Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 ** But where?” ** You shall soon know.” ““ And what isto be our fate?” ‘* That you also shall know.” | ** Could the Witch aid us any?” } ‘*T can tell you nothing now.” ** But you do not head toward the Death Cav- \ | oe ern?” , ‘* No, I lead you to a point on the island where there is a cliff overhanging the sea,” ** And why there?” ‘For there it will be told you what is to be your fate!” ‘* You know it?” ae Yes.” { “The Witch will be there?” , ‘You will see,” and the giant relapsed into h silence, paying no furthcr attention to the ques- tions asked him. Leaving the ravine by a narrow cut in the | cliff they reached the plateau where had taken eine the chase by bloodhounds of Midshipman randt and, crossing it, came upon a point of the island where the cliff overhung the waters which had cut the earth away beneath by rush of tide and storm. In his arms the giant carried a bundle, which he now unrolled, and several swords were made visible. **Senors, now will it be given you to know your fate. ** See, I have brought your swords, for you will find use for them.” ** And why?” ** Fate so orders it.” ** But the Witch?” **T speak for her.” ** And what say you?” ‘‘T say that the Mother Witch has tried to keep off from you your doom; but where you three are concerned her power fails. “Your ship and your crew she can protect with her amulet, but not you.” ‘Ha! is there treachery here?’ and the cap- tain sprung forward and grasped the swords while he threw one to each of his comrades, an kept his own weapon, ut the Giant Buccaneer did not move, or cower. He simply said: ‘You are so treacherous yourself, that you naturally suspect treachery in all others.” ‘Vile slave, I believe that there is treachery, and you shall die, ‘** Come, senors, and we’ll rid the Witch of her huge slave.” With these words he advanced upon the giant, his comrades doing the same. ' But suddenly the giant placed his hand over his shoulder, and drew from its scabbard, fast- ened adown his back, a long sword. e ** Hal you are armed, are you? But we are iy three to one. Wi ‘* Come!” | The three pirate officers sprung forward to- gether, the swords of the four men came to- gether with a clash, and almost with one swoop of his blade the giant disarmed his adversaries and held them at his Sates They were astounded by his strength and ie oe and stood in silence, as though meditating ight. This their conqueror seemed to anticipate, for he said ey: . ‘**Senors, if you attempt to fly, you will be my torn in pieces,” and he pointed to the six blood- aeons which the pirates had momentarily for- \ otten, , z They saw their danger, and the captain said: ‘Well, what now, sir?” ‘¢T desire to make known the commands of the Mother Witch.” ** And we will hear them.” ‘‘T was commanded to lead you here, and to bring your swords, : “Here you are to decide which one of you will return to the schooner as commander, for the survivor of the three can alone be chief of the vessel.” ad “ Does that mean that we are to fight you? ‘* Tf so, our case is hopless,” At ‘Oh, no, you are to fight each other, and as . you are the ranking offlcer, you must first meet your junior lieutenant.” i a ee ee ee ———— == Se —— = a ae 4 s The proposition was received in silence, None of the trio had any particular regard for each other, and, where life was at e, they were each one willing to kill those they opposed . and become the survivor. " The giant meanwhile took up the weapons, _ which he had struck from their hands, and handed to the captain and the junior lieutenant ‘ their blades. a “You, sir, must wait to see which you shall meet to kill, or to be killed by,” he said to the iv) t luff. - i A silence they took their wea pea giant raising his blade, as he s . “‘ Now, senors, I am ready if you are, and you |. can cross over my sword.” . Taking their positions in silence ey raised their blades and crossed them over that held out by the Giant Buccaneer. ' Are you ready?” he asked. “Yes,” came from the lips of both. ns, and, the on one side, ” oaS ‘as mi Sil ieceetaleiiteliieeisatieransemetitdentethiainiii a Le eee — * The Giant Buccaneer. Instantly