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The Brussels Post, 1927-2-23, Page 7MAIN °BLOOD By Ei . FAEL SABATINI sr e&est Live S oi,r Ever Told sailed directly at the Spauiar the grapnels Held the two likeanomie.Then it was set anomie. The A al's ilageInp burst into bluzo, fine seamanship and hard +i with his three ships made C Blood master of Malacaybo But, when the Spaniards tune foe shore and be gave chase, th T.HE BRUSSELS POST _,orm_ — .,,_.,,0. ,,_.w,,, .,011,,,,4,, c1 until vexatious correspondence between a vice. England and Spain. dare•- ' To satisfy King James' anxiety to and , conciliate Spain, and in response to ghting I the Spanish Ambassador•':; constunt apra.in and grievous expostulations, my Lord Bay, Sunderland, the Secretary of State, d tail Karl appointed a strong man to the fort deputy -governorship of Jamaica. This which guarded the bay and which had seemed deserted poured down a raking fire upon him and drove him in mortification and despair to take refuge in the town. The Spaniards secured themselves in the fort. With a devil's lack and clear head- ed thinking Captain Blood feinted with preparations for a land attack after he had managed to acquire a large ransom in gold from the Gover- nor of Maracaybo, and, opening a broadside, put the fort in flames Don Miguel was left to chew the bitter cud of lost opportunity. CHAPTER XVI. , , , , , • THE MILAGROSA In Tortuga, during the months he spent there refitting the titt•ee ships he had captured from the fleet that had gone out to destroy hit, he found himself almost an object of worship in the eyes of the wild Bre- thren of the Coast, all of whom now clamored for the honor of serving under him. It placed him in the rare position of being able to pick and choose the crews for his augmented fleet, and he chose fastidiously. When next he stifled away it was with a fleet of five fine ships in which went something over a thousand • men. Thus you behold him not merely famous, but r••.tlly formidacle. Three captured Spanish yessels he had re- named with a certain scholarly hum- or the Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, a grimly jocular manner of convey ing to the world the he made them the arbiters of the fate of any Span- iards he should henceforth encounter npon the seas. And meanwhile the Spnaish Ad- miral Don Miguel de Espinosa went raging up and down the Caribbean seeking his enemy, and in the mean- time, as an hors d'oeuvre to hs,vin- dictuve appetite, he fell upon any ship of England or of Frahce that loomed above his horizon. This il- lustrious sea -captain and great gen- tleman of Castile had lost his head. And so, reckless of the fact that Captain Blood was now in vastly sup- erior strength\the Spaniard sought him up and clown the trackless seas. But for a whole year he sought him vainly. The circumstances in which eventually they met are very cur- ious. On the 15th September of the year 1888—a memorable year in the an- nals of England—three ships were afloat upon the Caribbean, which in their coming conjunctions were to work out the fortunes of several per- sons. The first of these was Captain Blood's flagship, the Arabella, which had been Separated from the buccan- eer fleet in a hurricane Alf the Les- ser Antilles. She, was bfating up fur the Windward Passage honi'nl; for Tortuga, the natural rendezvous of the dispersed vessels. The second ship was the great Spanish galleon,. the Milagrosa, which, accompanied by the (smaller frigate Hildalga, lurked off the Cayntites, to the north of the long peninsula that thrusts out from the southwest corner of Hispaniola. Aboard the Milagrosa saile•l the vin- dictive Don Miguel.,The third and ' last of these ships as an English man-of-war, the Royal Mary, which was at anchor in the French port of St. Nicholas on the northwest coast of Hispaniola. She was on her way from Plymouth to Jantaiaa, and car- ried on board a very distinguished passenger in the person of Lord Jul- ian Wade, who came charged by his kinsman, my Lord Sunderland, with a mission of some consequence and delicaoy, directly arising out of that Letterheads Envelopes Billheads, And' all kinds of Business Stationery printed at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit to your