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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1927-2-2, Page 711 APTALN q' BLOOD i.e RAFAEL SABATINI . -. ,, es1 r o °:, � C���� �� Sf r�E�rerToldl As the Spaniard *Aril in an- two wherries that undo' cover of the ger and surprise, he caught in the darkness came gliding from the cru.ek the livid gleam of ;line sword wharf, with well -greased rowlocks, which Mr. Blood had quickly un- to bring up in silence under the great ship's quarter. From the gallery aft still hung the ladder by, which Don Diego had descendedito the boat that had tak- en him ashore. The."seneev on guard in the stern, coming present- ly round this gallery, was suddenly confronted by the black shadow of a man standing before hint at the head of the ladder. It was Peter Blood. The wooden taffram was a low one, and the Spaniard was taken completely by su3prise. Save: for the splash he made as he struck the water, narrowly missing one of the crowded boats that waited under the counter, not a sound announced his misadventure'. Armed as he was with corslot, cuissarts, and head- piece, he sank to trouble thein no more. Within five minutes they had swarmed aboard, the entire .twenty of them overflowing from the narrow, gallery and crouching on the quarter-deck itself. Crouching low, they glided, noise- less as shadows, to the quarter-deck rail, and thence slipped without sound down into the waist. In the vesse'l's waist they hung awhile, un- til Mr. Blood had satisfied .himself that no other sentinel showed above decks but that inconvenient fellow hi the prow. Their first attention must be to hien. Mr. Blood, him- self, crept forward with two com- panions, leaving the others in the charge of that Nathaniel Hagthorpe whose sometime commission in the King's Navy, gave him the best tate to this office. sheathed. "Ah, perm ingles." he shouted, and flung forward to his death. "It's hoping I am ye're in a fit state to meet your Maker," said Mi. Blood, and ran him through the body. He did the thing ,pilfullyr with the combined spill of swords- man and surgeon. The man sank in a hiseons heap without so much ag a groan. Mr. Blood swung to the gill, who leaned panting and, sobbing against a wall. He caught her by the. wrist. They sped clown an alley, and white-faced, physically sick, Mr. Blood dragged her almost at as sun up the hill toward Colonel Bishop's house. He knocked, but had to knock again and yet again before he was answered. "Who is there?" The voice was Miss Bishop's, a little tremulous, but unmistakably her own. "It is I --Peter Blood," he gasp- ed. "What do you want?" At the sound of her voice, the girl Mr. Blood had rescued peened up through the gloom. "Arabella!" she called. "It is I, Mary Traill." After a brief pause the door gap- ed wide. Mr. Blood strode in fol- lowed by his distraught companion, who, falling upon Arabella's slender bosons, surrendered herself to a passion of tears. "Whom hove you here with you? What servants?" he demanded. sharply. The only male was James, an old negro groom: "The very man," said Blood. "`Bid him get out the horses. Then away with you to Speightstown, or even farther north, where you will be safe. Here you are in danger -- :in dreadful danger. The deviltry's only beginning. In God's name, madam, tako my word for it, and do as I bid you." "He . . .he saved me," sobbed Miss Traill. "Let that wait," snapped Mr. Blood, almat angrily. "Will you please call James, and do as ! say— and at once!" "You are very peremptory . " "Yes, yes," the girl cried, shud- dering. "Do as he says—Oh, for• pity's sake, Arabella." The 'horses came at list—four of them, for in addition to Janes who was. to act as guide, Miss Bishop had her woman, who.:,was not to be left behind. Mr. Blood lifted the slight weight of Mary Traill to her horse, then turned to say good-bye to Miss Bishop, who was already mounted. He said it, and seethed to have something to ads!'. But whatever it was it remained unspoken. He went off Briskly in the direction of the stockade, where his fellow-; slaves awaited him in, deep anxiety and some hope. CHAPTER IX. THE REBEL -CONVICTS Thorn were, when the purple gloom of the tropical night descend- ed upon the Caribbean, not more than ten nen on guard aboard the Cinco Liagas, so confident were the Spaniards of the complete subjection of the islanders. As a natter of fact,- whilst the main body of the Spaniards feasted and rioted ashore, the Spanish gunner ansa. his crew were feasting on the gun -deck upon the wine and fresh meats brought out to them from ashore. Above, two sentinels only kept watch, at sten and stern. Nor were they as vigilant as they should have been, or else they must have observed the Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Business Stationery printed at The Post Publishing House, We will do cgjob that will do credit to your