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Show Bafitte (sf 13 loxjisiaiva. J BY ARV gEVEREVX ' 1 riTTH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DON C. WILSON (GfynjAt, SCO, IMfk-. Sncnn Omar C4I &Vt liowro? CHAPTER XII. ' An hour before Bunset tho fog rolled up, revealing tho man-of-war anchored near enough for tho mon on her dock to bo seen plainly without tho aid of a glass. Tho anchors of both vessels wero raised nt once, nnd tho chnso was renowed, with tho pursuer not a mllo nwny, and heading nbout southwest, south-west, which would soon bring her within rnngo of tho brlgantlno, whoso courso lay duo west. A curl of smoke soon roso from tho Englishman's deck, nnd a fow seconds later there camo tho report of a gun. "A pressing Invitation for us to show our colors," remarked La-fltto, La-fltto, as ho watched tho shot strlko tho water. A short tlmo passed, with tho "Black Petrel's" crow uneasy nnd Iopcz swearing softly In his nntlvo tonguo. Tho pursuer then began a moro persistent per-sistent firing with her bow-guns, but nono of tho shots reached their mark. Presently Laflttc, who wns standing near Lopez, asked quietly, "How would 'a shot work now? Try, nnd see." Tho old gunner, with a shout duo to his long repressed feelings, sot about leveling his gun, calculated tho distance, dis-tance, nnd obtnlncd tho proper elova-tlon. elova-tlon. Thcro wns a report, soon followed by a trembling of tho enemy's spars; and tho brlgantlno's crow crowded to sco tho result. "You havo struck their foremast, Just below tho futtocks," nnnouueed Laflttc, looking through his glass. "Aye, sir; and I will sing them another an-other such sweet song" said Lopez coolly, watching his men reload tho gun. Tho cnomy had mcantlmo como n llttlo closer, and was dropping shot viciously about tho brlgantlno. "Lopez, mako hasto with tho gun I" srlod Laro, with an oath. "Give them l doso such as will set thorn to repairing re-pairing damages, and" turning to tho :row "should sho got closo enough to try any tricks with grappling-irons, havo tho cutlasses ready, my hearties. And remember thnt it is no quarter." A sound, halt roar, half snarl, came from tho men; and tho noxt moment thcro was a whistling nmongst them hs a cnnnon-bnll struck tho bulwark In front of Laro, filling tho air with bits of wood, and then glancing Into the water. A largo, sharply pointed picco of ragged wood struck him In tho side, and with a cursing cry Jio sank, faco downward, upon tho deck, tho blood from his wounds spnttertng thoso near-ost near-ost him, soveral of whom had been hit by tho Hying splinters. Lnfltto sprnng forward, nnd placing his arms nround tho quivering form, turned tho distorted faco to tho nlr. Thqn, looking up at tho gunner, who was staring wildly at tho sight, ho cried, "Flro, Lopez, as you novcr flrod before!" A prompt dlschnrgo followed tho ordor, and a wild shout of Joy wont up from tho crow of tho "Blnck Petrel." Pe-trel." Tho enemy's foromnst was again struck, this tlmo with disastrous, effect, ef-fect, ns could be readily scon; for her crow wcro getting tho sails off with all posslblo speed. Her fore-royal nnd top-gallant Balls woro clewed up, and tho topsall-ynrd lot go by tho run, whllo tho mast wns swaying perceptibly. percepti-bly. I.nro, by Lnfltto's command, had been homo to tho mnln cnbln, where ho wns lnld upon n dlvnn; and tho 'jrlgnntlno had been ordorcd to como to anchor. Tho onomy had already lono this, nnd, In her present crippled condition, thero was nothing to fear from hert ns tho dlHtanco botweon tho vessls wns too great for ndvnntngo-ws ndvnntngo-ws firing, oven had tho Englishman oeon in proper form to contlnuo tho light. Laro wns breathing heavily, In brok-sn brok-sn gnsps; and beckoning to Lnfltto, ho askod to havo sent away thoso who wore about him, still striving to chock tho blood that flowed so freely as to soak tho rod of tho divan until It showed black, lnfltto sent