Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 386 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 “‘Tbere’s no wind for us to-night,” said Cap- tain Cutlass to the men, as he stepped into one of the boats, all of which were provided with muffled oars. ‘‘ We can’t charge down upon the Spanish spawn before a brisk breeze and strike him when he least looks for us, but we can board him just thesame, The battle-cry of the Sea Spiders shall sound on his deck just the same,” The boats pushed off with but two living souls on board the Huutress, the ship’s doctor and his patient. The buccaneers were armed to the teeth, and under their mad leader were ready to board the best-manned ship that ever cut the sea, ‘‘We’re the guards left behind,” said the doctor to Colonel Cristo who satin a chair with bis arm bandaged and well dressed by the little man who had performed the same office for many others in his time. The Frenchman started and looked into the doctor’s face. ‘*Where are Captain Cutlass and bis sea crabs?’ he asked. ‘**On the track of the best hater they bave— Captain Fortuno.” ‘* Is the Spaniard so near?” *“Scarcely a mile away.” The answer seemed to convey incredible in- formation to the winged Frenchman. ‘* How long have they been gone?” he asked, say doctor consulted his watch a moment and said: ‘Thirty minutes.” A sudden light impossible to describe flashed up in Colonel Cristo’s eyes like the outburst of a volcano. ‘‘It is my time already!” he said to himself, “‘By the demons of vengeance! I will make them all sea orphans.” He lifted his left hand and for a moment seemed to measure with his eye the space be- tween him and the doctor. Then, all of asudden, his hand shot out as his body darted forward and bis fingers landed in the twinkling of an eye agaiast the target aim- ed at—the little surgeon’s throat! The attack was too sudden and fierce to be resisted, and, unable to shake off the mad clutch, the doctor went backward to the floor! Of course he found the band of Colonel Cristo still glued to his throat. Poor Doctor Santin gasped for breath and tried to tear loose the grip of the wounded yil- lain, but in almost less time than we have taken to narrate this incident, he was choked into in- sensibility, and Colonel Cristo arose panting and victorious. ‘What can’t aman with one hand do when he sets his head?’ he said aloud. ‘My dear doctor, we are the sole guards of the Huntress you say—tbe only Spiders left in the floating web! By heavens! the man of the mad cut- lass shall know that a shattered wrist’is nothing to Colonel Cristo, late of Napoleon’s Legion.” He tcok the lamp from its fastenings and left the state-room with the unconscious doctor for its sole occupant, There wasa blaze of demon furv in his eyes. Had the wound and his failure to revenge him- self on Captain Cutlass driven him mad? Spurred on by a desire for vengeance which had taken full possession of his whole being, Colonel Cristo ‘seemed to forget his wounded wrist. ae did not stop until he reached the upper eck. With one hand he loosened the smallest boat found on the davits and dropped it over the vessel’s side, where he saw it right itself in the water, ‘‘Now for the vengeance of the Cristo blood! Now for the destruction of the Spiders’ web!” He went back to the lampand made it light his way to the ship’s hold, Deep down amid its darkness he opened a door and revealed a lot of old cordage heaped almost to the ceiling. ‘‘ What is better than this?” he laughed. ‘“‘Ob, when you get ahead of a Cristo, Captain Cutlass, the moon sweats blood!” It was the ejaculation of a desperate man. All at once he raised the lamp above his head and with a cry of rage flung it upon the pile, The effect was immediate; the material caught as if it had been powder, and with a piece of burning ar in his hand, Colonel Cristo lit his way back to the deck, Assisted by the rope which kept bis boat from leaving the ship, the Frenchman lowered him- self over the side, dropped into the little craft, cut the rope with his knife and, despite his wound, pulled away. ah -by mon ami le Capitaine,” he ex- Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. claimed. ‘‘ When you beat Colonel Cristo at his own game, the moon sweats blood!” The laugh that followed was that of a man who had carried his life in his own hands for thirty years. Every minute he glanced back at the ship he bad just left. Suddenly a flame leaped above the the deck. ‘* At last!” he cried. ‘sWhen Doctor Santin wakens he will think of me!” Higher and higher leaped the flames, and while Cristo watched them he heard the dip of oars behind him, **Ab! the Spiders are coming back to the burning web,” he ejaculated. Dropping his oars he seized a pistol and waited, ‘‘ Tt is no use,” said a loud voice which he re- cognized as belonging to Captain Cutlass. ‘‘ The vessel is doomed to destruction. Spiders of the Sea, we must nut about and fight like devils for the other ship!” CHAPTER XVI. HARSH COMMANDS, It was the only alternative left the scourges of the Gulf. Culonel Cristo could see Captain Cutlass standing erect ia the bow of the boat, with the light of the burning vessel shining full on face and figure, ‘** Back and fight for another web!” he said, in tones of command to his men. ‘In yon burning ship t.retwo doomed men—Doctor San- tin and the ean villain. We can do nothing for them.” The four boats drew back from the lurid light thrown round upon the water, and waited for it to subside, Cristo turned his attention to the Huntress. For more than an hour the flames roared and cracked as they licked up the sea swallow, but it suddenly ended in the explosion of the maga- zine, which sent a shower of sparks skyward, and then settled back into darkness again. **Tf I could reach the other vessel first, 1’d in- sure you a warm reception, Captain Cutlass,” hissed the Frenchman, and he involuntarily took up the oars, A minute