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nostrils. Its eff«i?*^'^**'y*hrouKhJhe "o Creamlrv a' '^'^•""^Mtof the On». "
»r" ly wonderful ^*.?'*.'ny breath wa^ Ba'm beait^i,^'''°<='at'on. savs'Slfi'
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much. It ii^ iJ*',^.^ wy catarrh ver^ B f^''"«»»s. MontrMl ^*'°"' '^''o^Sf
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f'^LFORD&ca,

"" »re« on appiicauoi,, . '

1.4 VI

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■^

««■«

■■

DOMINION"

PIANOS

AND

ORGANS

In Tone
In Touch
In Sweetness
In DurabiKty
In Workmanship

Holds more Qold Medals and Awards than
any other Piano in Canada.

WARRANTED IN EVERY RESPECT.

Five Years' Guarantee with Each Instru-
ment.

LOWBST PRICKS. EASY TERMS.

Sole Aj^enoy

Toronto Temple of Music

J. S. POWLEY A CO.

68 King St W. - Toronto, Ont.

fWl^il""*!^

*^^^mm

•u *

COMMODORE JUNE.

G. MANVILLE FENN,

Author of •• The Parson o' Dumjord^

Entered aocordiaf to Aet of the PMrliameat of OMuula in the year om'
fthonaand eight hoadred and eighty-aiae, hj Willum Bmoi, ia Um'
Ofiee of the Miaiater of Agricaltttre.

TORONTO:
WILLIAM BRYCE, PUBLISHER.

CONTENTS.

-•o»-

CHAPTER I.
Dowir nc Bivoir » •..•••

C5HAPTER n.

At thb Coitaob

CHAPTER m.

At thb Chueoh Dock

CHAPTER IV.
A Month Later • • . *•

CHAPTER V.

A Keen ENCounrBB

CHAPTER VI.
Bkovoht to Book . . <■ • • . i • • • •

CHAPTER Vn.

Oathbkino Clouds

. . 42

CHAPTER VIII.
Maby Begins to Plan • . . 46

CHAPTER IX.
Bxhind Pkxson Bars ♦ ♦ . . 61

CONTENTS.

VAOB

CHAPTER X.
A Darino Tbiok 64

CHAPTER XI.

IV THB PlANTA. ION 69

CHAPTER Xn.
In Dbadly Pbrxi. 69

CHAPTER Xin.
Thb Pvbsvit . 88

CHAPTER XIV.
*'MASTsa Jack" Ill

CHAPTER XV.
Amothbr Escapb , • • • . 120

CHAPTER XVI.

HFTER A LaPSB . . . . . . • . . . 140^

CHAPTER XVII.
Thb Gibbet. 3pit . . 160

CHAPTER XVIII. . '
A HoRBiBLB Tabk 166

CHAPTER XIX.
Thb P.ist of the West 176

CHAPTER XX.
Thb Pihatb Chasb 170

CHAPTER XXI.
'Phb Blaci^ Schoonbr ......... 182

■ fmtmmmmmm

CONTENTS.

rAUt
CHAPTER XXII.

Ifiws AT Last \M

CHAPTER XXin.
Captain Hvmpheby Comu-to 200

CHAPTER XXIV.
Tai Phison Lifb 211

CHAPTER XXV.
Plans or Escapi 220

CHAPTER XXVI.
Undbb Another Rvlb 233

CHAPTER XXVII.
DiNNT Consent* 245

CHAPTER XXVni.
Another Duel 254

CHAPTER XXiX.
The /jbsassinb 258

CHAPTER XXX
DiNNT*s History . 272

CHAPTER XXXI.
The Plan of Escapb 278

• CHAPTER XXXIL
Thb Explosion . 282

CHAPTER XXXIII.
On the Qui Vite . , . , t i -< , t , 2f9

tK)htKNTfl.

CHAPTER XXXiy. ^^*

Tub dArisT pLAoi ; ; * . . 892

A FftiSH Ai.Amii

CHAPTER XXXV.

808

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Oni PEuoim FuB * . tli

Ih nu Yavlt

CHAPTER XXXVII.

831

CHAPTER XXX Vm.
Lam WoRSf ••.U^

•• V

.* I

•v. . ■ .'.'■-

\ !

•:i-.\-. .'l ..'

■*•

.•' ',

. I •'tY. •••• "'t^

■■

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Dr. Morse's Indian
Root Pills.

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. — ■ . -— .

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Dr. Morse's Indian

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Cured of ladigMlioa and Headach*.
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W. II. COMSTOf-R.

Dram Sim,— Morsk's Ixtdiam Root
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For monthi I suffered from Indigestion
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Danikl Homan.

What Morse's PiUs are thoaght of at
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Riverbank, Jan. 31, 1887.
Mr. Comstock.

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Mrs. Mary Hollis,

Agent

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W. H. COMSTOCK,

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BBOCKVILLE, - . • • ONTABIO.

Commodore Junk

-•o«-

CHAPTER I.

. DOWN IN DEVON.

** Then you're a villain I "

" Nonsense, Mary ; be reasonable."

" Reasonable, Captain Armstrong ] I am reasonable, and
1 am telling you the truth. You are a villain ! "

" Why, you foolish girl, what did you expect 1 " . .

" That you would be an officer and a gentleman. One*
more, is it true that you are going to bo mai-riod to that
lady 1 "
. ** Well, you see " •

" Answer me, sir." * •

" Oh, well, then, yes, I sup])Oso I am.*

" Then I repeat it, James Armstrong, you are a villain ! **

" What nonsense, you fierce-looking, handsome termagant !
We have had our little pleasant chats and meetings, and now
we'll say good-bye j»leasantly. I can't help it^ I have to
marry ; so you tjo and do the same, my dear, and I'll buy you
a handsome wedding-dress."

" You cowardly, cold-blooded villain ! " •

" Come, come, my good cirl ; no more stronjr words.

pleasQ

Don't spoil a pleasant little intimaoy by a vulgar quarrel. '

Pleasant little intimacy ! "
Why, what did you expect 1

I \\

« Ifv

-#M

COMMObOKK JL'NK.

I !

I I

"That you were wooin;* mc? *o be your wife."

" A captain in tlie KiiigV Navy marry the daughter of ail
old wrecker, the nhUir of as utter u Hmiiggling scoundrel as can
bo found about this port of Dartmouth ! "

•'When a girl gives her heart to the man who comes to her
all soft words and smiles, do you think she remembers what he
is 1 It is enough for her that she loves him, and she believea
ail he Hiiys. Oh, James, dear James ! forgive me all I've said,
and don't 8(;nd me adrift like this. Tell me it isn't true."

"There, that's enough. You knew as well as I did that
there was nothing serious meant, so now let's bring this
meeting to an end."

" To an end 1 "

*' Yes ; you had no business to come here. But, as you
have com(!, tliero are five guineas, Mary, to buy finery ; and
let's shake hands and say good-bye."

Captain Armstrong, a handsome man with a rather cruel-
looking, thin-lipped mouth, took five golden pieces from hia
great, flapptnl, salt-box-pockeU^d waistcoat, gave the flowing
curls of his wig a .nhake, and held out the money to the dark,
black-nyed woman standing before him with her sun-browiicd
cheeks slightly flushed, her full, red lips quivering, and a look
of fierce passion distorting her handsome gipsy countenance,
as she held out a well-shaped hand for the money.

" Come, that's right, Mary," said the captain. " You are
going to be reasonable then. One, two, thieo, four, five — well,
yes, 1 11 give you another guinea for being so good — six."

As ho sjwke he dropped the golden coins one by one into
the woman's hand, smiled, glanced quickly at a door behind
him, and caught her in his arms.

"There, one more kiss from those ripe red lips, and
then "

DOWN IN DEVvON.

As sharp a backlianded blow across the face as ever man
received from an angry- woman, and then, aa the recipient
involuntarily started back, Mary Dell flung the gulden pieces
at him, so that one struck him in the chest and the others
flew tinkling across the room.

" Curse you ! " cried the captain, in a low, savage voice,
" this is too much. Leave this house, you low-bred shrew,
and if you ever dare to come here again "

" Dare ! " cried the woman as fiercely. " I dare anything.
I've not been a sailor's child for nothing. And so you think
that a woman's love is to be bought and sold fur a few paltry
guineas, and that you can play with and throw me oil as you
please. Look here, James Armstrong, I wouldn't marry you
now if you prayed me to be your wife — wife to such a cruel,
mean coward ! Faugh ! I would sooner leap overboard some
night and die in the deepest part of the harbour."

" Leave this house, you vixen."

" Not at your bidding, captain/' cried the girl, scornfully.
" Captain ! Why, the commonest sailor in the king's ships
would shame to behave to a woman as you have Ixihaved to
me. But I warn you," she continued, as in her excitement
her luxuriant glossy black hair escaped from its comb and fell
rippling down in masses — ** I warn you, that if you go to church
with that lady, who cannot know you as I do, I'll never forgive
you, but have such a revenge as shall nuiko you rue tin day
that you were bom."

" Silence, woman ; I've borne enough ! Leave this
house!"

" You thought because I was fatherless and motherless that
I should be an easy prey ; but you were wrong, Captain Arm-
strong ; you were wronj*. I am a woman, but not the weak,
helpless thing you believed."

♦* Leave mv house 1 "

U.. -«.-,-»i^' ' l' l|||»|»«i«a

COMMOnORK JUNK.

" When I liavo told you all I think and feel, James Ann>
strong."

" Leave my house, woman ! "

*• Do you think you can fri<5hton mo by your loud voice
and threat<3ning looks ? " Huid the qirl, scornfully.

" Leave my house ! " cried the captain for the third tioic,
furiously ; and, glancing through the window as he spoke, he
changed colour at the sight of a grey-haired gentleman ap-
l)roaohing with a tall, graceful woman upon his arm.

"Ah ! " cried Mary Dell, as she read his excitement aright ;
" HO that is the woman ! Tiien I'll stop and meet her face to
face, and tell her what a contemptible creature she is going to
wed."

" Curse you, leave this house ! " cried the captain in a
savage whisper ; and catching his visitor roughly by the
8h()uld(T, he tried to j)ull her towards the door ; but the girl
resisttid, and in the struggle a chair was overturned with a
cwush, the door wjis Hung open, and a bluff, manly voice
exclaimed —

" Why, hullo ! what's the matter now?"

"What's that to you?" cried the caj)tain, angrily, as he
desisted from his ellbrts, an<l the girl stood dishevollod and
panting, her eyes flashing vindictively, and a look of gratified
malice oi'ossing her face, as she saw the confusion and annoy-
ance displayetl by her ex-lover.

" What is it to me? Why, I thought there was trouble on,
and I came to help."

"To intrude wheni you were not wanted, you mean. Now
go," snarled the captain.

" No, don't go," cried the girl, spitefully. " I want you
to protect me, sir, from this man, this gentleman, who pj"o-
fessed to love me, and who, now that he is going to bo married,
treats me as you seo,"

DOWN IN DEVON.

" It's a lie, woman," cried the cai)tain, who noted that
the couple whose coming had made him lower his voice had
now passed after looking up at the window, and who now
turned again fiercely ujwn the woman.

" No, it isn't a lie, Jem," said the new-comer. " I've seen
you on the beach with her many a time, and thouglit what %
blackguard you were."

" Lieutenant Armstrong, I am your superior officer," cried
the captain. " How dare you speuk to mo like that ! Sir, you
go into arnjst for tiiis sjK'ech."

" I was not addressing n>y su]>erior officer," said the new-
comer, flushing slightly, " liut my cousin Jem. Put me in
arrest, will you ? Very well, my fine fellow ; you're captain,
I'm lieutenant, and I must obey ; but if you do, next time
we're ashore I'll thrash you within an inch of your life as sure
as my name's Humphrey. Hang it, I'll do it now ! "

He took a quick step forward ; but the captain darted
behind the table, and Mary caught the young man's arm.

" No, no, sir," she said in a diep voice ; " don't get your-
self into trouble for me. It's ver\ ue and gnllant of you, sir,
to take the part of a [K)orgirl ; bu^. I can hght my own battle
against such i coward as that. Look at him, with his pale
face and white lips, and t«ll uie how I could ever have loved
such a creature."

"Woman " •

"Yes, woman now," cried the girl. "A moniii ago no
word was too swejit and t«>nder for me. There, riii g'ing,
James Armstrong, aii<l I wish you joy of your r. .te — the

p.Jr, thin creature I saw go by ; l»ut dou't think y. . are done
with me, or that this is to l»e lor^otten. As for y< u, sir," she
continued, hoMing out lier hand, which hrr dcffniler took, and
fiuiili'd down frankly in the handsouio dark face before hun^
" I shan't forget this "

COMMODORE JUNK.

"No," said Captain Arinatrong with a sneer. *' Lose one
lover, pick up another. SUe'n a nice girl, Humphrey, and it's
your turn now."

Mary Dell did not loose the hand she had seized, but darted
a bitterly contemptuous look upon her late lover, which
made him grind his teeth as she turned from him again to the
lieutenant.

" Was I not right, sir, to say he is a coward 1 I am only a
poor-class girl, but I am a woman, and I can feeL Thank
you, sir ; good-bye, and if we never meet again, think that
I shall always be grateful for what you have said."

At that minute there were voices heard without, and the
captain started and looked nervously at the dour.

" I'm going, James Armstrong," said the girl ; " and I
might go like this ; but for my own sake, not for yours, I'll
not." .

She gave her head a sidewise jerk which brought her mag-
nificent black hair over her left shoulder, and then with a few
rapid turns of her hands she twisted it into a coil and secured
it at the back of her head.

Then turning to go, Humphrey took a step after her ; but
she looked up at him with a sharp, suspicious gaze.

" He told you to see me otf the ^^^ -oe ? " she said quickly.

"No," cried Humphrey; "i .ii\ own idea."

" Let me go alone," said the ^ 'I want to think there

is someone belonging to him who is not base. Good-bye, sir !
Perhaps we may meet again."

" Meet again ! " snarled the captain as the girl passed
through the doorway. " Yes, I'll ■'varrant me you will, and
oonpole yourself with your new lovrer, you jade."

"Look here, Jem," cried the lieul/enant hotly; "officei or
no officer, recollect that we're alone now, and that you are
jjisulting me as woil as that poor girl. Now, then, you say

AT Tne COTTAGE.

ftnotlier word like that, and hang me if I don't nearly break
jour neck."

" You insolent *'

Captain Armstrong ^id not finish his sentence, for there
was a something in the frank, handsome, manly face of his
cousin that meant mischief, and he threw himself into a chair
with an angry snarl, such as might be given by a dog who
wanted to attack but did not dure.

She ar'n't been a-

CHAPTER IL

AT THB COTTAGB.

" What's she a-doing of now ? "

"Blubbering."

" Why, that's what you said yesterday,
olubbering ever since ? " .

" Yes, she have, Bart ; and the day afore, and the day afore
that She's done nothing else."

" I hates to see a woman cry," said the first speaker in a
low, surly growl, as he wrinkled his forehead all over and seated
himself on the edge of a three-legged table in the low-ceiled
cottage of old Dell, the smuggler, a roughly-built place at the
head of one of the louoly coves on the South Devon coast.
The place was rough, for it had been built at different times,
of wreckwood which had come ashore ; but the dwelling was
picturesque outside, and quaint, nautical, and delrciously
clean within, where Abel Dell, Mary's twin brother, a
short, dark young feP'w, singularly like his sister, sat upon
an old sea-chest f. '^g a nc. ting-needle with a big

t;0MM0D0RB JUNK.

clasp-knife, and hk brow was also covered with the lines of
trouble.

He was a good-looking, sun-browned little fellow ; and as
he sat there in his big fisher-boots thrust down nearly to the
ankle, and a scarlet worsted cap upon his black, crisp curls,
his canvas petticoat and blue shirt made him a study of which
a modern artist would have been glad ; but in the early days
of King George the First gentlemen of the palette and brush
did not set up white umbrellas in sheltered coves and turn the
inhabitants into models, uo Abel Dell had not been transferred
to canvus, and went on carving his hardwood needle without
looking up at the man he called Bart.

Theie was not much lost, for Bartholomew Wrigley, at the
age of thirty — wrecker, smuggler, fisherman, sea-dog, anything
by turn — was about as ugly an athletic specimen of humanity
as ever stepped. Nature and his ancestors had been very un-
kind to him in the way of features, and accidents by flood and
fight had marred what required no disfigurement, a fall of a
spar having knocked his nose sidewise and broken the bridge,
while a chop from a sword in a smuggling affray had given him
a divided upper lip. In addition he always wore the appear-
ance of being ashamed of his height, and went about with a
slouch that was by no means an attraction to the fisher-girls
of the place.

" Ay ! If the old man had been alive "

"'Stead o' drowned ofl' Plymouth Hoo," growled Bart.

" In the big t'torm," continued Abel, " Polly would have
had to swab them eyes of hern."

" Ay ! And if the old man had been alive, that snapper
dandy captain, with his boots and sword, would have had to
sheei oiF, Abel, lad." -

" 'Stead o' coming jerry -sneaking* about her when we Was at
Bea, eh, Bartl"

AT THE COTTAGE.

** Tliem's true words," growled the big, ugly felloW,

Then, aftet* a pause —

"I hate to see a woman cry."

" So do I, mate. Makes the place dull."

There was a pause, during which Abel carved away
diligently, and Bart watched him intently, with his hands deep
in his pockets.

** It's all off, ar'n't it, mate 1 " said Bart at last.

"Ay, it's all off," said Abel; and there was another'
pause.

" Think there'd be any chance for a man now 1 "

Abel looked up at his visitor, who took off the rough,-
flat, fur cap he wore, as if to show himself to better ad-
vanta<^e ; and after breathing on one rough^ gnarled hand,
he drew it down over his hair, smoothing it across his brow }
but the result was not happy, and he seemed to feel it as the
wood-carver shook his head and went on with his work.

" S'pose not," said the looker-on with a sigh. " You see,
I'm such a hugly one, Abel, lad."

" You are, Bart. There's no denying of it, mate ; you are.*

" Ay ! A reglar right-down hugly one. But I thought as
p'r'aps now as her heart were soft and sore, she might feel a
little torst a man whose heart also was very soft and sore."

" Try her, then, mate. I'll go and tell her you're here."

" Nay, nay, don't do that, man," whispered the big fellow,
hoarsely. " I durstent ask her again, it'll have to come from
her this time."

" Not it. Ask her, Bart. ' She likes you."

" Ay, she likes me, bless her, and she's alius got a kind
word for a fellow as wishes a'niost as he was her doff."

" What's the good o' that, lad 1 Better be her man."

"A' cjrse ; but if you can't l--^ her man, why not be

'^i^v u . \i '» would pat your head and pull your ears ; but I
B

COMMODOKE JDNK.

alius feels an if she'd never pat my head or pull my, ears, Abel,
lad ; you see, I'm such a hugly one. Blubbering, eh 1 "

" Does nothing else. She don't let me see it ; but I know.
She don't Hloep of a night, and she looks wild and queer, aa
Sanderson's lass did who drowned herself."

" Then he has behaved very bad to her, Abel 1 "

" Ay, lad. I wish I had hold of him. I'd like to break
his neck."

Bart put on his cap quickly, glanced toward the inner
room, where there was a sound as of someone singing mourn-
fully, and then in a quick, low whisper —

" Why not, lad 1 " said he ; " why not 1 **

" Break his neck, Bart ? "

The big fellow nodded.

** Will you join in and risk it 1 **

" Won't ir'

" Then we will," said Abel. " Curse him, he's most broke
her heart."

" 'Cause she loves him," growled Bart, thoughtfully.

" Yes, a silly soft thing. She might have known."

" Then we mustn't break his neck, Abel, lad," said Bart,
shaking his head. Then, as if a bright thought had suddenly
flashed r.cross his brain —

" Look here. We'll wait for him, and then — I ar'n't afeard
of \. d sword — we'll make him marry her."

" You uon't want him to marry her," said Abel, staring,
and utilising (^ time by strap])ing his knife on his boot

"Nay, T I't ; but she do, poor lass," said Bart, with a
sigh ; " and . I can do what she wants, I will as long as I

live."

" Ah ! you always was fond of her, Bart," said Abel,

slowly.

** Ay, I always was, and always shall be, my lad. But

AT THE COTTAGE.

look here,** •^hUperod lUrt, leaning towards his companion;
" if he says he won't many her "

" Ah ! suppose he says he won't ! " said Abel to fill up a
pause, for Bart stood staring at him.

" If he says he won't, and goes and marries that fine madam
—will yon do it 1"

" I'll do anything you'll do, mate," said Abel in a low voice.

"Then we'll make him, my lac^ "

" Hist ! " whispered Abel, as the inner door opened, and
Mary entered the room, looking haggard and wild, to gaze
sharply from one to the other, as if she suspected that they
had been making her the subject of their conversation.

" How do, Mary ? " said Bart, in a consciously awkward
fashion.

" Ah, Bart ! " she said, coldly, as she gazed full in his eyes
till he dropped his own and moved toward the door.

" I'm just going to have a look at my boat, Abel, lad,"
he said. " Coming down the shore ? "

Abel nodded, and Bart shuffled out of the doorway, uttering
a sigh of relief as soon as he was in the open air ; and taking
off his flat fur cap, he wiped the drops of perspiration from his
brow.

''She's too much for me, somehow," he muttered, n.i he
sauntered down towards the shore. * I alius thought as boing
in love with a gell would be very nice, but it ar'n't. Sh^'s too
much for me."

"What were you and Bart Wrigley talking about?" said
Mary Dell, as soon as she was alone wiih her brothe'.-.

" You," said Abel, going on scraping his n •' r-needle.

« What about me ?"

« All sorts o' things."

" What do you mean ? " »

'* What do I mean ? ^> by, you know. About your bo'ng

C'OMMOr>ORE JtTNK.

a fool — altotit tho fino captain and his new sweetheart. Why,
you niiyht ha' knowrd, Mary."

" Look here, AIm'1," criod Mary, catching him by the wrist,
and dra<{ging at it so that }i<^ started to his feet and tliey
stood face to face, the stunted brotlior and the well-grown
girl wonderfully equal in size, and extrenitrly alike in physique
and air ; " if you dare to talk to me again like that, we shall
quarrel."

" Well, let's quarrel, then."

" What I " cried Mary, starting, fur this was a new phase
i.i her brother's chai'ucter.

" 1 say, let's quarrel, then," cried Abel, folding his arms.
** Do you think I've been blind 1 Do you think I haven't seen
\* hat's been going on, and how tliat man has served you ]
Why, it has nearly broken pour old Bart's heart."

"Abel!"
• " I don't care, Polly, I will speak now. You don't like
Bart."

" I do. He is a good time fellow as ever stepped, but "

" Ye.s, I know. It ar'n't nat'ral for you to like him as he
likes you ; but you've been a fool, Polly, to listen to that tine
jack-a-dandy ; and— curse him ! I'll half kill him next tikne we
meet!" .

Mary tried to s*"<' k, but her ' otion oho^ " ^^er.

"You— you •'" '• 1 now wh.t^ are f ;■ >ho ^..ated

at last.

" Perhaps not," lie .said, in a low, muttering way ; "but I
know what I'm going to do."

" Do ! " she CI ied, recovering herself, and making ar. effort
to regain her old ascf^ndency over her brother. " I forbid you
to do anythir.!' ^' m fball not interf«'re."

" Very • *he young man, with a smile ; and aa

i.<.^ ^i.si. 1 > ,, a L«.- .^ceuiod t. be sabilued.

AT THK cnrncH noon.

"Nothing, I Hay. Any (nmriH-l I nmy have with Capttiin
Armstrong is uiy alVair, and I can fight my own battle. Do
you hear 1 "

" Yes, I licar," said Abel, going toward the ioor.

." You understand ] I forbid it. You shall i^ ^t even speak
to him."

" Yes, I understand," said Abel, tucking the netting-needle
into his pocket, and thrusting his knife into its sheath ; and
then, before Mary could call up sufficient energy to speak
again, the young man passed out of the cottage and hurried
after Bart.

Mary went to the little casement and stood gazing after
him thoughtfully for a few minutes, till he passed out of her
sight among the rocks on his way to where the boat lay

" No," she said, softly ; " ho would not dare ! "

Tlien turiiin^ and taking the seat her brother had vacated,
a desolate look of mi.sery came over her handsome face, which
drooped slowly into her hands, and she sat there weeping
silently as she thought of the wedding that was to take place
the next day.

4fc 'm

CHAPTER III.

AT THE CHURCH DOOR. '

Captain James Armstrong had a few raoro words with hia
cousin. Lieutenant Huiuphrey, anunt his marriage.

"Perhaps you would like me to marry that girl off the
beach," he said, " Mr. Morality ? "

" I don't profes . to be a })attern of morality, couttD,"
replied the lieuteuant, shortly.

COMMODOnE JUNK.

" And don't like pretty girlt), of course," sneered the
captain. " Suilora ncivor do."

"I BuppoHo I'm a nmn, Jem," said Humphrey, "and like
pretty girls ; but I hope I should never be such a scoundrel ai
to make a girl miserable by professing to care for her, and then
throwing her away like a broken toy."

" Scoundrel, eh 1 " said the captain, hotly.

" V<;s. Scoundrel — confounded scoundrel ! " retorted the
lit itiiiiant. " We're ashore now, and discipline's nowliere, my
good cousin, so don't ruffle up your hackles and set up your
comb and p t(!nd you are going to peck, for you are as great a
coward nov cm, as you were when I was a little schoolboy
and you we. the big tyrant and sneak."

♦* You .shall pay for this, sir," cried the captain.

" Pish ! Now, my good cousin, you are not a fool. You
know I am not in the least afraid of you."

•' I'll make you some day," said the captain, bitterly. " You
shall smart for all this."

" Not I. It is you who will smart There, go and marry
your rich wife, and much happiness may you get out of the
match ! I'm only troubled about one thing, and that is whether
it is not my duty to tell the lady — poor creature I — what
a blackguard she is going to wed."

Captain James Armstrong altered the sit of his cocked hat,
brushes, some imaginary specks off his new uniform, and turned
his back upon his cousin, ignoring the extended hand. But he
did as he was told — he went and was duly married. Lieutenant
Humphrey being present and walking close behind, to see just
outside the church door the flashing eyes and knitted brow of
Mary Dell on one side; while beyond her, but unseen by
Humphrey, were her brother Abel, and Bart, who stood with
fold%l arms and a melodramatic scowl upon his ugly face.

" She's going to make a scene," thought Humphrey ; and,

A MONTH LATER.

pushing before tho tiridc and hritU^grooiu, he intorposod, from a
feeling of loyalty to tho former, |NThapH from a little of tho
same virtue toward u Tncmb<>r of his family.

Mary looked up at him, at first in surprise, and then
she smiled bitterly.

" Don c he alarmed, sir," she said coldly. " I only came to
see the captain's wife."

" Poor lass ! " muttered the lietitcnant, as lie saw Mary
draw back among tho people gathered together. " She seemed
to read me like a book."

He caught one more sight of Mary Dell standing at a dis-
tance, holding her brother's arm, as the captain «jnt(M'ed t!:e
heavy, lumbering coach at the church gate. leu she dis-

appeared, the crowd melted away, and the bells ra ig a merry
peal, the ringers' muscles having been loosened with ale ; and
as the bride and bridegroom went off to the lady's h'lme at an
old hall near Slai)ton Lea, Mary returned slowly to the cottage
down in the little cove, and Humphrey went to the wedding
breakfast, and afterwards to his ship.

CHAPTER IV.

A MONTH LATER.

About a month after the marriage Captain James Armstrong
was returning one night on korseback from Dartmouth to the
home of his wife's family, where he was sojourning prior to
setting off upon a long voyage, it having been decided that the
young couple should not set up in housekeeping till his r^um
from sea, so that the lady might have nome companionship
during his absence,

COMMODORE JUNK.

He had been to the principal inn to dine v'ith some officers
whose vessels had just touched there from Falmouth, .ind
Humphrey, wlio had been present, had felt some doubt about
letting him go Iiome alone.

" You've had too much punch, Jem," he said. " Sleep here
to-ni*,'ht, and don't let youi- young wife see you in that
Btate."

** You're a fool," was the surly reply.

" You can get a good bed here, and rido V- i W tlie
morning," said Humplir^y, quietly. " You ho'^ . a- stay."

" Mind your own business, njjstart," cried the captain ; and
ordering his horse he mounted and set off with a lurch, first
on one aide, and then on the other, each threatening to send
liim out of the saddle.

" Hell be all riirl ^, Armstrong," said a jovial-looking officer,
, t< 'iiijy, "Co.ac . ■ ' have another glass. By the time he is
a I Li.e top of the long hill he will be sober as a judge."

"Perhaps so," said Humphrey aloud. Then to himself, "I
n t half like it, though. The road's bad, and I shouldn't care
h.r anything to happen to him, even if it is to make me heir to
the estate. I wish I had not let him go."

He returned to the room where the officers had commenced
a fresh bowl of punch, for they had no longer journey before
thorn than upstairs to their rooms, and there were plenty
of servants to see them safely into bed, as wa« the custom iu
dealing with the topers of that day.

"I've done wrong," said Humphrey Armstrong, after
partaking of one glass of puncli and snv ' '"g r. bingle pipe
of tobacco from a tiny bowl of Dutch ware. " He was not fit
to go home alone."

"♦He said tlus to himself as iin officer was trolling forth an
finacreontic song.

f* It's a long walk, but I shall not feel comfortable unless J

■i :

A MONTH LATER.

see whether he has got home safely j and it will clear away the
fumes of the liquor. Here goes."

He slipped out of the room, and, taking a stout stick which
was the companion of his hat, ho started forth into the cool
night air, and walked sturdily away in the direction of his
cou.dn's home.

About half an hour later the drowsy groom, who was sitting
up for the captain's return, rose with a sigh of satisfaction, for
he heard the clattering of hoofs in the stable-yard.

" At last ! " he cried ; and, taking a ligiited lantern, he
hurried otit, to stand in dismay staring at the empty 'id- Me,
which had been dragged round under the hoi-se's b«;lly, and
at the trembling animal, breathing hard and shaking its
head.

" Why, she's all of a muck," muttered the man ; " and the
captain ar'n't on her. He be fallen off, I'd zwear."

The man stood staring for a few minutes, while the horse
pawed impatiently, as if asking to be admitted to its stable.
Then he o|)ened the door, the weary beast went in, and the
man stood staring with true Devon stolidity before he be-
thought him of the necessity for removing^ the saddle from its
awkward Dosition.

This seen to, it suddenly occurred to him that something
ought to be done about the captain, and he roused up the
coachman to spread the alarm in the house.

" Nay, we'll only scare the poor ladies to death," said the
Jehu of the establishment, grey hairs having brought him
wisdom. " Let's zee vii-st, lad, if there be anything really bad.
If he be droonk and vailed otl", he won't thank us for telling
his wife. Zaddle the dwo coach-horses, Ridgard, and we'll ride
to town and «ee. " . w^

The aoises were quickly saddled, and the two men-servants
trotted along the Dartmouth road till about half-way, where|

COMMODORE JUNK.

in one of the gloomiest parts, their horses began to snort
and exhibit signs of fear, and as they drew up a voice
shouted —

"Here! Who's that? Help!"

" Why, it be Mr. Humphrey," said the old coachman ; and
dismounting he gave his rein to bis companion, and ran for*
ward. " What be wrong, zir 1 "

" The captain. Much hurt," v » reply.

" I thought zo, zir. His horHt^ l i home without him.
He's been throwed — or pulled off," he added to himsell

" It's something worse, I'm afraid. Here, help me, and let's
get him home."

The old coachman lent his aid, and with some difficulty the
captain was placed across one of the horses, the lieutenant
inotinting to hold him on and support him, while the two ser<
vants followed slowly behind.

" Pulled off 1 " whispered the groom.

" Mebbe," sa'd the old coachman ; and then to himself,
" Looks bad for Mr. Humphrey ; and if he died, what should
I zay to -them as asked how I found 'em V*

The old man walked slowly on for half an hour before he
answered his mental question, and his answer was —

"They'd make me dell 'em the truth, and it might bring
Mr. Humphrey to the gallows ; and if it did, it would be all
through me.'

CHAPTER V.

A KEEN ENCOUNTER.

The prognostications of his fellow-oiticer did not prove true,
for Captain Armstrong, instead of being sobered by tlie ride
up the hill, grew more drunken. The fresh air blown straight
from the ocean seemed to dizzy his muddled brain, and when
he rode down the hill he was more drunken than ever, and
rolled about in his saddle like his ship in a storm.

Tliis seemed to amuse the captain, and he talked and
chuckled tr himself, sang snatches of songs, and woke the
echoes of the little village street at the top of the next hill,
where the tall, square church tower stood up wind-swept and
dreary to show marinei-s \o v/ay to Dartmouth harbour.

Then came a long r d along a very shelf of a road, where
• it seemed as if a false step on the part of his horse would send
both rolling down the declivity to the edge of the sheer rocks,
where they would fall headlong to the fine shingle below.

But drunken men seem favourites with their horses, for
when Captain Armstrong lurched to starboard his nag gave a
hitch to keep him in the saddle, and when he gave another
lurch to larboard the horse was ready for him again — all of
which amused the captain more and more, and he chuckled
aloud, and i^ng, and swore at his cousin for a cold, fishy,
sneaking hound.

" He'd like to see me die, and get the estate," he said ; " but
I*1J live to a hundred, and leave half a score of boys to inherit,
and he sha'n't get a groat, a miserable, sanctified dog-fish.
Steady, mare, steady ! Bah, how thirsty I am ! Wish I'd had
another drop.'*

COMMObORE JUNK.

He kicked his liorsn's ribs, and the docile creature broke
into a gentle amble, but only to be checked sharply.

" Wo — ho, mare ! " cried the capt'iin, shaking his head, for
he was dizzy now, and the dimly-seen tre(»8 sailed slowly round.
"Wind's changing," he said ; " steady, old lass ! Walk."

The mare walktid, and the captain grew more confused in
his intellect ; while the night became darker, soft clouds rolling
slowly over the star-spangled sky.

The ride was certainly not sobering James Armstrong,
and he knew it, for lie suddenly burst into a chuckling
laugh,

" I know what she'll say," he said. " Ladyship will ride
the high horse. Let her. I can ride the high horse, too —
steady, niaro 1 What's the matttT with you 1 "

He iuid been descending into a narrow pass where the road
had been cut down in the hill-side, leaving a high, well-wooded
bank on eitluT hand, and h(;re it was fa;* more dark than out
in the open, and the mare, after walking steadily on for some
distance with her well-shod hoofs clinking upon the loose stones,
suddenly shied, stopped short, and snorted.

"What's the matter with you, stupid? Can't you stand
straight 1 " cried the captain, stiiking the beast angrily with his
heels. "Coon."

The horse, however, backed and swerved from side to side,
making as if to turn sharply and gallop back to Dartmouth ;
but just at that moment there was a rustling sound heard over-
head, where the rough bushes fringed the bank, and directly
after a rush and the sound of someone leaping down into the
lane between the captain and the town.

This had the effect of startling the horse more and more,
but instead of making now for the way by which they had
come, it willingly obeyed th'^ to ich of t^e rider's spur, and ^
continued its journev for hair a dozen yards. Then it stopped

A KEEN ENCOlINTEn.

short onco a^aiii, for a durk fi;^unf I<'}«,|kuI down into tlio lano
juHt in front, and tlio captain found liinimtlf lirniniod in.

And now, for tluj lirst tiin**. Im l»«'i;a!i to i'vv\ solxirod as ho
took in tlio position. II«< IuhI hern iittackrd l»y liii^hwaynion
without a (h)uh(, and unh-ss hr rhosn to do l»att,l«! for his watch
an<l money, his only chance of escape was to for(;o his horse to
mount th(5 piecipitous side of the lane.

Without a moment's h<!sitation he <lrajL;i'<!d at t\n'. ott' nan,
di'ove the sj)urs into the beast's flanks, and for(;ed her to th«
leap; but it was poorly responded to. The half leap resulted
in the mare gaining a footing a few fetit up, and tlnsn scram-
bling back into the lanf; as the captain's two assailants
closed in.

" Stand back, you scoundn^ls ! " roared tin; ca[)tain. " Curse
you ! I'll blow your brains out."

A mocking laugh was the response, and as he dragged at
the holster a smart blow from a cudgel fell up(m his hand,
making him utter a yell of pain. The next moment one of the
hien had leaped up behind him and clasped iiis arms to his
side, and in the struggle which ensued both came down oflT the
horse, which uttered a loud snort of fear aufl dashed oir at a
gallop down the hill for home, while, nerved to action now by
his position and stung by the blows In; had reccnved from his
assailant, the captain wrested himself {vvai an<i dragged his
Hwoid from its sheath.

He had hardly raised it in tin; air when a tremc^ndous blow
fell ui>on the blade close to the hilt, the sword snapped in two,
and the captain was def(;nc(!less.

This mishap took all the spirit-born courage out of him.

An<

and
do

I he threw down the brok(Mi w<'apon.

1 give in," ho cried, backing away to the --ide of the lano
I facing th(! two dindy-scen figures in the; darkness ; " what

you

mg
wa

ii.

nil

COMMODORE JUNK.

It
I'

\ (

One of the men burst into a hoarse laugh.

" I've hardly any money," cried the captain ; "a guinea or
two. If I give you that will you go 1 "

" Curse your money, you cowardly hound ! " cried the
second man.

" How dare you, dog ! " cried the cai)tain. " Do you know
who I am V

"James Armstrong," said the same speaker. " Now, lad,
quick ! "

" You shall-

The captain's words turned into a yell of agony as he re-
ceived a violent blow from a stick across one arm, numbing it,
and before its echo rose from the steep slope of the hill a
second and a third blow fell, which were followed by a shower,
the unfortunate man yelling, beseeching, and shrieking with
agony and fear. He dropi)ed upon his knees and begged
piteously for mercy ; but his tormentors laughed, and seized
the opportunity he offered to apply their blows more satisfac-
torily. Back, arms, legs, all in turn, were belaboured as two'
men beat a carpet, till the victim's cries grew hoarse, then
faint, and finally ceased, and he lay in the tramjiled road,
crushed almost to a mummy, and unable to stir hand or foot ;
and then, and then only, did his assailants cease.

" Ain't killed him, have we, Abel, lad 1 " said the bigger of
the two men.

" Killed 1 No. We never touched his head. It would
take a deal to kill a thing like him. Captain ! " he said, mock-
ingly. " What a cowardly whelp to command men ! "

" What shall we do now 'I " whispered the bigger man.

" Do ! I'm going to make my mark upon him, and then go
home."

" Well, you have, lad."

"Ay, with a stick, but I'm going to do it with my knife; "

BROUGHT TO BOOK.

and, as he spoke, the lesser of the two men drew his knife
from its dagger-like sheath.

" No, no, don't do that. Give him a good 'un on the head.
No knife."

"Yes, knife," said the lesser of the two. •He's had no
mercy, and I'll have none. He's stunned, and won't feel it."

" Don't do that, lad," whispered the bigger man.

** Ay, but I will," said the other, hoarsely j and, dropping
on his knees, he seized the prostrate man by the ear, when the
trembling wretch uttered a shriek of agony, making his
assailants start away.

"Did you do it, ladl"

" Yes ; I done it. I'm satisfied now. Let's go."

" And leave him there ] "

"Why xiofi What mercy did he show? He was only
shamming. Let him call for help now till someone comes."

The bigger man uttered a grunt and followed his companion
as he mounted the steep side of the lane, while, faint, ex-
hausted, and bleeding now, Captain James Armstrong sank
back and fainted away.

CHAPTER VL

BROUGHT TO BOOK.

"You dare not deny it," cried Mary Dell, furiously, as she
stood in the doorway of the cottage, facing her brother and
Bart Wrigley, who attempted to escape, but were prevented
by her barring the way of exit.

Neither spoke, but they stood looking sullen and frowning
like a couple of detected schoolboys.

'!;. ■. M

COMMODORE JUNK.

" No," she continued, " you dare not deny it You cowarda
— lying in wait for an unarmed man !"

" Why, he'd got a svord and pistols," cried Bart.

" There ! " shrieked Mary, triumphantly ; " you have be-
trayed yourself, Bart. Now perhaps my brave brother will
confess that he lay in wait in the dark for an unarmed man,
aTid helped to beat him nearly to death."

" You're a nice fellow to trust, Bart,'* said Abel, looking at
his companion. " Betrayed yourself directly."

" Couldn't help it," grumbled Bart " She's so sharp upon
a man."

" You cowards ! " cried Mary again.

" Well, I don't know about being cowards," said Abel,
sullenly. " He was mounted and had his weapons, and we
had only two sticks."

" Then you confess it was you 1 Oh ! what a villain to
have for a brother ! "

" Here, don't go on like that," cried Abel. " See how he
has served you."

"What is that to you?" cried Mary, fiercely. "If he
jilted me and I forgive him, how dare you interfere 1"

" Phew ! " whistled Bart to himself. "What a way she has I"

"Why, any one would think you cared for him, Polly,**
said Abel, staring, while Bart whistled softly again, and wiped
the heavy dew from his forehead.

" Care for him ! — I hate him ! " u.'ied Mary, passionately :
" but do you think I wanted my own brother to go and take
counsel with his big vagabond companion "

" Phew ! " whistled Bart again, softly, as he perspired now
profusely, and wiped his forehead with his fur cap.

" And then go and beat one of the king's officers 1 But
you'll both suffer for it The constables will be here for you,
and you'll both be punished.'*

BROtGHT TO BOOK.

"Not likely — eh, Bart?" said Abel, with a laugh.

" No, lad," growled that worthy. " Too dark."

" Don't you be too sure," cried Mary. ** You cowards !
and if he dies " — there was a hysterical spasm here — ** if he
dies, you'll both go to the gibbet and swing in chains ! "

Bart gave his whole body a writhe, as if he already felt the
chains about hiin as he was being made into a scare-scamp.

" Didn't hit hard enough, and never touched his head," he
growled.

" And as for you," cried Mary, turning upon him sharply,
"never you look me in the face again. You are worse than
Abel ; and I believe it "w as your mad, insolent jealousy set
you persuading my foolish brother to help in this cowardly
attack."

Bart tried to screw up his lips and whistle ; but his jaw
seemed to drop, and he only stared and shuffled behind his
companion in misfortune.

" Never mind what she says, Bart, lad," said the latter ;
*' she'll thank us some day for half-killing as big a scamp as
ever stepped."

" Thank you ! " cried Mary, with her eyes flashing and
her handsome face distorted, " I hope to see you both well
punished, and "

" Who's that coming t " said Abel, sharply, as steps were
heard approaching quickly.

As Mary turned round to look, Abel caught sight of some-
thing over her shoulder in the evening light which made him
catch his companion by the arm.

" Quick, Bart, lad ! " he whispered ; " through her room
and squeeze out of the window. The constables ! "

He opened the door of his sister's little room, thrust his
mate in, followed, and shut and bolted the door ; but as he
turned then to the window, a little strongly-made frame which

ill

COMMODOUE JUNK.

■\

had once done duty in a vessel, Mary's voice was heard speak-
ing loudly in conversation with the new arrivals in the outer
room.

" Out with you, quickly and q»i(;tly," whispered Abel.

" Right, lad," replied Bart ; anil unfastening and opening
the little window, he thrust his arms through and began to
get out.

At that moment there was a loud knocking at the door.

" Open — in the king's name ! "

" Open it yourself," muttered Abel, " when we're gone.
Quick, Bart, lad ! "

This remark was addressed to the big fellow's hind quar-
tere, which were jerking and moving in a very peculiar way,
and then Bart's voice was heard, sounding muffled and angry,
warning somebody to keep off.

" Curse it all ! too late ! " cried Abel, grinding his teeth.
" Here, Bart, lad, get through."

" Can't, lad," growled his companion. " I'm ketched just
acrost the hips, and can't move."

" Come back, then."

" That's what I'm a-trying to do, but this son of a sea-cook
has got hold of me."

" Open — in the king's name ! " came from the outer room ;
and then, just as Abel had seized an old sea-chest and was
about to drag it before the door, there was a tremendous kick,
the bolt was driven off, the door swung open, and the Dart-
mouth constable and a couple of men rushed forwards, and, in
spite of Abel's resistance, dragged him into the other room.

" Now, Dell, my lad," said the head man, " I've got you at
last."

"So it seems," said Abel, who stared hard at his sister
as he spoke ; while she stood with her hands clas[)ed before
her and a peculiarly rigid look in her face, staring wildly back.

BROUGHT TO BOOK.

" flniu«]ff»Hng and wrockiii}* weren't enough for you, eh V*
" WImt <lo you want hero 1 " said Abel, giving his sister a
final Hc«)wl and tlicu fiicin;,' the h«»ad constable.

You, my lad — you," naid that individual, with a grin.

"What for]

Attempted nninlrr and rol>l)ery on the king'H highway,
my lad."

" It'H a lie ! Who says so ] " cried Abel, setting his teeth
and fixing his sister again with his dark eyes as she gave him
an imploring look.

" Never mind who says so, my lad. Information's laid all
regular against you and Master Bart Wrigley. You're both
captured neatly. Here, how long are you going to be bringing
forward the other*?" cried the constable.

" Wo can't get him out," shouted a voice. " He's stuck in
the little window."

" Pull him back, then, by his legs.

" Been trying ever so long," said another voice, " but he
won't come."

"I'll soon see to thnt," said the constable, backing Abel
into the little bed-room which was darkened by Bart's body
filling up the window. " Here, lay hold of his legs, two of
you, and give a good jerk."

Two men obeyed, but they did not give the jerk — Bart did
that. Drawing in his legs like a grasshopper about to leap, he
suddenly shot them out straight, when, though they did not
alter his position where he was nipped in across the hips by
the window-frame, they acted like catapults upon the two con-
stables, who were driven backwards, the one into a chair, the
other into a sitting position on the floor, to the great delight
o£ those wholooked on.

" Four of you," said the head constable stolidly ; " and hold
on this time."
08

(■

*Bn

COMMODORE JUNK.

The men obeyed, two going to each leg ; and though Bai-t
gave iliree or four vigorous kickfl, his ca[)toi*8 were not dis-
lodged.

"Now," said the head constuble, as the kicking legs became
quiescent, "all together ! "

There was a sharp jerk, and Bart's body was snatched out
of the imprisoning frame so suddenly that five men went down
on the floor together ; while the first to rise was Bart, who
kicked himself free, made for the door in spite of a pistol
levelled by the head constable, and passed through.

" Come on, Abel ! " he shouted as he went.

Abel made a dash to follow, but he only struck his face
against the muzzle of a pistol, and the head constable held on.

There was a rush after Bart, but it was needless, for the
great stolid fellow had seen the state of aflairs, and come
back.

" All right, Abel, lad," he growled ; " I won't leave you in
the lurch. What's it mean — lock-up ? "

" Yes, my lad ; charge of attempted murder and robbery,"
said the head constable.

"Took all the skin off my hips and ribs," growled Bart,
rubbing himself softly.

" You'll have plenty of time to got well before your trial,"
said the constable, smiling. " Are you ready 1"

This last to Abel, who was gazing fiercely at his sister, who
met his angry eyes with an imploring look.

" And my own sister, too, Bart," he said, bitterly. " We
fought for her, lad, and she gave information to the police."

" No, no, no, Abel ! " cried Mary, running to him to fling
her arms about his neck ; but he gave her a rough thrust
which sent her staggering back, and her countenance changed
on the instant, for her eyes flashed vindictively, and she stood
before him with folded arms.

BROUGHT TO BOOK.

' ** Prisonor confosHod in tlie prosotico of you all that he
committed the act," ssiid the <:oiiHtal»l(^ ; an<l his words were
received with a mutter of assent in chorus.

"Here, I'm ready," said Ahel. "Come along, mate.'*

"Ho'm 1," growled liart, hiving a hand on Ahel's shoulder.
" I woiddn't lia' tlioiight it on you, Mary, my lass," he said,
ai"J he gazed at hor sadly as he shook his head.

Mary made no reply, but stood with her arms folded across
her breast and lu^r brow wrinkled while the party moved out
of the cottage ; but the next instant the scene which followed
made her rush outside and gaze wildly witii eyes dilated and
breast heaving, and her hands now clas]>ed as she watched the
chase.

For as the little party stood outside, Bart still with his
hand upon his companion's shoulder, Abel said quickly —

"The boat. Run!"

Bart was, as a rule, rather slow of comprehension ; but at
that moment the same idea was filling his mind. That is to
say, it was already charged, and Abel's words were as so many
sparks struck from steel to fire that charge. Consequently, as
the young fellow struck the constable to the left, Bart did the
same to the right, and they dashed off as one man towards
where, just round the western point of rock which helped to
form the little bay, they knew that their boat was lying,
swinging with the tide to a grapnel lying on the sands.

As they dashed off, running swiftly over the hard sand,
the head constable raised his old brass-mounted pistol and
fired, when the shot might have been supposed to have struck
Mary Dell, so sharp a start did she give as she clapped one
hand to her side, and then peered at the rising smoke, and
drew a long breath full of relief. '

For, as the smoke rose, she could see the fugitives still run-
ning, and that quite a cloud of sea-birds had risen from the

• <!'■

■.■J.i i wli l . , l ('

COMMODOIIK JUNK.

mew-stono, a Imndrod yards from Khoro, to fly circling rounds
screaming (|UoruloiiRly, as tluiy Hlowly flapped their l)laok-tip[H»d
winga.

"They'll encape — they'll escape !" cried Mary, clapping her
hands joyously. "The coward, to fire I An<l they're afraid to
run hard and catch them now they are out in the open. Yes,
they'll escjvpe ! " she cri(Hl again, as she saw the distance in-
creasing lu'tweon pursuer and pursued. "They'll get to the
l)oat ; the sail's in, nnd there's a good breeze. Oh, if I were
only with them ! "

A sudden thought struck lier, and she caught up a stui-
bonnet from where it lay on the open window-sill.

"I'll go," she thought. "They'll sail west. I could reach
Mallow's (love across the fields, and sig!»al to them. They'd
come in and pick me up, and we could escape together far, far
from here."

All this with her cheeks flushing, her handsome eyes spark-
ling, and her breast rising and falling in the height of her
emotion.

Then a change came over her. Her eyes looked heavy; her
forehead wrinkled again.

" Escape ! Where ? " she saitl, half aloud. " I'd gladly go
— away from all this torture ; but they think I betmyed them,
and would not come in."

The elasticity was gone out of her step, as she slowly
climbed the face of the huge scar[)ed rocks which towered
above the cottage — a risky ascent, but one to which she was,
as i' were, born ; and, with her eyes fixed U|)on the pursuera
and the fugitives, she trusted to her hands and feet to take
her safely to the top, passing snot after spot where one unused
to climbing would have stopped and turned back, so giddy was
the ascent. Higher and higher, past clinging ivy, fern, and
clusters of yellow ragwort, with patches of purple heath and

BROtTGHT TO BOOK.

(5
i
,S
d

golden gorso, till tli« further hu\o of tlio rocky point was
opono<! out, with tho boat lying lik<> a spock afloat hoyond the
lino of foam.

Mary pa\iHo<l thoro with hor 8un-l>onnot in hor hand to
watch tho result; but then' whh no exultation in her eye«,
only a look of stony deHpon«leney, for fronj where she stood sh<^
could s(M^ now that the effort of her brother and his companion

was in vain.

They were still in ignorance as tliey ran on, for they were
on the bay side of the point y(!t, toiling over tho loo8«^ sand
and shingle, where tho wiushed-up wcsed lay thick ; but Mary
had a bird's-eye view of what in tho clear south air seemed to
be close at her feet, as close almost as where the boat lay in
shelter from tho north and «'ast(!rly wind.

Tho pursuers were now all tog(?ther, and settled down
to a steady trot, which pace they increased as Bart and Abel
reached the rocks, and, instead of going right round, began to
climb over some fifty yards from where the water washed the
point.

" We're too many for him this time, Bart, my lad," cried
Abel. " You weren't hit, were you 1 "

"Hit? No. Shot never went within a mile o' me."

"Then why are you dowsing your jib like that?"

" I were a-thinking about she, mate," said Bart, in a low
growl.

" Curse her for a woman all over ! " said Abel. " They
take to a man, and the more he ill-uses 'em, they fight for him
the more."

" Ay, lad ; but to think of her putting them on to us I It
don't seem like she."

" Curse them ! " cried Abel, as he reached the other side of
the point, and saw that which his sister had 8t;en from the cliff
behind the cottage.

I ^'"

it*

COMMODORE JUNK.

" What for now ? " said Bart, stolidly, as he reached his
companion's side. " Hum, that's it, is it ? "

He looked round him for a fresh way of escape.

There was the sea, if they liked to leap in and swim ; but
they could be easily overtaken. The rocks above them were
too overhanging to climb, and there was no other way, unless
they returned, and tried to rush through their pursuers ; for
beyond the point the tide beat upon the clitf.

" No good, Bart ; we're trapped," said Abel, stolidly. " I'll
never forgive her — never ! "

"Yes, you will," said Bart, sitting down on a rock, and
carefully taking off his fur cap to wipe his heated brow. " You
will some day. Why, I could forgive her anything — I could.
She's a wonderful gell ; but, I say, my hips is werry sore."

He sat staring down at the boat beyond the point, the
anchor having been taken on board, and the oars being out
to keep her off the rocks, as she rose and fell with the coming
tide.

"No!" said Abel, bitterly. "I'll never forgive her —
never ! " . •

" Nay, lad, don't say that," said Bart, rubbing one side.
" Hey, lass ! There she is. Top o' the cliff. Look at her,
mate."
. " No," said Abel ; " let her look — at her cowardly work."

" Now, then ! " shouted the head constable, as he came
panting up. " Is it surrender, or fight 1 "

For answer, Abel climbed slowly dowki to the sands, fol-
lowed by Bart ; and the next minute they were surrounded,
and stood with gyves upon their wrists.

" Warm work," said the constable, cheerfully ; " but we've
got you safe now."

" Ay, you've^ot us safe," growled Bart; "but it wouldn't
ha* been easy if Abel here had showed fight."

BROUGHT TO BOOK.

" Been no use," sjiid the constable. " I sidd io Billy Niggs
here : * Niggs,' I said, * them two'll make for their boat, and
getaway.' *Ay, zhure, that they 'ool,' he said. Didn't you,
Billy?"

" Ay, zhure, sir, that's just what I did say," cried a con-
stable, with a face like a fox-whelp cyder apple.

" So I sent on two men to be ready in the boat. Come on,
mv lads."

The boat was pulled ashore. The two constables in charge
leaped out with the grapnel, and dropped it on the sand ; and
then in silence the party with their prisoners walked slowly
back, and beneath the spot where Mary stood like a figure
carved out of the rock, far above their heads, till they ha<J
gone out of sight, without once looking up or making a sign.

Then the poor girl sank down in the rocky niche where she
had climbed first, and burst into an agonised fit of weeping.

" Father — mother — brother — all gone ! Lover false ! Alone
— alone — alone ! " she sobbed. " What have I done to deserve
it all 1 Nothing ! " she cried, fiercely, as she sprang to her feet
and turned and shook her clenched fists landward. " Nothing
but love a cold, cruel wretch. Yes, love ; and now— oh, how
I hate him — and all the world ! "

She sank down again in the niche all of a heap, and sat
there with the sun slowly sinking lower, and the sea-birds
wheeling round and round above her head, and watching her
with inquisitive eyes, as they each now and then uttered a
mournful wail, which sounded sympathetic, though probably it
was the gullish expression of wonder whether the crouching
object was good to eat.

And there she sat, hour after hour, till it was quite dark,
when she began slowly to descend, asking herself what she
should do to save her brotlier and his friend, both under a
laisGonception, but suffering for her sake.

■m

:^-^:i--;:^'

s^asa

COMMODORE JUNK.

" And I stay here ! " she said, passionately. ** Let them
think what they will, I'll try and save them, for they must be
in prison now."

Mary was quite right ; for as night fell Abel Dell and Bart
his companion were partaking of a very frugal meal, and made
uncomfortable by the fact that it was not good, and that they
— men free to come and go on sea and land — were now safely
caged behind a massive iron grill.

" Well," said Bart at last, " I'm only sorry for one thing
now."

" What's that — Mary being so base ? "

" Nay, I'm sorry for that," replied Bart ; " but what I
meant was that I didn't give the captain one hard un on the
head."

!i1i

CHAPTER VII.

GATHERING CLOUDS.

In spite of the declaration made by Captain Armstrong that
he had identified his assailants by their heights, voices, and —
dark as was the night — their features, Abel refused to be con-
vinced. He had taken it into his head that Mary had denounced
them to her former lover, and at each examin.tion before the
Old Devon magistrates he had sullenly turned away from the
poor girl, who sat gazing imploringly at the dock, and hunger-
ing for a look in return.

The captair was not much hurt ; that is to say, no bones
were broken. Pain he had suffered to a little extent, for there
was an ugly slit in one ear, but he was not in such a condition
as to necessitate his limping into court, supported by a couple

GATHERING CLOUDS.

of servants, and generally " got up " to look like one who had
been nearly beaten to death.

All this told against Abel and Bart, as well as the fact that
the captain was of good birth, and one who had lately formed
an alliance with a famous old county family. In addition, the
prisoners were known to the bench. Both Abel and Bart had
been in trouble before, and black marks were against them
for wrecking and smuggling. They were no worse than their
neighbours, but the law insists upon having scarecrows, and
the constables did not hesitate to make every effort to hang
the son of a notorious old wrecker and his boon companion.

There was not a dissentient voice. Abel Dell and Bar-
tholomew Wrigley were both committed for trial ; and Mary
made quite a sensation by rising in the court as the prisoners
were about to be removed, and forcing her way to where she
could catch her brother's hand.

" Abe," she cried, passionately, " I didn't. I didn't, indeed.
Say good-bye."

He turned upon her fiercely, and snatched his hand away.

" Go to your captain," he said, savagely. " I shall be out
of the way now."

An ordinary woman would have shrunk away sobbing;
but as Mary was flung off, she caught at Bart's wrist, and
clung to that.

" Bart, I didn't ! I didn't ! " she whispered, hoarsely. " Tell
him I wouldn't — I couldn't do such a thing. It isn't true ! "

Bart's face puckered up, and he looked tenderly down in
the agitated face before him.

" Well, lass," he said, softly, " I believe **

" That you turned against us ! " interposed Abel, savagely,
for his temper, consequent upon the way matters had gone
against him, was all on edge. " Come on, Bart ; she'll have
her own way now."

1 T!

■it ii» n— ii

■¥lil<MllM

.11

COMMODOiRE JUNTC.

A constable's hand was on each of their shoulders, and they
were hurried out of court, leaving Mary standing frowning
alone, the observed of all.

Her handsome face flushed, and she drew herself up
proudly, as she cast a haughtily defiant look at all around, and
was about to walk away when her eyes lighted upon the
captain, who was seated by the niMgisterial bench, side by side
with his richly-dressed lady.

There was a vindictive glare in Mary Dell's eyes as she
encountered the gaze of Mistress Armstrong, the lady looking
upon her as a strange, dangerous kind of creature.

" Why should she not suffer as I suffer?" thought Mary.
" Poor, weak, dressed-up doll that she is ! I could sting her
to the heart easily. How I hate her, for she has robbed me
of a husband ! "

But the next moment the lady withdrew her gaze with
a shiver of dread from the eyes which had seomed to scorch
her ; and Mary's now lit upon those of Captain Armstrong, for
he was watching her curiously, and with re-awakened interest.

Mary's face changed again in its expression, as light seemed
to enter her darkened soul.

" He used to love me a little. He would not be so cruel
as that. I offended him, because I was so hard and — cruel
he called it. He would listen to me now. I will, I will ! '*

She gazed at him fixedly for a moment, and then hurried
from the court.