busihess, Look over your stock of Office Stationery and if, it requires replcniehing call ns by telephone 31. The lint Publishing Noose A courtly gentleman met Colonel Bishop Mr. Blood's absence was brief. When he rejoined his :ontrades there was no watch above the Span- ish decks. Meanwhile the revellers below continued to make merry at their ease in the conviction of com- plete security. Suddenly out of an uncouth pack of savages that beset them, stepped a smill, tall fellow with light -blue eyes in a tawny face, eyes in which glinted the light of a wicked humour. He addressed them in the purest Castilian. "You wil save yourselves pain and treble' by regarding yourselves my prisoners and suffering your- selves to be quietly bestowed nut of harm's way." "Name of God!" swore the gun- ner, which did no justice at all to 110 amajement beyond expression. "If you please," said Mr. Blood, one thereupon those gentlemen of Spain were induced without further trouble beyond a insket prod or two '.o drop through a scuttle 1,, the deck below. It was soon after sunrise that the rebel -convict who paced the ,t;uarter- deck in Spanish cadet and 'head- piece, a Spanish musket en his shoul- der, announced the approach of a boat. It was Don Diego de Espinosa y Valdez coming aboard with :four great measure•, chests, containing each twenty-five theusauad pieces of eight, the eausone delivered to hila at dawn by Governor Steed. Ho was accompanied by his sot, Don Beteban, and by six mot who took the oars. Don Diego mounted 'bhe ladder and stepped upon the deck, alone, and entirely unsuspicious. Before he could even look rond, and sur- vey this guard drawn up to receive him, a tap over the head with a cap Stan bar esieiontly handled by Hag. titorpe put bion to sleep without the leant fuss. He was carried sway to his cabin, whilst the trensute elf ts, handled by the men he lead left in the boat, were being hauled to the deck. That being satisfactorily ac- complished, Don Esteban and 'the THE BRUSSELS POST fellows who had manned the bo came up the ladder, one by one, be handled with the, saute quiet cs flciency. With Colonel Bishop at {heir ilea and gout -ridden Governor .,teed si time on the ruins of a wall heehl him, suryiyo's on shoe. giuml Watched the departure of the ei;;l boats containing the weary spanis raffians who had glutted thems•l;v with rapin, murder and violence unspeakable. The boats pulled away from th shore, with their loads of 1anghin: jeering Spaniards, who were stil flinging taunts across the water a their surviving victims. They ha come midway between the whar and the ship, when suddenly the al was shaken by the boom of a gun A round shot struck the water with in a fathom of the foremost boa sencling a shower of spray over it occupants. A second shot came to crumple the boats into splinters flinging its crew, dead and living into the water. The resolute Ogle was malting exrellent practice, and fully justi- fying' his claims to know something of gunnery. In their consternation the Spaniards had simplified his task by huddliny their boats tonether. If the Spaniards understood noth- Ing of all this, the forlorn islanders ashore andenstood still less, until to help their wits they saw the flag of Spain conte clown from the main- mast of the Cinco Lieges, and the :'arse; of England sore to. its empty place. Ogle, however, continued to give proof that bis knowledge of gunnery was not of yesterday. Af-- ter the fleeing Spaniards went his shots. The last of their boats flew into splinters as it touched the wharf and its remains were buried under a shower of loosened masonry. The mystery of the succour that had come at the eleventh hour to wreak vengeane upon the Spaniards and to preserve for the island the extortianate ransom of a hundred thousand pieces of eight, remained !yet to be probed. That the Cinco Llagas was now in friendly hands could no longer be doubted after the proofs it had given. It remained to ascertain the precise identity of these mysterious saviours and do them fitting honor. Upon this er- rand went Colenel Bishop as the Governor': deputy, attended by two officers. As he stepped from the ladder in- to the vessel's 'waist, the Colonel be- hold there, beside the main hatch, the four treasure -chests, the contents of which had been contributed al- most entirely by himself. Ranged on either side, athwart the deck, stood a score of men in two well - ordered files, with breasts and backs of steel, polished Spanish merlons on their heads, overshadowing their faces, and muskets ordered at their sides. A courtly gentleman advanced to greet him—a lean, graceful gentle- man, dressed in the Spanish fashion, all in black with silver lace, a gold - hilted sword dangling beside hint from a gold -embroidered baldrick, a broad castor with a sweeping plume set above carefully curled ringlets of deepest black. "13e welcome aboard the Cinco Llagas, Colonel, darling," a voice vaguely familiar addressed the plant- er. "Peter Blood! Was it you then.. . .?