business, Loolc ovee your stock of Office Stationery and bf it requires .replenishing call us by telephone 81. Tim Post P hIlsitioo Nasase strong man was that Colonel Bishop who for some years now had been the most influential clanter in Bar- bados. From his first coming to Jamaica, Colonel Bishop had made himself felt by the buccaneers, But (lo what he might, the one buccaneer whom he made his particular quarry —that Peter Blood who once had been his slave—eluded hitt ever. He confessed as much in a letter to the Secretary, of State. My Lord Sun- derland bethought hunt of the plan adopted with Morgan, who had been enlisted into the King's service under Charles IL It occurred to hien that a similar course might be similarly effective with Captain Blood. Acting upon this conclusion, Sun- derland sent out his kinsman, Lord Julian Wade, with some commissions made out in blank. The crafty Sun- derland, master of all labyrinths of intrigue, advised his kinsman that in, the' event of his finding Blood intrac- table, or judging for other reasons that it was not desirable to enlist him in the king's service, lie should turn his attention to the officers serving under him, and by seducing thorn away from him leave him so weakened that he must fall an easy victim to Colonel Bishop's fleet. The 'Royal Mary made :t good pas- sage to St. Nicholas, her last port of call before Jamaica. It was under- etoocl, that as a preliminary Lord Ju- lian should report himself to the Deputy -Governor at Port Royal, whence at need he might have him- self conveyed to Tortuga. Now it happened that the Deputy -Governor's niecethad come to St. Nicholas some months earlier on a visit to some rel- atives, and so that she might escape the insufferable heat of Jamaica in that season. The time for her return being now at hand, a passage was sought for her aboard the Royal Mary, and in view of her uncle's rank and position promptly accord- ed. Lord, Julian hailed her advent with satisfaction. His lordship was one of your gallants to whom existence that is not graced by womankind is more or lass of a stagnation, And Miss Arabella Bishop was a young woman and a lady; and in the latitude into which Lord Julian had strayed this was a phenomena sufficiently rare to command attention. On his side, with his title and position, Itis per- sonal grace and the charm of a practiced courtier, he bores about hire the atmosphere of the great "world in which normally he had his being —a world that was little more than a name to her, who had spent most of her life in the Antilles. It is not therefore wonderful that they should have been attracted to each other be- fore the Royal Mary was warped out of St. Nicholas. Each could tell the other much upon, which the other de- sired information. Considering how his mind was obsessed with the busi- ness of itis mission, it is not wonder- ful that he should have come to talk to her of Captain Blood. Indeed, there was a circumstance that direct- ly led to it. "I wonder now," lie said, as they were seunterfng on thsi poop, "if you Lord Julian was seeking to counfor•t and etioourago her. ever saw this fellow Blood, who was at ono time on your uncle's planta- tion as a slave." "I saw,. him often. I knew hint ;Cry well," "Ye don't say!" and came to lean beside her, "And what manner of mate did you find bin?" "In those days I esteemed bit tl - for an unfortunate gentleman," "You were aec!uainted with - his story?" "He told It me. That i.; wiry I esteemed hint --for the calm forties nude with which he bore adversity, :inure then, considering what he had done, I have almost come to doubt if what he told me of himself was hues" "If you mean of the wrongs hr• suffered at the hands of the Royal Commission that tried the' Monmouth eepols, there's little loupe that it would be true enough. He was nev- er out with Monmouth; that is cer- tain. He was convicted on a point of law of which he may well have been ignorant when he committed what was construed into treason. But, faith, he's had his revenge, after a fashion." "That," she said in a small voice, "is the unforgiveable thing. It hang destroyed him—deservedly." "Destroyed him?" His lordship laughed a little, "Be none so sure of that, He had grown rich, I hear, He has