Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 386 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

‘“This vessel shali be what the young lady chris- tened her—the Ocean Huntress. I have suffered a thousand deaths since 1 was bound, for Cap- tain Cutlass’s last words told me about the fire creeping like a serpent toward our powder. When we meet the Sea Spider, let bim look to bis villainous web. We are dismantled; but what of that? I have about me men enough to man the Huntress, and the winds of heaven will blow us to the man we seek!” ‘Captain Fortuno ordered the dead tu be re- moved from the deck, and afterward the crew fell to work to repair as best they could the dam- age wrought by the enemy. They rigged up masts sufficient to carry a good deal of canvas, and at the end of several hours a breeze that seemed providential filled the sails, and drove the Huntress through the waves as if vengeance steered her. ‘* At this speed we would overtake the Flying Dutchman,” said Manton to Captain Fortuno, ‘*Tt is vengeance tbat fillsour sails,” was the reply. CHAPTER VII. CHECKED AT LAST. HAVING acquainted the reader with the some- what thrilling circumstances that made it possi- ble for the viceai Huntress to come up with Captain Cutlass, when that individual fondly believed her torn to pieces and at the bottom of the Gulf, we will go back to the two vessels, Wounded and bleeding, the buccaneer was eager to close with the Spaniard, to pay bim for the sbot which had tumbled him headlong from his rigging. Quietly awaiting the onset, the Ocean Hunt- ress with sails suddenly furled soasto slacken her speed, appeared in full view, as eager as Captain utlass for the encounter, Only three of the shots delivered by the Span- iard’s broadside had taken effect in the Vam- pire’s sides; the others had crashed through the rigging, hurling a few spars to the deck, and riddling the canvas. The broadside had not spilled a drop of blood. Captain Cutlass kept on expecting another hail-storm of iron, but what did he care. He intended to keep his vow that one of them should go to the bottom. All at once a single shot boomed over the wa- ter, and the men who were watching Captain Cutlass saw him leap into the air, and, falling suddenly back, stagger toward the main hatch. ‘* My God! the captain's dead!” cried Lieu- tenant Dramon, bounding forward, ‘‘Dead? No!” grated the captain of the Vam- pire. “Forward the death-grapple! Boarders to the fore! Get ready the grappling-irons! Prepare to board!” These commands followed one another with startling rapidity as the buccaneer who had been winded by a cannon-shot, recovered al- most before Lieutenant Dramon reached him, **The enemy’s swinging round again for an- other broadside,” said Dramon. ‘* What of it? The fishes of the Gulf will get one or both of “us!” was the retor: of the in- furiated buccaneer. ‘‘ Forward the Vampire, helmsman; straight at the Spawn of Spain?” Loud end clear from the helmsman came an ‘Say, ay. sir,” that inspired Captain Cutlass, and the Vampire seemed to shoot along the sur- face of the water. Tbe man looked like a human tiger as with bloody face, wild eyes and blood-sprinkled velvet, uniform, he stood on the deck of his famous ship, cutlass in hand, ready to lead his desperate boarders over the sides, Another minute would decide all. Suddenly the side of the Huntress again burst into flame as it were, and the Vanipire seemed lifted from the water by the balls that hit her hull, A number of iron globes swept across the deck, and the ready boarders tumbled in every direction. It made Captain Cutlass grind his teeth. The next moment the Vampire dashed into the beavy smoke, and in another second had actually reeled back, for the cannon that had opened on her sent their balls clear through her body. ‘** Death to the sea spawn!” cried a loud voice beyond the smoke, ‘* Prepare to repel board- ers! Remember the lady’s oath, Serpents of the Sea. Down with the curse of the Gulf!” The speaker was the Spaniard, Captain For- tuno, and as he finished the last ery the Vam- pire struck him aft the mainmast, and as she swung round, the buccaneers with yells of fury began to lash the two sbips together. ‘‘ Tet me lead the boarders,” said