„, "Myself; it yeas—myself and these my good friends and yours." "Gad's my life!' he crowed on a note of foolish jubilation. "And it at J well known," sneerer! Nathaniel to Hagthorpe, who was stan,ing by, 1'- and amongst the ranged rebi l-eon- victs sone. on, ventured to laugh. d And ,one intervened ---tile brawny 1.- one -eyed Woly i tone, lees merciful - • f le dieemee•d than his .more gentle- manly ly fellow -convict. it "String him up from the yarcl- h arm," he. cried. Mr. lllon;f turner. e, "11 you please," Wolvcrston + hi, "f conduct affairs An my own way. - That is the pact, You'll e please to remember it." Hie eyes • looked along the ranks, making it '1 plain that he addressed them .all. t "I desire, that Colonel Bishop should d have his life, One reason is that I f require him as a hostage.. If ye in - ✓ gist on hangtag him, ye'll have to hang me with him, or in the alter'- - native I'll go ashore." t, He paused. There was no en- s swer. But they stood hang -dog and half -mutinous before him, save Hag- , thorpe who shrugged and smiled wearily. Mr. Blood resumed: "Ye'll please to understand that ahnard a ship there is one captain, So." He swung again is the start- led Colonel. "Though I promise you your life, I must— as you've heard —keep you aboard as a hoseagr for the good behaviour of Governor Steed and what's left of the fort un- til we put out to sea." "But • ' "There is no more to he said, gen- tlemen. My name is Brood—Cap- tain Blood, if you please, of this ship the Cineo Llagas, ta'cen As a prize of war from Don Diego de Es- pinosa y Valdez, who is my prisoner aboard,,, The officers went, though net without some hustling, regardless of- the f the bellowings of Colonel Bishop. whose monstrous rage was fanned g with terror at finding himself at the J mercy of these men of whose cause h to hate him he was vary fully con- w ;::ons. As they were running close e to the headland east of the bay, Pe - tee' Blood' returned to the Colonel, a who under guard and panic strick- P en, had dejectedly resumed his seat a on the coamings of :he main hatch, "Can ye swim, Colonel? It's a f mercy for you I'm not by nature as M bloodthirsty as some of my friends re here. Ansi it's the devil's own lab- w or I've had to prevail upon ;hem not ,51 to be vindictive." th .It was the thought of Arabella C Bishop that had urged him to mer- cy, and had led him to oppose the Ye natural vindictiveness of his fellow- uP slaves until he had been in danger la of precipitating a mutiny. It was m entirely to the fact that the Colenel was her uncle, although he did not in even begin to suspect such 't cause, that he owed such mercy as wee now being shown him, Colonel Bishop mastered himself and rose. Peter. He lost his balance and tumbles! into the seai was with these fellows that you took the Spaniard and turned the tables Ott those dogs! As Gad's any life, you deserve well for this." ter "I mn entirely of your opinion," sod ea.•;i 141.1', Biagi. ";Phe question is rig avow well we'descrve, stud how grate- Die 1'0 shall we find you?" "Why ---his excellency si al1 'write he home 510 account of your exploit, tha m'ty'be eotne jport1014 of your " sentences shall be .remitted." boa 'The generosity of King James is net under hatches," Den Diego flank back on the co while his glittering dark yes W fixed upon the tawny fare ahs him. He accepted the situation wi the fortitude• of a fatalist. Tl light blue eye:: played over hint lik points of steel. "You are not afraid to die, Do Diego?" ' 1'he question ie offensive, sir.,' "Would you be willing, ;u t earn 11r, and lits rty--for euur self your son, and the other finatniarci who are on hoard,,, 'To earn it, do you say? Why, the service you would propose Is on that cannot hurt my honor . "Could I bo guilty of that?" pro- tester! the Captain.' "I realize gnat even a pirate has his honor. The only man among us schooled in the art of navigation is fevered, del]t- ious, in fact, as a result of certain ill-treatment he received ashore be- fore. we carried him away with us, I can handle a ship in action, and there are one or two men aboarl who can assist me; but of the higher mysteries of seamanship ,and of the art of finding a way over the tracks.. less waters of the ocean, we know nothing. We desire to make for the Dutch settlement of Curacao as straightly as possible. Will you pledge me your honor, if I roleas.s you upon parole, that you will navi- gate us thither? If so, we will re- lease you and your surviving men upon arrival there," Don Diego strode away he thought to the stern windows, "I accept," he said. nb bra,..,; ., patient, to whose condition Don ueh Diego owed his .chance of life It .. IVO • wits this sirens Jerry Pitt who east ve• the first thought of suspicion. A th trip on deck for a breath 01' :fresh le ;dr and hie navigator's interest in e the night heaven moved his to point out the North Star and to hay e, the position of the .hip to Captain Blood. But Don hie •o'.; easy ex- planation ati:faed his captor. o New to the seas of the Spanish , :Hain and to the ways of the adv.