translated, so it is said, his Spanish spoils into French gold, which is being treasured up for him in France. His future father-in-law, M. d'Ogoron, has seen to that," "His future father-in-law?" said she, mud stared at him round -eyed, with parted lips. Then added: "M. d'Ogeron? The Governor of Tortu- ga?" "Tire same. You didn't know?" She shook her head without reply- ing. After a moment the spoke, her voice steady and perfectly controlled. "But surely, if this were true, there would lave been an end to his piracy b ynow. If he . . . if he loved a woman and was betrothed, and was also rich as you .say, surely he would have abandoned this1des- perate life and . . ," "Why, so I thought," his lordship interrupted, "until I had the explan- ation. D'Ogeron is avaricious for himself and for his child. And as for the girl, I' mtold she's a wild piece, fit mate for such a man as Blood. Almost I marvel that he doesn't mos- ey her and take her sailing with him: It would be no new experience Inc her. And I marvel, too, et Blood's patience. He killed a man to win her." "He killed a man for her, do yon say?" There was horror now in her voice. "Yes—a French buccaneer panted Levasseur. He was the girl's lover and Blood's associate on a venture. Blood coveted the girl, and killed Le- vasseur to win her. Pah! It's an unsavoury tale, I own. But men live by different codes out in these parts . . „ Site had turned to face him. She was pale to the lips, and her hazel oyes were blazing, a sshe cut into his apologies for Blood. "They must indeed, if his other associates allowed him to live atter that" "Oh, the 'thing was done in fair fight, I am told." "Who told you?" "A man who sailed with there, a Frenchman named Cahusac, whore I found in a waterside tavern in St. Nicholas. Ile was Levassettr's lieu- tenant, and he was present on the island where the thing happened, and when Levasseur was kilted." "Anel the girl? Did ncr say the girl was present, too?" "Yes. She was a witness of the encounter. Blood carried her off when he had disposed of his brothel, buccaneer." "And the dead man's followers al- lowed it?" He caught the note of incredulity in her voice, but missed the note of relief with which it was Ment. "Olt, I don't believe the tale. T won't believe it!" "I honor you for that, Miss Bish- op. It strained my own belief that sten should be so callous, until this Cahusac afforded me the explanation. Blood purchased their consent, and itis right to carry the girl off. Be Paid them in pearls that were worth more than twenty thousand pieces of eight," .His lordship laughed again with a touch of contempt, "A hand- some price!" "Your Cahusac seems to ]tate been accurate enough, Alas!" "You ave sorry, then?" "As we a t 1 r'e sorry o soar of the death of one we have esteemed, Once 1 held him in regard for an unfortunate but worthy gentleman. Now . Such a man is best for- gotten," And upon that site passed at once to ,peak of other things. The friendship, which it was her great gift to comsnan'�l in all she met, grew steadily between those two in the little time remaining, until the event befell that marred what• was promising to be the please -weed state' of his lordship's voyage, The ma rplat was the maul -dog Spanish atrlrnfral, tvhonr they en. (unl tte•rc•d 1321 '.ho second day nut, when b::lf way across the Chill of sereno.:, A ,et from the Milgoo's.,, en the folimvfturtnornin A41.1, 1 to oyal Mary's forecastle and lube ttlu halt' the ship almost betters th field had stnr•ted. Before the nu. el' the Royal Mary had :•:rover(• from their consternation, their cap tabu killed and a third of Thai: num her with her the h' d rocking helplessly In a crippled state the Spaniards hoarded hoe, In the captain's robin, under the poop, to whieh Miss Mellon had been conducted for safety, Levi Julian was seeking to comfort and encour- age her with assurances that all would yet be well, at the very mom- ent when Don Miguel was stepping aboard. Fortunately, M!