Beadle's Dime Library No. 230 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

¢ ° foundered. ‘Your ship passed us just before the storm struck us. We madea of the spars and saved one life-boat and all of the passen- gers. We saw you again, last night, and I would bave signaled you, but the captain's superstition prevented it. He thou ou were the fabulous Flying Dutchman. To-night I resolved to ae off to you, after I found the ca superstition ptain and sailors bid fair to ex us to death. I felt sure this was a real | sb That is all.” listened like a statue, and asked: ‘*The names of your survivors—quick |” I gave them all, and he stood looking at me, as if debating what todo. At last he said, in his low, musical tones: I regret that I have made a mistake. Your is not the one I thought her. I am sorry are here. You seem to be a brave and sensible person, too much so to be left at lar oo pin you have seem. Are you a Ch “*T Hope so,” I answered, bewildered. Very good. I give you five m to say Phew a To a Mohammeda give ten, : a Bud a fifteen, to an Englishman thirty- ve secon ‘*What do you mean?” I asked, with a vague fear, as I looked at his face. Simply that it is necessary for me to kill you at on e said, quietly. ‘‘I am sorry todo it, for am not devoid of feeling, but it must “ And why?’ I asked, desperately. ‘‘ What have I done? Who are you, to take a life God or ed? Are you a man, or a devil in man’s “z He smiled as coldly as before, saying: | “Young man, do not make me despise you. Any one of my men here would kill bimself if I ordered it, and you pretend to belong to a su- perior race, as they it, Are you afraid to ?” , on “No,” 1 answered him, “I am not afraid to die, but you have no right to take my life. It is unjust. I have done nothing to harm you. I have come off to you to save other lives atthe k of my own. If you kill me, you are a oom carig of pene. wickedness, an ate will punish you for it. I suppose you mean that you will also murder those r creatures on the raft, and imbrue your hands in the blood of helpless women. you do I tell you you are a coward!” He listened as impassively as ever, and then turned to his men, saying indifferently: ‘Tell Ismay Baba to come and strike his head off. I am tired.” He spoke in Malay, and I answered in the same tongue as bitterly as I could: “ Better do it yourself. Strike me in the throat and see if | flinch, coward.” My first word made them all start, and I heard a murmur among the Malays, while the chief asked me, hurriedly: ‘“ Where did you learn Malay?” “In America, from books,” | answered coldly. “‘What matter? Go on and play the butcher. I cannot resist.” He held up his hand to his men. ‘*Tell Ismay Baba to wait. I will call him when I want him.” Then to me in English: ‘‘Come into my cabin. I must question you further.” ‘‘T answer no questions,” said I, shortly. ‘‘If Tam to die, kill me.” “Will it induce you to answer my questions if I tell yout may save your life under certain conditions?’ be asked, coldly. ‘‘ Mind, I am not anxious. Your death is the easiest wer out of my present dilemma. One thing I will tell you to reassure you—I do not kill needless- ly. Your friends on the raft are safe from me. may even help them by sending a prahu after them,” “If you mean that,” said I, ‘‘I will answer your questions. I have told you my own life is valueless to me; but theirs I wish to save if I , He bowed his head slightly, and said: **' You are a brave, and may be a useful man. Follow me.” I followed him into the most gorgeous cabin I ever beheld in my life, decked with a luxury to ' which our finest yachts are meanly plain, and he called out in Malay: ‘* Bring food and wine.” Into the cabin trooped five or six young Hin- doo girls, graceful as fawns, attired as richly as every one else on board this mysterious vessel, and set down salvers of fruit and silver pitchers of wine on an ivory inlaid table of Chinese work. Then the chief said to me: ** Are you hungry or thirsty?’ “T am both,” said I; ‘‘but I take no food while my friends are in want.” He waved his hand slightly. “T have not said eat and drink. WhenI do, if you are wise you will obey, for you will re- member Oriental customs, and know that you te my guest and sacred from harm at my hands. Now I am about to question you. On your an- swers it will depend whether I say to you ‘eat,’ or call Ismay Baba. What is your name?” ; | I told him, and he began a rigorous cross-ex- amination on my personal history, whence I came, how I bad lived, my family, my educa- tion, and what I knew. On the last point he was minute to a degree that amazed me, for I found that thisman was a splendid matbematician, a seaman, a linguist, Oriental and European, well read in a dozen lines of science, a chemist, electrician, and a most acute reasoner. ; I had graduated from Columbia College with honors, and thought myself well read, but this strange man knew itall and much more, too. W hen | bad finished at last he said to me: ‘* You are the man I want. My Malays and lascars are not navigators, and have no brains to comprehend the duties of my first officer. If I give you your life, will you become my lieu- tenant and swear to obey me in all things?” “No,” I said firmly. ‘‘I bave other duties to my kinsman, and I cannot exile myself from civilization to be any man’s slave. I am flatter- ed and grateful for your offer. It is a compli- ment from a man of your great attainments; but I have a duty to my cousin.” ‘‘ Ab,” he interrupted, briskly. ‘‘I see you fear hard service and r pay. You do not know me, In civilization I am a millionaire of Java, with arespected name. As my assistant, you may command luxury and wealth unbound- ed. If you serve me well for three years, I will make you a richer man than the whole house of Bruce, Hilton & Co. I know it well. My house in Batavia overlooks the stores of that firm. I have dealings with them. They are my factors for two of my coffee plantations, Mr. Johnston, you are throwing away, not only your life, but a splendid opportunity to make your fortune in three years,’ nists I was astounded, ~..- : ‘What is ydtiF fame in civilization?” I asked m, ‘‘and who are you here?” He smiled (end when he chose he had the most fascinating smile 1 ever saw.) “My name in Jaya is Vanderdecken. It is my legal name. I have no other. I await your answer, Mr. Johnston; and I need not remind you of what depends on it.” ‘* You say you wish me to enter your service for three years?’ I asked. ‘‘In what capacity? Is it anything illegal?’ He smiled again as he said: ** My dear Mr. Johnston, you are not wise to play with tigers toolong. Your capacity will my assistant; your wn Ay obey my orders for three years, no matter what I demand. Your reward will be riches. Now hear the other side. The penalty of refusal will be, not death—that is too merciful. I have given you my confidence. If you become my assistant, the confidence will be entire. I shall have no secrets from you. But—” Here he rose and looked down on me with a baleful light in his eyes, “You are young and in love. Is it not so? This cousin of yours, this Mamie Bruce? I saw you hesitate and blush at her name, and you evaded my questions as to her. You love her; do you not?’ I felt myself quivering, I knew not why, as he spoke. hat did he mean? ‘* Yes,” I stammered. ‘‘ My God, map, if you mean to hurt her— ” ‘*Silence,” he said sharply. ‘‘ Answer m question. No more. Do you love her?” : ‘*God knows I do,” said I, ‘“‘ but she is far above me, sir.” “Very well,” he said coldly, ‘‘so much the better. You will not object to baving her brought down to your level. If you refuse I shall lie here till daylight shows me the raft, when I shall kill all the men and women except your two relatives, Those I shall bring on board my ship, and give you three hours to consider. At the end of that time, if you do not consent, I shall kill the old mon, and give you another hour to consider. If you do not then consent, I shall execute you, and keep your Mamie, with the rest of my girls here, asa‘lave. Iam an Oriental, as you see, and I keep slaves. Now, sir, your answer — I bave dallied too long to please you. es, or no.” I was trembling and bathed in sweat. I saw, in his calm, pitiless face, he meant what he said and would do it. I could only save my cousin and the rest by my unreserved sacrifice. I rose up and bowed, saying: *T consent. God forgive you, sir, for all you have done. I wil) serve you for three years; but I shall hate you forever.” His face cleared like magic. He looked as genial as the day as he said: “You have decided wisely. Now, hear my promise, and remember that I never yet broke my word. You will serve me for three years, unless I sooner discharge you. In return for our services, I will not only make you rich, ut I will give you the woman you love. I know human nature, and especially woman's nature, and I will make your cousin love you as you love te tae * her. Now, I require of you a pledge of secrecy