•n- e toren who ::ailed it, Captain Blood still entertained Muskies,. But the 1' i,ext. dawn was to shatter them rude- , ly and for ever. Coming on deck before the sun was up, he saw land ahead, as the WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2, 1;127, . CHAPTER XI FILIAL PIETY By virtue of the pledge he had iven, Don Diego de ''Espinosa en - eyed the freedom of the ;hip that ad been his, and the navigation hieh he had undertaken was left ntirely in his hands. He tuck his meal. in the great cabin with Blood nd the three officers electd to sup - ort him: Hagthorpe, Wolverstone, nd Dyke. That Don Diego was not playing air it was impossible to suspect. oreover, there was no conceivable ason why, he should not. "If this Ind holds," he had told them at i pper after he had announced to err their position "we should reach uraceo inside three days." For three days the wind held, and t when the third night descended on them they had still made- no ndfall. Captain Blood uneasily cntioned it to Don Diego. "It will be for to -morrow morn - g," he was answered with calm Blood gave an order. 4 ,lank was run out over the gunwale, end lash- ed down. "just take a little walk, Colonel, darling," said a smooth, mocking voice behind him. Still clinging, Colone Bishop look- ed around in hesitation. .*He cursed them aloud venomously and incoher- ently, then loosed his hold and step- ped out upon the plank. Three steps he took before he lost his bal- green depths below. When he, came to the surface again, gasping for air, the Cinco Lieges was already some furlongs to leeward. But the roaring, cheer of mocking valediction from the. rebel - convicts reached him across the wat- er, to drive the iron of impotent rage deeper into his soul. CHAPTER X. DON DIEGO Don Diego cls Espinosa y Valdez awoke, and with languid eyes in aching head, ]ie looked round the cabin, which was flooded with sun- light from the square windows as- tern. Between the pain in his head and the confusion in his mind, he found coherent thought impossible. He was beginning to torture hi; mind with Conjecture, when the door opened, and to Don Dice;e': increas- ing mystification he beheld his best it of clothes step into till cnb]n. Tia suit paused to close th door, then advanced toward the couch on rich Don Diego was extended, and sidle the suit canto an tall slender ntleman of about Don Diego's' own ght and shape. Seeing the wide rtled eyes of the Spaniard upon nn the gentleman lengtheltcci his ids. 'Awake, eh?" said he in Spanish. 'Who the devil ate von?" he ed. "And what are you doing in clothes and aboard my ship?" 'My name is- Blood -•—Captain Pe - Blood. This ship, .like this halid- e suit of clothes, is mire by ht of conquest, Just ars you, Don go, ere my prisoner." And my son, What of my son " cried out, "tie w�,. in the bunt t brought me aboard." Your son is safe.; he 1.01 bete. Os crew together with spur gun- nd his melt are slittgly hi Trone. wl in g'o ]lei sta bin str leak any 14,4 -il see "Will 1 say a prayer for your s ell?" Spaniard had promised them last night. Beating out aweather, against the gentle landward breeze he oeheld a great ship on their starboard bow, that he conceived to be some three or four miler off, and—as well as he could judge herr at that distance— of a tonnage equal if not superior to their own. Even as he watched her she altered her course, and going about came heading toward then, close hauled. "There," said a soft voice behind him in liquid Spanish, "is the Prom- ised Land, Don Pedro." He turned sharply to face Don Diego, so sharply that the sly smile was not effaced from the Spaniard's countenance before Captain Blood's eyes had flashed upon it. "What land is that?" he demand• ed. "Will you have the effrontery to tell me that is the coast of Cu- racao. That land, you treacherous, forsworn Spanish dog, is the island conviction. of Hispaniola." Captain Blood passed on, content, "Ah, perro ingles! You know too and went to visit Jerry Pitt, his much," he said under his breath, and sprang for the Captain's throat. Tight -locked in each other s amts they swayed a moment, thee: to- gether they went down upon the deck, the Spaniard's feet ,jerked from under him by the right, leg of Captain Blood. The Spaniar" had depended upon choking the life out of l;lood, and so gaining the, half- hour that might be necessary to bring up that fine ;;hip that was heating towards them. But all that Don I')i•go had accomplished was to betr'ay' himself completely. (To Be Continued). 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