Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 386) (1884 12 16)
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SECOND EDITION. B) VE Ce ae? oy yg, wlalalalalalalalataaL alla S : s AME \\ over SICA Jie if: TA NY pUsLy | Milt iil bagi | lest | Sra Lawes Stel $2.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright, 1884, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, Single PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS Price, : Vol. XV. Number. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. ; 5 Cents. No. 386. CAPTAIN GUTLASS, Te ocean smoER; "Sanu ‘oe eS weiD.. CO. Faia ey ee (CAE AUTHOR OF ‘PLUCKY PHIL,” ‘ ARKANSAW,” ‘‘ BILL BRAVO,” “CAPTAIN APOLLO,” ‘‘ CAPTAIN BULLET,” ‘OLD FROSTY,” ETOC., ETC, 4 4 “" / oe *“y AM HERE NOW, MURDERER!” RUNG OUT A CLEAR VOICE AND THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN GIRL THREW HERSELF BETWEEN CAPTAIN CUTLASS AND THE TRAITOR PASSENGER.
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s 9 . Captain Cutlass, the pasts t 2 Ae r al o a Ocean Spider. Captain Cutlass, THE OCEAN SPIDER; OR, The Bueeaneer’s Girl Foe. A Vale of Tropic Seas and Shores. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF ‘ BILL BRAVO,” ‘‘OLD ECLIPSE,” “CAPTAIN BULLET,” *‘ THE TEN PARDS,” ** PLUCKY PHIL,” ‘‘COOL SAM AND PARD,” ‘‘ VELVET FOOT,” ETO., ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. THE GHASTLY CRAFT. Onz almost starless night, near the close of the last century, a trim vessel bearing Spanish colors, was making ber way in a northeasierly direction across the Gulf of Darien. She seemed uninhabited, for not a sourd in- dicative of human life arose above her decks, and the dark figures of the watch were not dis- tinguishable. : Those were dangerous waters and perilous times for certain ships, and especially for those foolhardy enough to fly the Spanish flag or the emblem of the Colombian confederation, to- ward whose shores, though far—far away, the solitary barque was headed. She cut the waters of the Gulf like a thing en- dowed with life, and scudded on as if propelled by supernatural powers, All at once there rung out the piping voice of the starboard watch in the accustomed cry of **Soip ahoy!” and a minute later a man, who seemed to have risen out of the floor, appeared at the watch’s side. ‘‘Her light’s dead ahead, sir, Mr. Manton,” replied the sailor, in response to a hasty in- i **T did not ery out until I had satisfied Manton, who was a very young man and god looking, bad already turned from the watch and was regarding ,the star-like object which, to quote the sailor, danced like a lan- tern or a lighted buoy on the darkened water. For several minutes the scrutiny went on, and it was evident, from the workings of the yours man’s countenance, that he was trou- ed, “That light is too low in the water to be at- tached to a ship’s mast,” he said at last, uncon- sciously speaking aloud, “*T don’t know, sir,” said the watch, quickly. ‘*They’re up to all kinds of tricks in these wa- ters, you know.” ‘*Do you call that a trick?” Manton had whirled upon the sailor, and was looking him in the eye. **T would not like to speak positive,” was the answer, ‘'Do you not think we are gittin’ onto it? At this speed, unless one of us wears, we will run it down, an’ then, sir, we will know what it means—mebbe to our cost!” The last words were spoken in tones too low for Manton’s ear. He looked at the dancing light a few mo- ments longer, and then spoke suddenly to the watch. **T do not like to disturb Captain Fortuno for nothing, yet, yon light seems to possess some importance. What would you do, Tom?’ The sailor looked astonished. “You're next to the captain on board the Red Mogul,” was the reply. ‘‘I never give ad- vice to officers, because—” ‘Because they ought to possess judgment enough to advise themselves, eh?” smiled the young man, *“Thet’s it, Mr. Manton.” «Shen Pll waive my commission for the time, Tom. What would you do? Would you rouse the captain, when that light might prove of no moment whatever—” **T wouldn’t,” was the interruption. “‘I’d wait an’ see for myself first; we'll run afoul of it before long. As you have said, it hangs too low to be suspended to a mast, yet—” ‘“*A buccaneer trick, perbaps?”’ “They’re cute fellows, lieutenant, an’ they hate the flag we carry as Satan hates holy water.” Lieutenant Manton, who was not only an American, but second officer of the ship, turned from the watch with a smile for his observa- tion, and again scanned the strange light with increased interest. When seen by Fairweather Tom, the Yankee watch of the vessel, it was dead ahead, b within the last few minutes it had altered its position, as if the wind had driven it from its course, but there was still a fair chance of the Red Mogu! runuing it down. Lieutenant Manton had evidently taken the sailor’s advice not to disturb the captain until he had inquired further into the true character of the light, for he had folded his arms and was watching it intently. A few days before the Red Megul had left Porto Bello bound for Cartagena, the most im- portant maritime town of Colombia. Her captain, Carlos Fortuno, a Spaniard, and a man who was noted for his fearlessness, had made the same voyage a number of times suc- cessfully, and that when a score of other ves- sels, less fortunate, had been caught and burn- ed by the buccaneers who infested the Gulf, and whose hatred of everything Spanish was in- tense. Nobody but this same Captain Fortuno pos- sessed the courage to make such a voyage un- der the Spanish flag, and his success led many to believe that his ship bore a charmed ex- istence, and that his bravery was respected even by Captain Cutlass, the most celebrated and merciless of all the buccaneers The state of the times of which we write was not propitious for water travel, but Captain Fortuno’s success had disarmed fear to some ex- tent, so, that of late, his state-rooms, of which he had but three in his little craft, were gen- erally occupied. Lieutevant Roland Manton had served awhile in the then youthful American navy, but love of adventure had carried him to distant parts of the world, so that when he fell in with the cap- tain of the Red Mogul, he found aman after his own heart, brave, fearless and generous, and from the hour of their meeting almost he was Captain Fortuno’s second officer, Wherever he went, went also Fairweather Tom, the Yankee sailor who had united his fortunes to those of the young lieutenant as if some link of relationship bound them together, Tom had served with credit on several Ameri- can privateers during the war for independence, and on board the last one he first met the Red Mogul’s_ young officer, then a cannon boy, whose life he afterward saved, to gain his ever- lasting friendship, This was the link that united the weather- beaten tar to the handsome young man just in his twenties, and as fearless as a lion. _ Let us go back to the pair watching the danc- ing light from the deck of the Spanish ship. ‘**Don’t you see, sir, that we’re bound to run afoul of the light?” suddenly said Tom, disturb- ing the lieutenant’s close scrutiny. “That we will. By Jove! it has suddenly be- cone motionless on the water,” “ What, sir! cast anchor?” **Tt looks like it.” Fairweather Tom stepped to Manton’s side, and looked at the light which did not seem more than a quarter of a mile frcm the ship. ‘Stopped it has, by my toplights!” he ejacu- lated. ‘Tf we had a boat, Mr. Manton—” ‘“ We'd board that craft, eb?” ‘*That’s about it.” ‘* Let us run her down.” There was a smile at the corners of Manton’s mouth as he submitted the hazardous proposi- tion to his companion. ‘* Without informin’ the captain?’ asked Tom. “Why not? Am 1 not captain of the Red Mogul now!” “Sartinly. It’s no big vessel, anyhow, but may be a piratical trick. It’d do me no,good to split ber amidships an’ send the the sea vam- pires to the bottom. Run herdown? The man at the wheel is Porto Bello Jack, an’ he’d run the devil down!” Manton laughed lightly as he left the side of the watch and stepped toward the man at the wheel whose eyes recognized him, and twinkled merrily as he came up. “lve watched the lightall along lieutenant,” he said to Manton. ‘“* Have you made it out?” ‘Not exactly, Jack. Can you run it down?” ‘“‘Ay, ay, sir,” was the instant reponse in tones that attested the sailor’s eagerness, ‘‘ But won’t it waken the lady in the state-room?” ‘‘ Not if we merely graze the strange craft,” said Manton. ‘‘I don’t want a fair collision.” “T understand, lieutenant, an’ if I don’t per- form my duty to your satisfaction, toss me into the first shark-bed we make.” Manton kuew the man at the wheel and hastily gave him afew instructions which he deemed necessary, then went back to Fair- weather Tom. “The thing still sits the water like a sleepin’ gull,” said the wateb. ‘It basn’t moved a fvot since you left. What will Porto Bello do?” ‘*He will touch her up as we go by.” oe Good 1” A moment later the Red Mogul answered the wheel and veered slightly, then shot straight as an arrow at the light about ten feet above the water. Manton and his companion rushed to the rail- ing where thy hastily took up positions and held their breath. The lieutenant had taken the precaution to draw a pistol, for be cid not know what kind of foe might be encountered, and ‘he leaned over the railing with the cocked weapon in his sis, hand, anaged by the sailor at the wheel, the ves- sel cut through the Gulf, rapidly lessening the distance between ber and the stationary light. “Now we hit him!” suddenly ejaculated Fuirweather Tom. ‘By Jebosapbat! lieuten- ant, he’s only a shell!” A. shell? Lieutenant Manton of the Red Mogul made no reply. ‘ They had reached the sije of the singular craft, and the prow of the Spaniard had grazed it vengefully flinging it from under his keel, as if he spurued to run a helpless obj: ct down. The next moment a wild cry rose from the old sailor’s throat, ‘“ My God! look at the fellow, lieutenant!” he eried, ‘It?s only a raft with a mast and a lan- tern, an’ a corpse for its captain!” Lieutenant Manton stood speechless at the rail, his face devoid of color, and his eyes ready to start from his head. , In an instant, a flash of time, as it were, be had seen all. pi Bhi A rough raft about twenty feet square, with @ mast in the center; a light hanging from the mast about twelve feet above the planks, and above the light still the sorry remnant of what had once been a sail. But this was not all. A buman being was lashed to the mast—a man, naked from bis waist up, with his arms lashed above his head, and with the terrible stare of death and pain in his eyes. The light showed this ghastly sight to the two men leaning over the Red Mogul’s railing, but only for a moment, yet that was enough. In enother minute the ship had passed the spot. Manton wheeled and started toward the helmsman. : ‘Put about, for God’s sake!” he cried. . ‘Ay, ay, sir!” ; Tn an incredibly short space of time the Red Mogul came dashing back to the scene of the terrible sea sight. “It is gone, sir,” said Fairweather Tom, look- ing into Manton’s face, and speaking witu feel- ings of relief. ‘he young lieutenant made no reply, but looked ahead. a The Red Mogul came back over the same ground, but the lantern, the man and the raft had disappeared! : ‘““By heavens! I’ll fathom the mystery,” cried Manton, turning below. ‘Ill break the cxp- tain’s slumbers if he shoots me for it.” CHAPTER II. AN OCEAN MONSTER. CapTaIn ForRTUNO was already awake, there- fore the young American lieutenant did pot in- eur any risks when he went below. Porto Bello Jack had struck the raft bard enough to send a shiver throughout the Red Mogul, and sufficiently hard, also, to disturb sound sleepers. Manton iv a few words acquainted the Span- ish captain with what had taken place, ; ‘“Tt’s a pirate’s vengeance,” said Captain Fortuno between his teeth. ‘I do not know who the man is, neither doI care. By beaven! if this is Captain Cutlass’s work, I'll go twenty miles out of my track to find him.” The two men went up together, and a minute after reaching the deck boats were lowered, and the men of the Red Mogul were clambering down over her sides, } : ‘Captain, the lady of the state-room,” said Lieutenant Manton, touching the Spaniard’s arm. * T can’t go below now—” 7 ‘¢ But she is here.”
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— Captain Fortuno turned quickly, to find him- self face to face with the most beautiful passen- ger he had ever carried, Rather tall, elegantly formed, like one of gentle birth, with clear features, large black eyes and a wealth of black tresses, Lona Sew- ard, as she called herself, stood before the Spanish captain. Sbe had taken passage at Porto Bello bound ' for Cartagena, where her father, av adveptur- ous American, held an important command in the Colombian army. Although but in her twentieth year, she had the stately dignity of one more advanced, and when she approached Captain Fortuno those who saw her stepped courteously back. ‘*T was suddenly awakened awhile ago,” she said. ‘‘ The vessel seemed to have struck.” ‘* So it did—a piece of floating wood,” smiled the captain. ‘‘I assure you it is nothing, lady.” The girl’s eyes wandered to the men rapidly leaving the ship to fill the boats lowered to search the waters for the mystery which had just been run down. ‘‘This is no place for passengers,” said Cap- tain Fortuno somewhat ‘sternly as he avoided the girl’s gaze, ‘“‘ For me it is,” was the quick answer. ‘‘ Cap- tain Fortuno, [ ask permission to.remain here awhile. I hada terrible dream just before we struck the floating wood. I dreamed that the best friend I have on earth had fallen into the hands of Captain Cutlass, the Vampire of the Seas, and that he had been treated with the greatest barbarity by that fiend, who has sworn to plunder Cartagena.” aptain Fortuno burst into a loud laugh. ‘* When he does that, lady, the stars will fall!” he cried. ‘‘ Why, he couldn’t plunder the Red Mogul. Don’t let your dream disturb you. Lieutenant Manton, you will conduct the lady to her state-room.” The young American stepped forward, but the fair passenger gently waved him back. ‘Pardon me, if I insist on remaining here till your search ends.” she said, addressing the Spanish captain. ‘‘The winds. will completely restore me, besides—” She was interrupted by a shout that came up from the waters below, and, without replying, Captain Fortuno stepped to the ship’s side. * Fetch it tol By Jove! hyer’s a man tied to the mast. Dead asa mack’rel! Lay all hands on now, an’ pull for your lives!” Everybody on the ship’s deck heard these words, and the heart of more than one must have stooc still. ‘‘ Lady, the men have found something which you might not wish to see—a corpse Jashed to a piece of timber,” said the Red Mogul’s captain rather brusquely as be wheeled upon the beauti- ful passenger. ‘‘ My lieutenant will accompany you below. Here, Mr. Manton.” ; Captain Fortuno spoke English with only a slight accent, although his dark face and glit- tering black eyes betrayed his nationality. ‘No! L remain here!” persisted Lona, firmly. “‘T have witnessed scenes of terror before. You may not know, Captain Fortuno, that I accompanied my father through two cam- paigns.” “Then you can look at what my men have found in the sea,” and the Spaviard turned away to give orders for the corpse to be cut from the mast and lifted on deck. Five minutes later amid profound silence, so far as human voices were concerned, the half- naked and stiffened body of a once handsome man of middle age was brought over the ship’s side and laid on blankets on the deck, Captain Fortuno took a lantern and held it over the face. ‘‘ Madre Dios!” he ejaculated with a quick glance toward the girl. ‘In the name of God! who did this?’ Then, before he could be restrained, he sprung erect and shouted in thunderous tones: i. Opes the arms-chests and set the Red Mogul in fighting trim! Praise God that we may meet the Vampire of the Sea before we see our homes again!” The men started back and stared at him as if they thought him suddenly bereft of reason. Lona the beautiful passenger started toward the body. ** Don’t look at it now, lady!” exclaimed_the 8 anish, captain springing after her. ‘‘ Holy Mother! it is no sight for fer!” But the the girl escaped his outstretched band, being too agile for him, and the next mo- ment she was looking down on the corpse. All at once a piercing cry, a shriek, parted ber lips, and instead of starting back she flung herself upon the body. Captain Cutl ‘‘Father! father! In the name of Heaven, what fiend’s work is this?” she cried, The men drew back and Captain Fortuno knit his dark brows and looked on without a word. Lieutenant Manton stood spellbound. He could not believe that Lona Seward had found dead on the Red Mogul’s deck the father she expected to meet alive in Cartagena, It was a strange tableau, that presented in the light of the sbip’s lantern on the deck, the breathless, speechless and sympathizing crowd, and the young girl clinging to the corpse of the eeeee so unexpectedly and terribly encoun- tered, For several minutes not a sound broke the weird stillness that had fallen over the scene. The men looked at their captain and saw his eyes light up as with lightning flashes—that was all; he did not move. Allat once the girl stood erect and wheeled upon the Spanish captain. ‘*Do you recognize the fiend by his work?” she asked, pointing down at the dead. ‘* Ask me if I know a Toledo blade when [ see it,’ was the reply. ‘‘ We all know who ties his prisoners to a mast and sets them adrift dn a raft.” ‘Name him.” “Captain Cutlass.” ‘‘ Then, in the presence of high heaven and before my fatber, I swear to hunt this Ocern Vampire down, All my fortune shall be spent in the hunt if necessary. I will not enter home until I haye settled with him. What is this vessel worth? I wanta sea-hound cf my own!” Captain Fortuno was silent but only for a moment, ‘The Red Mogul belongs to you from this hour, lady,” he said. ‘Captain Fortuno you can command for any purpose. His men are your slaves, Sentissima! you can make them your ocean bloodhounds if you want to. What say you, men?” A cheer that shook the vessel’s timbers was, a response; it made the girl's eyes ash. ‘*The Red Mogul frém this hour becomes the Ocean Huntress,” she said. ‘* There are trails on water as well as trails on land. Captain Cutlass has made a foe who will never leave him until he floats over the sea he bas cursed, the prey of the vultures of the Caribbean! That man I boped to greet in Cartagena, but he has met me—dead! My dream! my dream! Did I not say that I dreamt to-night my best friend had fallen into the clutches of Captain Cutlass?! My father was my hest friend.” The girl bad scarcely ceased when a startling ery rung from several throats at once, ‘Ship—ship ahoy !” Captain Fortun® and his startled crew turned toward the starboard watch from whence the cries bad come. “Ship aboy!” rung out again. “My God! the monster is upon us!” At that instant there loomed up before the eyes of all in the weird lantern light and not five rods distant, the figure of a gigantic ship, It came from the darkness that lay beyond the Ocean Huntress, and was rushing forward with the certainty of doom, The collision could not be avoided, and the terrible situation held spellbound the Spanish captain and those about him, he charging ship dashed into the light like a thunderbolt, and crashed against the sides of the Huntress with a force that seemed to crush her in! Almost everything on deck was wrenched loose and every buman being was lifted from the planks! It was a terrible moment, With hardly a moment’s warning this water monster had risen from the waves, as it were, and thrown himself upon the unsuspecting Spaniard. ‘‘ Boarders to the front!” thundered the voice of a stalwart man who, standing on the prow of the water monster, looked down on the scene of confusion occasioned by the collision. “Captain Cutlass!” cried the Spaniard. ‘‘ Ser- pents of the Sea, remember the lady’s oath!” A wild cheer was the response as the crew of the newly christened Red Mogul rushed to the arm-chests. Lieutenant Manton sprung to the young girl’s side and before she could remonstrate lifted her from the deck and started below. ‘The battle is no place for you now,” he said toher. ‘‘The weapons of our men will avenge the Ocean Vampire’s crimson deed,” He reached the door of one of the three state- ass, the Ocean Spider. 3 rooms and was about to enter when it flew open and a man came out, ‘*Heavens!” ejaculated Lona. ‘‘Jt is the other passenger, Colonel Cristo. He has been ip my room, too!” The following second fetched Manton and the second passenger face to face with scarcely five feet between them. They bad met before, during the voyage, but only casually, and now the eyes of both men flashed. ‘* What has happened?” growled the colonel. “Enough,” was the answer, ‘* Captain Cut- lass is boarding the vessel!” Colonel Cristo seemed to recoil an inch. “Then,” be suddenly laughed, ‘‘ then we will be bis guests in a few minutes,” ‘* Never!” cried Manton. ‘‘ By the water gods! this ship shall never succ” ™) to him, Here’s your room, miss. I'll go bach Qad lend wh Ps to your service,” e saw the young girl cross the threshold of her state-room and then turned away. Colonel Cristo, tal), dark and flashing eyed, awaited him twenty feet from the spot, Manton laid bis hand on his sword-bilt as he went forward. “ That’s right, boy,” said the passenger, draw- ing his own blade, ‘‘She’s a pearl of pearls, You’ve fought at your captain’s side for the last time!” CHAPTER III. THE VAMPIRE’S VICTORY. MEANWHILE the tumult of desperate battle between the crews of the two vessels, brought together as we have just degtribed, was raging above Manton and his confroiiter, Directed by the captain of the buccaneer who stood among the rigging above his prow, tbe ocean scourges had made the two ships fast, and had laid the boarding-planks safely, despite the furious resistance of the Spaniard’s crew. Then it was that Captain Cutlass descended from his position and threw bimself in front of his men as he sent forth the signal to board, Captain Fortuno and bis men had already re- covered, and the pests of the sea found them- selves gallantly resisted by men as dauntless as eben eek: “Stand your ground! Down to the fishes ee the water vampires!” shouted the Span- iard, ‘* Death to the Spanish spawn!” cried Captain Cutlass, and his followers as they endeavored to obtain a foothold on the Spaniard’s decks, Urged to desperation by the fate in store for thim should they be overpowered, the crew of the Ocean Huntress fought as men never fought before. Cutlass met cutlass in the terrible encounter, and pistol flash answered flash in the sickly glare of the ship lanterns that flickered here and there, Never before had the piraté of the Gulf met with such resistance, but it only hightened his mad desire to conquer in the end, His crew outnumbered the ore that opposed him, and having fought often hand-to-hand on slippery decks. be possessed a great advantage over Captain Fortuno, But for all this, the conflict remained for a long time undecided. Back and forth swayed the two factions fight- ing like tigers of the jungle, and crimsoning the deck of the attacked ship with hot blood, Captain Fortuno attempted to reach the chief buccaneer, Captain Cutlass, but each time strong arms and red cutlasses interposed, and he was frustrated. At last the combat drew toaclose, but not until both sides, worn out with it, panted for breath and rest. Knocked senseless by a blow on the head, the Spanish captain lay against the mainmast, but not alone, He was surrounded by men from both crews, some dead, others dying—all terrible evidences ‘ fone of the flercest sea-fights that ever took place, Captain Cutlass stood erect, the victorious lion in the contest. He wasa powerful map, pbysically, and strik- ingly handsome. He wore no hat of any kind on this occasion, therefore, the long black locks that were known wherever his name was mentioned, fell un- secured around his ample shoulders, He wore a close-fitting yellow jacket that glittered with a profusion of silver braid, and pantaloons of dark green which reached to the knees, where they were confined with silver buckles, Silk stockings, which here and there showed