he lowered his blade and the combat was begun, and flercely. For a minute the two men struggled des- perately for mastery, each one hopeful of avert- ing the doom hanging over him. On one side stood the giant, calmly looking on, while, his hands folded upon his sword-hilt, the other pirate officer watched the deadly tira with an intense feeling of suspense and dread. ‘*Ha! I have him!” suddenly cried the pirate captain, exultantly, and he ran his sword through the heart of his officer, With a grasping of his hands in the air, as though striving to clutch the life he saw slip- ping away from him, the man fell to the earth. ‘* Now [ am’ ready, senor,” said the captain, turning to his other officer. **Do not hasten, senor, for you may need all our strength,” remarked the giant, and he al- owed a few moments to pass before he again took his stand and raised his sword. ‘** Cross above my weapon, senors!” They obeyed, the lieutenant more nervous than his captain. ‘** Are you ready?” “*¢ Am” “ec Yes.” The answers came together. ‘Then begin,” and the giant dropped his blade. As eae as before the combat began, the captain flushed with his former victory. ut he found in his adversary a more skillful swordsman than the other had been, and it made him cautious when he discovered that he could not at once find a weak spot in his guard. For some minutes he kept up the hard strug- gle, and then discovered that, though his lieu- tenant was equal with the use of a blade, he was his inferior in endurance, and already be- gan to fail in strength. Realizing this, he pressed him the harder, while, with this knowledge also coming over him, the lieutenant became unnerved, and after a few more passes, became a victim to the al- ready red-stained oo of his superior. ‘‘Now, Sir Slave, I come out the victor!” cried the pirate captain, exultantly. ** Yes, against your two officers; but you have another foe to meet,” was the cool reply. ‘‘ Ha! do you mean that I have to face you?” cried the buccaneer, in alarm, ce No. ” ** Who then?” ** Death.” ‘¢ But you said the victor over the other two was to be spared.” ‘Oh, no! only his fate was to be a little dif- ferent from theirs.” ‘¢ And what will be my fate?’ almost groaned the now disheartened man. “You can have your choice.” “ Of what?” ** How you die.” ‘* Must I die?” cc Yes.” ** No! no! no!” ‘‘ Yes, the Witch so decrees it, and—” ‘* T will see her and beg for my life.” “Tt will be useless; as you are in my power.” cc Alas!” ‘¢-'You can have your choice of death, senor.” ‘‘Ts there a choice when one has to die?” was the sad question. ‘‘You shall judge for yourself, for you can either leap from this cliff, or—” ‘‘ Great God!” cried the doomed man, as he looked down into the deep waters with a visible shudder. ‘*Or,” continued the giant, in his imperturb- able way, ‘“‘ youcan take your chances in a chase with those six bloodhounds.” In spite of himself, a ery broke from the lips of the pirate captain, and he said: ’ “@Gladly will I take the leap, when such an- other doom awaits me as you suggest,” and he moved a step nearer to the cliff, as though, ut- terly without hope, he intended to end’ his misery. But the giant checked him with: ‘* One moment, senor,” | ‘* Well?” ‘*T observe that you wear asuperb brooch of gems, a watch, and a magnificent stone upon your little finger. ‘¢ There is no need of your pint such val- uable articles to a a Ae grave with you.” The pirate chief hesitated an instant, and then cried, with exultant tones, as he sprung toward the cliff: - ‘* By Heaven! devil that you are, I will thwart you there!” With this he gave the leap far out over the cliff, while from his lips broke a burst of mock- in laughter. ith a bound the giant had sprung forward to seize him, his finger-ends just touching his shoul- der, and then, unable to recover himself, he went headlong over the precipice, following his vic- tim down into the dark rushing waters. CHAPTER XX. THE MIDSHIPMAN AND THE SMUGGLER QUEEN. A cRAFT was slowly gliding up the murky . ; ' : ~it . be, vi eo : . >* nS ees waters of the Mississippi river some weeks af- ter the parting of the Sea Owl and yacht Lady Maud in the Gulf. Upon