later, however, he relinquished them with a curse of bitter disappointment, for bis wounded wrist had swelled terribly, and the pain was excruciating. ‘Go and find them prepared, anyhow!” he grated, glancing toward the four boats, ‘*I know you'll find Captain Fortuno ready for you. Helpless now in mid-se1, among pieces of the burned ship, Colonel Cristo was obliged to settle back in his boat and calmly await events, He knew that Captain Cutlass and his Sea Spiders were creeping through the waters with mufflea oars toward the Pearl of Peru, within whose sides, as we have already said, startiing scenes had just occurred. Every part of the vessel was being searched for the wielder of the dagger which had almost put an end to two lives, The sailors were burning with revenge, and woe to the would-be assassin if their hunt should unearth him, In the midst of the search Manton saw a flame leap above the sea over their starboard quarter. Higher and higher it sprung in its efforts to touch the sky, and then the tall masts of a ves- sel became visible. The American lieutenant could not repress a start. A ship so near? It seemed incredible, and yet it was true. ‘*It is Captain Cutlass’s work!” said the lieu- fenant, to the young girl who stood beside him on the deck, watching the grand spectacle af- forded by the burning ship, ‘' We are just be- yond the rim of the light. The fire does not reveal us. Ah! the captain does not dream that we are so near,” Lona’s eyes glistened with eagerness while she listened to Manton. ‘*T wish we could strike the blow fortune is delaying,” she said. ‘*1t will fall soon,” was the answer. ‘*What makes you think so?” ‘** Are we notin the same waters with Captain Cutlass? Do we not look upon a piece of his work?” “Yes, but be may be gliding away at this moment,” ‘Or toward us,” added Manton, ‘*I bepe we are to meet!” cried the girl. ‘Yes, I invite Captain Cutlass to attack this ship. True, Captain Fortuno is at the threshold of death, but the sailors will not want for a \ X oa brave leader’ And the fair girl gave Manton a look that made him blush to the temples. ‘*] would give my sword to discover who struck Tom and tbe captain those dastardly blows,” he said, ‘‘ We havesearched every part of this ship but without result. If it contains any secret compartments, they have not been found,” ‘*Have you any suspicion?” ‘*{ cannot say that Ibave. If it had taken place in Cartagena I might justly suspect a cer- tain person.” ‘Tae woman who lured you to the dungeon?” ‘‘'Yes, the Jaguar Queen as Tom calls her. He says that she struck bim to-night, but it cannot be. We didn’t carry such a creature to sea with us,” Manton’s sentence was ended abruptly by the terrific explosion which put an end to the burn- ing vessel, and he saw Lona turn away with a deep-drawn sigh. **I wish Captain Cutlass would try bis band on us,’ he said, half under bis breath. ‘I lon to cross swords with this Sea Spider. He wil never go back to Cartagena for trial if we meet him on the water.” ‘* Thanks.” said a voice so near that Manton started. ‘“‘l never forget for a moment the man he sent adrift on the raft—my father. By that act he made vengeance the daughter’s property.” The lieutenant would have replied, but the next moment the girl had disappeared and he was alone again. ‘The captain asks for you,” said one of the crew appearing that instant at his side, ‘Conscious at last? Thank fortune!’ ejacu- lated Manton as he started below. When he entered Captain Fortuno’s state- room on tip-toe, be saw the Spaniard propped up in achair and waiting for him with eager- ness. ‘This is what I got for being at ber feet once,” he said as Manton came up. ‘‘ My boy, you will find the Serpent of Cartagena. She is somewhere on board,” ‘We bave searched the vessel thoroughly, captain; we—” ‘The match will find her!” interrupted the captain, madly. ‘‘ Fire will bring the rats from their holes.” Manvton glanced at the ship’s doctor, who stood at the captain’s side. **Captain Foriuno’s mind does not wander,” the doctor said, ‘‘No,” smiled the Spaniard, as he touched the lieutenant’s arm, ‘‘Get the boats ready. We will find the Serpent who boasts that her sting is death.” Manton, brave and obedient to a fault, did not besitate. ‘It shall be done,” he said. He had scarcely finished when several loud shouts came down from the deck, and then the loud reports of pistols f lowed. Captain Fortuno uttered a strange cry. ‘‘ Heavens!” cried Manton, leaping toward the door, ‘*The Sea Spiders are again upon us!’ | ‘‘Then let this end it forever!” grated the wounded captain. CHAPTER XVII. VICTORY AND PEACE. ‘*DOwN with the Spanish spawn!” soared sky- ward as the Spiders of the Sea, beaded by Cap- tain Cutlass, swarmed over the Pearl’s sides and rushed to the hand-to-hand combat, The unsuspecting crew rallied in a moment, and the shock was bloody from the first, as cut- lass met cutlass in the weird light of the ship’s lanterns, and the men who bated one another so cordially contended for the slippery deck. ‘“‘Death to the Water Spiders!” responded Captain Fortuno’s followers, notbing daunted by the old cry which had rung in their ears on several previous occasions, Manton reached the scene of the desperate encounter in time to see his men yielding to the impetuous onslaught of the pirates who were now without a vessel. Without a moment’s hesitation he put himself at their head, and led them in person against the common enemy. To the single occupant of the, boat some dis- tance away the noise of| the sanguinary fight was delightful music, It allayed the pain that racked his nerves, and made bis eyes glitter with delight when he imagined Captain Cutlass cut down at the head of his desperate followers. The crews were pretty equally matched in point of numbers, and each one fought with that determination which commands success, a | Vel evele) <cmrelelan eee 9g P89 ~~ rat 7 LJ 7. ‘= %