ane im ive obedience, Are you ready to e it ‘*T must,’ I said gloomily. “Then repeat it after me,” said he, coldly, The Flying Dutchman of 1880. eet alge ae little bell which seemed to be a n a moment the cabin was filled with wild Mala in perfect silence, They surrounded me with gleaming eyes and drawn which they held ready to strike over every inch of my y, as it seemed to me the eyes of every man watching me like a pris 7 tiger. I could not resist a slight quiver of nerves, it was so unexpected and appalling. Then the impassive chief remarked: ‘*T am about to administer the oath in Malay, after the custom of my _ Any hesitation will insure your death and the massacre of all your friends on the raft, for while my men obey me implicitly in all else, 1, like them, am subject to one law, that of self. preservation. Are you ready?” Yes,” I said, the sweat running from every re. Then he pronounced, in a loud solemn tone, in Malay, the most fearful oath I ever imagine ible, and I was compelled to repeat it after im, with those swarthy demons listening in- tently, and interjeeting at every clause the low chorus in Malay ; ‘God hears you, brother.” ; By that oath I became a passive slave in oe hands of the ; bound to do bis bidding, even to the murder of every member of mv family, to my own. self-destruction, and whe it was over at last the Malays groaned together “ God and the devil hear you, brother. God and the devil will smite you, tf you lie.” Then there was @ pause of nearly a minute, those hungry eyes devouring me still, and the chief said in Malay: “ Give him the pistol.” ee gone handed me a pistol. ‘Put it to your left arm,” commanded the chief, ‘‘ and cock it.” I obeyed. ‘‘T will see if you are a liar,” he said. sé Fire!” nani —“S en I fired. At that moment I wished the muz- zle had been at my temple. I felt ready to die. The pistol flashed. It had tut a small charge of ig which inflicted asligbt burn, but the Malays burst into an approving chorus: “Our brother is a man. He is welcome.” The test was over apparently, for they all embraced me in their Malay fashion and went out silently as they had come, when the chief said to me: ‘‘Eat and drink. First the bread, then the salt, then the wine.” He handed me a morsel of bread, and a pinch of salt, which we ate together, and then took mare a sip from a cup of some sweet resinous wine, “Now,” he said, ‘‘you are my first officer, and the men will obey you as you obey me. Your name is Hassim, and you area Malay who talks no English. Come on deck. It is time to disappear from sight.” He went out and I followed him. He called in Malay to his crew: ‘*Get the smoke bombs out, and be ready to re, the ship.” They flew at their work with the silent celer- ity of machines, and brought out a small brass mortar with a very light charge of powder, in which vow. f placed a large red bombshell of pasteboard, I bad often heard of the curious Japanese day fireworks, and recognized them at once. A crowd of men flew up the rigging and dis- posed themselves on the yards, while the rest climbed up on the rail and bent down to grasp something—lI could not see what. Tbe chief watched and waited, till a voice called out in Malay: ‘* We are ready, dread sultan!” ‘‘ Fire and strip!” be answered. Tbe red bomb flew up in the air and burst into an enormous cloud of dark smoke, while the men on the yards hauled up the network and concealed it in carefully-made strips of can- vas, that were evidently hung to the yards for that very purpose. At the same time, the men on the rails bauled up and threw in-board what I saw was only an ingenious skin of canvas painted with the fiery skeleton, while every lamp on the ship went out as if by magic, and sbe moved away with her stern to the black smoke, silent and dark. I felt the throbbing of a screw engine, but saw no smoke. My eyes were riveted on the other smoke astern, which bung in the still air for nearly half an hour. When it dissipated at last, we were alone on the open sea, and I knew that we must have vanished fiom the sight of the poor souls on the raft. What was to become of them, I thought, and would this man keep his word and save them? CHAPTER IL. THE DAYS OF MY SLAVERY. He kept his word. Captain Hutton has, I hear, recorded the peti of the Malay prahu that picked up the people on the raft, but he did not know who sent it. e Malay, Mu- da, received bis orders fror: our chief, and his story was only partly true. He, in common (ECO NMUCE GSAl Ele) JOO ee —