(ss Bishop did not appear to be in desperate need of the poor comfort he was in case to offer. The cabin done flew open and Don Miguel strode in, Lord Julian span round to face. him and clapped a hand to hi asword, The Spaniard was brisk and to the point. "Don't be a fool," he said in his own tongue, "or you'll coma by a fool's end, Your ship is sinking. Come, all of you, aboard my ;hip," Don Miguel invited them, and strode out. As for the survivors in that ghastly shamfles that had been the Royal Mary they were abandoned by the Spaniards to their own resources. Let them take to the boats, and if those did not suffice them, let them swim or drown, If Lord Julian and Miss Bishop were retained, it was because Don Miguel perceived their obvious valise. He received them in his cabin. Lord Julian commanded himself with difficulty to supply theist. Then haughtily he demanded to know, in his turn, the name of their aggressor. "I am Don Miguel de Espinosa," he answered. `Admiral of the navies of the Catholic King." w n snip Yawn ng ane in vain for a year, Don Miguel chan cru upon mm in this unexpec.e 1 a entirely fortuitous .fashion. It w aloe the way o1' Fortune that I)o Miguel should thus creme upon t Arabella at a time when, separated 1 from the rest of the fleet, she wise , •alone and at a disadvantage. It looked to Don Miguel as if the luck which so long had been on lllood'e side had et let veered in his own favor. Miss Bishop, newly risen, had come out to take- the air on Ili' quor•ter•-deck, with his lordelt!o in at- tendance, when she beheld th-, big rod =hip that had once boon the Cinco Lieges out of Cadiz. The sight thrill- ci nor curiously: it awoke in hes nu tip,ifting sense of pride the;; took no account of danger to herself ir, the encounter that must now be inevi- table. Beside he on the poop steal Lord Julian, But he shared none of her exultation. He had been fa hie first sea fight yesterday, and he felt that the experience would suffice him for a very considerable time. "Look," said Miss Bishop, point- ing. Did she realize, he wondered, what was afoot, Her next sentence resolved his doubt, "She is English, and site comes resolutely. on. She means to fight." "God help he, then," said his lordship gloomily. "Her captain must be mad. If they could so easily blow the Royal Mary out of the water, what will they do to this vessel? Look. at that devil Don Miguel, He's ut- terly disgusting in his glee." Of necessity now, under diminish- ed sail, the advance of the Arabella was slower; but it was none the less steady. She was already within shaker shot, and they could make out the figures stirring on her forecastle and the brass guns gleaming on her prow. The gunners of the Milagrosa raised their linstocks and blew upon their smoldering matches, looking up impatiently at the admiral. But site admiral solemnly shook his head. "Stab me!" said his lordship. .``This Englishman may be gallant enough to accept battle against such odds. But there are times when dis- cretion is a better quality than gal- lantry in a commander. Presently you will suffer me to place you under cover." +aa .,._.w,, TIiTJRSDAY, FEB 28rd, 11)27 C. o Ahem rolled out, his lorded(' i:aw, of• her red hull an ahead, beyond the. English chip and more sharp] became more and as to larboard of her,two sharply defined bare els swept heavy splash- nearer with poles all save for n +es, Almo.et at once two euceeesive the spread of canvas on her sprit. he spurts of flame leapt from the lir:.a. (To Be Continued). cannon on the Arabella beakeaar', and sc e rly Mei the wat ,efts; on the _ .. poop, earn the shower of epray where DIMNESS CARDS one. of the :duns ;,tr•uelc the water near them than. with a rending era.eh and a shiver that shook the Miba.,n,•rse from °tr•tn to stern, the other e•un" to ledge in her f•ot et.le.'� 'Po avenge that blow, the Halal€ga blazed at the Englishman with both his forward guns. But, even at that short range (between two and three hundred yard„) neither shot took if rt. At a hundred yards the Arebella's forward guns, which had meanwhile been reloaded, fired again at the Mil- agrosa, and this, time. smashed eller bowsprit into splinters, so that for a moment she yawed widely to port. Don Miguel elven profanely, and then, as the helm was put over to swing her back to her course, his own prow replied, But the aim was too high, and, whilst one of the shots tore through the Arabelia's shrouds and scarred her mainmast, the other amain went wide. And where the smoke of that discharge had lifted