" What a dreadful-looking woman, Jemmy ! " whispered
Mistress Armstrong. " She quite made me shudder. Will
they hang her too ? "

" No, no," Le said, rising quickly and drawing a long breath.
Then, recollecting himself, he sat down again as if in pain, and
held out his hand to his wife, who supported him to the
carriage, into which he ascended slowly.

Ih;

GATHERING CLOUDS.

** Sorry for you, Armstrong ; deuced sorry, egad," said the
senior magistrate, coming up to the carriage door. *' Can't
help feeling glad too."

" Oh, Sir Timothy ! " cried Mistress Armstrong, who was a
seventeenth cousin.

" But I am, my dear," said the old magistrate. " Ghul,
because it will rid us of a couple of dreadful rascals. Trial
comes on in three weeks. I wouldn't get well too soon. Judge
Bentham will hang them as sure as they're alive."

He nodded and walked off, with his cocked hat well
balanced on his periwig. Then the heavy lumbering carriage
drove out of the quaint old town, with the big dumpling hors6s
perspiring up the liills ; while, as soon as they were away from
the houses, Mistress Armstrong leaned back on the cushions
with a sigh of relief.

"I do hope the judge will hang them," she said. "A pair
of wicked, bad, cruel ruffians, to beat and half-kill my own
dear darling Jemmy as they did. Oh, the cruel, cruel creatures !
I could hang them myself ! Does it hurt you anywhere now,
my own sweetest boy ] " she added, softly, as she passed her
arm caressingly round her liege lord, who gave such a savage
start that she shrank into the other corner of the carriage, with
the tears starting to her eyes.

" Don't be such a confounded fool ! " her " sweetest "
Jemmy roared ; and then he sat back scowling, for she had
interrupted a sort of day-dream in which he was indulging
respecting Mary Dell, whose eyes still seemed to be fixed upon
his ; and as his wife's last words fell upon his ear they came
just as he was wondering whether, if they met again, Mary
would, in her unprotected state, prove more kind, and not so
prudish as of yore.

The honeymoon had been over some time.

■i:
I'

COMMODORE JUNK.

CHxVPTER VIII.

' I

MART BEGINS TO PLAN.

Mary Dell was a girl of keen wits, but her education was of
the sea-shore. Among her class people talked of the* great
folk, and men of wealth and their power — and not with-
out excuse — for in those days bribery, corruption, and class
clannishness often carried their way to the overruling of justice
— the blind ; and in her ignorance she thought that if she
could win over Captain Armstrong to forgive her brother, the
prosecution would be at an end, and all would be well

Consequently she determined to go up to the big house by
Slapton Lea, and beg Mistress Armstrong to intercede with her
husband, and ask his forgiveness ; so one morning soon after
the committal she set off, but met the cariiage with the young
married couple inside — Mistress Armstrong looking piqued and
pale, and the captain as if nothing were the matter.

. The sight of the young wife side by side with the man who
had professed to love her was too much for Mary, and she
turned off the road and descended by the face of a dangerously
steep cliff to the shingly shore ; where, as she tramped home-
ward, with her feet sinking deeply in the small loose pebbles,
her feeling of bitterness increased, and she felt that it would
be im[)Ossible to ask that weak, foolish-looking woman with the
doll's face to take her part.

No ; she would go up to the house boldly and ask to see
the captain himself ; and then, with the memory of his old love
for her to help her cause, he would listen to her prayer, and
save her brother from the risk he ran.

Then a mental cloud came over her, and she felt that she
could not go up to the big house. It was not the captain's,

MARY BEGINS TO PLAN.

it was her mother's ; and it would be like going to ask a favour
of. her. She could not do it ; and there was no i jed.

Captain Armstrong would come down to the shore any
evening if she sent him the old signal, a scrap of dry sea-
weed wrapped in paper Scores of times she had done this
when Abel had gone to sea in his boat, with Bart for com
panion ; and Mary's cheeks flushed at the recollection of those
meetings.

Yes ; she would send him the old signal by one of the
fishermen's children.

No ; only if all other means failed. He was better now,
and would be about. She would watch for him, and, as she
called it, meet him by accident, and then plead her cause.

And so a week glided away, and there was only about one
more before the judge would arrive, and Abel and his com-
panion be brought up in the assize court. Maiy had haunted
every road and lane leading toward the big house, and had met
the captain riding and walking, but always with Mistress Arm-
strong, and she could not speak before her.

There was nothing for it but to take the bold step, and .
after long hesitation that step was taken ; the piece of ^ea-weed ♦
was wrapped up in paper, entrusted to a little messenger, and
that evening Mary Dell left the cottage and walked round the
western point towards Torcross, her cheeks flushed, her eyes
unusually bright, and her heart full of care.

She was not long in reaching the well-known spot — their
old trysting-place, where the coarse sand was white, and the
rocks which shut in the retired tiny cove rough with limpet,
barnacle, and weed.

This was the first time she had been there since James
Armstrong had wearied of the prude, as he called her, and
jilted her for his wealthy wife ; and now the question arose ;
Would b© come }

4:1

' :i

I !

'" 1

COMMODOUK jrNK.

Tho ovonin^ wan gloriouH ; hut one thoii^hfc fillotl Mary's
broiiHt Alx'l Khut up iMiliiiid iho prison hiirH, Htill olKluriitn,
an<l holioving lior falHo to him, anil hiH faithful fri(;n«l.

Tho groy look on tho faoo of thn Hon. waH rollcctcil upon that
of tho watchor ; and aH th(i Hky grow dark, ho grow Mary DcII'h
eyes, only that there was a lurid light now and then glowing
in their deptliH.

" lie will not c«)ine," she Haid. "Ho hates uw now as I
hat<i him, and "

She Htopped short, for her well-trained ear eatight the sound
of a pebble falling as if from a height upon the strand below,
and gaxing fixedly above tho direction of the sound, she mado
out something dark moving high up on the clifi' track.

Mary's heart began to beat wildly, atid she drew a long
breath ; but she would not let hope carry her away for a few
moments till she could be certain, and then a faint cry of joy
escaped her, but only to be succeeded by a cliilling sensation,
as something seemed to ask \w,r why ho had come.

" I'm late," cried a well-known voice directly after. " Why,
Mary, just in tho old spot. It's like old times. My darling 1 "

He tried to clasp her in his arms, his mann(;r displaying
no trace of his injuri(;H ; but she thrust him sJuirply away, half
surprised and yot not surprise<l, for she seemed now to read
tho man's chamcter to the full. '

" Captain Armstrong ! " she cried, hoarsely.

" Why, my dear Mary, don't be so prudish. You are not
going to carry on that old folly 1 "

" Captain Armstrong, don't mistake me."

** Mistake you ! No. You are tho deanjst, loveliest
woman I ever saw. There, don't bo huflcd because I was so

long. I couldn't get away. You know " and he again

tried to seize her.

Cttptain Armstrong "

«»i

MAIlY HKOINS TO !M,AN.

"Now, what iMHiMCMw I Y<m M-ui for mo, nnd I luivo
como."

•' Yns. I H«nt for you iM^cauHe timro wad no otlior way of
Npoakiii^ to you aloiio."

** Quiti? ri^lit, my darling ; ami wliat could Im; Ix^tttu' than
horn alone 1 Mary, Hw<Mft, it will Ikj dark dir(«(^tly."

'• Sir, 1 H«nt for you horo that I might hcg of you to Have
my brother and poor Ikirt."

"OurHO your hrf)thfir and Hart !" Haid the «Niptuin, angrily.
" It waH not tlu^r fault that they did not kill m«. They'ro
ln^ttiM* out of our way."

"Captjiin AriuHtrong JamoH— for our oM Iovo'h sake will
you Havo tliom V

" No," ho cri(Ml, savagely. *' YeH," he added, catehing
Mary'H wrist; "not for our old love's Hake, hut for our new
h)vo — the lovo that is to come. Mary, I love? you ; 1 always
did love you, and now I find I cannot live without you."

" (/aptain ArniHtrong ! "

"JamoH — your lover. Mary, you are everything to me.
Don't Htruggh^ How can you he ho fooliHh ? There, yoH, I
will. I'll (h) ev«!rything. I'll refuse to appear against tluim if
you wish me to. I'll get them set fre*- ; luit you will not hold
me off' like this?"

*' You will Have my brother?"

"Yes." »

" And his friend r'

"Yes."

"Then I will always bo grateful to you, and pray for your
happin(;ss."

" And be mine, Mary, my love, my own 1 "

"You villain! you traitor!" hisHe<I Miiry, as, taking ad-
vantage of a momentary forgcifuliieHs, In; clasped hav in Ids
arms and nhowered kisscB on her lips, her chet'ks, her liair.

i i wii fft .

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COMMODOnfi JUNK.

i I '

But Captain Armstrong had made a mi.stake. It was like
carosHing a Cornish wrestler. There was a sharp struggle,
during which he found that Mary's thews and .sinews were,
softly rounded as site was, strong as those of a man. She had
been accustomed to row a boat in a rough sea by the hour
together, and there was additional strength given to her arm
by the indigtiation that made her blood course hotly through
her veiub.

How dare he, a miserable traitor, insult her as he did ?

The question made the girl's blood seem to boil ; and ere he
could place another kiss upon her lips Mary had forgotten
brother, friend, the trial, everything but the fact that James
Armstrong, Mistress Armstrong's husband, had clasped her in
his arms ; and in return she clasped him tightly in hers.

They swayed here for a moment, then there, and the next
the captain was lifted completely from the shingle and literally
jerked sideways, to fall with a crash and strike his head against
a piece of rock. Then a sickening sensation came over him
and all seemed dark, while, when he recovered a few minutes
later, his head was bleeding and he was alone, and afmid with
Ids swimming head to clamber up the rough cliff path.

" The cursed jade ! " he muttered, as he recovered after a
time, and went cautiously back after tying up his headi " I
wish I could lay her alongside her brother in the gaol."

" Yes ; 1*11 save him," he said with a mocking laugh, as he
reached the top of the cliff and looked down at the faint light
seen in the old wrecker's cottage. " I'll save him ; and, in spite
of all, it'll be a strange, thing if Mary Dell isn't lost.

" Curae her, how strong she is ! " he said after a pause.
*»What shall I sayl Humph! a slip on the path and a
' fall. I'm weak yet after the assault. Some one will have to
plaster her dearest Jemmy's head — a sickly fool I ** ""

OIIAPTKK TX.

IIKIIIND IMU80N HAItS.

Mauy I>i;ll NVfiit a^^ain ami aj^'aiii to tho prison in the county
town, trautping till sh(> was footKorc ; but hIio did not nee Abel,
for hIio had to encounter double ditliculties — to wit, the regu-
lations of the authorities, and her brother's refusal to see her.

At last, though, she compassed an interview with Bart
Wrigley, and the big fellow listened to her stolidly, as he
enjoyed the sound of her voice, sighing heavily from time to^
time.

" But even you seem at times, Bart, as if you did not believe
a word I say," she cried passionately.

" Who says I don't 1 " said Bart, in a low growl. " You tells
me you didn't, my lass, and of course you didn't. Why, I'd
believe anything you told me ; but as for Ab'^l, he's dead-set
on it that you told the captain, and there's no moving him."

" But tell him, Bart, tell him I was angry with him for
what he did "

"What we did," said-Bart, who was too loyal to shirk his
share.

" Well, what you both did, Bart ; but that I would sooner
have died than betray my own brother."

" Haw, haw ! That's a wunner," said Bart, with a hoarse
laugh. " That's just what I did tell him."

"You did, Bart r'

" Ay, my lass, I did ; but he "

Bart stopped.

" Yes, Bart, what did he say 1 "

" Said I was a blind, thick-headed fool,"
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OOMMOnOUK JUNK.

"Oil, Hart, Hail, Unit! you aro ilio l»0Ht ami tniost frioiid
wo ovor !ia«l."

" ^'i«y that a^ain, laNS, will you ?" said ihfi rou^h follow.

Mary sai<I it again wiOi grcator oiupliasiH, and big Bart
ruMuMJ (lu» cornor of ono oyt« with tli(« back of liiH hand.

'*T(>11 him, doar Hart, that hin mntor waa truH to him all
thi*oUjL!;h, and that ho must ltoliov«« mo."

'* Ay, laMS, I'll t(>ll him ; Init don't rail mo '(h>ar Bart 'again,
'cauHO 1 can't hoar it."

" But you aro our friend, and have always been like a
brother to us."

•* Ay, lass, I tri(»d to bo, and I'll spoak to him again. Bah I
you novor wont agiiiii us. You couldn't. Your tongue
thrash«»d us a bit, as you alius did, but it was for our good.
And now, look lu>iv, my lass, when wo'n? gone "

"When you'ro gom*. Hart!" cried Mary, with her lip
(juivering.

" Ay, hivss, when we're gone, for I daresay they'll hang us.**

" Bart I "

" Oh, it won't hurt much. Not worse than being drownded,
and much ^juicker."

"Oh, J^art, Hart!" » .

" Don't cry, my pretty one, only don't forget us. You won't
forget Abel, of course ; but — I never felt as if I could talk to
you like this before — don't forget as Bart Wrigloy was worry
fond on you, and that if he'd been a fine hansum chap, 'stead of
such a rough un, with his figui-c-head all set o' one side, he'd
ha' stuck up and said as no one else shouldn't have you."

" Oh, Bart, Bart ! " sobbed Mary, piteously.

" Ay, lass, that he would ; but he often says to himself, * It
wouldn't be kind to a girl like that to hang on to her.' So,
good-bye, my pretty lady, and I'll tell Abel as he's the blind,
thick-headed fool if he says it was you as got us into this hole.**

BRtllNI) I'UrHON UAIt.S.

Bart had to wiiul up liiH unwonUMlIy loii^ Hpoooh vory
quickly, for a coiiplo (»f tunikryH Iwid ontonul ilin Htono-wuUtMl
room, to coiuluct tln^ big fallow hack to IiIh coll, itrid bIiow Miiry
to th«) oiitsido of the priHon.

" (jlood-hyi^ doar IJart, dnar old frinid I "

"(lood-hyc, my pretty lady ! " cried tluj hig fellow. '"You
called me * dear JJart ' aj^aiii."

*' YoH, dear IJart, dear brother I " cri(!d Mary, piiHHJonatoly,
and, nuHing Iuh big hand to )\m' lips, hIic kiHHcd it.

" Bah ! " growhid IJart to hiiiiHelf, " let '(!in hang me. What
do I care art«!r that? M)(jar Hart — «lear JJart ! ' I wouldn't
care a bit if I only knowed what Hho'd do wh(;n w(!'r« gone."

Then the time glided on, and Mary heard from ono and
another the popular b(;lief that the authoritien, rejoicing in
having at last caught two notorious smugglerH and wreckcrn
red-handed in a HcriouH oHeix^o, wore determin(;d to make an
example by punishing tlnim with the utmost rigour of the law.

The poor girl in her loneliness had racked her brains for
means of lielping lier brotlu^r. She had sold <!verytliing of
value they poss(;»sed to pay for legfil aHsi.staiKie, and she had,
with fertile imagination, plottcid means for helping Abel to
escape; but ev(!n if her plans had })oen possible, they had becin
crossed by her brother's obstinate; disbelief in her truth. I fig
last message was one which sent her to i]ut cottage flushed and
angry, for it was a (nmd rep(!tition of his old accusation, joined
with a declaration that he disbeli(»vc!d in her in other ways,
and that this had Ixsen done in collusion with Captain Arm-
strong to get him and r»art out of her way.

" He'll be sorry some day," she said on the njorning before
the trial, as she sat low of spirit and alone in the little cottjtge.

" Poor Abel 1 he's vary bitter and cruel ; poor Yea, do

you want mel"

**Genlum give me this to give you," said a boy.

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COMMODORE JUNK.

Mary excitedly caught at the letter the boy handed to her,
and opening it with trembling hands, managed with no little
difficulty to spell out its contents.

They were very short and laboriously written in a largo
schoolboy-like hand for her special benefit by one who knew
her deficiencies of education.

**/^ is not too fate yet. Abel vnll he tried to-morrow and
condemned unless a piece qtseairefd is received to-night."

" And I used to love him and believe in him ! " she cried at
last passionately, as her hot indignation at last mastered her,
and she tore the letter in pieces with her teeth, s[)at the
fiagments upon the ground, and stamped upon them with
every mark of contempt and disgust.

Then a change came over her, and she sank sobbing upon a
stool, to burst forth into a piteous wail.

" Oh, Abel ! — brother I — it is all my doing. I have sent
you to your death 1 **

CHAPTER X,

A DARING TRICK.

Thb laws were tremendously stringent in those days when it
was considered much easier to ' ing an offender's bad career
to an end than to keep him at the nation's experise and when
the stealing of a sheep was considered a crime • h^ ^junished
with death, an attack upon the sacred person ol one of the
king's officers by a couple of notorious law-breakers was not
likely to be looked upon leniently by a judge well known for
stern sentences.

A DARING TRICK.

But a jury of Devon men was sitting upon the offence of
Abel Doll and Bart "Wrigloy, and feeling disposed to deal easily
with a couple of young fellows whose previous bad cliaracter
was all in connection with smuggling, a crime with the said
jury of a very light dye, certainly not black. Aliel and Bart
escaped the rope, and were sentenced to transportation to one
of His Majesty's colonies in the West Indies, there to do con-
vict work in connection with plantations, or the making of
roads, as their taskmasters might think fit.

Time glided by, and Mary Dell found that her life at home
had become insupportable.

She was not long in finding that, now that she was left
alone and unprotected, she was not to be free from persecution.
Her contemptuous rejection of Cai)tain Armstrong's advances
seemed to have the effect of increasing his persecution ; and
one evening at the end of a couple of months Mary Dell sat
on one of the rocks outside the cottage door, gazing out to sea,
and watching the ships sail westward, as she wondered whether
those on board would ever set; the brother who seemed to b©
all that was left to her in this world. •

That particular night the thought which had been hatching
in her brain ever since Abel had been sent away flew forth
fully fledged anc^ ready, and she rose from where she had been
sitting in the evening sunshine, and walked into the cottage.

Mary Dell's proceedings would have excited a smile from
an observer, but the cottage stood alone. She liad heard that
Captain Armstrong was from home and not expected back for
a wecik, and there was no fear of prying eyes as the sturdy,
well-built girl took down a looking-glass from where it hung
to a nail, and, placing it upon the table, propped it with an old
jar, and then seating herself before the glass, she folded her
arms, rested them upon the tal)le, and Siit for quite an hour
gazing at herself in the mirror.

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COMMODORE JUNS.

Is !l(i

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fiif! illl

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Womanly vanity 1 Not a scrap of it, hut firm, intense
purpose ; deep thought ; calm, calculating observation before
taking a step that was to influence her life.

She rose after a time and walked into her brother Abel's
bed-room, where she stayed for some minutes, and then with a
quick, resolute step she re-entered the cottage kitchen, thrust
the few embers together that burned upon the hearth, took a
pair of scissors from a box, and again seated herself before the
glass.

The sun was setting, and filled the slate-floored kitchen with
light which flashed back from the blurred looking-glass, and
cast a curious glare in the girl's stern countenance, with its
heavy dark brows, sun-browned ruddy cheeks, and gleaming
eyes.

Snip 1

The sharp scissors had passed through one lock of the mas-
sive black tresses which she had shaken over her shoulders,
and which then rippled to the cottage floor.

Snip/

Another cut, and two locks had fallen. Then rapidly snipy
sni]), snip — a curious thick, sharp snip — and the great waves
of glorious, hair kept falling as the bare, sun-burned, ruddy
arm played here and there, and the steel blades glittered and
opened and closed, as if arm, hand, and scissors formed the
neck, head, and angry bill of some fierce bird attacking that
well -shaped head, and at every snap took ofi" a thick tresa of
hair.

It was not a long task, and when the hair had all fallen, to
lie around, one glorious ring of glossy black tresses, there were
only a few snips to give here and there to finish oft* notches
and too long, untidy spots, and then the girl rose, and with a
cold, hard look upon her frowning face she stooped, and
stooped, and stooped, and at each rising cast a great tress

A DARING TRICK.

)f hair to where the flames leaped, and seized it, scorching
the locks, which writhed, and curled, and flared, and crackled
as if alive, while, as if to aid the idea that she was destroy-
ing something living, a peculiarly pungent odour arose, as of
burning flesh, and filled the rooir.

An hour later, just as the red moon rose slowly above the
surface of the sea, a sturdy-looking young man, with a stout
stick in one hand — the very stick which had helped to belabour
Captain Armstrong — and a bundle tied up in a handkerchief
beneath his arm, stepped out of the cottage, changed the key
from inside to outside, closed the old door, locked it, dragged
out the key, and with a sudden jerk sent it flying far out into
deep water beyond the rocks, where it fell with a dull plash/
followed by a peculiar hissing sound, as the waves at high
water rushed back over the fine shingle at the thrower's
feet.

There was a sharp look round then ; but no one was in
sight ; nothing to be heard but the hissing waters, and the
splashing, gasping, and smacking sound, as t' ? tide swayed in
and out among the masses of stone. Then the figure turned
once more to the cottage, gazed at it fixedly for a few moments,
took a step or two away ; but sprang back directly with an
exceeding bitter cfy, and kissed the rough, unpainted wood-
work again and again with rapid action, and then dashed off to
the foot of the cliff, and climbed rapidly to the sheep -track —
the faintly-seen path that led towards Slapton Lea and the old
hall, where the captain still stayed with his young wife, and
then joined the west road which led to Plymouth town.

The risky part of the track was passed, and the open and
down-like pastures beyond the clifis were reached ; and here,
with the moon beginning to throw the shadow of the traveller
far forward and in weird-looking length, the original of that
shadow strode on manfully for another c^uarter of a mile, when

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COMMODORE JUNK.

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all at once there was a stoppage, for another figure was seen
coming from the direction of Torcross, and the moon shining
full upon the face showed plainly who it was.

There was no question of identity, for that evening, after
more than his customary modicum of wine, Captain James
Armstrong — whose journey had been postponed — had snubbeci'
his young wife cruelly, quarrelled with his cousin Humphrey,
who had been there to dine, and then left the house, deter-
mined to go down to Mary Dell's solitary cottage.

" I'm a fool," he said ; " I haven't been firm enough with
the handsome cat. She scratched. Well, cats have claws,
ind when I have taught her how to purr nicely she'll keep
Uiem always sheathed. I'll bring her to her senses to-night,
once and for all.

" Who the devil's this?" muttered the captain. "Humph!
sailor on the tramp to Plymouth. Well, he won't know me.
I won't turn back."

He strode on a dozen yards and then stopped short, as the
figure before him had stopped a few moments before; and
then a change came over the aspect of the captain. His
knees shook, his face turned wet, and his throat grew dry.

It was horrible ; but there could be no mistake.

" Abel Dell ! " he cried, hoarsely, as he leaped at the idea
that the brother had returned in spirit, to save his sister
from all harm.

" Out of my path ! " rang forth in answer, the voice being
loud, imperious, and fierce; and then, in a tone of intense
hatred and suppressed passion, the one word — " Dog ! "

As the last word i-ang out there was a whistling as of a
stick passing through the air, a tremendous thud, and the
captain fell headlong upon the rocky ground.

Then there was utter silence as the young sailor placed
ore foot upon the prostrate man's chest, stamped upon it

IN THE PLANTATION.

savagely, and strode on right away over the wild country
bordering the sea.

The figure loomed up once in the moonlight, as the captain
rose slowly upon one elbow, and gazed after it, to see that it
seemed to be of supernatural propoi-tions, and then he sank
back again with a groan.

" It's a spirit," he said, " come back to her ; " and then
the poltroon fainted dead away.

CHAPTER XI.

IN THE PLANTATION,

SoHEONE singing a west country ditty.

" His sloe-black eyes "

A pause in the singing, and the striking of several blows
with a rough hoe, to the destruction of weeds in a coffee-
plantation ; while, as the chops of the hoe struck the clods
of earth, the fetters worn by the striker gave forth faint
clinks.

Then in a pleasant musical voice the singer went oa with
another line —

" And his curly hair "

More chops with the hoe, and clinks of the fetters.

" His pleasing voice "

A heavy thump with the back of the tool at an obstinate
clod, which took several more strokes before it crumbled up ;
and all the time the fetters clinked and clanked loudly. Then
the singer went on with the sweet old minor air with it9
childish words.

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COMMODORE JUNK.

" Did my heart ensnare—

Chop t chop ! clink / clink I clank /

" Genteel he v;as '

" But no rake like 1/ou.'*

"Oh, I say, Abel, mate; don't, lad, don't."

"Don't what?" said Abel Dell, resting upon his hoe, and
looking up at big Bart Wrigley, clothed like himself, armed
with a hoe, and also decorated with fetters, as he stood
wiping the perspiration from his forehead.

" Don't sing that there old song. It do make me feel so
unked." -

"linked, Bart? Well, what if it does? These are unked
days."

" Ay ; but each time you sings that I seem to see the
rocks along by the shore at home, with the ivy hanging
down, and the sheep feeding, and the sea rolling in, and the
blue sky, with gulls a-flying; and it makes me feel like a
boy again, and, big as I am, as if I should cry."

" Always were like a big boy, Bart. Hoe away, lad ; the

overseer's looking."

Bart went on chopping weeds, diligently following his
friend's example, as a sour-looking, yellow-faced man came
by, in company with a soldier loosely shouldering his
musket. But they passed by without speaking, and Ab«l
continued —

" There's sea here, and blue sky and sunshine."

" Ay," said Bart ; " there's sunshine hot enough to fry a
mack'rel. Place is right enough if you was free ; but it ar'n't
home, Abel, it ar'n't home."

"Home! no," said the young man, savagely. "But we
have no home. She spoiled that."

There was an interval of weed-chopping and clod-breaking,
the young men's chains clanking loudly as they worked now so

IN THE PLANTATION.

a
I't

energetically that the overseer noted their proceedings, and
pointed them out as examples to an idle hand.

" Ah ! you're a hard 'un, Abel," remarked Bart, after a
time. •

" Yes ; and you're a soft 'un, Bart. Slie could always
turn you round her little finger."

"Ay, bless her ! and she didn't toll on us."

"Yes, she did," said Abel, sourly ; and he turned his back
upon his companion, and toiled away to hide the working of
his face.

The sun shone down as hotly as it can shine in the West
Indies, and the coarse shirts the young men wore showed
patches of moisture where the perspiration came through ; but
they worked on, for the labour deadened the misery in their
breasts.

And yet it was a very paradise, as far as nature v/as con-
cerned. Man had spoiled it as far as he could, his cultivation
being but a poor recompense for turning so lovely a spot into a
plantation, worked by convicts — by men who fouled the am-
bient air each moment they opened their lips ; while from time
to time the earth was stained with blood.

In the distance shone the sea, and between the plantation
and the silver coral sands lay patches of virgin forest, where
the richest and most luxuriant of tropic growth revelled in the
heat and moisture, while in the sunny patches brilliant flowers
blossomed. Then came wild tangle, cane-brake, and in one
place, where a creek indented the land, weird-looking man-
groves spread their leafage over their muddy scaflblds of iSrial
roots.

"How long have we been here, matel" said Bart, after a
pause.

" Dunno," replied Abel, fiercely.

Here he began chopping more vigorously.

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COMMODORE JUNK.

" How long will they keep us in this here place ? " said
Bart, after another interval, and he looked from the beautiful
shore at the bottom of the slope on which they worked to the
cluster of stone and wood-built buildings, which formed the
prison and the station farm, with factory and mill, all worked
by convict labour, while those in the neighbourhood were
managed by blacks.

Abel did not answer, only scowled fiercely ; and Bart
sighed, and repeated his question.

" Till we die ! " said Abel, savagely ; " same as we've seen
other fellows die — of fever, and hard work, and the lash. Curse
the captain ! Curse "

Bart clapped one hand over his companion's lips, and he
held the other behind his head, dropping his hoe to leave full
liberty to act.

"I never quarrels with you, Abel, lad," he said, shortly;
" but if you says words again that poor gell, I'm going to fight
— and that won't do. Is it easy 1 "

Abel seemed disposed to struggle ; but he gave in, nodded
his head, and Bart loosed him and picked up his hoe, just as
the overseer, who had come softly up behind, brought down
the whip he carried with stinging violence across the shoulders
of first one and then the other.

The young men sprang round savagely; but there was a
sentry close behind, musket-armed and with bayonet fixed, and
they knew that fifty soldiers were within call, and that if
they struck their taskmaster down and made for the jungle
they would be hunted out with dogs, be shot down like wild
beasts, or die of starvation, as other unfortunates had died be-
fore them.

There was nothing for it but to resume their labour and
hoe to the clanking of their fetters, while, after a promise of
what was to follow, in the sliai)e of tying up to the triangles,

9<ras a
I, and
at if
ungle
wild
d be-

ir and
lise of
Ingles,

IN THE PLANTATION.

and the cat, if they quarrelled again, the overseer went on to
see to the others of his flock.

" It's worse than a dog's life ! " said Abel, bitterly. " A
dog does get patted as well as kicked. Bart, lad, I'm sorry I
got you that lash."

" Nay, lad, never mind," said Bart. " I'm sorry for you ;
but don't speak hard things of Mary."

" I'll try not," said Abel, as he hoed away excitedly ; " but
I hope this coflee we grow may poison those who drink it."

"What fori They can't helj) it," said Bart, smiling.
"There, lad, take it coolly. Some day we may make a run
for it."

" And be shot ! " said Abel, bitterly. *♦ There, you're
down to the end of that row. I'll go this way. He's watch-
ing us."

Bart obeyed. He was one who always did obey ; and by
degrees the young men were working right away from each
other, till they were a good two hundred yards apart.

Abel was at tlie end of his row first, and he stopped and
turned to begin again and go down, so as to pass Bart about
the middle of the clearing ; but Bart had another minute's
chopping to do before turning.

He was close up to a dense patch of forest — one wild
tangle of cane and creeper, which literally tied the tall trees
together and made the forest impassable — when the shrieking
of a kind of jay, which had been flitting about excitedly,
stopped, and was foUovired by the melodious whistle of a white
bird and the twittering of quite a flock of little fellows of a
gorgeous scarlet-crimson. Then the shrieking of several par-
rots, answering each other arose ; while just above Bart's head,
whero clusters of trumpet shaped blossoms nung down from
the edge of the forest, scores of brilliantly -scaled humming-
birds literally buzzed on aluiost transparent wing, and then

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COMMODORE JUNK.

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suspended thomHolves in midair as they probed the nectarios
of the flow(5i-8 with their long bills.

" You're boatitiea, you are," said Bart, stopping to wipe
his brow ; " but I'd give the hull lot on you for a sight of
one good old sarcy sparnu* a-sitting on the cottage roof Hn<l
saying chiael chisel. Ah! shall us ever see old Devonshire
again 1"

The parrots hung upside-down, and the tiny humming-birds
flitted here and there, displaying, from time to time, the bril-
liancy of their scale-like feathers, and Bart glanced at his
fellow-convict and was about to work back, when there came
a sound from out of the dark forest which made him stare
wildly, and then the sound arose again.

Bar': changed colour, and did not stop to hoe, but walked
rapidly across to Abel.

" What's the matter 1" said Ihc latter.

" Dunno, lad," said the other, rubbing his brow with his
arm ; " but there's something wrong."

♦'What is it 1"

" That's what I dunno j but just now scniething said quite
plain, *Bart! Bart!'"

" Nonsense ! You were dreaming."

" Nay. I was wide awake as I am now, and as I turned
and stared it said it again."

"It said it?"

« Well, she said it."

" Poll parrot," said Abel, gruffly. "Go on with your work
Here's the overseer."

The young men worked away, and tlieir supervisor passed
them, and. apparently satisfied, continued his journey round.

" May h:« ve been a poll paiTot," said Bart. " They do talk
plain, Abel, lad ; but this sounded like something else."

««W^hat else could it be 1"

IN TOB PLAKTATIOM.

nofl

vipe

it of
jin<l

birds
I bril-

came
stare

Iked

Lth bis

quite

1 turned

[■• wor«

passed
)und.
I do talk

*' Roundod like a gliost."

AImjI burst into a hearty laugh — ho hearty that Bart'a face
was slowly overspread by a broad smile.

" Why, lad, that's bettor," he said, grimly. " I ar'n't seen
you do that for months. Work away."

The hint wiis given because of the oversoor glancing in
thoir direction ; and thoy now worked on togjithor slowly,
going down the row toward the jungle, at which Bart kept
on darting uneasy glances.

" Enough to make a man laugh to hear you talk of ghosts,
Bart," said Abel, after a time.

" What could it be, then r*

" Parrot some lady tamed," said Abel, shortly, as they
■worked on side by side, " escaped to the woods again. So4ne
of these birds talk just like a Christian."

"Ay," said Bart, after a few moments' quiet thought,
** I've heored *em, lad ; but there's no poll parrot out here as
knows me."

" Knows you ? "

" Well, didn't I tell you as it called to me * Bart I Bart ! ' "

" Sounded like it," said Abel, laconically. " What does he
want?"

. For just then the overseer shouted, and signed to the gang-
men to come to him.

" To begin another job — log-rolling, I think," growled Bart,
shouldering his hoe.

At that moment, as Abel followed his example, there came
in a low, eager tone of voice from out of the jungle, twenty
yards away —

" Bart 1— Abel 1— Abel ! "

" Don't look," whispered Abel, who reeled as if struck, and
recovered himself to catch his companion by the arm. " All
right I " he said aloud ; "we'll be here to-morrow. We must go."

OOMMOPORB JT7KK.

1' •

' i

I I

CHAPTER XII.

IN DEADLY PKRIL.

It was quite a week before the two young men were at work
in the plantation of young trees again, and during all that
time they had fev<5rishly discussed the voice they ha<l heard.
Every time they had ajjproached the borders of the plantation
whe»-« it ran up to the virgin forest they had been on the
qui vivCf expecting to hear their names called again, but only
to be disappointed ; and, after due consideration, Abel placed
a right interpretation upoii the reason.

" It was someone who got ashore from a boat," he said,
*' and managed to crawl up there. It's the only place where
anyone could get up."

" Being nigh that creek, lad, where the crocodiles is," said
Bart. " Ay, you're right. Who could it be 1 "

" One of our old mates."

" Nay ; no old mate '.vould take all that trouble for us, lad.
It's someone Mary's sent to bring us a letter and a bit of
news."

It was at night in the prison lines that Bart said this, and
then he listened wonderingly in the dark, for he heard some-
thing like a sob from close to his elbow.

" Abel, matey ! " he whisp(;i ed.

" Don't talk to me, old lad," came back hoarsely after a
time. And then, after a long silence, "Yes, you're right
Poor lass — })Oor lasa ! "

" Say that again, Abel ; say that again," whispered Bart,
excitedly.

" Poor lass I I've been too hard on her. She didn't get us
took."

m DEADLY PERIL.

Bald

lad.
ii)it of

and
I some-

Ifter a
right

Bart,
[get us

"Thank God!"

TheHo were Bart's hoarsely vhisporod words, choked with
emotion ; and directly after, as ho l^-y there, Abel Dell felt a
great, rough, trembling hand pjiss across his face and search
about him till it reached his own, which it gripped and held
with a strong, firm c1jis[), for there wius l)eneath Bart's rough,
husk-like exterior a gn^at deal of the true, loyal, loving mate-
rial of which English gentlemen are made ; and when towards
morning those two prisoners fell asleep in their chains, hand
was still gripped in hand, while the dreau'.s that brightened
the remaining hours of their rest from penal labour were very
similar, being of a rough homo down beneath Devon's lovely
cliflTs, where the sea rati sparkling over the clean-washed
pebbles, and the handsome face of Mary smiled upon each in
turn. •

" Abel, mate, I'm ready for anything now," said Bart, as
they went that morning to their work. " Only say again as
you forgive our hiss."

" Bart, old lad," said Abel, hoarsely, " I've nought to for-
give.

" Hah ! " ejaculated Bart, and thou he began to whistle
softly as if in the highest of spirits, and looktid longingly in the
direction of the jungle beside the mud creek ; but three days
elapsed before they were set to hoe among tin; coffee bushes
again. - '

Bart let his chin go down upon his chest on the morn-
ing when the order was given, and the overseer saw it and
cracked his whip. *

" You sulky ruffian ! " he cricMl. " None of your sour looks
with me. Get on witn you ! "

He cracked his whip again, and Bart shuffled off, clinking
his fetters loudly.

"Do keep between us, Abel, lad," he whispered, "or I
b2

coniMon(»UR .niNK.

Hfii'^

I i

!: i

Bhiill go ofV nnd lu'll m>o. Oh, lor, how I do waiii to
hiugh ! "

llo roH(min«Ml his i»\i»i.h for a iiinn, mm\ fhoy vvalkod on to
the* oimi of th<> plaolidion inul h«»^iui ihoir f.nHk at <hn ojipoMito
on<l to whoiv (hoy hiol h'fY o(l', whon (ho rato a( which (hoir
hooH \v«Mo plied was Htioh (hal (ln'y w«mo no! long hcforo (hoy
hcg.in (o n«>ar (ho «h»nHo jnnglo, hoyond which lay the nian-
grov«» swamp and i\\v soa.

*' I daren't hope, Mart," whisptMod AIm'J, m» dcHpondnidly
(hat his oonipanion, in a wildly oNoi(od niiinn(>!, huighod in
hia face.

"What a lad yoi» aro ! " ho cried. "IIh all right; h«»*H
waiting for ns. It'a s«)tn(» Ruilor chap from l)i\rtniou(h, wIioho
whip's piit in at Kings(oo or Heli/e. (1he«>r \ip, nuito ! "

Hut it was all a. n>ocl<eiv ; and when (hey approached tho
jiniglo at last, hoeing n»ore slowly- for, nnicli as (hey longed to
go np at once, they knew (l»ai any un\is\ial niovenient on thoir
part might ho interpre(ed \\\ wa(chful eyes in(o an at(('mpt
at oscapo, and bring d«>wii upon (lieju a sh(»( Hart's voice
trenihled and Honn<le«l hoarsely as he said playfully -

'* Now, Abel, my lad, \'\\\ going to (alU to that there poll
p!\n\)(."

"Hush!" whispered Abel, agitatedly. "Keep on qtnetly
with your work till we get olos(\ and tluMi call sofdy."

" ()h, it's all s(raight, lad," whis|>ered back Hart, chopping
away and breaking clods, as his fetters clanked more loudly
than ever. "Now, then, Polly ! Pretty Polly, aro you there 1"

" Yes, yes. Part. AIk^I, dear brother, at last., at last I "
came inm\ the j niggle.

"Mary — Polly, my girl !" cried Ab(>l, hoansely, hh Iio throw
down hia luw ; and he was running toward the Jungle, w hero
a crashing sound wa« heard, when Part Hung his strong arms
across his chest and daslnnl him to the ground.

tN MnAf»f-Y r'KUlli

(\U

Ihrow
I anus

Aro you nmill" lio crUvl. " Miiry, for Go«r« hp\o kuep

Imrk !

Tlin wniniii^ wh« iH»(»(lr»(l, for frotri n,(iroHH Mir piniiiaiion
t!iP ovciHOMi' and a nmpli' of Holdii'iM rarrio n .riiiiij, ovory
liiovoiii(>iif> on (Ii«» |»arl of ilin priMoiiorw lu'iiif^ WMlrlio<l.

" Hliiun ill, lad ; mIuuii ill," wliiHjHMvd Wnrl, aa a pitfoim HJgli
L'aiiio from Mm d«'|tlliH «tf tlio jmi^lf.

o\v

HMI, VOll two.

I'Vl.t

inir Muniii

i-oar<M

1 M

lo ovor-

8P«r, an Im niinn panlint; up.

." Ki^liiing, Hirl" giovvird Hiirfc ; "ruin (iglifirig. flo hourly
wool- down."

** Mo WRH <ryinu t'» «'K(iipn."

♦' Ksmpo!" growl. 'd \Url. " TiOok at liiin. Huii'h lir)t."

Tlio ovoiMoor ln'iil dfivvii ovor AIk>I, wlnmo impnci liolpcd Mm
illuHion, fur lio lookod glniHlly IVoiii IiIm cnioMon ; and lio )ia<i
pn>H(«iiro f)f mind (>nnii^ili (»» o|i»'ii Ins oyos, look aWoiif, wildly
from f'aco (o furc, and Mmmi lM»giii lu stinggh* (ij», with oim hand
to liin lioad.

*• Ih i<. Ilio fayvor, ,sor I " Huid ono of Mm S(»!(fiorM.

"No. TiMndi of Mm Hun," Haid IIm* ovoiwnr. " 'riicy're
iilwayH goMing il,. 'rhcro, yon'ro all riglif, Mi'n't yon V

** \'(5H, nir," Haid Aliol, nlowly, an Im jtir|<cd iij) his \uui.

" Sil down uiidi i fJm (rccH Ihoro for a low niinutnH," said
Mio ovoiMcor. '* liond him your wal.or hoMJc, Holdi«'r. And you
stop with him till Iioh hoMor. I'll como Imck koom."

'riii.s last waH lo I'.iirt, phiying, aH it won*, irit<» tlu' jjriKonorH'
liandM, for liart took tho water hot.th? ; and an tin; ovf.rHoor
w«Mit oir with his gn.inl, Ahol waH aHsistc^d to tim cdgo of th«
jungi ;>, wlmro a huge cotton tree t,h row itHshado; and h(!ro Bart
phuHMJ him on an oM .stninj), tromlding tho whih;, a8 ho h(dd
tho wator 1<> hin coni|>anion'H lij»H.

It waH hard work to kc^op still whilo tho othorH wont out of
hoaring ; but at lant it HO(!nmd waff, an<I Alxd pantod out—

COMMODOUE JUNK.

" Mary, dear, are you there 1"

" Yes, yes, Abel. Oh, my dear brother, say one kind word
to me ! "

" Kind word t Oh, my lass, my la«8, say that you for-
gi ve mo ! "

* Forgive you 1 Yes. Biit quick, dear, before those men
come back."

"Tell me, then," said Abel, speaking with his back to the
jungle, and his head hont down as i£ ill, while Bart leaned
over him, trembling like a leaf, " tell me how you came to be
here."

" I came over in a ship to Kingston. Then I went to New
Orleans. Then to Honduras. And it was oidy a fortnight ago
that I found you."

" But how did you come here V*

" I've got a small boat, dear. I asked and asked for months
before I could find out wh(>re you were. I've been to other
plantations, and people have thought me mad ; but one day I
stumbled across the sailors of a ship that comes here with
stores from the station, and I heard them say that there were
a number of prisoners working at this place ; and at last, after
waiting and watching for weeks and weeks, I caught sight of
vou two, and then it was a month before I could speak to you
is I did the other day."

" And now you have come," said Abel, bitterly, " I can't
even look at you."

" But you will escape, dear," said Mary.

" Escape ! " cried Abel, excitedly.

" Steady, lad, steady. 'Member you're ill," growled Bart,
glancing toward the nearest sentry, and then holding up the
bottle as if to see how much was within.

" Yes, escape," said Mary. " I have the boat ready. Can
you come now ] "

IN DEADLY PERIL.

" Impossible ! We sliould be overtaken and shot before we
had gone a mile."

'• But you must escape," said Mary. "You must get down
here by night."

" How 1 " said Bart, gitiffly.

" You two ninst settle that," said Mary, quickly. " I am
only a woman ; but I have found nu'ans to m't here with a
boat, and T can come again and again till you join me."

" Yes," said Abel, deci<ledly ; " we will contrive that."

" But is it safe, lass, where you are 1 "

" What do you mean 1 "

" They tolled us there was the crocodiles all along that
creek, and sharks out beyond, if we tried to run."

"Yes," said Mary, calmly, "there are plenty of these
creatures about."

" Listen," said Abel, quickly, and speaking as decidedly
now as his sister. '* Can you get hero night after night ? "

" Yes," said Mary. " I have been here every night since
I spoke to you last."

" Then keep on coming."

" Yes," said Mary ; " I will till you escape.*'

« You have the boat 1 "

"Yes."

" And provisions V*

" Yes'; a little."

" But how do you manage?" *

" 1 am fishing if any one sees me ; but it is very lonely
here. I see nothing but the birds," she added to herself, " and
sharks and alligators ; " and as she said this she smiled sadly.

" Be careful, then," said Abel. " Bart, old lad, we will
escape."

There was a loud expiration of the breath from the jungle,
and Abel continued — •

■i

COMMODORE JUN^.

'■:w

' J

K ,

;ii

''l!

"I must get up and go on work, or they will be back.
Mary, once more, you have a boat V*

"Yes."

" And can come up here and wait ? "

" Yes."

Quick, short, decided answers each time.

" Then be cautious. Only come by night."

" I know. Trust me. I will not be seen. I will do no-
thing rash. To-night, as soon as it grows dark, T shall be
here expecting you, for I shall not stir. At daybreak I shall
go, and come again at night."

" And mind the sentries."

" Trust me, Abel. I shall not come now by day for six
days. If at the end of six nights you have not been able to
escape, I shall come for six days by day, hoping that you may
be more successful in the daylight ; for perhaps you will find
that a bold dash will help you to get away."

" But the risk — the risk 1 " panted Abel — " the risk, girl,
to you!"

" Abel, dear, I am here to risk everything. I have risked
everything to join you."

" Yes," he said, hoarsely. " But afterwards. If we do
escape 1 "

" Leave the plans to me," she said, with a little laugh. "I
have boat and sail, and the world is very wide. Only escape.
Take care ; the men are coming back."

Mary's voice ceased ; and Abel took hold of Bart's arm,
rose, raised lis hoe, and walked with him to where they had
left off work, to begin again slowly, the two men trembling
with excitement now ; for, as the overseer neared them, a bird
began flying to and fro over the edge of the jungle, scream-
ing wildly, evidently from the fact that somebody was hidden
there.

IN DEADLY PERIL.

The excitement of the bird, whose nest was probably some-
where near, did not, however, take the attention of the over-
seer, who came up, followed by the Irish sentry, stared hard at
Abel, gave a short nod as if satisfied that one of his beasts of
burden was not going to permanently break down, and then,
to the horror of the young men, took off his hat, began fanning
himself, and went and sat down in the very spot where Abel
had talked with his sister.

" Hot, Paddy, hot ! " he said to the soldier.

" Dinny, sor, av you plaze. Thrue for you, sor, and a taste
of dhrink would be very nice for ye ; but I shouldn't s'.t
there."

** Why not ? " said the overseer.

" Because the place swarms with thim ugly, four-futted,
scaly divils. I've gone the rounds here of a night, sor, and
heard them snapping their jaws and thumping the wet mud
with their tails till I've shivered again."

" Yes, there's plenty of them in the creek, Dinny."

" Plinty, sor, 's nothing to it. There niver seems to have
been a blessed St. Pathrick here to get rid of the varmin.
Why, I've seen frogs here as big as turtles, and sar]>intH tliat
would go round the Hill of Howth."

" Well, look here, Dinny, cock your piece, and if you see
anything stir, let drive at it at once."

" Oi will, sor," said the soldier, obeying orders ; and, taking
a step or two forward, he stood watchfully gazing into the
dark jungle.

" Have you got your knife, Bart 1 " whispered Abel, whoso
face was of a peculiar muddy hue.

Bart nodded as he chopped away.

*' Shall we make a rush at them, and Stun them with the
hoesi"

Bart shook his head.

=3B

COMMODORE JUNK.

'1i!

" Mary's too clever," he whispered back. ** She's well
hidden, and will not stir."

" If that Irish beast raises his musket I must go at him,"
whispered Abel, who was trembling from head to foot.

" Hold up, man. She heer'd every word, and won't
stir."

" Silence, there. No talking ! " cried the overseer.

" Let the poor divils talk, sor," said the soldier. " Faix,
it's bad enough to put chains on their legs ; don't put anny on
their tongues."

" If I get you down," thought Abel, " I won't kill you, for
that."

"Against orders," said the overseer, good-humouredly.
" Well, can you see anything stirring 1 "

" Not yet, sor ; but I hope I shall. Bedad, I'd be glad of
a bit o' sport, for it's dhry work always carrying a gun about
widout having a shot."

" Yes ; but when you do get a shot, it's at big game,
Dinny."

" Yis, sor, but then it's very seldom," said the sentry, with
a roguish twinkle of the eye.

" I can't bear this much longer, Bart," whispered Abel.
" When I say Now ! rush at them both with your hoe."

" Wait till he's going to shoot, then," growled Bart.

The overseer bent down, and, sheltering himself beneath
the tree, placed his hands out in the sunshine, one holding a
roughly rolled cigar, the other a burning-glass, with which he
soon focussed the vivid white spot of heat which made the end
of the cigar begin to smoke, the tiny spark being drawn into
incandescence by application to the man's lips, while the
pleasant odour of the burning leaf arose.

" Sure, an' that's an illigant way of getting a light, sor,"
Baid the sentry.

IN DEADLY rEUIL.

3l.

bh
a
le
[id
[to
Ihe

" Easy enough with such a hot sun," said the overseer, com-
placently.

" Hot sun, 801* ! 8ure I never carry ray mushket here
widout feeling as if it Mtill go off in my hands ; the burl
gets nearly red-hot ! '

*' Yah ! Don't point it this way," said the overseer, smoking
away coolly. " Woll, can you see anything 1 "

" Divil a thing but that noisy little oniadhaun of a bird.
Sure, she'd be a purty thing to have in a cage."

Abel's face grew more ghastly as he gazed at Bart, who
remained cool and controlled him.

" Bart," whispered Abel, with the sweat rolling off his face
in beads, " what shall we do ] "

" Wait," said the rough fellow shortly ; and he hoed away,
with his fetters clinking, and his eyes taking in every move-
ment of the two men ; while involuntarily Abel followed his
action in every respect, as they once more drew nearer to their
task-master and his guard.

" There's a something yonder, sor," said the soldier at last.

" Alligator ] " said the overseer, lazily ; and Abel's heart
rose so that he seemed as if he could not breathe.

" I can't see what it is, sor ; but it's a something, for the
little burrud kai)es darting down at it and floying up again. I
belayve it is one of they crockidills. Shall I sliute the divil ? "

" How can you shoot it if you can't see it, you fool ] " said
the overseer.

" Sure, sor, they say that ivery bullet has its billet, and if
I let the little blue pill out of the mouth o' the mushket, faix,
it's a strange thing if it don't find its way into that ugly
scaly baste."

The overseer took his cigar from his lips and laughed ; but
to the intense relief of the young men, perhaps to the saving of
his own life, he shook his head.

i '

COMMODORE JUNK.

" No, Dinny," ho siiid, " it would alarm the station. They'd
tliiiik someone wns escaping. Let it be."

Dinny sighed, the ovorscrr smoked on, and the hot silence
of the tropic clearing was only broken by the screaming and
chattering of tin; excitiid bird, the hum of insects, and the
clink-clink, thud-thud, of fetters and hoe as the convicts
toiled on in the glowing sun.

They kept as near as tli(!y dared to their task- master, and
he smiled sujterciliously as he put his own interpretation upon
their acts.

"The artful scoundrels !" he said to Jiimself ; "they want
me to believe that they always work like this. Well, it helps
the plantation ; " and he smoked placidly on, little dreaming
that every time Abel reversed his hoe, s<' ;is to break a clod
with the back, the young man glanced at him »nd measured
the distance between them, while he calculated how long
to hold the handle of the tool, and where would be the best
place to strike the enemy so as to disable him at once.

" You take the soldier, Bart, " said Abel, softly. " I'll
manage the overseer."

"Right, lad ! but not without we're obliged."

" No. Then, as soon as they're down, into the wood, find
Mary, and make for her boat."

The heat was intense, the shade beneath the great cotton-
tree grateful, and the aroma of the cigar so delicious that the
overseer sank into a drowsy reverie ; while the soldier gave tlu*
two convicts a half-laughing look and then turned to face tlu!
jungle, whose depths he pierced with his eyes.

Bart drew a long breath and gazed toward the dark part
•of the jungle, and there was an intense look of love and satis-
faction in his eyes as he tried to make out the place where
Mary lay, as he believed, hidden. The sight of the sentry on
the watch with his gun ready had ceased to trouble him, for be

IN DEADLY PERIL.

bon-
Itho

the.

thi5

>art
itis-
liere
oil
be

had told himself tlmt tho clumsy f«5llow could not hit a barn-
door, let alono a Hinjilh'r mark ; while Abel seemed to be loss
aj'itatod, and to be resumini; his normul state.

Tlu^y were not twenty yards from tho edj^o of the forest
now, the sentry's back was toward them, and the overseer wjis
getting to the end of his cigar, ami watching tho watcher
with half-closed eyes, and an amused smilo upon his yellow
countenance.

"Every bullet finds its billet," he muttered to himself;
and, stretching liimself, he was in the act of risin;:^, when
the bird, which liad been silent, uttered a shrill, chattering
cry, as if froHhiy disturbed, and the K<jldier shouted ex-
citedly —

" Th('(!r, sor, I can Sfo it. A big one staling away
among the threes. For the sake of all the saints give the
wurrud ! "

*' Fire, then ! " cried the overseer ; and the sentry raised
his piece to the " present."

Bart Wrigley had not been at sea from childhood without
winning a sailor's eyes. Dark as tlie jungle was, and more
distant as he stood, it was not so black that he could not make
out the object which had taken the sentry's notice, and at which
he took aim.

One moment Bart raised his hoe to rush at the man ; the
next he had brought it down heavily on Abel's slioulders,
sending him forward upon his face, and uttering a cry of rage
as he fell.

It was almost simultaneous. The cry uttered by Abel Dell
and the report of the s. utry's piece seemed to smite the air
together ; but Abel's cry was first, and disarranged the soldier's
aim, his bullet cutting the leaves of the jungle far above the
ground.

" Look at that now ! " he cried, as he turned sharply to see

)

COMMOnoRK JUNK.

Abel Htrii^gling on tho ground, with Hart hoMing him, and the
Ovei'8W3r drawing a pistol from his hrrast.

" Lio .still ! " whiHiHMod liart '* It was not at Mary."

Th(?n aloud —

"Quick, hore 1 wat<5r ! IIo's in a (it-,"

As Abol grasped his frion<i's thoughts ho lay hack,
struggling faintly, and thon halt' c'l(>8(ul his nyon and whh (piite
still.

" It's tho Hun, sir," said Hurt, as tho ovcrsocr thrust hack
his pistol and cuino up. " Hadn't we better get hiui Invck to
the lines 1"

" Yes," said tlio overa«>er. *' Poor <levil ! No, no ! Hack,
back ! " ho roarcnl, signalliiig with his hands as a sergeant's
guard came along at the double. "Nothing wrojig. Only a
man sick, and Dinny Kelly her<> had a shot at an alligator."

" An' I should have hit him, sor, if he jiadn't shouted. i»ut
think o' that, now ! The sun lights gentleman's cigar one
n»ii)ute, and shtrikes a man down the next. But it's better
than the yaller fayver, anyhow."

Five days had pas.sed, and tin; prisoners were not sent
again to the clearing, while, in spite of evt^ry effort, they found
that their chances of eluding the guard set over them by night
were small indeed.

Fettered by day, they were doubly chained by night. Tho
building where they slept was strongly secured and guarded,
and in spite of the newness of the settlement it was well
chosen for its purpose, and stronger even than the prisoners
thought.

"We shall never get away by night, Bart," said Abel,
gloomily, " unless "

He stopped and gazed meaningly at his companioiL

"The knife?" responded Bart. "No, lad, we won't do
that I shouldn't like to cro to INfarv wet with bloi^d."

IN DEADLY PEltlL.

Tho

lied,
Iwell
luers

.bel,

tlo

Abol's countonanco grew dark and doo{>ly linod, for at that
momuiit, in his despair and dinappointinent, ho felt roa<ly
to go to ai y extremity, knowing, as lie di<l, that liis HJHter waH
waiting for him, holding out lusr hands and saying, '• Como ! "

Only another day, and then Hhe would give up expecting
them by night, and take to watching for them hy day, whm
the attempt seemed i»up«;leH8.

And so it proved, for during tho following week thtj
prisoi.ers were only once in tho coflTee plantation, and ho
strictly watchcsd that they felt that to attempt an evasion was
only to bring destruction upon their hopes, p(u-hap8 cause
Mary's imprisonment for attempting to assist prisoners to
escape.

" It's of no use, Bart," said Abol at last, despondently.
" Poor girl ! Why did she come ] "

" Heli> us away," said Bart, gruffly.

"Yes, but all in vain."

"Tchah! Wait a bit."

"Do you think she will still come and waiti" said Abol,
dolefully.

"Do I think th^ h.jn 11 shine agen ] " growled Bart.
" Here's a fellow ! Bor* Hu'ne time as that there lass, lived
with her all liis d?.ys, aiid il\ei\ he knows so little about her
that he says, ' V/ili «<{>«: coido agen V "

" Enough to tire her out."

" Tchah ! " cried Bai-t again, " when you know she'll ke(!|)
on comuig till she's an old grey-headed woman, or she gets us
away."

Abel shook his head, for he was low-spirited and not con-
vinced; but that night his heart leaped, for as he lay half
asleep, listening to the thin buzzing hum of the mosquitoes
which haunted the prisoners' (juarters, and the slow, regular
pace of the sentry on guard outside, there was the faint rattle

\,'

'.mSm

ism

aat

ft*

"■■:•.;

COMMOnOHK Jl'NK.

of a oliaiu, as if hoiiio pnsonor 'lad ti«*iuMl in liin tinqnipt. roHi,
and (Ikm) all was hIUmU again, (ill lin startvd, for a rough hand
was laid n]>()n his nuviiMi.

Ili-s first, instinct was (o H«'i/.o (ho owncM* of (hat hand, to
ongMgo in a strugglo for Imh lifo ; hut a mouth waH phiocul
dirootly a(. his «»ar, and a well known voico whisporrd —

'M>on'( ntakiMi sound. Tio (h('S(^ hi(a of rag ahout your
irons ho as (lu\v don't rattle."

Alud caught a*, tho picocs of cloth and canvas thrust into
his hand, and, sitting up in the darkness, ho softly hound the
links and rings of his fetters together, hardly daring to
bre.ithe, and yet with his heart heating tumult uously in his
an,\iety to know his companion's plans.

For an a(t«>mpt it i nist he, Abel felt, though up to the
time of tluMr going to rest aftiM* tho day's work liart had said
nothing to liinu Jle must have m».do a sudden discovory, and
there >\ as nothing for it but to obey in every way and trust to
what was to come.

Abel felt this as ho raj)i(lly knotted tho rag round his
chains, and jus he wvs tying the last knot ho felt Bart's hand
ui>on his shoulder, and his lips at his ear.

" Quiet, and creep after me. Keep touching my foot bo's
not to miss me in the dark."

Abel's heart thumpetl against his ribs as ho obeyed, taking
Bart's hand lirst in a tirm grip, and then feeling a short iron
bar thrust between his fingers.

Then ho became conscious from his companion's movements
that ho had gone down upon his hands and knees, and was
crawling toward the end of the long, low, stone-walled building
that served as a dormitory for tho white slaves whose task was
to cultivate the rough plantation till they, as a rule, lay down
and died from fever or some of the ills that haunted the tropio

IK DKADIiY PKIlir..

Iron

mio

Jusfc thon Hart hIopimmI Hhort, for l.lmro worn HtopR otifHldo,
aiul 11 gleam of light apprnnMl iMiicat.li i\w lioavy door. Voiocsa
wj'H' h(>ar<l, and tlm nittUj of a n )|iii«!r'H inuHkftt.

•* (/hanging guard," Haid AIh-I (o hiuiHcIf ; and hn found
hiniHcIf w<>n(h'riiig whc^thcr ihr Hcrgrant and his ninn would
• 'nt(M' thr prinon.

To add to thn risk of diHcovory, thorn wjih a Hhiifning houikI
on tho loft, and a clink of ohainH, aH ono man Hctuncd to riHt;
upon loH (Ol)ow ; and IiIh movement rousod another, who alHO
clinked liiH chains in tho dnrkncsH and growlod ont an impnv
cation,

All this tim(> Hart. romaincMl a)>soliit(;ly motionless, and
y\l>el listened with tho porspiratioit streaming from him in tho
int(;ns(t heat.