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¢ ‘ y y k “J if 4 4 y t : { ny Bo. B 3 } 11 ee ie: a e Ta q ay hue! ee ¥ ’ “is - “ oy Ae i ke thus was Captain Cut- lass, and be stood on an elevated part of the Vampire’s deck beside Colonel Cristo, into + hos» hands he thrust an el-gant sea-glass as he fin-~ ished. The Frenchman took the proffered ins’ ru- ment, and swept the sea in every quarter b for: he replied. “T see nothing,” he said at length. beard no explosion lost night.” ; “True; but the wind that struck us shortly after the separation. continued, as you know, untilan hourego. For awhile last night the keel of the Vampire scarcely seemed to touc's the water. Do rot think that my match failed to burn to the powder stored in the Spaniard’s magazine. It has never failed me befere; it did its duty last night. Have no fears, colone|.” “ Pears?? echoed Colonel Cristo, with a Jeugh. ‘““Why should | have fears? Lieutenant Mar- ton, the young American, was a half-urco - scious prisoner in the cabin when we parted. company with the Red Mogul.” ‘¢ And he shared the fate of the rest.” ‘““Certainly. Then why should I have fear?” Captain Cutlass did not speak for a momect. ” Row did the lady pass the night?” be asked. ‘Not very well, I think.” “She doesn’t think very well of you, colonel?” he observed, with a smile. Under his mustache the Frenchman bit his “ee But Wwe ip. ee And not very well of you!” be suddenly re- torted, looking into the captain’s face. ‘Of course not,” was the cool rejoinder. ‘She holds me responsible for the death of the man whose vote outlawed me.” ‘* Her father?” ‘“Yes, Why doesn’t she like you, colonel.” “ll be banged if I know,” growled the Frevchman, “T got acquainted with her dur- ing her stay in Porto Bello. Her black eyes in- fatuated me,” “« And you were at her feet before you knew it?” ‘* Mon Dieu! how could I help it? It wasn’t my fault.” Captain Cutlass smiled. ‘ “‘T did not carry my infatuation to a pro- osal, but I suppose it would have come to that if she had not started for Cartagena ratber suddenly. Of course I suddenly discovered that I had business there also, and Captain For- tuno sailed just at the right time to suit me.” “Did she meet the American lieutenant of the Red Mogul on board that vessel for the first time?” asked the buccaneer, ‘*T think so.” ‘* And it was a case of love at first sight?” Colonel Cristo seemed to recoil a pace. ‘© Love?” he echoed as his brows darkened. ‘¢ Who says she loves him?” “Tt looks very much that way to me,” was the answer. ‘At any rate, she takes a good deal of interest in him. They may not have met before, but they cennot have been entirely unconscious of each other’s existence, Back of his drooping lashes Colonel Cristo’s: eyes flashed madly as he looked seaward, cau- tiously watched unawares by the man at his side. ‘¢ Well,” he growled under his breath. “If she loved him, the devilish vengeance of Cap- tain Cutlass bas stepped between.” ‘“‘This reminds me that I have not seen this beautiful Colombiin pantheress since she has cooled down,” said the buccaneer suddenly. “T believe I will go down and look at her in daylight. She’s calm now, isn’t she, colonel?” “Ves, as calm as you would expect a woman to be on the ship of a man whom she calls the slayer of her parent.” Kd Captain Cutlass laughed in a manner calcula- ted to cut bis companion to the quick. ‘* Keep my glass and watch for a sail till I re- turn,” he said to Colonel Cristo. ‘I will not romise that you will catch sight of the Red Mpeuts but you may make out a good chase.” Before the Frenchman could return the sea- glass or make a reply, Captain Cutlass was moving amy ty aps ‘Tam still near that beautiful girl if I am under your flag!” he sent in a hiss after the buceaneer. ‘‘Insult her or refuse to land us both in Cartagena, and you will find in me, Captain Cutlass, afoe worthy of your steel. Eighteen years’ service in the Frencharmy have. taught me to fear no man.” The-captain of the Vampire disappeared while Colonel Cristo watched him, and the French- man turned uneasily toward the sea, — The vessel was bowling along through the waters of the Gulf under easy canvas, and. making good headway. { “f ; ee ie 2
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Baylight bad broken upon the waves once more, and a brilliant glow along the eastern horiaon told that the sun would soon show him- self above the burnished rim, All around the sea was lovely in varied colors produced by the strengthening light, but not a sail was visible through the elegant glass used by the Vampire's ill-bumored passenger. The buccaneer brig was the only moving thing on the surface of the water, and it looked lone- ly amid the loneliness of the sea, ' “Pd like to know what’s going on below,” said the Frenchman, as he abruptly closed the glass and threw a quick glance toward the ladder. “Fortunately for youj/Captain Cutlass, the girl is unarmed and I am not near to perform the service I performed last night, Confound it! why didn’t I let ner get even with you?” rtd Colonol Cristo had followed the buccaneer captain below he would have seen kim advance straight toward the well, almost luxuriously- furnished room to which Lona Seward had been conducted on her arrival on board the Vampire. There was a certain eagerness in the captain’s eyes that seemed to quicken his steps, and when he reached the door of the room first mentioned he bestowed several light raps upon it. The response was the immediate approach of some one on the inside and the next moment the door opened, and the buccaneer stood face to face with the Pearl of Cartagena. Traces of a restless night just ended were clearly visible on the beautiful girl’s pale fea- tures, and her eyes lit up suddenly as she recog- ae the man to whom sbe had just opened the oor. **Do you want to enter here?” she asked, as she held the door partly open, though her form stood between Captain Cutlass and the interior of the cosey little cabin, ‘‘ You are master on this ship. This room even is not mine,” The buccaneer was taken aback by the ap- parent resignation in which the girl’s words were spoken, He had expected to have her fly at him like a tigress, but the torture and grief of a single night had subdued her. **T came hither to see you, and I will enter,” he said, and the next moment he had crossed the threshold of the cabin and the door was closed bebind him. Captain Cutlass, a tiger of blood whenever he led his sea scourges over an enemy’s deck, ap- peared a different man in the presence of the American girl, He looked into her dark eyes, and instinctive- ly took a backward step. ‘*Stay, since you bave come,” she said witb a smile that mystified him. ‘* Captain Cutlass, | am unarmed and your prisoner, not your pas- senger. Listento me. There is coming for last night’s work a day of vengeance whose retri- bution will make the heavens dark, You say you will land me in Cartagena, but I will not stay there,” It is your home,” *“Nay! My home is on the sea—on your pillage-ground!” the girl retorted quickly. **The drama which opened with a dead man lashed to a raft will close with a scene more startling than that.” “Then, by Jove! I had better not Jand you at Cartagena!” cried the buccaneer, ‘‘Please yourself. I need not be consulted,” said Lona, ‘‘I care not where you land me, or whether you decide to carry me with you wherever you sail the waters in search of hu- man prey and golden treasure. The end will be the same, Your decision, whatever it is, will not abate my vengeance one jot! TI believe that you are not afraid to convey me to my old home,” ‘*No! I have sworn to plunder it.” “YT know that, and the man you sent adrift on the raft had sworn also that your attack should end your career.” Captain Cutlass smiled as the recollection of his inhumanity came back to him, “*What took my father from Cartagena?” asked Lona eagerly. “Ido not know. Theship that carried him was bound to Porto Bello.” ‘‘He was bastening to me!” exclaimed the girl, and she took a mad stride toward the buc- ecaneer: “And you stopped him!” For a moment she stood before the Vampire’s captain, all the revenge of her nature boiling in her bosom, then she turned suddenly away. **Go! leave me!” she cried, ‘The planks you tread groan under the weight of your crimes, Take me to Cartagena, or to some lone island in mid-sea—1l care not where; I will live for vengeance. Down upon your head, Captain a Captain Cutl Cutlass, os of the tropic seas, I call the ven- geance of Heaven long delayed!” She looked like an insulted queen of tragedy in the presence of the buccaneer. Her look and quivering finger were enough to make him recoil. ‘IT will send the colonel down to you,” he said smiling. ‘*Do! Throw into my cabin a nest of ser- pents; only leave me yourself. As for Colonel Cristo, I will welcome him, Always welcome to a lady is the man she loves.” Why did Captain Cutlass start at the last sentence? Could it be that Lona Seward loved the dark- eyed Frenchman? No; she was trying the buccanecr, He did not stop to irritate her further with his presence, but hastily left the cabin, to hear the door shut madly behind him. ‘What! has he gained her heart for all?’ he said to himself as he walked away. ‘* By the heat of Hades! I will see who wins in this ocean game of hearts.” Three minutes later be appeared on deck, and in his blind rage almost ran against the colonel, ‘You are under arrest!” he thundered, as Colonel Cristo turned white. ‘‘Go to your cabin and remain there. If you show yourself pete of it, I'll hang you at the Vampire’s yard! These ferocious sentences seemed to glue the bloodless colonel to the floor of the deck, “In the name of heaven, captain, what have I done?” he stammered, \ ‘*You’ve done enough!” was the flashing retort. ‘* Yonder’s the ladder, and you know where the cabin is. Here, Lieutenant Dramon, accompany this Paris edition of treachery to bis room, and place a guard over him, He'll be lucky if he ever gets to attend mass in Carta- gena,” Colonel Cristo did not move till the hand of the Vampire’s lieutenant touched him; then he shook it loose, ‘*T demand to know—” **You demand on this ship?’ was the inter- ruption. ‘‘To the cabin with bim, Mr. Dramon, and then superintend the construction of a raft!” Th heart of the Frenchman sunk within im. CHAPTER V. A SPANIARDS COMPLIMENTS. THE sun rose higher and higher, burnishing the waves that danced about the Vampire's keel, and lending to them a glare that dazzled the eyes. Toward evening the wind, which had been fresh and bope-giving, suddenly died away, and the sails of the buccaneer flapped no longer around her masts. Instead of night bringing on a new breeze, it brougbt a dead calm, so that the ocean pest lay steady in the moonlight, while Captain Cutlass, in no good mood, cursed the unpropitious hour, The calm became so monotonous as the hours crept on that the crew grew uneasy and more than ever superstitious, Captain Cutlass, in his angry mood, drove every one below, and took his station on the quarter-deck with a night-glass in band. Alongside of the Vampire rested a rather singular craft about twenty feet square, with an upright mast in the center. It was a raft which was rough and had been newly constructed. **T won’t send him adrift till a breeze strikes us,” murmured the buecaneer captain as he glanced down at the raft as idle as his own ves- sel in the water. ‘‘ He'll curse a blue streak and probably beg, but what of that? She has been foolish enough to declare that she loves him, and that’s enough. When they get ahead of Captain Cutlass they get up before day- break,” “Sail bo!” rung out from the crow-nest over- head so suddenly that the Gulf buccaneer started and threw a quick inquisitive glance upward, “Sail, the deuce!” he growled. ‘This calm extends for miles,” ‘Sail ho! off the starboard quarter!” was the answer, **Do you see it?” “* Ay, ay, sir.” Captain Cutlass turned his glass in the direc- tion indicated by the watch, and swept the vast stretch of sea that lay before him. ‘Can you make her out?’ he sent up to the watch, ** Not yet.” ‘Does she bear toward us?” A- F) a. ay bi ve in Fe teen, ‘wie 5) .s —— oer — cin abe ee ee ass, the Ocean Spider. 5 eee “She seems to be making dead toward the Vampire,” was the answer. Before Captain Cutlass could reply, a puff of warm wind struck bis cheek and the sails flut- tered as they were partly filled by the breath, “That's what brings her on if she bas the ad- vantage of the wind,” he said. ‘‘ What course marks she now?” “The same as before.” The buccaneer did not quit his tracks, but stood still and scanned the sea over his star- board, anxious to see the sail which had been re- ported by the watch. He did not think fora moment that a vessel could be bearing down upon bim with the speed indicated by the man in the cro’-nest, His name had terrorized not only the entire Gulf, but the Caribbean and the cities on the shores of both bodies of water. He had been hunted, but not lately. More than one chase after him bad ended dis astrously for his enemies, and he bad added new power to the prestige of bis infamous name, Yet, here was a ship reported to be bearing down upon him, a ship unrecognized in the fan- tastic moonlight that painted with silver the crests of the waves brought into being by the wind which had just sprung up, Jt was enough to render the buccaneer a trifle uneasy. “What is she now?” he sent up to the watchin anxious tones after a minute’s silence on bis part. ‘*T can’t make her out yet.” ** Not yet?” Captain Cutlass bit his lip behind his last words, and began to ascend to the lookout, **T’ll name her,” be said, almost savagely to himself. ‘I don’t claim to have night-eyes, but [ll make her out all the same!” He reached the lookout’s side, and gazed over his outstretched arm which pointed in a norta- westerly direction across the sea, ‘““We’re moving just a little, captain, bat that shipis actually driving before the wind,” said the sailor, Captain Cutlass made no reply for a moment. ‘By Jehu! sbe will run afoul of us if she keeps on that way,” he suddenly exclaimed. ‘Our sails begin to answer to the breeze that sends her along. We sball kave a brush with some one within thirty minutes.” Captain Cutlass finished his last sentence ab- ruptly and scrambled down on deck, where he found himself face to face with Lieutenant Dramon, an athletic fellow who would have been handsome if bis one eye had not had a greenish glitter like a cat’s, “Station the gunners and open the arm- chests,” be said to the officer. ‘‘ We'll have an- other tussle within twenty minutes,” “With whom?” ‘* Heaven knows, and I don’t care!” The lieutenant walked away, and once more Captain Cutlass turned toward the strange sail which seemed to be in league with the super- natural powers so rapidly did it approach, He could see the masts outlined against the moon, and now and then the night planet seemed to be blotted out by a sail, He saw the boarders reach the deck and station themselves ready to obey bis command, and at each heavy brass gun on the starboard side, stood men whom he could trust. The silence of death reigned on board the Vampire, and the men said not a word when they saw Captain Cutlass swing himself to his accustomed place among the rigging in the row, : ‘*She comes on like a man rushing straight to doom,” he said between his teeth as he turved to the strange ship now distinctly visi- ble and bearing down upon him as if deter- mined to strike him fairly regardless of conse- quences, , ‘*Ready down there, all of ye!” he sent down below. ‘‘ When I give the signal open on the sea fool with every availabie gun, and if that doesn’t stop Lim, we’ll blood his decks!” A moment Jater the lookout overhead uttered an exclamation which found an echo on Cap- tain Cutlass’s lips, ‘““By Jove! she wears! She will pass us, crossing under our prow unless she veers again!” ; The words of the lookows seemed to infuriate the buccaneer. ‘What! is the stranger going to escape us?” he cried, ‘Am I going to miss a brilliant op- portunity to show another sea-fly that my flag still rules the warm waters! Ready, down there!” ‘‘ Ay, ay; ready it is, sir!” came up from the JNA
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Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. The strange craft was now but a little ways from the Vampire, so near, indeed, that Cap- tain Cutlass could see that it was near his own size and similarly built. It was a moment of intense though suppressed excitement. The gunners stood ready with matches heid a few inches from tbe touch-vents, and the boarders, stripped to the waists, held their cut- lasses ready for the expected onset. Another minute would decide the question of superiority. On, on came the stranger without a hail, but one was forming on the lips of the buccaneer. Clutching a pistol in the hand that did not clutch the ropes, he leaned toward the ship icles a wild glitter of fight in the depths of his orbs. “Ship ahoy!” rung out in clear and distinct tones from his throat. ‘‘ Who are you?” At that moment, as if driven forward by the breath of some sea monster, the challenged vessel reached the Vampire and was passing on under her very prow as it were. Captain Cutlass caught sight of a number of ie on the stranger’s deck as he issued the call. He saw one rush toward him pistol in hand, and heard the answer to his hail. “This is the Ocean Huntress! pliments, Captain Cutlass,” At the same time the heavy pistol of the speaker shot upward, and the last word was followed by a flash and a report. The next instant the figure of a human being swayed to and fro among the Vampire’s rig- ging, and while the crew stood spellbound about the guns, it dropped with a dull thud upon the deck! Several men sprung forward and bent over the buccaneer. ** Riddle him!” be hissed. Captain Fortuno and bis accursed ship! him to the bottom of the sea!” It was too late; the supreme moment had passed, and the Huntress—if Captain Cutlass had not mistaken the stranger’s identity—was riding the sea some distance away. ‘By the stars! he shall pay for his shot!” continued the buccaneer, who seemed to be seriously wounded by the shot which had tum- bled him from the rigging. ‘Bring him to with the long Tom! Perdition shall welcome this Spanish dog before day!” The stranger was still in sight, and a good target for an experienced gunner. “ll bring him to!” growled a lank fellow whose skin was the complexion of a Malay’s as he bounded toward the long chaser which was — above the decks on a movable plat- orm. He was instantly followed by several of the crew who, with many an oath, belped him to bring the gun to bear on the ship, then—a loid report broke the sleeping echoes of the moonlit sea, and those who watched and listen- ed heard the crash of the heavy shot in the side just above the water-line, and saw the next mo- ment a dark gap where the well-aimed shot had struck. ‘That ll either fetch him to or provoke a _ fight,” grinned the guuner. ‘‘Ah! here it comes!” The following second the side of the enemy seemed to bea sheet of flame and while the gunner’s last sentence still sounded, a storm of iron crashed through the Vampire’s rigging. It made Captain Cutlass stagger to his feet and whirl upon the helmsman. ‘One of us goes to the bottom to-night!” he flashed in a madmav’s voice. ‘Steer straight toward the Spanish cur, and we'll make this episode a death-grapple. Forward for victory or death!” The crew of the buccaneer gave a wild cheer, and the ship, answering the helm with almost human eagerness, swept forward, with her mad captain a statue of fierceness in the moon- cast shadow of the mainmast. Take my com- ‘* By Heaven Hn . en CHAPTER VI. BARELY IN TIME, Was it true that the stranger ship was the same vessel we have lately seen dismantled and sent adrift by the commands of the buccaneer of the Gulf? We know that Captain Cutlass called the man who shot him in the rigging Captain Fortuno, and this was the name of the commander of the Red Mogul, or Ocean Huntress. What had transpired if the two sbips had met again? Who had snatched the match from the trail that led to the magazine of the Huntress? Let us see, True it was that Captain Cutlass had taken pains to rid the seas forever of the Spanish captain who had sailed them for years despite the terror the name of Cutlass inspired. When the two s-ips separated in mid-gulf after the bloody contest on the Spaniard’s decks, it was with terrible doom overshadow- ing the one. Lying bound on the upper deck among the dead who had fallen in the desperate hand-to- hand encounter, were Captain Fortuno and his men. They could curse the sea villain who had sent them adrift, but they were powerless to help one another. Below, in one of the cabins, a young man walked to and fro like a caged tiger, his hands bound on his back, and with fire in his eyes, This individual was Roland Manton, the young American officer of the Huntress, A blow on the head from Colonel Cristo’s sword bad rendered him unconscious, and when he recovered he found himself lying on the floor of his cabin with his hands tied, and practically helpless. ; e heard the wild cheer of the buccaneers that announced the wind-up of the conflict on the upper decks, and after awhile he felt the Huntress moving away, slowly it is true, but still moving. He inspected the door.of the cabin, and found it locked, as he expected. He was a prisoner, and with the belief that he was the sole survivor of the encounter. Of course, he did not know that Captain For- tuno and his crew were bound captives in their own ship. Meanwhile, in a corridor that ended at the door of the vessel’s magazine, burned a match, or fuse, which the buccaneer had lighted for their destruction. It burned slowly, throwing out flashes of light here and there, as it crept like a hissing serpent toward the powder store, Inch by inch the fire advanced, shorten- ing each second the lives of the men on deck. Roland Manton knew nothing of this. A prisoner in his own cabin, be was ignorant of Captain Cutlass’s crowning act of infamy. A breeze that sprung up shortly after the fight sent the Huntress through the water with some spirit, notwithstanding her crippled con- dition; it also cooled the cheeks of the men ly- ing on deck. The yours lieutenant tried his door as best he could, He bestowed upon it sundry kicks which had no effect, and at last he went back to a chair, upon which he. threw himself with a mad curse, In a chest that stood open in one corner of the cabin lay a hatchet, which he could gazs ps tor a grate his teeth, but which he could not touch. It seemed to mock him with a smile, and maddened him almost beyond endurance. With the hatchet in his possession, he could cut his way to the deck. ‘*J will escape!