her decks was a negro crew, and her masts, spars and sails showed that she had been under a hot fire. The taffrail had also been splintered, and shot~- marks were upon her bulwarks, too. But the one at her helm carried nothing in his quiet face to show that there had been death and peril about him. His face was less clouded than when the reader last beheld him ordering the execution of the pirate chief, Barton Keys, for the helmsman was Midshipman Brandt, Now and then a shadow stole over his hand- some, manly face, and he would glance down into the companionway as though the cause of trouble lay there. As it grew nearer the sunset hour, he called out: ‘* Here, Woods, take the helm, while I go below.” The negro mate obeyed, and the midshipman passed down into the cabin. There he beheld, seated upon a divan, her small foot beating the floor impatiently, none other than the Smuggler Queen, Rita. Her face had lost its color, her eyes burned with an unnatural light, and her lips were as stern as though carved in stone. She turned her blazing eyes upon the midship- man as he entered, but said nothing, while her hands twitched nervously. ‘‘ Lady, I have come for a last talk with you,” said Irving Brandt, in a kindly tone, **Oh, no! not a last talk, for some day you will beg me to spare you, boy, and I will be merciless!” she hissed forth, ‘*T have always found you so toward me; but I did not come to talk of the hatred you bear me, but to once more offer you freedom.” ‘* Never !” ‘* You know that, pitying Chester Granger and believing him not naturally bad at heart, I set him free when we were in Mobile, and it was to do this that I brought my negro crew with me on this cruise that others might have noth- ing to say.” **-You were a fool to set him free,” ‘““T may have been; but my intention was fo free you both. ‘“‘)} am not revengeful, but I did visit the Witch’s Island hoping to find there those who had persecuted me; but, as me know, they had fled, and finding their smack floating capsized, they have doubtless gone to the bottom. ‘*But against you I feel no revenge.” **T only wish that you did,” said the woman, bitterly. ‘“*T know that the circumstances of birth made you what you are, and I pity you.” ‘** And I curse your pity, boy,” was the savage rejoinder. ‘I wished to have you leave in Mobile, but you would not, and now I again say to you that I will set you free as soon as I reach an anchorage, for we are nearing the city and I am ready to bear the consequences of my act.” ‘IT will not accept pardon at your hands, Midshipman Brandt.” **-You will be imprisoned.” ** So be it.” ‘¢ Perhaps for life.” ae care not,” was the answer, with a grim smile. ‘*T am not anxious to feel that I have placed a woman in prison, and I wish you to leave the vessel and go your way as soon as I land you.” “Do you know what I would do?” a“ No.” “Can you not guess?” _ } ‘Tt is a matter of too little interest to me, for me to care to guess.” ‘‘Tt is a matter of the deepest interest to you, for I would kill you.” ‘‘ You have threatened that before.” ** Boy, I have sworn it. ‘I swore to kill you when I saw you kill my father, and Heaven knows I tried hard to keep my oath, ‘I loved my father devotedly, but I idolized, worshiped, Barton Keys, ‘** And he whom I so loved you have hanged. “‘T saw you place the noose about his neck, I heard you give the order to your negro crew to drag him into the air, and I saw him swinging there, betwixt the sea and sky; 1 beheld his death-agonies, and—I fainted. eo; But, boy, I vowed a fearful vow to some day sill you. : ‘Ay, and this very moment could I do it; but no, when you die, it.shall be by torture, yes, a torture that will cause you to entreat me to put a quick end to your miseries, and I will revel in your ns of anguish. _ ‘Oh, no! -you shall not die a noble death, by a bullet from’ my pistol, or by my hand driving the steel to your heart. ‘See, I have both weapons here, but I will not use them on you,” and she drew from the folds of her dress a pistol and a jewel-hilted dirk. But the midshipman did not flinch, as he gazed upon her, more in pity than in anger, Eomic (. ' ta? AL — — ee ae ee eee “ —s aa