Tluiu thenj was a hoarnely utlerd command; tho light
fa<hid away, tin? stops <liod out upon tho (!ar ; th(!ro wuh a
clink or two of chains, and a h<!!ivy sigh from some rt^stlosH
sle(!p«!r, and on<;(! moro in the Mack sihjnco and stilling Iwjat
thoro was nothing to ho heard hut tin; loud trumpeting hiizz
of th(5 mos(iuito<%H.

Softly, as some la:go cat, IJart resumed his crawling moV(;-
ment, after thrusting hack his l<!g and touching Alx;! on tho
chost with his han; foot as a signal.

The building was (juito a hundred foot long l>y about
eighteen wide, a mere gallery in shajx^, whicli had b<'eii length-
ened from tiuio to time as the numlxir of convicts increased, and
the men had about two-thirds of tlu; distance; to trav(;rso Ixjfor*?
th(;y could r<!ach the enfl, and at their excessively slow rat^^ of
progress tlu; tiuK^ s(!(;med intermiiiul)Ie l)efore, after several
painful halts, caused l»y movements of their fellow prisoners
and dread of discovery, the tinal halt was made.

" Now, then, what is it?" whispered Abel.

The answer lie received was a hand laid acro.ss his mouth,

S'>,' ';..

I 'i

COMMODOUE JUNK.

and his heart began to boat more wildly than ever, for Bart
caught hifl hand, drew it toward him, and as it was yielded,
directed the fingers downward to the stouo level with tlio
floor.

Abel's heart gave another boiind, for that stone was loose,
and as he was pressed aside he heard a faint gritting, his com-
panion's breath seemed to come more thickly, as if from
exertion, and for the next hour — an hour that seemed like
twelve — Abel lay, unable to help, but panting with anxiety, as
the gritting noise ;vent on, and he could mentally see that P>art
was slowly drawing out rough pieces of badly-cemented stone
— rough fragments really of coral an<l limestone from the
nearest re(^f, of which the prison barrack was built.

Three times over Abel had tried to help, but the firm pres-
sure of his companion's hand forcing him back spoke volumes,
and he subsided into his position in the utter darkness, listening
with his pulses throbbing and subsiding, as the gritting sound
was made or the reverse.

At last, after what seemed an age, a faint breath of com-
paratively cool air began to play upon his clu-ek, as Bart seemed
to work steadily on. That breath grew bi'oader and fuller, and
there was a soft odour of the sea mingled with the damp cool-
ness of a breeze which had passed over the dewy ground before
it began to set steadily in at the opening at which Bart had so
])atiently worked, for that there was an o}H>ning was plain
enough now, as Abel exultantly felt.

In his inaction the torture of the dread was intense, and he
lay wondering whether, if they did get out, ^lary would still
be waiting, expecting tbem, or their elfoits prove to have \)vvn
vain.

At last, just when he felt as if he could bear it no longer,
Bart's hand gripped liim by the shoulder, and pressed him
tightly. Then in the darkness his hand was seized and guided

:j>'mii':mm*iJiH.

IN DEADLY PERIL.

liui
led

wlipre it hardly wanted guiding, for the young man's imngina-
tion had puintfd all — to a rough opening level with the floor, a
]>(>lo little larger than might iiave been made for fowls to pass
in and out of a poultry-yard.

This done, Bai*t gave him a thrust which Abel iuterpreted
to mean, *' Go on."

Abel responded with another, to indicate, " No ; you go."

Bart gripped him savagely by the arm, and he yielded, crept
slowly to the hole, went down upon his breast, and softly thrust
his head through into the dank night air, to hear plainly the
sighing and croaking of the reptiles in the swamp, and see
before him the sparkling scintillations of the myriad fireflies
darting fiom bush to bush.

He wormed himself on, and was about to draw forth one
hand and arm, but always moving as sih'utly as some nocturnal
bea&t of prey, when it suddenly occurred to him that the glow
of one of the fireflies was unusually large ; and before he had
well grasped Huh idea there was the regular tramp of feet, and
he knew that it was the lantern of the guard moving across
to the prison barrack, and that they must come right j)ast
where he lay.

He must creep back and wait ; and as the steps steadily
approached and the tramp grew plainer he began to wriggle
himself through, getting his arm well in and his shoulders bfgiu-
ning to follow till only his head was outside, and the dull light
of the lantern seeming to show it plainly, when to his horror
he found that some portion of his garment had caught upon
a rough projection and he was fast.

He made a tremendous effort, but could not drag it free,
for his arms were pressed close to his sides and he was help-
less. If Bart had known and passed a hand through, he might
have freed him, but he could not explain his position ; and all
the time the guard was coming nearer and nearer, the lantern-
F 2

hfi

liijlit (liinoino: njMMi llio vonnh |villi, iuul it. \vm\iM ho hnuWy
pi-^^ssiMo tor <h(> ii<\'nv<;< soli^ior to pjias him witliont si.umMiiig
ajjrtiust his lio;i<r

l>is,Nn(>v\ . o\ir:\ lMl>onr, iho ]m^1i, inoio irons, nml tho clinnoe
of o\;isi«Mi ofomv nil <1\r>st» <lis|>l:\yoil. ns it won', Ix'foif* Ahffl
Poll's j)a/o MR ho tlnMii^lit of liifj sisioi- \v;\iiinjii; for tlirn\ with
thni l>oM< :\11 pl.nnly simmi hy tho jylo.nuinir lijrht of thot hintorn
OR <h(^ Kol<^i(M-R oiiino sto,'\(hly on.

]i \Mis alwolnloly impoRsihlo lluit <l<o Roriimiit nn<^ hiw four
rnon, whom I ho lioht ]\'.u\ nnonlod ijnito plainly to A hoi Doll,
oouh^ |>;xss him \\i<hon1 sonnMlnnii- nnns\nil ooonrrod. 'Dio Rpr-
Cfoant \\;is o.xrryinjj iM< hintorn «\\ inoinsj at firm's longth, on hia
h^O si.l(\ :^^^\\ iho hoHom ms lio |v\sso(l wonlii only he ii few
inoln^s mIxivo tho ]>riRon<M's hc^nl.

Ahol kn(^\v rtll lliis n<; h(^ ]>rosso(i his irrih loiiothor to keep
<h">Nvn tho :\»i'<">nisinij loi^linij of «h^sp;nr ho folt alrondy as the
mon oanio on in V(\milar paoo, \\\\]\ tho h:\rr(»1s of the nmskots
an(^ thoir havonots jjloamins; : an<] h«^ oNpi^'iod to liear an ex-
olamation of astonishnioni ^Mih tho oonnnnnd "Halt!" — when
somoihine; nnusn;il did happen.

For all at onoo, jnst ;\s tho hack of AlxM's lieatl nniRt have
loomed up like a blaok stone olose hy tliO serjyeant'R path, and
the rays of light glistened on his short, orisp, black hair, there
onme a loud croaking Ix^llow from down in the Rwanip by the
oivok, and Pinny e\olain\ed aloud —

" Hark at that now '"

*' Silence in the ranks ! " critni the sergeant fiercely : and
then, as if the Irishman's words were contagious, he, turning
his liead as did his nieii towards the spot whence the sound
pri.v;e(h\i exclaimed. "What was it?"

** One of them lovely crtv^kidills, sergeant dear — the sw no
craytures. with that plisant smile they have o' theii -.v^ «i.
Hark at him again ! "

IN DKADf.Y VKU\L.

Iv')

♦fl^o flnfne rtnn1<lHjr ivmr nrosp, Itiif fimro (li'^'fuif, ns if ih
wpro fln« rosjxtiiHf lf» !i »'lin.ll«"nrjf».

" Oou'fc it rnrrv you linuip iij^fiii', sor^pfinf dofir]"

" Silf'HCP ill tlio lltiw, h'iinv I" Hfiid (lie M'T/^^finf.,

mHMl-lniiMonrciIlv, for tln" ni«'ti wcfo l!nu;liinfi.

" Why, my molliof liiul m «'o\v m Kcny fow, (lif fhirlinf -
imd l*'»UMM'i IMjijmm', linlf m tuilc hciosh flio Imt;, luid m IhiII , nrifl
yon couM JM'nr liitii iiimI<mi}4 Iov(! to luv at l(jiiiif'R just likf^ tluit,
and inoij^'lity pliHMnfc if wmh."

" A»ul Msf'il Im' f.f) ('o!iM' ju'ioHH tlio l»o^f," Hfii'l tlif^ H»M-^f'arif;,
*• to <•()»)«! Ihm / "

" /\ii<I»!i<l li(M'()»np Mci'oss ilif Itojr tdcoftrt lifw ! ' said I>iririy,
with a contriiiptnouH Ion*- in Ihm voico. "And <oidd yon ^o
arroaa a l»o^ cootlin^ if I'^aiiru'?- Mnijon lind pnf ;i ririL; tlirftn^li
y«M)r noMc mikI tiod yon np fo m |io;t, R»w^<','int dcMr] (»fi, nf» !
Tin' fanncf WiiR nn»i(^dily pMificidar- alifnii (Init ImjU'h rnorjilM,
and iiivor l«>t, liiiii f>nt of a nigld."

*' Silence ill the liinks ! 'Tention ! " Hiiid the Hcr^ofint.
«« Half left!"

Tratnp — frnntp train/) fr<in>j>. find the men passed ronnd
the end of the hnildin^ juHt as the allit^'fitor Icllowed nj^airi.

Abel drew a lonji^ !iie>iMi and »a[>idly drew liirnsejf thron^jh
the hole n<» easy task and I 'art Ic^Jin to follow, l»nt only to
Ktiek helovi' he was half way through.

" I'm at it a«^ain," he whisper"fl. " Natnr' made /ne crooked
o' purpos(» to go wrong at f irnes like this."

Abel .s(n/,« (I his hiinds, aH he r* called the incident at the
cottage.

" Now," he whisp«'red, " hotli together tifi.rd ! "

J?art gji,v(^ himself a wrench as his corrifianion tug<^ed tre-
mendously, and the resist,!incc was overcome.

"Half niy Hkin," growled Hart, ns he struggled to hi.s feet
and stood hy his oompMnion. " Now, lad, this way."

IS.!

I'll!"

(■Ml;

86 COMMODORE JUXK.

((

No, no ; that's the way the soldiers havo gone."

It's the only way, lad. The dogs are yonder, and we

couldn't get over the palisade. Now

They crei)t on in silence, seeing from time to time glir
the lantern, and in the midst of the still darkness matters
seemed to be going so easily for them that Abel's heart grew
mon; re/^ailar in its jmlsation, and he was just asking himsc^lf
why he had not had invention enough to contrive this evasion,
when a clear and familiar voice cried, " Slitand ! " and there
was the click of a nnisket-lock.

Wliat followed was almost momentary.

Bart struck aside the bayonet levelled at his breast, and
leaped upon the sentry before him, driving him backward and
clapping his hand upon his mouth as he knelt upon his chest ;
■while, ably seconding him, his companion wrested the musket
from the man's hand, twisted the bayonet from the end of the
barrel, and, holding it daggerwise, pressed it against the man's
throat.

" Hold aside, Bart," whispered Abel, savagely.

" No, no," growled Bart. " No blood, lad."

" 'Tis for our lives and liberty ! " whispered Abel,
fiercely.

" Ay, but " growled Bart. " Lie still, will you ! " he

muttered, as fiercely as his companion, for the sentry had given
a violent heave and wrested his mouth free.

" Sure, an' ye won't kill a poor boy that how, gintlemen,"
he whispered, piteously.

" Another word, and it's your last ! " hissed Abel.

" Sure, and I'll be as silent as Pater Mulloney's grave, sor,"
whispered the sentry ; " but it's a mother I have over in the
owld country, and ye'd break her heart if ye killed me."

" Hold your tongue ! " whispered Bart.

" Sure, and I will, sor. It's not meself as would stop a

IN DEADLY PERIL.

he
ren

fen

»>

the

couple of gintlemen from escaping. There's the gate, gintle-
luen. Ye've got my mushket, and I can't stop you."

" Yes, come along," whisj)ered Bart.

"What! and leave him to give the alarm?" said Abel.
"We're wasting time, man. 'Tis his life or ours."

"Not at all, sor," whispered the sentry, pleadingly. "I
won't give the alarm, on my hanner ; and you can't kill a boy
widout letting him just say, ' How d'ye do ? ' and ' Which is
the way yander ? ' to the praste."

" Shall we trust him 1 " said Bart, in a low growl.

"No!"

" Thin take me wid ye, gintlemen. Faix, ye might force
me to go, for the divil a hit do I want to shtay here."

" Look here," whispered Bart ; " it's neck or nothing, my
lad. If you give the alarm, it will be with that bayonet
struck through you."

" And would a Kelly give the alarm, afther he said on his
hanner] Sure, you might thrust me."

•' Over with you, then, Bart," whispered Abel ; " I'll stand
over him here. Take the gun."

Bart obeyed, and Abel stood with one hand upon the
sentry's shoulder, and the bayonet close to his throat.

"An' is that the way you thrust a gintleman 1 " said Dinny,
contemptuously, as Bart, with all a siiilor's and rock-climber's
activity, drew himself up, and dropped from the top of the wall
at the side.

" Now, you over," whispered Abel. " We shall take you
with us till we're safe ; but so sure as you give warning of our
escape, you lose your life ! "

" Ah ! ye may thrust me," said the sentry, quickly. " la
it over wid me ?

((

'es ; quick

i y

The

man scaled the gate as easily as Bart had done before

VP^

'mmmmmm

in;.

OOMMonnnE JUNK.

him, and tlion Al)ol followod ; Inii an ho roaohod the top and
bIhiOUmI Rid<'wino to tho wall, which ho hcatrodo, there was tlio
Bound of a sfiot, followed hy another, and another, and tlio
lieree Imying of dogs.

" Hednd, they've h«»cji ye," said the setitry, as Abel dropped
doN\ n.

" They've been in the barrack," whispenul Bart.

•* To be sure they hav<\ Hor ; the scM'geant was going round."

" Quick, take his hand I " Haid Hart.

"No I" whispered Abel, levelling the bayonet.

" No, no ; for my mother's sake, sor ! " cried the sentry,
piteously. '* She has only six of us, and I'm one."

" Tut away that bagnet I " said Bart, hoarsely. " Take hi
hand, and run ! "

" That's it, Ror, at the double," said the sentry, rising from
his knees, where he had Hung himself. " I'm wid ye to the
vm\ of the world. It's a place I know, and "

"Silence ! " hiss(»d Abel, as there was the loud clanging of
a bell with the fierce yelping of dogs, and they dashed off, hand
joined in h;\ml, for the coffee plantation, away down by the
cane-brake and the swamp.

ill

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PURSUIT.

The hue and cry rose louder and louder as the fugitives ran
laboriously toward the jungle-brake. Lights could be seen ; a
signal-gun was fired, and the little colony was up in arms,
ready to hunt down the escaped criminals, lest they should
take to the forest, from whence, after a time, they would issue

TIIK I'lmstllT.

ran

I; a

18,

luld
Uue

forth as wiM ImmihIs. X\ut in Mic (larkiioHa of that tropic night
there would hnve l>»'eii little diiii<,'('r of a recapfiire hut for thoso
houimIh which toM tho ovji(Iiii<^ men that their greatest euoniioH
won* now iif<tot thoso who conhl Inint flieiii down without
light «»r sight, hut W(»uld tiack tluMn by scent with tho greatest
ease.

" Hark at that, now ! " said tho Irislnnan, as ho ran on, stop
by step with tho escaping |>risoners. " D'ye hear the dogs
giving tongue 1 They haven't got the scent right yet, ine hoys;
but they'll have it soon. O'long ; ye don't half run,"

He ceased speaking for a few nKMuonts, and then continued
Rpolog(»tically —

" Faix, and it's ineself forgot. Yfi've got tlie bilboes an, and
they make it bad running. There, dye hear the dogs] Ft'a
like having the hounds back at. home, before I 'listed for a
soger, and got sent out here, liun, ye divils, run ! But, I say:
if we're tuk, and it comes to a thrial — court-martial, ye know
— be fair to a boy, now, won't ye?"

'* What do you mean ? " said Bart, gruffly.

" Remimber that it was you made me desart. I couldnt
help meself, could 1 1 "

Bart did not answer, but kept on with his steady, lumbering
trot, which was tlie nioro laborious to him from the shortness
of his fetters making it difUcult to him to keep up with his
companions.

" Bedad, they're well on the scent ! " said the Irishman,
gazing back as he ran ; " and it'll not be long before they're up
with us. What'll we do at all ? "

"Dol" said Bart, gruffly; "leave you to tell that cursed
brute that we sha'n't want his whip any more; for '*

"Hush .'"cried Abel.

" Ay, I forgot," said Bart, nodding his head.

" We'll have to get up the tre(;H before the dogs reach U8, or

■iia

COMMODORE JUNK.

ill |i'

■)\V

it'll be awkward for the wholo tliree. They'll forget to respect
the king's unifonu in the dark. It's no good, my lads ; they'll
take us, and ye've had all your throuble for nothing. Faix,
and I'm sorry for ye, whativer ye did, for it's a dog's life ye
lead."

" Silence, man," whispered Abel. "Do you want the dogs
to be on us 1"

" Divil a bit, sor ; but they'll bo down on us soon widout
hearing us talk. Murther, but it's a powerful shensh of shmell
they have. How they are coming on ! "

It was quite true. The dogs were after them with unerring
scent, and but for the fact that they were in leashes so that
those who held them back might be able to keep up, they would
have soon overtaken the fugitives. They M'ere at no great
distance as it was, and their baying, the encouraging shouts of
their holders, and the sight of the lanterns rising and falling
in the darkness, helped the Irishman's words to send despair
into the fugitives' hearts.

" Sure, and we're in the coffee-tree gyarden ! " said the sentry.
" Oi know it by the little bits o' bushes all in rows. Thin the
wood isn't far, and we'll get up a tree before the bastes of dogs
come up to us. Hark at the onnat'ral bastes ; sure, it's supper
they think they're going to have. Maybe they'd like to taste
a Kelly."

"Now, Bart, lad, quick! Shall we let him gol" cried
Abel.

" And is it let me go 1 " said the sentry, excitedly. " You'd
niver be such cowards. Let the dogs have fair play."

"Silence ! " cried Abel, imperatively.

" Sure it's meself that's the most silent."

" Abel !— Bart ! This way ! "

" To the left, lad," cried Bart, for they had now reached the
edge of the jungle ; and just as despair was filling their brents,

■#• ■

THE PURSUIT.

the
sts,

for Mary made no sign, her voice proved her fidelity by its
being heard some distance to their left.

" Thin it's all right," said Dinny, excitedly. " Ye've got
friends waiting 1 "

"^Silence, I say ! " cried Abel.

" Sure, and I'll hold my pace, and good luck to ye, for I
heard the boy's spache, and maybe ho has a boat waiting down
by the wather."

" Will you be silent, man ] " cried Abel, fiercely, as the bay-
ing of the dogs increased. " Bart, we must not go on, for it
would be bringing the dogs upon someone else."

" Not it," said Dinny ; " ye've plenty of time yet, maybe.
Go along, me boys, and bad luck to the dogs, for they'll be
disappointed afther all ! "

Abel gave a low, peculiar whistle like a sea-bird's cry, and
it was answered not twenty yards away.

" Here, quick ! " came in the well-known voice ; " I'm here
Jump ; never mind the mud ! "

They all jumped together, to find themselves in a miry place,
where Mary was waiting.

" This way," she said. " I can guide you direct to the boat.
Quick, or the dogs will be upon us ! "

"Well done, boy !" cried Dinny. "That's good. I knew
there was a boat."

" And now," cried Abel, turning upon him, " off with that
pouch and belt."

" Certainly, sor," replied Dinny, slipping off and handing
his cartridge-bag.

" Now, back to your friends, and tell them we're gone."

" My friends ! " cried Dinny. " Sure, there isn't a frienc^
among them."

" Stop back, then, whoever they are."

«* But the do^gs, sorl"

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Hiotographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STPEET

WEBSTER, ^4.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

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COMMODORE JUNK.

" Curse the dogs. Back, I say!" *

" But, sor, they're the most savage of bastes. They won't
listen to anny explanation, but pull a man down before he has
time to say. Heaven presarve us ! "

" Silence, and go ! "

" Nay, sor, ye'll tak' me wid ye, now 1 Quick ! ye*re losing
time."

" Let him come, Abel," whibpcred Mary.

" That's well spoken, young sor. And if we're to have whole
shkins, let's be getting on."

The advice was excellent, for the sounds of pursuit were
close at hand, and the dogs were baying as if they heard as
well as scented their prey.

" All's ready," whispered Mary. " I heard the shots, and
knew you were coming. Abel, your hand. Join hands all."

Abel cauglit at that of his sister, at the same time extending
his own, which was taken by Bart, and he in turn, almost in-
voluntarily, held out his to Diiniy.

In this order they passed rapidly through the jungle, along
a beaten track formed by the animals which frequented the
place, and one which during her long, patient watches had
become perfectly familiar to Mary Dell, who threaded it with
ease.

It was one v/ild excitement, for the dogs were now growing
furious. The scent was hot for them, and ere the fleeing party
had reached the creek the fierce brutes had gained the edge of
the jungle, through which they dragged their keepers, who
mingled words of encouragement with oaths and curses as fchey
were brought into contact with the tangled growth.

But all the same the hunt was hot, and in spite of Mary's
foresight and the manner in which she guided her friends, the
dogs were nearly upon them as the boat was reached.

'* In first," whispered Abel ; but Mar^ protested and woulc|

THE PURSUIT.

Bilong

the

had

with

wing
jarty
jgeof
who
they

[ary's
L the

have hung back had not Bart lifted her l)0(Hly in after wading
into the mud, where he stood and h«;ld the side of the frail
canoe.

" Now, A1)0," he whiHi)ered.

"I nin hear thejii," shouted a voice. "Loose the dogs.
Seize 'em, Imys, seize 'em I "

"Here, room for me?" whispered Diiiny.

" No," cried Ahel, liorcely. " Keep hack I "

" I'm coriiin«^ wid } on," cried Diuny.

Bart caught him hy the shoulder.

"Iio, no, my hid, we're escapiiiij ; tiiis is no place for

you."

" Be my sowl, this isn't," said Diuny, shaking himself freo,
and seizing the side of th(,' hoat lie l)e«;an to wade and thrust
her from the shore. " Fn with you too."

Bart said no more, but followed the Irishman's example,
and together they waded on into the muddy creek, only to get
a few yards from the shore, as with a furious rush the dogs
crushed through the canes and reeds, to stop, breast-deep, bark-
ing savagely.

" Purty creatures ! " whispered Dinny. " Sure, and we
unisn't get in yet, or, if we do, it must be together. Push
her on."

" Halt, there I " cried a loud voice, suddenly. " I have you.
Down, dogs ! Do you hear ? Halt I "

" Kape on," whispered Dinny.

" Make ready ! " cried the same voice. " Present ! "Will
you surrender 1 "

" Lie down, me darlins," whispered Dinny. " Divil a bit
can they see where to shoot."

" Fire ! " cried the same voice, and a dozen flashes of light
blazed out of the cane-brake. Thove was a roar that seemed
deafening, and the darkness was once more opaque.

COMMODORE JUNK.

m *

hi-

" Anybody hit 1 " whispered Dinny. " Silence gives con-
sint," he added to himself. " Push along, and as soon as it's
deep enough we'll get in. Ugh ! bedad, it's up to mo chin all
at wanst," he muttered. " Can you give a boy a liand ? "

A hand caught his wrist, and he was helped over the stern
of the boat, dripping and panting, as Bart scrambled in simul-
taneously, and though the little vessel threatened to overset, it
held Hrm. ^

Then another volley wafi fired, for the bullets to go burst-
ing through the canes, but over the fugitives' heads, and once
more darkness reigned over the hurried buzz of voices and the
furious baying of the dogs.

Order after order came from tlie soft marshy land at the
edge of the creek, mingled with shouts at the dogs, which were
now loose, and barking and yelping as they ran here and there
at the side of the water, where theii splashing could be heard
by those in the boat, which was being propelled slowly and
cautiously by Mary, who knelt in the prow and thrust r pole
she carried down ia the raud.

The baying of the dogs as they kept making rushes through
the canes gave the pursuera some clue as to where the fugitives
would be; and from time to time, after a command given to the
escaping men to surrender, a volley was fired, the bright flashes
from the muskets cutting the darkness, and showing where
their danger lay.

It was slow work for both parties, the pursuers having to
force their way painfully through the tangled growth, while
the heavily-laden boat had to be proi)elled through what was
in places little more than liquid mud full of fibrous vegetation,
and what had been but a light task to Mary when she was
alone, proved to be almost beyond her strength with so heavy
a load.

"Are you going right]" Mhisi»ered Abel at last, for they

THE PURSUIT.

was
tion,

was
leavy

they

were hardly moving, and it seemed to him that they were
running right in among the growth that whispered and
creaked against the boat.

" Yes ; be patient," was the stem reply.

*' I can see them. They're wading yonder in the mud up to
their waists."

" There they are," came from apparently close at hand, and
the dogH burst out more furiously than ever. " Now, then, you
Bcouiulrols, we can see you. Give up."

" Faith, and it's a cat he is," whispered Dinny. " What a
foine senthry he'd make for night duty ! "

" SuiTender ! " shouted the same voice, " or we'll blow you
out of the water."

" The ugly, yellow-faced divil ! " muttered Dinny.

*' Now, then, come ashore, and I will not be so severe with
you."

" Hark at that, now," whispered Dinny to Bart. " It*s a
baby he thinks ye, afther all"

" Curse them 1 Fire then, sergeant," cried the overseer,
" No mercy now."

" Down, dogs ! " roared the man again. '* Quick, there-
fire!"

A rattling volley from close at hand rang out, and it was
followed by utter silence, as if ihoue ashore were listening.

"Curse your stupid fellows, sergeant 1 Why don't you
make them fire lower) "

" If they fired lower, we should have hit the dogs, sir."

" Hang the dogs I I wanted you to hit the men. Now,
then, fire agaia"

There was the rattling noise of the ran. rods in the barrels
as the men loaded, and once more silence. The sinuous nature
of the muddy creek had brought the fugitives teriibly near to
the dense b^'ako; but Mary's pole remained perfectly motionless,

irp

COMMODORE JUNK.

','■ !

!' M

and there was nothing to I30 clone but wait till the party niovoil
on, when there would be a chance to g«^t lower down towards
the ojwn sea ; while, after the next quarter of a mile, the
creek opened out into quite a little estuary dotted by sand-
banks and islets of baml)oos and palms.

"Now I have them !" cried the overseer, suddenly. "Bring
a gun, .sergeant. I can pick off that fellow easily."

" Faith, and what a foine liar ho would make wid a little
training," whispered Dinny. " Why, I can't even see my hand
before me face."

"Hush," whispered Bart, and then he half started up in the
boat, for thrn; was a sudden s[»!asliing, a shout, and the piteous
yelping and baying of a dog, which was taken up in chorus by
the othera present

Yelp — bark — howl, accompanied by the splashing and beat-
ing of water, and rustling of reeds and canes, and then a
choking, suffocating sound, as of some animal being dragged
under water, after which the dogs whined and seemed to
be scuffling away.

" What's the matter with the dogs 1 " said the overeeer.

" One of those beasts of alligators dragged the poor brute
down," said the sergeant. " It struck me with its tail."

There was a rushing, scuffling noise here, and the heavy
trampling of people among the tangled growth, growing more
distant !noment by moment, in the midst of which Mary began
to use her pole, and the boat glided on through the thick, half-
liquid mud.

" Sure, an' it's plisant," said Dinny, coolly ; " the dogs on one
side, and the crockidills on the other. It isn't at all a tempt-
ing spot for a bathe ; but I've got to have a dip as soon as we
get out of this into the sea."

« What fori" whispered Bart.

"Bekase I'm wet with fresh wather and mud, and I'm

THE PURSUIT.

red

loro

lone
»pt-

a num who likos a liitio salt outsido oh well as in. Ifc kapen ofT
the ugly fay vers of tho ]>laca Do you want ine to cjitcli
acowkll"

" Silence, there ! " said Mary, gruffly, from her place in tho
prow ; and for quite an hour Hhe toiled on through the inteniie
darkness, guiding the boat from the tangle of wee<ly growth and
cane into winding canal-like portions of the lagoon, where
every now and then they disturbed some great reptile, which
))lunged into deeper water with a loud splash, or wallowed
farther among tlie half-liquid mud.

The sounds ashore grew distant, the firing had ceased ; and,
feeling safer, tlm little party began to converse in a low tone,
all save Dinny, whoso deep, regular breathing told that he had
fallen fast asleep in happy carelessness of any risk that he
might run. '

" How came you out here ? " said Bart from his seat, after
another vain effort to take Mary's place.

" Ship," she said laconically, and with a hoarse laugh.

** But who gave you a passage ? " said Abel.

" Gave ! No one," she said, speaking in quite a rough
tone of voice. " How could I find friends who would give ! I
worked ray way out."

" Oh," said Bart ; and he sat back, thinking and listening
as the pole kept falling in the water with a rhythmic splash,
and the brother and sister carried on a conversation in a low
tone.

" I suppose we are safe now," said Mary. " They never
saw the boat, and they would think you are hiding somewhere
in the woods."

" Yes ; and because t ley don't find us, they'll think the alii
gators have pulled us down," replied Abel. " Where are we
going?"

** To get right down to the mouth of this creek, and round

i«!

COMMOlM)|{K Jl'NK.

lil

iho Rhom. Tli('i'(> am plonty of hiding places along the oooiit.
Inlets and islandH, with the trees growing to the edge of the

" And what then I " sai«l Abel.

" What then ? " said Mary, in a half wondering tone.

•' Yt's ; wlwre shall wi» go]"

There was an interval of sil(>nce, during which the boat
glided on in the darkness, which seemed to bo quite opacjue.

" I had not thought of that," said Mary, in the same short,
rough voice which she seemed to have adopted. " I only
thought of finding you, Abel, and when I had found you,
of helping you to escape."

"She never thought of me," muttered Bart, with a
sigh.

" Good girl," said Abel, tenderly.

" Hush 1 Don't say that," she cried shortly. ** Who is
this man with you ? " she whispered then.

" One of the sentries."

** Why did you bring him 1 "

" We were obliged to bring him, or "

** Kill him 1 " said Mary, hoarsely, for her brother did not
end his sentence.

»*Yes."

" You must set him ashore, of course."

** Yes, of course. And then 1 "

** I don't know, Abel. I wanted to help you to escape, and
you have escaped. You must do the rest."

" You're a brave, true girl," said Abel, enthusiasticallj ; but
bp was again checked shortly.

*' Don't say that," cried Mary, in an angry tone.

** W^hat'F she mean 1 " thought Bart ; and he lay back
wondering, while the boat glided on, and there was a long
pause, for Abel ceased speaking, and when bis deep breathing

TiiK ptnsiiT. 90

tfM»k WinVn iittciition and ho Irniifd forward and touched him
thorc was no n^ipoiis"'.

•* Wliy, lin'M fall* II nslci'j). Mary !" naid Bart, in a whifipor.

*' flnsli, HMt (lout call inc that ! " came from the prow.

•'All ri;;l»t, my las« ! " said thn rough fellow. " I'll do any-
thiii'' v<»u tvils mo."

"TIk'H don't say 'my lass' to mo."

" I won't if you flon't wish it," growled Bart. " Here, let
im« |)(»h' her alon*,' now."

" No ; sit still. Is that man asleep?"

" Yes ; can't you liear ? He's fagged out like poor old
Abel. Hut let me pole the boat."

" No ; she'll drift now with the current and we shall
be carried out to sea. If the people yonder saw us then they
would not know who was in the boat. You have escaped,
Bartl"

" Ay, we've escaped, my "

" Hush, I say ! " cried Mary, imperiously ; audi Bart»
feeling puzzled, rubbed one ear and sat gazing straight before
him into the darkness where he knew the girl to be, his
imagination filling up the blanks, till he seemed to see her
standing up in the boat, with a red worsted cap perched
jauntily upon her raven-black hair, and a tight, blue-knitted
jacket above her linsey-woolsey skirt, just as he had seen her
hundreds*of times in her father's, and then in Abel's boat, at
home on the Devon shore.

All at once Bart Wrigley opened his eyes and stared. Had
he been udleep and dreamed that he and Abel had escaped,
and then that he was in the Dell's boat, with Mary poling it
along ?

What did it all mean Y He was in a boat, and behind him
lay back the soldier with his mouth open, sleeping heavily.
On his left was Abel Dell, also sleeping as a man sleeps who
o2

100

COMMODORK JUNK.

■t >:

11'

is utterly exhauRted by some terrible exertion. But that wa«
not the Devon coast upon which the sun whs shedding its early
morning ruya Dense belts of mangrove did not spread their
mudtly routs like intricate rustic scufiuldings on southern
English shores, and there were no clusters of alligators lying
hero and there among the mud and ooze.

It wiis true enough. They did escape in the night, and
Mary had been there ready to help them with a boat ; but
where wiis she now ? and who was this sturdy youth in loose
jietticoat-canvas trousers, and heavy fisherman's boots ?

Bart stared till his eyes showed a ring of white about their
pupils, and his mouth opened rr undly in unison for a time.
Then eyes and mouth closed tightly, ;«nd wrinkles appeared
all over his face, as he softly shook all over, and then, after
glancing at Abel and the Irish soldier, he uttered a low —

" Haw, haw ! "

The figure in the boat swung round and faced him yharply,
glancing at the two sleeping men, and holding up a roughened
brown hand to command silence.

" All right," said Bart, half-choking with mirth ; and then,
" Oh, I say, my lass, you do look rum in them big boots ! "

• " Silence, idiot ! " she whispered, sharply. " Do you want
that strange man to know ] "

"Nay, not I," said Bart, shortly, as he too glanced at
Dinny. " But I say, you do look rum."

" Bart," whispered Mary, fiercely, and her eyes flaslied with
indignant anger, " is this a time to fool V

" Nay, my lass, nay," he said, becoming sober on the instant.
" But you do look so rum. I say, though," he cried, sharply,
* what's gone of all your beautiful long hair ? "

" Fire," said Mary, coldly.
Fire ! what 1 — ^^/ou've cut it off and burnt it 1 "

Mary nodded.

THE I'UhsllT.

101

" Oil ! " pjacu1iit(Hl Bart, and it soundcJ like a groan.

"Could a girl with long hair havt> workod her passage out
lirr(! as a sailor-hoy, and have eouie into that cano-hrake and
Haved you two?" said Mary, sharply ; and as Bart sat staring at
her with dilated eyes once more, slu; bont down after ga/jng
at Dinny, still soundly sic*'} lag, and laid her hand with a firm
giip on her brother's shouldrr.

lie started into wakefulness on the instant, and ga/ed with
out recognition in the face leaning over him.

" Don't you know me, Al)el ] " said Mary, sadly.

« You, Mary 1— dressed like this ! "

He started up angrily, his face flushing as hers Lad Hushed,
and his look darkened into a scowl.

" What else could I do ? " she said, repeating lier defence
as she had pleaded to Bart. Then, as if her spirit rebelled
against his anger, her eyes flashed with indignation, and she
exclaimed hoarsely, " Well, I have saved you, and if you have
done with me — there is the sea ! "

" But you — dressed as a boy ! " said Abel.

" Hush ! Do you want that man to know 1 " whispered
JNfaiy, hoarsely. " My brother was anjustly punished and
sent out here to die in prison, while I, a helpless girl, nught
have starved at home, or been hunted down by that devil who
called himself a man. What could I do 1 "

" But you worked your passage out here as a sailor ? *'
whispered Abel.

" Ay, and she could do it, too — as good a sailor as ever took
in sail ; and, Mary, lass, I asks your pardon for laughing; and
if I wasn't such a big ugly chap, I could lie down thereand cry."

He held out his great coarse hand, in which Mary placed
hers to return his honest clasp, and her eyes smiled for a
moment into his, while Abel sat frowning and biting l 'a lips
as he glanced at Dinny.

-i

102 Commodore jukr.

" I don't know what to do," ho said, hesitatingly. " It
seems "

" Heigh — ho — ho I Oh, dear mo ! " cried Dinny, opening
his eyes suddenly, making Mary start and Abol mutter a curse.

There was only one of the two equal to the emor^jency, and
that was Bart, who gave his kneo a sounding slap and cried
aloud —

" Jack Dell, my lad, you've hehaved like a trump, and got
us away splendid. I on'y wish, Ahel, I had such a hrcither.
Hallo, soger, where shall we set you jishore 1 "

" Set me ashore 1 " said the Irishman, nodding at Mary ;
"what fori"

" What for 1 " cried TJiirt. " To go back."

" I'm not going back," said the Irishman, laughing. "Sure,
I want a change."
• " Change 1 " cried Abel. " You can't go with us."

" Sure, and you forced me to come, and ye wouldn't behave
so dirthily as to send me back ? "

" But we're escaping," said Bart.

"Sure, and I'll escape- too," said Dinny, smiling. "It's
moighty dull work stopping there."

" But you're a soldier," said Abel.

" To be sure I am — a sowldier of fortune."

" You'll be a deserter if you stop with us," growled Bart

" The divil a bit I Ye made me a prishner, and I couldn't
help meself ."

"Why, I wanted you to go back last ni'jrht!" growled Bart

" To be ate up entoirely by the ugly bastes of dogs I
Thank ye kindly, sor, I'd rather not."

Dinny looked at Mary and gave her a droll cock of the eye,
which made her frown and look uneasy.

"Sure, Misther Jack," he said, coolly, "don't you think
they're a bit hard on a boy ? "

THE PURSUIT.

103

•* Hard t ** «aid Mary, Hhortly.

** Av coorsa They knockod mo «l«)wn and took away mo
mushkct and bagnot, and ihvro tlioy aro in tlio l)ottom of the
boat. Then they made nut g<'t over tho gate aful oHhcape wid
'em ; and, now they're Hafo, thry want to put me ashore."

"We can't take you with us," said Al»el, shortly.

" Aisy, now ! Tliink about it, sor. Ye'ro ^oing for a holi-
day, sure ; and under the cirouniHtanoes I'd like one too.
There! I see what ye're a thiukliig -that I'd bethray ye.
Sure, and I'm a Kelly, and ye never kiuw a Kelly do a dirthy
thriuk t<i anyone. Did I shout for help last night when you
towld me not ] "

" You were afraid," growliMl Bart.

** Afraid ! — me afrai«l ! Did ye ever hear of a Kelly who
was afraid ? No, sor ; I said to niesclf, * The poor boys aro
making a run for it, and I'll U'.t them go.' Sure, and I did, and
hero ye are."

♦' It would not be wisf^ to go nenr the shore now," said
Mary, in a whisper to her brother. " You have nothing to fear
from him."

AVicl glanced at the happy, :?ontented face before him, and
then turned to Bart.

" What do you say 1 " he asked. .

"There's no harm in him," said Bart, with a suspicious look
at tlie Irishman.

"Sure, an' ye'll find me veiy useful," said Dinny. " I was
at say before I 'listed, so I can stiM-r and haul a rope."

"Can you keep faith with those wjio trust you]" said Mary,
quickly.

" An' is it a Kelly who can kt^ep faith, me lad ? Sure, an*
we're the faithfullest people there is an ny where. And, bedad !
but you're a handsome boy, and have a way wid you as'll
make some hearts ache before ye've done." .

lir

111

}'i!t;

l! II ■'

104

COMMODOUK JUNK.

Mary staited, and turned of a deep dark rod, which nhcwed
througli hor sun-brownod skin, au hIio flashed an angry look
upon tho speaker.

Dinny burst into a lioarty laugli.

" Look lit him," hoHaid, "colouring up like a girl. There,
don't look at me, boy, as if ye wen^ g»i»g to bite. I like to
Mee it in a lad. It shows his heart's in the right place, and
that he's hoiK^st an<l true. There, take a grip o* me hand, for [
like you as much for your handsome face as for the way you've
stood tlirue to your brother an<l his mate. And did ye come
all the way from your own counthry to thry and save thorn 1 **

Mary nodded.

" Did ye, now ? Then ye're a brave lad ; and there ar'n't
many men who would have watched night after night in that
ugly bit o' wo<m1 among the shnakes and reptiles. I wouldn't
for the best hro' lior I Ivor had, and there's foive of 'em, and
all sisters."

Mary smilingly laid lier hand in Dinny'»4, and gazed in the
merry, frank face before her.

" I'll trust you," she said. .

"And ye sha'n't repent it, me lad, for yoti'vo done no
liarm, and were niver a prishner. And now, as we are talk-
ing, I'd like to know what yeru brother and number noinety-
sivin ilid to be sint out of tho counthry. It wasn't murther, or
tlioy'd have hung 'em. Was it — helping yorsolves ? "

" My brother and his old friend Bart Wrigley were trans-
ported to the plantations for beating and half-killing, they
said, the scoundrel who had insulted and ill-used his .=}ister ! '*
cried Mary, with flashing eyes and flaming cheeks, as she
stood up proudly in the boat, and looked from one to the
other.

" Wid a shtick 1 " said Dinny, rubbing his cheek as he
peered eagerly into Mary's face.

THK PURSUIT.

105

" Yes, with sticks."

"And was that alir*

"Yes."

" They trans|)orte(l tliini two boys to this baste of -^ place,
Hixl put chains on tiieir legs, for giving a spalpeen like that a
l>i^' bating wid a Hlititk 1 "

*' YoH," said Mary, smiling in the eager face before her ;
" that wjiH the n^ason."

" Moly Moses!" ejaculated Dinny. "For just handling a
shtick like that. Think o' that, now ! Why, I sent Larry
Hi«jginH to the ho.spital for sivin weeks wance for just such a
thing. An' it was a contimptibly thin shkuU he'd got, just
like a bad egg, and it crack c-:' directly I felt it wid the shtick.
And what did you do ] " ho added sharply, as he turned to
Mary. " Wln^ro was your shtick ? "

" I struck him with my hand," said Mary, proudly.

" More sorrow to it that it hadn't a shtick in it at the time.
Sint ye l)oth out here for a thing like that 1 Gintlemen, I'm
proud of ye. Why didn't ye tell me before 1"

He held out his hands to both, and, intruder as he was, it
seemed impossible to resist his franlr, friendly way, and the
escaped prisonera shook hands with him again.

" And now what are ye going to do 1 " said Dinny, eagerly.

" We don't know^ yet," said Abel, rather distantly.

" That's jist me case," said Dinny. " I'm tired of sogering
and walking up and down wid a mushket kaping guard over a
lot of poor divilii chained like wild bastea I tuk the shilling
l)ekase I'd been in a skrimmage, and the bowld sergeant said
there'd be plinty of foighting ; and the divil a bit there's been
but setting us to shoot prishncrs, and I didn't want that.
Now, ye'll tak me wid ye, only I must get rid o* these soger
clothes, and — look here, what tre ye going to do wid thim
chains 1**

ivl

106

COMMODORE JUNK.

"Get rid of them," said Abel, " vlu*n we can find a file."

" I did not think of a file," said Mi«ry, with a disappointed
look.

" There's plinty of strange plants out in these parts," said
Dinny, laughing, "but I never see one tlint grew files. Only
there's more ways of killing a cat than lianging him, as the
praste said when he minded his owld l)rogues wid a glue -pot.
Come here."

He took off his flannel jacket, folded it, and laid it in the
bottom of the boat, but looked up directly.

" Ye've got a bit o' sail," ho .said, "and there's a nice wind.
Where are you going first ? "

Mary looked at her brother, and Abel glanced at Bart.

"Ye haven't made up yer niiu'l';.," said Dinny, "so look
here. About twenty miles out yandcr to the west there's a
bit of an island where the overseer and two officers wint one
day to shute wild pig and birds, and I went wid 'em. Why
not go there till ye make up yt-r minds ? It's a moiglity
purty place, and ye're not overlooked by the neighbours'
cabins, for there's nobody lives there at all, at all, auid we can
have it our own way."

** Wild pig there ] " said Abel, eagerly.

" Bedad, yis, sor ; nice swate bacon running about on four
legs all over the place, and fruit on the trees, and fish in the
say for the cj^tching. Oh, an' it's a moighty purty little
estate ! "

" And how could we find it ? " cried Mary.

" By jist setting a sail, and kaping about four miles from
the shoi^ till ye see it lying like a bit o' cloud oflf to the south.
Sure, and we could hang our hammocks there before niglit, and
the mushket here all ready to shoot a pig." *

"Yes," said Mary, in response to a glance from her
brother.

THE PURSUIT.

107

«« Then 111 hoist the sail," said Bart

" Nay, let the boy do it," said Dinny, " and you come and
sit down here. I'll soon show you a thing as would make tlie
sergeant stare."

Dinny drew a large knife from his pocket, and a flint and
steel. The latter he returned, and, taking the flint, he laid his
open knife on the thwart of the boat, and with the flint jagged
the edge of the blade all along into a rough kind of saw.

" There ! " he said ; " that will do. That iron's as soft as
chofcoe."

This last was a slight Hibernian exaggeration ; but as
Mary hoisted sail, and Abel put out an oar to steer, while the
little vessel glided swiftly over the sunlit sea, Dinny began to
operate upon the ring round one of Bart's ankles, sawing away
steadily, and with such good effect that at the end of an hour
he had cut half through, when, by hammering the ring to-
gether with the butt of the musket, the half-severed iron gave
way, and one leg was fr(;e.

" Look at that, now I " said Dinny, triumphantly, and with
an air of satisfaction that took away the last doubts of his
companions. " Now, thin, up wid that other purty foot ! " he
cried; and, as the boat glided rapidly toward the west, he
sawed away again, with intervals of re-jagging at the knife
edge, and soon made a cut in the second ring.

" Keep her a little farther from the shore, Abel," said
Mary, in a warning tone, as the boat sped westward.

" Ye needn't mind," said Dinny, sawing away ; " the in-
habitants all along here are a moighty dacent sort of folk,
and won't tell where we're gone. They're not handsome, and
thev've got into a bad habit o' wearing little tails wid a
moighty convanient crook in 'cm to take howld of a tree."

"Monke}s I" said Mary, eagerly.

*' Yes, Masther Jack, monkeys ; and then there's the

108

COMMODORE JUNK.

>■ !•

ii \i

shniiling crockydills, and a few shnakes like ships' masts,
and some shpotted cats. There's nobody else lives here for
hundreds o' miles."

"Then you are safe, Abel," said Mary, with the tears
standing in her eyes.

" Yes, Ma — yes, Jack," cried Abel, checking himself ; and
then meaningly, ab he glanced at Bart, " you're a brother of
whom a man may well be proud."

" Ay," cried Bart, excitedly, " a brother of whom a man
may well be proud."

" Hurroo ! " cried Dinny. " Howlt still, my lad, and I'll
soon be through."

And the boat sped onward toward the west

The island was found just as the Irishman had foretold, and
as evening approached, without having even sighted a sail on
their way, the little boat began coasting along, its occupants
eagerly scanning the low, rock-reefed shore, above which waved
a luxuriant tropic gi-owth, but for some time no landing-place
was found, while, though the sea was calm, there was a heavy
swell to curl up and break upon the various reefs in a way
that would have swamped their craft had they attempted to
land.

The last fetter had been laboriously sawn through, Dinny
having persisted in continuing the task, and he now sat resting
and watching the shore with a critical eye.

All at once, upon sailing round a jagged point to which thoy
had to give a wide berth on account of the fierce race which
swept and eddied among the rocks, a pleasantly- wooded little
bay opened out before them with a smooth sandy shore where
the waves just creamed and glistened in the sun.

"Look at that, now," said Dinny. "That's where we
landed ; but I was asliloop after pulling a long time at the oar,
and I disremembered all about where we went ashore,"

THE PURSUIT.

109

" How beautiful ! " said Jack, gazing thoughtfully at the
glorious scone, and asking herself whether that was to be her
future home.

" An' d'yer caal that beautiful 1 " said Dinny, contemptuously^
" Young man, did ye iver see Dublin Bay 1 "

"No," said Jack, siniliug in the earnest face before him.

" Nor the Hill of Howth r'

Jack shook his head.

" Then don't call that beautiful again in me presence," said
Dinny.

" Puts me in mind of Black Pool," said Bart, thoughtfully.

Further conversation was checked by the interest of landing,
the boat being run up on the shore and hidden among the
rocks, not that it was likely that it would be seen, but the
position of the fugitives and the dread of being retaken made
them doubly cautions, Bart even going so far as to obliterate
their footprints on ti.3 sand.

" Now, then," said Dinny, " you've got the mushket and the
bagnet, and those two make one ; but if I was you I'd cut down
one of them bamboos and shtick the bagnet an that, which
would make two of it, and it would be ti moighty purty tool to
kill a pig."

The hint was taken, Bart soon cutting down a long, straight
lance shaft and forcing it into the socket of the bayonet.

" Then next," said Dinny, " if I was captain I should say
let's see about something to ate."

" Hear that, Abel 1 " said Bart

" Yes. I was thinking of how we could get down some
cocoa-nuts. There are plenty of bananas."

" Hapes," put in Dinny ; " and there's a cabbage growing in
the heart of ivery one of thim bundles of leaves on the top of
a shtick as they call palms ; but thim's onlj vegetables, captain,
dear, and me shtomach is asking for mate."

COMMODOUR JUNK.

: i*

*• Can we caaily shoot u pig — you say there are some 1" said
A1m>1.

" Aiul is it lUHJly shoot a [)i|<1 " said Oiniiy. " Here, give
mc the nnishkot"

Ho hold out his hand for tlio [)ioco, an«l Ahol, who bore it,
hositatod for a nionvontor two, and irhuiofid at daok, who noddod
shortly, Mud Iho lo«dod woi«)»on was pawsod to tho Irislniuin.

*• Y« <lo\d>t(vl mo," ho saiil, laujjhinj; ; "hut nivor mind, it's
quito nat'ral. t\)nio along; 1 won't shoot anny of ye unless
1 in vovy luingry and OMn't ji;ot a |>iji;. "

Ho lod tho way tlnongh an opening in the rough clitf, and
they clindM'd along a narrow ravine tor sonu) few h\indred yards,
the n)ar of the sea lunng hushed an»l tho ovinhanging trees
>vhioh held on among the rifts of the rooks shutting out the
evening light, so that at times it was (juito dusk. But the
I'ooky harritM" was soon pass(>d, and an ojkmi natural park spread
before thorn, in a depression of which lay a little lake, whose
smot)th grassy shores wore literally ploughed in every direction
with shallow scorings of the soil.

" liook at that now," said Dinny in a whis[>er, as he pointed
down at some of the more recent turnings of the soft earth.
" The purty creatures have all l)oen as busy as Pr.'^ Mulcahy's
pig which nobody could ring. Whisht ! lie down, ye divils,"
he whispered, setting the example, and crouching behind a
piece of rock.

The others hid at once, and a low gnniting and squeaking
which had suddenly been heard in the distance increased loudly ;
and directly after a herd of quite two hundred pigs came tear-
ing down threugh a narrow opening in the rocky jungle and
made straight for the lake.

They were of all sizes, from little plump fellows, half the
weight of ordinary porkers, to their seniors — the largest of which
■was not more than half the dimensions of an English pig.

' .. ii

"MASTKII .rACK."

Ill

Tliry IioIUmI tlowii to ili« wal'isidf, wlu^ro tlioy drank ami
rolh'tl Hiid witllnwrd at tlio rd^o for a frw iiioiiioiitfl, and then
i'anic hack in liapp) inMMMiHriuiisncss of (lie fat<) wliirh awaited
(ino of tlirir nunilMT, nnd piiMHin^ ko ntai (lio liirldcii ^roup that
1)inny had an casty shot at a well h>d H]*(>(;ini(!n which rolh^d
over, th«! M ,st dashiiij^ oil' thioii^di (lio trooH H<|Uoalin^ as if uvery
unt; had h<Min injuird hy th(* Kh<»t.

" \V'«) Nlia'n't Htarvo hrrc," Kaid hinny, with a grin of RfttiA-
faotion, and hrforc iniiny niinutf^H had paHHtd a firo waH kindhsd
in a Hhollornd nook, whorn thn fhinio was not likol" to he He^n
from th« Hoa, and uh Hoon as it was ^h»wing, j»io(:«'H of the pig,
uut in a niiinncr which would have diHgustud a hutohcr, were
frizzling in the cnihors.

the
tich

CHAPTER XIV.

"MA8TER JACK."

TiiKY had been a month on the island, leading a dreamy kind
of existence, and had b<!gun to shjep of a night deeply and well
without starting up half a dozen times bathed in sweat, and
believing that the authorities from Plantation Hettlement were
on their track and about to take them by surprise. Tlie
question had been debated over and over again — What were
they to do ] but Dinny generally had the last word.

** Why, who wants to do anything 1 Unless a man was in
Ireland, whore could he be better than he is here, with ivery-
thing a man could wish for but some more powder and a wife.
Eh ! Master Jack, ye handsome young rascal, that's what ye're
always thinking about."

** Jack " gave him an angry look, and coloured*

112

COMMODOIIR Jl'NK.

! »

" TiOok ftt him !** crioil Pinny. "Thoro'a trll-taloH. Nivrf
mind, lail, it's linnmn nali.n', anti \\o\v all full of if, and a jfood
thing, too. Now oonio a!id got Nonio ooroa nnts, for iho |u)\vd(>r'R
growing very low and wo .slmll liavo to tako to ])ig luinting
instead of shooting when it's dono.''

"Jack" hoHitafed, and ilion, as if suddoidy making up his
mind, acconipaniod tho Irishman to tho tioarost grovo whoro
the cocoa palms grew close down to tho soa.

Ileiv Dinny rollo«l up thoi sloovos of liis coarse and raggod
shirt, and climhod one troe as a lad does a polo ; hut tho fruit
when he i*eached it was immature, and he threw only one of
the great husks »h>wn.

** We don't want <ihrink, hut mate," said Dinny, selecting
another tive, and heginniiig to dimh ; l)ut the day was hot,
theiv was a languid fooling in<lucod hy the moist atn\os[»horo,
and Dinny failed three times to n^ioh tho glorious green crown
of leaves where the nuts nestled, and slid down again, sore in
body and in temper.

" A failure, Dinny ? " said Jack.

** Failure ! yes. Can't ye see it is I " said the Irishman
sourly, as he bent down and softly rubbed the inner sides of
his knees. '* Here, I'm not going to do all the climbing. You
have a turn."

"Jack " shook his head.

" No skulking ! " cried Dinny ; *' fair play's a jool, rae lad,
so up you go. Ye're young«'r and cleverer wid yer arms and
legs than I am. Why, ye ought to go up that tree lik(5 a
monkey."

"Jack " shook his head and frowned.

"No," he said, '* I'm no climber. Let's go back."

" Widout a nut, and ready to be laughed at 1 Not I, mo
lad. Now, then, I shall have to tak ye in hand and mak a
man of ve. Up wid ye,"

''MARTKIl JACK.**

113

llr ciiu^lit tlio youili by tlio arm, ftiul drew him, half-rosist-
ing, towiinl tlio tnM».

"No, no, Diiiiiy. NonRoriso I I could not climb the tree."

" Uodml, an' yo'vo got to climb it ! " criod Dinnjr. " Now,
(liiii, tiikr liowld toigbtly, and U|» you go."

•* Ix)oRo my Jirm," said Jack, Ri»eaking in a low voico, full of
HU|»piTH.sfMl angor. <

"Divilabit. Ye'rr got to climb that three."

•* LooHo my arm, Dinny," Raid Jack again.

" Yo'vo got to climb that tlireo, 1 tell ye, boy. Now, thin,
no Hkulking. Up wid ye."

*• Jack " bung back, with tho colour deepening in his cheelcB,
and a dark look in bis eyes, which Dinny could not interpret;
and, hnif in anger at the lad's opposition, half in playful deter-
mination, hf* grasped the youth firmly, and force<l him toward
the tree.

In an instant Jack flung himself round, with his eyes flash-
ing, and before tho Irishman could realise what was coming he
went staggering back from the fierce blow he received in his
chest, caught his heels against the husk of an overgrown nut,
and came down heavily on the sand.

Dinny was an Irishman, and he had received a blow.

" Bad luck to ye, ye arbitrary young divil ! " he cried,
springing up. " Iff, a big bating ye want, is it, to tache ye
manners ! thin ye shall have it."

Jack trembled with indignation and excitement, but not
with fear, for his cheeks were scarlet instead of pale. A blow
had been struck, and he knew th<at no Irishman would
receive one without giving it back with interest, and the
only way out of the difficulty was to run, and he scorned to
do that.

Quick as lightning he snatched a knife from his pocket,
threw open the blade, and held it across his chesty half turning

It4

COMMOnonB ^UKIt.

from liis jissjiilant, but with tliP point so dirootod that, if Pinny
had i')<>s(>d, it could only havo boon at the nxpense of an ugly
wound.

•' Look at that now ! " oriod Dinny, pausing with hands
raiKcd to grip his adversary ; "and ino widout a bit o'shtick in
WW fist. Yo'd silting, would yo, yc little varmint I Put down
ycr knoifo and tight like a man. Bah 1 " lie cried contemp-
tuously, as his angrr evaporated as rapidly aa it had flashed up^
" ye're only a boy, and it's no dishgrace to have been hit by one
o' yer siz<». I could nearly blow ye away. There, put away
yer kjioito and shake hands."

A hail from the cluster of ti-ees which they made their camp,
and Bart and Abel came into sight.

Jack closed his knife with a sigh of relief, and dropped it
into bin pocket.

" An' ye won't shake hands 1" said Dinny, reproachfully.

" Yes, I will, Dinny," cried Jack, warmly, holding out his
hand; "and I'm sorry I struck you."

" That's handsome, me lad," cried the Irishman, gripping it
tightly. '* I'm not sorry, for it don't hurt now, and I'm glad
ye've got so much fight in ye. Ye're a brave lad, and there's
Irish blood in ye somewhere, though ye're ignorant of the fact.
Hallo, captain ! what ye're g')ing to do ? "

Abel strode up with Bart at his side, looking curiously
from one to the other.

" I want to have a talk with you two," said Abel, throw-
ing himself on the sand. " Sit down." .

" Did he see 1 " said Jack to himself, as he took his place a
little on one side.

" A talk, and widout a bit o' tobacky ! " said Dinny, with a
sigh. " What is it, captain, dear ? "

" Bart and I have been thinking over our pofition here,"
said Abel, " and we have determined to ga"

'* MAHTKll JACK."

115

** To f^o \ " MiU\ Dinny. "Wliy, wlioro would ye foind a
Ix'thrr placo 1 "

"That lias to \h} acmmi," Raid Al»ol ; "hut wi» can't stay
hrrp, and wo want to know whom in the nrarost port to whinh
wo could Rail and then got nhip for h(»mc."

"Get ship for tho prinon, yo niano ! " criod I>inny, indig-
nantly. " They'd Hcnd tho lot of uh hark, and in Iphr than
a month you and Bart thorc womM ho hoeing among the
bushes, young Jack Ihmo would Vjo thiird and piinislu'd for
holj)ing ye to CBCiipe, and as for nm well," he add<'d, \iiih
a comical grin, "I don't kfiow what they'd do with me, but
I'm sure they wouldn't give me my promotion."

"But wc hIihII starve if we stay here," said Abel, sternly,

" And is it shtarvo wid you two such fishermen ? (Jet out
wid ye I Let's build a hut before^ the rainy time oome.s, and
settle down. Here's as foine an estate as a gfjntlcman need
wish to hav(! ; and some; day wan of us 'II go for a holiday to
Oiroland or Shcotland, and persuade four illi'^'ant ladies to
come wid us and be married ; and what more could a boy wish
for then, eh, Masther Jack ? What do you .say, Burt?"

"That we must go," said I'art, grullly.