tho others away, and sitting down by tho dying man, took co of tho hands that wore already growing cold. "Jenn, you will tnko enro of Ia-zallo?" Ia-zallo?" And Laro's black oyes, tholr mockery forever slnln, looked nt him with appealing wlstfulncss. Lnfltto nodded, and pressed tho hand ho held. "She will havo plenty of wealth, ns you know; see thnt it is delivered to her safely, and kept securely afterward. after-ward. .Take tho girl away, Jean; tako her to tho nuns, In New Orleans, ns I should havo dono before this; nnd do you nnd sho havo tho church say masses for my soul. My soul!" ho repeated, re-peated, In a quick gasp. "To whero will my soul go?" As Lnfltto's lips parted to speak, tho dying mnn, as It divining whnt ho might bo nbout to say, crlod with a midden burst of strength, "No, no, boy; try to tell mo no Boothlng Host Living, I novor know fear; and dying I scorn Itl Ah Madro do Dlosl Christ havo mercy I" And with this last cry, Laro's volco was stilled forever. Lnfltto's heart repeated tho prayer, as ho folded tho dead, man's hands ncrosB tho broad chest; and scarcely 'had ho dono this when ho was startled by tho nolso'of n commotion abovo him. Stopping only to draw a blankot over tho face and form of tho dead, ho went on deck, where a number of excited ex-cited men woro gathered on tho sldo toward tho enemy. His glnnco had already al-ready followed tho direction of tholr eyes, nnd ho saw ono of tho "Black Petrel's" smallest boats being rowed by tho Indian, Ehowah, toward tho English vessel; and clinging to it, whllo his hoarso voice poured forth a volley of menacing wordB, was Lopez. Lopez had loosed ono of his hands from tho boat's gunwale, and drawing his knife, hurled it at tho Indian; but Ehowah dodged, and it fell Into Uio sea. He then rowed on, nnd Lopez, no longer shouting, attempted to draw himself, ever tho stern of the boat. With a cursing cry he sank. At this, tho Indlnn had stopped rowing, row-ing, and struck tho gunner over tho head with an oar, continuing tho blows until Lopez released his hold and sank fremi sight. A boat which had been lowered from tho English ship" was now seen pulling rnpldly to where Ehownh, still pausing, appeared walling for tho gunner's gun-ner's body to rise. This It soon did; Bnd tho Indlnn, showing nn ngilo strength ono would not havo accredited to his slight frame, drew It Into tho bont. Tho crow of tho brlgontlno saw Ehownh Eho-wnh parley with tho men from tho enemy's vessel, nfter which ho rowed In their company to ttio man-of-war; and Lnfltto, wntchinK through his glass, saw tho form ot Lopez cnrrlod aboard In their midst. Lnfltto, bidding GariMno nccompany him, went below, to Lnro's cabin. Gn-ronno Gn-ronno lit tho brass lamp swinging over tho small table, nnd tit'lied to Lnfltto, who stood looking nboi t him, ns If for snme sign of Ehownh's rreacherous Intention, In-tention, when tho glOHn of n gold band, finnglug over Laro's bunk, cnught their eyes. It was a bracelet whl .h tho Indian had always worn upon 1 ta nnked arm slnco the day I.nro pla :cd it thcro, In a burst of gratitude tf- Ehowah for Imvlng bnved his life. Both I.atltto nnd Gttonno knew onough of tho Indian's Irlbo-loro to understand that. thlH wM) Ehowah's mtitu announcement ot i! ided friendship friend-ship and loynlty. "Ho doubtless stole In hero to perform per-form what to him wns n religious rlto, , nnd having hung Laro's g ft where wo found It, went his way, mtondlng to nttompt that which ho .ins now accomplished," ac-complished," mused Lnfl'to aloud. Then, ns If Btruck fy nn nf tor-thought, tor-thought, ho wont to Lnr'Vs bunk, nnd throwing nsldo tho rich 'Iraperles, disclosed dis-closed n heavy wooden )")ckor. Its lid was, contrar) to custom, locked; and whon Lnfltn oponed It, n disarranged collection t papors hnd canvas bags showed wl'hln. "It Is as I supposed-not a coin nor Jowel touchod, but clirtrts and papors gone that are ot mcTo Importance than