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ By Heav- ens! I owe this sea-crab a debt which my bonds shall not keep me from paying.” P The lid of the chest was bound with brass, and having shut it with his foot Manton put his hands upon the metal and began to see-saw on the ropes that secured them. It was slow work, but he worked with the feelings of a desperate man, without apparent- ly making the least impression on his bonds. “Pll try till daylight,” he said with resolu- tion. “Thisis my only hope. The brass bind- ing of my chest must save my life.” For more than an hour Manton kept in a posi- tion that cramped him, but he worked on his bonds with the pertinacity of a hero. Would they nsver part? Was he to die the most horrible of deaths, cooped up in a-vessel doomed to drift for months perhaps at the mercy of wind and wave? In his wildest dreams of peril on the sea, he had never seen the shadow of such a fate, He worked on, despairing not. ' The brass rim of bis chest did not seem to take hold on the ropes, and he could not see what progress he bad made. A At last, however, a sudden thrill went to his eert. He sprung up with a ery of victory, and jerked his arms apart! He was free so far as the little area of his cabin was concerned, His first impulse was to rush to the hatchet, seize it and cut his way through the door whicb he knew had been secured from the outside. But he needed rest before beginning the at- tack, Ah! if he could have seen the fuse burning toward the magazine of the ship, there would have been no rest for him. Five brief minutes, and precious ones they were for the Ocean Huntress, seemed to rest him completely. ‘Now for the good sea air!” he exclaimed. The lid of the chest flew open, and a minute later the young Eeatenap? struck the first blow on the door. Again and again he drove the heavy hatchet deep into the planks, working with the energy of a man determined to win in the desperate fight before him. The interior of the cabin was not dark, for those who had bound him had left bim a lighted lantern suspended from a beam overhead. It did not take Manton long to cut through the cabin. He dealt blows that told visibly on the wood, and at last he sprung through the opening he had made, . : A loud ejaculation of triumpb burst from his throat as he rushed toward the ladder, up which he went with the agility of an acrobat. “T'll navigate this ship if I’m the only man on board!” he said to himself. ‘‘Tbe day wilk come, Captain Cutlsss, when you will curse yourself for having spared my life!” When be reached the stillslippery deck of the Huntress a sight for which be was not prepared burst suddenly upon his vision, ‘‘Santissima! is it you?” crid a voice from a group of recumbent figures on the moonlit planks. ‘Captain Fortuno!” Manton sprung forward as he uttered the name and bent over the captain of the Hun- tress. ‘Thank fortune!” be ejaculated. ‘‘ There are two of usnow. Let the Sea Spider look to the web he spins!” The eyes of the Spanish captain flashed, ‘*Did you trample out his infamous fuse?” he asked. Manton leaped erect. 3 ‘What fuse?” he cried. ‘‘ The one that creeps toward our powder!” ‘* Heavens, no!” The next instant the lieutenant of the Hun- tress was flying below. ‘*The infamous wretch! Would he consign us all in a flash to the depths of the sea?” he cried. ‘The fuse! The fuse! My God if it should reach the powder, we would die in a second!” He lost no time in getting below, and rapid bounds carried him toward the me gazine where was stored enough powder to blow the vessel into strips. lt was the most exciting moment in the American’s life. ; He gained the narrow corridor that led to the store-house, and almost recoiled as bis eyes: caught sight of a spark that danced on the floor some distance ahead! ; : He knew the imminent danger then. There were particles of powder on the floor near the magazine, and at any moment they were likely to be ignited bv the fuse that seemed. intent on carrying out Captain Cutlass’s de- signs. Roland Manton did not hesitate. He knew that the terrible fuse bad burned to within a few inches of the door of the magazine, — that the existence of ship and crew might be numbered by seconds, A great bound carried him toward the danc- ing light, for at times the burning fuse threw out little showers of sparks, He saw nothing but the accursed fire! All at once he brought one foot down upon it, and crushed it out of existence in the twinkling of an eye! He had not a moment to spare, for when he thrust bis hand forward it entered at the open door of the magazine, and he felt the fuse be- youd it! . He had reached the spct in the nick of time! For several minutes Manton stood amid the darkuess that enveloped him. The fuse bad been entirely extinguished, and he withdrew it from the magazine and coiled it. about bis hand. “Tl save it for you, Captain Cutlass,” he said, taking delight in his own words. ‘‘Now L will release the captain.” Once more be went up on deck, and a knife cut the cords of the men bound there. ‘Now for vengeance!” grated the Spaniard. ae SS ES a
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“This vessel shali be what the young lady chris- tened her—the Ocean Huntress. I have suffered a thousand deaths since I was bound, for Cap- tain Cutlass’s last words told me about the fire creeping like a serpent toward our powder. When we meet the Sea Spider, let bim look to bis villainous web. We are dismantled; but what of that? I have about me men enough to man the Huntress, and the winds of heaven will blow us to the man we seek!” ‘Captain Fortuno ordered the dead tv be re- moved from the deck, and afterward the crew fell to work to repair as best they could the dam- age wrought by the enemy. They rigged up masts sufficient to carry a good deal of canvas, and at the end of several hours a breeze that seemed providential filled the sails, and drove the Huntress through the waves as if vengeance steered her. ‘** At this speed we would overtake the Flying Dutchman,” said Manton to Captain Fortuno, “Tt is vengeance that fills our sails,” was the reply. CHAPTER VII. CHECKED AT LAST. HAVING acquainted the reader with the some- what thrilling circumstances that made it possi- ble for the cana Huntress to come up with Captain Cutlass, when that individual fondly believed her torn to pieces and at the bottom of the Gulf, we will go back to the two vessels, Wounded and bleeding, the buccaneer was eager to close with the Spaniard, to pay bim for the sbot which had tumbled him headlong from his rigging. Quietly awaiting the onset, the Ocean Hunt- ress with sails suddenly furled soasto slacken her speed, appeared in full view, as eager as Captain utlass for the encounter. Only three of the shots delivered by the Syan- iard’s broadside had taken effect in the Vam- pire’s sides; the others had crashed through the rigging, burling a few spars to the deck, and riddling the canvas. The broadside had not spilled a drop of blood. Captain Cutlass kept on expecting another hail-storm of iron, but what did he care. He intended to keep his vow that one of them should go to the bottom. All at once a single shot boomed over the wa- ter, and the men who were watching Captain Cutlass saw him leap into the air, and, falling suddenly back, stagger toward the main hatch. **My God! the captain's dead!” cried Lieu- tenant Dramon, bounding forward, ‘‘Dead? No!” grated the captain of the Vam- pire. “ Forward the death-grapple! Boarders to the fore! Get ready the grappling-irons! Prepare to board!” These commands followed one another with startling rapidity as the buccaneer who had been winded by a cannon-shot, recovered al- most before Lieutenant Dramon reached him. ‘The enemy’s swinging round again for an- other broadside,” said Dramon. “What of it? The fishes of the Gulf will get one or both of “us!” was the retor: of the in- furiated buccaneer. ‘‘ Forward the Vampire, helmsman; straight at the Spawn of Spain?” Loud ond clear from the helmsman ceme an “ay, ay, sir,” that inspired Captain Cutlass, and the Vampire seemed to shoot along the sur- face of the water. The man looked like a human tiger as with bloody face, wild eyes and blood-sprinkled velvet, uniform, he stood on the deck of his famous ship, cutlass in band, ready to lead his desperate boarders over the sides, Another minute would decide all. Suddenly the side of the Huntress again burst into flame as it were, and the Vanipire seemed lifted from the water by the balls that hit her hull, A number of iron globes swept across the deck, and the ready boarders tumbled in every direction. It made Captain Cutlass grind his teeth, The next moment the Vampire dashed into the heavy smoke, and in another second had actually reeled back, for the cannon that had opened on her sent their balls clear through her body. ‘** Death to the sea spawn!” cried a loud voice beyond the smoke, ‘Prepare to repel board- ers! Remember the lady’s oath, Serpents of the Sea. Down with the curse of the Gulf!” Tbe speaker was the Spaniard, Captain For- tuno, and as he finished the last ery the Vam- pire struck him aft the mainmast, and as she swung round, the buccaneers with yells of fury began to lash the two sbips together. ‘¢Tet me lead the boarders,” said the young man who appeared suddenly at Captain Fortu- no’s side, pest.” There was noreply for the Spanish captain turned to issue another command, and Manton the young American officer sprung away. ‘Follow me! I will lead you!” he cried to the sailors armed to the teeth and eager to be led to the combat which was to settle toa great ex- tent the supremacy of the tropic waters, Away went the whole lot led by Manton who reached the side of the ship just as the boarding planks of the pirate bridged the watery chasm between them, and a second later they were rushing to the hand-to-hand encounter, Manton’s gallantry took the buccaneer com- pletely by surprise, and the impetuosity of the young leader and bis followers for one brief mo- ment appeared to stun the Gulf pest. They bad not trod the planksa yard before they beheld Manton and bis men rushing down upon them with wild yells and shining cut- lasses! Captain Fortuno had attempted to forestall Manton in leadership, but the American was too quick for him, and the captain of the Huntress was forced to follow where be hoped to Jead. Like men bent on vengeance, the sailors of the coomed ship poured over the boarding-planks, led by the young American who was the first to drop on the Vampire’s deck, where cutlasses as keen as his own awaited bim, ** Death to the Spanish dogs!” rose above the decks of the buccaneer to be answered with: “Down with the Spiders of the Sea!” The shock of encounter was terrible. Espying Captain Cutlass, Manton made a dash for him and soon had bim before his point. ** Yield!” cried the American, ‘‘I have you Where hundreds bave wanted you these many months—at my sword’s point!” The young lieutenant saw the buccaneer's eyes flash fire. ‘* Yield to you, American cur?—never! Cap- tain Cutlass never surrenders!” ‘Then, by heavens! he dies!” cried Manton, and striking down the cutlass of bis enemy, he threw his own blade madly above his head fora deadly stroke. Ere it could be dealt, however, a stalwart figure lcaped between the two men regardless of the cutlasses, and struck down Manton’s arm, ‘‘Rairweather Tom! This is not your inter- ference!” said Manton madly, as he recognized the man who had thrown himself between. ‘Never mind; this sea robber is wanted else- where,” was the reply, and a moment later the captain of the Vampire found himself disarmed and the Yankee sailor’s prisoner. Manton’s madness would have impelled him upon Captain Cutlass despite the protection aiforded by Tom’s strong arms, ‘You forget the fuse that was lately burning toward our powder,” he said to Tom. “T forget nothing, Roland,” was the answer. ‘*There’s a great reward for this sea crab at Cartagena.” ‘You can never get him there,” “Tl try,” was the resolute reply. got the ship, haven’t we?” Without answering Manton turned to watch for a moment tke progress of the fight. In all his cruises and wild exploits on the wave, Captain Cutlass had never been boarded before, much less made prisoner. Desire fur vengeance bad made tigers of the Spaniard’s crew, and the vampires found them- selves no match for them, especially since Cap- tain Fortuno, « veritable lion, bad placed him- self at their head, and was directing the terrible encounter in person, The pirate crew were driven aft, but inch by inch over the slippery decks. “Down with the Sea Spiders!” was the cry that constantly soared above the heads of the contestants, At last the battle came to a close, and when Captain Fortuno turned to fice his enemy, he found the giant physique of Fairweather Tom barring his way. “He goes to Cartagena with us, captain,” said the Yankee sailor, with resolution. ‘‘I will defend him with my life, much respect for you.” _ Captain Fortuno stopped short and looked into Tom’s eyes; then he glanced at Captain Cutlass who, proud and defiant, stood beside the sailor with arms crossed upon his chest. ‘* Well, captain, do you want to go to Carta- gena?” he asked. ‘*T’ll go anywhere,” was the answer. ‘‘T am not sfraid to meet the people of that city.” ‘*They’ve outlawed you.” ‘*So thev have! And I’ve had vengeance, too. The flag of Colombia has been lowered to “T long to meet this infamous Gulf “We've Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. ee eee eee ee ii ste aed PE ee a ee : gh RD we PNT a el bi Vik Am = - ee ~ SI - = 7 me time and again on the Caribbean. I have bumbled the pride of their best captains, and the bluest blood of Cartagena has flowed when my cutlasses struck, Ob, no, Captain Fortuno; I’m not afraid to go to Carin,enr.” The captain of the Ocea: .ui.iess allowed a smile to wreathe his lips. ‘*T waive all rights to pay you in the coin of the high seas,” he said. ‘* You shall go to Car- tagena, Captain Cutlass, but not on the deck of the vessel with which you have swept the waves, Your free flag falls to-night never to rise again, and the flames that have served you so often will serve Captain Fortuno with alac- rity. Holy Dios! This is an hour that tingles a very blood with triumph!” ark as a thunder-cloud grew the face of Captain Cutlass, as the Spaniard turned away. Suddenly bis hand closed on Fairweather Tom’s arm and he said as their eyes met: ‘Give me freedom for one minute and your cutlass for balf that time,” he hissed. ‘‘ By the sea stars! I will show this Spanish hound that he shall never band me over to the ceuncil that made me an vcean outlaw!” Of course he was not accommodated in bis mad desires, and Captain Fortuno, who over- heard him, threw a sarcastic look at him, while Tom, the sailor, seized his wrist and held him back. During this time where was Manton, the young American? His first thought after the battle was of Lona Seward, and he was not long in going below in search of her, The interior of the buecaneer was new to Lim, but he soon found the cabinsand ka: cked at the door of one which he had an idea might be the girl’s quarters, He was not mistaken, for a quick footste came to the doorand Manton spoke the beauty’s name, ‘“With friends again, thank Heaven!’ was the fervent response as Lona recognized the American’s voice, ‘* Indeed, sir, I cannot admit you, as lama prisoner in my quarters.” Manton gave vent to an ejaculation of rage. ‘* Stand aside, piease,”, he said, The next moment he stepped back and was about to throw himself against the door, when a human figure fell against him, and a pair of arms went round his body. * Not yet, my young fellow,” was spoken at bisear, ‘‘I thought we had made sure of you ali with a lighted fuse, but here you are alive,” Manton knew the speaker; it did not take the look he gave him to establish his identity. Once seen, Colonel Cristo, the Frenchman, wes not likely to be forgotten, The American lieutenant’s eyes grew flashing under the colonel’s words, ‘‘T am here, and I thank forture that we are face to face,” he cried, The Frenchman laughed, but the following instant his merriment grew still, for Manton had wrenched himself from bis grasp. ‘* Now, sir, we'll test our blades again!” cried Manton, and before Cristo could lift a hand he received a blow thet sent him reeling away. CHAPTER VITI. THE LION'S DEN. \ THE French colonels reappearance had roused all the lion in Manton’s nature, and the young American was determined to pay him for the indignities received at bis hands, The stroke dealt with the flat of the sword sent Cristo against some loose planksin the half- darkened corridor, and caused him to fall with a noise that brought several sailors upon the scene before Manton could follow up his sue- cess, They instantly threw themselves between the two men, and against the lieutenant’s remon- strances prevented him from finishing the colo- nel then and there, ‘“Very well!” said Manton, with a look» of hatred at Cristo as he turned to the dcor of the young girl’s prison, “I trast we sball meet again when there will be no interference.” The look be got in return told bim tbat the Frenchman longed for another meeting, and as he was teken in charge by the sailors, Manton threw himself against the door and sprung over it into Lona’s presence. With a pair of bright eyes full of thankful- ness for ber deliverance, the soldier’s daughter awaited the American, and ber bappiness was increased ten-fold when she learned that Captain Cutlass had been taken prisoner. But her countenance fell for a moment when soe was told that Captain Fortuno had decided