"Let's think it over firs!," said Dinny. "At all events yo
can't go for months to come ; for ye'd be taken for eslicaped
prisoners at wanst ; so, as we've got no vittles, let's tak the
boat and go out and catch some fish."

Abel frowned, and seemed disposed to continue the discus-
sion ; but everyone else was silent, and he rose slowly, niady
enough, from old association^;, to obey a command. So the
little party walked slowly down toward where the boat lay
hidden, reaily to row it out to the edge of one of the wee<I-
hung reefs, where fish were plentiful ; and in spite of the
roughness of their hooks and lines a pretty good dish could
always be secured. .

H 2

T M

116

OOMMODOllK .TUNK.

Thoy lm<l roacliod th« oimI of tin; nivino, whore tlie tiwM and
buHlioH grow tliickly, iiiid Jiiok, who wiih lirHt, waft in tho not of
pasNing out on to tho HundH of tho littlt; Ixiy, whtui a grout Iiand
Boizud him by tho NliotilthM*, and ho wiih dra;^gO(l ))a(;k.

HIh hand wr^nt to hJH pockot again in tho iiifitinct of H<>If<
dofonott, for it Hooinod to bo a ropotition of I )inny'H attack ; but,
turning Kharply, ho found that it waH Jiart who hud (biu,'i;cd
liiui hack among tho tr(!(!H, and Htood pointing soaward, whoro
tho Hohition of thoir diiliculty app(;aro<l in, oh it W(^ro, a warnitig
to OHcapo ; for at about half a niih) from tho uhoro a whito-
wingod cuttor was coming ra[)idly toward tho litUo bay ; and
RH 8ho carooncd ovor thoy could hoo that hHc waH occupio<l by at
louHt a dozon mon.

" Quick, tl»o boat 1 '* cried Abel, cxcittsdly.

" Are yo nuid ! " cried Dinny, " Thoy could Hee uh, and
would be hor(! boforo wo could get round tlu; i)oint."

•Right," growled Bart.

"It's the cutter from the sottloniont," Haid Dinny, watcih-
ing the coming vchhoI. " She sails like tlu; wind, and, bodad,
it's wind they've got of whore we aro, and they've conio to
fetch us. Now, thin, boys, the divil a bit will I go Imck, so
who's for a foight 1 "

The sight of the cutter sooinod to (ihuso away all disrontont
with their position, bringing up, as it did, th(^ rocoUcction on
the part of one of njouths of h)nging to give freod(*in to brothcT
and friend j on tho part of tins other three, of long periods of
toilsome labour in chains, and of \voaiisoin(r k(^oping guard over
the wretched convicts, sickening in tho tropic sun. Th(! island
suddenly assumed the aspect of a paradise, fioni which tiioy
were to be banished for ever ; and stealing silently back to
their little camp, the fugitives hastily did what ihoy roiild to
destroy traces of their presence, and then turned to Ab<;I to
ask what next.

**IIAHTKU JACK.

117

"The wcxkIs," he wiid. "Wo iiiUHt hi«le whilo w»" can, and
wh<u» tlmy hunt us to hay wo inuHb fight for it."

" No," Hui<l Jttck, quickly. " Thoy will think wo are in the
wootiM, iiH l)oiiig tho inoht likoly piiico for us to hido. We
should hn Hi\U'.v among tho r(K'kH in tho clifl'Hidc, and should be
uhlo to watch tho cuttor as well."

•' It's a horn gin'ral yo aro," Raid Dinny, enthuHioHtioally.

•♦ Right, A hoi, hul ; Jack's right," growlod Hart ; and Abel
a<'c«'dod with a tuxl of Iuh lioad.

♦• You aro lighU'st," ho Haid. " Go first, Jack. Steal down
hy tho Hid(^ of tho cliff, and g<;t a good way roojid."

" No," Haid Jack, " thoro is noithor time nor nood. We
must stay whoro wo aro, and wait and see which way thoy go
It will 1h) timo thon to rotroat."

" Hark at him ! Sure, and if I wasn't certain that there's
Oirish hlood in hiH voins, I'd Nay his grandfather was tho Juke
o' Marlhrook."

" Kight," growlod Bart ; and thoy drew back among the
rocks and waited, lying down so as to be well hidden. Jack
climbing a little way up tho slope above them, and getting
into a position which commanded the ravine leading down to
the V)ay.

Thoy had not long to wait before voices wore lieard coming
U[> from tho shore, and soon after the overseer made his ap-
j>oarancc, in company with a young officer, both carrying pieces
ovo>' their shoulders, and followed by half a dozen soldiers in
their flannel undress.

They were chatting and smoking, and quite off their guard,
taking matters so lciHur<;Iy that the watcher felt doubtful as to
their intentions, and lay trying to catch tho bent of their con-
versation, as they wont on toward the interior of the little
island, their voices dying out in the distance, before he at-
tempted to stir.

»1

if:

ill

III

;»'

:, h

118

OoMMonOUR .MINK.

WluMi ]\v Avvw Iiinmolf wlowly Iwu'k hikI rropt (!ii'()tigli ihn
IhihIm'n till lu^ rojoinod Iuh «'oiM|nini()nH, rv«<iv inoulli |iiii'i«Mi to
iisk f«>r lunvH ; iiiul iinxirty, iiiingltMl with ilio Htnrn tiotrnni*
Dili ion ptiiiitnl in (Iumi- f)u'«<H, (old of (li«« Ntulthorn rrHiHtimiMi
tltiil (luMi* )>tn-.sn(MN niiglit oxju'ct boforo ihvy liiul Holiiovtul ilu'ir
v\u\s.

"TlirN i\\\o ^ono riylil on into Ilio woody part."

'* Yrs. <ho Ljin'ml's riulit,'* snid Dinny.

" IWi( I liMvo n»v doid»ls (»!' <li(>ir inl«>n<i<»ns," said .liu^k.

"And so huvo 1 l»ig douliis," H.iid Dinny; "ho 1 won't
(hrnst lluMn."

" I don't <hink thoy'v.^ conio in Honrcli of you," continuod
Jui'lc.

" Not con>o in soaroh of ual" snid AIm?1, oxcitodly.

A sliol rang out fioin the distance, followed imniodiatolj
l)V niu^lhor.

ft-

" Tliid jH'ovea it," said Jack. " It is a Rliooting party."

"Av oourso it is," niod Dinny, laughing. "I could have
told yo that, t>nly T didn't think of it. It's tlio pigs tlu^y'ro
aftor, and tlu»y'ro nuikinj; fivo wid our Hooks and hords."

"What a roli(»f !" said Abol, wiping tho sweat from his brow.
" What shall wo do noxtl"

" Korp in billing; but I'll climb up till I can see their
out tor. It niav bo near our boat."

" A born gin'ral," said Dinny, giving his head a roll and
ga/ing approvingly at Jaok. " There'll be two or three left
in charge tf their boat, and — what would you do next?"

Jack hold u[» his hand, and softlj retraced his course up
the steep slope ; and they could trace him from time to time
by the waving of the leaves, but he went so cautiously that he
was not seen once ; and while they kept their eyes fixed ui)on
one spot the bushes and leaves wei-e seen \o rustle softly some
distance higher up.

MAHTKU JAOK

»»

ll!l

Tlimi ihny kuw no iiion^, but lay liHiciiin^ Ut i)i<' diHljint
nliont^ niid firing wliioli roanlxvl ilicir ciirH a^iiin ami u^'nin, fill,
to itio Hur|>riHo of all iliroo, Jaok Htiddorily canio upon tlii^ni
from iM'liind.

W«'II V aaid Alwil, oagnrly.

.Ia<'k oould not. Hpralc for a f«w inoiiioniH, ln-in^ brnatldrHH
with rxrrtioii.

"Tliroo mon loft with tho cutter and tlu^y an* aHlion-, lyin;^
upon tho HandH."

"Ahol," Haid Jack, aftjT a loh;^, llioii^ditTuI Hil«'Mc<-, " wp
nliall n(!vrr bo nafo horo with thoHo poopio coming iVom timn
to tin»^"

" No; that RottloH our plans. Wo must tako t.1n! bouf, and
go."

"Why not tako our oninny'H voHwrl] Wo could Hail wh«rro
wo liked then."

" Didn't T Hay ho was a born gin'rall" cried I>iiiiiy, cutliu
8ia.sti<'ally.

" Tako their boat!" Haid Abel.

"They're three men, and we're thnje," H;iid Hart, in a low
growl,

"Four!" cried ]>inny, (excitedly. "Ye never Kee how
MaHther Jack can foi;,dit."

"JJuhIi!" Haid (h<! latter, Hternly. "The ineii uir- I\iii;^'
about half anhtep. If we waited, w(! rtii;;lit get on board, i-<\'.
the anchor rope, and drift out with tin.* tide peiliapH witlioiif
rousing them."

" And if it came to the worst we could ri;4ht," sui.I
Abel.

o""*

"Are y(; ready]" wliispt^ed I)i»jny. "See that vonr
piece is well prim<;d. My shtick'n loaderl, and I'm r( nt\y to
fire it oft."

" Hush ! " said Jack, st«?rnly. " 1 will cliuib up to where

■-.■t '

120

COMMODOtlE JUNK.

I oan watch the men, and if they go to sleep I will wave
a branch. Then creep up to me, and we may succeed without
trouble."

The proposal was agreed to at once, and a long, tedious
time of waiting ensued, at the end of which Bart bared his
arm.

" We're strong enough for 'em," he whis[»ered. " Let's go
at once and fight it out."

At that moment, high above their heads, a branch was
seen waving just as a shot rang out .at no great distance,
shouts were heard, and the grunting of a hord of tli«' wild pii^'s
rose from the wooded pai't on their left.

" Too late ! " whispered Abel.

" Right ! " growled Bart

"Then we'll foight for it," whispered Dinny. "Bed ad, I
believe they'll run as soon as they find us liere, and small
Itlame to 'em."

CHAPTERXV.

ANOTHER ESCAPE.

The excitement seemed to bring Jack more and more to the
front, and those who followed read in his actions why it was
that he had been successful in freeing tliem from their pur-
suers at the time of the escape.

For, active as a goat, he crept from rock to rock, lowering
himself down here, dropping there, and having from time to
time to wait to give the rest an opportunity for keeping up.
And all the while the parts of the cliff side that were th

ANOTHER ESCAPE.

121

most wooded, and which offered the best shelter, were selectod,
and discovery by the sleeping men avoided.

It was an arduous task ; but the guide was ecjiiul to the
emergency, and continuously and silently proceeding nucceeded
at length in dropping down to the sandy shore aljout fifty
yards from where the men lay appan.'iitly asleep and sheltered
by a huge mass of weed-grown stone, while the cutter swung
by its anchor a hundred yards further on beyond the sailors,
and she rose and fell easily as the slight tide ran softly down.

Jack grasped the situation cleaily, and felt how little time
there was to lose. At any moment the heads of the hunting
party might appear as they came down the ravine to the
bay, while, supposing these to be really asleep, the first shout
would bring them to their feet, and then all chance of escape
would be gone.

The men had laid down close up under the cliff so as to be
sheltered from the sun and from an instinctive desire to bo
beyond the reach of any venturesome wave, so that to reach
the cutter the fugitives would have to pass her guardians
between them and the sea.

This bix)ught the escaping party nearer to the cutter, but
placed them full in the view of those who niiglit be coujing
down the ravine at the head of the l)ay, and also shut them oQ'
fi-om shelter and concealment should an (nnergency aiiso.

Jack had played so prominent a part hitherto that the
eyes of all were directed to hini for further instructions, and
for a moment he hesitated and pointed to Abel.

" No," whispered the latter, " you have done so well ; go
on."

Jack hesitated for a moment or two more, and then said in
a low voice —

" All follow quickly and go to the far side of the bay, sei^e
th© boat, and we are safe,"

If:

r ;i

' SHI ^'

122

COMMODOJtE JUNK.

" But there is no boat," said Bart.

Jack pointed to a mass of rock, some fifty yards away,
where a few inches of the stern of a boat were visible, but which
had not been seen by the others.

" Lead on," said Abel, abruptly ; " and if the men wake up
Bart and I will tackle them while you and Dinny here got into
the boat and row out. We'll swim to you, and you can take

us in.

})

*' And d'ye think I'm going to run away like that 1 " whis-
pered Dinny. " I'll slitay."

" Dinny ! " whispered Jack, fiercely.

"Ah, well, I forgot I was a soldier, my lad. I'll obey
orders."

Whereupon Abel examined the priming of his musket, and
Bart tried the bayonet at the end of the bamboo shaft to see if
it was firm, while Dinny whispered —

" Ilowld her tight to yer shoulther, lad, when ye fire, for
she's a divil to kick."

Jack gave a glance round once more, and then, holding up
a hand to command silence, he listened, buf^ all was still save
the lapping of the waves as tlio tide retired and then returned.

His next proceeding was to steal out to where he could get
a good look at the three sailors left in charge.

One lay on liis breast, with his arms folded and his brow
resting upon them. The second lay upon his back, with his
hands beneath him, and his cap tilted over his eyes. The third
was upon his side with his ba'. : to them, and all apparently
fast asleep, for neither stirred.

Jack would have gladly waited till dark ; but to have done
this might have meant losing their means of escape, for they
were not certain that the party would stay all night.

So, feeling this, and that their only chance lay in a bold
attempt, he glanceu back once, and after seeing that his

AKOTHER ESCAPE.

123

companions were quite ready to follow, ho stepped .out quietly
on to the yielding sand and made for the spot where the small
boat lay.

To reach this boat the party had to pass within some fifty
feet or so of the sleepers, and the crucial moments would Ik)
when they had passed within ken of the man lyin<; upon his
side with his back to them. Evan if the others were awake it
would be possible to pass them unseen ; but it was otherwise
with the third man, whose position would enable him to see
whoever crossed the sands of the little bay, while, for aught
they knew, he might be a faithful guardian, keeping strict
watch over both boat and cutter while his companions
slept.

Jack walked softly on, the sand deadening his tread, so
that he was soon abreast of the guardians of the boat, and
another five minutes would suttice for him and his party to
reach the boat and push her oil', when, armed as they were,
they could have laughed at pursuit

Another few yards and no one stirred. Jack gazed over
his left shoulder at the dangerous reclining figure, but its
position remain unchanged.

Another few yards, and still there was no sign, nor likely
to be, for there could be no doubt of the fact — the man was
fast asleep, and the agitation and anxiety of the fugitives was
apparently wasted.

Jack glanced back to see that his companions were follow-
ing in Indian file, walking upon the tips of their feet, and
casting glances from time to time at the spot from which
danger would arise. *

Another dozen yards and the leader of the little party felt
safe, when a sharp report came from the ravine al)ove, the
shot echoing and reverberating along the sidt's of the cliffs till
it sounded like a peal of thunder^ vhich drowned the shout that

\2\

OnnHMMtUK JINK.

1 1

fo1lo\\ril a hIiouI iiiniiit ms n w nniiii^ In (ho ^uMi'iliiiiiH of llio
lumt (li.il lli«<ir pnrt y \v:is <-|n,s(> nl Ictml.

TIk" niMii lyiii;; ii|m»ii liis nitli' H|i;tiiL; (<> liin fcrl, and Ilio
(itlicr I wo \vul<(> n|>, (o nImic ;.I ',i|ti<lly nlMiiif, tliPiii Itoforn i\\v,y
rv',\\\hi{\ l)ii> h\',\\v of nH'MirN, iiiiil (IimI llirir ('oiii|iaiiioti luul
sci/oti Itis iMilsKt'l iVoiii wlicir i< Ifiy willi llioso of liis frIIoWH
ji^^iUUHl. (ho t'o»»( of (lie rlid' whii'h (o\v<r(>(l yhovo (hoir hoadw ;
for ill Mt'ooi'tliiiu'o \vi(h (h<<ir |)|;ui,m, .l;irlv himI Diiiny had run on
and sri/od iho hoal, wliilr AKI and l».it-(. hud facod round wi(h
(hoir weapons rrady. rolrralinii hIowIv (,o\viird (he si'a.

I*'or a fow inotnrnls no word was spokon, and (h<Mi it was
th«' (irs( of (ho (hroo sailors wlio roalisod (Jioir posi(ion.

•' K's oa( or a hidlo( in uh, uuiIom," h(» cried, <U»Hpo rately.
** I says huno(. ; so oonio on."

The »>(hor ( w'«> wow Knijlishnion like* himself, and ovid«'ntly
tMi(eitaini>d (heir eonnade's preferen«'(» for a chance huUet, or n
H(al> (o heinjj; tried hy eou« (. inarlial and Hoii(one(Ml to a (h);i;-
ginjj;, so (hey also snatched up (h«Mi- nM«sk(»(s and bidts, hastily
(hrew th(» la((«'r ov»m' (hi'ir slionhh«rs, and, (au|i;;ht by trainin,^,
hroui>ht thi'ir j)iccos (o hear, sliouling (o the prisonors to Hur-
reniler.

" Civo up, you hibhers I " cried tht3 Hr.st sailor. " It'a of no
Kood."

For answer Abel ij;ljniced o\ov his shoulder, aiul 8(H>ing that
.lack and Dinny luid reached the boat, slowly continued tho
retreat.

** Will you surrender 1 " roared the sailor, as another shout
came from tho ravin(\

" Surrender yourselves," cried ]3ar(, licn-cely. " Lay down
thorn guns." "-

" Surrender, or wo fire," cried tho sailor again, oa tho two
men slowly backed toward the boat, watchful of a rush being
luadc.

ANOTIIKK KH(Mi'K.

12/

Il/irt iiiinnM] n low, doriHiii giuwl, iiiul tlio Iiaiiihoo lin hold
quivered in IiIh knoMod lifiiidH.

" All l^)g««tli«ir, tlion, immIoh," HluMitod Ui« Hailor '\/irn /

Jiiok iittru'd a ^roan HH Im< stood kiMM< docp in wnic.r, run-
ning ilio IkiuI. uh nour an il. coidd Ix- ;^o( t.o IiIh frirnt! , and a
nUHi Hwani lirfuro liiM aym.

i'lit'k vlii'h click! and ax niimy tiny slioworH of HpaikH
woro Hliuck in (lio panH of tlio pipcoH.

'•Why, you Htu|»id luhlM-iM, you didn'l load!" roarod tin-,
ailor. " Now, ilnui, ground arniH load !"

A Hhout of dniiHion uroKi; from Ahd and liarL and lliu

furnu'r took up

Mio t(

ono of UH'naro now.

"Throw down your niuskrln, or I lire," lu^ (rricd.

" P'r'apH youVo not loa<hMl n«'iMn!r, inato," <;ri«!d tin; Hailor,
laughing. " Now, ladH. hagnclH : «!hargo.**

lliH ooni|)anionH h(!Mitai«-d for a irionirnt,, and iJun, lr>w(!ring
their pioccH, tlioy nia<l») a ru.sli for tho.sf? who harnid tlu;ir way
to tlio boat.

Jia)i.(f ! '

On«i Hli.irp report. Thn right-harifl Hailor Hpan round
dropped his niUHkct, stoopfMl down and siM/ed his leg heneath
the knee, and dropptsd into a Hitting pcmition upon the sand.

'* Hurt, mate]" cried the first Hailor, halting.

" I^eg," waH the laconic n^ply.

" N«!ver mind," cried the first sailor. " Come on, mate;."

lie lowered his piece again, and tin; two ruslied upon IJart
and Abel, as brav<! as lions now in tin? exeit,«rmf;nt.

These two had taken advantage of the man Iwung wounded
to back rapi<lly toward the boat, lying in the shallow water;
but the sand was heavy, and tln^y had to fae<! th<j (rrifrmy all
the time. For the latter canu; at them with stubborn deter-
mination, reached tlunii while they wffre a good twenty yardb
from the water, aud a tierce light ensued.

■ %

i'i

;). .'

T i

\\\)l \\\o hIjoIh, ini<i ««'»•«> MOW nnuiing rnpitHy flown <<»wiinl Mi«
RrtUily shonv

" ^^>^^," Hnid <!»!» HiM'oml snilor, |>n<N(>iiiin^ Mr |ti«'»'«', wliidi
wnn opposrt! lo otu> miiniR Iho ItnyoinM. I»linl«» •'now I lui,v«»
VOM, S\miMul«M" ! "

Tor nuHWor Alx'l M«»|>|i<'(l l»m"U, olnMtod IiIh w«'ft|ioii, rwuii^
\\ t->nn«1, intil l»ron^li( ii down willi mik'Ii violonn^ Mini <lio liiili
NtntoU iho o<luM' uuihUoI lull upon IIh'hIooU, mimI dfiHlind it from
its 1»oM(m'h \\n\u\.

l^t^foro AI>ol »'o\jM jjol nnollior Mow rontui, ilio man lia<l
ilnslwMl in, oloRod wilh liini, nnd, to Jaok'n ng'»ny, raplnin
iif»cmo»l oorlaip.

Moanlinio iho Im'rI BMilor lm«l iniuln novrrnl (lorno jtannnn afc
IWt, who \va« Rorntohrd onoo \»|>on llio wiIhI, and liiul ilrawii
Mood on (ho olhor sitlo, whon Iuh handtoo Hhafl. hioko, and hn
^(MMnod at tho n\(Mvy of \\'\h nnliimnuM^

Hoavy as h(^ was, Wtxri, was aolivily IIhoH', and rpvcrHJn^ tho
»MUH)un(ov i;oing on h(>iwoon (ho othor (wo, ho avoidod a MnuHf.
hy .s(riKin>j; (ho l>ayono( asido wilh liis arm, an«l olosod with his
adviM'sarv.

Tho two Kvkod (oj^otlun* in a doH|>(>rato Htrugglo dirootly, for
tho i>aiIor abandoned his nniMkot an Hoon an lUiit was at oluso
quju(oi>, and grippoil him round tho waist.

" 111 havo you, anyhow," ho pautod, as ho lifted Bart from
tho jji\)und, J

ANOTIIKM |r,H«Ar«.

127

Innii.

y 1m Mil"

,.\ <!»«

\ Ui\.v«

, Bwunn
||»o \m\1
\ it from

1(1 «\mwi»
au«l \^^

lMHi»K *'^^*^
a thruHt

ll wiUi luH

IrooUy, ^>r
at oloBO

iBartifroni

" fiol KM, e»r I'll inmli in y'"" »'''«." urnwlml MHri, «arnKr.|y.

" ho if, mull," M'Imi»imI IIi»« wiilor, «wM»Kifi« llari rmififl,
nn«l trviMK in Uiinw liiiii ; Itiit, li« mlKlil nw wmII Imivo frl*"! fo
♦ liiMW ttd liJH »irm«. TIm'Ii l»y n il»'q|iMnf^» wtPiirli Mart |f»owwi»'*l
<ln« iiIIh'i'h mi|t, «o Mm* lio «'«iul«l foiu'li ^nmml onco frior*', aii'l
Mh' HhM|7ylf» w»«ni on lil<«» hmim«« iI«<h|m»i«»« Imiii», in wi^««*linK.

'I'l

M>HI« t'lMMMIIM'IM

wi'in iMii*f»'r« of a ifiimifn fir mo ; \ml fo

.liu'k Miiil iMnny, H<inMliii^ l<n»<M »I»»M|» in llut wnJi'r lioJfUnK *'"'
Inifif n-iulv f«n' flin ♦•RrapM, and lli« nam wli^ro tlfy ftniiM l»o
Hfiri'tl in iin inMtiuii, Uif nilntifo Mcniod mii lionr. 'I'li'W wniil'l
liavo jj/onn (o Mm liolp of tlirir cfitrMfnifM, Imi(. it. N<M>rriM<| iff Mif^rri
Hull, llioy wouM l»»» r(ilMn(( off ♦!•»» m»Min« of pwapfi ; an<l In
atldiMiin, ilio varionH |iIi(im»'M of Mio (Ij^lif, Hin!r««'«|»'(I mioli oilier
BO ra|ii«lly iJint ilmro wmh Ininlly Mtno f.o Uiink.

•Mlivn ino Miat. nliMnlf," riiod l>inny af, Ia«f, ; and )m
nnal/cliiMl ono from wImwo it Iny upon Mio UiwariM frf tiin Umi*
just RH Altcd H»<nt Ills advrrflary flown half Rttinnnfl urifl tiirriftf]
to hnlp Hart.

"Quiok, la<I ! fffdil ntill a rnf»rrmnt I" f?ri«fl Af»ftl, ft« tfi«
ovornofir oatnn ninnin^ »lf>wn from fcho hf^ftfl of th« f^ay, in
ooinpatiy wiMi Mm oHiopr and half a >Umm rrmn.

Tho wonln wore waHtnd, for JJart and tho i'lrni nailof wwrn
wriihing anfl twining fMi Mif» Hand« likfi two wiM \mmiH. iJart
utrovf^ hard to nhakfi hinindf f rfm ; hut th»> fiXftrt waa vain, ffjr
tho nailor had faHtfUiod fni liirn liko a hull f|f)g, and held rm with
a tenacity that oouhl not )m nriHt/orod.

*' Jt's of uo u«o," pantfifl Bart, as l)inny ran tif». Por thf,
enemy wore not twf> liundrfui yarfjw away, anfJ running ftrnt.
" Kiicat^e, my hid« I Never inind mo I "

"Let me get one hit at him," firiofi Dinny.

"Ah, would you, I'addy I " roarofl thf) Bailor, wresting Bart
round an a shield. " I kno^tr you."

* Now, you 1 " cried Dinny t^o AI»eL

H«

rOMM»»1»0nW .HINU.

hrrtfl . tni«< whixi' luMv iImm «im«I»I. KtuTM ftintidn nnulil Hm

r<ii

i> \\ rtli'l . rtn<l 1 lw>t» WiM)< «i|t

iln«l

""K

l»l.

"«{i>< In-' ItiMvl il»Mn». Htuf. intti Itn'll hmho |i»I jj[o.

•,rt«?1i'V «»M1i

1 41

iMn ili>nt'

rht» MMilor luul )tl« nim« «»'ll hIm»»i<

h\n :^^^\l'V«^.1v^ , oml nnvTH i<fVovf

XVHM \fMti.

Hnnt'tnli»v, <hf'ii'!" nliotHiMl flu* ovi«iH»>nr. "(Uv»» iiit, «

i»f

\< »

"11 1<

n»

"!,»>< jro. ov Ml MinnMh v»»u," fjnmli'tl Mini, an lin iniiiglMi

\'\^y rtnsxviM (ho snilor ^'l«n^ fl»i> t»M»n« iifihlly ! n»»«l mm Mntli
n>m> 1«> l\i<\ Kn<M»« nlYov n Tnll. ilM» wnfrr wnn m»w w»>ll up io
(hiMV miiMlos.

lions iMv^f^ .InoK, 1n»l ! " oviimI Pinny.

ow, rn

pfni

lav howU I

Al>ol gi-rtRpod Ins niomnnti, mnl him?>»«I i»n<» pi«U> of frho lintnnii
Kno<> «>M\ipoBotl of ixxo l»o<lio« nn<l Mjp onsfonuny nninplnnif^nt)
of «v«nR «nil lojgp^, xvlnlo l>inny onngltf iln> nfliwr, n.n«l ingH.mr
♦ lu\v ♦i'«ilo»l if flin>nfjh flu» simllow wafpi* in nu^pf ihn Imni,

" Now, Mrt.Rf«»r .lnvk»" oHofl l>inny, "f.«kp a linwifc I"

.Iflok Rc^i/oil Hnvf In fl*** xvrtmf hr fl»p l»onf'« ^uitwnln f4nii*lif^i1
liin\. Al>ol nn«l Pinnv lifitvl fojji^fhor, hiuI flip fPRnlf w«« iliab
n twf<»in «v)rt«nf of wnfor wt»nf in ov<pr flu> m«|p ; huf wifli if,
h<v»Ainjj; «n«l nfiujfgling Rfill, fl»P knoffpil fogof.hor lirwIiwR of
UrtH rtrni his rtilvorsavy, to lio in fho l>offoni of fl»p liffle ornff,
iho Milor, foi-fiuiHf^^ly f»r ihp oBoapinjt parfy, un<!ni'ntoNf.

"Sif «lo>vn fk\n\ ix»v I " i-oaivfl Abel; luifc liis oninr w»s
nooiloss, for .laok hn»l Rpnitnl hinmolf t>u Uie tliwarf, ihrnni)
out iho imw af omn*, atui boxan to pull ; whilo, on oppoRJio
si<1<vs l>inny and AIh>I vm\ fho lH>At out till tlmy woi*o biTftHt-
high in iho >A-afor, when ihoy ga\'« it A Anal thrust and began
to <».limb in.

\^n

n1tMU<

AMn|||J.-|i ♦TM/'Arr.

I?il

hv Hii'i Mill'- IIkv W'»*' MiiHy <ii fdify vfii«|it ftdm f||f< <!»/
HrttMl. iImwii wIiI«-Ii fliM Mvfr'!«"'r ftri'l Mm |iurfy <»ini'< fur ninj^,
fni<l N(»i|Hii't| fif Mm- filtjo.

" lltiM ' Him »«'»»fl«'» ' " riti\ri"\ fli" Mvr'i««»'f»r, Mfivnifoly

'I'lit'fi' WKM HM ffjily ; liii' >li»« fifir«< w»'r" |ili/«'l «twif(l/, nrifl
till' ItniH uHilcil M\M f|i«' (jjl'i'my ««\v««|l

" rilP • " »M!H«"| flic MVOfMf'f, ffMMlflt* hh Ji|r>^o ; flfirl fl

NliMni't' of Itinlf'ilMtf »Mi(iM \vlii'<H(iti» fMi'l pfitt'Tifij^ >»y fch'Tn,
Ni'vi'iiil of (In- llfll" IiiiII''Im MffiUfiy Hi" ft'inf

(Iiim'(

VMM

(Wc I

A HcHM»'f«'«l vmIIi'v ffoffi lifilf fl i|/(/<'fi pl^f^i nTi«iw''r''<| \,'m
fmlMUH n»ilf»' . Mini MM (Im« lifM" |nirfy ^'lfifi''f<'l inu-k, IK Wfi«4 f/i
H«'i« llinl lliMH*' (III mIimi»< wcff" n-lofifliiii/ rrifii'lly, fhf- f>'>'Milifir
HMJii" mkhI" I"V Ml'' r«»M»riiiit; flf»wfi of tJu* wm/|« Kr»irn/ plnini/
Jm'HIiI, »iiiMjr)i>i| wifli fill' f liuiMirij^ fiF tlif rfirfirofh /ih fhr* fhnrj(^H
wiTi' ilrlv«'fi li<i»fi««.

Nm mii«» Hpolo' In Mi»» Itont. , ♦mi* A>»«I uri'l hlnny rnpi'lly j/<i«f,
oiUH ovi'i' IIm' h"mI»' mimI Itf'^iifi fo I'lill, ^^|'* luff'T liavlrifj fhr>
li(M'(l»»f work frnifi J,fi«« h^'ovin^/ l»of1lr>« fif Hi/> f.v/ft rornJ'iiifnril^
0(»«'U|iylnj/ llio Itdffofn (if Mif» lififif., «i, fn/>f, wlii/'h nf'<r«Hsifnf<fl hn
filiunlili^ M|i ; l»iif nil f li»» HHriif* li^ lK>lf>f'<l fho ^»<>ftf, vlpjrpr/'nmly

loti

K-

Afo yp ^iiilij/ (o 11^ «Iowr» ?" sjiifl hinny, «.«» >»<> waw h\tfi

♦MHMiiy wimIi' oiiI hh fur nn MM>y rouM nn^l prrpjirf f/> fire

<»ii r»ri.

" No I " Hi»iil AKol, fM«n^ly.

" iMvil «, l»if. will I, if you <|ori'f,," wiifl l»ir»riy ; " ft.fi d ^firnl
iiM'k to Vm ! Tlif-y'vr. only j(f»t. I»i^ p(t»llrf« for s?lKK>tin^ th©
jiij^H, and t'li'^y w«»n'l. kill r^xropf. of, rl^isf^ 'jn»rM»*'rs."

Ahotlior ftcnt-f^'Mwl volW-y r«ri(/ 'choinjj ow**, ond t,hiin'lr«rwj
Along ilin (;litt'«, Mir «rnokr hi'lin^ Miri f-TiMny from f,h^ ^a/^, of

tllOHO iti t-IlM VKWit..

" Murtlior ! " y»!ll<rl niony, (lroj>j>iri^ liin oar, hnf. stooping

i:iO

COMMODOIIK .ItTNK.

to pick it up again as he .sliook his hand. ** It's gone right
through," he continued, as he gazed at a bead of blood oozing
from tlie back of his hnnd, and anotlier on the other side in the
centre of iiis palm. " L wish I knew the divil who fired that
It U'i'U like one of the overseer's games."

" Anyone cIsc' hit? " said Abel. " Jack ! "
" It's nothing — a scratch," said Jack, rowing away with all
his might, as the blood began to trickle down from a scored
place upon his forolioad. " Go on rowing. "

" Bad luck to 'em ! There's so many shot in a charge ; it
gives 'em such a chance," grumbled Dinny. " But niver mind,
Masther Jack. It'll Xte a bit of a shniart ; but losing a dhrop
o* blood won't hurt ye."

Jack nodded, and tugged away rapidly, reducing the distance
between them and tiie cutter ; but they could not get farther
from the firing party, who kept up a furious fusillade as they
followed along round the side of the little bay, the pellets
whistling by the fugitives, and more than one finding a
home.

" Faix, and ye've got the best place there, Bart, me lad,"
cried Dinny, merrily. " Shall I come and howlt him while you
take a change i "

" Look hero ! " gi owled Bart, as another volley was fired at
them, and the shot came hurtling round ; " it's no good now.
Are you going to give mV

The sailor looked from one to the other as he lay, with his
head in the water at the bottom of the boat.
" Well, this here ar'nt cheerful," he said.
" You're beat. Why don't you give inV*
" Is it weazand slitting? " he said. " Snickersnee t "
« Get out 1 " cried Dinny. " Did they cut mine 1 "
" Yours, you deserter ! " said the sailor, contemptuously.
« As much a deserter as you are, Dick Bullock. Sure, and

ANOTHKU EiSCAri:.

131

ng
the
lati

all
jred

Ihrop

. tlu'v tuck WW priHliiior, wid a musket to me ear and a bagnet
to my t'ljist."

'* You look liko one," said tho sailor, sourly.

" Will you surrender ?" t^'rowled liart.

" Yes. Can't do no moro, can 11 Only bear witness, all
on you, iis I «lid my dooty. Didn't T, youngster?"

" You fou<,d»t lik«> a brave man," said Jack, gravely ; " but
it is of no use to stru;,';,de now, so give up."

'* Ay, I'll give in," said tho sailor ; " but I'm agoing to lie
here till the firing's done. I'll stand fire when there's fighting
o' both sid«'S ; but I'm a prisoner now, and out of it, so here I
stays."

Bart rose from where he had been kneeling on the man's
chest, and straightened himself slowly, but only to start as a
fresh volley was fired and a pellet grazed his chin ; but he only
uttei-ed a savage growl like an angry beast, and made way for
Dinny to sit down and row with all his strength.

Suddenly a shout from the bay shore took the attention of
those in the boat, and the firing ceased.

" What's that mean 1 " cried Abel.

" They've found our boat," said Jack, excitedly.

It was true enough ; and the fugitives redoubled their efforts
to reach the cutter, while the overseer«continued the firing, so
as to disable some of the party before they could attain the
shelter the vessel would give.

Abel was hit twice, and Bart received another shot, but the
distance w^as great now, and the pellets too small to do serious
mischief ; but as they rowed round behind the cutter, anxiously
watching to see that no one was aboard, its hull sheltering them
from the firing, the noise and the buzz of voices ashore drew
their attention to the fact that the overseer, the officer, and
four more had entered the boat, which started with a cheer
from those left behind, and pulled rapidly in pursuit
l2

132

COL'MODORE JUNK.

" Quick, Bart, run up the jib while I cut the rope.**

" Nay, haul up to it, you and Dinny," cried Bart, as he
ran forward " It's only a grapnel."

The firing reconnnenced now so viciously that every act on
board the cutter was performed with great risk, the overseer
and the oflicer taking it in turns to send a hail of buckshot at
everyone who showed a head above the low side of the vessel.

But in spite of this the party worked well, and the sailor
having surrendered, contented himself, as soon as he was
aboard, by lying down upon the deck and beginning to
chew. '

The _^apn('l was hauled in, the jib hoisted, and Jack
stationed at the tiller ; but the sail slowly flapped to and fro,
refusing to fill, an^l the only way on the cutter was that given
by the falling tule.

" She'll hi", aboard of us, Bart, long before 've get or.t of the
bay," said Abel, with a groan of despair.

" Niver say die," cried Dinny, who had just given a turn to
the painter which held the cutter's boat.

" Are here any arms aboard t " growled Bart. " Cuss it !
look there '. "

Tins last was consequent upon a shot ploughing a little
channel along his neck. " D'yer hear what I suy — you ] "
he said again to their prisoner. " Are there any jirniK
aboard r'

" Yes, in the cabin — muskets," said the sailor ; " but you
h^ave 'em alone, my lad. This here as you've done's piracy,
and if 3'ou kill anybody it's murder."

" Then let 'em keep off," said Bart, with a fierce growl as
he followed Ab^il into the cabin, both r(»ai>pe;iring again directly
with muskets and ammunition.

" I tell you it's piracy," said the sailor from where he lay.
Isn't it, Dennis Kelly r*

AKOTllKU KSCAPR.

13,1

you
[racy,

" K'lix, T s'pijso it is," sjiitl Dinny, smiling. "There's so
iiiucli in a nanu'."

" llore you, Dinny, get up a musket," cried Abel. "You
can slioot." ^

" Don't you, Dinny ! " said the suilor. " It's hanging busi-

.M'SS."

" IJut I'm a piishnor," said Dinny, grinning, " and
obliged."

" It'll be a hanging matter, Dinny," cried the sailor, as the
Irishman reappeared with a musket in his hand.

'* It'll b«; a flogging sure if I'm took," said Dinny, " for
they'll niver belave I'm acting against my will. Now, Oaptain
Abel," he continued, as he loaded his piece, and laid it so that
he could command the boat, " whin you ordher me to tire,
why, av coorse I sliall, but you must take the credit of
the .shot."

" Keep off ! " roared Abel, as the boat now ncared them
fast. "You'll get bullets instead of buckshot if you come
nearer."

" Surrender, you piratical scoundrel ! " roared the overseer.
" Put down that musket. Row hard, my lads ! "

Wliatover may have been the overseer's weakness, want of
courage was not one ; and this he proved by discharging his
piece, and standing up in the boat to watch the effect.

The distance was short, but there was a faint puff of air
now which tilled the sail, and there was a feeling of intense
relief as the cutter rapidly left the coming boat behind.

Jack's cheeks flushed, and his eyes sparkled as, with a
touch of the tiller, he seemed to send the cutter rushing
through the water, while an angry yell rose from behind as the
Ijoat dro[)ped back.

But their despondency in the boat was only of a minute's
duration, for the wind dro2)ped as suddenly as it had risen,

t: \

I 1 !l

11.1

1^'

iH^S

I I

134

COMMODORE JUNK.

the cutter cea8ed to glidr onward with tlie water mttling
and Hplashing beneath her bows, the jib shivered and hung
niotionleHH, ai)d a cheer arose from the pursuers as the firing
recommenced.

" Be i*eady, Bart," said Abel, witli a luritl look in his eyes,
as he once more levelled his pieoe. " You, Dinny, are you
going to helpl "

" No," said the sailor. " It's piracy and nundex if
you shoot them, Dinny Kelly, and it's fair play if they shoot
you."

" Yis, it is awkward," said Dinny; "but Oi'm thinking I
don't want to go back and be on scnithry again, and - there,
Oi'U make a comproniibe of it. I won't shoot, but I'" niak'
believe, and frocken 'em."

As he 8}»oke he lay down on the deck and took aim
at the occupants of the conniig boat, whose j>osition wjis
extremely perilous, while tlu^ sides of the cutter sheltered those
on board.

" Keep back ! " roannl Abel, as the boat neared them fast.
♦•We're loaded with ball, not shot."

There was a monu'ntary indecision on the part of tlie over-
seer, and it was instantly coinmunicatetl to the men, for
they ceased to paddle, while the two [)rin(a[>als bent forwar'l
and spoke earnestly.

"No, they will not dare," sai<l the over.seer, loudly.
Go on, my lads ! Surrender, you dogs, or you shall all be
bung."

The boat was urged through the water again, and the ov(*r-
seer raised his fowling-piece, took aim, and was about to fire,
when the ot&eer with him laid his hand upon his arm.

*' Wait," he said. " Then both lire together, close in, and
board."

" We'll do that afterwanls," cried the overseer, discharging

AKOTHttn KSOAfB.

135

,lly.
be

tire,

and

rging

his piece and rapidly reloading hh the Ixml ;;li<UMl on till it was
only about twenty yards away, ami, in Hpiln of a lirrce ilirott
or two, the repugnance to Hliod blood and tlio natnrfil d«'sirf' not
to fight against the law had kept Abol and Vmrt from returning
the fire.

Their case soemod hopoloss now, unloss in tlm Htru^'«^l<' to
come they repolled tho boarders, for the wind wliicli dotted tin?
sea a hundred yards away with ri|)pl(fs refiiHe*! to kiss tli. ir
sail, and in another minute the ov(;r«(!er and liis party would
have lK)on alongside, when, just as he covenMJ .Jack's arm,
which could be seen lying upon the; tiller, and when a shot at
such short range would have been almost as }>ad as one from
a bullet, there was a pufl' of smoke, a sharj) report, and
the overseer started up in the boat, dropped his towlin;j;-
piece, which fell into the H(!a with a sjiijisli, and (hen,
before the ofiicer eould sav(^ liim, he pitclnd head foremost
over the side.

"Look at that now," said Dinny, who had risen into
a sitting position on the dock, with his miisk(!t across his
la)).

"Yes; you've done it now, l)inii_v Kdly," said the sailor,
grulHy. "Desarted from the station, and shot th<; superint<!n-
dent."

" Sorra a bit," said Dinny, as the wind suddenly struck tho
cutter, which heeled over and began to forge rapidly through
the water. "Sorra a V)it, man. It was this awkwaid baste of
a niushket. 1 just closed my Huti;e>" for a monicnt an tlio
thrigger, und whoo ! oif'shi^ went, kieking n[) her he«'ls like a
nigger's mule. D'yer think the overstier's hurt]"

"I think you've killed liitn."

" Not 1, bedad. It was me mushket," said Dinny.
" Divil a bit will I have any more to do wid it I'll have
another ^ith a

-3 'I

•tjo*

COMMODORE JVM,

! ^

I 'rt
f i(

\ 11 !

" YouVe ?aved us, Dinny," said Jack, excitedly, as the boat
was being left far behind.

"Not I, my lad. Shure, it's between the wind and this
worn-out old mushket. It's a baste of a thing. Why, it
moight have killed the poor man. I say, lad ; d'yer think he's
much hurt 1 "

" A broken arm, that's all, Dinny," said Jack, smiling.

" Ah, well ! " said Dinny, reloading the piece ; " that'll do
him good, and give the poor divils at the plantation a bit of a
rest."

He paused in the act of reloading, drew the charge with
a dry look upon his countenance, and laid the musket down,
upon the deck.

"No, thank ye," he said, shaking his head at the piece.
" It's a murdhering baste ye are, and ye'll be getting some
poor fellow into throuble wan of these days. Don't you think
so, Dick 1"

The prisoner screwed up his countenance, and then relaxed
it as he looked hard at Dinny.

"Well, it's pretty nigh a hanging matter for you, Dinny,"
he said.

" What ! for an accident, man 1 "

" Accident ! you've gone and committed a rank act of
piracy ! But, I say, what'll they do with me 1 "

" Hang ye, I should say," replied Dinny, with a droll look
in his eye. " Hang ye as soon as they've got toime to think
about ye ; or no: maybe they'll save themselves the throuble,
and hand ye over to thim ruffians there."

He pointed over the side, and the sailor gave a start and
ch .tnged colour as he caught sight of the back-fins of a couple of
hage sharks gliding along through the water a little way astern.

" Oh, they're a bad lot with their juisoners, Dick. Look
at me." »

ANOTHER ESCAPE.

137

** But what are they going to do 1 " said the sailor, eagerly.
" They can't put in anywhere, and as soon as this day's work's
known, they'll have a nian-o'-war sent after 'em."

" Sorva a wan o' me knows," said Dinny ; " but it's nioighty
plisant out here. I'm toired o' pipe-claying me belts and
marching and being senthry, and they may make me prishnor
as long as they like."

"You didn't half-kill one of them, and they don't bear
malice against you," said the sailor, thoughtfully.

"An' is it malice 1 Why, didn't I thry to run wan of 'era
through wid me bagnet, and attimpt to shoot the other]
Malice ! I belave they liked it, for we've been the best o'
friends iver since. Here, Bart, me lad ; Dick heic wants to
shake hands with yez."

" I don't," said the sailor, sternly ; but as Bart came from
where he had been taking a pull at one of the ropes, smiling
and open-handed, Dick's face relaxed.

"That was a pretty good wrastle," said Bart, running his
eye approvingly over the physique of his late op[)onent, an<l
gripping Dick's hand heartily ; " but I got the best of you."

Dick did not answer, but he returned the grip, and Buit
went aft dii-ectly to relieve Jack at the tiller, while the dark-
ness came on rapidly, and with it tlie breeze increased in force
till the cutter careened over and rapidly left the island be-
hind.

"Well, Dennis Kelly," said the sailor, as th(;y sat togeilicr
on board later, with the stars gathering overhesid, and faii.t
sounds wafted to them from time to time as they glided rapidly
along a few miles from land, "you can only make one thin,'
of it, my boy, and that's piracy ; and piracy's yard-arm, and -i
swing at the end of the rope."

"Ah ! get along wid ye," said Diiuiy, contemptuously, ''ai;:l
don't call things by bad names. They're three very plisant

138

COMMODORE JUNK.

!"' i

i I ;!"

}{ . w

fellows, urul they've borried the boat and taken us prishners
to help theiu in the cruLse ; or, if ye like it better, we're pressed
men."

" But what are they going to do next 1 "

" Divil a bit do I know, and the divil a bit do I care. I've
no belts to jnpe-clay, and you've no deck to holy -stone. What
there is to ate they share wid ye, and they take their turn at
the watch. Sure, it's a gintleiiian's life, and what move would
ye have ? " -

" But it's piracy — rank piracy ! " said Dick, stubbornly ;
" and I want to kiiow what we're going to do next."

" Well, thin, I'll tell ye," said Dinny ; " but it's a saycret,
moind."

"Well, what?"

"It's a saycret, moind," said Dinny, "and ye won't
telli"

" Tell ! Who is there to tell here 1 "

" Nobody yet ; but ye'U keep the saycret 1 "

"Yes,"' said Dick, earnestly. "What are they going to
do?"

" Didn't I say I'd tell ye," said Dinny, " as soon as I
know ] "

" Yah ; " snarled Dick.

" Well," cried Dinny, " how can 1 tell ye till I know 1
Why, it's my belief, Dick, me lad, that they don't know them-
selves."

" Where do you mean to go, Abel ? '* said Jack at
last.

" Go, my lass — my lad ! " he said, correcting himself*
" Anywhere. We can't touch port, but we've got a tidy little
vessel, not too big to manage, and we must sail somewhere to
be safe."

** Well, I don't care," came from forward, as Dick raised

t;|

p'il-

ANOTHER ESCAPE.

131)

as I

#■1

his voice in stubborn reiteration with Dinny. " I says it's
piracy, and if they're ketched, they'll all be hanged."

A dead silence fell upon the little group, and at last it was
Bart who spoke, as if to himself.

" If you helps yourself to a bit o' anything that conies
ashore, they says it's wrecking ; and if you want a drop o'
brandy or a bit o' lace from a furrin boat, it's smuggling ; and
now, if a man wantr; to get away, and fights for his liberty,
he's a pirate."

" For seizing a vessel, Bart," said Jack.

"Yes, lad, I know. Well, they may call me what they
like. Hfere we are, and we've got to live."

" Where d'ye think they'll sail?" said Dick again, niisiiig
his voice, but in ignorance that the words could reach the
group by the tiller.

"Where shall we sail]" said Jack, who was steering. " T
don't know, for all before us seems black ; but I've saved n»y
brother and his true old friend, so let fate guide us : the world
is very wide."

" Yes, Dinny, I don't mind for a change ; but it's piracy,
and I hope as we sha'n't all be hung."

*' The same to you," said Dinny, giving the sailor's shoulder
a bounding slap.

"Piracy!" said Jack, softly, as the boat glided on. "Well,
it was not our choice, and, at all events, wr're fn^e"

■I

COMMODOKE JUNE.

CHAPTER XVI.

AFTER A LAPSE.

*'The\ we'll die for it, Bart," said Jack, fiercely.

" If so be as you says die for it now, or to-mon'ow, or
iR'xt day, or next week, die it is, my lad," said Bart, des-
pondently ; " but luok's agen us, and we're beat. Why iiot
give up 1"

" Give up ? " cried Jack, whose appearance was somewhat
altered by his two years of hard sea-life in the tropics since the
night when the cutter sailed away into the darkness of what
seemed to be their future. " Give up 1 "

" Yes ; and back out of it all. Why* not take passage some-
where, not as Jack, Commodore Junk's brother, but as bonny
Mary Dell o' Devonshire, going back home along o' Bart
Wrigky, as is Bartholomew by rights?"

" Well 1 " said Jack, sternly.

" Don't look black at me, my lad. I'm tired o* boarding
ships and sending people adrift."

" Growing afraid, Bart 1 "

" Yes, my lad ; but not for Bart Wrigley. For someone
else."

"You are preaching to-night, Bart."

" Maybe, my lad, for it's solemn times ; and something
keeps a-saying to me : * Don't run no more risks 1 There's old
Devon a-waiting for you, and there's the old cottage and the
bay, and you've got the money to buy a decent lugger, and
there's plenty o' fish in the sea.' "

" Go, on," said Jack, mockingly.

" Ay, lad, I will," said Bart. " And you might settle down
there, and live happy with a man there to wait on you and be

AtTER A LAPSE.

141

your sarvant — a} > your dog if you liked ; and some day, if you
thought better of it, and was ready to say, ' Bart, my la»l,
you've been a true chap to me, and I know as you've loved
me ever since you was a hoy, so now I'll hv. your wife,' why,
then "

Bart stopped with his lips apart, gazing wonderingly at the
angry countenance before him.

" You madman ! What are you saying ] " was hissed into
his ears. " Mary Dell died when she left her home, driven
away by man's tyranny — when she sought out her brother and
his friend, to find them working like slaves in that })lantatioi).
It was John Dell who became your companion : Maiy l^ell is
dead."

" No," said Bart, speaking softly and with a homely pathos,
full of a poetical sentiment that could not have been expected
from his rough exterior as he sat on the deck of a long, low,
heavily-sparred schooner. " No, my hitl, Mary Dell i -ni't dead.
She's hidden here in ray breast, where I can look inwards and
see the bonny lass with the dark eyes and long black hair as I
knowed I loved as soon as I knowed wluit love meant, and as
long as I live that lass will never die."

" Hush, Bart, old friend I " said Jack, softly. " Let her live,
then, there ; but to me she is dead, and I live to think of her
persecutions, and how for two years man has pursied us with
his bitter hatred, and hunted us down as if we were savage
beasts.'*

" Ay," said Bart, softly ; " but isn't it time to take the
other road, and get away ] "

" No," said Jack, fiercely. " Bart, old friend — you arc my
friend."

" Friend ! " said Bart, in a reproachful tone.

" Yes. I know you are ; but once more, if you va^ le my
friendship, never speak to me again as you ha\e spoken now,"

142

COMMODOKE JUNK.

! ,(

I i ::;

If'

You're captain, my lad. I'll do what you like.**

" I know you will. Well, then, do you think I can forgive
the treatment we have received] It has been a dog's life, I
tell you — the life of a savage dog."

"Ay, but we've bit pretty sharp sometimes," said Bart,
smiling. " See how we've growed, too. First it was the bit
of a canoe thing as you came in up the creek,"

Jack nodded.

" Then we took the cutter.'-

"Yes, Bart."

" And with that cutter we took first one ship, and then
with that another, always masters, and getting, bit by bit,
stout, staunch men."

" And savages," said Jack, bitterly.

" Well, yes, some on 'em is savage like, specially Mazzard."

" Black Mazzard is a ruflSanly wretch ! "

" True, lad ; but we've gone on and got better and stronger,
till we have under our feet the swiftest schoouer as swims
the sea, and Commodore Junk's name's known all along
the coast."

" And hfited, and a price set upon his head ; and now that
he is a prisoner his people turn against him, and his most
faithful follower wants to go and leave him in the lurch."

"Nay, don't say that, my lad," cried Bart. "We was over-
matched, and he was took."

" Yes, by his men's cowprdice."

" Nay ; you're cross, my lad," said Bart, unconsciously
raising one arm and drawing back the sleeve to readjust a
bandage. " Month to-night and the deck was running into the
scuppers with blood, half the lads was killed, and t'other half
all got a wound. We was obliged to sheer oflf."

" Yes, you coward ! you left your captain to his fate."

" But I saved the captain's — brother," said Bart, slowly,

AFTEU A LAI'SE.

143

brgive
life, I

. Bart,
the bit

id then
by bit,

azzard."

tronger,

swims

along

ow that

is most
»

as over-

sciously
idjust a
into the
ler half

slowly,

** or lic'd have boon sliut up in prison along with poor Abel
now."

" Better so," said the other, fiercely ; " and then there'd be
an end of a persecuted life."

" Better us it is," said Bart, cjuietly ; " but I did save
you."

" Bart, old lad, don't take any notice of what I say," whis-
pered Jack.

" I don't, lad, when you're put out. I never do."

" Don't speak to me like that. It maddens me more."

" No, it don't, lad. It's only me speaking, and you may
hammer me with words all night if it does you good, I don't
mind. I'm only Bart."

" My true old friend," whispered the other, quickly ; " but
it's time they were back."

" Nay, not yet," said Bart, as the other stood gazing over
the side of the schooner toward where a long, low bank of mist
seemed to shut out everything beyond.

"They've been gone two hours, and it's now four
bells."

" Ay, and it'll be six bells before they get back, and it's a
long way to row. Do you mean to try it, then 1 "

" Try it 1 Yes, if I die in the attempt. Did I hesitate
when you two were on the plantation, ajid I was alone and —
a boy 1 "

" Not you," said Bart.

" Then, do you think I shall hesitate now that I have a
ship and followers to back me up 1 "

Bart shook his head.

" Abel must be saved ; and the men agree."

" Ay ; they say they'll have the skipper out of the prison,
or they'll die first"

<i ^r^ve fellows ! " cried Jack, enthusiasticalTjf.

! i

I' 1

144 COMMODORE JUNK. -

"But I don't see how a schooner's to attack forts and
cannon and stone walls. My lad, it can't bo doive."
« It shall be done ! " cried Jack. " How's Dinny 1 "
*' Bit weak still ; but he says he can fight, and he shall

go"

" Brave, true-hearted follow ! And Dick ? "

** Says he shall be well enough to go ; but he won't — he's
weak as a rat."

Jack drew a deep breath, and a fiercely vindictive look
flashed from the dark eyes which glared at Bart.

" They shall suffer for all this. Abel will pay them their
due."

** Ay," said Burt ; and then to himself — " when he gets
away."

" It was a cruel, cowardly fight — four to on ' "

" He would attack," said Bart, heavily. Q'd had such

luck that he wouldn't believe he could be beat."

" He was right," said the other, fiercely. ** He is not beaten,
for we will fetch him out, and he shall pay them bitterly for
all this."

The speaker strode forward, and went below into the cabin,
while Bart drew his breath hard as he rose from where he had
been seated and limped, slightly bending down once to press
his leg where a severe flesh-wound was received on the night
of the engagement when Abel Dell — whose name had begun to
be well known for f reebooting enterprise as Commodore Junk
— had been taken prisoner.

Bart walked to the forecastle, where, on descending, he
found Dinny and Dick DuUock playing cards, the life they
had led with their three companions being one to which they
had settled down without a hint of change.

" Well ! " asked Dinny, looking up from his dirty cards ;
" whsiit does he say 1 "

arii^

AFTER A LAPSE.

145

t8 and

ihall

le 8

I't— he's
live look
[lem their
n he gets

had such

lot beaten,
)itterly for

the cabin,

[ere he had

36 to press

the night

id begun to

lodore Junk

5ending, he
Le life they
[which they

Hrty cards ;

I)iok tilt' sailor gazed inquiringly at both in turn.

" Saya he shall fetch the captain out."

Piiinv whistled.

•* And wliat does Black Mazzard say 1 " asked Dick

" Don't know. Hasn't been awked."

♦' Look here," said Dick, in a low voice. " There's going
to be trouble over this. Black Mazzard's captain now, he says,
and he's got to be asked. Ho was down here swearing about
that boat l>eing sent off", and he's been drunk and savage ever

since.

}}

"Hist ! What's thati" said Dinny, starting up, and then
catching at Bart's shoulder to save himself from falling. " Head
swims," he said, apologetically.

" Ay, you're weak lad," said Bart, helping him back to his
seat. " Why, the boat's back ! "

He hurried on deck, to find a boat alongside, out of which
four men climbed on deck, while Jack Dell, who had Just lieard
the hail, came hurrying up.

" Well 1 » he said. " What news 1 "

The one spoken to turned away and did not answer.

" Do you hear 1 " cried Jack, catching him by the shoulder as
a heavy-looking man came on deck, lurched slightly, recovered
himself, and then walked fiercely and steadily up to the group.

" Bad news, captain," said another of the men, who had just
come aboard.

" Bad — news 1 " said Jack, heavily.

" Bad news of the Commodore ! " said the heavy-looking
fellow, who was now swaying himself to and fro, evidently
drunk in body but sober in mind.

" Yes," said the man who had first spoken, " bad news."

" Tell me," cried Jack, hoarsely, as he pressed forward to
gaze full in the speaker's face, " what is it 1 They have not
sent him away 1 "

ill

, 1
i

i .;!,

146

COMMODORE JUNK.

The man was silent ; and as the rest of the crew, attracted
by the return of the boat, clustered round. Jack reele«l.

" Stand by, my lad," whispered Bart at his ear. " Don't
forget."

Th(^ words seemed to give nerve to the sturdy, broad-
shouMered young man, who spoko hoarsely.

♦* Tried and condemned," he said, in a hoarse, strange voice.

"They've hung him "

"What!"

** In chains on a gibbet."

A hoarse, guttural sound escaped from Jack's throat as he
clung tightly to Bart's arm.

** The gibbet's on the low point by the mangrove swamp,"
said the man. " They've cut down two palms about a dozen
feet and nailed another across, and the captain's swinging
there."

" A lie ! " yelled Jack j " not my brot' or ! "

There was a dead paus<} of utter silence for a few mometits,
and then the man said slowly :

" Yes, we all saw it and made sure ; " and a murmur of ac-
quii^scence arose from his throe coinpauions, who had Im'oh in
the boat in search of far diffojont information to tliat which
thoy had brought.

*' But not my brother 1 " groaned .Tack

" Yofj," said the man. " It was Commodore Junk."

As a dead silence onctf more fell upon the poop, the dark,
heavy-looking man stood swaying to and fro for a few minutes,
gazing down at Jack, who had dropped into a sitting position
U[)on a water-kog, his arms resting upon his knees, his hands
hanging, and his head drooped ; wliilo I3a?t stood by his
shoulder, with his fac(^ wrinklcMl iind a [)ained expression
upon his brow, just illumined by tiie bright glint of thu
Stars,

ttractod
«* Don't
^ broacl-
ge voice.

oat aa he

swamp,
t a dozen
swinging

moments,

nr of ac-
id l)('«*n in
jut wliich

Ik."
, the dark,
vv minutes,
ijr position
liis handn

■tod by lii-i
exprension

int of tho

AFTER A LAPSK. 147

The heavy man nodded and .seemed about to speak, but

H| I'ciiiainod silent for a time. Then patting Jack on the

«P™

shouhler :

" Bi-ave lad ! Good captain ! For time of war ! " he said.
" But never mind, my lads. Wci'II pay tlirm for it, yet."

lie bnched slightly and walked slowly toward the captain's
cabin, unnoticed by Jack and Bart; but Dinny's eyes were
sharp enough to read what all this meant, and he turned to his
conn*ade Dick.

