Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 66 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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26 at the wheel; but before resigning it, before Captain Lautanas has shown his head above the combing of the cabin companionway, Gomez gives a strong pull of the spokes, putting the helm hard down, and brings the barque’s head up, so that the wind strikes full upon her beam. * Malditu ! Mil dem nios |” It is the gentle Chilian skipper who thus profanely exclaims. For he has received a shock of surprise, enough not only to excite but make him exceedingly angry. Soon as setting his foot on deck he has looked over the sea. And shoreward, toward land in sight. Just ahead then over port side, and again forward in the direction of the Condor’s course. What sees he there? A high promontory stretch- ing out into the ocean, which at a glance he identifies as Punta Marieta. He knows the headland well; but he also knows it should not be just there, almost but- ting against the bows of his ship. ' ** Que diablo |" he again exclaims, rubbing his eyes to make sure they are not deceiving him, then fol- lowing the exclamation with an inquiry addressed to the helmsman: ** What does this mean, sir? You've been keepin too close in shore. The very contrary to what commanded.” Then rushing aft to the wheel, he again orders: ‘* Helm down !” Striker obeys and puts the ‘helm down,” bringing the barque close to the wind as she can bear. Then the skipper, turning angrily upon him, demands to know why the mistake has been made? The ex-convict, himself not comprehending why, answers in the same _ strain. n blunt speech he tells Captain Lautanas the truth—that he has just taken the spokes in hand,and knows nothing of what has been done before. He is keeping the Con- dor on the same course she was on when he took her from the last steersman, ** Who was it?’ thunders the skipper. “Gil Gomez,” grufily replies Striker. “Yes, it was he,” says the first-mate, who has come aft along with the captain. “The afternoon watch was Padillo’s, and Gomez had the last trick at the wheel,” ‘** Where is he?” asks the skipper, still surprised and excited. . ‘*Gone forward; he's down in the forecastle!"” “Call him up! Send him to me!” A sailor glides forward ge the gangway and soon returns, Gomez along with him. The latter meets the gaze of Captain Lautanas with a look sul- len and threatening disobedience. ‘** How is this?” asks the Chilian. ‘‘ You had the wheel during the last watch. Where have you been runn to’ ‘*In the course you commanded, Captain Lau- tanas.”’ -“That can’t be, sir. If you’d kept her on as I'd set her, that land wouldn't have been there, lying al- most below our cutwater. I understand my chart too well to have made such a mistake.” IT don’t know agua about your chart,” sulk- ily rejoins Gomez. ‘* All I know is that I kept the barque’s head as directed. If she hasn't answered to it that’s no fault of mine, and I don’t much like being told that it is.”’ The puzzled skipper again rubs his eyes, and takes a fresh look at the land. Heis as much mystified as ever. Still the mistake may have been his own, and, as the relieved steersman appears confident it is, he dismisses him without further parley or reprimand. Seeing that there will be no difficulty in yet clear- ing the point, his anger has cooled down, and he is but too glad to escape from an imbrozlio, so averse to his pacific disposition. Soon the Condor, hauled close to the wind, regains her lost weatherway; sufficient for the doubling of Punta Marieta. And before the last bells of the sec- ond dog-watch are sounded she is in a fair way of weathering the cape. The difficulty has been removed by the wind veer- ing suddenly round to the srenuite poe of the com- ass. For it is now near night, and the land breeze commenced blowing off shore. Well acquainted with the coast, and noting the change of wind, the Chilian skipper knows that all danger is passed. With confidence and restored cheerfulness he returns to the cabin to rejoin his air passengers, and preside at the dinner table which on their account is this day to be so richly and proudly provided, CHAPTER LIV. PANAMA OR SANTIAGO? THReeE bells of the second dog-watch are soundin as Captain Lautanas goes down to take his seat a the dinner-table. Shortly after his disappearance from the quarter-deck the sailors are seen assem- bling on the fore. TT ou aroun e manger- ethene 5. Soon they become board, close up to the The gathering