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" denl 8 Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. to convey his distinguished prisoner to Carta- ena, there to answer for his cri» es on the sea y the council that had outlawed bim. “The council will avenge you,” Manton said to the young girl. ‘‘I assure you that the depredations of Captain Cutlass are at an end at last.” ** Yes, but C will not be permitted to strike for my father,” she said quickly. ‘‘ The Council of Cartagena cannot fully avenge me. Where is this infamous scourge of the seas?” She started toward the door with the inten- tion of seeking the deck, but Manton’s hand closed gently on her arm. ‘<Let him go for the present,” he said. ‘ Re- member that he is the captain’s prisoner.” ‘*T remember only the murder of my father!” ‘*T do not ask you to forget that, for that were impossible,” Manton replied. ‘‘ What! are we moving already?” The ship was certainly in motion, and bidding the fair gir] remain in the cabin, which should bs a prison no longer, Manton bastened up on eck. The two vessels had been cut apart, and he saw at once that in the hurry of the moment he and Lona bad been forgotten. Alreadv a goodly distance intervened between the Vampire and Huntress, and Manton’s eyes flasbed fire at the abandonment. ‘* What infernal treachery is this?’ he cried, “Can it be that Captain Fortuno has deserted me?—and for what?” He was answered sooner than he expected, and ins happy manner, besides, for he sudden- ly caught sight of several boats in the water, and the voice of Fairweather Tom struck his ear. * Ahoy thar, lieutenant!” laughed the Yankee sailor. ‘‘Sbiver my spars! if we didn’t think you an’ the lady war on board the Huntress till we counted noses. We've got ter save yer quick, for the Vampire’s on fire in her hold,” Manton started. The ship on fire? He lost no time in seeing Lona and her baggage transferred to the boats that had come back for them, and dropping into one himself, be gave orders for ail to pull toward the Huntress. Events that followed quickly on the heels of the opportune rescue told that it had not been effected a moment too soon, for flames burst suddenly above the buccaneer’s deck, and the aarti to the Huntress was continued in their urid glare. Standing on the deck of the Spanish ship, with eyes flashing like mad stars, was the man who, in the vessel rapidly approaching destruc- tion, had made himself a veritable terror of the ses. Not a muscle moved as he watched the flames leap up the tall masts of the Vampire and jump from sail to sail as they licked them up. It was a sight which be had never expected to witness, but he was equal to the occasion. ‘Pll pay ’em all back for this!” be murmur- ed, though his lips hardly moved to shape the words. ‘I am still Captain Cutlass, and whether on land or sea, I am a tropic tiger.” Suddenly a sullen sound came over the water, a mass of sparks leaped skyward, and then settled back to disappear on the waves, It was the end of the Vampire, for the fire had reached her magazine, and her flag came down with the sparks that closed her career of blood and pillage! Captain Cutlass turned away as the sudden flasb went out. ‘*What do you think of it?’ asked a voice at his elbow, and he turned to look into the trium- phant eyes of his sea-rival, tho Spanish Cap- tain, For a moment the two captains looked at one another, and seemed like tigers about to leap to the fierce encounter. “T am going to Cartagena, am I not?” sud- asked the buccaneer. “To Cartagena,” echoed Captain Fortuno bowing sligbtly. “Very well. Let the future tell what I think of this night’s work.” And with the last word Captain Cutlass walked unguarded toward the main hatch. A fearless smile played with the lips of the Spanish captain as be watched the figure of bis prisoner disappear. ‘Cool as a tempered blade,” he said to him- self: ‘‘He hopes to win yet, despite his misfor- tunes; but his crest is shorn. Ah! Captain Cutlass, you are to die in Cartagena!” Having transferred from the Vampire some needed material which helped to make the Ocean Huntress almost whole again, Captain ee ee ee Fortuno was able to push rapidly through the waves, He had apologized for leaving Manton and the young girl in the pirate ship, and his dead and wounded had been buried and cared for. The prisoners had been sent to the hold where they were closely guarded, Captain Cutlass, on account of his importance, being the only one honored with a separate apartment. Colonel Cristo, much against his will, was thrown in among the common lot, where he con- stantly threatened Captain Fortuno with the vengeance of his Government for tne indignity. Nothing of an exciting nature happened on board the Huntress during the remainder of the voyage, Assisted by favorable winds and good seas, Captain Fortuno had the satisfaction of reach- ing at last the harbor of Cartagena, the most important city of the Republic of Colombia. As the forts saluted the Huntress, a dark- faced and handsome man in her cabin started toward the door with clinched hands. ‘* Well, bere we are!” he said fiercely. ‘‘This is Cartagena, and I am a prisoner. ery well, Captain Fortuno. Rejoice in the day that marks your victory, for by the stkiviel bard! these waters shall yet be cursed by the pres- ence of another Vampire!” Need we say that the speaker was Captain Cutlass? The sun was sinking behind the waves when the Huntress came to anchor under the guns of the forts, Eager to announce the news of his capture, the Spaniard leaped into a boat.and pushed to- ward the city. Cartagena then was a city of twenty thou- sand inhabitants and one of the most important maritime towns of South America. It had a history bristling with warlike events and was a place of much wealth and power. Strong fortresses guarded its several harbors, for more than once sbips-of-war had attacked it and the authorities bad resolved to make them- selves secure, Captain Fortuno knew just where to go with the important information he had brought to the town. His step was light, and his face was flushed with triumph. He had returned to Cartagena at a lucky your. The Council of Safety wes in session in the large stone palace that fronted the largest square of the inland town, and thither the Spaniard directed his steps. Darkness was rapidly settling over harbor and town, but the Spaniard had been seen, and there wasa crowd of excited people at his heels, He walked on, appearing to take no notice of the uproar, but more than once he glanced back on the crowd asif in search of some particular erson whom it was evident, from his look, that e did not see, The figure of the captain was passport enough for the well-dressed guards, whom he encountered on the steps of the palace, and he passed down the corridor toward the council- room. Five minutes later he threw wide a carved door, and burst in upon the thirteen handsome men, who almost leaped from their chairs at sight of him. ‘*Portuno!” eried one. ‘*Captain Fortuno has come back to be our avenger!” The Spaniard made no reply, but those who looked into bis face must have seen that he was there with news, pot to receive a commis- sion, ‘Do you not know what has happened?” continued the member of the council. ‘ Five days ago the Seraph of the Sea left Cartagena bound for Porto Bello. She carried out with her Major Seward, tbe American, and a meinber of this august body. In mid-sea the Seraph was caught by that ocean curse, Captain Cutlass, of the Vampire, and Major Seward was tied naked to a raft and sent adrift to die, We have this terrible tale from the lips of a survivor who was picked up the next day by a vessel and car- ried to Cartagena.” A smile appeared on the Spanish captain’s face when the speaker concluded. The whole body noticed it, and sprung up, in- dignant, “What! do you smile at Major Seward’s fate?” cried one,, ‘‘ We have spoken of you as our avenger—we have—” “‘T have already avenged you!” interrupted Captain Fortuno. ‘*Men of Cartagena, the Red Mogul, now the Ocean Huntress, ies under the guns of your forts. and a captive on board is the pest of the Gulf!” “Captain Cutlass?’ ejaculated the thirteen. ‘‘ Captain Cutlass!” said the Spaniard proud- ly. Vit took the Council of Safety a moment to realize the importance of the capture; when it did there was a rush toward Captain Fortuno, “Don’t thank me for’ his coming,” he said, waving them back. ‘You owe his presence here to an American sailor on my ship—Fair- weather Tom, He wants the reward offered for Captain Cutlass of the Vampire.” “He shall have it!” was the quick response, ‘¢ We willincrease itif you say so, captain. But bring this man into our presence; yes, stand us face to face with Captain Cutlass, the demon of the Gulf.” ‘‘Remain in your seats, then. He shall stand before you as barmless as a lamb,” The members of the council returned to their places, and with a courteous parting salute Cap- tain Fortuno turned away. Ashe passed from the palace he was met by a crowd which the guards had to open with their bayonets, ‘You'll know my news before you sleep,” the captain said in phy ok to the questions and cries that greeted him on every side. ‘‘ San- tissima! it will make you drunk witb joy!” A moment later the crowd urged by the boisterous ones surged against him, and he felt a piece of paper thrust into his hand. instinctively he closed on it, and pressed on toward the boat that waited for him at the uay. i ‘What does this paper say?’ be asked him- self as he was about to step into the boat. “Here, get me a light, Juan. I’ve got a mes- sage.” The sailor bestirred himself and produced a light by which Captain Fortuno eagerly de- voured the contents of the paper. His eyes glittered while he read as follows: “The Serpent of the Tropics will sting to death the haters of Captain Cutlass. Let them hesitate before they throw him to the lions of Cartagena. Outlawed and a sea scourge, he is not friendless. Captain Fortuno, you stand in the shadow of death! Beware!”’ All at owce the Spaniard crushed the paper in bis hand, and turned to the men in the boat, “To the Huntress!” he cried. ‘‘ Captain Cutlass shall be thrown to the lions, and 1 will crush the head of this Serpent of the Tropics! To the fires of Tartarus with the siren’s threat!” Did Captain Fortune know the writer of the letter? If he did, he did not quail. CHAPTER IX. MANTON IS ENTRAPPED. PACING restlessly back and forth in one of the shaded parks or public gardens of Cartagena, the night after the events recorded in tha fore- going chapter, night bave been seen Roland Manton, the young lieutenant of the Huntress. He was dressed in full uniform and wore an elegant sword at his side. It was evident that he was there by appoint- ment, for every now and then he would throw an anxious glance toward the main entrance to the park as if he expected some one. Tbe Huntress lay at anchor under the guns of the forts that guarded the barbor, and Cap- tain Cutlass, the buccaneer king, was the inmate of a dungeon under the palace, Captain Fortuno, defying the writer of the mysterious nofe of warning, which had been thrust into his band, bad kept his promise with the Council of Safety, and bad delivered the scourge of the Gulf into their hands. As for Culonel Cristo, he had declared himself a citizen of France, and, not being accused of any crimes against the laws of the Republic, had been released and given the freedom of the city. Manton hastened to meet his old enemy, the Frenchman, imm diately upon his release from custody, but arrived too late, and was forced to bite his lips in chagrin, ‘‘Never mind!” he contented himself with saying, ‘‘oneof these days, my good hater, I will pay old debts.” ; Tbe opportunity promised: to occur sooner than expected, for early on the morning after tbe Spanish captain’s delivery of the buccapeer to the Columbian authorities, Manton received a sealed note on board the Huntress, Believing it to be from Lona, who had taken up her residence with a relative, he quickly broke the waxen seal to reed the following: “Mons. Manton:—I much regret that you failed to find me last night. If you will meet me in the Palma de Cera Garden at nine to-night, we will settle all our differences, CoLoNeEL Cristo.” i a. »
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That was enough. ne hour named in the challenge, for it was nothing more, found Manton in the Garden of the Palms, ready, ay, eager to accommodate the Frenchman with the kind of combat that suited him best, It was for him, then, that Manton waited un- der the trees, and among the luxuriant clumps of wax-palms from which the public garden had taken its name. : He had seen the threatful note delivered to Captain Fortuno, and, with the Spaniard, bad laughed it to scorn. Manton believed that the so-called Serpent of the Tropics was a name coined to effect a pur- pose—the release of Captain Cutlass in order that he might renew his infamous depredations on the high seas. “ By Jove! if the owner of that title lives, I would like to see her,” suddenly exclaimed tre young sailor in the garden as he thought of Cap- tain Fortuno’s letter. ‘She might accommo- date me with an interview while I wait here for Colonel Cristo. The Serpent of the Tropics, eh? Well, the tropics possess many poisonous reptiles, and—” he American officer paused abruptly, and turned at a slight noise behind him. The next moment he started back a pace and laid his hand on the hilt of his sword, ‘*-You have just asked for me, American, I am here!” Manton saw before him a woman as shapely as Lona, and strikingly beautiful. Her short, close-fitting dress was nearly white, and embroidered with what appeared to be thread of gold. Her face was well rounded, white and lovely, and a pair of eyes black ds a dungeon’s gloom, burned with singular brilliance. Manton eyed this strange beauty for a mo- ment, and then exclaimed: “*So you are the Serpent of the Tropics, eh?” “T am!” and the eyes grew brighter still. ** American, do you expect to meet the French- man bere, now that J have come?” “*Certainly, if ha keeps his word. I have kept mine, you se2,” ‘Very well, But I have decreed that you shall not meet him here unless—” ‘Unless what?’ interrupted the impatient sailor. ‘Unless the council listens to me.” There was a strange tone to the last sentence. What had that woman todo with the Council of Cartagena? ‘* Ah! you are the person who had the letter placed in Captain Fortuno’s hands,” said Mar.- ton, “Did you see it?” sy es, “Well?” “We both treated it as it deserved to be treated; we laughed when we read it together.” Manton saw the woman knit ber brows. “1 told him that if certain things were done, the Serpent of the Tropics would sting to death, didn’t 1?” ae Yes,” ‘* Well, he knows already that I make no use- less threats.” “Who knows?” ‘Captain Fortuno, the Spanish dog!” Manton sprung forward by sudden impulse, ‘What have you done to him?” he cried. “By heavens! woman though you are, you shall suffer if you have struck my captain.” The beautiful woman showed her pearly teeth in a fearless smile, but did not recoil an inch. ‘“What have I done with him?” she asked, looking up into Manton’sface. ‘*Dare you come with me and see?’ ‘“*T dare,” was the answer, ‘“‘Then, to make sure that you will not give me the slip, I will introduce my guards,” and the speaker turned and spoke two words in Spanish. The next moment from the shadows of an enormous wax-palm sprung two huge male jaguars, who sbowed their teeth and glittering eyes to Manton as they crouched on either side of the Serpent of the Tropics. ‘“‘My guards! Ah! are they not beauties, senor?’ cried the woman. ‘‘Come; we will find your captain.” The beasts leaped up and placed themselves uncomfortably close at Manton’s beels and wait- ed for their mistress’s orders, “This way,” she said, to the astonished American, and the following moment she was leading bim through the park and toward the rear entrance, Without a word but with his eyes fastened on the treacherous animals that followed cat- like at his heels, Manton kept close to the strange being who spoke not while she conduct- ed him from the garden. At length they struck one of the narrow streets of the city and passed down between the stone houses that lined it. It was not late, but the inhabitants seemed to have retired, and Manton encountered no one. Not once did the woman look back to see whe- ther the American trod at ber heels; she left all that to her jaguars who took delight in guard- ing Manton as they moved along. All at once at last the woman turned intoa street darker and still narrower than the one they had just traversed, and, after threading it a few rods, halted in front of a stone house that did not differ from its neighbors. ‘‘Can it be that Captain Fortuno is in this part of the town?” said Manton, to bimself, as he surveyed his surroundings in the starlight. ‘“*By heavens! if evil nas befallen him, I will make this tropic witch suffer for it in spite of her infamous guards,” He had just finished, when the door opened in response to the Serpent’s manipulation of an iron key, and he was motioned to enter, ‘Tl see this adventure through,” he said be- tween his teeth. ‘‘ Darkness has no terrors for an American.” He was followed into the honse by the woman and the jaguars, and the former took from a niche in the wall, which she revealed by open- ing a hidden door, a lamp which she held above her head. ‘This way,” she said to Manton, starting off toward the left. ‘‘I promised to take you to Captain Fortuno,” he young lieutenant did not hesitate, but cast one mad look at the jaguar guards and went on. Five minutes later they all stood at the bottom of a flight of steps, and in front of a door which was fitted into a stone wall, The light showed Manton the heavy lock and chain that secured it, and also the triumphant eyes of the Tropical Serpent. He saw her unlock the door and throw down the chain that held the padlock up. Then she spoke once to the jaguars and they came to the last step with eyes fixed on tho door itself. ‘*Woe to the man who tries to come out when the door opens,” said Manton under bis breath. A moment of suspense followed the move- ment of the jaguars, and then the door opened, The Serpent of the Tropics held the little lamp above her head, and turned to Manton. ** Look!” she said, ‘* You are not far from your captain.” Fall of curiosity and burning with indigna- tion, Roland Manton leaned forward, and tried to pierce the gloom of the dungeon before him. **Go in and find him, senor!” suddenly cried the woman, and the next instant before the American sailor could belp bimself, be was pushed headlong into the darkness! He heard a Jaugh behind him as he struck, and when he turned toward the door it was closed, and he was in the midst of pitch dark- ness! ‘““BWntrapped! and like a fool, too!” cried Manton madly. “I have been lured to this place by an infamous Jie—by a woman! Let me see; where is the door? By the eternal stars! this dungeon shall not bold me long!” He began to search for the door, and, after a few trials, found it. But it was locked and immovable! As well might he bave tried to move a tower of stone. “T will see where I am, anyway,” be said de- sisting and producing his tinder-box. ‘I'll give five years of life for a thrust at that siren’s throat!” He wes not long in producing a light after the manner of the times, and soon held a little taper over his head. His first glimpse showed bim four walls of stone, but his second look showed him scme- thing more. On tbe ground almost at his feet lay the figure of a man whose gold-embroidered coat drew a startling cry to Manton’s lips. The next instant he was stooping over the body, and his bands quickly turned it over. ** Captain Fortuno!” rose from his lips in star- tled tones. Yes, Manton bad found the captain of the Ocean Hontress, The Serpent of the Tropics had not issued a foolish threat, and the American was ready to say that her sting was death. Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. 9 CHAPTER X, A LION IS TURNED LOOSE, “Two fools for hostages!” ejaculated the black-eyed insnarer as she left the stone house with the two jaguars at ber heels. ‘* We sball soon see who is going to win inthis game. The American will not fight the Frenchman to- nigbt in the Palma de Cera Garden, I have blocked that little sport. Now for the boldest part of the battle!” A few squares from the building beneath which was the dungeon that contained Manton and Captain Fortuno, the Serpent of the Tro ics turned suddenly into a dark alley and dis- appeared, Vhen she came forth again after an absence of thirty minutes she was entirely alone; the jaguars no longer trotted at her heels. The first half of the night was drawing to a close, but the woman seemed to know where someone was still awake, for she walked rapidly, and towerd the palace. Captain Cutlass and his men were to be for- mally summoned before the Council of Safety on the next day, and she and all Cartagena knew that an arraignment meant speedy death, The captain himself bad been sent to a dun- geon somewhere beneath the walls of the palace, while the men, less important characters, in a certain sense, were confined in the regular prison. ‘“T will find him at his work,” said the Ser- pent, as she neared the palace and saw & light in a certain window in one of the wings. ‘* He always spends half of the night with his books prior to a great trial. Ah! he does not expect me, therefore the surprise will be greater.” ‘She pressed fearlessly to the steps leading up the famous court of the palace aud found no guard there, Tho council bad held its night session and ad- journed, and with its members had departed the guards who flanked the doors during the de- liberations. She found the outer doors unlocked and pass- ed unchallenged across the inner conrt to the council-room, Slowly and without the Jeast noise the woman pushed the door ajar, and looked into the lofty room, in the center of which sat a man at a table. He was the only occupant of the place, a man of forty-five, rather portly and undoubt- edly possessed of the strength of a giant. The Serpent of the Tropics crossed che thresh- old and glided toward the man with a pair of glittering eyes fixed upon him He did not look up from his writing, for he did not hear her. At last she stood beside his chair and looked over his shoulder, She saw with flashing orbs a name which had just dropped from the writer’s pen—Captain Cutlass, All at once her hand went up, and the next moment dropped on his shoulder. The Advocate of the Council, for he was this important personage, turned with a start and looked up into the Serpent’s face, “Yes,” she said, with a smile, “it is I.” He made no reply for a moment. ‘‘ What brings you here?’ he asked, when he spoke, ‘‘ You are too late for the council. They have gone home.” ‘T have found the man I seek,” was the re- ply. ‘!Major Barro, I must see the man to be tried to-morrow.” ““Not Coptain Cutlass?” ‘‘ Captain Cutlass!” and the lips closed reso- lutely behind the name of the dreaded bucca- neer. The advocate looked into the depths of her dark eyes and slowly left his chair. ‘‘T cannot grant your request,” he said. “ He cannot be seen—” ‘By no one, eh?” smiled the tropic beauty. ‘The council forgot me when those orders were issued. You will conduct me to Captain Cutlass.” ; The Jast sentence was spoken in a voice of command, ‘*L do not know about that,” he said. ‘1 do! I have not entered the palace for nothing. Captain Cutlass shall know to night thot he will not be friendless to-morrow,” Th» sneaker laid her hand on the advocate’s ar '\ °s she finished, “T, the prisoner’s quarters, sir,” she con- tinued, sf raly. “Men call me the Serpent of the Tropics, and my sting is death!” Was Major Barro, giant in stature, and strong enough to throw biscaller through the window, awed by that voice and those flashing eyes?