" Look at that, now I " ho whispered.

" Ay, I was looking. What does it mean 1 "

" Mane ! " said Dinny, scornfully. " It manes that Black
Mazzard thinks he's captain now."

" Then if the throat-cutting scoundrel is, I'm off first
chance."

" An' I'm wid ye," said Dinny, earnestly. " I'll go and lade
a virtuous life."

" And leave the skipper's brother and Barf?"

Dinny pulled off his caj) and rubbed his head viciously.

" Now, why did ye want to go and say that 1 " he cried.
" Iverything was as aisy as could be, and you go and upset it
all."

" Poor Abel ! " said Jack at last, softly.

"Ay, poor old AIm^I ! " said Bart, with a groan.

"You here ] " said Jack, starting up and catching the rough
fellow by the arm.

"Here? — ay!" growled Bart, slowly. "Where did you
think I was, lad 1 "

" I didn't think, Bart, or I shouldn't have said that," cried
Jack, earnestly. " Wh o would you be but at my elbow if I
was in trouble, ready to be of help?"

" Ay, but there's no helping you here, lad," said Bart with a
groan.

'if

148

COMMODORE JUNK.

" No holpin;^ me ! P.nt you can, Bart. Do you wonder
that, T hate the world ? that [ see it all as one crowd of enemies
fighting against me and trying to crush nie down 1 Not help
mo! Oh, hut you shall ! My poor brother! They shall pay
heavily for this ! "

" What'll you do, lad ? " said Bart, despondently.

"Do!" cried Jack, with a savage laugh — "do what poor
Abel always hung back from doing, .ind sto[)ped Black Mazzard
from many a time. I don't road my Bible now, Bart; but
doesn't it say th.-itthoro .shall be blood for blood ; and ray poor^
brother's cries aloud for vengeance, as they shall see ! "

" No, no, my la<l," whispered lUirt, hoarsely ; " let it stop
here. Tt secerns to me as if something said : * This here's the
end on it. Now get lu^r to go back home.' "

"Home!" said Jack, with a fierce laugh. "Where is
home?"

" Yonder," said Bart, stolidly.

" No 1 Here — at sea. Bart, there is no other home for me ;
no other hope but to have reveiige I "

" Bevenge, lad 1 "

" Ay, a bitter, cruel n^venge. I could have been different.
I was once full of love and hope before I knew what the world
was like, but that's all past and dead — yes, dead ; and the dead
yonder is looking toward me and asking me to cenK'.ibcr what
we have suffered."

" But think."

" Think, Ban. ? I have thought till my brain has seemed
to burn ; and everything point ■ 'evenge, and revenge I'll

It's the end of it all now," said Bart, solemnly. " Let's

go back.

The way is open, Bart Wrigley. I have no hold upon

rou, and I can work alone. Go I

AFTER A tATSR. 149

"You wouldn't talk like that," said Cart, lnlskily, " if you
was cool."

** What do you mean, man 1 "

" 'Bout me going," said Bart, in a low, husky voi(!o. " Thert 's
only one way for mo, and that's whore you go, lad. Tt alius
has heen, and it alius will be till I'm took. What are you
going to do ? "

The question was asked in a (jnick, docisive way, very
different to the despondent air that had pervaded his words
l>efore, and the manner was ho mark«;d that Jack laid hisltands
on his companion's shoukhirs.

" It's my fate to be always saying bitter things to you,
Bart, and wounding yon."

" Never mind about that," said Bart, huskily. " Long as
I'm the one as you trusts, that's enough for me. What are
you going to do next ] "

There was no answer for a few minutes, and then the words
whispered were very short and decisive.

"And let'em think it's scared us, and wo' vo fr(,n(^ right
away ? " said Bart.

"Yea"

Bart gave a short, quick nod of the head, walked sharply
to the forecastle, and yollod to the men to tnml)lo up. The
result was that in a very short time sail aftor sail was spread
till a dusky cloud seemed to hover over the deck of the
schooner, which heeled ov(;r in tlie Vurht bioozo and began
skimming as lightly as a yacht eastward, as if to leave the
scene of the Commodore's execution far l>ehind.

150

COMMODORE JUNK.

: '^

CHAP T E It XVII.

THE GIBBET SPIT.

It had been a baking day in the town of St. George, British
Honduras, and the only lively tilings about the place had been
the lizards. The sky had seemed to be of burnished brass, and
the sea of molten silver, so dazzling that the eye was pained
which fell upon its sheen. Th, natives were not troubled by
the heat, for they sought out shady places, and went to sleep,
but the British occupants of the port kept about their houses,
and looked as if they wished they were dogs, and could hang
out their tongues and pant.

St. George, always a dead-and-alive tropic town, now
seemed to be the dead alone ; and as if to prove that it was so,
the last inhabitant seemed to have gone to the end of the spit
by the marsh beyond the port, where every one who landed or
left could see, and there hung himself up as a sign of the deso-
lation and want of animation in the place.

For there, pendent from the palm-tree gibbet, alone in the
most desolate spot near the port, was the buccaneering captain,
whose name had become a by- word all along the coast, whose
swift-sailing schooner had captured vessels by the score, and
robbed and burnt till Commodore Junk's was a name to speak
of with bated breath ; and the captains of ships, whether
British or visitors from foreign lands, made cautious inquiric^s
as to whether he had been heard of in the neighbourhood be-
fore they ventured to sea, and then generally found that th«y
had been misled. For that swift schooner was pretty certain
to appear right in their path, with the result that their vessels
would be boarded, the captain and crew sent afloat in their

THE GIBBET SPIT.

151

, British
liaci boen
rass, and
s pained
ubled by
to sloep,
r houseB,
uld hang

wn, now

it was so,

the spit

andcd or

the deso-

ne in the
g captain,
ist, whoso
icore, and
to sjieak
whether
inquiri(^s
rhood be-
that they
,ty certain
o.ir vessels
t in their

boat not far from land, and the ship would be plundered, and
then scuttled after all that attracted the buccaneers had been
secured.

There had been rejoicings when the king's ship, sent over
expressly to put an end to piracy, found and had an engage-
ment with the schooner — one of so suocossful a nature that
after the bloody fight was over, and the furious attack by
boarding baffled, three prisonei-s remained in the hands of the
naval captain, two of whom were wounded unto death, and the
other uninjured, and who proved to be the captain who had
headed the boarders.

Abel Dell's shrift had been a short one. Fortune had been
against Iiim, after a long career of success. He saw his ship
escape crippled, and he ground his teeth as he called her occu-
pants cowards for leaving him in the lurch, being, of course,
unaware that the retreat was due to his lieutenant, Abram
Mazzard, while when she returned through the determined
action of Jack, it came too late, for Abel Dell, otherwise Com-
modore Junk, was acting as '\ warning to pirates, his last
voyage being over.

The heat seemed to increase on that torrid day till night-
fall, when clouds gathered, and the flickering lightning flashed
out and illumined the long banks of vapour, displaying their
fantastic shapes, to be directly after reflected from the surface
of the barely rippled sea.

"Hadn't. we bettor give up for a bit? Storm may pass
before morning," whispered the thick-set figure standing close
by the wheel.

" No, Bart ; we must go to-night," was the reply. " Is all
ready 1 "

" Ay, ready enough ; but I don't like the job."

"Give up, then, and let Dinny come."

** Did you ever know me give up 1 " growled Bart.

iiii

||:

■!

^'l

III

!!!

152 COMMODORE JtJNit.

" Tain't that : it's leaving the ship. Black Mazzard ur*n*t
to be trusted."

"Whati Pish ! he dare do nothing."

" Not while you're here, my lad. It's when you're gone
that I feel scared."

"You think "

" I think he's trying to get the men over to his side, and
some on 'em hold with him."

Jack remained thoughtful for a few minutes.

" It is only lightning, Bart. There'll he no storm. We can
get what we want done in six hours at tlie longest, and he can
do nothing in that time — he will do nothing in that time if you
nut a couple of bottles of rum within his reach."

Bart uttered a lov/, chuckling laugh.

"That's what I have done," he said.

" Then we're safe enough. Wliere's Dinny ?"

" Forward, along of Dick."

" Tell them to keep a sharp look-out while we're gone, and
to be on the watch for the boat."

Half an hour later, when the schooner was deemed to be
near enough for the purpose, an anchor was lowered down, to
take fast hold directly in the shallow bottom, a boat was
lowered, into which Jack and Bart stej^ped, the former ship
ping the little rudder, and Cart stepping a short mast and
hauling up a big sail, when the soft sea-breeze sent them
gliding swiftly along.

" He Avas asleep in the cabin," said Bart. " Soon be yonder
if it holds like this. Do you feel up to it, my lad, as if you
could venter?"

" Yes," said Jack, sternly.

** But it's a wicked job, my lad, and more fit for men."

" I've thought all that out, Bart," was the reply. ** I know.
It is my duty, and I shall do it. Are the pistols loaded ? "

THE GIBBET SPIT

153

" Tnist me for that," growled Bart. " Thoy'ro loadud
enough, and the cutlushes has edges like razors. Ho has my
axe."

" Have you the tools ? "

" Everything, my lad. Trust me for that"

" I do trust you, Bart, always."

"And how are we to find our way back to the schooner in
the dark]"

" We shall not find our way hack in the dark, Bart, but
sail right out here as near as we can guess, and then lie-to till
daybreak."

Bart kept his eyes fixed upon ony particular light, and
tried to calculate their bearings from its relation to another
behind ; but all the same, he felt in dou' t, and shook his head
again and again, when some blindin; uush of lightning gave
him a momentary gbmce of the shore.

But Jack did not hesitate for a moment, keeping tlie boat's
head in one direction with unerring instinct, till the waves
were close upon their left, and it seemed that in another
minute they must be swamped.

Bart half rose, ready to swim for his life, as the boat leapt
high, then seemed to dive down headlong, rose again, dived,
and then danced lightly up and down for a few minutes l)efore
gliding slowly on again.

" Was that the bar 'i " he whispered eagerly.

"Yes. It is rougli at this time of the tide," was the
answer, given in the calmest manner, for Jack had not
stirred.

Bart drew a breath full of relief.

"Be ready."

" Ready it is." '

"Down sail."

The little ^ard struck, the sail collapsed, and, acting by the

.'.'' It

154

COMMODORE JUNK.

1*^ I

impetus already given, the boat glided forward some distance
and then gi-ated upon a bed of sand.

Bart shuddered slightly, but he was busy all the while
arranging the sail ready for rapid hoisting ; and this done, he
carried the grapnel out some fisfteen or twenty yards from the
bows and fixed it cautiously in the shore.

He was about to return when a hand was laid upon his
shoulder — a hand which seemed to come out of the black
darkness.

Bart snatched a pistol from his belt, and put it back with a
grunt.

" I didn't know it was you," he said, in a hoarse whisper.
" Lightning seems to make it darker. "Where away 1 "

" Fifty yards south," said Jack, quietly.

" Then look here, my lad. I don't want to disobey orders ^
but I'm a man and you're only a

" Man," said Jack, quietly.

" Then you stop by the boat and-

"Bart!"

" Nay, nay, let me speak, my lad. Let me say all I want
You can trust me. If Bart Wrigley says he'll do a thing for
you, he'll do it if he's got the strength and life in him. So let
me do this, while you wait for me. Come, now, you will 1 "

"No! Come with me. I must be there."

Bart drew in a deep breath, and muttered to himself as he
listened to the peculiarly changed voice in which his companion
spoke.

* You're master," he said ; " and I'm ready."

" Yes. Take my hand, and speak lower. There may be
watchers about."

For answer Bart gripped his companion's hand, and to-
gether they walked for some distance along the hard sand,
where the spray from the rollers swept up. Then turning

■f

THE GIBBET SPIT.

155

inland suddenly, they had taken about twenty steps to the
west ^en a vivid flash of lightning showed them that their
calculations had been exact, for there before them in all its
horror, and not a dozen yards away, stood the rough gibbet
with the body of a man pendent from the cross-beam, the
ghastly object having stood out for a moment like a huge
cameo cut in bold relief upon some mass of marble of a solid
black.

"Abel! Brother!" moaned Jack, running forward to
sink kneeling in the sand, and for a few moments, as Bart
stood there in the black darkness with his head instinctively
uncovered, there arose from before him the wild hysteiical
sobbings of a woman, at first in piteous appeal to the dead,
then in fierce denunciation of his murderers j but as the last
cry rang out there was a flickering in the sky, as if the avant
garde of another vivid flash — the half-blinding sheet of flame
which lit up the gibbet once again ; and it seemed strange to
Bart that no woman was tlieie, only the figure of a short, well-
built man, who stood looking toward him, and said in a hoarse,
firm voice —

" We are not likely to be inteiTupted ; but to work,
quick 1 "

" Right ! " said Bart, lioarsely ; and directly after, a rust-
ling sound, accompanied by a heavy breathing, was heard in
the black darkness, followed soon after by the clinking of iron

agamst iron.

There was a faint flicker in the sky again, but no following
flash, and the darkness seemed to have grown more intense, as
the panting of some one engaged in a work requiring great
exertion came from high up out of the ebon darkness.

" The file, man, the file."

" Nay, I'll wrench it off*," came from where the panting
was heard. Then there was more grating of iron against iron,

•I

156

COMMODORE JUNK.

r ' i I

" ^ ;.

repeated again and again, when, just as an impatient ejacn-
lation was heard, there was a loud snap, as if a link had been
broken, a dull thud of a .bar falling, and the panting noise
increased.

" Now, lad, quick ! Can you reach 1 That's right Steady !
I can lower a little more. Easy. A little more away. You
have all the weight now. May I let go ? "

"Yes."

There was the clank of a chain. Then a lieavy tliu \ as if
someone had dropped to the ground, and then the chain
clanked again.

" No, no ; wait a moment, my lad. Lower down. That's
it. Let's leave these cursed irons behind."

The rough grating of iron sounded again, the heavy panting
was resumed, and another sharp crack or two arose, followed
by the fall of pieces on the sand.

" That's it ! " muttered Bart, as a dull clang arose from the
earth. " We needn't have been afraid of any one watching
here."

"I'll help."

" iiTay ; I want no help," panted Bart, as he seemed to be
lifting some weight. " You lead on, my lad. Pity we
couldn't have landed here."

The reason was obvious ; for seaward the waves could be
heard rushing in and out of a reef with many a strange
whisper and gasping sound, giving plain intimation that a
boat would have been broken up by the heavy waves.

"Shall I go first?"

" Ay ; go first, lad. Keep close to the water's edge ; and
you must kick against the rope."

There proved to be no need to trust to this, for, as they
reached the water's edge, where the sand, instead of being
ankle deep, was once more smooth and hard, a phosphorescent

THK GIBBET Sl'IT.

157

BJacn-
becn
noise

iteady!
You

\ as if
3 chain

That's

' panting
followed

from the
watching

led to he
Pity we

could he
ft strange
■)n that a

jdge ; and

r, as they

of heing

)horescent

gleam rose from the breaking wav(vs, and tlio wet shore
glistened with tiny points of light, which were eclipsed from
time to time as the two dark, shadowy figures passed slowly along,
the first accommodating its pace to that of tin; heavily-burdened
second, till the first sto})ped sliort, close to where the boat was
moored.

It was plain to see, for the ropi; shone through the shallow
water, as if gilded with pah', lambont gold ; while, when it
was seized and drawn rapidly, the boat came skimming in.
driving from each side of its bows a film as of liquid moonlight
spread thinly over the water beyond, where the waves broke
upon the sand.

There was the sound of a voice as the figures waded in, one
holding the boat, and the other depositing his burden there.

" What's that ] " whispered Bart. " Did you speak ] "

"No."

" Quick ! Get hold of the grapnel. No. On board, lad,
quick ! » '

"Halt! Who goes there?" cried a voice close by from
where the darkness was thickest.

For answer Bart cut the grapnel line, made sure that his
companion was in the boat, and then, exerting his great
strength, he ran out with it through the shallow "water, just as
there was a vivid flash of lightning, revealing, about twenty
yards away, a group of soldiers standing on the rough shore,
just beyond the reach of the tide.

" Halt ! " was shouted again, followed by a warning. And
then followed a series of rapid orders; four bright flashes
darted from as many muskets, and the bullets whistled over-
head, the intense darkness which had followed the lightjiing
disturbing the soldiers' aim.

Orders to rc-load were heard ; but the boat was well afloat
by now, and Bart had crawled in, the tiller had been seized,

» it'

158

COMMODUKE JUNK.

». ^ '(

l! t .,

and the sail was rapidly hoisted, tlie wind caught it at once,
and by the time another HuHh of lightning enabled the patrol
to umke out where the boat lay, it was a hundred yards from
shore, and running rapidly along the coast.

A volley was tired as vainly as the first, and as the bullets
splashed up the water, Bart laughed.

"They may fire now," he said. "We shall be a hundred
yards farther befonj they're ready again."

They sailed on into the darkness for quite two hours, during
which the lightning ceased, and the niutterings of the thunder
were heard no more. But though a careful look-out was kept
— and Bart felt that they had pretty well calculated the position
of the schooner — they could not find her, and the sail was
lowered down.

" We've gone quite far enough," growled Bart. " Where's
that light that Dinny was to show ? "

There wus no answer, and no light visible from where they
lay for the next thio-3 liours, waiting patiently till the first
faint streak of dpwn hIiouM a'i'.ow them the waiting vessel, and-,
their ghastly burden could be carried aboar-d ready for a sailor's
grave.

" It is a trick, Bart," said Jack at last, as he glanced at
their freight lying forward beneath a spare sail.

" Ay, I felt it, my lad," said Bart, frowning. " I felt it
last night. Black Mazzard baiu't the man to i^^ave alone ; and
wLat's a couple o' bottles o' rum to such ti i he ' '■'

"The villain — the coward!" cried Jack, bitterly. "At a
time like this ! ''

" Ay, it's a bad time, my lad," said Bart, " but we've done
our work, poor chap ; and the sea's the sea, whether it's off a
boat or a schooner. You mean that, don't you, now ] "

"No," said Jack, fiercely, as he pc-int* I to the back-fins of
d couple of sharks. »

'pmi-^^-»9>r^:<»-

once,

)atrol

from

jullets

during
Aiunder
as kept
position
sail wa3

Wbere's

lere they
tlie first
jssel, and-,
a sailor's

glanced at

I felt it
lone ; and

"At a

[e've done

it's off a

lack-fins o£

THE GIBBET SPIT.

15J)

"Ugh !" ejacuhited Bart. " What, then, n»y lad ?"

*• To find the schooner first, and if not, to make for ono of
the little islands, where we'll laiul."

" Little more to the west, my lad," said Uart, after they
had been sailing in silence for some time. " You'll lund at tiu-
Sandy Key, won't you 1 "

" Yes," said Jack, shortly, as he sat there with eyes fixed
and frowning brow.

" Poor old Abe ! " said Bart to himself, as he gazed in turn
at the ghastly object in the bottom of tlu^ boat. " One never
used to think much of dying in the old days ; but if one did,
it was of being drowned at sea, washed ashore, and buried
decently in the old church-yard atop of th(5 hill. And now,
old mate, after being a captain out here, we're a-going to lie you
over yonder in the warm, dry sand, wluire the suu always
shines and the cocoa-nuts grow ; but you'll have no tonibstone,
lad, and no words writ, only such as is writ in her heart, for
she loved you, Abe, old mate, more than she'll ever love me."

A sharp look-out was kept for the schooner ; but though
the horizon was swept again and again, she was not in sight.

" It's one o' Black Mazzard's games, lad/' Bart said at last,
as a faint, cloudy appearance was visible on their bow ; " but
we shall find him yonder."

Jack bowed his head in acquiescence, and the boat skimmed
rapidly on, till the cloudy appearance began to take the form
of a low island, from whose sandy shore cocoa-nut palms waved
their great pinnate leaves, looking lace like against the clear
blue sky.

In a couple of hours they were close in, and the boat was
run up in a sandy cove sheltered by a point, with the result
that, instead of the tide setting in heavy rollers, tlieie was just
H soft curl over the waves, and a sparkling foam to wash the
fine pebble sand. . '

. ■ i

160

COMMODORE JUNK.

illl

I !!(

" No," said Bart, speaking as if in answer to Lis com-
panion.

" Never mind," said Jack, quietly. " We shall find the
schooner by-and-by. Let's land."

Bart assisted to draw the boat well ashore, waiting till a
good-sized wave came, and then running the boat on its crest
some yards farther up the saiut.

He looked up then at Jack, who nodded his head, and the
canvas- draped figure was lifted out and borne up to where the
sand lay soft and thick, as it had been drifted by the gales of
the stormy season.

As Bart bent beneath his burden he nearly trod upon one
of the great land-crabs, with which the place seemed to swarm,
the hif'.eous creatures scuffling awkwardly out of his way, snap-
ping their claws menacingly, and rolling their horrible eyes,
which stood out on foot-stalks far fronx their shelly orbits, and
gave them a weird look as they seemed to be inspecting the
canvas-wrapped bag.

" Here 'i " said Bart, as they reached a smooth spot, where
a clump of palms made a slight shade.

" Y^s," was the laconic reply.

" No tools," said Bart, half to himself; " but it don't matter,
Abe, old lad. I can scratch a grave for you, and cut your
name arter with my knife on one o' them trees."

He laid his load tenderly down upon the sand, in the
shadiest spot, and then, stripping off his jacket and rolling up
his sleeves over his muscle-knotted arms, he began to scrape
the sand away rapidly, and soon made a long, narrow trench,
though it was not easy work, for the soft, fine, dry sand flowed
slowly, as if it were a liquid, back into the trench.

" That will do," said Jack, suddenly rising from where he
bad been kneeling by Abel's side.

Bart ceased his task without another word, and at * sign

THE GinBET SPIT.

161

, com-
nd the

g till a

Lts crest

and the
here the
, gales of

apoD one
o swarm,
ray, snap-
ible eyes,
.rbits, and
scting ihe

)ot, where

't matter,
cut your

id, in the

rolling up

to scrape

low trench,

land flowed

where he

idfttftBigii

from his comprnion reverently went to the foot of the canvas-
covered figure, while Jack went to the head, and tliey lifted it
into the shallow trench.

•' And never said so much as a prayer over it ! " muttered
Bart to himself, as he rapidly scooped back the sand with his
haiuls, till the lower part of his old mate's body was covered,
leaving the head instinctively to the last.

He was then about to heap the sand over gravewise, but
Jack stopped him, and, taking a piece of wreck wood, drew it
along the place so as to l(3ave th.^ sand level.

"What are you going to do ? " he said, sternly, as Bart drew
his knife.

" Cut a hay and a dee on that there tree," said the man,
shortly.

«*No."

" Not cut his letters there 1 " cried Bart, in a wondering
tone.

" No, man, no. Do you suppose I am going to leave him
here 1 "

Bart closed his knife with a click, and screwed up his
face.

" You're captain," he said, quietly ; " what next 1 "

« Back to the boat."

Bart obeyed without another word, and as they walked
down over the hot sand, it was to pass several of the laud-
crabs, which rolled their eyes and leered at them in a goblin
way till the boat was launched, the sail hoisted, and they
coasted the side of the island to get round to its back, and
make sure that the schooner had not cast anchor ofi* this — one
of the rendezvous for boats which had missed the schooner
after being sent away upon some expedition.

But their sail availed them nothing. The schooner was not
off the island, and Bart looked at his companion for ordera

162

COMMODOUE JUNK.

':■■ ■(

" It would take tliree days to reach the shelter," he said at
last.

'* With this wind — yes," replied Bart. " No food, no
water. Shall us get some nuts 1 "

There was no reply. Jack sat with his arms resting upon
his knees, holding the tiller and gazing right before him, seeing
nothing, but trying to pierce the future.

" A-wondering what to do next," inuttcred Bart, watching
his companion furtively. " If the poor thing could see the
old cottage now, and the bay, and a decent lugger lying off the
point with her sails shivering, would it still be no ] "

*' Still be no," he said to himself softly; " and yet I woiddn't
ask to be ditterent to what I am."

" Mazzard has taken command. Bart," said Jack at Uust,
"and we must make a fresh start, my lad."

" Ay, ay, sir," cried Bart, shari)ly.

"We must get (sufficient provisions somehow, and run
across to the shelter. If the schooner is not there we must
wait till she comes in."

" And you won't give up without a struggle ? "

"Give up?"

" Hurrah ! " cried Bart, joyously. " Let's run up the Usa
river to one of the Indian places, and get some food and nuts,
and then be off. Hard down ! "

Instead of obeying and changing the boat's direction. Jack
suddenly pointed right away into the distance.

" What's that V

Bart stood up and sheltered his eyes with his hand, so as to
get a good view of a triangular piece of sail glistening white in
the sunshine, far away, about the horizon line.

"There ain't another vessel with a raking sail like that!"
he cried. " I sha})ed that sail. Why, it is she ! "

" Yes," said Jack, after a long look a<'ross the dazzling

TtlE GIBBET SPIf.

163

Jack

to as to
^hite iu

that ! "

dazzling

l>luo sea, " it's the schooner, Bart ; ',nd she's coniing
here."

Tlie boat danced over the sparklin* x ,vea, and three hours
after slie was alongside the schooner, which was hove to —
tljc wind being contrary — as soon as the boat was descried by
those on board. Dinny was the foremost in the group waiting
to lowci- down the falls, and in a few minutes the boat hung
from the davits, and Jack gave a sharp look round as he
stepped upon the deck.

" Wliy was the schooner not waiting? "

" Faix, the captain gave orders for sail to be made," said
Dinny, in a meaning tone ; " and away we wint."

" The captain ! " said Jack, with a angry look in his eyes.
" Where is the captain, then 'i "

" Sure," cried Dinny, as a murmur ran through the group
gathered on the deck ; " sure, he's in his cabin, having a
slape."

" It's all over, Bart, ray lad," said Jack, bitterly. " What
will you do — stop and serve under Captain Mazzard, or shall
we go ] "

" Do !" cried Bart, angrily, as he turned toward the men,
who seem d to be divided into two parties. "Look here; I
can't parley ; but is it going to be fair-play or no 1 "

" Yes ! " rose with a shout ; but it was met by a menacing
growl ; and one man ran to the cabin, to return directly, half
dragging, half leading Mazzard, who stared round wildly in a
drink-stupefied manner, and faltered out, as if in answer to a
question —

" No more, now ! Who's altered her course 1 "

There was a few moments' silence, during which the self-
elected captain stared about him, and tried to comprehend
what was going on, for he had just been roused suddenly from
a rum-engendered sleep, and seemed like one in a dream.
k2

■ 1

164

COMMODORE JUNK.

I, i

"What, isn't annybody goinj^ to spake 1" cried Dinny;
" thin I will. Who althereil the ship's course ! Why, I did.
D'yer think I was going to stand by and see a messmate left in
the lurch 1 Look here, my lads ; I am not going to make a
spache, but the captain's dead, and you've got to choose a new
one."

" Hurrah for Dinny Kelly ; he's the man ! " shouted one of
the sailors.

" If I didn't know ye can't help it, Sam Marlow, I'd say
don't be a fool ! " cried Dinny, scornfully. " Now, do I look
like a captain ! Bad luck to ye for an omadhaun. I'm a
foighting man, and not a sailor at all ; but yeVe got to choose
bechuxt two. Who is it to be — Black Mazzard there, or the
old captain's brave little brother, Master Jack here, the best
sailor, steersman, and bravest little chap that ever stepped on a
plank 1 What do you say, Dick V

" Three cheers for Captain Jack ! " cried Dick DuUock.

" Nay, nay. Commodore Junk !" cried Dinny ; " that name's
a power, me boys. Now, then, who among ye says it isn't to
be the ca])tain's brother 1 "

" I do ! " cried IMazzard, who was growing sobered by the
excitement of the scene. " I do. I'm captain of the schooner
now ; and if any man dares "

He dragged a pistol from his belt and cocked it.

"Do you hear? " cried Mazzard again. "I'm captain now,

and if any man dares to say I'm not, let him Well, no, I

won't give him time to say his prayers ! "

He stared round the ring oi people, of which he now formed
the centre, the pistol barrel pointing all round, as if its holder
were in search of a mark.

Just then Bart stepped forward, but Jack drew him aside.

"No; let me speak," he said.

" Oh, it's you, is it, my whipper-snapper ! " cried Mazzard,

THE GlRBtlT SPIT.

I(i6

) to

ide.
ird,

scornfully. " There, we had enoiinh of your little baby of a
brother, and he's dead ; so now, if you want to keep your skin
whole, go back to your place, and if you behave yourself I'll
make you my cabin-boy."

Jack continued to advance, looking round at the crew,
who, some fifty strong, had now hurried upon deck.

" D'yer hear'? " roared Mazzard, who seemed brutally sober
now. " Go back, or "

He took aim at Jack with the pistol, and a murmur ran
round the crew once more— a murmur which was turned to a
shout of ai)plause, for, gazing full at the drink inflamed coun-
tenance before him. Jack stopped right up to Mazzard and
seized the pistol, which exploded in the air.

The next moment it was wrenched out of the ruffian's
hantl, and sent flying over the side, to fall with a splash in the
sea.

" Look here, my lads," cried Jack, turning his back to
Mazzard, and ignoring the threatening gesture he matin with a
knife ; " look here, my lads ; it is not for any man to say he
will be your captain. My brav(^ brother is dead "

" God rest him ! " cried Dinny.

" And it is for you to choose someone in his place. Do you
select Black Mazzard ] "

" No," roared Dinny, " the divil a bit ! Three cheers, me
boys, for the bowld little Commodore Junk ! "

The crew burst into a roai", even those who had favoured
Mazzard being carried away.

" A lad who was niver afraid of anny man's pishtle," cried
Dinny, leaping on a cask and waving his cap.

" Hurrah ! " shouted the men, enthusiastically.

"A lad who has only wan failing in him."

" Hurrah ! " came in chorus, and a voice cried : " What's
that, Dinny 1" .

iO)(;

COMMoDOllI': Jl'NK.

11 ii

ilii

1 i

!J!

Faix, liis mother nuule a inistiike and let liiin be born
out of Oiivland."

Thore was another roar, and the crew [)reaRed round Jack,
whoso face flusliecl as he hehl up his hand.

" Stop a niinnte, my lads ! " he cried. " Don't decide in
hrt.ste, for 1 shall he a hard oflicer."

" An«l a hrave one," shontcHl Dinny.

"Hurrah!"

"Ami to understand," continued Jack, "that you select
me for yom- capt-aiti 1 "

" Yes, yes," came iiv a roar.

" Then I have a retjuest to make,' cried Jack ; " and that
is, that you support and ohey \\\y lirj-it lieutenant."

" Hurrah for owld Hart Wriylev ! " roared Dinnv.

" No, no ; stop ! " cried Jack, " I choose my own lieu-
tenant. Mazzard, will you serve under me faithf\dly as a man?"

Black Mazzard stood scowling for a few moments, and then
held out his hand.

" I will," he sai<l. " There's no i<^alousv in me."

" HiuTah ! " shouted the crew ajjain ; and ilirectly after the
new captain gave orders for the schooners head to he laid for
Sandy Key, towaixis which she was soon tacking to and fro.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A HORRIKLE TASK.

Two days elapsed l>efore the schooner was again well under
the lee of Sandy Key, and preparations wei'e made to bind as
soon as it grew dusk.

It was a soft, calm evening, and the sea looked solemn and

A HOIUUHLK TASK.

167

(loaolaio rts the Hun w«Mii down in n lumk of cIoikIh. A good
look out luul lu'Pii k«'i»t, luit tluTc was iio sign of »ail ujion >'io
wulc H|nvu(l wft, wliilo Iho Rolninnif-y of i\w hour seftmml to
imvo inllucnotMl the nion, who \u\(\ gathered Home inkling of
tlh'ir coHuniinder'H intcntion.H.

'•Whisht! Don't talk al)oiit it," said I)inny to one (iuea-
tioner. Sine, it's a whim of thr Rkippcr's, and if he liktS to
take his brother and hury liim a hit more dacently at the
shelter, who has a better right ?"

"Are you going]"

"And is it mol They wouldn't ask me."

Just at the same time a conversation was going on in the
fore-part of the vessf'l, where the captain had Ijcon standing for
some time with Bart.

"Nay, nay, my lad," the latter whispered ; "nottliis time."

" Have you got all ready ? "

"Ay. Just as you said."

" Then, an hour after sundown, we'll go."

Bart tightenejd up his lips and looked more obstinate than
he liad ever before lookf^d in his life.

"What is it] " said the captain, sharply.

" I was tt-thinking," said Bart, shortly.

« Well— of what ] "

" I was a-thinking that you've just l)een made captain, and
that the crew's with you, and that you're going to chuck it away."

" What do you mean, Bart ? "

" I meaii captain, as so sure as you give the lieutenant
another char oe he'll take it, and the lads, like Dinny and Dick,
mayn't have the chance to get Mazzard drunk and come to
your help."

" You do nothing but doubt your officer," said the captain,
angrily.

" More do you," retorted Bart.

[

COMMOnoUR JllNit.

c. 1

Thn captain startod, an<l llicii tiiriuMl angrily away; \mi
Bart, foUowoil liiin.

" YouVo Rkippor, and I'll do atiglifc you liko ; Imt ao nuro
as you Iciivo this hero RJiip ilioro'il ho a row, and you won't bo
al>U> to go again, for you won't oonio Itiu'k."

Tlio captain took a turn up and down, and then stopped
opposite IJart.

" I'll take your advice, Hart," lio Haid, " though it goes very
much against the grain. Tak(^ J)imiy with you, ai»d do this for
n»c as if I wcro liclping you all the time."

"Ay; you may trust me."

**I do trust you, Bart, heartily. Uememher this: Abel
and I were always together as children and conipani(m8 ; to the
last I loved my brother, B.irt,"

Bivrt listened to the simply-utt»;red words, to which their
tone and the s^-olemn tiuu^ gave a peculiar pathos ; and for a
few monients there was silence.

*• 1 know," he said, softly. " And in my rough way I loved
Abel Dell lus a brother. Don't you think becausi? I say nought
that I don't feel it"

" I know you too well, Bart. Go and do this for me ; I
will stivy aboai'd. I'm captain now, since fate so wills it, and
the men shall lind that I am their head."

" Hah ! " ejaculated Bart, raising his hand, but dropping it
again and drawing back. " That's how I like to hear you
speak, captain. Trust me, it shall be done."

An hour later the men stood aloof as Bart and Dinny
lowei"ed a long deal case into the boat and, as soon as the ro[)e
was cast off, hoisted the little sail and ran for the sandy cove
where the boat had landed before.

They were provided with a lantern, and this they kept
shrouded in a boat-cloak originally the property of the Spanish
captain of a vessel that had been taken.

A lIOHHinriK TAHfC.

160

The prconiition was nnrdN'Hs, for noMiinf* was witliiii
sight; and thoy lafnlojl and dn-w up Uin boat upon thn wind,
whom the phoHphorrHcrnt, wiitrr ripplod Hoftly, and thfin
the h»ng vhcHt whh Iift<Ml out, and Hurt l»ore it towarrl tho
cocoa nut grove.

"Weil," Biiid l)iiiiiy, following cIoho Ixjhind, "I did
Bay that I wouldn't do such work as this; but it's for tiio
captain, and nuiybo Horuo day I shall bo wanting such a job
done for mo."

Bart set down tlio (^ase and i>iMny the lantorn bofiratli the
cocoa nut trees close by the Irvelled patch of shore; and then,
with the dull light shining through the horn panes upon the
sand, the two men stood in the midst of the faint halo listen
ing to the soft whispfaing of the tide among the shingle, and
the more distant boom of the surf.

"It's an unked job," sai«l Hart at last. "But, f»oor lad,
it's the skipp(!r's wish. A lo\eIy spot for a man to be put to
rest."

Dinny did not spfsak for a few moments. Tlicn with an
effort —

" Let's get it done, me lad. I niver belaved in annytliing
worse than the good people, and the phooka, and the banshee,
ofcoorse; but it Ujakes a man's flesh seetu to (;rnj)e over his
bones to come body-snatching, as yo may call it, on a dark
night like this."

They both stood h(!sitating and shrinking from tlif^ir tjisk
for a few minutes longer, and then J3art stooped down nu'l
began to sweep back the sand. ^

" It's laid light over him, Dinny, my lad," he said. "Just
Bweep it away, and we can lift him into his coffin."

"But "

" He's wrapped in a canvM for his winding-sheet, lad.
Sweep away the sand there from liis feet."

J 70

COMMODOHE JUNK.

Diimy bent down und was in tlie act of scooping away the
dry Kund when he utttrod a yell and darted away, followed by
Bart, who was somewiiat unnerved by his weird task, and who
did not recover himself till th(!y reached the boat.

"Here, what is it?" cried Bart, recovering himself, and
gras[)ing Dinny by the arm, fcieling indignant now at his own
cowardice. '•' Are you afraid of a dead man 1 "

" No ; but he isn't dead ! " panted Dinny.

" What ] "

" As soon as I touched him I felt him move 1 **

" Dinny, you're a fool ! " cried Bart, in an exasperated ton©
of voice. •' I wish he was alive, poor lad 1 "

" I tell you," cried Dinny, catching his arm, " he moved in
his grave — I felt it plain ! "

" Come back ! " said B t, fiercely.

"Divilabit!"

" Come back 1 "

" Divil a bit, I say ! "

" You coward ! " cried Bart. " Am I to go and do it
alone?"

" No, no, Bart, me lad, don't thry it. There's something
quare about the owld business."

*' Yes," said Bart, savagely. " You turned coward and upset
me. I don't know whether I'm most ashamed of you or
of myself."

He walked straight back toward where the soft yellow
light of the lantern could be seen under the trees, leaving
Dinny staring, trembling, and scratching his head.

" He's gone and left me alone," muttered Dinny. " Sure,
and is it a Kelly as Is a coward 1 If it was to face a man — or
two men — or tin men — I'd do it if I had me. shtick. But
a dead body as begins to move in its grave as soon as ye
thry to lift it out, and says quite plain, wid a kick of its

masi

A HORRIBLE TASK.

171

legs, * Lave me alone, ye spalpeen ! ' wliy, it's too much for a
boy."

*' Are you coming, Dinny ? " cried Dai't, i.^ he approached
the lantern.

" Bedacl, and he'll think me a coward if I don't go," said
Dinny, panting. " Sure, and what are ye tluinil»liug about ?
D'ye call yourselves logs, and go shakking undher a boy like
that] Faix, I'm ashamed of ye ! Go along, do ; and it isn't
me that's freckened, but me legs ! "

He mastered his dread and ran swiftly afttr Bart, who had
once more reached the sandy trench.

" I thought you'd come, Dinny," said liart. " You're not
the lad to leave a mate in the lurch."

" Thrue for yo, me boy ; but are we to tak' him back in the
boat?"

" Yes, it's the captain's orders."

" Ilowly Pater, but it's dreadful work ! " said Dinny.

"Then let's get it done," said Bart, stolidly ; and he drew
off the lid of the rough case. "Come, lad, let's lift the i)oor
fellow quickly into his coflin. and act like men."

" Bud didn't ye fale him move, Bart, lad 1 " whispered
Dinny.

" No. What foolery ! " growled P>aiL. " Fancy ! "

"Divil a bit, sor ! I just touclnKl him," wliispeicd Dinny ;
"and he worked his toes about, and thin ^ive (piile a kick."

" Bah ! " ejaculated Bart.

' Bedad, but he did ! " whispered Dinny. " Wait a minute.
The poor boy don't like it, perhaps. If we only had Father
M'Fadden here ! "

" What are you going to do V

"Shpake to him," said Dinny, trembling; " and the blessed
saints stand bechuekst me and harm ! ' he muttered, fervently,

want

iptl

i )

i I

172 COMMODOUK JL'NK.

There was a dead silence.

" Slipake to uh, mo lad, and say no if you don't ; and we'll
retipeut your wishoH."

The silence that followed Dinny's address to the dead was
broken by an impatient ejaculation from Bart.

" Come on ! " he said. " Do you take Jue for a fool 1 liift,
nian, or I'll do it myself! "

Thus adjured, Dinny went once more to the foot of the
shallow trench, and stooped down.

" Now, then, to<^(ither ! " said Bart. " The dead caii't hurt
the quick."

Binny thrush his hands down in the sand on either
side of the rolled-up canvas, made as if to lift, and then,
as his hands met, he uttered another yell and fell upon
his knees.

Bart started away as well, and stood in the dim light,
trenibling.

" There ! Didn't you fale him move ? " whispered Dniny,
who was shaking violently. '*Captir darlin', we were only
obeying ordhers. Sure, and we wouldn't disthurb ye for all
the world if ye didn't want to come. Don't be angry wid
us — it was ordhers, ye know; and av coorse ye know what
ordliers is."

" Did — did you feel it too, Dinny 1 " said Bart, hoarsely.

"Did I fale it! Sure, and he worked his toes again, and
then give a bigger kick than ever ! "

"Dinny," cried Bart, passionately, " the poor fellow has been
buried alive ! "

" Buried aloive ! " said Dinny.

"Yes ; he has come to. Quick, uncover him ! "

"Buried aloive ! And it isn't a did man kicking again'
being disthurbed in his grave ! " cried Dinny, changing his tone
and springing up. " liowly Pater ! why didn't ye say so

A HOUUIULK TASK.

173

before? Here, have liim out iit wanst ! — the poor boy will be
umothcrcd wid the sand I t^)uiok, inc boy ! ([iiick ! "

He dashed at the trcin'h again, and Bai-t seized the head,
both lifting together; and tiicn, as the sand streamed away
from the canvas cover in which the remains of poor Al>el had
been wrapped, they both uttered a hoarse cry of horror and
stood holding up their ghastly burden as if in a nightmare,
terror paralysing them. For they felt that the long wrapper
was alive ; and from out of holes eaten in it, and dimly seen in
the lantern's yellow light, dozens of the loathsome land-crabs
scuffled quickly out, to keep falling with a heavy pat upon the
sand and crawl away; while as their shells rattled and scratched
and their claws clinked together, the burden grew rapidly
lighter, the movement gradually ceased, and the two men stood
at last, icily cold, but with the sweat streaming from them,
holding up the old sail containing nothing but the skeleton of
the poor fellow they sought.

"Oh, murther!" gasped Dinny at last. "Bart, lad, think
o' that ! "

Bart uttered a sound that w^s more like a groan than an
ejaculation ; b"t neither of them moved for some moments.

" Waa'.'Jl wr io now 1 " said Dinny at last.

Bavt (lid ii'^'t speak, but he made a movement sidewise,
wh'>'j l>i'. con- V i.Aon unconsciously imitated, and together they
reverently luid the grisly remains in the case, which Bart
covered, and then screwed down the lid, for he had come pre-
pared.

" What'll the captain say 1 " whispered Dinny, as he held
the lantern up for Bart to see the holes made ready for the
screws.

Bart turned upon him fiercely.

" Don't say a word of it to him," he said harshly. " Poor
lad, it would break his heart,"

(I 1

171 COMMODORE JUNK.

" Not tell him ? "

"Dinny, lad, you'll keep your tongue about this night's
workl"

"Not tell the boys?"

" Not tell a soul," said Bart. " We're friends, and it's our
secret, lad. You'll hold your tongue ? "

"Howlt my whisht? Yes," said Dinny, "I will. Bart,
lad, d'ye feel f reckoned now 1 "
'No."

" Nor I, nayther. It was the thought that there was
something else that freckened me. Phew, lad ! it's very
hot."

He wiped the great drops of sweat from his brow, and then,
as Bart erded his task —

"Ye were scared, though, Bart," he said.

" Yes, I never feH. so scared in my life."

"I shake hands, thin, lad, on that. Thin I needn't fale
ashamed o' running away. Faix, but it's an ugly job ! Oh !
the divils. Sure, and whin I die I won't be buried here."

Dinny's observations were cut short by Bart placing the
lantern on the deal case ; and then together the two men
h<^^e their eerie load down to the boat and laid it across the
bows, the lantern being hidden once more beneath the folds
of the great cloak with which the rough coffin was solemnly
draped.

" You'll be silent, Dinny," said Bart.

" Nive:* fear, my lad," said the Irishman.

Then the boat was run out as far as they could wade, the
sail hoisted, and long before dawn they reached the schooner,
over whose side hung a signal light.

As they reached the vessel, the captain's face appeared in
the glow shed by the light. The coffin was lifted on board, and
then down into the captain's cabin, after which the schooner's

aajaMa^sfc:;^

lihustm

THE PEST OF THK WEST.

175

wide wings were spread, and she was speeding on over the
calm waters to the shelter, far away, that formed the buc-
caneers' retreat and impregnable home, while Commodore Junk
went down to his cabin, to kneel by the coffin side, and pray
for stnnigth to complete his vengeance against the world and
those who had robbed him of the onlv one he loved.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE PEST OF THE WEST.

The mercliants of Bristol sent in a petition to His Majesty
the King, saying that the trade of the port was being ruined,
that their ships were taken, that the supplies of sugar and
tobacco must run short, and that, while the ladies would suffer
as to their coffee, there would soon be no snuff ground up for
the titillation of the noses of the king's liege subjects.

Always the same story — Commodore Junk, in command of
a long, lovv, fast-sailing schooner, was here, there, and every-
where. This sugar and coffee-laden ship was plundered and
burnt off Kingston port, so near that the glow of the fire was
seen. That brig, full of choice mahogany logs, was taken near
Belize. A fine Bristol bark, just out of the great port of South
Carolina, full of the choicest tobacco leaf, was taken the noxt
week. And so on, and so on. Ships from Caracas, from the
Spanish, French, and Dutch settlements, heavily laden, or from
England outward bound, were .seized. All was fish that came
to the pirate's net, and if the vessels were foreign, so much
the worse for them, the V)uccanecr captain dealing out his
ft^vours with fairly balanced liand till the shores of the great

!t|

M
^

■ 1]

17(>

COMMODOHK JUNK.

gulf and {\\o islaiuls ihiH fornu'd (ho raslvrn barrier rang witli
tlM» n«'\vs of Imh tloods.

(K)vrMinnont hoard what was said, and replied that five
yoars hoforo ihov Inul sent ont v ship to oapiino Connnodoro
Jnuk, thai (h(Mo was aaovoro (Mi^ajrenuMit, and tho cMptain wns
takon and himg, and afterwards gil)l)otO(d ofl'the port whoro \\'\h
doods ol)tainod niosl ffiino.

To whicli <ho Bristol nionduints r(^pIi(M| iti a fmlhor potiiion
that <li()n^l\ it was as tho (lovornniont slattMl, ronnnoihu'o
Junk s hody had Wvu tak<>n down fi-on» th(» ;j;ihh(M. R»)on after
it was huni; np, <1)!\( \\o had ooine to lifo again, and that his
diMM^s woro now iou tinios worso than hofore.

Moroov(M', tliai soniowhoro oranotlicr on tho wostorn shores
of tho gn^at Mi^xioan (lulf, he had a retreat where he lived in
givat luxury when ashore; that nmidons, wives, and widows
had l)0(»n oaptuivd and <ak<M\ there to live a life of terrihle cap-
tivity ; that many bloody doetls had been done after desperate
fighting, men Iving oonipelled to walk the plank or sent adrift
in small boats far from land ; and that, though spies had been
sent out, no one had been abl<> to discover the mysterious
rtMi'oat, evei\ the Indians who had been bril)ed to go i*eturning
with their heads min\is their ears, or else with strange tales
that the buooancN'r was und«M' the protection of the great
thunder g<xls, whose home was in the burning mountains, and
that it was useless to try to destroy him and his crew.

Moivovor, the men of Bristol said tliat it was a crying
shame that their ships and cargoes should not liave »idequate
prot<vtion, seeing what a deal khoy paid to the revenvie for the
goods they importtnl, and ihat one of His Majesty's ships
ought to be more than a match for all the thunder gods in
Central America, and His ^lajesty's petitioners would ever
pray.

The king's minister of the time Siiid that the men of Bristol

TitK PKST OF TFfK WKHT.

177

woi»» a Rot of old wouH'ii, Mfid Ihiit it vvtis all rioiisf nso about
('oiiiiiiodon' .luiik ; mid lor soiiir iiimmIIih Ioiig(>r notliiiig wr.s
done, 'riicn cfU.M' hucIi an aii^ry clamour and s u-h lotigthy
juM'ouidH (»r (Im- criiiu'S the l»n(H'aiM'«'r had cormnittod that the
( {oNcrmncnt conolnchMl that (lny irniat do «omoihing, an.i gave
Wu'w ordns accordingly.

The rcanlt was that oiio day Captain IfiMnplircy Armstrong
Widkcd a'')ng tho Mall in IiIh big boots, which creaked loudly
over (he gruvel. The gold hice on his uniform glittered in the
sinishine ; and as he wore his cocked hat all on rme side, and
r(»sted his left hand upon the hilt of his sword, which hung
awkwardly across him, nuxcnl up with the broad skirts of bin
coat, ho looked as line and gallant a specimen of liumanity an
was to be found in the king's service.

The orticers of the king's gtiards, hoiso and foot, starod at
hin>, and more than one pair of bright eyes rested with satis-
faction on the handsome, manly face, as the cai)tain wont along
smiling with satisfaction and apparently conceit.

It was with th(^ fonner, not tho latter, for tho ca[)tain waa
on his way to St. .Tames's Scpiare, to keep an {ippointmont at
Ijord Loganstone's, and befon^ 1<^>"^ J**' was in earnest converse
with Lady Jenny Wihhu'sey, his lordship's youngest daughter,
one of the most fashionable beauties of her day.

" Yes," said tho captain, after nearly half an hour's pre-
liminary conversation. " It is in the course of duty, and I
must go."

" La ! " said her ladyship, with a very sweet smile. " But
couldn't you send someone else ? "

" At the call of duty 1 " cried the captain. " No. Besides,
you would not wish me to stay under such circumstances as
those."

" La ! " said her ladyship, as, after a show of resistance, she
surrendered her lily-white hand, and suffered it to be kissed*

ill

178

OOMMonORK .lUNlC.

;

1.;

U:r-I

1"
J

•' Ami liow lonj; will it iako yon to cupturi' tluH trniMp 1>U(^.

" I slnvU 1k» awny for moiitlis," anid i\\v <'uptiiiii.

"La! " sai<l <l»o lady.

" ]\ut ] almll {\}y\\\ Who Home knight ornvnt nf olil, ai'.tl fly
l>a »'!<."

" L« I " saitl tho lady.

" With tho wings of my good ahip," said tho ojiptain, " and
hasten to lay iho trophies of my victory at my darling's foet."

"You will 1)0 suro to hring him?" said tho lady.

" 1 hopo ho will fall in tho fight," said the captain.

"Then you are going to light ?"

" Y«^s ; I am going out in command of a splendid ship with
a crew of hrave men, <o attack and exterminafo flii'^ honh* of
wasps, and 1 hope to tlo it like a man."

" But will anybody bleed 1"

" I fear so."

"La! Will you be hurt?"

" I hop'^ not. But I must run the risk ; and if I come back
wi>unded, it will he in your service, dearest, and then I shall
claim my iTwaixl."

" No," said the lady, with one of her most winning looks.
" r don't believe you. Sailors are worse than soldiers, and you
will fall in love with one of the lovely Spanish ladies out there,
and forget all about poor little me."

" Forgot you ! " cried the captain, passionately ; " nevei* !
My love for you grows stronger every day ; and as to beauty,
V as there ever a won\an so beautiful as you ? "

"La!"

C;»ptain Humphrey was about to throw himself on his knees
as well as his big lx)ots would allow ; but irrt ♦^hen the door
opene.l, and fresh visitors were annfUiiKcd. jmh' tlioiigh {\ui
topic of the captain's appointment to tlie sic p ct v,ar Queen

TIIK I'IKATK criAsp;.

175)

Me buc

, ar.d \\y *

In, " mid
',s feet."

iliip with

horde of

)me hack
I shall

Jnn^, for the Pxieiiiiiiin<.ir»Ti of I he Wcsf fndimi hiiccMnfors,
foi'iiM'd iho stnph' (if th«^ cfoivfrsatioii, hr hfid to leave »it. last,
with nothing warinoi- than a sinih', hiii full of a i^rcMt deal of
ho|)o.

Por h>v« had hlind -d tho cycH of the stout rdjilfi.iii lately
int.rf»duc(Ml to the faMhiotiahle ln-anly, iirid w»Irom«'d (»n aecvMint
of tho fact that he hn I l);t,ely succeeded to the f)evonKhire
estfitefl of tho Arniat i'ouj^h, (M»nHe(jne?it upon 'he (jcnth of iii^
consin Janios, who hnd heen killed in ji duel firisin<^ out of
Home aOair of gallantry, the Inisluind of the Ijidy in (piesti(»n
oltjecting to CaptMin .Innies Armstrong's advances, and running
him tln'ough thr; hody.

So, deeply in l<»ve with as pretty a hit of urtiticiality ms ever
dreH.se<l, or nitlier h<'lieving himself d'cpjy in jovf, (Up(;iin
IFtunphrey joined his well foinid ship nt r'jilmonfh, saih'fl For
tho far west and the l.md of the loi rid sun ; }in(I the men of
T^ristol ruhhed their hands, thought of llnir freights, and sut
down to their ledgers, while they waited Cor lltr dcma of tho
hangnig f»f Commodore .hmk.

I A

ij looks,
and you
t there,

never !
heauty,

is kne<\s
ho door
iigh tijo

criA.Ti:i{ XX.

T n K P I H A T K C ir A S E.

"It's like hunting a will o' thewisj) on Dartmoor," cried
Captain Ffumphrey, as he sat in one of his ship's boats, wiping
the perspiration from his siin-scorclied face. *'')r!e day I'm
ready to Hwear it is .all a Tuyth, the next that there aro a dozen
OuiiiHiodore Junks."

J'or he had been out in tiie Mexican Oidf for six monthsj
L 2

■• 1

180

COMMODORE JUNK.

and was as far off finisliing Lis task as on e day when he had
reached Kingston harbour, tind listened to the tales of the
buccaneer's last deeds.

But it was no myth. Put in where he would, it was to
hear fresh n(!ws of the pirates. Kow some unfortunate captain
would arrive in a small boat, with his crew, suffering from
heat, thirst, and starvation. Now the half-burned hull of a
goodly argosy would be encountered on the open sea. At
another time news would come of a derelict that had been
scuttled but not sunk, and seen in such and such latitude.

Wherever he went Captain Humphrey was met with news,
and at last with reproaches and almost insult by the authorities
at the various ports at which he touched, for the way in which
his task was being done.

For there was he with a small, swift- sailing ship, full of stout
seamen, bravely officered, well armed, and with guns big enough
to blow all the schooners in the west to matchwood, while from
the captain to the smallest powder-monkey all were red-hot with
desire to meet the Commodore and give him a foe who knew
how to figlit.

Six months of following out clues, of going here and there
where the schooner had been seen, or where it was expected,
but never even to see the tail-end of that huge main-sail that
caught the wind, laid the long schooner over, and sent her
rushing through the water in a way that made all attempts at
escape childish. In gale or calm it was always the same, and
the masters of che many traders knew from experience that if
the buccaneer's schooner was in sight, they might as well heave
to as try to fly, for their capture was certain. Consequently, it
was growing fast into a rule that when the long schooner fired
a shot, it was the proper thing to lower sail or throw a vessel
up in the wind, and wait, so as not to irritate the enemy by
trying to escape.

l^ilt^mBifeiRS?

THE PIRATE CHASE.

181

Messages travelled slowly in those tlays, but all the sanio
Captain Humphrey Armstrong had received a despatch hinting
at a recall, and a friendly letter telling him that if he did not
soon have something to show he would be superseded and in
disgrace.

He was a rich man, and at the end of three months he did
not scruple to offer rewards for information ; ho doubled his
offer to the man who would bring him within roach of the
Commodore's schooner ; and beginning with ten guineas, he
went on increasing, as the time went on, till he reached a
hundred, and, at last, when six months had passed, it was known
all round the coast that Captain Armstrong would give a
thousand guineas to be brought alongside the schooner.

Captain Humphrey ground his teeth when he was alone in
his cabin, and he swore as a Devon captain could swear in tliose
days ; but it did no good, and in spite of all his struggles,
he could only look upon Commodore Junk as a will-o'-the-
wisp.

"What will Lady Jenny think 1" he groaned. "And I
meant to do so much ! "

At last what he dreaded arrived. He sailed into port one
day, to find his recall ; and he went back on board ship, ordered
all sail to be made, and, ignoring the order, determined to lind
the Commodore or die.

182

COMMODORE JUNK.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE BLACK SCHOONER.

CoMMODOHE Junk's schoonor, with its enormous spars and saihj
liail Ix'cn lyin,i(-to oii" tlu; harbour of St. Gcronirno one afternoon,
where sh(; had taken in a good store of fresh fruit for her crew,
whihi waiting tlie return of one of her officers who liad been
overhmd to Belize to pick up information that might be useful
to tlie captain.

Bart Wrigley was silent that calm, still evening for a long
time after the captain had spoken, and then —

" It's a mistake, my dear lad," he said angrily. " You do
as you like, and I'll follow you through with it, and so will the
men ; but I say it's a mistake."

** And why 1 " asked the captain, coldly. " Are you afraid
to meet the ship ? "

" Nay, I don't know as I'm afraid," said Bart ; " but where's
the good? She's twice stronger than we, and we shall get
nothing but hard knocks."

" Do you think I should be so mad as to attack such a ship
as that on equal terms 1 "

" I dunno," growled Bai-t: " May be. Where's the good
vf fighting her at all 1 "

" Why do I pursue so many vessels, and take such revenge
as I do ? " said the captain. " Do you think I've forgotten
mine and my brother's wrongs V

" No ; you wouldn't forget them," said Bart, slowly ; " but
you're going to run too much risk."

" Not too much to gain such sweet revenge, Bart," said the
captain, excitedly ; and the dark eyes which gazed at the rough,

THK ULACK SCHOONER.

183

l)evon man seeiiunl to Imrii. " Do you know who conimands
tluH ship that has been luintiny u.s these aix niontlis?"

" Yes • a brave olticer in tho king's s(M'vico."

"A IrMve ofiicer !" cried tlic captain, contcniptuously.

" Well, that's what th<'y say ; and that he has sworn to die
or take ns."

" He — sworn ! " cried the captain. " A brave captain !
Did you and poor Ab* i tind him so brave when you met him
that night on the road to Slai)ton Lea?"

" What ! " cried Bait. " No ; 'tisn't him ! "

"That ship is connnanded by Captain Armstrong," said the
captain, hoarsely ; " by the man, Bart, who bliusted my life ; who
sent my brother to his death out here, for it was through him
poor Abel died."

** No ! Never ! " cried Bart, incredulously.

"It's true, Bart. I have just learned that it is he by
Dinny, who has returned from Belize. She is connnanded by
tlie man I once thought I loved."

" But you don't love him now ? "

"^ove ! Bart Wrigley, can you believe in a person's
nature being changed by cruelty and wrong]"

" No. Not yours," growled Bart.

" Then you may believe it, Bart ; and now the time has
come, and I am going to have my revenge. Do you know
what I am goin<; to do 1 "

"You told me,' said P.art, rougfdy. "Fight."

" Yes ; but so as t<> spare my men, and to spare myself.
Bart, I am going to teach the king's grand oflficer what it is to
trifle, and to treat those he holds beneath him as if they were
meant for his j^ieasure, and made for that alone. 1 am going
to destroy the ship of this grand otUcei-, to scatter his men, and
to take him prisoner if I can."