the young man who appeared suddenly at Captain Fortu- no’s side, pest.” There was noreply for the Spanish captain turned to issue another command, and Manton the young American officer sprung away. ‘* Follow me! I will lead you!” he cried to the sailors armed to the teeth and eager to be led to the combat which was to settle toa great ex- tent the supremacy of the tropic waters, Away went the whole lot led by Manton who reached the side of the ship just as the boarding planks of the pirate bridged the watery chasm between them, and a second later they were rushing to the hand-to-hand encounter. Manton’s gallantry took the buccaneer com- pletely by surprise, and the impetuosity of the young leader and bis followers for one brief mo- ment appeared to stun the Gulf pest. They bad not trod the planks a yard before they beheld Manton and bis men rushing down upon them with wild yells and sbining cut- lasses! Captain Fortuno bad attempted to forestall Manton in leadership, but tLe American was too quick for him, and the captain of the Huntress was forced to follow where be hoped to lead. Like men bent on vengeance, the sailors of the coomed ship poured over the boarding-plunks, led by the young American who was the first to drop on the Vampire’s deck, where cutlasses as keen as his own awaited bim., ‘** Death to the Spanish dogs!” rose above the decks of tbe buccaneer to be answered with: ‘Down with the Spiders of the Sea!” The shock of enconnter was terrible. Espying Captain Cutlass, Manton made a dash for him and soon had bim before bis point, ‘ Yield!” cried the American, ‘“‘I have you Where hundreds bave wanted you these many months—at my sword’s point!’ The young lieutenant saw the buccaneer's eyes flash fire, ‘* Yield to you, American cur?—never! Cap- tain Cutlass never surrenders!” ‘Then, by heavens! he dies!” cried Manton, and striking down the cutlass of bis enemy, he threw his own blade madly above his head fora deadly stroke. Ere it could be dealt, however, a stalwart figure lcaped between the two men regardless of the cutlasses, and struck down Manton’s arm. ‘‘Wairweather Tom! This is not your inter- ference!” said Manton madly, as he recognized the man who had thrown himself between. ‘‘ Never mind; this sea robber is wanted else- where,” was the reply, and a moment later the captain of the Vampire found himself disarmed and the Yankee sailor’s prisoner. Manton’s madness would have impelled him upon Captain Cutlass despite the protection alforded by Tom’s strong arms, ‘* You forget the fuse that was lately burning toward our powder,” he said to Tom, ‘1 forget nothing, Roland,” was the answer. ‘*There’s a great reward for this sea crab at Cartagena.” ‘You can never get him there.” ‘‘T'll try,” was the resolute reply. got the ship, haven’t we?” Without answering Manton turned to watch for a moment tke progress of the fight. In all his cruises and wild expioits on the wave, Captain Cutlass had never been boarded before, much less made prisoner. Desire fur vengeance bad made tigers of the Spaniard’s crew, and the vampires found them- selves no match for them, especially since Cap- tain Fortuno, « veritable lion, bad placed him- self at their head, and was directing the terrible encounter in person, The pirate crew were driven aft, but inch by inch over the slippery decks. ‘Down with the Sea Spiders!” was the cry that constantly soared above the heads of the contestants, At last the battle came to a close, and when Captain Fortuno turned to fice his enemy, he found the giant physique of Fairweather Tom barring his way. ‘‘He goes to Cartagena with us, captain,” said the Yankee sailor, with resolution. ‘‘I will defend him with my life, much respect for you.” _ Captain Fortuno stopped short and looked into Tom’s eyes; then he glanced at Captain Cutlass who, proud and defiant, stood beside the sailor with arms crossed upon his chest. ‘Well, captain, do you want to go to Carta- gena?”’ he asked. ‘*T’ll go anywhere,” was the answer. ‘I am not »fraid to meet the people of that city.” ‘“They’ve outlawed you.” ‘*So thev have! And I’ve had vengeance, too, The flag of Colombia has been lowered to ‘*T long to meet this infamous Gulf ‘‘ We've ° . . ‘ on ’ ft - | 7 ¥; oy Ae ra sh Ast 2 te ~ + a * - SP Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. iat al Piss plat TY Optio) Ped, aR Se alge? a) . ; >. 