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Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. ——— The threat seemed to produce an immediate effect, for he said, considerably cooled down. **I will let you see the prisoner, but to-mor- row you will get the best view of him.” ‘* Are they all to be arraigned at the same hour?” 4c Yes.” “When?” ‘* At ten o'clock.” “ Here?’ ‘‘In this chamber.” ‘¢ What will the final verdict be?” “Can’t you guess?” smiled the advocate. ‘““We have wanted those Gulf robbers a long time.” “Certainly; they will be condemned.” “There is not the slightest hope for one of them?!” A singular look of triumph lit up the Ser- pent’s eyes as the advocate made reply. He did not see it for her sweeping black lashes. ‘Very well,” she said. their doom like brave men.” ‘Or like dogs!” sneered Major Barro, ‘‘Let to-morrow decide; Il am ready to see Captain Cutlass.” he advocate turned without speaking to a drawer in the writing-table, and took there- from a bunch of keys with which he faced the Serpent. ‘* Now,” he said; ‘‘ we will see this pest of the reas.” The woman’s eyes glittered anew as she start- ed after him, and sbe murmured as she clinched her bands: “Yes, Advocate of the Council, we will see Captain Cutlass; but one of us may not come back.” Major Barro led the Tropical Serpent to the underground corridors of the palace, and every now and then unlocked a heavy door with the keys he carried. At last he stopped in front of one, and hung _ lamp he carried on an iron hook at one side of it. “We have reached the captain’s quarters,” he said with a glance at the Serpent, and she next oe a he began to turn the key in the heavy ock, With much impatience the Serpent watched him eagerly, her hands shut at her sides, and with flashes of fire in the depths of her eyes. After a few seconds of toil with the key, the advocate pushed back the door, and the light that penetrated the apartment thus displayed, revealed a man standing erect in the cell, but chained to the wall behind him. An exclamation of surprise burst from his throat when his eyes fell upon the woman who looked but did not speak. “This lady wants to see you,” said the advo- cate, addressing the buccaneer. ‘Very well,” said Captain Cutlass coldly. * But I wish she had not come.” The advocate and the Serpent started, the latter biting her lip till it bled. Suddenly sbe started toward Major Barro and tore the heavy bunch of keys from bis hands, then, in the flash of an eyelash, and before he could lift a hand, she dealt bim an awful blow across the face with them, and sent him stagger- ing into the cell. ** Another fool!” she ejaculated as the advo- cate sunk at the foot of the stone wall and caused Captain Cutlass to recoil with acry to the length of his chain. ‘*Heavens! you have committed murder!” he “They will meet id. ‘*Does that shock your sensibilities, Captain Cutlass?’ was the quick retort. ‘‘ Over the body of this man you walk to freedom.” se your bands?” wire ack why not?” ‘“*T have said that I would neveraccept a favor at your hands,” “You shall!” cried the Tropical Serpent. “This is not my first stroke for revenge. Two men who helped sink the Vampire were housed by me forever from the sunlight before I came to you.” “Who were they?” se Captain Fortuno and his American lieuten- ant. ‘*You baven’t killed them, woman?” ‘* No, but they have read their doom ere this on walis of stone.” Captain Cutlass made no reply for a moment. * Then, why do I want liberty?’ he suddenly asked. ‘‘The man who burned the Vampire is uc of my way. I wanted to strike him, but you—’ ‘ : ‘* He cannot be dead,” was the interruption. “Stay here and face the council to-morrow; then die! Walk from the palace to-night, and be still the king of the sea in a new Vampire!” An exclamation of eagerness burst from the pirate’s throat. ‘*T will!” be said. ‘‘I will make this haunt of my enemies tremble again at the mention of my name! Here, woman! Give me freedom, and I will give them—death!” There was among the keys which had unlocked the numerous doors between the council-room and the dungeon, one that relieved Captain Cut- lass of his chains, and the scourge of the Gulf stepped forward with an outburst of victory. ten the iron door shut on tke unconscious garenat, and the Serpent turned the key in the ock. Ten minutes later the twain entered the coun- cil-chamber and passed through it to the dark- ened street beyond. Captain Cutlass felt like giving vent to a shout of triumph. “Free! Look out now, men of Cartagena! Within three weeks you will feel the band you have spared too long. Where is your home?’ ‘““Not very far away,” said his deliverer. = To-morrow all Cartagena will be looking for you, Captain Cutlass’s eyes suddenly flashed. ‘Then, by heavens, I will make sure that there will be no traitors about!” he hissed. ‘** Once before you betrayed me to my foes, but I escaped.” ee ?” ‘* You—the Serpent of Cartagena!” ‘*T would die for you, Captain Cutlass,” **Don’t try to hoodwink me, woman. I will find a hiding-place. Thanks for your help to- night. is hand darted straight at her throat at the end of bis last sentence, and the next minute the Serpent of the Tropics lay motionless at the foot of the wall ofa stone house, “Now I amfree!” muttered Captain Cutlass as he turned away. CHAPTER XI. ONCE MORE AFLOAT! Wits the dawn of another day Cartagena was thrown intw a state of great excitement, It was discovered that Major Barro, a dis- tinguished soldier of the Republic and the Ad- vocate of the Council of Safety, was missing. Mewbers of the council said that they left him in the palace when they left the preceding night, and his wife, a beautiful woman whom he had lately led to the altar, declared he had not come home. What bad become of the advocate? As the search advanced some one made a second startling discovery. The keys to the dungeons beneath the palace were missing! Not until then was it dreamed that Captain Cutlass the captured buccaneer was in any way connected with Major Barro’s disapp2arance, The first door yielded reluctantly to the ham- mers of strong men, and the searcbing party advanced down the underground corridor, Door after door was battered down, for the keys were not to be found. At last the cell of the buccaneer was reached. The first blow brought a voice from the in- side. The men stopped and listened. It was Major Barro, found at last! This door yielded as the others had done, and the Advocate of the Council] was dragged from what had almost been his living tomb. In a few words he told the story of the pirate’s rescue. Suddenly the bells of the town wereset going, word was sent to the commanders of the forts, and Captain Fortuno was hunted for. Hunted for, but not found! The people could hardly realize that Captain Cutlass bad escaped and that on the very eve of his trial and condemnation. Some professed to know the woman who had liberated bim, and others declared that she had never been'seen before in the town, Standing at a window, and listening to the pealing bells that continually increased the excitement, was a pale but beautiful young girl. ‘* What! that red-handed monster at large again?’ she suddenly exclaimed. ‘‘ Well, I am not sorry, for can throw myself on his track again, and pay bim for the iast crime commit- ted on the wave. At liberty! Captain Cutlass, I can re-devote my life to the fulfiilment of the vow taken on the deck of the Huntress. Rest assured that I would not turn you over to the men who hunt you high and low!” All through the day the search for Captain Cutlass and his deliverer continued throughout the town. Every house was inspected; soldiers were every where, ‘* Another mystery has deepened since morn- ing,” said Lona’s uncle, a fine-looking man of fifty, as he came into the room and found her still at the window. ‘ The men of the Huntress can’t find their chief officers. I have just con- versed with one of them—an American called Fairweather Tom—who declares that bis friend Lieutenant Manton has met with misfortune here in Cartagena.” The fair girl started at the mention of the lieutenant’s name, ‘* Where is this sailor?” she asked eagerly. ‘* Somewhere on the hunt, expect. He told me he would not give up the search until bis friend is found. h! would to Heaven Cap- tain Cutlass bad never seen the light of day.” “*Pve echoed that prayer in my heart a thou- sand times,” said Lona. ‘If he bad never been born I would have a father to day; but I will find him!” ‘*You, girl?” ejaculated the surprised rela- tive. ‘‘T—Moajor Seward’s avenger!’ was the an- swer. ‘1 know this American sailor. Tell me where you gaw him last.” ‘Near the front gate of the Palma le Cera Garden. It was fully thirty minu es ago, and he announced himself on the way to get a bloodhound that belongs to a Spanish friend of his.” ““The Palma de Cera, eh?’ murmured Lona, moving from the room, ‘Yes; but of course he is not there now.” ‘* Never mind; I will encounter him,” ‘** Not to-night; you are liable to insult. The escape of Captain Cutlass has maddened the people. They talk of assailing the prison that contains his sailors. Cartagena seems in @ drunken frenzy.” **T will find him, anyhow,” persisted the girl, her eyes glowing with determination, She passed into an adjoining room, and ere she left the house armed berself with a pistol, which she concealed among the folds of her dress, ‘‘Lieutenant Manton is my countryman and friend,” she said to herself as she passed from the step into the street. ‘“‘I owe him a favor for kindness received at his hands. Missing? That word means a great deal, these times, in this town.” Lona’s prime motive in leaving ber uncle’s house was to find Fairweather Tom, in whom she reposed much confidence. She had seen the giant tar on board the Huntress, had noticed that be was strongly attached to Manton, and knew that in him she would find an excellent and powerful ally. The young girl bad bardly reached the street when her ears were assailed by loud cries and the rapid discharge of pistols and muskets. The next moment the head of a column of shouting men rusbed into view and forced Lona into the mouth of an alley to escape being trampled under foot. On came the crowd, yelling at the top of excellent lungs, and brandishing clubs and fire- arms over their heads, ** Let the ‘tarnal fools go. dog and track for myself.” Lona started at the sound of these words, and saw the stalwart speaker, who bad halted within ten feet of ber and was gazing at the mob, which was rushing furiously on. Her beart seemed to leap into her throat. ‘“Thank heaven! I have found you again!” she exclaimed, springing forward and seizing the- man’s arm before he was awsre of her presence. ‘Lona, by Jupiter!” was the sailor’s exclam- ation as he wheeled upon the girl. ‘Did ye see that mob of mad fools? They’re goin’ to break open the jail and make short work of the buccaneers,” The girl followed the crowd with ber eyes before sbe replied. ‘* It’s a terrible strong prison, Tom,” she said, speaking almost unconsciously. “But they’ll get inside!’ laughed the sailor. ‘Walls of brass couldn’t hold that set of demons long in check, Listen at them, girl. Shiver my binnacle! if I ,don’t wish they were goin’ to break into where the lieutenant te 7? Vll go and get my "A light cry parted the girl’s lips at Fair- weather Tom’s reference to the missing Ameri- can sailor. ‘‘Tben you have not found him yet?’ she cried. **T should reckon not. I know that last night rs 1
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i ; fe et i ie PRCT. he was to have fought with that sneakin’ frog- eater, Colonel Cristo, in the Palma de Cera.” Lona seemed to recoil an inch, ‘* With that infamous schemer?” she cried. ‘““Yes, How did I find itout? Well, I just choked it out of the rascal himself. When he got thar, he says, he didn’t see anything of the lieutenant, and now he accuses bitn of coward- ice. There’s just where Cristo blisters his tongue with a lie!” continued Tom, bis eyes flashing in- dignantly. ‘‘ The man does not live that Roland Manton fears. I know that young Yankee like a book.’ When I pet my dog— ‘There! they’re at the prison now.” Lona would have questioned Fairweather Tom about Manton’s disappearance if he had not become absorbed in the work of the mnd- dened mob which was hammering at the prison a few squares from the spot where they stood, The night was clear and abundant with echoes, so that every blow, every shout and curse was borne distinctly to tbe listeners’ ears. ‘They'll make short work of the twenty-six buccaneers when they batter the doors off their binges,” said Fairweather Tom, witha glance toward the almost breathless girl. ‘‘I wouldn’t give a marline-spike for the chances of the whole lot. Hark! there! there, Lona! They’re inside now!” Lona Seward was seized with a strange im- pulse to rush forward and witness the crowning work of the mixed mob. Her temples throbbed, her blood rushed hot through her veins; she could not stand still. All at once the wild din grew strangely still, but the silence was rudely broken by a cannon- shot from the harbor. ; It seemed to lift Fairweather Tom off his eet. ‘By Jupiter! that was the Huntress’s long Tom!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ We left only five men on the ship; the rest of us have been hunting the captain. There goesa broadside from the forts. In the name of reason, what has hap- pened?” More like a madman than one possessed of sanity, the Yankee tar rushed toward the quay that fronted the two forts built a short distance out in the harbor. The whole town was echoing tothe roar of the heavy guns, and while Lona, left alone, debated in her mind what to do, the mob came rushing back, She knew at once from the cries that now rent the air that the assailants of the prison had met with disappointment, and she bad but to listen a second to Jearn its nature. The twenty-six buccaneers had effected their escape through an underground tunnel, so that the howling mob had reached an empty cell for all its labors! It now bent its course toward the harbor and Lona found herself carried along with it by an excitement which she was unable to control. All at once the head of the mob was arrested by the bayonets of a lot of soldiers, and the leaders recoiled, throwing the whole crowd into confusion. ‘** Ah, here you are!” said a voice at the girl’s elbow and she recognized Fairweather Tom, the American tar. ‘‘ The thing least expected has happened. By Jupiter! Lona, Captain Cutlass and his Sea Spiders are afloat again, and in the best ship that ever cut the waves—the Ocean Huntress!” “Thank Heaven! down!” cried the girl. CHAPTER XII. FAIRWEATHER TOM’S EXCITING TRAIL, Tv was startlingly true that the buccaneer of the Gulf was once more afloat, and that in the very vessel which had gained the common enemy’s first victory over him. We have witnessed Captain Cutlass’s escape from the dungeon under the palace, and in a line have explained the mystery of the empty cell that greeted the mob in the prison. Fate had brought captain and crew together among the dark thoroughfares of Cartagena, and a successful attack on the poorly guarded Huntress was quickly planned. The few sailors left on board made a weak de- fense, and the long gun which Captain Cutlass fired at the main fort told the exasperated peo- ple that he was “float once more! Fairweather Tom fumed, and used vigorous language when he learned that the sea pest had Outwitted them all, but the triumph he bad scored in taking the Huntress was doubly ex- then I can hunt him rating. Then, too, the sailor was put in a fair way for losing the reward offered for the pirate’s cap- ture; the authorities would not like to pay it, ‘ > UES ec Sa ee oe Ly Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. now that the captain had escaped, and was off again to renew his sea depredations, “Got to sea and in the Huntress! May his victory be brief,” growled Tom. “It shall be!” said the beautiful girl who looked into his face while she spoke. ‘* There’s no ship in the harbor capable of pur- suing him, but that one lying under the guns of the fortress, and the authorities wouldn’t let it leave for a mine of gold,” ‘* Because the Government of Peru presented it to Cartagena?” ‘*That’s it, Lona. They think she must lie thar and rot to the water’s edge. Thet’s South American spirit for you.” The girl did not speak, but looked toward the forts whose guns had ceased to waste powder on the desperate ocean outlaw who had outwitted them all, ‘* He shall be followed!” she said at last. ‘Is the Pearl of Peru ready for sea?” ‘* She’s always ready, but there she lies,” was the answer; ‘‘there she rots day after day. She’s trim and well armed, but with no crew.” ‘‘ With Captain Fortuno and the American lieutenant on her deck how she would fly over the waves!” ‘Bet your bright eyes sbe would!” cried Tom, ‘Ah! I must find the captain and Man- ton. Let Captain Cutlass go for the present. I was on my way to find a certain trailer when I ran afoul of that pesky mob which, after all, accomplished nothing.” ‘Yes; they battered the prison doors off their hinges.” ‘*And found the rat-hole that let the sea ver- min out,” smiled Tom. ‘ Lona, go back home and wait for me. When I come I will have news of the young lieutenant.” “‘Do you promise me this?” exclaimed Lona, her eyes glistening, showing the interest she took in Roland Manton. “Tdo. The trailer I am never leave the scent until cers.” The anxious girl held out her hand, which Fairweather Tom seized and raised to his lips, then dropped it quickly and darted away, Almost immediately a woman who had watched the pair from the shadow of a building near by, started after bir. Her footsteps mada no noise; she glided for- ward unperceived by Tom, who never looked back nor dreamed that he had a trailer. Half an hour later the American sailor ap- peared in the Garden of Palms, accompanied by a huge bloodhound. ‘*Hit the trail, and off we go,” he said to the animal. ‘‘If we find the officers in time, an- other ship will get under way before daylight, aud the Cartagenians will be surprised again.” .After awhile the dog seemed to strike a fresh trail in the depths of the park, and started off, followed by the sailor, Out of the park he went, and down one of the dark streets of the town, ‘* Struck it finally!” cried the hero of the gun- deck, ‘‘When you get ahead of Fairweather Tom, just record it in your log, will you?” Tom was certain that the hound had struck Manton’s trail in the public garden, and was leading him to the place where the young man was. He believed that both Captain Fortuno and the lieutenant had fallen into the snares of the enemy, who was, of course, friendly to Captain Cutlass, and feared that he would reach the two men too late to render them much assissance. He pressed on, keeping as close to the dog as possibl>, and with his pistols ready for an emer- gency. Suddenly the hound came back to him with a singular ery. ““What’s ahead?” asked the sailor. ‘‘ What kind o’ craft have you steered afoul of ? Come on, By Jupiter! we'll see what it is!” Tom sprung forward, followed reluctantly by the dog, which, despite bis name, exhibited signs of terror. <ig next minute the tar came to a halt him- self. ‘“What do you want?” demanded a_stern voice from the step of astone house. ‘‘ Yousee tbat you bave tracked dangerous game.” Fairweather Tom advanced a step forward before be made reply. He had indeed encountered a formidable ob- stacle to a successful hunt for Manton, for be faced a strikingly lovely woman flanked by two jaguars who showed their flashing eyes and ferocious teeth. Tom seemed to recognize the speaker in an in- stant of reflection, ’ “The Jaguar Queen Captain Fortuno fell in going to get will e finds the offi- 11 love with when we were here before!” he mut- tered under bis breath, ‘I baven’t tracked the wrong person down after all. Vill wager my pay. phep somewhere behind her is the lieuten- ant. ‘You'd better go back,” said the Serpent of the Tropics. ‘‘Why didn’t you remain on board your vessel and keep it from falling into Captain Cutlass’s hands?” ‘*Because business of importance kept me here. Where's the captain?” The woman’s eyes seemed to blaze at thiy. question. ‘* And the lieutenant, too?’ continued Tom. Tbe reply was a glance at the jaguars crouched at her feet. “Very well; Dll force my demands upon you,” grated the sailor and the next instant bis pistols covered the crouching cats, ‘“Where’s the lieutenant?” he demanded. ** Answer me, or by the beard of Neptune, [ll stretch your guards at your feet unfit for ser- vice.” “Tf you dare!” cried the woman. ‘‘ Touch one of my pets and the American sailor rots where his captain is.” “We'll try it anyhow!” exclaimed Fair- weather Tom, ‘I would as soon fight my way to the lieutenant as not. I'll open the fight with my stern-chasers from where I stand. Look out§ my jaguar beauty!” A moment later the report of a pistol rung out on the night air, and one of the beasts sprung up with a death-bowl. The woman sbrunk toward the door and seemed about to rush into the house, ‘* Halt!” cried Tom. ‘ You’re no better than the cat I've kilied. When you rile Fairweather Tom, you shake upatyphoon. Halt! 1 say.” She turned with a half-tigerish growl and stood at bay. ‘‘ Where's the captain and his best officer?— Will you answer now?” said Tom, ‘* Ah! you have a good trailer at your feet,” was the answer as the Serpent glanced at the bloodhound, ‘‘ See! you bave put an end to one of the best friends I ever bad. Pedro my big jaguar is dead!” ‘*And the other one will follow suit unless I speedily find the lieutenant!” said Tom fiercely. The Serpent of the Tropics saw the blazing orbs of the man who now covered the living jaguar with his loaded pistol; she saw, too, the steady band that held the weapon. “Tr count five for you, Queen Jaguar!” con- tinued Tom. “Show me the trail to the lieu- tenant or lose the second game as you’ve lost the first. Here goes,” The Yankee began to count deliberately, and at the third numeral he saw the woman turn to the door. he next second it flew open, displaying a room dimly lighted by a lamp that sat in a niche in the side wall. ‘Find him! he is in there!” sbe said with & glance at Tom as she pointed inside, ‘‘ Il swear, American, that the two officérs are under this roof,” ‘* Alive?” “ Why not? I left them both so awbile ago,” The speaker made a movement to leave the spot, and Tom did not.interfere. “The Serpent of the Tropics will meet the jaguar’s slayer egain,” she said fiercely, * Allright. Call on this Yankee at any time and you'll find him the most accommodating son of a gun youever met. Take your jaguar with you; there’s a good robe on his body. Ah! off you are, eh? Good-night!” The discomfited woman made no verbal re- ply, but her looks were enough, If they had been arrows, the sailor of the Huntress would have been transfixed in the twinkling of an eye. He was eager to bound forward and search the stone house, which, like its immediate neighbors, seemed deserted, but he kept his position till the Serpent bad moved away drag- ging her dead pet after her, Then a bound carried Fairweather Tom across the threshold, and snatching the lamp from the niche he began his search, 4 Room after room he went through until the bloodhound which had guarded the entrance, came in and struck the trail to the underground apartment. “ At last!” cried Tom as he halted before the padlocked door. “If I find ’em dead inside, woe to the jaguar witch!” , He tried the heavy door but it was solid. ‘Who is there?” came from the depths of the place beyond the portal. ‘Tom himself. Ah! lieutenant, is it you?” “Me and the captain.”