« No ! " said Bart, lioarsdv. '' Don't do that."

iil

184

COMMODORE iV^K.

m I

t li

i«

" Why ? " cried the captain, mockingly. " Are you afraid
that I shall be weak once more ? Don't be afraid, Bart.
Mary Dell is dead, and it is the soul of her brother who
moves this body, and he it is who will take a bitter revenge
upon Captain Armstrong for slaying Mai-y Dell ; for in spirit
it is this he did."

" You won't kill him 1 " whispered VniVv.

" Why not 1 Was Mary Dell spared ? Was Abel, her
brother, treated so tenderly that I should hold my handl"

« But " began Bart.

" Leave that to me, Bart Wrigley. Help me to get him
into my power, and then he shall leai-n a truth whick will
make the traitor —the coward — wince. Brave officer of his
Majesty the King ! How brave you shall see. Now, do you
understand why I mean to fight 1 "

"Yes," said Bart, sadly; "I see. But think twice, my
lad."

" Bart ! " cried the captain, passionately, •' I've thought a
hundred times ; and if I were ashore, and could go there "

"I know," said Bart, gloomily. "You'd come otJt more
and more savage and determined, as you always have been.
Think twice, my lad. You're rich ; and you're safe. Once
more, why not thiow it up now and let's go home. I asks no
more, captain. I've lived long enough to know all that ; but
come home now. There's a life o' peace yonder, and you can
take it now ; to-morrow it may be too late."

"Let it be so then, Bart."

"And you'll come home — to old Devon once again?"

"No! I'm going to meet the captain f-^cp to face, Bart,
and plant my heel upon his neck."

mH^iaftmmaMmaiaa

■■- —w^- -KT ■ ' -T^tr •

185

CHAPTER XXII

NEWS AT LAST.

Humphrey Arm8TR0\(; sat in his cabin listening to the whirr
of a beetle which had been attracted by the lights, and flown
in through the open window, to make a bass to the treble hum
of the mosquitoes which haunted t)ie mouth of the river where
the ship had anchored for the night.

The day had been intensely hot, and the cabin seemed
oven-like, as its occupant sat listening to the insect hum ; and
then to the strange croak ings and rustling noises which came
from the primeval forest on either side. Now and then a deep
roar announced the presence of some huge creature of the cat
tribe prowling in search of prey, and this would be followed
by a distant answering call.

He walked to the window and looked out, to see the stars
reflected in a blurred manner in the rushing waters of the
river ; while on either side he could see the bushes which

fringed the muddy banks scintillating with the lamps of the
fireflies. Now they died out, and there would be only a faint
twinkle here and there ; then, as if something had disturbed
or agitated the wondrous insects, they would flash out into
soft, lambent sparks of light which played about and darted
and circled, and then once more died out, as if to give place to
some other creature of their kind, which flashed out so broad
a light that the leaves of the trees around could be plainly
seen.

He had been away five days since the orders had come out
for his re'iiurn, in the vain hope that perhaps now he might at
last encounter the buccaneer ; but, so far, he had seen or heard
Qothiiig; and the pirate ca^jtain might have dropped out of

tii

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

186

COM MO DORK .lUNK.

if I

sight, or never existed, on the evening when the captain
searched creek after creek along the coast, till nightfall, when,
for safety's sake, he had anchored at the mouth of the muddy
stream.

He was lost in thought, and was puzzling out an answer to
the question : How was it that the buccaneer schooner con-
trived to avoid him ? — when his trained ears detected the sound
of a paddle, and he gazed keenly over the dark waters, wonder-
ing whether his watch on deck had heard it, and how long
they would be ere they challenged the approaching pariy in
their boat ?

The question had hardly been mentally asked when ha
heard the challenge from on deck, and the paddling ceased.
Then came a certain amount of shouting, and a conversation,
muffled by the distance, followed, and the boat was allowed to
approach.

A minute later the oflicer of the watch came down to
announce the arrival of a couple of Indians bearing
news.

" It's the old story, sir, vamped up to get a bottle of rum ;
but I thought I'd better report it to you. Shall I kick them,
and let them go ? "

" No," said the captain, shortly, for he was ready now to
snatch at straws. " What does the man say 1 "

" There are two of them, sir ; and they say the pirate vessel
is to be found a day's journey to the south, and that they have
seen it lying at anchor."

" Do thev soom honest ? "

" Honest as Indians, sir. I think it's all made up."

" I'll come and see them."

The captain rose and went on deck, where he found a
couple of soft, brown, plump-looking Indians, with large,
droamy eyes and languid manner, seated upon their heels near

NEWS AT LAST.

isr

the gangway, where they could give a glance from time to
time at their canoe swinging by a frail-looking bark
rope.

The men did not stir as the captain came up, bi^t crouched
in their old position, gazing up at him furtively.

" Now," he said, sharply, " where is this pirate ship?"

The men looked at him vacantly.

" Commodore Junk ! " said Hujaphrey.

" El Commodore Yunk ; yes. Ship there."

One of the Indians had caught his meaning, and pointed
southward.

" Have you seen the ship 1 '*

The men nodded quickly and pointed ar^ in.

" Why have you come here to tell us 1 "

The Indian stared^ then looked at his companion, with
whom he i-apialy exchanged a few words, ending by turning
back, holding out his hands, and exclaiming —

" El Commodore Yunk. Money. Rum."

" There's a frankness about this fellow that makes me dis-
posed to believe him," said Humphrey, grimly, as he smiled at
the officer. " * Commodore Yunk. Money. Rum.* And the
pointing seems to me as effective as the longest speech. Look
here, can you understand 1 Show us "

" Show — show — way — El Commodore Yunk."

" Yes, that will do," said the captain. " But mind this ; if
you play us false — here, show him ! "

" Show — El Commodore Yunk," cried the Indian, catching
the last words. " Money — powd — rum."

" You shall have plenty," said Humphrey ; " but make him
understand that if he plays us false he shall be hung at tbe
yard-ai*m."

The officer of the watch, quite a young man, seemed to
enjoy his task ; for, catching up the si^al halyards, he rapidly

188

COMMODORE JUNK.

I V-

xnade a noose, threw it over the Indian's head, and drew it
tight Then, pointing upward, he said slowly —

" If you cheat ! "

" Hang um ? " said the Indian, sharply.

" Yes. We shall hang you if you don't show Commodore
Junk."

" Show El Commodore Yunk," said the Indian, com-
posedly.

"I think he understands us," said the officer of the
watch.

" Very well, then," cried Humphrey. " Let's start, then,
at once. Now, then, south ? " he cried to the man.

« South 1 " said the Indian.

" Yes, south ! " cried the captain, pointing. " Show us the
way."

" Show. El Commodore Yunk. No."

He shook his head, and pointed around him, and then to
the lanterns, which shed a dim light over the scene.

« No. Dark," he said.

" He liieans it is too dark to go," said the second officer.
" Look here, old brownskin. Light 1 sun ? "

" Light — sun ! " cried the Indian, eagerly, pointing to the
east, and then seizing the thin rope which had been twisted
round his neck, he ran to the gangway, slid down into his boat,
made the cord fast, and came scrambling up again to secure
the signal-line.

This done, he said a few words to his companion, and,
going to the side, threw himself down under the bulw arks, and
seemed to go to sleep at once.

" Yes ; that's plain enough," said Humphrey. " He means
to wait till daylight. Keep a strict watch. "We may have
found the right man at last."

He need have been under no anxiety as to the two informers,

NEWS AT LAST.

18U

for they lay motionless till <layltre;il:, and tlu*u rose suddenly,
looked sharply round, ami, j^'oin*^ Ibrward, i»ointed to the rope
which moored them in mid-streuni.

Half an hour later the sloop was i^liding slowly out of the
mouth of the river; tlw lowcreil sails caught the cool, moist
morning breeze, and, in oWeilience to the Indian's directions
which were embraced in the pointing of a brown hand south-
ward, the king's ship saileil steadily along the coast a few miles
from the shor«*, which, with its sandy braeh alternating with
bold headhuids that ran down from rrgularly-fornuul volcanic-
looking peaks, and creeks, and river estuaries, fringed with
palm and mud-loving growtii, showed j)lenty of spots where
a vessel might find a hiding-place, and which it would have
taken a flt;et of boats to adequately exploie.

The Indian's conduct increased th<^ confidence of Humphrey;
and as the day wore on the otlicers and crew, who had been
for n<onths chasing myths, began to look forward hopefully to
an encounter with the pirates, and to believe that the pre-
parations for action might not this time prove to have beea
in vain.

It was within two hours of sundown, as the men were at
their drowsiest moment — many being fast asleep — when, as
they were rounding a rocky point feathered with glorious
palms, beyond whicli the country ran up toward the mountains
in a glorious chaos of piled-up rock, deep ravine, and tire-
scathed chine, the principal Indian suddenly seized the captain's
arm and pointed straight befon; him to where, a couple of miles
away, and looking as if she had just glided out of some hidden
channel running into the land, there was a long, low, black-
hulled schooner, spreading an enormous amount of canvas for
so small a vessel ; and as he saw the lake of the masts and the
disproportioned size of her spars, llunii>lirey Armstrong felt a
thrill of exultation run through him e\ en as his whole crew was

ri->

;

I I

190

COMMODORE JUNK.

now galvanised into life, and he mentally repeated the words
of the Indian —

"El Commodore Yunk."

Yes ; there could be no doubt of it. The shape and size of
the vessel answered the description exactly, and no trader or
pleasure vessel, foreign or British, would sail with so dan-
gerously an overweighting rig as that.

" At last, then ! " cried Humphrey, excitedly, as he stood
gazing at the long, suspicious-looking craft ; and his heart beat
heavily, his face flushed, and the hands which held his glass
trembled with eagerness.

The men made way to right and left as their captain strode
aft and exclaimed —

" Bring the poor fellows here. They shall have their
reward and go."

Was it treachery, or fear of the enemy 1

Humphrey asked himself this (question as a shout Ciime
from the steersman, who, like the rest, had been gazing at the
schooner, but who was the tirst to see and draw attention to a
canoe being paddled rapidly for the shore.

No one had been attending to the two Indians, who had
waited until the attention of all was bent upon the bueoaneer,
and then silently slipped over the side, glided down the rope,
and cast off, to paddle shorewards.

There was good discipline on board ship even then, and at
the call to (juarters every man fell into place. The long gnn
was run in, loaded, run out, and directly after there was a puH'
of smoke, a loud report which went echoing among the moun-
tains and through the densely-wooded ravines, as a r\>'»id sliot
skipped over the water right in front of the schooner.

" Hurrah ! " shouted the men, as they saw the long vessel
alter her course a little.

" ^he surrenders," said Humphrey to himself ; and in the

NEWS AT LAST.

191

brief moments that followed he siiw himself returning to
England in triumph, his task d<me, and beautiful, fashionable
Lady Jenny WiKlfTsoy welcoming him with open arms.

It was a pull' of fancy, dissipated like the puff of smoke
which came from the schooner's bows ; while, in company with
the report that rumbled heavily away, came a i*ound shot skip-
ping over the calm surface of the sea, not foi*ward like the
sunnnons to heave-to of the king's ship, but straight at her
hull, and so well-aimed that it tore through the starboard bul-
wark amidships and passed just in front of the mainmast,
which it almost grazed.

" The insolent ! " exclaimed Humphrey, turning purple with
i*age. " How dare he ! "

As he spoke he raised his spy-glass to his eye, for something
could be seen fluttering up the side of the great mainsail, and
directly after a large black flag was wafted out by the breeze
in defiance of a ship-of-war double the schooner's size, and
heavily armed, aa well as manned by a picked and disciplined
crew.

" Very good, Commodore 1 ** cried Humphrey, with a smile.
"You can't escape us now. Grentlemen, the ball has opened-
Down with her spars, my lads. Never mind her hull ; we
want that to take back to Falmouth, from whence she shall
sail next time with a diflerei^t rig."

The men cheered and the firing commenced, when, to ihs
annoyance of the captain, the wind dropped entirely, a dead
calm ensued ; night was coming on rapidly, as it descends in
the tropic lands, and he had either to try and silence tha
schooner at long range, or man the boats and take her by
boarding, a plan from which he shrank, knowing, as he did,
that it could only be successful at a terrible cost of life, and
this he dreaded for the sake of his mon.

The sloop crept a little nearer in one of the puffs of wiii4

M.'

192

COMMOnoRK JUNK.

that caino from timo to timo, ftiul tlu» liring wont on, Huin-
plit*ey an<l UIh otlioiTH IxMiig aNtoundod at tlio uhility witli
which the schooner's guns were Merved and the acouiucy of
their aim.

"No won(h»r thai they've carried all heforc them among
the monOiantmcM)/' miitt<'re<l Ilumjihrey, a.s a shot came cra-sh-
ing into them, and three men wen« carne<l helow disahhid by
Bpiinteix.

As he Hpokc ho looked anxiously round, to make sure that
the schooner would not he ahle to puss them in the approuching
darkness, and then, feeling more and moiv that men who could
serve their guns so well would Ik? terrihle adversaries in a case
of boarding, and deternnned to spaiv his men till the 8cho<iner
was disabled, he kept up the artillery duel till the only guide
for laying their guns wjis the flash of the enemy's pieces when
some shot was tired.

B3' this time the tire of the buccaneers had proved so
effective that the sloop's bulwarks were shattered and lier
decks were slippery with blood, while her captain was fuming
with rage at the unfortunate aim of his men ; for, though the
schooner had evidently been hit again and again, she seemed to
have escaped the vital injury that a shot would have produced
in one of her spara.

All at once, just as the darkness liad become complete, the
firing of the schooner ceased ; and to have continued that on
board of the sloop would have been wasting shot.

" Man the launch and jolly-boat ! " said the captain sharply,
and their crews waited vrith intense exclvcment the oi-ders to go
and boaixl the schooner, a faint groan of disnpjtointment arising
as the men heard the instructions given to the two lieutenants
to patrol on either side of the sloop, and be ready to attack
and boaixJ only if tlie buccaneer should attempt to steal off in
the darkness and escape.

Kkws at Last.

103

Tin* nii,'l«t \von» on, with rvvry nuo on tho f/tii rivf. Two
more Itojits w««ro routly waiting to piisli o(V iiikI ln'lp in tho
attack on wliiclu^vrr Kido tho HtrhooufT Hhould att<'mpt to
<'Hca|M» ; whilo, in tho ovont of an attack, the oMmm' patrolling
bout wftH to conic ha(;k to tho sloop.

But hour after hour passcil an<I no rushinpf of water was
heard, no tlip of lon«^ swc(»p, or creak of the great oar in the
rowlock was heard ; neither was a light seen ; and the silence
ohserved hy the schooner was so profound that Humphrey, as
ho paced the deck, felt certain at last that she must have
CHcajMHl ; and, now that it was too late, he hjtterly repented
not attempting to capture thu dangerous foe by a l)old
attack,

" She's gone," he groaned, " an<l I Vo lost my chance ! "

He paced the deck in bitter disappointment, as ho felt that
he had let a prize slip through his fin;,'ers; and, as he waited,
the night glided slowly by, till, slowly and tardily, tho first
signs of day appeared, and with ai cry of joy Humplin»y
Armstrong ordered the signal of recall to be run up, for there,
just as she had iM^en last seen when night fell, lay the long,
dark schooner, but without a man visible on board.

In a few minutes the two boats were alongside, and
Humphrey gazed longingly at the prize he felt ready to give
half his life to reach.

What should he do ? Attempt to board her now that his
four boats lay armed and ready for the fray 1

The temptation was too great, and the order was given : the
four boats to attack at once, the men receiving the command
with a tremendous cheer, and their oars took the water at
once ; while, compelled by his j)Osition to remain on board, the
captain feverishly watched the progress of his boats in the
growing light, and frowned and stamped the deck in his angt*
as he saw the crews were exhausting themselves in a race to

194

rM>M>n»i>()nK .iPNK.

tit I

Hov wliirli hIioiiIiI (iiHt nwu'li tli«> .silmf, fnrlii«l(liii;r lookii)^
■clioonor.

Iln Hlioutfd to ilioin to U«m»|> fo-jptliiT. Init tlioy won- liryniul
♦ lie loiioli of IiIn voiro, tiinl iiinHrrs s<>i>iii«mI Ii(»|i«>I«>hs frinii ilio
wnv ill wliit'h iliry Hhii;;);lnl, wIumi it coiiihincil iiUiiok was
l'iM|iiisitt' for HUcri'SM.

'riion all at oiico (li«> launch ri'iii;iiii«'il stcalv, and tlio
Hiiiallor ttoiitH wnit oil' to v'\<x]\{, aixl lofl. Aiiotlirr iiiiioitr aixl
all wrn' ativaiiciii^ toi^ctJuT, ho as to ImuiihI in four (liU'ciHMit
parts of the ship at oik'o.

Ilimnphn'y Arinstron^''s oyos llash<<<i, his li|n parted, and
liis hrciist h<>av<>d ns iio \vat(*lioil his nicii das!i on with ii faintly
heard fh(H»r ; l»nt there was no n spouse, not a inoviii;^ li",'uie
oonld he seen on hoanl the sehooner, and it was plain that she
had been deserted dniin^f the nii,'ht.

"(^urse him ft)r an e«»l !" eried the eaptnin, fioroely, as he
fell that he was ahout to capture a vessel and leave her
cunninp; eoimnander tt) man another, and carry on his maraud-
ing as of old ; hut he had hardly uttered his angry denunciation
when his four 'ooats race»l up to the schooner, and in a moment
she s(>emed alive with men.

Almost before the English captain could realise the fact,
great pieces of iron, probably the schooner's ballast, were
thrown over into the boats, two of which were crushed through
like so much paper, and the men as they sank left struggling
in the water.

All that could be done was to rescue the drowning men ;
and JUS the two remaining boats were being overladen, and then
made a desperate attack so as not to go back in disgrace, a
furious fire of small-arms was poured from every port hole and
from the schooner's deck, till, unable to penetrate the stout
boarding-netting triced up all around the vessel, cut at, shot
at, and thrust back into their boats with boarding-pikes, the

NKWS AT LAST. VJ^i

k1«m»|('m two bofttH fell (tiX, ami 1m«<,'!im I*, slowly ntnico tlii'ir
roiiiso.

Tlir inoini'iit tin* way wjih rlt iir lliiinplm y, wlio whh iilinuHf
licHJilc liiiiiMcIf with (lisii|i|Ktintiiinit, lM>;;aii |i4Miiiiliii^ awiiy at
(In- Imo-anrcr with \\\h Iwavy ^iiiih ; Imt iiiHtfa*! of rxcitiiig a
ri>s|ioiis<' lir fotiiid that KailH wcro l»(>in*{ iniCiirlcd, aixl tliat,
iiiHt»'a«I of tlio Hcliooiirf Immii^ sliut in, tlm hottoin of tlu' hay
foriiKMl a kiiwl of strait, ami hIw waH not in u cut th; nor.

"Sln''ll 0Hca|M' UH nftor all 1 " jjjroancd Hufuplin-y, as lio
or(l»'n'«l Hail to In* ina«lo, and tlio HJoop Iwgan to for^r alioad,
firing rapidly tho wliilo, oh tho Hohoonj^r ln-gan to loavj; ln-r
Ix'liind.

Slio was Hailing right in, and hoforo tho sloop could follow
thert' won* tho two boats to \m pickod up.

This waH dono, tho removal of tho woundod hoing doferrcul
till tho huccanoor was capturod, aiid all tho timo a fuiious firo
was kopt up without effect, for tho schooner seomod to sail right
inland, and disappeared round a headland, tho last tlioy saw
of tho heaviljr-rigged vessel being when she careen(;d over at
right angles to the sloop and her shot-torn sails passed slowly
btihind the rocky bluff.

"Only into shelter!" cried Humphrey Armstrong, excitedly ;
and giving rapid orders, fresh si»'"I was made, and men placed in
the chains with leads to keep up communications as to the
soundings, but always to announce deep water, the land seem-
ing to rise up sheer from an enormous depth in the channel-
like gulf they entered.

" She's gone right through, sir, and will get away on the
other side."

The sloop sailed on, with the water deep as ever, and before
long she rounded the head, to find the narrow channel had
opened out into a beautiful lake-like bay with the dense pri-
meval forest running right down to its shorea
M 2

106

COMMOnORK .H'NK.

Put thft p'oato.st lioauty of tlio -Hconn to TTiimphroy Arm-
Htron^ was tlw si;;lit of tlio srliooner lying right aoroHs hid
coursn a ijiiartor of a inilo away, ami roarly to concontrato hor
fire and rakn tlie sloop from strm to storn.

" Curso him I no woiulor ho has liad so long a oaroor ! **
said Ifumphrpy, stamping with ragn as ho watched the oxocu-
tion of his orders, and a woll-dinTtod fire was once more mado
to answer that of the huccaneer. " With such a ship, crew,
and place of retreat, he might have gone on for years."

The firing grew hotter than ever, and the schooner l)ecame
enveloped in a cloud of smoke which elicited a burst of cheera
from the sloop.

"She's afire ! she's afire ! " roared the men.

Humphrey's triumph was now at hand. The scourge of
the western sejis was at his mercy, and shrinking from attempt-
ing to board so desperate an adversary for the sake of his
crew, he gave orders to lay the sloop right alongside of the
schooner, where he could cast grappling-irons, and then pour
his fire down upon her deck.

The orders were rapidly executed, and the sloop bore down
right for the smoke-enveloped schooner with little fear of being
raked now, for the pir.ates had ceased firing, and could be dindy
seen through the reek hurrying to and fro.

" Shall we give her one more salvo, sir] "asked the first
officer, coming up to where Humphrey stood, trying to pierce
the smoke with his gla.ss.

" No, ])Oor wretches I they're getting fire enough. I hope she
will not blow up, for I'd give anything to take her home unhurt."

There was a perfect rush of fiame and smoke now from the
schooner, and once more Humphrey's men cheered and shook
hands together, even the wounded in the excitement of their
triumph taking up the cry, when, just in the lieight of the
excitement, and when the sloop was within a hundred yards

»•

NEWS AT r.AST.

107

of tlu' ciMMiiy, tlip men in tin- rli.iiiH ntnoiii; tlio roHt pi/iii<»
liani at tho risinj; Hinokf, tli*' war v«'ssol ran'«»no«l over in
answiT to luT lu'lin in tlir ovolntion wliidi waH to Iny hov si«le
l»y sidr witli tlio iMirnin;^ schooner, ami thon tlwro wna a tro-
nirndous jerk wliieh tlircw n«'iirly f'vory on*' oil' IiIh foot.

Thon, Hliiverin;^ from ht-ad to Iwcl, tho Hhxip slowly HurufjMl
l»;ick an if to gath«'r forcr like a wavo, and in olicdifTU'c to tin)
pH'.ssuro upon her sails, struck aj^ain, literally leapinj^ this tinio
upon tlie koen-edijeil harrier of rocks under whose invisiMo
sheitor the schooner lav ; and then, as a veil of horror roso
from tho men, the unfortunate shi|> remained Hxed, her masts,
sail-laden, went over the side with a hideous crashing noise,
and all was confusion, ruin, and despair.

The moments ropiired to turn a stiitely, sail-crowded ship into
a state of chaos are very few, anil t<t Ifumphrey Arnistroni,''^
agony, as, well aided Viy his ofllcers, he was trying to do some-
thing to ameliorate their position, he saw how thoroughly he
had been led into a cunningly-designed trap. The schooner
had been artfully mano'uvred to place her behind the dangerous
rocks, and, what was more, a glance at her now showed Ikt
sailing away from a couple of boats moored beyond I •, and
in each of which were barrels of burning pitch sending up
volumes of blackened smoke.

" A trap ! a trap ! " he cried, grinding his teeth. " Let her
be, my lads," he roared. "Prepare for boarders !"

The men sprang to their pikes an<l swords, while a couple
of guns were freed from the wreck of cordage and sail which
the shock had brought down.

lliese guns had hardly been trained to bear upon the
schooner from the deck of the lielpless sloop when n <leadly fire
was opened by the former — a tire of so furious a character that
the confusion was increased, and in spite of the efforts of
captain and officers, the men shrank from working at the guns.

tfL&S^'^-*.d» I.'-

f i!

I" l|

t i

198

COMMODORE JTTNK.

"What followed was one terrible scene of despairing men
striving for their lives against a foe of overpowering strength.
The fierce fire of the schooner, as she came nearer and nearer,
was feebly responded to, and in a short time the deck streamed
with bJood, as the shot came crashing through the bulwarks,
sending showers of splinters to do deadly work with the hail
of grape. There was no thought of capture now ; no need of
bidding the men attack : following the example of their officers,
and one and all doggedly determined to sell their lives dearly,
the men dragged gun after gun round as those they worked
were disabled, and sent a shot in reply as often as they could.

With uniform torn and bedabbled with blood, face blackened
with powder, and the red light of battle in his eyes, Humphrey
Armstrong saw plainly enough that his case was hopeless, and
that, with all her pomp of war and pride of discipline and
strength, his sloop was prostrate before the buccaneer's snaky
craft, and in his agony of apirit and rage he determined to
wait till the pirates boarded, as he could see they would before
long, and then blow up the magazine and send them to eternity
in their triumph over the British ship.

But it was to destroy his men as well, and he felt that this
should be the pirates' work when all was over.

" No," he muttered between his teeth, " it would be a
coward's act, and they shall die like men."

The schooner's sides were vomiting smoke and flame, and she
was close alongside now. She had been so man(BUvred as to
sail right round the end of the reef, whose position seemed to
be exactly known, so that from firing upon the sloop's bows,
and raking from stem to stern, the firing had been continued
as she passed along the larboard side round to the poop, which
had ]>een raked in turn, and here it was evident that the final
attack was to be made.

It was not long in coming. Hardly had Humphrey seen

NEWS AT LAST.

199

this

she
IS to

a to
ows,
lued
hich
final

the enemy's intentions and gathered liis men together, than the
Hcliooner's side ground up against the shattered stern of the
sloop. Heavy grappling irons were thrown on hoard, and with
a furious yelling a horde of hlackened, savage-looking' men
poured on to the bloody splinter-strewn deck, and coming com-
paratively fresh upon the sloop's exhausted crew, bore down all
opposition. Men were driven below, cut down, stunned, and
driven to ask for quarter ; and so furious was the onslaught
that the sloop's crew were divided into two half helpless bodies,
one of which threw down their arms, while the other, which
included the captain and officers, backed slowly toward the
bows, halting at every spot where they could make a stand,
but forced tc yield foot by foot, till their fate, it was plain to
all, was to surrender or be driven through the shattei-ed bul-
warks into the sea. *

It was a matter of minutes. The fight was desperate, but
useless — Humphrey Armstrong and those around him seeming
determined to sell their lives dearly, for no quarter was asked.
They had given way step by step till there was nothing behind
them but the shattered bulwarks, and then the sea, when,
headed by their leader, the buccaneers made a desperate rush ;
there was the clashing of sword and *>'ke ; and, as sailor and
officer fell, or were disarmed, Humphrey stepped in a half-
congealed pool of blood, slipped, smd went heavily backwards,
the buccaneer's lieutenant leaping forward to brain him with a
heavy axe.

There was a rush, a fierce shout. Black Mazzard was thrust
aside, and the Commodore sprang past him to plant his foot
upon the fallen officer's chest, while, the fight being over, the
rest held their hands — the conquerors and conquered — to see
what would be the captain's fate.

" Now, Captain Armstrong," cried the buccaneer leader,
•* beg for your wretched life, you cowardly dog 1 "

-ft •

200

COMMODORE JUNK*

" Coward ! ** roared Humphrey, raising hims(?lf slightly ott
one hand, as with the other he swept the blood from his en-
sanguined face. *^ You curaed hound ! you lie ! "

The buccanee. shrank back as if from some blow ; his foot
was withdrawn from the wounded officer's chest, he lowered the
point of his sword, and stood gazing at his prostrate enemy
wildly.

"The captain shirks the job, lads," cried a coarse voice.
" Here, let me come."

It was Black Ma'^zard who spoke, and, drunken with rum
and the spirit of the furious fight, he pressed forward, axe in
hand.

Humphrey raised himself a little higher, with his white
teeth bared in fierce defiance as he prepared to meet the death-
blow he saw about to fall.

B it at that moment the buccaneer caught his lieutenant's
uplifted ai-m.

" Enough ! " he cried, fiercely ; "no more blood. He is no
coward. Bart — Dinny, take this gentleman ashore."

Humphrey Armstrong did not hear the words, for his
defiant act exhausted his failing strength, and he fell back in-
sensible to all that happened for many horn's to come.

■1

CHAPTER XXIII.

CAPTAIN HUMPHREY COMES TO.

Captain Humphrey lay upon his back staring at his con-
science. He was weak from loss of blood, weaker from fever ;
and he would have fared better if he had had proper medical
treatment instead of the rough but kindly doctoring and
nursing of Bart the surgeon, and Dinny the hospital nursa

CAPTAIN HUMPHRRY COMES TO.

201

This was after three weeks' doubtful journey, wherein
Dinny said "the obstinate divil had tried all he knew to die."
And it was so ungrateful, Dinny said, after the captain had
saved his life, and that of all the prisoners who had not also
been obstinate and died.

Humphrey's conscience was a great stone god full twelve
feet high — an objeqt that looked like a mummy-case set on
end, as far as shape was concerned, but carved all o-'er in the
most wonderful way, the grotesque and weird bas-reliefs almost
destroying the face, hands, and feet of the figure, flowing over
them as they were, so that at first sight he looked upon a
great mass of sculpture, out of which by degrees the features
appeared.

The old artist who designed the idol had strange ideas of
decorative effect He had cut in the hard stone a finfi con-
templative face ; but over it he had placed a gigantic head-
dress, whereon were stony plumes of feathers, wreaths, and
strange symbols, while pendent in every possible direction
about the body were writhing creatures and snakes, with
variations of the human form, engaged in strange struggles,
and amongst them humar. heads turned into bosses or decor-
ations of the giant robe.

Humphrey Armstrong came partly to himself to see tlie
cold, implacable face of this idol staring down at him from the
gloom, ten feet from where he lay ; and it seemed to liim, by
ulow degrees, that this was his conscience sternly and silently
upbraiding him for the loss of his ship and the lives of his
men, destroyed by his want of skill as a commander.

Day after day, through his semi-delirium, did that great
idol torture him, and seem, with its reproachful eyes, to burn
into his brain.

Days passed, and by degioes he bogan to be aware that ho
was lying on a bed of comfortable rugs and skins, stretched in

'#^;

202

COMMODORE JUNK.

■ f I

FlM

lA i

f I

li T!

Ill 'j

a curious room, wliose walls were covered with hieroglyphics—
tliick, cluiiisy-looking hieroglyphics — not like those of Egypt,
but carved with a skill peculiar to another race. Here and
there were moduUioiis of heads of gods or rulers of the land.
Flowers of a peculiar convtmtional type fonned part of the
decorations or surrounded panels, in which were panthers,
alligators, or human figures. In the centre of the wall to his
right was a njcess in which, clearly cut and hardly touched by
time, were the figures of a king seated upon a leopard-supported
throne — seated cross-legged, as in the East, and in a wondrous
costume— while another figure presented to him what seemed
to be the spoil of a number of dead and living figures who
were trampled under foot.

The room was evidently a palace chamber, or a portion of a
temple of great antiquity ; and by degrees Humphrey realised
that the ceiling was not arched or supported by beams, but by
the gieat stones of which it was composed being pL'id one
above the other, like a flight of steps, from the walls on either
side till they met in the middle.

The floor was of stone, and there was a large opening on
his left, facing the recess where the carving of the king omar
mented the wall ; and this opening, once a window, looked out
upon the forest, whose dull, green, subdued twilight stole into
the place.

It was a weird look-out — upon tree-trunks strangled by
serpent-like creepers, which seemed to be contending with
them for the life giving light which filtered dov/n from above
through clouds of verdure ; while other trees and other ser-
pent-like creepers seemed in friendly cooperation to have
joined hands against the walls of the building, which they
were striving to destroy. Huge roots wer^ thrust between
the joints of stones and shifted them out of place. One liana
waved a trailing stem through the window-opening as if in

CAPTAIN HUMPHREY COMES TO.

203

ed by
with
above
er Ber<
have
h they
etween
liana
if in

triumph, and to call attention to the feat of another creeper
which had twisted itself completely round a great block, lifted
it from one side, and held it suspended like a vegetable feat of
strength.

For nature was asserting herself on every hand, the growth
of the foi-est penetrating the chamber like an invading army of
leaves and stems, and mingling with the works of man to tluur
steady overthrow ; while, facing it all, siern, implacable, and
calmly watching the progress of destruction going on, stood
the stone idol, the work of a race passed from the face of the
earth, and waiting, as it had waited for hundreds of yeai-s, till
the potent forest growth should lay it lowl

For a time it was all a nightmare-like confusion to Hum-
phrey ; but with returning strength came order in his intolloct,
and he questioned Bart, who brought him food, and from fimo
to time added carpets and various little luxuries of cabin
furniture, which seemed strangely iiicongruous in that place.

" Who told you to bring those things here 1 " he said one
day.

" Commodore Junk."

" Why 1 Am I a prisoner ? "

"Yes."

"Am I to be shot?"

"Don't know."

"Where am I]"

"Here."

"But what place is this? "

"Don't know."

« But "

" Want any more wine or fruit ? "

"No; I want my liberty."

"Belongs to the captain."

" Tell the captain I wish to see him,*

204

COMMOnOUE JUNK.

III

ii (

Bart sai«l no more, but took his departure.

The prisoner was more fortunate with Dinny, who could be
connnunicative.

" That's it, captain, darlin','' he said one day. " Don't ye
fale like a little boy again, and that I'm your mother washing
your poor face V

*^ Don't fool, my good fellow, but talk to me."

"Talk to you, is it r'

" Yes ; you can to Ik to me."

" Talk to ye — can I talk to ye ! Hark at him, mate ! " he
cried, appealing to the great idol. " Why, I'm a divil at it,"

" Well, tlK3n, tell me how I came here."

" Faix, didn't I carry ye on my back 1 "

" Yes, but after the fight ? "

" Afther the foiglit — oh ! is it afther the f eight ye mane 1
Sure, and it was the skipper's ordliers, and I carried ye here,
and Bart — you know the tother one — he brought in the bed
and the rugs and things to make ye dacent. It's a bit damp,
and the threes have a bad habit of putting in their noses like
the pigs at home ; but it's an illigant bed-room for a xii^tleman
afther all."

** It was the captain's orders, you say 1 "

" Sure, an' it was"

" And where are we ? "

"Why, here we are."

" Yes, yes ; but what place is this ? "

" Sure, an' it's the skip[)er's palace."

" Commodore Junk's 1 "

"Yis."

" And what place is it — where are we?"

" Faix, and they say that sick payple is had to deal wid.
It's what I'm telling you sure. It's the skipper's [)alace, and
here it is."

CAPTAIN HUMPH riEY COMES TO.

205

" My good fellow, you told me till that ; but I waiit to know-
whereabouts it is."

"' Oh-h ! Whereabouts it is, you mane 1 **

«« Yes, yes."

**Why, right away in the woods."

" Fur from the shore ? "

" Ah, wouhl ye ! " cried Dinny, with a grin full of cunning.
" Ye'd be getting all the information out of me, and then as
soon as ye get well be running away."

" Yes," said Humphrey, " if I can."

*' Well, that's honest," cried Dinny. ** And it's meself
would do it if I got a chance."

" No," said Humphrey, sadly ; " I could not do that and
leave my men."

" Faix, and they'd leave ye if they got a chance, sor.'* v

" How are they all 1 "

" Oh, they're getting right enough," said Dinny. " Ye've
been the worst of 'em all yerself, and if ye don't make haste
ye'll be last."

" But tell me, my lad, why am I kept in prison 1 '*

" Tell ye why you're kept in prison ? "

« Yes."

" An' ye want to know ! Well, divil a wan of us can tell,
unless it's the skipper's took a fancy to ye bekase ye're such a
divil to f eight, and he wants ye to jyne the rigiment."

" Regiment ! Why, you've been a soldier ! "

" And is it me a sodjer ! Why, ye'll be wanting]to make out
next that I was a desarther when I was only a prishner of war."

Humphrey sighed.

" Sure, and ye're wanting something, sor. What*ll I get ye ]
The skipper said ye were to have i very thing you wanted."

" Then give me my liberty, my man, and let me go back to
England— and disgrace."

2(lt>

COMMODORE JUNK.

t> '

\l ll

" Sure, and I wouldn't go back to England to get that, sor.
I'd sooner shtop liere. The skipper's always tellin;^' B;irt to
look uftluT ye well."

" Why ? " said Humphrey, sharply.

"Why?" said Dinny, scratching his head; *' p •; imps he
wants to get ye in good condition before ye're hung."

"Hung?"

" Yis, sor. That's what Black Mazzard says."

" Is that the man who tried to cut nie down with a boarding-
axe?"

" That's the gintleman, sor ; and now let me put ye tidy,
and lay yer bed shtraight. Sure, and ye've got an illigant cabin
here, as is good enough for a juke. Look at the orniments on
the walls."

" Are there any more places like this ? "

" Anny more ! Sure, the wood's full of 'era."

" But about here ? "

" About here ! Oh, this is only a little place. Sure, we all
live here always when we ar'n't aboard the schooner."

" Ah, yes ! The schooner. She was quite destroyed, was
she not?"

" Divil a bit, sor. Your boys didn't shoot straight enough.
The ship ye came in was, afther we'd got all we wanted out of
her. She was burnt to the wather's edge, and then she sank
off the reef."

Humphrey groaned. -

" Ye needn't do that, sor, for she was a very owld boat, and
not safe for a journey home. Mak' yer mind aisy, and mak'
this yer home. There's plinty of room for ye, and — whisht 1
here's the captain coming, What'U he be doing here 1 "

" The captain ! " cried Humphrey. " Then that man took
my message."

" "What message, sor V

CAPTAIN HUMPHREY COMES TO.

207

At that momeut the steps which hud heeii heard coining lis
it were down some long stone corridor halteil at tht) doorway of
the prisoners chamber, sonieout? tlrew aside :i heavy rug, and
the buccaneer, wearing a broad-leafetl liat which shaded his
face, entered the place.

" You can go, Diiniy."

" Yis, sor, I'm going," said Dinny, obsequiously ; and, after
a glance at the prisoner, he hurriedly obeyed.

There was only a gloomy greenish twlliglit in the old
chamber, such light as there was striking in thnuigh the forest-
shaded window, and with his back to this, and retaining his
hat, the captain seated himself upon a rug-eovered chest.

" You sent for me," he said, in a deep, abrupt tone.

Humphrey looked at him intently, the dark eyes meeting
his, and the thick black brows contracted as the gaze w^is
prolonged.

" You sent for me," he rejieated, abruptly ; " what more do
you want ] "

"I will tell you after a while," said Humphrey ; " but tirst
of all let me thank you for the khid treatment I have received
at your hands."

" You need not thanK me," was the short reply. " Better
treatment than you would have given me "

"Well, yes," said Humphrey. "I am afraid it is."

" Your cousin would have hung me."

" My cousin ! What do you know of my cousin ? "

"England is little. Every Englishman of mark is kno.vn."

Humphrey looked at him curiously, and for the moment ii
seemed to him that he had heard that voice before, but his
memory did not help him. . ,

" My cousin would have done his duty," he said, gi'avely.

" His duty !" cried the captain, bitterly. " Your country
ha9 lost a treasure in the death of that man, sir," 4

IIP

208

COMMODORE JUNK.

"Oootl lieavens, man! What do you know "

" Enough, sir. Let Captain James AnuHtrong rest. The
name is well represented now by a gentleman, and it is to that
fact that Captain Humphrey owes his life."

The latter stared at the speaker wonderingly.

" Well, sir, why have you sent for me 1 "

"To thank you, Commodore Junk, and to ask you a
question or two." -

" Go on, sir. Perhaps I shall not answer you."

" I will risk it," said Humphrey, watching him narrowly,
"You spared my life. Why 1"

" I told you."

"Then you will give me my libei*ty V*

*'What for] — to go away and return with another and
better-manned ship to take us and serve the captain of the
schooner as I have served you 1 "

" No. I wish to return home."

"What for?"

" Surely you cannot expect me to wish to stay herel"

" Why do you wish to go home to meet disgrace 1 "

Humphrey started at having his own words repeated.

" To be tried by court-martial for the loss of your ship I
Stay where you are, sir, and grow strong and well."

" If I stay here, sir, when I have full liberty to go, shall I
not be playing the part of the coward you called me when I was
beaten down V

" You will not have full liberty to go, Captain Armstrong,
said his captor, quietly. " You forget that you are a prisoner.'

" You do not intend to kill me and my men 1 "

" We are not butchers, sir," was the cold reply.

"Then what is your object in detaining us. If it
ransom r'

"Possibly.**

t. The
I to that

narrowly.

other and
lin of ihe

brer
V

ated.
your ship I

go, shall I
when I was

Lrmstrong,
a prisoner.'

. Ii it

CAPTAIN HUMPHREY C0ME8-T0.

** Name tho sum, then, sir, and if it is in my power it shall
he paid."

" It is too soon to talk of ransom. Captain Armstrong,"
said his visitor, "yo"! are weak and ill yet. Be patient, and
;,'i-o\v well and strong. Some day I will talk over this matter
with you again. But lot me, l>efore I go, warn you to be care-
ful not to attempt to escape, or to encourage either of your men
to make the attem])t Even I could not save you then, for the
first man you met would shoot you down. Besides that risk,
escape is impossible by land ; and we shall take care that you
do not get away by sea. Now, sir, have I listened to all you
have to say 1 "

" One word, sir. I am gVowing stronger every day. Will
you grant me some freedom ? "

" Captain Armstrong is a gentleman," said his visitor ; " if
he will give his word that he will not attempt to escape,
he shall be free to go anywhere within the bounds of our little
settlement,"

Humphrey sa > thinking, with his brow knit and his teeth
compressed.

"No," he said; "that would be debarring myself from
escaping."

" You could not escape."

" I should like to try," said Humphrey, smiling.

" It would be utter madness, sir. Give me your word of
honour that you will not attempt to leave this old palace, and
you shall come and go as you please."

" No, sir, I will remain a prisoner with the chances open."
, "As you will," said the buccaneer, coldly ; and he rose
and left the chamber, looking thoughtful and absent, while
Humphrey lay back on his couch, gazing hard at the great
stone idol, as if he expected to gain information from its stem
mysterious countenance.

li^

1 1

210

COMMODORK JUNK.

" Whoro have I seen him boforo?" he said, thoughtfully ;
and aft«;r gazing at the carven effigy for some time he closed
his eyes and tried to think, but tlieir last meeting on the deck
of the sloop was all that wotdd suggest itself, and lie tum<'d
weanly upon his side.

" Ho seomod to have hoard of our family, and his manner
was stmiige ; but I can't think now," ho said, " I am hot and
weak, and this place soems to stifle me."

Almost as he spoko- he dropped asleep — the slumber of
weakness and exhaustion — to be plunged in a heavy stui)or for
houi*s, [)erfectly unconscious of the fact that from time to time
the great curtain was drawn aside and a big head thrust into
the dim chamber, the owner gazing frowningly at the holi>los.H
prisoner, and then entering on tiptoe, to cross to the window
and cautiously look out before returning to the couch, with the
frown deepening as the man thought of how narrow the step
was which led from life to death.

He had advanced close to the couch with a savage gleam
of haired in his eyes when Humphrey Armstrong moved
uneasily, tossed his hands apart, and then, as if warned
instinctively of danger, he opened his eyes, sprang up, and
seized a piece of stone close by his side, the only weapon, within
grasp.

" Well," said Bart, without stirring, and with a grim look
of contempt, " heave it. I don't mind."

" Oh, it's you ! " said the prisoner, setting down the stone
and letting himself sink back. " I was dreaming, 1 suppose,
and thought there was danger."

He laid his feverish cheek upon his hand, and seenioil
to fall asleep at once, his eyes closing and his breath coming
easily.

"Trusts me," muttered Bart. "Poor lad! it ar'n't liis
fault. Man can't kill one as trusts him like that. I shall

THK PHISON LIFE. 211

have ta fight for him, I sup|)oso. Always my way — nlwavd
my way."

H(» seated himself at the foot of the couch witli hiH featuren
distorted aa if by pain, and for hour after hour watched the
Hleeper, telling himself that he vo\\\(\ not do him hiirm, though
all the time a jealous hatred approaching fury was burning in
hiq breast.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE PRISON LIFE.

"Not dying, Bart?"

" No, not exactly dying," said that wortliy in a low giowl ;
" but s'pose you shoots at and win'^'s a gull, picks it up, and
takes it, and (Hits it in a cage ; the wound IumIs \ip, and the
bird seems sound ; but after a time it don't peck, and don't
preen its plumes, and if it don't boat itself again' the bars o' the
cage, it sits and looks at the sea,"

"What do you mean?

"What I says, captain ; and, after a time, if you don't let
it go, that gull dies."

"Then you mean that Captain Annstiong is pining
away?"

"That's it"

" Has he any suspicion of who we are ?"

"Not a bit."

"And you think he is suffiMing for want of change?"

" Course I do. Anyone; ^vould — .shut up in that dark
place."

" Has he complained ? "
• n2

». ^ ■ ^■O-LIUJM

212

COMMODORE JUNK.

" Not he. Too brave a lad. Why not give him and his
lads a boat, and let them go t "

" To come back with a strong force and destroy us."

" Ah, I never thought of tliat ! Make liim swear he
wouldn't. He'd keep his word."

" But his men would not, Bart. No ; he will have to
stay."

"Let him loose, then, to run about the place. lie can't
get away."

" I am afraid."

"What of?"

" Some trouble arising. Mazzard does not like him."

" Ah ! I never thought o' that neither," returned BaH,
gloomily. " Black Mazzard's always grumbling about his
being kept."

The buccaneer took a turn or two up and down the quarters
he occupied in the vast range of buildings buried in the forest,
a mile back from the head of the harbour where his schooner
lay ; and Bart watched him curiously till he stopped, with his
face twitching, and the frown deepening upon his brow.

" He will not give his word of honour not to attempt to
escape, Bart," said the captain, pausing at last before his
follower.

" 'Tar'n't likely," said Bart. " Who would 1 He'd get
away if he coL'ld."

" The prisoners cannot escape through the forest ; there is
no way but the sea, and that must be properly watched. Duo
notice must ^u given to all that any attempt to escape will bo
followed by the punishment of death."

" I hear," said Bart. " Am I to tell the captain that? "

** No. He must know it ; but 1 give him into your charge.
You must watch over him, and protect him from himself and
from anyone else. *

THK PRISON LIFE.

213

id bis

quarters
lie forest,
scliooner
with his

iV •

[tempt to
»efore his

I He'd get

there is
led. Biu^
Ipe will bo

Ithatr'
Ur charge.
Imself and

* Black Mazzard 1 "

" From any one likely to do him harm," said the captain,
sternly. " You understand ? "

" Yes. I'm going," replied Bart, in a low growl, as he
;;a/e(l in his leailei-'s eyes ; and then, with a curious, thoughtful
look in his own, he went out of the captain's quarters and in
the direction of the prison of the king's officer.

Bart had to go down the broad steps of an extensive, open
amphitheatre, whose stones were dislodged by the redundant
growth of the forest ; and, after crossing the vast court-yard at
the bottom, to mount the steps on the other side toward where,
dominating a broad terrace overshadowed by trees, stood a
small, square temple, over whose doorway was carved a huge,
demoniacal head, defaced by the action of time, but with the
features still clearly marked.

As Bart neared the building a figure appeared in the door-
way for a moment, and then passed out into the sunshine.

« Hullo, my lad ! " it exclaimed. " You there ? "

Bart nodded.

" Been putti .ig in the last six barr'ls of the sloop's powder,
and some of thtse days you'll see the sun'll set it all alight,
and blow the whole place to smithereens I Where are ye
going?"

" Yonder, to the prisoners."

" Poor divils ! " said Dinny. " Hadn't ye better kill the
lot and put 'em out of their misery ? They must be tired of it,
and so am I. Faix, and it's a dirthy life for a man to
lead!"

" Don't let the skipper hear you say that, my lad," growled
Bart, " or it may be awkward for you ! "

" I'll let annybody hear me ! " cried Dinny. " Sure, an' it's
the life of a baste to lead, and a man like that Black Mazzard
bullying and finding fault. I'd have sent one of the powdher*

214

COMMODORE JUNK.

'"III

I i

kegs at his head this morning for the binifit of everybody here^
only I might hare blown myself up as well."

" Has he been swearing at you again ? "

" Swearing I Bedad, Bart, he said things to me this morn-
ing as scorched the leaves of the threes yonder. If you go and
look you can see 'em all crickled up. He can swear ! "

Bart slouched away.

" It's a divil of a place ! " muttered Dinny ; "and it would
make a wondherful stone-quarry ; but I'm getting sick of it,
and- feeling as if I should like to desart. Black Mazzard
again ! " he muttered, drawing in his breath sharply. " I wish
his greatest inimy would break his neck ! "

Dinny walked sharply away, for the lieutenant seemed to
have been gathering authority since the taking of the sloop,
and lost no opportunity of showing it to all the crew.

Meanwhile, Bart had continued his way between the two
piles of ruins, his path leading from the dazzling glow of the
tropic sunshine into the subdued green twilight of the forest.

Here, at the end of some fifty paces, he came to the external
portion of the building which formed Captain Humphrey's
prison, and entering by a fairly well-preserved doorway, he
raised a curtain, half-way down a corridor, passed through,
and then came abreast of a recess, at the end of which was
another broad hanging, which he drew aside, and entered the
temple-chamber, where Humphrey lay sleeping on a couch.

As Bart approached he became aware of a faint rustling
sound, as of someone retreating from the window among the
trees, and starting forward, he looked out. But all was still ;
not a long rope-like liana quivering, no leaf crushed.

"Some monkey," muttered Bart, and turning back, he
gazed down with a heavy frown at the frank, handsome face
of the young officer, till he saw the features twitch, the eyes
open and stare wonderingly into his ; and once more th«

THE PRISON LIFE.

215

}f here.

1 mom-
go and

t would
ik of it,
Mazzard
« I wish

jemed to
he sloop,

I the two
,w of the
J forest.
3 external
amphrey's

orway, he
through,

jvhich was
tered the

couch.

it rustling

among the
was still ;

back, he
dsome face
h, the eyes

more th«

prisoner, roused by the presence of another gazing upon hia
sleeping face, suddenly sprang up.

"You here?"

" Yes, sir, I'm here," said Bart

«' What for? Why?"

" Nothing much, sir ; only to tell you that you can go."

" Go ? " cried the captain, excitedly.

" Yes, sir. Captain Junk's orders — where you like, so long
as you don't try to escape."

" But I must escape ! " cried Humphrey, angrily. " Tell
the captain I will not give my parole."

• He don't want it, sir. You can go where you like, only
if you try to escape you will be shot."

Humphrey Armstrong rose from where he had been lying,
and made as if to go to the door, his face full of excitement,
his eyes flashing, and his hands all of a tremble.

*• Go ! " he said, sharply. " Send that man who has acted
as my servant."

" Servant ! '' muttered Bart, as he passed th» curtain ; " and
him a prisoner ! Dinny called hisself his turnkey, but said as
there was no door to lock. Here ! hoi ! Dinny ! "

' What do you want with him ? " said a fierce voice ; and
he turned, to find the lieutenant corning out of one of the
ruined buildings.

" Prisoner wants him," said Bart, sturdily. " Here, Dinny,
Captain Armstrong wants you."

" Ay, ay," cried Dinny, who seemed to divine that Mazzard
was about to stop him, and ran hastily on ; while the lieu-
tenant, who was half-drunk, stood muttering, and then walked
slowly away.

" Not so well, sor ? "

"Wine — water!" panted TTumpbrey, hoarsely. "I tried
to walk to the door and fell back here."

216

COMMODORE JUNIt.

Mill

" Sure, an* ye*re out of practice, sir," said Dinny, hastening
to hold a vessel of water to the prisoner's lips. " That's
better. Ye've tuk no exercise since ye've been betther."

" Ah ! " sighed Humphrey ; " the deadly sickness lias
gone. Tl)is place is so lonely."

"Ay, 'tis, sor. One always feels like an outside cock
bird who wants a mate."

" Sit down and talk to me."

" Sure an' I will, wia pleasure, sor," snid Dinny, eagerly.
"There's so few gintlemen to talk to here."

" Tell me about your commander."

"An' what'll I tell you about himl"

" What kind of a man is he ? "

"Sure, and he's as handsome as such a little chap
can be."

" Has he a wife here 1 "

" Woife, sor 1 Not he ! "

" A troop of mistresses, then, or a hnrem 1 *

" Divil a Ijit, sor. He's riddy to shoot the boys whinivei
they take a new wife — Ingin or white. I belave he hates thf
whole sex, and thinks women is divils, sor. Why, he hit
Black Mazzard once, sor, for asking him why he didn't choose a
pretty gyurl, and not live like a monk."

"Is he brave?"

"Yes, sor; a? id I wouldn't anger him if I were you.'*

"Not I," said Humphrey. " Thore, the sickness has
passed off. Now, help me out into the .sunshine."

" Help ye out 1 " said Dinny, looking puzzlod.

"Yes ; into the bright sunshine. I seem to be decayinar
away here, man, and the warm liu;ht will give me strength."

"Shure, an' if I do, Black IMa/^zard will pison me wid a
pishtol-ball."

"I have the captain's consent," said Humphrey,

THE PRISON LIFE. 217

" Sure, and ye're not deludhering a boy, are ye, sor ] " said

Dinny.

No, no, my man, it is right Help me ; I did not know I

was so weak.'

An'

the

is it wake 1 " said Dinny, drawing tne prisonor s arm
well through his own. " Sure, and didn't I see gallons o' Mood
run out of ye 1 Faix, and there was quarts and quarts of it ;
and I belave ye'd have died if I hadn't nursed ye so tinderly as
I did."

" My good fellow, you've been like a good angel to me,"
said Humphrey, feebly. " Hah ! how glorious I " he sighed,
closing his eyes as they stepped out of the long corridor into
the oi)ening cut through the forest, and then between the two
piles of ruins into the glorious tropic sunshine.

" Will it be too warrum ] " sairl Dinny.

"Warm ! No, man, my heart has been chilled with lying
there in the darkness. Take me farther out into the bright
light."

"Sure, and it's the sun bating ye down ye'll be havin^^
said Dinny. " Look at that, now ! "

Dinny was gazing back at the pile of ancient buildings, and
caught sight of a face in the shadow.

" Yes, I am trying to look," said Humphrey, with a sigh ;
" but my eyes are not used to the light."

"Sure, an' it's the captin, and he's kapinghis oi on us," said
Dinny to himself. " Well, all right, captin, dariin' ! I'm not
going to run away."
. "What place is this?"

Sure, an' it's meself don't know, sor. Mebbc it's tl:e

puyp

Oil

ryp.My

palace that the Anieiicaii g0(
Columbus. Mebbe," continued Dinny, "it's mr.ch owldcr.
3ure, and it shutes the captin, and we all live here whin we
don't live somewhere else,"

III

218

COMMODORE JUNK.

i ill

" Somewhere else ? " said Humphrey, looking at Dinny won-
(leriugly as lie grasped his arm and signed to him to wait and
give him breath.

" Well, I mane at sa}', sor, doing a bit o' business amopgst
the ships. Ah, look at her, thin, the darlin' ! " he muttered,
as a woman appeared for a moment among the lianas, held up
her hand quickly to Dinny, and turned away.

" What woman was that 1 " said Humphrey, hastily.

"Woman, sor?"

" Yes ; that woman who kissed her hand to you."

" An' did she kiss her hand to me, sor ? "

" Yes, man, you must have seen."

" Sure, an' it must have been Misthress Greenheys, sor."

" Mistress Greenheys 1"

" A widow lady, sor, whose husband had an accident one
day wid his ship and got killed."

" And you know her ] "

"We've been getting a little friendly lately," said Dinnj,
demurely. " There, sor, you're getting wake. Sit down on
that owld stone in the shade. Bedad, it isn't illigant, the cut
ting upon it, for it's like a shkull, but it's moighty convanient
under that three. That's better ; and I'll go and ask Bart to
bring ye a cigar."

" No, stop," said Humphrey. " I want to talk to you, man.
That woman's husband was murdered, then 1 "

" Murdered ! Faix, and that's thrue. Sure, an* someone
hit him a bit too hard, sor, and he doled."

" Murdered by these buccaneers ! " said Humphrey, excitedly,
and he looked wildly around him, when his eye lighted on the
trim, picturesque figure of the little woman, who was intently
watching them, and he saw her exchange a sign with his com-
panion.

" The key of life — the great motive which moves the world,"

THE PRISON LIFE.

219

man.

said Humphrey to himself; and he turned suddenly on Dinny,
who had his hand to his mouth and looked sheepish.

** You love that teoman," he said, sharply.

" Whisiit, captiii, dear ! " said Dinny, softly ; and then in a
whisper, with a roguisli leer, "sure, it isn't me, aor; it's the
darlin's ' lok a bit of a fancy to me."

" Yes, and you love her," said Humphrey.

" Och, what a way ye have of putting it, sor ! Sure, and
the poor crittur lost her husband, and she's been living here
iver since, and she isn't happy, and what could a boy do but
thry to coinfoi*t her ] "

*^ Are you going to marry her, Binnyl" said Humphrey,
after a pause.

" Faix, an' I would if I had a chance, sor ; but there's two
obshticles in the way, and one of 'em's Black Mazzard.''

" Then, why not take her, Dinny ] "

"Tak'her, sor]"

" Yes ; from this wretched place. Escapa"

" Whisht ! Don't say that word aloud again, darlin*, or
maybe the captin'll get to hear. Sure, and I. belave that the
great big sthone gods shticking up all over the place gets to
hear what's said and whishpers it again to the captin, who
always knows everything that goes on."

" Take her, and help me to escape," whispered Humphrey,
earnestly.

" Whisht, man ! Howld your tongue. Is it wanting to see
me hanging on one of the trees 1 Eshcape 1 "

" Yes. I am a rich man, and if you can get me away I'll
reward you handsomely."

" Hark at him ! " said Dinny, scornfully. " Why, I should
have to give up my share of what we've got shtored up here.
Why, sor, I daresay I'm a richer man than yourself. Esh-
cape ! and after all I've shwom."

220

COMMODORE JUNK.

Diiiny turned away and began cutting a stick.

" Tell me," said Humphrey, " are there many of my men
here ? "

" Jist twenty, sor."

"And how many are there of the pirates!"

Dinny laughed with his eyes half shut

" Shure, sor, what d'ye tak' me for 1 Ye don't think I'm
going to tell ye that 1 "

Humphrey sighed, and was silent for a time ; but an intense
desire to know more about the place was burning within him,
and he began to question his companion again.

" Are the prisoners in one of these old temples ? "

" Yes. On the other side of the big pyrymid yonder, sor ;
but ye can't get to them widout going a long way round."

" Are there many women here besides that Mistress Green-
heysl"

" Sure, yis, there is a dozen of 'em, sor. Not half enough,
but just enough to kape the min quarrelling ; and there's been
no end of bother about the women being kept in the place."

CHAPTER XXV.

PLANS OF ESOAPB.

Humphrey Armstrong was weaker from his wounds than he
believed ; but the change from being shut up in the dim temple
chamber with the great stone idol for company to the compara-
tively free open air of the forest clearing rapidly restored the
elasticity of his nature, and gave him ample opportonitiM fir
studying the state of affairg.

PLANS OF ESCAPE.

221

He found that the bucoaneern went out but seUloni, and
that when expeditions were nia<l(! i\\vy would be tkirly di-
vided. At one time the captain would be in command, at
another the lieutenant, so that their sottleujent was never loft
unprotected.