comprises the whole crew—mates and men; all except him having charge of the helm. It is one of the nameless sailors who is now eee: By the time all these get Magner it is eight o'clock. and the dog-watch ends. is night no bell an- nounces its termination; nor is any struck to sum- mon the first watch on deck. mig So there alread in contemplation of a deed very different from the ordinary duties. For the muster round the manger- board has reference to their scheme of plunder now n the hour of execution. The general plan is eg Peaapetk: them; under- 8 and agreed to, They have only to deliberate about the final details. Considering the dire scoundrelism of their design, it is painful to see the first mate, Harry Blew, in their midst, An American sailor, better might be expect- ed of him, to ay. nothing of an old man-o’-war’s- man. But he is there; and not only taking part with them, but apparently acting as their leader. His speech too ec sage | shows him to be chief of the con- iring crew. is actions also ever since the day when he signified his desire to join them. After en- tering into the conspiracy, he has shown an assiduity worthy of a better cause. His first act in backing up Striker for an equal division of the booty gave him eclut ; and the zeal since displayed by him has in- Sst nahh creased his popularity, so that he now holds first | The Specter Barque. place among the pirates, the greater number ack- nowledging his authority. If Edward Crozier could but see him now, he would never more have faith in human gratitude. Thinking of Carmen Montijo, the young officer has doubted woman without reason; witnessing the be- havior of Harry Blew he might curse man with good cause, Well for the recreant sailor, Crozier is not present to see and hear him. If he were, there would be quick death to a traitor. The young officer is far away, a thousand miles of trackless ocean between—little dreaming of the de- sign that threatens her to whom he has given his heart and promised hand. While Harry Blew is standing in the midst of men plotting ruin to her and hers! Oh, man! Oh, American sailor! Where is your cratitude? What has become of your honor—your oath? The first gone, the second disregarded, the last lewdly broken! Soon as together the pirates enter upon a discus- | sion; the question being about the place where they should land. Upon this point there is difference of opinion. Some are for going ashore at once, on the coast in sight. Others want to run on till they enter Panama Bay. At the head of those in favor of the latter course is the chief mate, who gives his reasons thus: “By running up into the Bay o’ Panyma we'll get closer to the town, and it ‘ll be easier to reach it after we've set foot ashore. Now, Panyma bein’ a seaport, and plenty o’ vessels sailin’ from it, we'll be able to go, every man his own way. Them as wants can cross over the Isthmus, an’ off on t’other side. An’ Panama bein’ a biggish place, besides now full o’ strangers goin’ to Californy, an’ some comin’ back, we'd be less likely to get noticed in the crowd. While if we land on the coast here, where there ain’t no good-sized town, but only some bit o’ fishin’ vil- lage or the like, we’d be a marked lot, an’ run the riak 0’ bein’ took up an’ put into one o' thar prisins. Just possible, too, we might land on some part that’s inhabited by wild Indyins, an’ lose not only the shin- in’ stuff, but our scalps. I've heard say thar’s the worst lot o’ savages livin’ along the coast here. An’ supposin’ we should meet neither Indyins nor whites, but find we’d chanced ashore in a wilderness covered wi’ wood, we might have trouble in makin’ our way anywhere. Them thick forests o’ the tro- pics ain't so easy to travel Parone: I've know’d 0’ sailors as were cast away perishin’ in one afore the could reach any settlement o’ civilization. My ad- vice, shipmates, is for us to take the barque on into the ba , an’ when we've got near enough the port, to make sure 0’ bein’ able to reach, then lower our boat, an’ put in for the shore; Panyma Bay’s big en- ough to give us plenty choice o’ places for what we intend o’ doin’.”’ ‘* We've heard you out, Mr. Blew,’ rejoins Gomez. “Now let me say in answer, you haven't given a single reason for going up the bay that mightn’t stand good for doing the very opposite. But there's one worth all you have mentioned, and it’s against you. While running into Panama Bay we may meet a score of other vessels coming out; we'd be almost sure to do that. And supposing one of them to bea man-of-war—a British or American cruiser say—and she takes it into her head to overhaul us, where will we be then?” “An’ if they did, what need for us to be afeerd? Seein’ that the Condor’s papers are all ship-shape, they’d have to leave us as they found us. Let them overhaul an’ be blowed!” “They mightn't leave us as they found us, for all that. As the time when they took it into their heads to board the barque might be just that when we would be leaving her. How then? Besides, other ships would have the chance of spying usin that critical moment. As I’ve said, your other argu- ments are wrong, and I'll answer them in detail. But first let me tell you all, I've got a pretty accu- rate knowledge of the coast all along here. I ought to have, considering that I spent several years on and off it, in business which goes by the name of contraband. Now, all around the shores of Panama Bay, there’s just the sort of forest-covered. country Mr, Blew talks about getting strayedin. We might land within twenty miles of the port, and yet not be able to reach it without the greatest difficulty. ee Sot too, from the savages our chief mate seems so afraid of. Whereas by putting ashore anywhere along here we won't be far from the old Nicaraguan road that runs all through the Isthmus. It will take us to the town of Panama, any that wish to go there. But there’s another town as big as it, and better for our purpose, one wherein we'll be less likely to meet the unpleasant experiences of being arrested and imprisoned, not to speak of something still more disagreeable. The place I’m speaking of is Santiago, the capital of Veragua, which isn’t over four days’ journey from the coast. And we can get to it by an easy road. But that’s not the Ligenny Bp greatest im- ortance. What most concerns us is the safety of he place we steer to. I can answer for the old town of Santiago. Unless customs have changed since I used to trifle away some time there, and peo- es too, we'll find some fellows who'll show = io ty. With the eons at our disposal—ay, the tenth part of it, I could buy up the alealde of the town, and every judge in the province of Veragua.”’ “That's the sort o place for us—the very Bowel ae achorus of voices. ‘Let us steer for 5) , eWe'll have to put about, and run along the coast till we find a fit place for landing.” “*Yes,"’ rejoins Blew, speaking satirically and as if exasperated by the majority going against him. ‘An’ if we put about here, we'll stand a good chance 0’ going esas them rocks. Thar’s a line o’ breakers all along shore far’s I can see. How’s any boat to be got through them? She’d be bilged toa sart’inty.” “There’s breakers, as you say,” admits Gomez, “but their line doesn’t run all along. I remember many openings where either boat or ship can safely pass through. We must look out for one of them.” “Vaya camarados |’ exclaims the second mate; *“we are wasting time which just now is valuable. Let’s put the Sa A ely and stand along the coast of Veragua. t’s what Gil Gomez proposes, and I second it. If you like we can put it to a te. ** No need; we're all agreed to it.” * Yes; all of us.” ai Well, shipmates,”’ says Harry Blew, seeing him- self obliged to give way, and conceding the point as gracefully as possible, “if you’re all in favor o’ landin’ along here, I ain’t goin’ to stand out against it, since it’s all the same to me—only I thought, and a think, we'd be better by runnin’ into Panyma ay.” **No, no; Santiago’s the place for us—we've de- cided to go there.” “ Then to Santiago let’s go. An’ if the barque’s to be put about, I tell ye there’s no time to be lost, otherwise we'll go sure into them breakers. As yit, I dare say we can manage to serape clear o’ them, the more likely as the wind’s been shiftin’ an’s now off shore. It'll be a close shave for all that.” ‘**Plenty of sea-room,”’ says the second mate. ** Let’s about ship at once!” “You see to it, Padillo!”’ directs Gomez, who, from his success in having his counsel adopted, seems all at once to claim command. The second mate glides aft, and going to the helmsman, whispered a word or two in his ear. Instantly the helm goes up, and the barque, paying off, wears round from east to west-nor’-west. The sailors at the same time brace round her yards, and trim her sails for the altered course, executing the maneuver, not as is usual, with a chorusing chant, but silently, and as if the ship were a specter, and the ghosts composing her crew. CHAPTER LV. GETTING READY FOR ACTION. Soon as the Condor stands on her changed course, her crew re-assembles on the fore-deck, to concert further measures for carrying out their scheme. It is already understood that they are to run alon the coast till they discover a gap in the line of cor reef, which causes breakers. This found they will lower a boat, then scuttling the barque, and aban- doning her, tow themselves ashore. The first part of this programme is now in pro- ress, the clear moonlight favoring its execution. hey are standing along shore in a course parallel to its trend. A dark band between sea and sky denotes the facade of a bold, rocky cliff, continuous along the horizon. Here and there it rises into hills, one seen ahead having the dimensions of a mountain. The barque is about a league’s distance from land; and half-way between, the breakers show their white crests, their roar sounding ominously through the calm quiet of the night. The vessel making but little way—only two or three knots an hour—it is proposed that the boat be let down at once, and everything Mes into her. On wept a tranquil sea it will tow alongside in perfect safety. As this will be so much work in advance, the measure is approved of; and the men, scattering, _ proceed to its execution. The pinnace is selected as the most suitable boat for beaching. ieee in a row by its side, two leap lightly into it, insert the plug, ship the rudder, re- ceive oar and boat-hooks, clear the life-lines, and cast off the lanyards of the gripes. The others hold- ing the fall-tackles in hand, see that they are clear for running. Then taking a proper time, they lower away. As soon as the boat's bottom touches the water, the two men in it, hauling upon the painter, whose loose end has been left on board, bring the boat abeam, and make fast under a set of man-ropes al- ready let over the side. Other movements follow; the men passing to and fro between the forecastle and companionway, car- rying canvas bags, their sea-kits, bundles of clothes, and such other of their 1 ag a as they deem necessary for a debarkation e that intended. Some loose provisions, with a ‘“ beaker” of water, are also brought, and handed down into the boat; —_ a keg containing rum, and a basket with bottles of wine. The miscellaneous PROvis is not meant for a voyage; only a stock serve for the night, which they will have tospend upon the beach, or some spot contiguous, with a surplus for the land-journey, to be commenced in the morning. . In silence, but with no great show of stealth, are all these movements made. They have but little fear of being detected, and some scarce care if they be. The only d r is from the darky, and this not much, After dressing the dinner and serving it, he has ceased to act as cook, and now pe esp the metier of steward, keeps nearly all time in the cabin, waiting on the guests at table. Only at long intervals is he seen on deck, and then staying but a short time. While he is up, the poten suspend operations, and stand innocently idle, resuming them as he again goes below. _Over an hour is spent in these insidious prepara- tions, which are at length complete. pn hy ing has been got into the boat, except that which is to form its most precious freight. And now the piratical crew again come together to consult about the final step, for the time to take it is rapidly drawing nigh. tis one so serious as to make the most hardened among them s from taking the initiative, for it is the disposal of those destined as the victims of their villainy. The general intention is understood by all, and has been tacitly determined already. The senoritas are to be and taken on shore; the other three to be dealt with in a different way. About the abduction there is no difference of opin- ion; the scourdrels are unanimous, Willing or not, the girls must go with them, whither or for what = no one has yet named. Only, there is a ac understanding that they are to go with Gomez and Hernandez, these two having all along shown a predilection, and asserted a claim which none of the others have disputed. How to deal with Don Gregorio, the skipper and cook, is deemed a more delicate question, since these are to be disposed of in a way that comes home to the conscience of those who have such. For a time they stand silent, waiting for some one to summon courage to speak. There is one who can do this, a ruffian of unmitigated ty , in whose breast stirs not the slightest throb o Tninatuity: It is the second mate, Padillo. Breaking silence, he says: * Let us cut their throats, and have done with it.” im <S (G (E(0) oe V0) — a