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12 “Thank fortune, minute. I’m a thunderbolt when The Yankee sailor went up the steps a piece, then turned quickly and hurled himself against the door. To his astonishment it did not yield. “Pye got to havea battering-ram,” he said to the prisoners ou the inside, and up the steps he went. As he reached the floor above, he heard a sud- den growl, saw two flashing eyes, and felt the weight of a mad animal on his breast! The dead jeguey's mate! ‘*T trusted the jaguar witch too far!” flashed across Tom’s brain, and the next moment he went backward down the steps, feeling for his knife while the infuriated forest cat was at work on him with teeth and claws. It was the most exciting moment in Fair- weather Tom’s adventurous career. Vl get in to you in a I'm stirred CHAPTER XIII. HUNTERS AT HIS HEELS. Lvuoxky was it for the Yankee sailor that he had a friend and ally at hand in the shape of the huge bloodhound which had guided him to the stone bouse. All at once the dog took a hand in the mad conflict going on at the foot of the dodr, and the jaguar was forced to loosen bis hold and to turn his attention to bis new enemy. This timely help gave Fairweather Tom a chance to get at his knife, and at the first oppor- tunity he drove it hilt deep beneath the sleek skin of the spotted terror, ‘“That’s what you get for coming back where you had no business,” growled the sailor. ‘Mebbe your mistress is somewhere near. If she is, just let her interfere with my affairs and discover that she’s waked up the wrong gun- decker.” Tom found upon examivation that his hurts were by no means serious notwithstanding the juguar’s mad assault, ‘and assuring the two anxious men beyond the locked door that he was still in fighting condition, he started off again to find something strong enough to force the portal. Fortunately he found by aid of the lamp an iron bar with which he returned to his task, ‘When they baffle me they’ll know it,” he ejaculated, and he went to work at once on the door. Five minutes’ labor sufficed to prove that the portal of the underground prison was not im- pregnable, and as it was forced open two men sprung into the lamplight with exclamations of oy. ? “By Jove! alive for a fact!” cried Tom. ** Now, sir, we'll make the sea-trail hot for Cap- tain Cutlass.” Captain Fortuno and Manton gave Tom looks of amazement. ‘*Call me a fluke if be isn’t at sea again,” continued Tom, “‘ but that’s not the worst of it. He’s gone out with his same old crew in the Ocean Huntress.” **Gods, no!” cried Captain Fortuno, “TI left him safe under the palace.” ** And bis twenty-six Sea Spiders in the strong prison of Cartagena,” said Manton, **Oh, yes; but bold such fellows long if you ean,” grinned Tom. *‘Who rescued Captain Cutlaas?/—who but the jaguar woman of this rascally place?” Manton and bis captain exchanged hasty and meanful glances, The latter shut his hands till they bled, ‘““She guarded me to that cell with her jaguars!” he hissed. ‘“* Fool-like, I allowed my- self to fall into her snare; likewise Lieutenant Manton here,” Manton smiled. ‘We are free now,” he laughed, ‘‘ thanks to Fairweatber Tom,” “But our imprisonment has given Captain Cutlass the best ship that ever cut the waters of the Caribbean!” was the quick response, ‘*Woe to that woman if I everreach her! Once I thought [ loved her; now I know [I could throttle her.” Captain Fortuno looked like a madman. ‘We heard the guns even in our prison,” be said, ‘‘but heavens! we never dreamed that they announced Captain Cutlass’s departure in the Huntress! What ships are in the barbor?’ “Only one that can follow with the remotest chanoe of success—the Pearl of Peru.” ‘The gift of Cartagena,” said Manton. “The council will not let it go.” “Will not? It shall go despite forty coun- cils!” flashed the Spaniard, as he started off. **On an occasion like this the council sbould be in session now.” ‘* We will find them at the palace.” ‘* We?” and Captain Fortuno wheeled upon Fairweather Tom witha sternness that startled bim. ‘I will face that council. Lieutenant Manton, you and Tom will collect {our sailors and meet me in the Water Garden at the end of an hour. By the sword of the Cid! this ocean cbase shall begin ere morning breaks!” The captain of the Huntress did not give his companions a chance to reply, but left them to themselves without another word, and started toward the palace, The most eventful night in the history of Cartagena had entered upon its last quarter. Excitement had kept the people awake, and the streets were by no means deserted. Captain Fortuno the Spaniard took note of no one as he hurried along, bent on having an interview with the Council of Safety which was holding a protracted and excited session in the palace. All at once when least expected he burst into their midst like a thunderbolt, and stalked bold- ly to the center of the chamber. ‘‘T know what has happened, but I could not revent it,” be said in reply to the questioning ooks showered at him. ‘‘Captain Cutlass has escaped from the lion’s den; he bas reached bis piltage ground in the best ship that ever flew the flag [ serve. I have sworn that the Sea Spider shall perish in his web, that the waters shall be rid of their curse, that the crimes committed by Captain Cutlass shall be avenged on his own head!” The council having recovered from the sud- denness of the Spaniard’s appearance, received his words with a shout, ‘* We shall appoint you avenger,” said Major Barro, the advocate, still pale from his terrible experience in Captain Cutlass’s cell, “Good!” cried Captain Fortuno. ‘‘Give me what I want and I will throw Captain Cutlass into your clutches once more,” ““ What do you demand?” ** The Pearl of Peru—the vessel that lies equip- ped for the sea hunt under tbe guns of the forts.” The demand, astounding in its nature, seemed to drive every vestige of color from the faces of the members of the council. A grim smile wreathed the corners of the Spanish captain’s mouth while he waited fora reply. m We cannot do that,” said the major. ‘‘ When we accepted the ship at the hands of our sister government, we agreed ‘that it should ever lie in our barbor for defense only.” Captain Fortuno’s black orbs flashed with sud- den fierceness. “To the winds with the letter of the agree- ment!” he said, ‘Captain Cutlass, boastful and victorious, is at sea. He has pulled the flag of Spain from my topmast and in its stead flies the pirate’s pennon! To Hades with ycur agreement! Let me cutit with my cutlass, I will answer to Peru for its violation, Give me the armed vessel in the harbor, and ere morn- ing dawns Captain Cutlass will have an ocean bloodhound on bis track!” But not a member of the council stirred, not a word answered the audacious Spaniard. “Then he shall be hunted for private ven- geance!” be went on after several minutes of silence, “I go withont the sanction of the council too timid to speak when ic has been in- sulted. When I am on the seas I will forget that Cartagena has wrongs to avenge. I will think only of my own insults, and the wrongs of the gir) who transformed the Red Mogul into the Ocean Huntress. Keep your chairs, men of Cartagena, and plan against the Sea Spider; but never ask Captain Cutlass again for the service of his sword!” He started toward the door with his drawn cutlass flashing back the light that streamed from the brilliant chandelier that hung above the heads of the council. ‘*We will buy you a ship,” ventured Major Barro, the advocate, as he Jeft his chair, with approving nods from his colleagues. ‘“Buy one when a sea swallow rots in the harbor?’ was the disdainful rejoinder. ‘I will put to sea in the craft that suits me best, no thanks to the timid hares of Cartagena!” ‘‘We forbid you to leave the town without our consent,” said the advocate, madly. “Very well,” laughed the Spaniard, as he stopped at the door and with arms folded on his broad, chest looked down on the council. **T have faeed fiercer Jions than those in C.irta- gena before to-night. Arrest me? Very well, Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. hares of the city. Touch Ca you touch the King of Spain! The listeners recoiled in their seats, while the last sentence of the Spanish captain ended with a fearless laugh. ‘*Ho! bo! touch me, touch Spain!” continued Captain Fortuno, and with the insulting and triumphant laugh ringing in their ears, the men of the council saw the Spaniard walk out of their presence, There was a look of quick determination in the captain’s eyes while be walked from the palace with the astonished Council of Safety behind him. ‘‘There’ll be music in the air at daylight,” he laughed to himself. ‘‘ Look out, Captain Cutlass, The bloodhounds are sharpening their teeth for your flesh.” Just before dawn the sleepy sentries on the walls of tle harbor forts thought they saw the Peruvian vessel move slowly from her old anchorage. They looked the second time, and, concluding that they were mistaken, relapsed into the con- dition of unwatchfulness., At last they were roused by a wild cheer that came up from the water that slept placidly in the soft light of the morning stars, What did it mean? Only that the Pearl of Peru, the handsome ship intended for show, not for fight, had actu- ally crept away from their protecting guns, and was moving off with a stiff wind among the white sails! ‘‘This for the hares of Cartagena!” cried the man who stood on the quarter-deck of the Pearl and snapped his fingers at the vanishing lights of thecity. ‘Iam once more afloat. Captain Fortuno and his ocean serpents are on the buccaneer’s track! Ah! Manton, my boy, isn’t this glorious, and wasn’t it splendidly done?” Before Manton could reply a footstep fell upon his ears, and he turned to behold Lona Seward, beautiful and blushing, yet with triumph writ- ten on her features. ptain Fortuno and “What! you here?” he exclaimed, astounded.” * Why not! Isn’t this a hunt for vengeance? Have I forgotten the victim of the raft—my father? Never! I am going to be in at the death,” ‘* But how came you here?” *T overheard your plans for the capture in the Water Garden and J beat you on board; that is all.” of CHAPTER XIV. A DAGGER AT WORK. CAPTAIN FortTUNAS mission to the council had failed, but the coup which followed had proved successful. The Pearl of Peru, well equipped for an ocean chase instead of rotting under the guns of the forts, had got to sea again, and the man who commanded on her decks was Captain Cutlass’s greatest enemy. Tbe Huntress had the advantage of several hours’ start before a stiff breeze tuat sent her like a swellow acrcss the sea, but nevertheless the Spanish captain was in ber wake, Fairweather Tom was in bis element again. ‘*Treckon t!e next time we catch the ocean outlaw, he’ll not get away before I get my re- ward, eh, lieutenant?’ he said to Manton, sev- eral days after the inauguration of the chase, ‘*T hope not, Tom,” was the answer, ‘‘Cap- tain Fortuno promises to attend to that,” ‘* What does he intend to do?’ asked the stalwart Yankee sailor, quickly. ‘‘Look here, Mr. Manton,” be went on before the lieutenant could reply. ‘‘ By my toplights! I have sworn that Captain Cutlass goes back to Cartagena when we’ve caught bim. I want the reward that slipped through my fingers the other night, and I’m goin’ to haveit, No srretcbing at the yard-arm for Captuin Cutlass while I serve on this ship,” ‘* You forget the girl—Miss Lona, Tom,” ven- tured Manton. ‘* Bless her sweet face, I don’t forget her fora moment,” was the prompt response. ‘ There’s two women in this game—the cne on this ship and the Jaguar Queen, One’s an angel, the other’s a devil. I know bow Captain Cutlass has wronged Miss Lona—how he sent her father, tie mejor, adrift on the raft to die of thirst in the midst of water, She’wants revenge, while the other woman would die for tbe captain, But, lientenavt, Captain Cutlass goes back alive to Cartagena when we’ve caught him, The council will make Lona’s wrongs even.” Manton made no reply, but turned his glass toward the west where the sun was sinking inte the sea as it were. The shadow of the Peruvian vessel waslength-
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. | Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. 13 ening on the waves, and the young lieutenant knew that soon it would disappear altogether. Three days out from Cartagena before a brisk breeze, and no sight of Captain Cutlass yet. Captain Furtuno was ready for tis rival; the Pearl bad been put :n fighting trim and her crew were eager t» cross cutlasses once more with the Sea Spiders who were sailing in the vessel they bad called their ‘‘ ocean home,” “There won’t be a star to-night,” suddénly re- marked Manton looking up at the heavens as the last vestige of the sun dipped bebind the watery rim. “Then we must keep our peepers open, eh?” smiled Tom, “That we must. Once Captain Cutlass pounced upon us when we thought him a thou- sand leagues away, and it cost us some of our best men, too.” “He can’t do that in the Huntress,” the sailor answered. Manton smiled, ‘“‘Tam almost willing to believe that he can do anything,” he said. ‘* When we watch?” ‘* Even when we watch.” “There’s nothing on the sea now,” ‘Not a moving speck save the ship that car- ries us.” And with anotuer scrutinizing look over the vast expanse of darkening water the lieutenant turned away and left Fairweather Tom on watch, The night came quick and soon left the Pearl bowling along through a black sea. As Manton had said there were no stars in the sky, and the best glass was useless for an in- spection of their surroundings. All at once Fairweather Tom started as if he had heard a suspicious sound, It came from the starboard quarter of the Pearl, and was of a nature which cannot be in- telligibly described. All alert, the Yankee seaman listened, ‘Tt was something,” he said to himself, ‘I never miss a sound when in dangerous water. I beard something as sure as fate.” For twenty minutes the ship kept on with Fairweather Tom listening with all his might amid the gloom of his surroundings. ‘* Mebbe after all—” The sailor broke bis own observation abruptly and bounded to the vessel’s side. “Fool this son of the sea if you can!” fell triumphantly from bis lips. ‘‘ Come back into my clutches, Captain Cutlass, and get me the prize mouey you cheated. me out of before.” The next moment a step bebind him made the Yankee sailor turn, and he saw aslender figure, and caught the gleam of an uplifted knife, “Die, killer of the Serpent’s pets!” hissed a voice in his ear, and before the tar could throw up a hand to arrest the stroke, down came the dagger, and he dropped to the deck without even a warning groan. All this took place in the space of a second, or in the flash of an eyelash, as it were. ‘“‘Now come, captain, when you will,” said the victor, throwing a glance over the Pearl’s side, ‘* You will find some one on this prize to welcome you. What! are you out there now? Didn’t I just hear the noise of an oar?” Still clutching the knife, the speaker leaned over the Pear!l’s side and looked down, If the sound of oars had been heard it was not repeated, and after listening again, the slayer turned to Fairweather Tom, “Tie where you are and create some excite- ment on board this ship,” she said. ‘Til go back to the secret hiding-place which the Peru- vian builders of this ocean swallow must have made for me.” Two minutes later the deck was deserted by all save the motionless tar, and the Pear), which scarcely moved now for want of wind, remained like a huge bird sleeping on the surface of the sea, It was twenty minutes later when Roland Manton pushed open the door of Cuptain For- tuno’s cabin and entered. He found the Spaniard seated at his station- ary table with Sharts and some important pers before him, the whole scene revealed by the lamp that swunz over bis bead, But why did Manton suddenly spring forward and halt before Captain Fortuno as if he had made the most horrible discovery of his life? The next moment he was staring into the Spaniard’s face, and marking the blood-stains that were seen oa the silver embroidery of his velvet jacket! ‘My God! who has been here?” cried Man- ton in thrilling voice. ‘‘ What vile assassin have we carried to sea?” and he caught the ca tain’s wrist and felt the flickerings of a feeble pulse, For several minutes the young lieutenant stood spellbound in the cabin, holding the wrist ot Captain Fortuno, and staring into bis pallid and expressionless face. ‘‘T will find out who did this!” he suddenly exclaimed. ‘ The villian must be somewhere in the ship. He rushed from the captain’s cabin and ap- peared suddenly on deck. * Tom?” There was no answer. ‘Heavens! the koife has reached my best friend!” ejaculated Manton, as he stooped over the object bis foot had suddenly struck. A minute later the alarm was given, and the crew of the Pearl poured up from below, In a few words Manton acquainted them with what had happened, and their indignation was terrible. ‘‘There’s a mystery here which must be probed to the bottom,” said the Jieutenant, ad- dressing the assembled crew. ‘‘ Somewhere aboard this vessel the assassin lurks, Let every inch of space be searched, and when the demon is found, [ promise you that the yard shall bear the hangman’s fruit.” If Manton could bave penetrated the darkness that surrounded the Pearl] at that moment, he would have seen four boats pulling away with muffled oars. One of these boats, well filled with men, shot out from under the very bows of the Pear], and by good pulling joined the three which had been in the advance, And if he could have watched them as they swept over the surface of the sea with no more noise than the gull makes when on the wing, he would bave seen them pull up alongside a well- built vessel that lay motionless like bis own on the water. Like monkeys the occupants of the boats climbed up to the somewhat elevated deck, and the handsome, flashing-eyed man, who awaited them in dazzling uniform, exclaimed in tones of impatience: sf Well, what of the vessel over there, Spi- sf ‘Tt is the Pearl of Peru, Captain Fortuno.” ‘*Holy Dios! Then, by the gods of ven- geance, we'll show bim the hands of Captain Cutlass before anotber bour! Captain Fortuno, eh? The council gave him the Pearl in which to hunt us down! Very well, captain; but the hunted has turned hunter. The tiger bites the fool who treads on his tai).” ‘*But hear me through, captain. A knife has been at work on the enemy’s vessel.” “* Whose dagger?” cried Captain Cutlass, ‘‘That we do not know. Captain Fortuno has been struck—” “And killed?” ‘* Not quite.” ‘Then forward, before death throttles him! Are they not searcbiug the Pearl for the wielder of the knife?” sc Yes.” “Tben we will not be looked for. Ab! fools of the sea, when least expected Captain Cutlass comes. I pray that fortune will bold death at bay till I find you, Captain For'uno, What a debt I have to settle with you! And the person who has struck at your heart, captain? By the sea gods! I will send him to doom on the raft that has made the name of Captain Cutlass ter- rible!” As the captain of the Huntress, the merciless scourge of tropical waters, disappeared below, he was followed by his second officer, Lieutenant Dramon, who touched him on the shoulder at the foot of the ladder. , “Well, sir?’ demanded Captain Cutlass, whirling fiercely upon the officer. ‘ “The prisoner wisbes to see you. I promised to carry his request to you, and I do so pow.” For’ one brief moment the brow of the buc- caneer darkened, then cleared quickly, and Dramion saw his eyes snup. ¥ “fll see him,” he said, and the following min- ute he halted at a door whica he struck with his clinched hand. ‘“Come in,” said a voice on the inside and Captain Cutlass opened the door and entered. e had scarcely crossed the threshold when a man rose from a chair a few feet ahead, and an elegant cutlass fell ringing at the pirate’s feet. “Weare on an equality at last!” hissed the captain’s confronter, stepping forward with a similar weapon in his right hand. “If I am your prisoner, Captain Cutlass, I am not alto- gether harmless,” The Sea Spider seemed to have lost all power of volition, and stood like a person nailed to the oor, ‘‘Ha! ha! does my fortune amaze