As far as he coiti'd judge, they were about a hundred in
number, and great dilapidated chambers in the mnge of temples
and palaces formed admirable barracks and means of ilefence,
such as in time of need could easily be h(;ld against attack.

But Humphrey's great i«lea was escape ; and to accomplish
this it seemed to him that his Hist ne(;d was to ojien up com-
munication with his men.

This he determined to accomplish, for with the liberty given
it seemed to be a very easy thing to walk to some heap of
stones at the edge of the forest and there seat himself till he
was unobserved, when he could quietly step into the dense
thicket, and make his way to where his followers were im-
prisoned.

He had not long to wait, for it seemed that, after being
closely watched for the lirst few days, the latitude allowed to
him was greater. He had but to walk to the edge of the forest
and wait, for the opportunity was sure to come.

Easy as it appeared though in theory, it proved less so in
perlbrmance, and it was not till after several attempts that he
felt one day sure of success.

It was soon after mid-day, when the great amphitheatre
and the giotes.juely ornamented ruins with their huge heads
and shadowy trees were baking in the sun. The men who
N\ei(! often idling about had sought places where they could
indulge in their siesta, and a silence as of the grave had fallen
upon the place.

Humphrey Armstrong had walked to a pile of ruins be
ueatli one of the tree'i, and seated himself upon a huge i^ioiio

COMMODORE JUNK.

and one and all wearing l..gl.>y

leatliers. . ■ y „itl. the l.'«t, and w.tli

He lay back *.«.»« '^W it .c ml U, »e. whHh.r ho was

,.,K-c.0Bea ey-loolc^--f i';,,« ^,,^ ^,„,, .„. „Ue.W

tTd- It: -oLl.erea.d.,e..|v.^^^^^^^
deserted, l^a^i, ^^..^^...s' scttlonu'ut, uud st^tiUo

of BUl^rvision to tl.e '— ^ ^_^ ^„„„, ,..„„. O. ea,,Uun»

l«ople from the b..-racks dul not ^_^^^^ ^ ^^ ,,, ,,„„

VaLr«. seemed ^ he absent^ > ^.^^^ ^.^^ ^^„,.^,,_

1 hour before, had gone off - o.^ J ^^ ^^^^^ ^,^^ ^^,^„,,,.

and everything 1«»"*<»1 *" '

tunity so long nought. after casting another glance

He hesitated no longer , ^^^^^ ,^„j „,„,,

.o„nd at the «»->=.;''''X''^,t J conU-ast with the blazing
all of which seemed P"'i;f '';.,.,„,,,( i,a.k froni the stone

to peer among the leaves. amphitheatre and

He obtained a good «ew ^^^ ^_^^ ^^^^^ ^^^,, ,,,„

the surrounding rmns, b«t all ^

„ove, and not a ^'^^^^^^^ „.oments into great mat-

Trifles seemed >»•»§"""='* t„ u>e highest l.Uch of

-- and with his nerves ^ ung ^ P^__^^^^^ _^ _^^^^. ,,^^,^^

tension he started, for ^^^^ .^ ^^^^ ^„,j, ^ .r.,:,t

, the edge of the « »-' J ^ ,,^, ,,king stones, above which
buttK^rfly which fluttered ove. ^^^^^ .^^ .^..-.^i.tly-paiutea

the air seemed to ,u.ve.- ■ nd , ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^,_

• wings casting a broad sh.v.low.

PLANS OF ESCAPE.

223

NvaH

Mv\y

tliat

tail's

o hi»"
lUock,

cflauce

o
\ ruins,

blazing
le stone

ma \^^^^^

aire and
seen lii^^^

reat mat-
^>itc\i o£
I iiNvay l)y
Ay a gr''^^^'
,ove %v\noh
t\v -painted

led ann>^^i-

lesting-l

Aace

forest, an

i\jeo

A to be.

He had only to secure the co-oiwrotion of half a dozen of his
men, take advantage of the listlessness of the buccaneers sonu*
such hoi day as this, make their way down to tlie shore, seize
a boat, and then coast along till a settlement was reache<l or u
ship seen to take them aboard.

It was very simple, and it seemed easier and easier as he
got farther away from the ruins and his prison. On his ri<^ht
the forest was dense, but the buccaneers had cut down and
burned numbers of trees so as to keep them back from en-
croaching farther on the old buildings ; and along here among
the mo.s.sy stumps Humphrey Armstrong crept.

But it was easy — nothing seemed mort; simple. Already he
saw himself round on the other side of the ruins, holding com-
munication with his fellow-prisoners and making plnns, when,
to his great delight, he found that he had hit upon what was
evidently a way to the other side of the ancient ruins ; for he
suddenly came upon a narrow passage through the dense forest
growth, liteitilly a doorway cut in the tangle of creepers and
vines that were matted among the trees. It nuist have been
an arduous task, but it had been thoroughly done — the vines
having been hewn through, or in places half divided and bent
back, to go on interlacing at the sides, with the result that a
maze-like path ran in and out among the trees.

The moment he was in this path the glare of the sunny day
was exchanged for a dim greenish-hued twilight, which dark-
ened with every step he took. Overhead a pencil of sunshine
could be seen from time to time, but ran-iy, for the mighty
forest trees interlaced their branclu.s a hundred and tifty feet
tibove his head, and the air was heavy with the moist odour
of vegetable decay.

The forest path had evidently been rarely used of late, for
the soft earth showed no imprints, the tender sickly growth of
these deep shades had not been unshed; and ;»>> lluntplirf-y

COMMODOBB JUNK-
224 u w to .ee how easily hui tre«l

,,aUB0.1 th-Ho fact», he gUncca back ^^^ j^.

e„„,a V. ..nowea-»c. ^P h^ V.^^ ^^ ^,, ,„„«„« down
,,rc«8ed in the v.'g.'tahle sou

o£ „,o»» or h.rb. ^jiti„„a, effort, so that

The sisht of this .mpellcd »"™ ^,i„ people, and

,.,.„,„. ,.n son.e ""^-^ :t:: ^he had lound the .eans
,.,.h.,s »-U .hem hy mgj^ *J- ; ^^ ,„„yi„g on when ^e

ot con.«.u„ication. In f^^^^^^ ,,,, „pon a figure ^'^-^
ean.eB«adoniy.inoneo,tbedarkeJ^^^^.^^ ^^ ^ ^^,^„g

barred his way, and it ww. ^^^^g.

,Iva™ exclaumtion that he «'*«'^2" ark forest as these two
""'-^.erewas a dead «"«- '".X"! a gloomy tunnel,
.tood face to face, buned, "^ ^^J^U *«'» '^^ ^"T

his liurprise, q«»te » _
ea,ne in a deep, low voice-

.. ve. 1 Commodore J""^ ' ^j,, obstacle in Ws pa*.

Humphrey stood gl-^g/^'^^tf Hs weakness «id th«
He was Ull and athletic, and « spxt* ^^^^ ^^^^^ j,, ^„u

!L he had heard of the °*'':,^::ais toot upon hi. «hes^
Ue this man, hud him down -ndP ^ ^, .^ood

„, the buccaneer <*P*"» J"^ J ,,,«„g upon his hips, the
Uing »P '^ ^^ '^rlssti. with a weU^aped. smaU
other rMsed *» his beardless . ^^^

i. finger slightly imP--«^»~^, ..commodore ^^^

..Yes," he said again, "" ^ .gtigthUV
Well Humphrey Armstrong, -»-* »f,^ ^^^ y^self.

PLANS OF ESCAPK.

225

trftU
itn-
lown

, that

e, ^^^^
meana

hen lie

,686 two
tunnel.
Qbimln
ockingly*

his patl».
j8 and the
fct he could
ibis chest;
and stood
is hips, the
aped, BinaU

,dore J^^'

ring hunseU.
jxploring ^^

mocking snule
le brave oom-

iiiiiiuW H(Mit to exl«'riiiluat(^ mo und iniiio, stooping to make
a miserable excuse —to tell a lie 1"

" A lie ! " crit^d Humphrey, fiercely, as he took a step in
advance.

" Yes, a lie ! " said the buccaneer, without moving a muscle.
"You were trying to find some way by which you could escape."

"Well," crie«l Humphrey, passionately, "I am a prisoner.
I have refused to give my parole ; I was trying to find some*
way of escajK}."

" That is niore like you," said the buccaneer, quietly.
."Why? What do you require? Are you not well treated by
my men 1 "

" You ask me why," cried Humphrey — " me, whom you
have defeated — disgraced, and whom you hold here a prisoner 1
You ask me why ? "

" Yes. I whom you would have taken, and, if I had not
died sword in hand, have hung at your yard-arm, and then
gibbeted at the nearest port as a scarecrow."

He was silent, and the buccaneer went on —

"I have looked back, and I cannot see you placing a cabin
at my disposal, seeing me nursed back from the brink of death,
treated as a man would treat his wounded brother."

" No," cried Humphrey, quickly ; " and why have you
done all this when it would have been kinder to have slain me
on that wretched day V

" Why have I done this ! " said the buccaneer, with the
colour deepening in his swarthy face. " Ah, why have I done
this ! Perhaps," he continued bitterly, " because I said to
myself : * This is a brave, true, English gentleman ; ' and I rind
instead a man who does not hesitate to lie to screen hid paltry
effort to escape."

Humphrey made a menacing gesture ; but the buccaneer
did not stir.

ill

i 1

■'i !

i ■

I! i

I !

K i

'^^^' ,. . u X am in this place move

u If I am not killea, sir, tryu »

.. M.U., yo!. Uve W w-ea^ ;^^' ; if^ ,,.,et though
T.. forost Wyond w'"'- ^^^^^ , ,,, way inch by inch, t
which no man can ,.a». «nle- ''e ^j^^ ^^e vrorld

is one vast soUtade, standmg aB it

was made." «p„mfuUy. " A determined roan

" Bah !" cried Humphrey, scorntuuy.

could make his way." , ^^^„, ,. j^ „iie-two miles-

.. How farr' cried the buccaneer. ^^^^^_,^^^ .„

.„a then, what is t'-^^-— It ..U penet.te those
that vast wildemes. Ev«. h< ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ,

woods and mountains. ^.U yo ^^ .eornMly, '' if

„ Would you take mine, said Hu f j .

ol,»nffed1 I shall escape,
our ilaces were changea >

ihe buccaneer smiled. , ^^^ q„ietly ;

..you have an easy -'^^^^^j'^^^^ ,,,;„, „ore easily.
.. but I would like to ^ yo" *«* y There is only one

Humrh..y a™--- rrt ;T.a. and there is no
..,y from this place, -f'^'^l^ ^ „ied. laying his hand
„eea to guard that. Lo^^ h-- .^is for days

upon the r.-isoner's arm y°» "^ ''„„ that stone by the

1, days. You ^^^ oHould creep away ; and you
oU palace, -'-"^ '"^J"* /,„ ^.en you said to yourself.

lOve
iTou

i to

f up.
icapp'
rougl^
h. It
world

ad wan

miles —
-lest in
it6 those

«Uy,"i«

quietly ;
)re easily.

only one
lere is no

his hand
is for days
one by the

J and you
yourself,

id my way
Lced, {or ihe

PLANS OF ESCAPE.

227

"And then you camo upon this path tlirough the forest,
and you frit that this was tlu; way to froodoni."

" Are you a devil 1 " cried Huniplirey, excitedly.

" IN rliaps," Wits the mocking reply. " Perhaps only the
,i,'r»',»t butterfly you watched before you started, as it lazily
wiiiijfcd its way among the broken stones."

Humphrey uttered an exclamation, and gazed wildly in the
dark, mocking eyes.

" Never mind what I am, captain, but pray understand this
— you cannot escape from here. When you think you are
most alone, there are eyes upon you which see your every act,
and your movements are all known."

" 1 will not believe it," ciied Humphrey, angrily.

" Then disbelieve it ; but it is true. I tell you there is no
esca[)e, man. You may get away a few miles perhaps, but
every step you take bristles with the threatenings of death. So
be warned, and bear your fate patiently. Wait ! Grow strong
once more."

" And then ? " cried Humphrey, excitedly. " What then 1 "

" Ah, yes," said the buccaneer, who assumed not to have
heard his words, " you are still weak. Tliat flush in your face
is the flush oi' fever, and you are low and excited."

" Dog ! You are mocking me ! " cried Humphrey, furiously,
for he felt the truth of every word that had been said, and his
impotence maddened hira.

" Dog ! " cried the buccaneer as furiously.

" Yes ; wretched cut- throat — murderer," cried Humphrey
— " miserable wretch, whom I could strangle where you
stand!"

The buccaneer turned of a sallow pallor, his brow knit, his
eyes flashed, and his chest heiwed, as he stood glaring at
Humphrey ; but the sudden stonu of passion passed away, and
with a smile of pity he said softly-^
o2

H t

\vr

place
with I'
"1 ^

«* It IS

ex... ^^^T

COMMODORE JUNK.
2^^ Come I a"^ ''^^^

-Yon call names like a petulant boy. ' ^^^

v„.., let us go back to your 'oo- J^^J^ ^ ao«n
,V.,ch tor you, and to-morrow you W.U

,ia.ulated Humphrey, angrily. ^

■ Baiathebuccaneer. JC„-^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^

.. -mething ^und all tlu^ ^^^^ . ^,_ .„

ex.:^..y. "^"-"t: rnoonheretobelp. You shall
snite of your boasting, there is no one ne

ieak oi ana tell -J^^r.^^-t the buccaneer did
His gesture was threatening

not stir. 1 nnietlv « I never am without

»I am not alone," he s^3, q-"e«y ^^^^^ ^ ^^^,,^,.

someone to protect me. ^"^ * ;/, ^.u, ,„ppose Ihave
"?r;;.r^"rraw: .an who should be one

said to mjseii,

of us.'" ,_ !,„>, with a scornful laugh.

.. One of you ! " cried H""'P^7' "* ^,,^ ^u nether Up
.. Suppose," contiuued *« ~ ' f „^ ,^,„, Kere.
,„ivering aightly. " I had ^^^ ^^^^fl^^^^ ,„ong tliem-
Your m,.. obey you. but you have no ^_^^^ ^^.^ ^^„

nocomi :....- -l>°">y"» ""•'*'"

your friena 1 ' " ^„ecaneer's Up twitchea slightly

Humphrey smiled, and the o

as he continued- disappointed now, and I shall not

.. You are fevered and disappo ^^^^

J T tpU vou once for all thai yo
heed your words. 1 1^ I y ^j,^;„ x „eed not teU

your fate here as others have ac p ^ ^ ^^^^^ ,„,„

you that for one to escaiK, f™" ^;;^,,^^,, ^.rfian ; and the
Ipon all. Hence every one i ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ,u
Indians for hundreds o^m^-,.^^,,,.

they felt my P"««'' *'* "^ %„
Humphrey laughed mockingly.

PLANS OF ESCAl'fi.

229

his

nan,
d, in
shall

jr did

ritbout
iweved.
I have
be one

lUgb.
jtber Up
>ne here,
them—
Ithis man

sliglitly

shall not

lust accept

L not tell

[bring ruin

• and the

Lnemies ^^^^

" You laugh, sir. Well, it is tlie laugh of ignorance, as you
will find. It is no idle boast when T say that I am king here
over my people, and the tribes to north and south."

" The Indians too 1 " said Humphrey.

" Yes, the Indians too, as you found to your cost."

"To my cost?"

" To your cost. Your ship was in my way. You troubled
nie ; and your people had to be removed. Well, they were
removed."

" The treacherous hounds ! " cried Humphrey, grinding his
teeth as he recalled the action of the two Indians, and their
escape.

" Treacherous ! No. You would have employed men to
betray me ; it was but fighting you with your own weapons,
sir; and these you call treacherous hounds were true, brave
fellows who risked their life to save me and mine."

Humphrey was silent.

" Come, Captain Armstrong ; you will suffer bitterly for
this. There are chills and fevers in the depths of this forest
which seize upon strangers like you, especially upon those
weakened by their wounds, and I do not want to lose the
officer and gentleman who is to be my friend and help here,
where I am, as it were, alone."

" Your friend and help ! " said Humphrey, haughtily. " I am
your i)risoner, sir ; but you forget to whom you are speaking.
How dare you ask me to link my fate with that of your cut-
throat band — to share with you a life of plunder and disgrace,
with the noose at the yard arm of every ship in His Majchty's
Navy waiting to end your miserable career] I tell you — I tell
you "

He made a clutch at the nearest branch to save himself, for
his head swam, black spots veiled in mist and strangely blurred
seemed to be descending from above to form a blinding veil

^- Hi

230

COMMODORE JUNK.

before his eyes. He recovered himself for a moment, long
enough to resent the hand stretched o^it to save hinj, and then
all was blank, and with a hoarse sigh he would have fallen
heavily but for the strong arms that caught him, held him
firmly for a few moments, and then a faint catching sigh was
heard in the stillness of the forest, as Humphrey Arnistronij
was lowered slowly upon the moss and a soft brown hand laid
upon his forehead, as the buccaneer bent down upon one knee
by his side.

" Want me 1 " said a deep low voice ; and the buccaneer
started as if from a dream, with his face hardening, and the
wi-iukles which had been smoothed reappearing dee[)ly in the
broad forehead.

"You here, Bart r*

«*Ay, I'm here."-

"Watching me 1"

" Ay, watching of you."

The buccaneer rose and gave the interloper an angry look.

" Well, why not ? " said Bart. " How did I know what
he'd do r '

" And you've seen and heard all 1 "

" Everything," said Bart, coolly.

" When I told you to be within hearing only if I whistled
or called."

" What's the use of that when a blow or a stab would stop
them both?"

« Bart, I "

" Go on, I don't mind," said liait, quicliy, " I want to live,
and if you was to come to harm that would be the end of me."

The buccaneer gave an impatient stamp, but Bart paid no
heed.

" Give me a lift up and I'll carry him back," he said quietly.

All this was done, and Diuuy summoned, so that when^ an

PLANS OF ESCAPE.

231

en
im
vas

laiil
:nee

neer
I the
\ the

look,
■what

whistled

iihl stov>

it to live,
Id of me."

[t paid

[id quietly,
when, an

hour later, Humphrey unclosed his eyes, it was with his head
throbbing with fever, a wild half-dolirious dreaminess troubling
his bmin, and the great stone image glaring down at bim
through the dim green twilight of the prison room.

It was a bitter experience for the j)risoner to find that he
had oveiTated his powers. The effort, tin; excitement, and
the malaria of the forest prostrated him for a fortnight, and at
the end of that time he found that he was in no condition to
make a further attempt at securing the moans of escape.

He lay in his gloomy chamber thinking over the buccaneer's
insolent proposal, and fully expected tliat he would resent the
way in which it had been received ; but to his surprise he
received the greatest of attention, and wine, fruit, and various
delicacies that had evidently come from the stores of some well-
found ship were placed before him to tempt his appetite.

Dinny was his regular attendant, and always cheery and
ready to help him in every way ; but no more was said for a
time respecting an evasion, though Humplirey was waiting his
time; for after lying for hours, day after day, debating his
position, he came to the conclusion that if he did escape it must
be through this light-spirited Irishman.

His captor did not come to him as far as ho knew ; but he
had a suspicion that more than once the buccaneer had been
watching from some point or another unknown to him. But
one day a message was brought by Bart, who entered the
gloomy chamber and in his short, half-surly way thus delivered
himself —

" Orders from the skipper, sir."

"Orders from your captain?" .said Humphrey, flushing.

"To say that he is waiting for your answer, sir."

" My answer, man 1 I gave him my answer."

"And that he can wait any time; but a message from you
that you want to see him will bring him here."

' ii'i

tl i

'i r

232

COMMODORE JUNK.

" There is no other answer," said Humphrey, coldly.

" Better not say that," said Bart, after standing gazing at
the prisoner for some time.

"What do you mean "?" cried Humphrey, haughtily.

" Don't know. What am I to say to the captain ] "

" I have told you. There is no answer," said Humphrey,
coldly, and he turned away, but lay listening intently, for it
struck him that he had heard a rustle in the great stone corri-
dor without, as if someone had been listening ; but the thick
carpet-like curtain fell, and he heard no more, only lay watching
the faint i*ays of light which descended through the dense foliage
of the trees, as some breeze waved them softly, far on high, and
slightly relieved the prevailing gloom.

Bart's visit had started a current of thought which was once
more running strongly when Dinny entered with a basket of
the delicious little grapes which grew wild in the sunny open
parts of the mountain slopes.

"There, sor," he said, "and all me own picking, except
about half of them which Misthress Greenheys sint for ye.
Will ye take a few bunches now ? "

" Dinny," said Humphrey in a low earnest voice, " have you
thought of what I said to you 1 "

" Faix, and which 1 what is it ye mane, sor 1 "

" You know what I mean, man : about helping me to escape
from here?"

" About helping ye to eshcipe, sor] Oh, it's that ye mane ! '*

" Yes, man ; will you help me ? "

"Will I help ye, sor] D'ye see these threes outside the
windy yonder, which isn't a windy bekaRe it has no glass
in it]"

" Yes, yes, I see," cried Humphrey with all a sick man's
petulance.

"Well, they've got no fruit upon 'era, sor."

UNDER ANOTHER RULE.

233

"Fab. an- if I helped ye to eshoape, captain, darlia' au«
cay was out. and a mo.ghty foine kind of pear it would be."

I i

l»

CHAPTER XXVI.

UNDER ANOTHER RULE.

" You're to keep to your prison till further order. » said Bart
one day as he entered the place. ' ^"^

'I Who says so?" cried Humphrey, angrily.

"Lufftenant." ° "^

"What! Mazzardi"

"Yes, sir. His orders."

" Curse Lieutenant Mazzard ! > cried Humphrey. " Wher«
IS the captain ?" F"'«/. wnere

No answer.

" Is this so-called lieutenant master here 1"
"Tries to be," grumbled Bart
" The captain is away, then ? "

a„d'i.Tr.r'r' *" """""' l-^^'o^V^aH Ban, abruptly ■ '
and he left the chamber. ' " '

Humphnsy was better. The whims and caprices of a si,i.-
-an were giving way to the return of health, and wUh this ^
began to chafe angrily. "^ ^^"^

gJ^«t'7tt'>""''''r' "***" h-self by the window to
ga^ ou at the d„„ arcade of forest, and wait till such time •,«
Le felt d^spos^ to go out. and then have a good wander bou

234

COMMODORE JUNK.

the ruins, and perhaps go down that path where he had been
arrested by the appearance of the captain.

He had no hope of encountering any of liis crew, for, from
what he couUl gather, fully half the survivors, sick of the
prisoner's life, had joined the buccaneer crew, while the rest
had been taken to some place fartlier along the coast — where,
lie could not gather from Dinny, who had been letting his
tongue run and tlien suddenly sto]»ped short. But all the same
he clung to the hope that in the captain's absence he might dis-
cover something which wouM help him in his eftbrts to escape
and come back, if not as commander, at all events as guide to
an expedition that should root out this hornets'-nest.

Mid-day arrived, and he was looking forward to the
coming of Dinny with his meal, an important matter to a man
with nothing to do, and only his l>itter thoughts for companions.
The Irishman lightened his weary hours too, and every time he
came the captive felt some little hope of winning him over to
help him to escape.

" Ah, Dinny, ray lad ! " he said as he heard a step, and
the hanging curtain was drawn aside, " what is it to-day 1 "

" Fish, eggs, and fruit," said Bart, gruffly.

" Oh ! it's you ! " said Humphrey, bitterly. " Dinny away
with that cursed schooner ] "

" Schooner's as fine a craft as ever sailed," growled Bart.
" Orders to answer no questions."

" You need not answer, my good fellow," said the prisoner,
liaughtily. " That scoundrel of a buccaneer is away — I know
that, and Dinny is with him, or you would not be doing
this."

Bart's heavy face lightened as he saw the bitterness of the
prisoner's manner when he spoke of the captain ; but it grew
sombre directly after, as if lie resented it ; and spreading the
meal upon a broad stone, covered with a white cloth — a stouo

o'X7

UNDEIl ANOTHEK RULE.

235

and

iway

Jart.

^oner,
:uoNV
loing

k the
grew
Iff the
, stoiio

in front of the great idol, and probably once used for huumn
sacrifice — he sullenly left the place.

The prisoner mt for a few minutes by the window wonder
ing whether Lady Jenny was thinking about him, and sighed
as he told himself that she was pining for him as he pined for
her. Then turning to the mid-day meal he began with La[)it!d
appetite, and not at all after the fashion of a man in lo\'(>, to
discuss some very excellent lish, which was made more enjoy-
able by a flask of tine wine.

"Yes," he said, half aloud, " I shall go just where I please."

He stopped and listened, for a voice certainly whispered
from somewhere close at hand the word "Kelly ! "

" Yes ! what is it 1 Who called ? " said the prisoner, aloud.

There was a momentary silence, and then a peculiar whis-
l)ering voice said —

" Don't be frightened."

" I'm not," said Humphrey, trying to make out whence the
voice came, and only able to surmise that it wt^s from some-
where over the dark corner where he slept.

" I want De-anis Kelly," said the voice.

" He's not here. Away with the schooniM-," continued
Humphrey.

*'0h!"

The ejaculation came like a moan of disappointment,

"Here, who are you ?" cried Humphrey.

" No ; he cannot be away, sir. But hist ! hush, for heaven's
sake ! You will be heard," said the voice. " Speak low."

" Well, I'll speak in a whisper if you like," said Humphrey.
" But where are you 1 "

" Up above your chamber," was the reply. " There is a
place where the stones are broken away."

" Then I am watched," thought Humphrey, as the announce-
pient recalled the captain.

5 ;i I

236

COMMODORE JUNK.

" Can you see me 1 " lie asked.

*' I cannot sou you where you are now, but I could if you
went and lay down upon your couch."

" Then I'll go there," said Huiaphrey, crossing the great
chamber to throw himself on the blankets and skins. *' Now,
then, what do you want with Dinny 1"

"I knew the captain had gone to sea," said the voice,
evasively ; " but I did not know Kelly had been taken too.
He cannot be, without letting me know."

" Can you come down and talk to me 1 "

"No; you. are too well watched."

" Then how did you get here 1"

" I crept through the forest and climbed up," was the reply.
"I can see you now."

" But how did you know you could see me there ] "

** I thought I could. I was watching for someone a little
"while ago, and saw the captain looking down through here."

" I thought as much," said Humphrey, half aloud ; and he
was about to speak again when Bart entered suddenly, looked
sharply round, and showed the wisdom of his new visitor by
goiiig straight to the window and looking out.

" Who were you talking to?" he said, gruffly, as he came
back, still looking suspiciously round.

" To myself," said Humphrey, quite truthfully, for his last
remark had been so addressed.

Bart uttered a grunt, and glanced at the dinner.

"Done?" he said.

" No. Surely I may spend as long as I like over my meals
here."

Bart nodded and went out, the heavy curtain falling behind
him ; while Humphrey slowly rose and went back to the stone
altar, where he filltd a silver cup from the flask and drank,
and then bcQan humming an ail*. aVfter this he waJkcd to the

UNDER ANOTHEU llULE.

237

curtain and peered cautiously tliiough into the dark corridor,
to see tlie heavy figure of the buccaneer's henchman go slowly
along past the patches of dull green light streaming through
the openings which occurred some thirty feet apart

"Gone!" said Humphrey, returning quickly. "Are you
there?"

" Yes. I could hear everything." "

•* Listen ! " said Humphrey, quickly. " You are Mistress
Greenheys?"

"Yes."

" And you love Dennis Kelly 1 "

There was silence.

" You need not fear me. I know your history," continued
Humphrey. " You are, like myself, a prisoner and in the
power of that black-looking lieutenant." .

There was a piteous sigh here, and then came with a sob —

" I am a miserable slave, sir."

" Yes, yes, I know. Then look here, can we aot all escape
together 1 "

" Escape, sir ! How ? "

" Through Dinny's help."

"He would not give it, sir. It would be impossible. I —
I— there ! I will speak out, sir — I can bear this horrible life
no longer ! I have asked him to take me away.**

"Well, will he not?"

"He is afraid, sir."

" And yet he loves you 1 **

" He says so."

« And you believe it, or you would not run risks by coming

here ? "

" Risks ! " said the woman, with a sigh. " If Mazzard

knew I came here he would kill me ! "

" The wretch ! " muttered Humphrey. Then aloud, '* Dinny

t ' ^

2o8

COMMODORE JUNK.

must help tts. Wuiiian, surely you can win him to our side 1
You will try?"

" Try, sir ! I will do anything ! "

" Work upon his feelings, and I will try and do the
same.''

" He feara the risk of the escape, and also what may happen
to him when he gets back to England. lie has been a bucca-
neer, and, he tolls me, a soldier. He will be charged with
dest^rtion."

" 1 will answer for his safety," said Humphrey, hastily.
And then running to the curtain he made sure that Bart was
not listening.

" Be cautious," he sai(^ as he went back and began to pace
up and down, with his eyes fixed upon the ground. " Tell me,
could we get a boat T'

" I don't know, sir ; I think so. Would it not be hotter to
take to forest 1 "

" Thut we must consider. First of all, Dinny must be won
over."

" I will try."

" How could I communicate with you ]"

" You could not, sir. I came to-day to warn Dinny to be
cautious, for Mazzard suspects something. He has gone to the
men's place, or I could not be here."

" But you can come sometimes and speak to me. You will
be able to know whether anyone is here."

"If I can come, sir," said the woman; "but it is very
difficult. The Commodoi*e is always about ; nothing escapes
him."

" A scoundrel ! **

"I don't think he is such a very bad man," said the woman.

"Indeed! Ah, women always find an rxciiso for a good-
looking scoundrel ! "

UNDER ANOTHEU lU'LE. 239

"I don't think u umu who is fiiithful to the wuumn he
lovtHl can be very bad," 8aid the voice, Koftly.

" Fiiitlifiii I wliy, I 8U|»iK).si' he lias a dozen wives here?"

" He ] Oil, no ! I don't know, sir, exactly, but I have seen
hira go to the old chamber in one of these ruinous places, and
he ^oes there to pray by the side of a collin."

"What?" cried Humphrey.

" Yes, a cottin ; and it contains the body of the woman ho
loved, or else of his sister. No one here knows but Dinny and
Bart, Jind "

'* Hist ! " whispered Humphrey, catching up a bunch of
grapes and beginning to eat them.

He had heard the distant step of his guardian, and then
there was silence, for J3art seemed to creep up and listen
before entering, which he did at last, to find the prisoner
muttering to himself and eating tlie grajn^s.

"Done?"

" Yes. You can clear away."

Baii; obeyed and turned to go, but as he reached the

curtain —

" You have plenty cf cigars ? " he said.
• it J ] »

" Ah, well, I've got some there," growled Bart, and he
handed the prisoner half a dozen roughly-made rolls of the
tobacco-leaf. " Now, you understand," he continued, as he
made to go once more, " you're to keep here till the skipj>er
comes buck."

" Are you afraid I shall escape ? " said Humphrey, con-
temptuously.

" Not a bit, captain ; but when one man's life depends on
another's, it makes him careful."

The curtain dropped behind him, and Humphrey stood
listening and thinking.

240

COMMODORE JUNK.

Bart's step could be faintly heard now, and, feeling safe,
the prisoner went back to his couch, and gazed up in the
direction from whence the voice had come.

" Are you still there 1 " he said, softly.

There was no reply ; and a repetition of the question was
followed by the same silence.

" It's strange," he said, gazing up in the gloom overhead to
where, in the midst of a good deal of rough carving, there
seemed to be a small opening, though he could ::ot be sure.
" Why should he come and watch me, and take this interest
in my well-being? I am not like an ordinary prisoner, and
his friendly way, his submission to the rough contempt with
which I treated iiim — it's strange, very strange ! What can
it mean V

He threw himself upon the couch, to lie for some time
thinking and trying to interpret the meaning; but all was
black and confused as the dark mass of carving from which
the woman's voice had seemed to come ; and, giving it up at
last, he rose, and without any hesitation walked straight out
through the opening, and made his way along the corridor to
where the sun blazed forth and made him stand and shade his
eyes, as he remained considering which way he should go.

The prisoner made a bold dash in a fresh direction, going
straight toward where he believed the men's quarters to be;
and, as before, the moment he had passed behind the ruins he
found himself face to face with a dense wall of verdure, so
matted together that, save to a bird or a small animal, farther
progress was impossible.

Defeatod here, he tried another and another place, till his
pei-severance was rewarded by the finding of one of the dark,
maze-like paths formed by cutting away the smaller growth
and zig-zagging through the trees.

Into this dark pathway he plunged, to find that at the end

tJNDER ANOTHER RULE.

241

of five minutes he had lost all idea, through its abrupt turns, of
the direction in which he was going ; while before he had pene-
trated much farther the pathway forked, and, unable to decide
which would lead him in the required direction, he took the
path to the right

It was plain enough that these green tunnels through the
forest had been cut by the buccaneers for purposes of defence
in case of an enemy carrying their outer works, so that he was
in no way surprised to find the path he had taken led right to
a huge crumbling stone building, whose mossy walls rose up
among the trees sombre and forbidding, and completely barring
his way.

It was a spot where a few resolute men might keep quite
an army at bay, for the walls were of enormous extent, the
windows mere ston« lattices, and the doorway in front so low
that a stooping attitude was necessary for him who would enter.
This was consequent upon the falling of stones from above, and
the blocking partially of the way.

There was a strange, mysterious aspect in the place, over-
grown as it was with the redundant growth, which fascinated
the explorer, and feeling impelled to go on he gave one glaneo
sound, and was about to enter, when out of the iittor stillness
he heard a low sound as if someone had been watching him and
given vent to a low expiration of the breath.

Humphrey started and looked sharply round, unablo to
restrain a shudder ; but no one was visible, and he was about
to go on, feeling ashamed of his nervousness, when the Komid
was repeated, this time from above his head ; and glancing up,
he leaped back, for twenty feet above his head in the green
gloom there was a curious, impish face gvJ^ing down at liiin ;
and as he made out more and more of the object, it seemed as
if some strange goblin were suspended in mid-air and about to
drop down upon his head.

24l>

COMMODORE .lUNK.

|t;>

" It's the darkness, T suppose," exclairnotl Humphrey,
an<i[rily, jis he uttered a loud hiss, whose offoct was to make the
stranije object give itself a awing and reveal the fact that it
was hangitjg by its tail alone from the end of a rope-like vino
which dcpe uled from the vast ceiling of interlacing leaves.

With ap})arently not the slightest effort the goblin-like
creature caught a loop of tlu* same vine, clung there for a
moment to gaze back at the intruder into this weird domain,
displaying its curiously human countenance, and then sped
upwanls, when there was a rush as of a wave high above the
visible portion of the interlacing boughs, and Humphrey knew
that he had startled cpiite a flock of the little forest imps, who
sped rapidly away.

** I must be very weak still," he muttered as he went now
right up to the entrance, and after peering cautiously in for a
moment or two he entered.

It was dim outside in the forest ; here, after picking hia
way cautiously for a step or two, it was nearly black. The
]»lace had probably been fairly lit when it was fii'st constructed,
far back in the dim past before the forest invaded the district
ami hid away these works of man ; but now the greatest
caution was needed to avoid the fallen blocks of masonry, and
the explorer took step after step with the care of one who
dreaded some chasm in his way.

He stopped and listened, for suddenly from his left there
was a faint echoing splash so small and fine that it must have
been caused by the drip of a bead of water from the roof, but
it had fallen deep down into some dark hollow half filled with
water, and a shiver ran through Humphrey's frame as he
thought of the consequences of a slip into such a place, far
from help, and doomed to struggle for a few minutes grasping
at the dripping stony walls, seeking a means of climbing out,
and then falling back into the darkness of the great unknown.

UNDER ANOTIIKU UlU.Vi.

SI 3

Ho felt as if li« muHt turn back, Imt his oyos woro lunv
growing accustomed to the ohsciirity, aiul he ma(h" out thiit
just in front tliere w.ih, faintly nia?k«'»| out, the opening of a
doorway leading into a (•iiainl)er into whioli some faint light
penetrati'd.

Going cautiously forward, he entered, to find to liis astonisJi-
ment that he was in a f.iir sized room whose stone walls w<!re
elaborately carved, as wow. the dark recesses or niches all
around, before each of which sat, cross legged, a well-carved
image which seemed to be richly ornamented in imitation of its
old highly-decorated dress. For a moment in the obscurity it
seemed as if he had jienetmted into the abode of the ancient
people who had built the ruined city, and that here they w(;n?
seated around in solemn conclave to discuss sonn; matter con-
nected with the long low form lying upon the skin spre.ul
floor, while to mak(^ the scene the mon; incongruous, thesis
strangely-carved figures were looking down u|)on (In; object,
which was carefidly draped with a laige Knion Jack.

Humphrey paused just inside the threshold and removed
his cap, for Sarah Grecudieys' woj-ds n-cuvred to him, and it
seemed that he nmst have strayed into one of the many oM
temples of the place which had Ikhmi turn<'d by Cotnmodore
Junk into a mausoleum for the remjiins of the woman ha v\m.s
said to have loved, th(^ dra]»e(l obj(!ct being without doubt the
coffin which held her remains. *

He stood jrazing down at the coloured fla;; for a time; then
with a glance round at the olden idols or eUigies of th<^ <le[»!irtef|
great of the place, and the dark niches at the mouths of \viii(rh
they sat, he went softly out, glanced to his right, and saw an
opening which evidently gave ujion the chasm where .he luu!
heard the water drip, and stepped out once more into tlie com
parative diiylight of the forest.

The place might be used as a retreat, he thought, but its
P 2

211

COMMODOUK .niNK.

(

|)ros(»n(- uso was plain onotixli, ntnl ho walkod (jnickly back to
wluTo llu' path had hranoliod, and took tho othor fork.

This narrow timncl through tho forost suddenly dobouchod
upon another jjfoinu; aoross it at riijht anirloa, and aft<'r a
nmuMMii's hesitation tlio prisoner turned to the U'ft, and to his
gr(>at (h'light found tlmt he liad solved one of the topographical
problems of the place, for this le*! towards what was evidently
the outer part of the buccanecM's' settlement, and of this ho had
proof by hearing the smothered sound of voices, which became
clear as lie ])roceeded, .and at last were plaiidy to be made out
as coming from a ruined building standing upon a terrace
whos(^ stones were lifted in all directions by the growth
around.

' This place had been made open by tho liberal use of the
axe and fire, half-burned trunks and charred roots of trees
lying in all directions, the consequence being that Humphrey
had to stop short at the mouth of the forest path unless he
wanted to be seen. For, to ju ge from the eager talking,
it was evident that a number of men were gathered in the
great building at whose doorless opening the back of one of the
buccaneers could be seen as he leaned against the stone, listen-
injj to someone who, in a hoarse voice which the listener
seemed to recognise, was haranguing the rest.

Humphrey could not hear all that was said, but a word fell
upon his ear from time to time, and as he pieced these words
together it seemed as if the speaker were declaiming against
tyranny and oppression, and calling upon his hearers to help
him to put an end to the state of affaira existing.

Then came an excited outburst, as the speaker must have
turned his face toward the door, for these words came plainly :

" The end of it will be that they'll escape, and bring a man-
of-war down upon us, and all through his fooling."

A murmur arose.

DiNNY (H)N.SKNTM.

uri

"He's gonn niiul, T toll you all ; and if yon llko t<> cliooso a
captain for yourHolves, cliooao ono, and I'll f(»llow liini liko a
man; but it's tinio somotliing whh dono if we want to live."

AnotlifT burst of tnurmuiH ro.s«> luTc.

" n««'H nuid, T toll you, or ho wouldn't koop liini liko that.
So what's it to be, my lads, a now captain or tho yard arm 1"

CHAPTER XXVII.

PINNY CONSENTS.

The time glided on, and Iluniphroy always knew when his
cai)tor was at sea, for the severity of liia inipriKontnont was
then most felt. The lieutenant, Mar/ard, was always loft in
charge of the platje, but Bart remained beliind Ijy the captain's
orders, and at these times Humphrcsy was sternly ordered to
keep to his prison.

Dinny came and went, but, try him how he would, TFum-
phrey could get nothing from him for days and days.

The tide turned at last.

"Well, sor," said Dinny one morning, ** I've boon tliinking
it over a great dale. I dor,'t like desarting the captain, who
has been liko a lirother to me ; but there's Mistliress Green-
heys, and love's a wonderful excuse for a rnanny things."

"Yes," said Humphrey, eagerly, "go on."

" Sure, sor, she's compelled to bo married like to a man she
hates, and it hurts her falings as much as it does mine, and she
wants me to get her away and m:iko a lale m;irri;tgo of it, such
Its a respectable woman likes ; for ye see, i\ll against her will,

246

COMMODORE JUNK.

she's obliged to be Misthress Mazzard now, and there hasn't
been any praste."

" I understand," said Humphrey. " The scoundrel ! "

** Well, yes, sir, that's what he is ; but by the same token I
dou't wonder at it, for if a man stootl bechuckst good and avil
and Misthn^ss Greenheys was on the avil side, faix, he'd be
sure to go toward the avil — at lasto, he woiild if he was an
Oirishnian."

"Then you will]"

" Yis, sor, for the lady's sake ; but I shall have to give up
my share of the good things here, and behave very badly to the
captain."

" My good fellow, I will provide you for life."

" That's moighty kind of you, sor, and I thank ye. Yis,
I'll do it, for, ye see, though I don't want to behave badly to
the captain. Black Mazzard's too much for me; and besides, I
kape thinking that if, some day or another, I do mate wid an
accident and get dancing on the toight-rope, I sha'n't have a
chance of wedding the widdy Greenheys, and that would be a
terrible disappointment to the poor darlin'."

" Yes, yes," cried Humphrey, impatiently. " Then tell
me. You will help me by getting a boat ready, and we can
all go down together and put to sea ] "

" Hark at him ! " said Dinny, with a laugh, after going to
the great curtain and peering into the corridor. " Ye spake,
sor, like a gintleman coming out of his house and calling for a
kvar. Lave that all to me."

" I will, Dinny ; but what do you propose doing, and
whenl"

" What do T propose doing, sor 1 Oh ! it's all settled.
The darlin' put an idee in my head, and it's tuk root like a
seed."

" Trust a woman for ingenuity ! " cried Humphrey, speaking

DINNY CONSENTS.

247

with the authority of one who knew, though as to women's
ways he was a child.

" Ah, an' she's a cliver one, sor ! "

"Well, what is it, Dinny ?" cried Humphrey, excitedly.

"Be aisy, sor, and lave it to us. The darlin' has set her
moind on getting away from Black Mazzard, and she's too
gintle a crature to go to extremities and tuk his head off some
night like the lady did in the tint, or to handle a hammer and
a nail and fix his hend to the ground. She don't like to be too
hard upon him, sor, so she proposed a plan to me, and it will

be all right."

" But, Dinny-

" Be aisy, sor, or ye'U spoil all. Jist wait quite riddy, like,
till some avening I shall come to ye all in a hurry, hold up me
little finger to ye, which will mane come, and ye'll foiud it all
cut and dhried for ye."

" But, my good fellow "

" Faix, sor, don't go on like that before I've done. I want
to say that ye mu^t be at home here riddy. If the skipper
asks ye to dinner, don't go ; and if ye hear a big, powerful
noise, don't git running out to see what it is, but go on aisy
like, saying to yerself, ' Dinny's getting riddy for me, and he
may come at anuy time."

" And are you going to keep me in the dark 1 "

" An' l»e culls it kaping him in the dark ! Ah, well, sor, I
won't do that ! I'll jist tell yo, thin. Ye know the owld chapel
place]"

" Chapel ! "

"Well, church, thin, sor. That's what they say it was.
The little wan wid the stone picture of the owld gintleman sit-
ting ovei- the door. "

" That square temple ? "

"Yis, sor. It's all the same. The haythens who lived out

248

COMMODORE JUiTK.

here didn't know any betther, and the prastes were a bad lot,
8o they used to worship the owld gintleman, and give him a
prisoner ivery now and then cut up aloive."

" Nonsense I How do you know that V*

" Faix, it's written on the stones so ; and we found them
althers wid places for the blood to run, and knives made out of
flint-glass. It's thrue enough."

" But what about the temple 1 "

'*Sure, it is the divil's temple, sor," said Dinny, with a
twinkle of the eye; "and the skipper said it was just the place
for it, so he fills it full of our divil's dust."

« Money 1"

" An' is it money ? That's all safe in another place, wid
silver and gowld bars from the mines, as we tuk in ships, and
gowld cups, sor. That's put away safe, for it's no use here,
where there isn't a whisky-shop to go and spend it. No, sor ;
divil's dust, the black gunpowther."

" Oh, the magazine ! Well, what of that ? "

" Sure, sor, the darlin' put her pretty little lips close to my
ear. * Och, darlin', and loight of my ois,' I says. ''Sure, it's
so dark in the wood here that ye've made a mistake. That's

me ear, darlin', and not me mouth. Let me show ye '

* No, Dinny,' she says, * I'm like being another man's wife now,
and I can foind me way to yer lips whether it's dark or light
wh„n it's proper and dacent to do so, and we've been to
church.* "

" Dinny, you'll drive me mad ! " cried Humphrey, im-
patiently.

"An' is it dhrive ye mad, when I'm tlirying to set ye
right? Then I'd better not tell ye, sor."

" Yes, yes ! For goodness' sake, man, go on."

"Ah, well, thin, an' I will ! She jist puts her lips to my
ear and she says, * Dinny, if ye lay a thrain from the powdher-

DINNY CONSENTS.

249

magazine ' — think of that now, the darlin' I — ' lay a thrain/ she
says, ' Dinny, and put a slow-match, same as ye have riddy for
firing the big guns, and then be sure,' she says, * and get out of
the way ' — as if I'd want to shtay, sor, and be sent to hiven in
a hurry — * thin,' she says, ' the whole place will be blown up,
and iverybody will be running to see what's the matther and
put out the fire, and they'll be 90 busy wid that, they'll forget
all about the prishner, and we can go down to the say and get
away."

"Yes," said Humphrey, thoughtfully. "Is there much
powder stored there 1 "

"Yis, sor, a dale. Ivery time a ship's been tuk all the
powdher has been brought ashore and put there. It's a foin
plan, sor, and all made out of the darlin's own head."

"Yes, Dinny, we ought to get away then."

" Sure, an' we will, sor. I'll have a boat wid plenty of
wather and sun-dhried mate in her, and some fruit and tishing-
lines. We shall do ; but the plan isn't perfect yet."

« Why 1 "

" Sure, an' there's no arrangement for getting Black Mazzard
to come that time to count over the powdher-barrels."

" What ! and blow the scoundrel up 1 "

" Sure, sor, and it would be a kindness to him. He's the
wickedest divil that ever breathed, and he gets worse ivery day,
so wouldn't it be a kindness to try and send him to heaven
before he gets too bad to go 1 But whist ! I've stopped too
long, sor. Ye understand V*

"Dinny, get me away from here, and you're ^i made
man ! "

" Faix, I dunno, sor. Mebbe there'll be one lot'Il waiit to
shoot me for a desarter — though I desarted by force— and
another lot'Il want to hang me for a pirate. I don't fale at all
safe ; but I know I shall be tuk and done for some day if I

250

COMMODOIIE JUNK.

shtop, and as the darlin' says she'll niver make a mistake the
right way wid her li[)S till I've taken her from Black Mazzard,
why, I'll do the thrick."

More days passed, and every stroll outside his prison
had to be taken by Humphrey with Burt as close to him
as his shadow.

Dinny kept away again, and the plan to escape might as
well have never been uttered.

Bart always went well armed with his prisoner, and seemed
unusually suspicious, as if fearing an attempt at escape.

Dinny's little widow came no more, and thft hours grew so
irksome with the confiuement consequcMit upon the captain's
absence that Humphrey longed for his return.

He debated again and again all he had heard, and came to
the conclusion that if he said anything it must be to the cap-
tain himself.

One morning Bart's manner showed that something had
occurred. His sour face wore a smile, and he was evidently
greatly relieved of his responsibility as he said to the prisoner :

" There, you can go out. "

" Has the captain returned 1

Bart delivered himself of a short nod.

"Tell him I wish to see him. Bid him come here."

" What ! the skipper] You mean, ask him if I may take
you to him, and he'll see you."

" I said, Tell your skipper to come here ! " said Humpliicy,
drawing himself up and speaking as if he were on the quarter-
deck. " Tell him I wish to see him at once."

Bart drew a long breath, and wrinkled up his forehca^l so
that it seemed as if he had an enoriuoiis weight upon his head.
Then, smiling grimly, he slowly left the place.

The buccaneer, who looked anxious and dispirite 1, was
istening to some complaint made by his lieutenant, and angry

p Ki ' > m

DINNY CONSENTS.

251

worfls were passing which made Bart as he beard them hasten
his steps, and look sharply from one to the other as he entered.

Black Mazzard did what was a work of supererogation as he
encountered Bart's eye — he scowled, his face being villainous
enough without.

" Well," he said aloud, " I've warned you 1 " and he strode
out of the old temple chamber which formed the captain's
quarters, his heavy boots thrust down about his ankles sounding
dull on the thick rugs spread over the worn stones, and then
clatte' ing loudly as he stepped outside.

" i'ou two been quarrelling 1 " said Bart, sharply,

" The dog's insolence is worse than ever ! " cried the captain
with flashing eyes. " Bart, I don't want to shed the blood of
the man who has been my officer, but "

"Let someone else bleed him," growled Bart. "Dick
would ; Dinuy would give anything to do it. We're Tjout
tired of him. I should like the job myself."

" Silence ! " said the captain, sternly. " No, speak : tell
me, what has been going on since I've been away ] "

" Black Mazzard ] "

The captain nodded,

" Half the time — well, no : say three-quarters — he's been
drunk, t'other quarter he's spent in the south ruins preaching
to the men."

"Preaching?"

" Yes, with you for text. Just in his old way ; but
I've been too busy with the prisoner."

"Yes, andhel"

" It's him who is master here. Here, get up 1 "

The buccaneer started, threw back his head, and the dark
eyes flashed as he exclaimed —

" What's this, sir 1 Have you been taking a lesson from
Mazzard?"

! )

252

COMMODOUK JUNK.

"II No ; I'm only giving you your orders 1 *

" What orders r'

" Master Captain Humphrey Armstrong's. You're to get
up and go to him directly. He wants you 1 ** •

The buccaneer sprang to his feet.

" He wants me — he has sent for me ? " he cried, eagerly.

" Ay ! You're to go to him. He's master here ! "

A dull lurid flush came over the captain's swarthy face as
his eyes encountered those of his henchman, and he frowned
heavily.

" Of course you'll go ! " said Bart, bitterly. " I should give
up everything to him now, and let him do as he likes 1 "

"Bart!"

" Oh, all right ! Say what you like, I don't mind. Only,
if it's to be so, let him hang me out of my misery, and have
done with it."

The buccaneer turned upon him fiercely, and his lips parted
to speak ; but as he saw the misery and despair in Bart's face
his own softened.

" Is this my old friend and help speaking ? " he said, softly.
" I did not expect it, Bart, from you. Why do you speak to
me like this ? " '

" Because you are going wrong. Because I can see how
things are going to be, and it's natural for me to speak. Think
I'm blind 1"

" No, Bart, old friend. I only think you exaggerate and
form ideas that are not true. I know what you mean ; but
you forget ihj,t I am Commodore Junk, and so I shall be to
llie end. Now, tell me," he continued, calmly; "this captain
of the sloop asks to see me ? "

" Orders you to come to him ! " *

" Well, he is accustomed to order, and illness has made him
petulant. I will go."

' r I mnl > niumiSummitiiitBti

DINNY CONSENTS.

253

"You'll go?"

'• Yes. Perhaps he has soinething to bay in answer to an
offer I made."

"An offer]"

" Yea, Bart, to join us, and be on(! of my lieutenants."

"Join us, and be your lufftenant?" cried lUirt.

" Yes, and my friend. 1 like him for the sake of his old
generous ways, and 1 like him for his present niiinliness."

"You— like him?"

" Yes. It is not impossible, is it, that I should like to
have a friend ? "

"Friend?"

" Yes ! " said the captain, stondy ; " anotluT friend ! Don't
stare, man, and think of the past. Mary Dell died, and lies
yonder in the old temple, covered by the Union Jack, and
Abel Dell still lives — Commodore Junk, seeking to t•^ke ven-
geance upon those who cut that young life short."

" Look here I " said Bart, who gasped as he listened to his
companion's wild utterances ; " are you going mad 1 '*

" No, Bart, I am as sane as you."

"But you said "

" What I chose to say, man. Let me believe all that if I
like. Do you suppose I do not want some shield against the
stings of my own thoughts ? I choose to think all that, and it
shall be so. You shall think it too. I am Commodore Junk,
and if I wish this man to be my friend, and he consents, it
shall be so ! "

" And suppose some day natur says, ' I'm stronger than
you, and I'll have my way,' what then ?"

" I'll prove to nature, Bart, that she lies, for she shall not
have her way. If at any time I feel myself the weaker, there
are my pistols ; there is the sua ; there is the great tank with
iis black waters deep down below the temple."

•f!

■^ > ^ B^.J »l i i»'

254

COMMODORE JUNK.

" And you are going there — to him 1"
" I am going there to him. Can you not trust me, Bart ? '*
Tlie poor fellow made a weary gesture with his hands, and
then, as the captain drew himself up, looking supremely hand-
some in his pictuiesque garb, and with his face flushed and
brightenetl eyes, Bart followed him towards Humi)hroy's prison,
walking at a distance, and with something of the manner of a
faithful watch-dog who liad been beaten heavily, but who had
his duties to fulfil, and would do them till ho died.

CHAPTER XXVIIL

ANOTHER DUEL.

**Ts that his stop'? No; its that miserable gaoler's," said
Humphrey, as he lay bank on his soft skin-covered couch
with his arms benojith his head in a careless, indolent attitude.

Humi)hrty was beginning tb feel the thrill of returning
strength in liis veins, and it brought with it his old indopon-
dence of spiiit and the memory that he had been trained to
rule. His little episode with Bart that morning had roused
him a little, and prepared him for his encounter with the buc-
caneer captain, upon whom he felt he was about to confer a
favour.

A smile ])layed about his lips as the step drew nearer, the
difi'ereiice bt'tw'.'en it and that of Bart being more and more
marked ;;s he listened, and then quite closed his eyes, while the
ii('a\ y curtain was drawn aside, and the buccaneer entered the
chamber, lie took a sto[)or two forward, which placed him in
fiont of th(; slono idol, and tliere he stood gazing down at the

ANOTHER DUEL.

255

•0

handsome, manly figure of his prisoner, whose unstudied atti-
tude formed a picture in that weird, picturesque place, which
made the captain's breath come and go a little more quickly,
and a faint sensation of vertigo tempt him to turn and hurry
away.

The sensation was momentary. A frown puckered his
brow, and he said quietly —

"Asleep?"

"No," said Humphrey, opening his eyes slowly; "no, my
good fellow. I was only thinking."

The buccaneer frowned a little more heavily as he listened
to his prisoner's cool, careless words, and felt the contemptuous
tone in which he was addressed.

" You sent for me," he said, harshly, and his voice sounded
coarse and rough.

"Well," said Humphrey, with insolent contempt, "how
many ships have you plundered — how many throats have you
cut this voyage ? "

The buccaneer's eyes seemed to flash as he took a step
forward, and made an angry gesture. But he checked himself
on the instant, and, with a faint smile, replied —

~ " Captain Armstrong is disposed to be merry. Why have
you sent for me 1 "

" Merry ! " said Humphrey, still ignoring the question; "one
need be, shut up in this tomb. Well, you are back again *? "

"Yes; I am back again," said the buccaneer, smoothing
his brow, and declining to be angry with his prisoner for his
insulting way as he stdl lay back on the couch. " It is but
the pecking of a prisoned bird," he said to himself.

"And not been caught and hanged yetl I was in hope
that I had seen the last of you."

" I have heard tell before of prisoners reviling their cap-
tors," said the buccaneer, quietly.

I :;

256

COMMODORE JUNE.

" Bevile I "Well, is it not your portion 1 "

'* For treating you with the consideration due to a gentle*
man 1 " said the buccaneer, whose features grew more calm and
whose eyes brightened as if from satisfaction at finding the
prisoner so cool and daring, and in how little account he was
held. " I have given orders that the prisoner should be treated
well. Is there anything more I can do 1 "

The harsh grating voice had grown soft, deep, rich, and
mellow, while the dark, flashing eyes seemed to have become
dreamy as they rested upon the prisoner's handsome, defiant
face.

" Yes," said Humphrey, bitterly ; " give me my liberty.**

The buccaneer shook his head.

" Curse you ! No ; you profess to serve me — to treat me
well — and you keep me here barred up like some wild beast
whom you have caged."

" Barred — caged ! " said the buccaneer, raising his eyebrows.
" You have freedom to wander where you will."

" Bah ! freedom ! " cried Humphrey, springing up. " Curse
you ! why don't I strangle you where you stand 1 "

At that moment there was a rustling among the leaves out-
side the window, and Humphrey burst into a mocking laugh.

" How brave ! " he cried. " The buccaneei captain comes
to see his unarmed prisoner, and his guards wait outside the
doorway, while another party stop by the window, ready to
spring in."

The buccaneer's face turned of a deep dull red — the glow of
annoyance, as he strode to the window and exclaimed fiercely —

'* Why are you here ? Go ! "

"But "

" Go, Bart," said the buccaneer, more quietly. " Captain
Armstrong will not injure me."

There was a heavy rustling sound among the leaves and the

ANOTHER DUEL.

257

*juccaneer madft as if to go to the great curtain ; but lie checked
himself, turned, and smiling sadly —

" Captain Armstrong will believe me when I tell him that
there is no one out there. Come, sir, you have sent for me.
You have thought well upon all I said. All this has been so
much angiy petulance, and you are ready to take me by the
hand — to become my friend. No, no; hear me. You do not
think of what your life here may be."

" Tliat of a pirate — a murderer ! " cried Humphrey, scorn-
fully.

" No," said the buccaneer, flushing once more. " I am rich.
All that can be a something of the past. This land is mine,
and here we can raise up a new nation, for my followers are
devoted to me. Come ! are we tc be friends ] "

" Friends ! " cried Humphrey, scornfully — " a new nation —
your people devoted! — why, man, I sent for you to warn you!"

" You — to warn me ■? "

" Yes. One of your followers fs plotting against you. He
has been addressing your men ; and if you don't take care, my
good sir, you will be elevated over your people in a way more
lofty than pleasant to the king of a new nation."

" I understand your ?;neers, sir," said the buccaneer,
quietly ; and there was more sadness than anger in. his t<me.
" They are unworthy of the brave man wlio has warned me of
a coming danger, and they are from your lips, sir, not from the
heart of the brave adv^ersary I have vowed to make my friend."

Humphrey winced, for the calm repi'oachful tone roused
liim, and he stood there frowning as the bucciin»'er went on.

" As to the plotting against me, I am always prepared for
that. A man in my position makes many enemies. Even you
have yours."

"Yes — you," cried Humphrey.

** No ; I am a friend. There, I thank you for your warning.

•!

258

COMMODOUE JUNK.

It is a pi'oof, though you do not know it, that the gap
between us grows less. Some day, Captain Armstrong, you
will take my hand. We shall be friends."

Humphrey remained silent as the buccaneer left the
chamber, and, once more alone, the prisoner asked himself if
this was true— that he had bidden farewell to civilisation for
ever, and this was to be his home, this strange compound of
savage fierceness and gentle friendliness his companion to
the end ]

CHAPTER XXIX

THE ASSASSINS.

Humphrey Armstrong walked on blindly farther and farther
into the forest, for he was moved more deeply than ever he had
been moved before. The presence of this man was hateful to
him, and yet he seemed to possess an influence that was
inexplicable; and his soft deep tones, which alternated with
his harsher utterances, rang in his ears now he was away.