4s & de A - O A ff a ne ee ee ee + me time and again on the Caribbean. I havo bumbled the pride of their best captains, and the bluest blood of Cartagena has flowed when my cutlasses struck, Ob, no, Captain Fortuno; I’m not afraid to go to Carin ene.” The captain of the Ocea, ui ress allowed a smile to wreathe his lips. ‘Il waive all rights to pay youin the coin of the high seas,” he said. ‘* You shall go to Car- tagena, Captain Cutlass, but not on the deck of the vessel with which you have swept the waves. Your free flag falis to-night never to rise again, and the flames that have served you so often will serve Captain Fortuno with alac- rity. Holy Dios! This is an hour that tingles es very blood with triumph!” ark as a thunder-cloud grew the face of Captain Cutlass, as the Spaniard turned away. Suddenly bis hand closed on Fairweather Tom’s arm and he said as their eyes met: ‘*Give me freedom for one minute and your cutlass for balf that time,” he hissed. ‘‘ By the sea stars! I will show this Spanish hound that he shall never band me over to the ceuncil that made me an ocean outlaw!” Of course he was not accommodated in bis mad desires, and Captain Fortuno, who over- heard him, threw a sarcastic look at him, while Tom, the sailor, seized his wrist and held him back, During this time where was Manton, the young American? His first thought after the battle was of Lona Seward, and he was not long in going below in search of her. The interior of the buecaneer was new to Lim, but he soon found the cabinsand ka: cked at the door of one which he had an idea mignt be the girl’s quarters, He was not mistaken, for a quick footste came to the doorand Manton spoke the beauty’s name. ‘‘With friends again, thank Heaven!’ was the fervent response as Lona recognized the American’s voice. ‘* Indeed, sir, I cannot admit you, as Il ama prisoner in my quarters.” Manton gave vent to an ejaculation of rage, ‘‘Stand aside, piease,’’, he said, The next moment he stepped back and was about to throw bimself against the door, when a human figure fell against him, and a pair of arms went round his body. * Not yet, my young fellow,” was spoken at bisear, ‘‘I thought we had made sure of you ali with a lighted fuse, but here you are alive,” Manton knew the speaker; it did not take the look he gave him to establish his identity. Once seen, Colonel Cristo, the Frenchman, wes not likely to be forgotten, The American lieutenant’s eyes grew flashing under the colonel’s words, ‘*T am here, and I thank forture that we are face to face,” he cried, The Frenchman laughed, but the following instant his merriment grew still, for Manton had wrenched himself from bis grasp. ‘* Now, sir, we'll test our biades again!” cried Manton, and before Cristo could lift a hand he received a blow thet sent bim reeling away. CHAPTER VITI. THE LION'S DEN. THE French colonel’s reappearance had roused all the lion in Manton’s naturé, and the young American was determined to pay him for the indignities received at bis hands, The stroke dealt with the flat of the sword sent Cristo against some loose planksin the half- darkened corridor, and caused him to fa!l with a noise that brougbt several snilors upon the scene before Manton could follow up his sue- cess, They instantly threw themselves between the two men, and against the lieutenants remon- strances prevented bim from finishing the colo- nel then and there, ‘‘ Very well!” said Manton, with a look: of hatred at Cristo as he turned to the dcor of the young girl’s prison, ‘‘I trust we sball meet agrin when there will be no interference.” The look be got in return told bim tbat the Frenchman longed for another meeting, and as he was teken in charge by the sailors, Manton threw himse!f against the door and sprung over it into Lona’s presence. With a pair of bright eyes full of thankful- ness for ber deliverance, the soldier’s daughter awaited the American, and ber bappiness was increased ten-fold when sbe learned that Captain Cutlass had been taken prisoner. But her countenance fell for a moment when soe was told that Captain Fortuno had decidcd / pee: Oa cbhooks.com