you?” a laugbed the other. ‘Come, exptain; pick up your cutlass and give Colonel Cristo a chance to fight a man equally armed,” Then it was that the captain of the burned Vampire stooped and snatched the cutlass from the floor, and threw a mad look over it at the cool man burning to meet him. “In tbe first place, Colonel Cristo, name to me,the man who armed you,” he said. ‘*’'m no traitor, Captain Cutlass,” was the an- swer. ‘Better for you, perbaps, if you had left me in Cartagena; don't you think so? But you thought [ would make love to the American girl if [I remained, and so you had to take meagainst my will to the vessel you surprised under the guns of the forts. Who armed me for this en- counter? Ob, no, mon ami; it wouldn’t do for Colonel Cristo to mention him here. Defend yourself!” The Frenchman rushed forward as be spoke the Jast word, but just then the door was flung open, and a pistol-shot filled the place, Colonel Cristo dropped his cutlass and stag- gered back with a mad curse, his sword-arm shattered at the wrist! CHAPTER XV. THE FRENCHMAN'S VENGEANCE, THE man who bad fired the lucky shot and who leaped into the state-room was Lieutenant Dramon. Captain Cutlass turned to him without a. sirgle look of thanks, but with a gleam of rage in his eyes, “Pick up tbat cutlass,” be said pointing to the weapon which had fallen from Colonel Cristo’s hand, Lieutenant Dramon stared at the Sea Spider and hesitated. ‘‘Take up the Frenchman’s weapon—the one you gave him sharpened for my skull!” con- tinued the buccaneer. The lieutenant cast bis still smoking pistol aside and stepped toward the cutlass, * Pick it up and let him cut you to the shoul- ders,” grated the wounded Frenchman, looking at Dramon, “For tbat pistol-shot I could blow your brains éut. Ab! it shall yet be Crigto’s day.” Biting his lips under bis mustache, the lieu- tenant picked up the weapon and turned on the sea rover who sprung forward with cutlass raised, ‘Now go at it,” grinned Colonel Cristo, ‘It. isn’t my fight, but I’m interested 1n it just the same,” For one brief moment the two cfficers glared at one another like tiger-duelists, and then the cutlass went to work, Colonel Cristo held his breath while he watched the mad duel, ‘* May the captain win!” he inwardly ejacula- ted, ‘“{ have a settlement to make with him. As for Dramon I bought the swords he fetched. me. There were a number of excited passes and a feint here and there, when all at once, with the fury of a tiger that cannot be met, the Captain of the Huntress leaped at Dramon, and the up- lifted cutlass came Fete with a fury that fora second stilled the Frenchman’s heart. It was a terrible blow. It beat down the arm and the blade that tried to stop it, and the traitor-lieutenant fell at Cristo’s feet, cut by the fury of that stroke clear to the shoulders, ‘‘ A traitor never stands long before Captain Cutlass!” laughed the victor, glancing at the wounded and horrified spectator of the brief combat. ‘‘When your wrist beals, my dear colonel, we’ll try conclusions with the blades. Til send my surgeon to your assistance. Keep cocl, aud bide your time,” “Vlldo that—never fear!” shot the French- man at the pirate, as he turned away. ‘* When I fail to come to time at your call, let the uname of Cristo be applied to cowards only.” With a final glance at the man he had eut through, Captain Cutlass vanished, aud appear- ed suddenly to the crew gathered on deck. ‘“Now, sirs, we will attend’ to the enemy,” he said, in a manner which did not indicate that aovthing unusual had happened below, but the next instant he touched the little surgeon on the arm and said, significantly: ‘‘The prisoner needs your services, doctor, Cure bim up for me !” ‘ If the buccaneer crew missed Dramon they did not ask Captain Cutlass what bad become of him; they knew better than to question impertinently the man they had obeyed for ears, Once more four boats were lowered with but little noise over the vessel’s side,
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14 Captain Cutlass, the Ocean oe Cer Cee ee Tce go. ctsd toeuste sigh aia Gax lank Bier on vekdoo han tele no wind for us to-night,” said Cap- tain Cutlass to the men, as he stepped into one of the boats, all of which were provided with muffled oars, ‘‘ We can’t charge down upon the Spanish spawn before a brisk breeze and strike bim when he least looks for us, but we can board him just thesame, The battle-cry of the Sea Spiders shall sound on his deck just the same.’ The boats pushed off with but two living souls on board the Huntress, the ship’s doctor and his patient. The buccaneers were armed to the tecth, and under their mad leader were ready to board the best-manned ship that ever cut the sea, ‘We're the guards left behind,” said the doctor to Colonel Cristo who satin a chair with bis arm bandaged and well dressed by the little man who had performed the same office for many others in his time. The Frenchman started and looked into the doctor’s face. ‘*Where are Captain Cutlass and bis sea crabs?’ he asked. **On the track of the best hater they bave— Captain Fortuno,” Is the Spaniard so near?” “Scarcely a mile away.” The answer seemed to convey incredible in- formation to the winged Frenchman. “* How long have they been gone?” he asked, oy doctor consulted his watch a moment and sai “Thirty minutes.” A sudden light impossible to describe flashed up in Colonel ‘Cristo’s eyes like the outburst of a voleano, ‘“‘It is my time already!” he said to himself. “‘By the demons of Vengeance! I will make them all sea orphans.” He lifted his left hand and for a moment seemed to measure with his eye the space be- tween him and the doctor. Then, all of asudden, his hand shot out as his body darted forward and bis fingers landed in the twinkling of an eye agaiast the target aim- ed at—the little surgeon’s throat! The attack was too sudden and fierce to be resisted, and, unable to shake off the mad clutch, the doctor went back ward to the floor! Of course he found the hand of Colonel Cristo still glued to his throat, Poor Doctor Santin gasped for breath and tried to tear loose the grip of the wounded vil- lain, but in almost less time than we have taken to narrate this incident, he was choked into in- sensibility, and Colonel Cristo arose panting and victorious. ** What can’t aman with one hand do when he sets his head?’ he said aloud. ‘My dear doctor, we are the sole guards of the Bantrase you say—tbe only Spiders left in the floating web! By heavens! the man of the mad cut- lass shali know that a shattered wrist: is nothing to Colonel Cristo, late of Napoleon’s Legion.” He tcok the lamp from its fastenings and left the state-room with the unconscious doctor for its sole occupant. There wasa blaze of demon fury in his eyes. Had the wound and his failure to revenge him- self on Captain Cutlass driven him mad? Spurred on by a desire for vengeance which bad taken full possession of his whole being, Colonel Cristo ‘seemed to forget his wounded wrist. ; He did not stop until he reached the upper eck With one hand he loosened the smallest boat found on the davits and dropped it over the vessel’s side, where he saw it right itself in the water, ‘‘Now for the vengeance of the Cristo blood! Now for the destruction of the Spiders’ web!” He went back to the lamp and made it light his way to the ship’s hold, Deep down amid its darkness he opened a door and revealed a Jot of old cordage heaped almost to the ceiling. ‘‘What is better than this?” he laughed. ‘Ob, when you get ahead of a Cristo, Captain Cutlass, the moon sweats blood!” It was the nica ag of a desperate man. All at once he raised the lamp above his head and with a cry of rage flung it upon the pile, The effect was immediate; the material caught as if it had been powder, and with a atin of burning che in his hand, Colonel risto lit his way back to the deck. Assisted by the rope which kept bis boat from leaving the ship, the Frenchman lowered him- self over the si e, dropped into the little craft, cut the rope with his knife and, despite his wound, ne: pale ed away. Good-by mon ami le Capitaine,” he ex- claimed. ‘‘ When you beat Colonel Cristo at his own game, the moon sweats blood!” The laugh that followed was that of a man who had carried his life in his own hands for thirty years. Every minute he glanced back at the ship he bad just left. Suddenly a flame leaped above the the deck. * At last!” he cried. ‘*sWhen Doctor Santin wakens he will think of me!” Higher and higher leaped the flames, and while Cristo watched them he heard the dip of oars behind him “Ab! the Spiders are coming back to the burning web,” he ejaculated. Dropping his oars he seized a pistol and waited, ‘“Tt is no use,” said a loud voice which he re- cognized as belonging to Captain Cutlass, ‘* The vessel is doomed to destruction. Spiders of the Sea, we must nut about and fight like devils for the other ship!” CHAPTER XVI. HARSH COMMANDS. It was the only alternative left the scourges of the Gulf. Colonel Cristo could see Captain Cutlass standing erect ia the bow of the boat, with the light of the burning vessel shining full on face and figure, “Back and fight for another web!” he said, in tones of command to his men. ‘In yon burning ship t.re two doomed men—Doctor San- tin and the Pesach villain. We can do notbing for them.” The four boats drew back from the lurid light thrown round upon the water, and waited for it to subside, Cristo turned his attention to the Huntress, For more than an hour the flames roared and cracked as they licked up the sea swallow, but it esas 784 ended in the explosion of the maga- zine, which sent a shower of sparks skyward, and then settled back into darkness again. ‘Tf I could reach the other vessel first, 1’d in- sure you a warm reception, Captain Cutlass, a hissed the Frenchman, and he involuntarily took up the oars, A minute later, however, he relinquished them with a curse of bitter disappointment, for bis wounded wrist had swelled terribly, and the pain was excruciating, **Go and find them prepared, anyhow!” he grated, glanci ing toward the four boats, ‘*I know you'll find Captain Fortuno ready for ou.’ Helpless now in mid-se1, among pieces of the burned ship, Colonel Cristo was obliged to settle back in his boat and calmly await events, He knew that Captain Cutlass and his Sea Spiders were creeping through the waters with mufflea oars toward the Pearl of Peru, within whose sides, as we have already said, starting scenes had just occurred. Every part of the vessel was being searched for the wielder of the dagger which had almost put an end to two lives, The sailors were burning with revenge, and woe to the would-be assassin if their hunt should unearth him. In the midst of the search Manton saw a flame leap above the sea over their starboard quarter. Higher and higher it sprung in its efforts to touch the sky, and then the tall masts of a ves- sel became visible. The American lieutenant could not repress a start. A ship so near? It seemed incredible, and yet it was true. ‘*Tt is Captain Cutlass’s work!” said the lieu- tenant, to the young girl who stood beside him on the deck, watching the grand spectacle af- forded by the burning ship, ‘‘ We are just be- yond the rim of the light. The fire does not reveal us, Ah! the captain does not dream that we are so near.” Lona’s eyes glistened with eagerness while she listened to Manton. ‘“‘T wish we could strike the blow fortune is dela ing,” she said. t will fall soon,” was the answer. ‘“What makes you think so?” “Are we notin the same waters with Captain Cutlass? Do we not look upon a piece of his work?” “Yes, but be may be gliding away at this moment,” ~ Fay awe us,” added Manton, hope we are to meet!” cried the girl. «yes, I invite Captain Cutlass to attack tbis ship. True, Hy ters Fortuno is at the threshold e sailors will not want for a of death, but t \ St OUR brave leader” And the fair girl gave Manton a look that made him blush to the temples. ‘“‘I would give my sword to discover who struck Tom and tbe captain those dastardly blows,” he said. ‘‘ We have searched every part of this ship but without result. If it contains found secret compartments, they have not been ound Have you any suspicion?” ‘*T cannot say that Ibave. If it had taken place in Cartagena I might justly suspect a cer- tain erson,’ be woman who lured you to the dungeon?” ‘‘Yes, the Jaguar Queen as Tom calls her. He says that she struck him to-night, but it cannot be. We didn't carry such a creature to sea with us.” Manton’s sentence was ended abruptly by the terrific explosion which put an end to the burn- ing vessel, and he saw Lona turn away with a deep-draw n sigh. “I wish Captain Cutlass would try bis hand on us,” he said, half under bis breath. ‘I Jon to cross swords with tbis Sea Spider. He wil never go back to Cartagena for trial if we meet him on the water.” ** Thanks,” said a voice so near that Manton started. ‘“‘l never forget for a moment the man he sent adrift on the raft—my father. By that act he made vengeance the daughter’s property. The ueebiigt would have replied, but the next moment the girl had disappeared and he was alone again. ‘The captain asks for you,” said one of the crew appearing that instant at his side, ‘Conscious at last? Thank fortune!” ejacu- lated Manton as he started below. When he entered Captain Fortuno’s state- room on tip-toe, be saw the Spaniard propped up in a chair and waiting for him with eager- ness. “This is what I got for being at ber feet once,” he said as Manton came up. ‘* My boy, you will find the Serpent of Cartagena. She is somewhere on board,” ‘“We bave searched the vessel thoroughly, captaiD; we—” ‘The match will find ber!” interrupted the captain, madly. “Fire will bring the rats from their holes.” Manton glanced at the ship’s doctor, who stood at the captain’s side. ‘Captain Foriuno’s mind does not wander,” the doctor said, ‘*No,” smiled the Spaniard, as he touched the lieutevant’s arm, ‘Get the boats ready. We wi!l find the Serpent who boasts that her sting is death.” Manton, brave and obedient to a fault, did not besitate. ‘Tt shall be done,” he said. He had scarcely finished when several loud shouts came down from the deck, and then the loud reports of pistols f owed. Ca tain Fortuno uttered a strange cry. eavens!” cried Manton, leaping toward the door. ‘* The Sea Spiders are again upon us!” “Then let this end it forever!” grated the wounded captain. CHAPTER XVII. VICTORY AND PEACE. ‘* Down with the Spanish spawn!” soared sky- ward as the Spiders of the Sea, headed by Cap- tain Cutlass, swarmed over the Pearl’s sides abe rushed to the hand-to-hand combat, The unsuspecting crew rallied in a moment, and the shock was bloody from the first, as cut- lass met cutlass in the weird light of the ship’s lanterns, and the men who bated one another so cordially contended for the slippery deck. “Death to the Water Spiders!” responded Captain Fortuno’s followers, notbing daunted by the old cry which had rung in their ears on several previous occasions, Mavton reached the scene of the desperate encounter in time to see his men yielding to the impetuous onslaught of the pirates who were now without a vessel. Without a moment’s hesitation he put himself at their head, and led them in person against the common enemy. To the single occupant of the, boat some dis- tance away the noise of; the sanguinary fight was delightful music, It allayed the pain that racked his nerves, and made bis eyes glitter with delight when he imagined Captain Cutlass cut down at the head of his desperate followers, The crews were pretty equally matched in int of numbers, and each one fought with that determination which Contmancds success, ) 1 . oe oe
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; rc a i a a Inch by inch the red decks of the Pearl were fought over with the ferocity that would dis- tinguish a battle between two ranks of jungle tigers. Captain Fortuno guarded by his doctor who stood near the door with a pistol in each band, was obliged to withhold himself from the fight, but bis eyes flashed with the old light of battle, and he clinched his bands while he listened to the uproar that came down from above. “Tf Manton is there I am satisfied,” the Spaniard said. ‘‘I know that young American lion, When he leads, victory fights at his side.” It was even so, If Captain Fortuno could have reached the upper deck when he uttered these words he would have witnessed the final charge led by Manton. “No quarter! Down with the Spanish dogs!” cried the buccaneers as they met the charge with the courags of old lions, “No quarter bo it, then!” responded Manton’s men. ‘Theres shall be no trails for piracy at Cartagena after this battle. Death to the red Sea Spiders!” That wild shock, most impetuous of all, was the last. For the first time since the opening attack, Manton found himself face to face with Cap- tain Cutlass, The recognition was instantane- ous and mutual, and at the same moment the two enemies darted at each other. The two cutiasses descending with great force met in mid-air, and the combatants, separated by the shock, recoiled several paces, “Come, boy, let us finish it!” cried Captain Cutlass. ‘*By the water-gods! I must have a ship to-night, and this one suits me well.” “ Get it if you can, captain!” shouted Manton, coming forward for a renewal of the en- counter. The next moment there rung out a voice which startled the two officers, **Call off your dogs of battle, Manton!” it said. ‘The man you face belongs to me,” Captain Cutlass saw the speaker before the young American, _ ‘Roza!’ he ejaculated. “I thought my chok- ing finished you in Cartagena.” _ “No, Captain Cutlass,” was the reply. “ That is what I got for freeing you from the dungeon under the palace—a band at my throat. I have seen the time when I would bave died for you; now I am going to seatter vour brains over the last ship you have boarded!” Manton saw a pistol go up and cover the breast of the buccaneer. The sight sent a thrill to his heart, ‘“No! That man is my foe!” he exclaimed starting toward the woman. ; Ere be reached her be saw the flash of a istol beyord where she stood and Captain Cut- ass reeled away! “The victim of the raft has been avenged!” said a voice at the sound of which the baffled Serpent turned, ““He belonged to me—to the Serpent of Car- tagena!” she hissed and the nexi moment she would have thrown herself upon the firer of the shot had not Manton clutched her wrist. Proudly erect, with victory in ber lnstrous eyes and a smoking pistol in her hand, stood Lona Seward. ‘‘ When that Sea Spider spins another web the world will know it!” she said, looking at the mavp in the embroidered velvet jacket, who lay on the bloody deck. ‘‘I have cheated tbe Council of Safety out of a captive; but I have also avenge’ my dead!” The sea fight was over when the beautiful avenger turned away, The Siders of the Wavo bad failed to secure anotb r fli.ting web, and the look that appear- ed in Cuptain Fortuno’s eyes when be was in- formed of the termination of the conflict, told that their career was ended. A few days afterward the people of Cartagena were astonished to learn that the Pearl of Peru had come back to her old moorings under the guns of the forts. At first there were loud threats sgainst the audacious Man who bad taken the ship away; but when they saw bim carried in a litter through the streets to face the Council of Safety and to tell it that Captain Cutlass would trouble the honest sea traders no more, and that the survivors of the last conflict had been swung off at the yard, they forgot all resentment and cheered bim to the paluce steps, ‘The good news made the council magnani- mous, and the Spaniard and his crew became the lions of the hour. The Jaguar Queen who bad dealt the two al- Captain Cutlass, the Ocean Spider. ; most fatal blows on board the pirate-hunter, / accompanied the visitors back to Cartagena, where she soon made her escape from custody and disappeared, It was said that, fierce as he was, Captain | Fortuno could not find heart to punish the woman he had loved, but who had deserted him for his old enemy, Captain Cutlass. Several days after tue doom of the buc- caneers, an English merchantman found a de- lirious man in an open boat drifting aimlessly on the water at the caprice of wind and wave. When he recovered sufficiently to talk, he made himself known as Colonel Cristo, late of the French service, and told how he had de- stroyed the Sea Spider’s nest. He was taken to Cartagena where he did not attempt to get into Lona’s good graces, as cer- tain events told him that a certain handsome young American sailor was ahead of him, and he left quietly after his wound healed, and died under Napoleon’s eagles at Waterloo. As for Manton, he made the beautiful avenger his wife, and returned to his native conniey, accompanied hy Fairweather Tom, who bore on his body to bis dying day the scar of the dagger wound inflicted by the Serpent of the Tropics! Captain Fortuno got a new sbip for his ser- vices to the merchant service, and whenever he entered the harbor of Cartagena, the forts ran up their gayest colors, and the brass guns belch- ed forth a salute, For it was all over! The flag of the Scourge of the Gulf floated no more wbere it once meant terror and death, and no more echoed over the waves this battle- cry: *‘ Down with the Spanish spawn!” THE END. Beatle's Half-Dime Library. BY JO PIERCE, 897 Rob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 5604 Five Pointa Phil 509 Jack Jagprers, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 638 Wreatling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward, 5641 Jeff Flicker, the Stuble Boy Detective, 5651 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam, 8, Hall.) 284 Old Rocky’s ** Boyeen;” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker, 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Raage. 