all tho valuables. Tho rascal knows the way to the Barra do Hlerro; ntxl ths. charts ho has taken will In-farm In-farm others, showing them where to fluit what now belongs to tho Senorlta Laznlle." ilnronno, forgetful of his usual re-strAtnt re-strAtnt when In Ijifltto's presence, now brcko forth Into a flood of curses, which tho latter checked at onco. Tho mato turned to tho cabin door, whero ho paused, and asked In a volco trembling with tho nnger ho dared not show, "Havo you any orders for mo, captain?" Hfl ''None, savo to lot tho men havo tholr supper at onco, and sco to It that only halt-allowanco ot grog is Borvcd. Tho fog Is coming In, nnd we will sail as scon ns may bo." fl Llko nn army of shrouded gliosis, tho fog wns again nbout tho "Black Petrol," enclosing her In n world' where sho was tho solo tanglblo thing. But, as over a path familiar to blind oyes, tho hands that manned her could shnpo an unerring courso for tholr secure haven. Long before midnight sho was feel-Ing feel-Ing her way north, ioward tho mouth of tho treacherous channel thnt would bring tho crew to their Island strong-hold, strong-hold, tho Barra do Hlerro. Tho early morning air was heavy with odors of aromatic shrubs grow-ing grow-ing beyond tho bench, nnd tho enrol ot wakonlng birds was filling it with music, when Lnfltto came ashore, leav-Ing leav-Ing Gnronno In charge of tho brlgan- His course lay Inland, at first over wnsto Holds, and then cultivated ones, ot BUgar cane, coffco and tobacco. Then camo somo banana and fig plan-tatlons, plan-tatlons, Intorsperscd with groves of palms and cocoanut trees, until, after a walk of twenty minutes, ho reached a clearing In which stood many small huts, evidently dwellings; and apart from theso roso tho walls of a stono building, surrounded by a high wall, with circular towers at tho nnglos. Lnfltto crossed tho open spaco, and stopping before a stout oaken door In tho wall, called for admission. But thoro wns no response; and, after a longer sllenco than suited his humor, he foil to striking upon tho door, whllo ho called still louder. This resulted In its soon bolng opened cautiously, to show a stalwart giant, whoso black faco and naked arms showed all tho darker by con- trast with tho whlto cotton of his rat- mont, draped In n barbaric fashion H that told of its not having known IM thread and needle. "My young captain!" ho exclaimed' In Spanish, a pleased surprise lighting his gravo faco; and catching Lafltto's hand, he kissed It ns the lattor re- plied, "Greetings to you, Ezrah. Is It all well horo?" H "Yes, my young captain. All Is well; but 11 will bo more' than well, now that you havo returned." Lnfltto waited until tho Arab (for such ho was) had closed und barred tho gate; and then, In a. few words, ho told him ot what had taken place, ndding thnt Laro's body would . t . brought ashore later in tho day, for burial. Ezrah listened with a fnco Miowlns no emotion whatever, savo perhaps that of anger that tho nation his mas.-tor mas.-tor had taught him to hate should havo been tho means of tho fornior's His young mistress, tho Senorlta v Lnzallo, was ot courso not yot awako; 1 nnd Lnfltto, nfter bidding tho Arab to leavo hor undisturbed, went to bis own npartmonts. Lnznllo was now olxtcon; nnd, slnco 11 leaving a convent school In Sevlllo, two years before, her entire tlmo had been passed upon tho Barra do Hlerro, to which Laro her only living rein- Uvc had brought her, and whoro sho had sooniod fully contented with hor luxurious nnd inucpenueni mo, sssssi Laro, ot necessity, passed much ot his tlmo away from the Barra do H Hlerro; nnd, during his absence, La-zallo La-zallo was its head and ruler, except whon Lnfltto found it necessary to H visit tho Island. Then the Spanish H girl gavo placo and with ontlro will-Ingncss will-Ingncss to tho mnn whom, from their first meeting, sho hnd loved with all tho fervor ot her uncurbed nature (To bo continued.) H |
