and I’m goin’ to haveit, No s'retcbing at the yard-arm for Captuin Cutlass while I serve on this ship,” _ * You forget the girl—Miss Lona, Tom,” ven- tured Manton. ‘* Bless her sweet face, I don’t forget her fora moment,” was the prompt response, ‘* There’s two women in this game—the cne on this ship and the Jaguar Queen, One’s an angel, the other’s a devil. I know how Captain Cutlass has wronged Miss Lona—how he sent her father, tne major, adrift on the raft to die of thirst in the midst of water, She wants revenge, while the other woman would die for tbe captain, But, lientenavt, Captain Cutlass goes back alive to Cartagena when we’ve caught him, The council will make Lona’s wrongs even,” Manton made no reply, but turned his glass toward the west where the sun was sinking inte the sea as it were. The shadow of the Peruvian vessel was length- > ; : A a J " ba Pl ae wi (ee C ~ ™ aes a IF }