275 Arizona Juck 3 or, Giant George's Pard, 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant Goorge’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop. Ker-whoo? or, The Tarantula of Taos, 827 sreening Cat, the Cuddo; or, The Red and White Pards. $82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf or, Big-Feot Wallace to the Front. 857 The Ranch Raiders; or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Chiota, the Creek 3 or, The Three Thunderbolts 881 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front, 892 Romeo and the Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Daisy from Denver. 427 The Three Trallera; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, BY J, C. COWDRICK. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold b tues or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Petective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a ame 424 Cibuta Johny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, 606 Redlight Ral o the Prince of the Road. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle, 524 The Engineer Detective 586 Broadway Billy’« ‘ Diftikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. BY MAJOR E, L, 8T. VRAIN. 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 8°28 Brimatone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand.” BS Pe os eee Beawe, the Youny (hin n Wrestie’. 871 Kingbolt Chria, the Young Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountsin Mail-Line. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 7S Blue Dicks or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution. £89 The Gold-seeker Guide ¢ or, The Lort Mountain. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Aaa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 2&2 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quarizville. $11 The Roving Sport; or, The Prise of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the Tretective; or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta, 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, Tha Montana Vigilantes. 15 BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers. 66 Single Handy; or, A Life fora Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Glants« of Nowhar’. 408 Cactus Burr, the Man trom Hard Lack. HST Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow, 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Drend Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The ‘Tiger of Tuon; or, Dandy Kock’s Angel. 15 The Mad Miner}; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, BL The Golden Handy; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 64 Dandy Reck’« Pledges or, Hunted to Death. 78 Dandy Rock's Rivals or, The tiaunted Maid of Taos, BY PHILIP 8. WARNE. T Patent-Leather Joe: or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer & Capra Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 8 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Defent. 19 Pespard, the Duellat; or, The Mountain Vempires. 88 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. 68 Little Tornado} or, The Outcasts of the Glen. 78 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. BSS Little Oh-my ¢ or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo Fly or, A Race fora Ranch, 408 Little Leather- Breeches ¢ or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. | 627 The Jolly Pardes to the Rescue. BAT Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 20 The Dumb Pa ef or, The Doge's Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders. 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea, 200 The Boy Bedoutns; een nie ers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wollgan the Robber of the Rhine. 249 M fio Meeer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer} or, The League of the Jungle, B81 Tlack Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glasa-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Mazel, the Boy Trapper. , 56 Nick W hifflen’s Pets or, Ir The Valley of Death, 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt ef the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’« Cabing or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buekram ; or, Beas, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Pets; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Lost Hunteras or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King: or, The Human Thunderpolt, BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM. 440 Tittle Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 1158 The Sure-Shot Parda, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORA, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters, By Capt, Mayne Reld and Frederick Whittaker. ? Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’sa Travels. By Dean Swift, 14 Aladding or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Ilustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Saflor. His Seven Voyages, 22 Tse Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan ew is. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribevs, By S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena, By Frank S. Finn. BN Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By"Texas Jack. 51 Fhe Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Carp. By Archie C, lrona. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Misaisaippt. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Uutiawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive., By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave ef Denth. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tipp » the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George eraon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendlesa Boy, By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Duaky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel. lowatone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus, Fearnaught the New Yirk Boy. By George L. en. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; »%r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff. By Captain Comstock. B1T Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu- tenant Alired Thorne, 828 The Sky e*ective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honos, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Ned Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s Re- venge, By Ned Buntline. 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris, 874 Gold-uss Tom; or, Ben’s Double Match. By George H. Morse, 876 California Joe’s First Trail. By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery, 418 Blily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F. S, Winthrop. 475 The Black Ships By John S, Warner, 484 Comanche Pick and His Three Invinelbles, By Henrv J. Thomas. B28 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport. Py Arthur F. Holt, B82 The Cowboy Pale. Py Kiwin Brooke Forrest, B52 Aricl, the Athlete. By David Druid, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library i» for sale by ai newsdealers five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMA, ublishers, 98 William Street, Now Yorks
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BEADLE'’S+ H ALF- ])IME*[_IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. ace re rt mm Nn PRT a ae ae No Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 85 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval, 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha eg or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 5? Deadwood Dick’s Kagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine. 77 Corduroy Charlie; or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, ‘he Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 poosweod Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch. 188 Blonde BIL; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwoed; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s« Dream; or, The Rivels of the Round. 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture, 217 Captain OCrack-Shot, the Gir) Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sain; or, ‘The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romunce of Rough» and Toughe, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spir.t ef Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of regen, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- ings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 poeaweos Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro ate. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 pendwaed Dick’s Diamonds ; or, The Mystery of Joan orter. 421 Deadwood Dickin New York; or, A “ Cute Caso,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 4485 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 meat Sam, o! Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Full and, 459 Flush Fan, the Verret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 y fle. Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Raeket at Claim 16. 471 Bozeman BII1; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476 Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Dog Detective. 481 Moll Myatery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. 496 Monte Criato, Jr.: or, Dendweod Dick Jr's Inheritance. 5600 Deadwood Dick’s Diggiugs 3 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. 508 Deadwood Dick's beliverance, 515 Deadwood Dick’s Pretegeec. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks. 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 5839 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild Weat Vidoeq. 549 Dendwood Dick on His Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick In Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadeiphia, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 89 Death-Fuce, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Bey Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Ritle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Koy Detective. 80 Rosebud Rob : or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phete» ei PhH; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 6 W ater Eye 3 ¢r, Arabs ond Angels of a Great City, Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport, Bonanza Bill, Miner. Boas Bob the King of Boothlacka, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 45 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s oss Jod. 61 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 77 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 81 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. ° 09 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo tan, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 elecra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. : 248 Sierra Sam’s Seeret; or, The Bloody Fostprints. 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angel ot Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sain’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 285 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. e 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detoctives of Philadelphia. 880 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer, 889 tore Kit’«s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 8658 Zone Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery of Lj 8 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Neds or, The Secret of Slab City. 882 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. B85 Yreka Jim's Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bicycle Bén; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode. 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 Wigh Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabaldosa, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 456 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon, Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Colmes Secut, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado ; or, The Trapper’s Trust. sk pa kp rk PRwwommc ee kd BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete 3 or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick 3 or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A ‘Trump Card 3 or, Wil!) Wildtire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Tand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers. 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner}; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock, 25 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps? or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail. 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound3; or, The Young Thoroughbred, B05 Paskawsy, of Dakotas or, A Western Lad in the Quaker sity. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard. B67 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard. 408 firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective, 428 The Lost Finger}; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Lo, an, the Pinkerton Ferret, 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 666 The Secret service Boy Detective. BY OLL COOMES, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. BL Keen-Kuife, the Prince of the Prairies. Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. ZL Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Marry the Young Tiapper R .nger. $8 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 84 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 48 &ear-Face Saul, tie Silent Hunter. 46 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 58 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 68 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 7S Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 202 \*roapect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters. 208 The Boy Hercules: or, Tle Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, ‘Irspper Tom’s Castle, 228 Little Wildfire, the Y: ung Prairie Nomad, 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide: or, Wild Reven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, RTP Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Roy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon ¢ or, Ruainbelt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Bow Ranchero, 409 Hercules; er, Dick, the Boy Ranger, 417 Webtoot Moxe, the Tramp Detective, 422 Baby Sam, the Roy Giant ot the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedtoot Fred or. Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. —— BY T. ©, HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th» Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; +, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jacks or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trafi. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack; or, The Boy Trapper. - 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. 128 Kiowa Oharley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.z or, The Bey Vivilante. 155 Gold Trig er, the Spert; or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tomy or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkanaaw ;: or, The Que n ot Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Bey Gold Hunter, 215 Captain Bullets or, Little Tonknot’s Crusade, 231 Plueky Phil; or. Rosa, the Re! Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, Tle Rooghs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli , tne King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winehs; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dans or, ‘The Bowie Blade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Buily, 816 Old Eeclipae, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or. The Terror ot Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitileas Matt; or, Red Thunderhol:’s Secret. B56 Cool Sam und Par’; or The Terrible Siz. B66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 8X6 Captain Cutlass; or, | he B ccuneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or, The ‘win Champions of Blue Blazes. 411 The Silken Lasso} or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Pinsh, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. AT? The Excelsior Sport: or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Lyed Sport. 502 Branded ya the Night Ferret. ~ 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows, 588 Podger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Podger Dick’s Double; or, Tle Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodger Dick’« Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Ply ing Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Roy, tie Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk j or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, a 62 The Shadow Ship; or. The Rival Lieutenanta, 7% The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea- Wolf. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuygier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar pig vor: or, The Hermit of Heil Gate, 197 Little Grits or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Gleve Sport, 216 Bison BALL, the Prince of the Reins, 245 Merle, the Middy ; 250 The Midshipman Mutineer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 The Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure Isluna, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 merle Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chuse of “The Geld . Mp. 280 Merle Monte’« Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirste’s Bride 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito. the Boy Bugler, 808 Keno Kits or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 zhe Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Leng rail. 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover}; or, The Flagless Schooner, 885 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Isiand, 887 Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawall, the Boy Lientenant. 402 Iaodor, the Young Conspirator ; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild YVachtaman; or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, Tie Corsair. 487 The Seca Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly § or, A Middy’s Ver geanee. 446 Haphazard Harrys or, The Senperrsce of the Fen, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferre of New York. 451 Wizard Will's Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or. The Sailer Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard, 488 Ferrets Aflonts or, Wizard Will's Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy 3 or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman. 611 The Outluwed Middy,. 520 Buckskin. BILL, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 580 The Buckskin Bowers, 585 The Buc skin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rie, 545 Licutenant Leo, the Son of Latitte. 550. Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Soa. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BIL, the Prairie Shadower, 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowatone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bills or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 ustane Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Mawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Doshi or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unnaska. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City, 810 The BRarranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thicves’ League. 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Woodx«: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail. 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. B71 Air-Line Luke, the Young Engineer. By J. C. Cowdriek. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. By E. L, Wheeler. 578 The Two Shadows. By T. C. Harbangh. B74 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. By P. S. Warne. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. By Colonel Prentisr Ingrahain, 576 The Silver Sport, By Lieut, A. K, Sima, 577 Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, By Jo Pierce. B78 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. By Edward L. Wheeler. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party- By J. C. Cowdrick. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 581 Ene Seer ¢ Dan, the Pitcher Detective. By George C- Jenks. 5R2 Dodger Dick’s Drop. By T. C. Harbaugh. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow. By Lient. A. K. Sine. 5S4 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Exton. BS6 The Buckekin Avenger. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. BST Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. By Wm. G. Patter. BSS Jack-o-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. By Jo Pierce, 589 Tom-Cat and Purd; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. By Lieut. A. K. Sims 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s., Decree. By E. lL. Wheeler. 591 Delmonte. the Young Sex-Rover. By Col. P Ingraham. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. By J. C. Cowdrick. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. By P. 8. Warne, 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. By T. C. Harbangh. 595 Dendwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin, By EF. L. Wheeler. Ready December 18. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. By Chas. Morris. Ready December 25. 597 The Young Texan Detective. By Col. P. Ingraham. Keady January 1. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective, By Geo, C, Jenks. Ready January 8. : 599 Jim Dandy, the No-Name Sport. By P. S. Warne. eady January 15, 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island. By Edward L. Wheeler, Ready January 22, A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Walf-Dime Library ia for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers. 98 William Street, New Vers.