the English ship was found alrnost between the Spaniard,, her bows on line with theirs and coming steadily on. At last the Arabella was right between the Spanish ships, prow to poop and poop to prow. Don Miguel spoke to the trumpter•, who had Fire, automobile and Wind Ins. mounted the quarteddeck and stood COMPANIES now at the admiral's elbow. The man For Brussels and vleinity Phone 64 raised the silver bugle that was to give the signal for the broadsides of both ships. But even as he placed it to his lips, the admiral seized his arm to arrest him. Only then had he per- ceived what was so obvious—or should have been to an experienced sea fighter; he had delayed too long and Captain Blood had outmaneuvered him. In attempting to fire now upon thel;nglishman, the Milagrosa and her consort would also be firing into each other. Too late he ordered nae helms- man to put the tiller hard over and swing the ship to larboard, as a pre- ( D. M. SCOTT iminary to maneuvering for a less /,,per Jr�rop�rn Yl�1'�'L'�,�r�, r,�ei� . mpossible position of attack. At that PRICES MODERATE very moment the Arabella seemed to Far references oonsult any person whose sates xplode as she swept by. Eighteen Ihareofficiated at. Phone laze uns from each of her Hanks emptied themselves at that point-blank raucs T• T. NP RAE "Will you tell me, then, why 'you behave like a damned pirate?" Lord Julian asked. "It will cost you dear! "All things are possible. Meantime it is your own Iive.s that will cost you deur. Colonel Bishop is a rich man; and you, milord, are no doubt also rich. I will consider and fix your ransom," "Look," said Miss Bishop, pointing, "she is English, and she comes re- solutely on." "Anti you have the imprudence to call yourself the Admiral of the na- vies of the Catholic King1" stormed his lordship. "It is that I treat you English heretic dogs just as you English heretic doge, have treated Spaniards upon the seas, you ropbers and thieves out of hell. I have the honesty to clo it in my own name, but you, you per- fidious, beasts, you send your Captain Bloods, your Hagthorpes Hari your Morgans against us and disclann re- sponsibility for what they do," "Captain Blood and tate rest are not admfaals of England!" cried Lord Julban, "Ave they not? How do I know? How does Spain know? Are you not liars all, you English heretics?' • "Sir." Lord Julian's voice was harsh as a rasp, his eyes flashed. In- stinctively he swung a hand to the place where his sword habitually hung. Then he shrugged and sneer- ed: "Of course," said he, "It sorts with all I have heard of Spanish hon- or and all that I have see not yours that you should insult a man who Is unarmed and your prisoner-," The admiral's face bant.rd scarlet. He half raised his hand to stribcc. And then, restrained, perhaps, by the very words that had cloaked ti.itc rc- torting insult, he turned on his heel abruptly, and went out without an- swering, ¶ihe Milagrosa, with her consort. the Hidalgo, rolling after nee•, steered n, south by westerly course, then veer- ed to the southeast, round Cape Tie 'boron, and thereafter, standing well out to sea with the land no morn than a cloudy outline to larboard, she headed tlir•eetly east, and so ran straight into the arras of Captabi Bleed, who was malting fa `the lX antl-, ward Paireen;•e. That hormonal Parte ot ernes 1 P morning. u' my g ionto powder stirred in in swstematicnlly hunted his enemy �HE Industrial Mortgage and Savings Company, of Sarnia Ontario, aro prepared to advance money as Mortgages on good lands. Parties desiring ,Honey on farm mortgages will please apply to Jatne4 (:QWatt, a+enforth, erns, who will ter Hash rotas and oilier pat Giealare. Tho Industrial Mortgage and Savings Company C. C, RAMAGE, D.D.S., L.D.S. BRUSSELS, ONT, Graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons and Honor Graduate Uni- versity of Toronto. Dentistry in all its branches. Office Over Standard Bank, Phone 200 WM. SPENCE Ethel, Ont. Conveyance, Commissioner and C. J. Agent for The Imperial Life Assurance Co. of Canada and Ocean Accident Guarantee Corpora- tion, Limited Accident Insurance, Autom•ebile In- surance, Plate Glass Insurance, etc. Phone 2225 Ethel, Out. azzonr . 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