" Good heavens ! " he cried at last, as he nearly struck
against one of the stone images which stood out almost as grey
and green as the trees around, " what an end to an oflBcer's'
career — the lieutenant of a wretched pirate king ! New nation I
Bah ! what madness ! "

" Captivity has unmanned me," he said to himself, as he sat
down upon a mossy fragment of stone in the silent foi'est path,
and the utter silence and calm seemed refreshing.

He sat thus for some time, with his head resting upon his
hand, gazing back along the narrow path, when, to his horror,
just coming into view, he saw the figure of the buccaneer

THE ASSASSINS.

259

approaching, with head bent and arms crossed over his chest,
evidently deep in thought.

Humphrey started up and backed away round a curve
before turning, and walked swiftly along the path, looking
eagerly for a track by which he could avoid another encounter,
when for the first time he became aware of the fact that he was
in the way leading to the old temple which had been fornied
into a mausoleum, and, unless he should bo able to find another
path, bound for the ancient structure.

He almost ran along the meandering path, feeling annoyed
with himself the while, till the gloomy pile loomed before him,
and he climbed up the doorway and looked back.

All was silent and dim as he stooped and entered, stepping
cautiously on, and then, as soon as well sheltered, turning to
gaze back and see if the buccaneer came in sight.

The place struck chill and damp ; there was a mysterious
feeling of awe to oppress him as he recalled the cluimber be-
hind him. or rather, as he stood, upon his left ; and its use, and
the strange figures he had seen seated about, all added to the
sense of awe and mystery by which he was surrounded ; while
the feeling of annoyance that he should have shrunk from
meeting this man increased.

Just then there was the faint drip of water as he had heard
it before, followed by the whispering echoes ; and, moved by
the desire to know how near he was to what must be a deep
well-like chasm, he stooped, felt about him, and his hand en-
countered a good -sized fragment of the stone carving which
had mouldered and been thrust by the root of some; growing
plant from the roof.

He did not pause to think, but threw it from him, to hear
it strike against atone.

It had evidently missed what he intendod, and lie had
turned to gaze again at the path, when he fonntl that it had
q2

2(50

COMMODORE JUNK.

struck somowliero and rebounded, to fall with a hideous hollow
echoing plash far bolow.

Humphrey's brow grew damp as he listened to the strange
whispers of the water ; and then he looked once more at the
path, wond(!ring whether the horrible noise had been heard,
for just then the buccaneer came into sight and walked slowly
toward the old tem})le.

But the echoes of that plash were too much shut up in the
vast hollow below, and the buccaneer, still with his arms
folded and chin resting upon his chest, walked on, evidently to
enter the old building.

Humphrey hesitated for a moment, half intending to boldly
meet his captor; but he shrank from the encounter, and
weakly backed away farther into the darkness, till he was in
the dim chamber where the coffin lay draped as before, and the
strange figures of the old idols sat around.

There was no time for further hesitation. He must either
boldly meet the buccaneer or hide.

He cKose the latter course, glancing round for a moment,
and then stepping cautiously into one of the recesses behind
a sitting figure, where he could stand in complete darkness
and wait till the buccaneer had gone.

The latter entered the next moment, and Humphrey felt
half mad with himself at his spy-like conduct, for as he saw
dimly the figure enter, he heard a low piteous moan, and saw
him throw himself upon his knees beside th^ draped coffin, his
hands clasped, and his frame bending with emotion, as iv a
broken voice he prayed aloud.

His words were incoherent, and but few of the utterances
reached the listening man's ears, as he bit his lips with anger,
and then listened with wonder at what seemed a strange
revelation of character.

" Oh, give me strength ! " he murmured. " I swore revenge

THE ASSASSIKS.

2i;i

— OTi all —for tlif wrongs for tho doiith- loved — strongth to
figlit down this wcjikucsH— to he — self — for strength — for
strongth — to live — revenge — death."

Th(i last word of tliese agonised utterances was still quiver-
ing ujjon the air as if it had heen torn from tin; speaker's
hreast, when tliQ diinly-secn doorway was suddenly darkened,
and there was a quiek jnovenient.

Humphrey Armstrong's position was one which enahled
him, faint as was tlw light, to see everything — the draped
coliin, the kneeling fignn; bent over it prostrate in agony of
spirit, and a great crf>uching form st(!aling softly behind as if
gathering for a spring.

Was it Bart? No ; and the doorway was again darkened,
and he saw that two more men were there.

Friends ? Attendants ] No. There was tlie dull gleam of
steel uplifted by the figure bending over the buccaneer.

Assassination without doubt. The moment of peril had
come, lightly as it had been treated, and, stirred to the heart
by the treachery and horror of the deed intended, Humphrey
sprang from his place of concealment, struck the buccaneer's
assailant full in the chest, and th(;y rolled over together on the
t«mple floor.

" Quiek, lads, help ! " shouted the man whom Humphrey
had seized, and his companions rushed in, for a genc^ral m61(^e
to ensue at terrible disadvantage, for the assailants were armed
with knives, and those they assailed defenceless as to weapons
other than those nature had su})plied.

Humphrey knew this to his cost in the quick struggle which
ensued. He had writhed round as he struggled with the
would-be murderer, and contrived to get uppermost, when a
keen sense of pain, as of a red-hot wire passing through one of
his amis, made him loosen his hold for a moment, and the next
he was dashed back.

262

COMMODORE JUNK.

He sprang up, though, to seize his assailant, stung by the
pain into a fit of savage rage, when, as he clasped an enemy, he
found that it was not his first antagonist, but a lesser man,
with whom he closed fiercely just as the fellow was striving
to get out of the doorway — a purpose he effected, dragging
Humphrey with him.

The passage was darker than the inner temple, where hoarse
panting and the sounds of contention were still going on, oaths,
curses, and commands uttered in a savage voice to " Give it
him iiow " — " Now strike, you fool ! " — " Curse him, he's like
an eel ! " — and the like came confusedly through the doorway,
as, smarting with pain and grinding his teeth with rage,
Humphrey struggled on in the passage, savagely determined to
retain this one a prisoner, as he fought to get the mastery of
the knife.

How it all occurred was more than he. could afterwards
clearly arrange in his own mind ; what he could recall was that
the pain weakened him, and the man with whom he struggled
wrenched his left arm free, snatched the knife he held from
his right hand, and would have plunged it into Humphrey's
breast had not the latter stnick him a sharp blow upwards in
the face so vigorously, that the knife fell tinkling on the ground,
and the struggle was resumed upon more equal terms.

It was a matter of less than a minute, during which
Humphrey in his rage and pain fought less for life than to
master his assailant and keep him prisoner. They had been
down twice, tripping over the stone-strewn pavement, and
once Humphrey had been forced against the wall, but by a
sudden spring he had driven his opponent backwards, and they
were struggling in the middle of the opening, when a wild
shriek rang out from the inner temple — a cry which seemed to
curdle the young ofiicer's blood — and this was followed by a
rush of someone escaping.

THE ASSASSINS.

263

His retreat was only witnessed by one, for the struggle was
continued on the floor. The two adversaries, locked in a tight
embrace, »ifove to reach their feet, and, panting and wt'ak,
Humphrey had nearly succeeded in so doing, when his foe
forced him backwards, and he fell to cling to the rugged stone-
work.

For as he was driven back the flooring seemed to crumble
away beneath his feet ; there was a terrible jerk, and he found
himself "hanging by his hands, his enemy clinging to him still,
and the weight upon his muscles seeming as if it would tear them
apart. In the hurry and excitement Huniphroy could hardly
comprehend his position for the moment. The next he under-
stood it too well, for the stone which had given way fell with a
hideous echoing noise, which came from a terrible distance
below.

Almost in total darkness, his hands cramped into the in-
terval between two masses of broken stone which formed pait
of the debris of the roof above, hanging over a hideous gulf
at the full stretch of his arms, and with his adv(Msary's hands
fixed, talon-like, in garb and dress as he strove to clumber up
him to the floor above.

At every throe, as the man strove to grip Humplirey with
his knees and climb up, some fragment of stone rushed down,
to fall far beneath, splashing and echoing vvitli a repetition of
sounds that robbed him of such strength as remained to him,
and a dreamy sensation came on apace.

"It is the end," thought Hntnplivey, for his fingers felt as
if they were yielding, the chilling sensation of paialvsis in-
creased, and in another minute he knew tli;.t lie must fall,
when the grip upon him increased, and the num who clung
uttered a hoarse yell for help.

"Quick, for God's sake I Quick !" he s] • ked. "I'm
letting go 1 **

264

COMMODORE JUNK.

But at that instant sometliing dark seemed to come be-
tween him and the gleaming wet stone away above him in the
roof, and then there was quite an avalanche of small stones
gliding by.

It was the scoundrel's companion corr>i at the call for help,
thouj^ht Humphrey; and he clung s'lll in silenco, wondering
whether it was too late as his strained eye-billp glared upward.

" Where are you ] " came in a husky voice.

It was to save his life ; but though Humphrey recognised
the voice, he could not speak, for his tongue and throat were
dry.

" Are you here 1 Hold on ! " cried the voice again ; and
then there was the sound of someone feeling about, but dis-
lodging stones, which kept rattling down and splashing below.

•' Where are you 1 " cried the voice above Humphrey ; but
still he could not reply. His hands were giving way, and he
felt that his whole energy must be devoted to the one effort of
clinging to the last ere he was plunged down into that awful
gulf.

But the man who clung to him heard the hoarsely- whispered
question, and broke out into a wild series of appeals for help —
for mercy — for pity.

** For God's sake, captain ! " he yelled, " save me — save me !
It was Black Mazzard ! He made me come ! Do you hear ?
Help ! I can't hold no longer ! I'm falling ! Help ! Curse
you — help ! '*

As these cries thi'illed him through and through, Humphrey
was conscious in the darkness that the hands he heard rustling
above him and dislodging stones, every fall of which broii-lit
forth a shriek from the wretch below, suddenly touched his,
and then, as if si)asmodically, leaped to his wrists, round which
they fastened with a grip like steel.

To Humphrey Armstrong it was all now like one hideous

THK ASSASSINS.

265

nightmare, during which he suffored, but could do nothing to
free hi'iiself. The wretch's shrieks were growing fainter, and
he clung in an inert way now, while someone seemed to be
muttering above —

" I can do nothing more- -I can do nothing more ! " but the
grip about Humphniy's wrists tightened, and two arms n-strd
upon his hands and seemed to press them closer to the stones
to which they clung.

" Captain — captain ! Are you there 1 **

" Yes," came from close to Humphrey's face.

"Forgive me, skipper, and helj) me up ! I'll be faithful to
you ! I'll kill Black Mazzard ! "

" 1 can do nothing," said the buccaneer, hoareely. " You
are beyond my reach."

" Then go and fetch the lads and a rope. Don't let me fall
into this cursed, watery hell ! "

" If I quit my hold here, man, you will both go down ; un-
less help comes, nothing can be done."

" Then, call help ! Call help now, captain, and I'll be
your slave ! Curse him for leaving me here ! Where's Joci
Thorpe?"

" He was killed by Mazzard with a blow meant for me,"
said the buccaneer, slowly.

" Curse him ! Curse him ! " shrieked the man. " Oli,
captain, save me, and I'll kill him for you ! He waiiLs to be
skipper ; and I'll kill him for you if you'll only — Ah I "

He uttered a despairing shriek, for as he spoke a sliarp^
tearing sound was heard; the cloth he clung to gave way, aiil
before he could get a fresh hold he was hanging suspended by
the half-torn- off garb. He swung to and fro as he uttered one
cry, and then there was an awful silence, followed by a plunge
far below.

The water seemed to hiss and whisper and echo in all

2()r>

COMMODOHE JUNK.

directions, iiml tlio HiUucjs, f«n* what soeinod qtiite a long npAco,
was awful. It was, howovor, hut a few instants, and thon
thoro was a terrific sj)hi.shin<; an if a nunihcr of Iiorrihie
cioatun^H hud rushed to prey upon the fallen man, whoso
shrieks for help began <mvv nioro.

Appeals, curses, yells, piteous wails, followed each other in
rapid succession as the water was beaten heavily. Then the
cries were smothered, them was a gurling Mound, and the
water whisptin^d and lapped and echoed as it seemed to play
against the stony walls of the pla-e.

A few moments and the cries recommoncod, and between
every cry there was the hoarse panting of a swimmer fighting
hard for his life as he struck out.

The buccaneer's eyes stared wildly down into the great
cenote, or wati^r-tank, whose vast proportions were hidden in
the gloom. He could see nothing; but his imagination sup-
plied the vacancy, and pictured before him the head and
shoulders of his treacherous follower as he swam along the
sides of the great gulf, striving to find a place to climb up;
and this he did, for the hoarse panting and the cries ceased,
and from the dripping and splashing it was evi*lont that he
had found some inequality in the wall, by means of ^" ! ich he
climbed, with the water streaming from him.

The task was laborious, but he drew hinif.^lf up 'x- d up,
climbing slowly, and then he suddenly c^u-.tiu, \)v iied a
terrible cry, and once more there was a splash, tiie iupping and
whispering of the water, and silence.

He was at the suiface again, swimming hard in the dark-
ness and striving once more to reach the place where he had
climbed ; l)ut in the darkness he swam in quite a different
direction, and his hoarse panting rose again, quick and agitated
now, the strokes were taken more rapidly, and like a rat
drowning in a tub of water, the miserable wretch toiled on,

THk assassins.

267

wall. ° """ """ "-•" "'I'^'r and olutclung .t tl.a ,

Once ,,i, inequality bhvo hin, » f
"I,.,.,, .,..„...,,„y_ „^^,^.« - f - .no„.ent»- rest, an,, ,.«

««'"i"S fo.. life, „n,, t,,e v. ' J? ''" ''"' "P O"™ '"oro
«PI-«I» for ,,el,, " '•"' ""'k ocaoeU wit,. l.i« g„,^,,. ,^,

-A^'uin thoy wcrfi Kih... i
'"P,'.;l and ocL ""'"''• ''"<' ""' -'- w,.ispe..e., ,.„„

or twice, a fainter echo or tw„ "^dT;^' '*'? *""«^ >«"" "■"=«

«8h of relief, and a si,e„ce t^t . '"'""'"' '"^- "

deat,.. '"""^ "'^'^ "■■« '"deed the silence of

^0^::::^^'"- '" "- "«''- - .ro.en. for a
" Climb up ! "

"Cimb?" exclaimed Hnmphrev u-l
■•eeovcred hi« voice w,,i,e K V """""^ '° ''""e

expand. ' *'"'" '"^ f"'^«" ""ergies appeared to

and obtain a frthold/- '^". '""'' ''°" """' *•"' "» »<"«• Try

Humphrey obeyed as one obeys wl,n f i
««tog upon him. ""•J^" '^''o f«els a stronger will

"Can you keep my hands fast?" h. j
numbed." » lastf he said. "They are

Z2b ^° V""' ""''"'' "°^- Climb!"

^^e juea down With aUi-rrr^rL^.^

2G8

COMMODORE JUNK.

Humplirey fcilt lialf-paralysed again; lut the voice above
was oiio(! more raised.

" Now," it said, " tljere must be foothold in that spot where
the stone fell. Try."

The young oflicer obeyed, and rousing himself for a supreme
effort as his last before complete inaction set in, he strove hard.
The hands seemed like steel bands about his wrists, and his
stiugglc sent the blood coursing once more through his nerve-
less arms. Tlien, with a perfect avalanche of stones falling
from the crumbling side, lie strove and strained, and, how he
knew not, found foothold, drew himself up, and half crawling,
half dragged by the buccaneer as he backed up the slope,
reached the level part of the passage between the entrance and
the doorway of the inner temple, where he subsided on the
stones, panting, exhausted, and with an icy feeling running
through his nerves.

" Commodore Junk," he whispered hoarsely as he lay in the
semi-darkness, " you have saved my life."

'' As you saved mine."

Those two lay there in the gloomy passage listening to the
solemn whisperings and lappings of the water, which seemed
to be continued for an almost interminable time before they
died out, and once more all was silent. But the expectancy
remained. It seemed to both that at any moment the miser-
able would-be assassin might rise to the surface and shriek for
help, or that perhaps he was still above water, clinging to the
side of the cenote, paralysed with fear, and that ks soon as he
recovered himself he would make the hideous gulf echo with
his appeals

By degrees, though, as the heavy laboured panting of their
breasts ceased, and their hearts ceased beating so tumultuously,
a more matter-of-fact way of looking at their position came
over them.

THE ASSASSINS.

26\)

" Try if you can walk now," said the buccaneer in a low
voice. " You will be better in your own place."

"Yes — soon," replied Humplirey, abruptly; and once more
there was silence, a silence broken at last by the buccaneer.

" Captain Armstrong," he said softly, at last, " surely we
can now be friends 1 "

" Friends ? No ! Why can we 1 " cried Humphrey, an-
grily.

" Because I claim your life, the life that I saved, as mine
— because I owe you mine ! "

"No, no! I tell you it is impossible! Enemies, sir, enemies
to the bitter end. You forget why I came out here 1 "

" No," said Ihe buccaneer, sadly. " You came to take my
life — to destroy my people — but Fate said otherwise, and you
became my prisoner — your life forfeited to me ! "

" A life you dare not take ! " cried Humphrey, sternly. " I
am one of the king's officers — your king's men."

" I have no king ! "

" Nonsense, man I You are a subject of His Majesty King
George."

" No ! " cried the buccaneer. " When that monarch ceased
to give his people the protection they asked, and cruelly and
unjustly banished them across the seas for no greater crime
than defending a sister's honour from a villain, that king
deserved no more obedience from those hs wronged."

"The king — did this?" said Humphiey, wonderingly, as he
gazed full in the speaker's face, struggling the while to grasp
the clues of something misty in his mind — a sumething v l.icii
he felt he ought to know, and which escaped him all the
while.

" The king ! Well, no ; but his people whom he entrusts
with the care of his laws."

"Stop!" cried llumpluey, raising himself upon one arm

270

COMMODORE JUNK.

and gazing eagerly in the buccaneer's face ; " a sister's honour
— defended — punished — sent away for that ! No ; it is im-
possible ! Yes — all ! I know you now ! Abel Dell ! "

The buccaneer shrank back, gazing at him wildly.

" That is what always seemed struggling in my brain," cried
Humphrey, excitedly. "Of course, I know you now. And you
were sent over here — a convict, and esca})ed."

The buccaneer hesitated for a few moments, with the deep
colour going and coming in his face.

" Yes," he said, at last. " Abel Dell escaped from the
dreary plantation where he laboured."

"And his sister r'

" You remember her story 1"

"Remember! Yes," cried Humphrey. " She disappeared
from near Dartmouth years ago."

"Yes."

"What became of her — poor girl?" said Humphrey, ear-
nestly; and the buccaneer's cheeks coloincd as the words of
pity tell.

"She joined her brother out here."

" But he was a convict."

" She helped him to escape."

"I see it all," cried Humphrey, eagerly; "and he became
the pirate — and you became the pirate— the buccaneer, Com-
modore Junk."

"•Yes."

"Good heavens !" ejaculated Humphrey. "And the sister
— your sister, nian — the handsome, dark girl whom my cousin
— Oh, hang cousin James ! What a scoundrel he could be ! "

It was the sluidy, outspcdcen exclamation of an honest
English gcmtleman, and as tht; buccaneer heard it, Humphrey
frit his hand sei/cd in a lirm grip, to be iicld f' r :i few momenta

I tl

i(.:u di<->^ p(

■d.

THE ASSASSINS.

271

"But he's dead," continued Humphrey. "Let him rest.
But tell me — the sister — Oh ! "

A long look of apology and pity followed this ejaculation,
as Humphrey recalled the scene in the temple, where the long
coffin la"^ draped with the Union Jack— the anguish of the
figure on its knees, and the passionate words of adjuration and
prayer. It was as if a veil which hid his companion's character
i'rom him had been suddenly .orii aside, and a look of sympathy
bcciined from his eyes as he stretched out his hand in a frank,
manly fashion.

" I beg your pardon," he cried, softly, " I did not know all
this. I am sorry I have been so abrupt in what I said."

" I have nothing to forgive," said the buccaneer^ warmly,
and his swarthy cheeks glowed as Humphrey gazed earnestly
in his eyes.

" And for the sake of brave old Devon and home you
spared my life and treated me as you have?"

" Not for the sake of brave old Devon," said the buccaneer,
gravely, " but for your own. No\/, Captain Humphrey Arm-
strong, can we be friends ? "

" Yes ! " exclaimed Humphrey, eagerly, as he stretched out
his hand. " No ! " he cried, letting it fall. " It is impossible,
sir. I have my duty to do to m^ king and those I've left at
home. I am your prisoner ; do with me as you please, for, as
a gentleman, I tell you that what you ask is impossible. We
are enemies, and I must escape. When I do escape my task
begins again — to root out your nest of hornets. So for heaven's
sake, for the sake of what is past, the day I escape provide for
your own safety ; for my duty I must do ! "

" Then you refuse me your friendship 1 "

" Yes. I am your enemy, sworn to do a certain duty ;
but I shall escape when the time has come, I can say

no more,

272

COMMODORE JUNK.

CHAPTER XXX.

DINNYS HISTORY.

"No, sor," said Dinny, one morning, "the captain thought
that as two of 'em liad got their doses tliere ought to be
no more killing. Faix, he behaved like a lion when he came
up that day. There was Black Mazzard and five-and-twenty
more of 'em as had been over-persuaded by him, all shut up
with plenty of fireanns in the powder magazine. ' Don't go
nigh 'em — it's madness,' says the captain ; but he goes into hia
place and comes out again with a couple of pishtles shtuck in
his belt, and his best sword on — the one wid an edge as you
could show to your beard and it would all come oflf at wanst,
knowing as it was no use to mak a f eight of it again' such
a blade, as a strong beard will against a bad rashier. And then
he sings out : ' Now, my lads, who's for me ? ' "

" And they all rushed to his aid ? " said Humphrey.

" Well, you see, sor," said Dinny, " it wasn't quite a rush.
Lads don't go rushing into a powdher magazine when there's
an ugly black divil inside as swears if annybody comes anigh,
he'll blow the whole place up into smithereens."

"They never let him go alone 1 " cried Humphrey.

" Well, no, sor," said Dinny ; " it wasn't exackly alone,
bekase old Bart ran up, and then two more walked up, and
another one wint up to him in a slow crawl that made me
want to take him by the scruff o' the neck and the sate of hia
bicecut s, and pitch him down into that great hole yandcr,
"/here U-nl blagguard was drowned. ' Oh, ye cowardly cur ! '
I «« vrf . hiiij, quite red-hot like, sor — ' Oh, ye cowardly cur !*
I suy.^, ' you as was always boasting and bragging about and

DINNY^S HISTORY.

273

playing at Hector an' Archillus, and bouncing as if ye were a
big ancient foighting man, and ye goo crawling up to yer
captain that way ! ' And then he whispers to me confidential-
like, he does : * Och, Dinny, owld lad ! ' he says, * it isn't the
foighting I mind ; but I'm thinking of my poor mother,' hc>
says. 'Ah, get out, ye coward!' I says; *ye're thinking
of yerself.' * Divil a bit!' he says; 'it's the powdher I'm
thinking of. I'd foight anny man, or anny two men in the
camp ; but I can't fale to care about an encounter wid tin tons
o' divil's dust ! ' Oh, I did give it him, sor ! "

"You had better have gone yourself than stood preaching
to auotlier," said Humphrey, indignantly.

" That's jist what I said to meself, sor," cried Dinny ; "but
tlie baste wouldn't lii3ten. * Och ! ' he says, ' what would my
mother's falings be if she was to hear that instead of dying
properly of a broken head she heard that I was blown all into
smithereens, widout a dacent-sized pace left for the praste to
say a blessing over 1 ' ' Ah, Dinny Kelly ! ' I says, * that's
a mane dirthy excuse, because ye're afraid ; for the divil a bit
wid your mother care what became of such an ill-looking, black
buccaneer of a blagguard as ye are ! ' "

" Why, you're talking about yourself ! " cried Humphrey.

^' For sartin, sir. Sure, there isn't another boj' in the whole
crew that I dare to spake to in such an onrespectful way."

" Why, Dinny, man, you did go 1 "

" Yes, sor, I wint, but in a way that I'm quite ashamed of.
I didn't think I was such a coward. But there ! I niver
turned back from a shtick in me loifo, and T faced the powdher
afther all ; but oh, it's ashamed of meself intirely I am !
A Kelly wouldn't have felt like that if it hadn't b^en for the
climate. It's the hot weather takes it out of ye, sor. Why
I felt over that job as a man couldn't fale in me own
Qounthry."

274

COMMODORE ;ruN^

" Well, go on."

'• That's what I did, sor. I stuck close to the captain's tail
as ho wint sthiaight up to the door — ye know the door, sor,
where the owld gintlenian's sitting over the porch, looking down
at ye wid a plisant smile of his own."

" Yes, yes, I know. Go on."

" Well, sor, I did go on ; and there stood Black Mazzard
wid the two biggest pishtols we have on the primises, wan in each
h:ni(l and the other shtuck in his belt. * Kim another shtep,'
he says, * and I'll blow the place about your heads ! ' Och,
and I looked up thin to ask a blessing on meself before I wint
up in such a hurry that I hadn't time to confess ; and bedad
there was the owld gintlemau expanding his mouth into the
widest grin I iver saw in me life ! "

" And the Commodore, what did he do 1 " cried Humphrey,
impatiently.

"What did he do 1"

" Yes — draw his men off? "

" Faix, he drew Black Mazzard's blood off, for he wint
slitraight at him, knocking one pishtol up in the air wid
his hand as he did so. I niver saw annything so nate in
me loife, sor. I told ye he'd got his best sword on — the sharp
one."

" Yes, yes ! "

" Well, sor, he seemed just to lift it up and ho wid it forninst.
him, as I'm howlding this knife — so ; and it wint right through
Black Mazzard just bechuckst his shoulder and his neck ; and
as he pulls it out he takes him by the collar and drags him
down upon his knees.

" ' Come out, ye mad-brained idiots ! ' he shouts at the lads
inside — ' come out, or I'll fire the powdher meself ! '

** Bedad, sor, ye might have heard a pin dhrop if there'd
bin wan there, but there wasn't ; and we heard Black Mazzard's

DINNY S HISTORY.

275

pishtol (Ihrop instead — tlie bi^ one being on the pav.'uunt,
Avliere it wint off bang and sliot a corner olV a big slitono. But
nobody came from int^ido the magazine ; and the owld gintle-
man grinned more and more, and secnie<l to rowl his oics ;
and I belave he wanted to lioar the owld phice go n[). And
there you could hear thim inside buzzing about like my
mother's bees in the sthraw lioive, when ye give it a larrup on
the top wid a shtick."

Dinny gave his head a nod, and went on.

"That roused up the captain, and he roars out —

" ' Here, Dinny — Dick — Bart,' lie says, 'go in and fetch out
these idiots. And I shpat in me fist, and ran in wid the other
two. ' Now, Dinny, my lad,' I says to meself, * if ye're blown
up it'll be bad for ye, but ye'll be blown up towards heaven,
and that's a dale better than being blown down. And avore I
knew where I was, I was right in among the lads, about foivo-
and-twenty of them ; and then talk about a foight, sor ! Ah,
musha, it was awful ! "

" Did they make such a desperate defisnce 1 "

" Deshperate, sor ! Oh, that don't describe it ! Bedad, I
nivver saw anything like it in me ioife ! "

" Were there many killed 1 "Were you vs'ounded 1 "

" Killed ! Wounded ! Did ye iver see a Hock o' sheep
when a big dog goes at 'em, sor V

" Often, in Devon."

" Ah, then it's the same as it woidd be in Oireland. Bedad,
sor, the name of the captain, and seeing Black Mazzard tuk,
was enough. They all walked out and pitched, their swords and
pishtols dowik in a hape before the shkijiper and then stands in
a row like sodgers ; sure and it's meself that had some of the
drilling of them.

" * Come here, Bait,' says the shkipper then ; and as Bart
goes up, the captain gives Black Ma/zaid a shove like and

276

COMMODORE JUNK.

throws him down. * Hern,' he says, ' put your foot on this dog's
throat,' Bart had it there before ye knew where ye were, and
thin if the skipper didn't go right up to the rov of uiin and
walks slowly along 'em, looking 'em wan by wan in the face wid
liis dark oi, sor. And he made 'em turn white and shiver, he
did, sor, till he'd looked 'em all down, and thin he shtei)S out,
little shtiff fellow as he is, and he says :

" ' You fools, to be led away by a thing like that I How shall
I punish 'em, Dinny?' he says, turning to me.

" ' Sure, captain,' I says, * they are all shtanding nate and
handy, and if ye give me word, I'll shtand at wan ind and send
a bullet through the lot, and there'll be no waste.'

" * Pah ! ' he says, ' I don't make war on the lads who've
fought by my side. Go back to your quarthers,' he says, * and
if ye turn again me once more I'll give ye such a punishment
as ye disarve. You shall have your Captain Mazzard.'

"'D'ye hear that, ye divils?' I says, for I couldn't stop
meself, sor ; and they give three cheers for the captain and wint
off to quarthers; and that was all."

" But Mazzard— what of him 1"

" Oh, he's putt away in as nice and plisant a place as a
gintleman could wish to have, sor. It's cool, and undherground,
and the only way to it is down through a hole in a stone like
Father O'Grady's well, and Bart fades him wid food at the ind
of a long p.litick. He's safe enough now. But sure and the
best thing for everyone would be for him to doi by accident
through Bart forgetting to take him his mate."

" Starve him to death ! " cried Humphrey.

" Faix, no, not a bit of it, sor. He's a bad one annyway,
and if he died like a sparrow in a cage, sure it would be a bless-
ing for all of us."

" And the widow Oreenheys, Dinny 1"

** Whisht ! be aisy, sor, wid a lady's name."

dinny's nisToiiY.

277

* Dinny," cried Hunipliroy sternly, ** how long arc yon going
to play fast and loose with me ? "

"An' is it me ye mane? Sure I couldn't do it, sor."

" Dinny, new is the time to escape, now that ]Nristres3
Greenhoys is safe from the persecution of that scoundrel."

" Oil, whisht, sor ! whisht ! Sure and I've grown shtrong
again, and ye want to timpt me from the ways of vartue."

" Nonsense, man ! Your plan — the explosion ! "

" Oh, faix ! It was only me fun. I couldn't do such a thing."

" Do you want that man to escape or be set free, and lay
claim again to that j)oor little woman ?"

" Oh, the poor little crathur ! no."

"Then help me to escape."

" Sure and ye're good friends wid the shkipper and don't
want to go, sor."

" I must and will escape, Dinny, and you shall help m<^ for
Mistress Greenheys' sake."

" Ah, and it's touching me on me soft place ye are " said
Dinny pitifully.

" For her sake, I tell you, and you shall be happy with her
at home." *

"Sure an' I haven't got an 'at home,' " said Dinny.

" Then, as I promised you, I'll make you one. Come, save
her from that scoundrel."

" Faix, an' he is a blaggup'-d annyway." ' '

W ho is 1 " said a deep voice.

Yerself for wan," said Dinny. " Sure, and Black Mazzard
another j and I'm telling the captain here that he needn't
grumble and call himself a prishner, for he's rowling in comfort ;
while as to Black IMazzard, ah, Im should see his cell ! "

Bart scowled and stopped till Dinny had finished and gone,
leaving the prisoner alone with his taouglits, which were of
liberty.

((

COMMODOUE JUNK.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE PLAN OF ESCAPF:.

ITi'MniRKY Armstrong sat ^azin^ tliroui;]i tlio oiiciiiiiu- of liin
prison nt the dark forest vistas and dreaiued of England and its
verdant fields and gold-cupped meadows.

Tlie whole business connected with the Dells eanie back to
him, and with it the figure of the handsome rustic fisher-girl
standing as it were vividly before him, and with her his cousin,
the cause of all the suffering.

"How strange it is," he thought again, "that I should be
brought into contact with her brother like this ! Poor ft.-llow !
more sinned against than sinning ; and as for her "

"foorgirl!"

There was a slight sound as of someone breathing hard, and
the buccaneer stood before him.

He smiled gravely, and held out his hand ; hnt Humjihiey
did not take it, and they remained gazing at each other for
some few minutes in silence.

"Have you thought better of my })roposals, Captain Arm-
strong?" said the buccaneer at last. " Are we to be friends 'I "

"It is impossible, sir," replied Humjihrey, quietly. " After
what has passed I grieve to have to reject your advances ; but
you must see that it can never be."

" I can wait," said the buccaneer, patiently. " The time will
come."

Humphrey yhook his head.

" Is there anything you want 1"

"Yes," said Hn.nphrey, sharply. "Liberty,"

THE PLAN OF ESCAPE.

279

" Take it. It is in my liarul."

" Liberty chained to you, sir ! No. Thoro, place me under
no further obligations, sir. I will not fight against you ; but
pray understand that what you ask can never be."

" 1 can wait," said the buccaneer again, (juiiitly, as he let
his eyes rest for a few moments upon his prisoner'.s face, and
then left the room.

Humphrey sprang up inpatiently, and was about to pact?
the chamber like a wild beatt in a cage when he heard voices
in the corridor, and directly after Dinny entered. The man
looked troubled and stood listening, then he stole to the curtain
and went down the corridor, to stay away for quite a (quarter
of an hour before he returned.

" He's gone, sor, safe enough. Faix, captain, dear, I fale
as if I ought to be hung."

"Hung, Dinny r'

" Yis, sor, for threachery to as good a friend as I iver had."

"What do you mean, Dinny 1" cried Humphrey, eag<Tly.

" Mane, sor ! Why, that all the grate min in the world,
from Ctesar down to Pater Donovan, have had their wake side.
I've got mine, and I'm a fallen man."

" Speak out plainly," cried Humphrey, flushing.

"That's just what I'm doing, sor," said Dinny, with a soft
smile. " It's Nature, sor. She was bad enougli, and thin you
helped her. Oh, there's no foigliting agon it ! It used to be
so in Oireland. She says to the little birds in the spring —
choose your partners, darlin's, she says, and they chose 'cm ;
and she said the same to human man, and he chooses his."

" Oh, Dinny, if you hadn't quite such a long tongue ! "
cried Humphrey.

"Faix, it's a regular sarpint, sor, for length, and just as
desaving; but as I was saying, what Nature says in owld Oire-
land in the spring she says out here in this baste of a countliry

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280

COMMODORE JUNK.

where there's nayther spring, siimmer, autumn, nor winthcr—
nothing but a sort of moshposh of sunshine and howling ihun-
derstorma"

" And **

" Yis, sor, that's it. I'm a fallen man.**

" And will you really help me to escape 1 '*

" "Whisht, sor ! "What are ye thinking about 1 Spaking
aloud in a counthry where the parrots can talk like Ohristisins
and the threes is full of ugly little chaps, who sit and watch ye
and say nothing, but howld toight wid their tails, and thin go
and whishper their saycrets to one another, and look as know-
ing as Barny Higgins's pig."

" Dinny, will you speak sensibly 1 "

« Sinsibly ! Why, what d'ye call this ? Ar'n't I tellin' ye
that it's been too much for me wid Black Mazzard shut up in
his cage and the purty widow free to do as she plasos ; and
sure and she plases me, sor, and I'm a fallen man."

"You'll help me?"

" Yis, sor, if ye'll go down on your bended knees and take
an oath."

"Oath! What oath r*

"Niver to bethray or take part in annything agen Commo-
dore Junk, the thruest, bravest boy that iver stepped."

" You are right, Dinny. He is a brave man, and I swear
that I will not beti-ay or attack him, come wliat may. Get me
my liberty and the liberty of my men, and I'll be content.
Stop ! I caimot go so far as taat ; thei*e are my men. T swear
that I will not attack your captain without giving him due
notice, that he may escape ; but this neat of hornets mnst bo
burued out, and my men freed."

" Ah, well, we won't haggle about thrifles, sor. Swear this,
8or : — Ye'll behave to the captiiin like a gintleman."

"I swear I will"

THE PLAN OF ESCAPE.

281

** Bedad, then, I'm wid yc ; and there's one more favour 111
be asking ye, sor."

"What is it?"

" Whin we get safe humo ye'U come and give Misthress
Greenheys away."

"Yes, yes, Dinny. And now, tell me, what will yoti
dol"

" Sure an' there's no betther way than I sa«i«l lx»fore. I'll
have an oi on a boat, and see that there's some wather and
bishkits and a gun in her ; and thin, sor, I'll set light tu t!io
magazine, for it'll be a rale plisure to blow up that owld gintle-
man as is always leering and grinning ut me as nnu'' as to say,
* Och, Dinny, ye divil, I know all about the widdy, and first
time ye go to see her I'll tell Black Maz/ard, and thoji, 'ware,
hawk ! ' "

" But when shall you do this 1 '

" First toinie it seems aisy, sor."

"In the night?"

" Av coorse, sor.'*

" And how shall I know 1" ^

" Hark at that, now ! Faix, ar'n't I telling ye, sor, that
I'll blow up the magazine I Sure an' ye ilon't pay so much
attention to it when ye go to shleep that ye won't hear that ?

" Of course I shall hear it," said Humphrey, excitedly

" Thin, that's the signal, sor ; i*nd when it goes fizz, l)e
riddy and wait till I kim to ye, and thin good bye t.) the
rover's loife, and Black Mazzard will bee the darlin' no more.
Whisht ! "

282

COMMODOUE JUNK.

CHAPTER XXXIL

THE EXPLORION.

A FORTNIGHT passed, during which the buccaneer visited his
prisoner twice, as if to give him an opportunity to speak, but
each time in company with Bart.

Both were very quiet and ftein, and hut few words were said.
Everything was done to make the prisoner's condition more
endurable, but the attentions now were irksome ; and though
Humphrey Armstrong lay listening for footsteps with the
greatest anxiety, those which came down the corridor svere not
those he wished to hear.

At last, in the continuous absence of Dinny, he began to
di-ead that the last conversation had been heard, and after
fighting down the desire for a fortnight, he determined to risk
exciting suspicion and ask Burt what had become of the Irish-
man.

Bart entered the place soon after he had come to the deter-
mination, bringing an Indian basket of fruit — the pleiisant
little gi'apes that grew wild in the sunny paits, and the succu-
lent banana. These he placed upon the stone table in company
with a bunch of flowers, where they looked like some oftering
made to the idol upon wiiose altar they had been placed.

Humphrey hesitated with the words upon his lips, and
checked himself. If Dinny had been overheard and were
imprisoned or watched, wh»t good would he do 1 Better wait
and bear the suspense.

" Your gift ? " he said, aloud, taking up the flowera and
smelling them, for the soft delicate blooms of the forest orchiils

mmesi

THE EXPLOSION.

283

{

suggested a room in St James's Square and a daintily-dressed
lady who was bemoaning his absence.

"Mine? No. The captain picked them himself," said
Bart, bitterly.

Humphrey laid them down and took up one of the long,
y*»li low-skinned fruits, Bart watching his action, regarding the
fruit with jealous eyes.

Humphrey turned sharply round to hide his face from his
jailer, for he hod changed colour. A spasm shot through him,
and for the moment he felt as if he must betray himself, for
as he turned over the banana in his fingers, they touched a
roughening or the under part, and the next instant he saw that
the fruit he held had been partly cut away with the point
of a knife, so that a figure had been carved in the soft rind,
and this could only have been the work of one hand, and in-
tended as a signal to him that he was not forgotten. For the
.figure cut in the rind was that of a shamrock — a trefoil with
its stalk.

He hastily tore off the rind in tiny strips and ate the fruit,
but the soft, creamy pulp seemed like ashes, and his throat was
dry, as he completely destroyed all trace of the cutting on the
rind and threw it aside.

Noting that Bart was watoliing him narrowly, he hurriedly
picked up one of the little bunches of grapes and began eating
them as if suffering from thirst. Then forcing himself to
appear calm he lay down upon the couch till Bart ha«l Hnislu^d
his customary attentions and gone.

Night at last — a moonless night — that would have been
dusk on the oimji: shore, but there in the forest beneath the
interlacing trees it was absolutely black ; and after watcliiug
at his window for hours, with every sense I'pon the strain, he
reluctantly came to the conclusion tliat no attempt would Ije
made, Dinny either not being prepared — though his signal

284

COMMODORE JUNK.

seemed to be to indicate readiness -or the night, though suit-
able for concealment, being too obscure for his purpose.

'^ One of them might have managed to come and give me
a word," he said, fretfully, as at last, weary of watching the
scintillations of the fireflies in a distant opening, he threw him-
self upon his ccuch to try and sleep, feeling that he would be
wakeful all night, when all at once, just as he felt most troubled,
his eyes closed, and he was deep in a dreamless sleep, lost to
everything but the terrific roar which suddenly burst forth,
following a vivid flash as of lightning, and as, confused and
half-stunned, Humphrey started up, all idea of the proposed
escape seemed to have passed away, and he sat watching for
the next flash, listening for the next peal, thinking that this
was a most terrific storm.

No flash — no peal — but a confused buzz of voices and the
distant pattering of feet, while a dense, dank odour of exploded
gunpowder penetrated the forest, and entered the window close
to which the prisoner sat.

" Dinny — the escape ! " he cried, excitedly, as he sprang from
his bed, for now a flash did come with almost blinding force ;
but it was a mental flash, which left him quivering with ex-
citement, as he sprang to the curtained conidor and listened
there.

A step ! — Dinny's i Yes, he knew it well 1 It was coming
along the great stone passage !

"Quick! we shall easily get away, for theyll all crowd
about the captain, asking him what to do.''

Dinny led on rapidly till they reached the turning in the
direction of the old temple which contained the oenote. Here
they struck off to the left, and found, as they cleared the narrow
forest path, that the odour of the exploded gunpowder was
almost overpowering.

Not a hundred yards away voices were heard speaking

THE EXPLOSION.

285

rapidly, and directly after they were silent, and the capUiin's
words rang out plainly as he gave orders to his pcopK', though
their import was not clear from the distance where the fugitives
crept along by the edge of the ruins.

" Arc you sure you are right ? " whispered Humphrey.

** Roight, sor; I niver was more so. Whisht! Are ye
there?"

" Yt's, yes," came from down by the side of a great wall.
"Oh, Dinny, I was afraid you were killed ! "

" Kilt ! Nay, my darling, there's a dale o' loifc in me yet.
Tak' howlt o' me hand, one on each side, and walk <|uick and
shteady, and I'll have ye down by the say shore, where the boat
is waiting, before ye know where y<.' are."

They started off at a sharp walk, pausing at times to listen
to the jargjn of excited voic(?s bthind, but rapidly advancing,
on the whole, toward their goal.

" Do — do you think we can escape ] " said thu woman^ pant-
ing with fear.

*' An' is it eshcape, whin the boat's waiting, and «iv('ryt!iing
riddy]" sai<l Dinny scornfully. "Dyer hear her, sor? What
a woman it is ! "

The woman sighed as if not hopeful, and Dinny addetl an
encouraging word :

" Sure an' the captain says he'll tak' care of us, darlin', and
avore long we'll be sailing away over the salt say. It's a white
sail I've got in the boat, and — -"

" Hist, Dinny, you're talking too loudly, my man ! "
whispered Humphrey.

"Bedad and I ail, sor. It's that owld sarpint of a tongue
Bad luck to it for being given me wrong. Faix and

o nnne.

'{3 O

it belonged to some woman by rights."

They pressed on, and at the end of vhat seemed to be an
interniiiia!)ly long time, Humphrey whi.spcrcd :

2>iQ COMMODORE JUNK.

" Are we near the sea ? "

•' Close to it now, sor. If it was Oi Iceland ye'd hear the
bating of the waves ujion the shore ; but they're too hot antl
wake in this counthry to do more than give a bit of a lap on
the sands."

Another weary length of time passed, and still the sea-shore
was not reached, but they were evidently near now, for the
dull murmur of the billows in the sheltered gulf was plainly to
be heard ; and Mistress Greenheys, who, in spito of her bi-avery
ami decision, had begun to utter a low hysterical sob from time
to time and hang more heavily upon her companions' arms,
took courage at the thought of the safety the sea offered, and
pressed sturdily forward for another few hundred yards and
then stopped short.

" What is it, dariin* ? " whispered Dinny.

" Voices ! " she replied softly.

" Yes ; our own," said Dinny. " There can't be anny others
here."

" Hist ! " ejaculated Humphrey. " Is there any other way
down to the beach 1 "

" Divil a bit, sor, that we could foind, and the boat's yander,
close inshore."

He took a step or two in advance, and listened.

" I am sure I heard whispering," said Humphrey ; but all
was still row, and feeling satisfied at last that it was the
murmur of the waves, they crept on in utter silence, and were
about to leave the shelter of the path by which they had come
and make for the ojten saud when Dinny checked his com-
panions, and they all stood listening, for a voice that was
familiar said :

" The skipper's full of fancies. He hasn't been right since
this captair^ «vas made prisoner, and he has been worse sinco
the other prisoners escaped."

THE EXPI.OSION.

2b'i

" Other prisoners ! What prisoners 1 " thought nnm|)hroy.

" You hold your tongue ! " growled the familiar voice of J 'art
" Do you want to scare them off 1 "

" Scare whom off 1"

" Those w ho try to escape. Silence ! "

Mistress Crreenheys reeled up against Hunii>hrt'y and would
have fallen but for his strong arm which encircled her, liftetl
her from the ground and held her firmly as he stepped softly
back, followed by Dinny, who did not speak till they had
reached the shelter of some trees.

" Look at that, now ! " he whispered out of the black dark-
ness. " Have yo got the darling safe 1 "

" Yes, safe enough ; but what docs this mean 1 "

" Mane, sor? Sure and it's lUrt yander wid two min."

"Take us down to the sea by some other path."

" Shure an' don't I tell ye there is no other path, sor. It's
the only way. Murther, look at that ! "

For at that moment a light flashed out and shimmered on
the sea, sank, rose, and became brilliant, shining forth so that
they could see that the three men down upon the shore had lit
a pile of some inflammable material, beyond which, flouting
easily upon the surface of the sea and apparently close inshore,
was a boat — the boat that was to bear them safely away.

They were sheltered by the trees, and besides, too far off to
be seen by the men, whose acts, however, were plain enough to
them, as one of thctm was seen to wade out to the boat, get hold
of her mooring rope, and drag her ashore.

" Tho murtherin' villains ! " muttered Dinny. ** They're
takkin' out the shtores. Look at that now ! There's the barl
o' wather and the bi.shkit, and now there's the sail. What'U I do
intoirely 1 My heart's bruk wid 'em."

" ilu.«h, my lad I You'll be heard," whispered Humphrej.
** Is there no other boat we can get 1 "

288

COMMODORE JUNK.

" Divil a wan, sor, and if wo slitay here we shall be tuk.
What'U we do now ? "

" Make a bold tight for it, and take them by surprise."

" Wid a woman as wan of our min, sor ! Sure an' it would
be a mad thrick. Wan of us would be sure to go down, you
or njo, even if we bate the divils. Look at *em, the fire's going
down, and they're coming back ! "

Humphrey gave an angry stamp, for in her agony of dread
Mistress Greenheys gave herself a wrest from his arm, and
hunied back.

" What's that 1 " whisperer Dinny.

" Mistreas Greenheys."

" What ? gone back, sor 1 Whisht ! darlin'. Stop 1 "

If the woman heard his words they only added to iier alarm,
for she hurried on, apparently as well acquainted with the way
back as Dinny, who immediately started in pursuit.

" What are you going to do 1 " whispered Humphrey.

" Do, sor ! Go afther her."

" No, no ; we must escape now we've got so far."

" Share an' we will, sor ; but to go forward's to go into
prishn for you and to be dancing on nothing for me. Come on,
sor. Let's catch up to me ^joor freckened darlin', and then tak'
to the woods."

They hunied back in pursuit of their companion, but fear
had made her fleet of foot, and in spite of their efforts they did
not overtake her.

" She'll have gone back to her quarthers," said Dinny dis-
mally. " Shall we go back to oura ]"

"No!" cried Humphrey imperiously. "Good heavens,
man ! our absence has been found out before now. Let's take
to the woods or hide in one of the ruins till we can get away."

" Shure an.' ye're roight, sor. They've been afther ye^ av
roorse, u:id I've been missed and can't show meself now widout

ON THE QUI Vive. 289

being thrated as a thi-aitor. Will ye thrust to mo, and I'll lind
a place 1 "

" Trust you ? yes," said Humphrey ; " but what do you pro-
pose doing 1 "

" Doing, aor'i Holding till we can find a chansh of getting
away."

"Where will you hide 1"

" Ye said ye'd thrust me, sor," whiaperod Dinny. " Come

on.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

ON THE QUI VIVE.

The buccaneer had sought the ruined teniple timt ovt'ning in
lowness of spirit and utter despondency. The old daring spirit
seemed to be departing, and supremacy over the men passing
rapidly away, and he knew how they talke<l among themselves,
consequent upon Mazzard's teacliing, of the growing weakness
of their commander.

"And they're right," he said, bitterly. "J am losing power
and strength, and growing more and more into the pitiful,
weak creature they say. And yet how I have tiJKl ;"

He sprang to his feet, for at that moment there was the
reflection of a flash wliich lit up tlio interior of the old temple,
showing the weird figures sitting round as if watching him in
his des}X)ndent mood.

It was but momentary, and then came a crash as if heaven
and earth had come together, followed by a long, mutterins*
roar as the thun«ler of the explosion dieil away.

The minute before the buccane<'r had been inert, des])rvndent

200

COMMr)DOUK JITNK.

and hopeless. Tlio knowIcMlgc; of what must have taken |>1ac(^
brought back his fhig;,'ing energies, an«l witli a groat dread
Hcnniing to compress his heart that evil might have befaUen liis
prisoner, he tore out of the dark temple, and as fast as the
gh>om of the winding path wouhl allow him toward the old
amphitheatre.

Haste jind the excitement made his breathing laboured as
bo strove to get on more rapidly, but only to be kept back by
the maze-like paths, where he p.issed Humphrey and Dinny,
and, gaining the open ground, dashed on to where his men were
gathered.

" Bart ! quick ! " he cried, as soon ais he was convinoed that
no harm conld have befallen his prisoner. " Take men, and
down the path to the shore. There will be an attenjpt to es-
cape in the confusion, and they'll make for the sea."

Bart grasped the urgency of the case, called two men, and
set off at a run, while Dinny was next sunnnoned.

" Hah ! " ejaculated the captain, drawing his breath between
his teeth ; "a traitor in the camp ! "

He called for lights, and wont straight to the corridor,
entered and walked down it to the chand)er, tenanted now
by the grim idol alone, and "tood for a few moments looking
round.

"Well," he muttered, "he will learn the truth of what I
said. The tiring of the powder must have been planned."

He went back to where his men were waiting outside and
walked through to the terrace above the old amphitheatre, to
find that the magazine was completely swept away ; but the
darkness hid the shattered stones lying in all directions and
the trees blasted and whitened and stripped of leaf and bark.

" My prisoner has eseai)ed," he said aloud. " I think witK
the man who was his attendant, the Irishman, Dennis Kelly.
Capture both ; but no violence to either, on your lives."

ON THK gUl VIVE.

2J)1

Tliero was a low iituniiur oitlirr of fts.s«Mit or ol»j<*ctioii, Hiid
he was turning away wIh'M Dit-k, tin* sailor, came u|».

*' CJone 1 " ho said, laconically.

*' Mazzanl ? Cumv (" cri<'(l the huecaiuMM', oxcitetily.

" Yea ; and tlio man who was on guard lying dead, crushed
with a stone."

" From the explosion 1 " cried tlie hnccaiieer.

" From Black Mazzurd's hands," rrj»liod Dick, stolidly.

"Well," said the captain, drawing in his hreath hard as ]»e
thought of the possibility of the es(;aped prisoners coining in
contact, " there will be two to capture when the day breaks.
No one can get away."

In an liour a messenger came from the sea in the siiape of
Bart, and he male his way to the captain's side.

"Well?"

" You were righ^ ; they intended the sea ; " and he ex-
plained about tlie boat.

" And yet you have come away ? "

"Two men are watching," said Bart, stolidly. .

"Bah ! you must be n>a ."

" And two planks are rifted oiit of the boat. It will take a
carpenter to make her float."

" Bart, forgive me."

"Forgive you! Ah, yes! I forgive."

" I have need of all your aid. Captain Armstrong has
escaped." .

"Not far."

" No ; but there is worse news. Mazzard has l>rained liis
keeper, and is at liberty."

" Hah ! " ejaculated Bart.

" And those two may meet."

" Always of him," muttered Bai-t, sadly. " Well, skipper,
what is it to be now, when he is captured 1 "
82

292 COMMODOUR JUNK.

" Deatli."

" To Captrtin A nnstrong ? "

" Man, are you mad ? Let Ma/zard be taken, and tluit
Irishman, too."

"And "

" Silence, nian ! Let them bo taken. I nUe liere."

Bart drew u long l»reath.

" Nothing can be done till daylight, except wait.**

CHAPTER XXXIV.

TIIK SAFKST IM.AOK.

"No, no, man; make for the fon'st," whispered iluniphniy,
ju8t at daybreak, as Dinny began to take advantage of the
coming light to mntk a safe phuM-! of coneeabnent.

"What for, sor? T«) get buried in threcis that don't so
much as grow a cabbage, wh<'r" therci's no wutlmr and no com-
pany but monkeys and the shpotlcd tigers. Lave it to me,
8or, and I'll tjik' ye to a plaw; where ye can lay shnug in
hiding, and where maybe 1 can get spache of the darling as the
bastes freokened away."

" Wluue shall yon go, then? Why not to that old temj)le
where Mazzard made his 'attempt to kill the captain*?"

"Th(Te, sor! Why, the captaii* would tind us directly.
YoM lave it to me."

Humj»hrey would have taken to the forest without hesitation,
but, worn out and sufl'ering keenly from di.sa})pointment, hv.
was in no humour to oppose, and, signifying his willingness, ho
followed the Irishman by devious ways in and out of the ruina

THR SAI'KsT riACR.

2113

for snmo timo, ♦ill Dinny crouclMd «io\vn, aiitl inotionod
t<! Iliiiiipln'cy to (Id the hjiiim".

'V\u'. pluco wjiH stH'li a cliaoH, iiiid so cjian^rd by tlio terrific
WtVi'o of (ln> explosion tlijit Hiimplircy iiad felt aH if he were
JoiiriH'yin^ alon;^ (|uit(' a new portion of thr forrst ontsKirts, till,
as he ol»ey«*<l hiH companion and they crouched down among
s inie dense lu'rl>a;^e, lie stare«l with astonishiniMit at the Hight
l»efoi<; him, a <;o»iple of hundred yar<ls away.

For there, Ix^yond on«^ of the; pileH of (^rumhling rninn, waH a
ptufectly familiar pathway, out of which he saw step into the
hroad Hunshiiie th(! pieturesijue figure of the buccaneer captain,
who strode toward a group of waiting men.

A diMcussion seemed to tak«; place, there wore some sharp
orders, and then th<* whole party disappeared.

" Wliy, Dinny, nian, are you niadV' whispered Humphrey.
" I trusted to you to *ak(! me to some place of lading, and you've
brought nu; right into the lion's den."

** Well, sor, an<l a moighty purty place too, so long as the
lion's not at honir. Sure and ye just saw him go out."

**Hut, Dinny "

" Whisht ! Don't spake so loud, sor. Sure, now, if
a cannon-hail nnvlt; a hole in tho side of a sliip, isn't that
the saf(»st place to jjut your head so as not to be hurt. They
niver hit the same place twic(>."

"Then your hiding-placo is my old loflgin^' — my prison 1"

" Av coorse it is ! The skipper has been there to mak'sure
♦ hat ye really are g(me ; and now he knows, he'll say to himself
that this is the last j lic(; ye'd go and hide in ; and troth, he's
quite roight, isn't he < "

Ifumphrey hesitated for a few moments, and then, feeling
how true the man's words were, he gave way.

" Sure, sor, and it's all roight," whispered Dinny. " Aren't
I thrying to keep my head out of a noose, and d'ye think I'd

294

CoMMODOilE JUNK.

be for coining here if it wasn't the safest place. Come along ;
sure, it's a lion's den, as ye call it, and the best spot I know "

He whispered to Humphrey to follow cautiously, and crept
on all-fours among the dense growth, and in and out among the
loose stones at the very edge of the forest, till the tunnel-like
pathway was reached in safety, when, after nraM^ling a few
yards out of the blinding sunshine into the shadowy gloom,
Dinny rose to his feet.

" There, sor," he said, " we can walk like Christians, now,
and not like animal bastes. There isn't a sound."

As he spoke, there was a peculiar cry, and a gorgeously-
pluniaged bird flitted into sight, and perched on a piece of stono
in the sunny opening of the tunnel, where its scarlet breast and
dazzling golden -green plumage glittered in the sun.

" Sure and ye're a purty fowl, and I'm much o'^liged to ye -
for the information," said Dinny, as the bird erected its brilliant
crest , stared wildly, and then flew ofi* with its long green tail-
feathers streaming out behind. " He says there's nobody about,
sor, or he wouldn't be here. Come along."

It seemed like a dream to Huuiphrey after his sleepless
night, to find himself once more in the gloomy corridor with the
faint light streaming in at the side-openings, instead of in a
boat, dancing over the blue waters and leaving the buccaneer's
nest behind. But it was the bare reality, as Dinny went
forward, drew the great curtain aside, and he passed in and on
from behind the great idol to throw himself, worn-out and ex-
hausted, upon his couch of skins.

" Sure and I wouldn't trate it like that, sor," cried Dinny,
cheerfully. "We have eshcaped, sor, though we haven't got
away, and been obliged to come back again."

" Don't talk folly, man."

" An' is it folly ye call it 1 Siire an' we Iiave eshcaped, or
else why are tliey all in purshuit of us 1 We've got away, and

THE SAFEST PLACE.

295

tliey fale it, and all tliat's linppenetl is that we did rache the
boat, but had to come back hero for a rest till we were riddy
to go on. Sure, sor, ye're hungry. Ate .some of the tortillas
a^d drink some of the wine, and thin, if ye won't think it pre-
suniption, I'll say — afther you,"

" Eat and drink, man. You must be faint. I have no
appetite."

" Ah ! " ejaculated Dinny, after a pause of about a quarter
of an hour, which he had bravely employed, "there's nothing
like food and dhrink, if it's only potaties and butthermilk.
Sure I'm ready for annything now, and so will ye be, sor, as
soon as the wine begins to work."

" Dinny, I'm ready for anything, now ; but we cannot stay
here.''

" Git up, sor, if ye wouldn't moind," said Dinny.

Humphrey obeyed dejectedly as the man advanced.

" Sure, sor, and it's a wondherful owld place this, and there
must have heen some strange games carried on. Now, sor,
in all the months ye've been here, did ye iver look under the
bed?"

"Under the bed, man?" cried Humphrey. "Why, it is a
huge block of stone."

" Is it, now, sor 1 Sure and didn't I help fit up the place
for ye when ye first came, an' by the captain's orders ] Sure
and I know all about it. ' Dinny, me boy,* me mother used
to say to me, * ye haven't got a watch and ye've got no money,
but ye may have both some day, so beware of tliayves and
robbers ; and whiniver ye go to slape in a sthrange place, be
sure ye look under the bed.' An' yer mother iiiver gave you
that advice, sor ? "

He walked to the couch and threw up the skins which
covered it, revealing what seemed to be a low, square bench of
stone, whose top was one enormous slab.

21)0

COMMODORE JUNK.

" Now, sor," said Dinny, " would ye moind thrying to lift
that]"

Humphrey stepped quickly to his side, bent down, seized
the projecting slab, tried to raise it, and then straightened him-
8(^lf and shook his head.

" A dozen men could not raise it, Dinny," he said.

" No, sor, but a Selly can. Look here."

He b3nt down, placed his shoulder to one comer, gave it a
thrust, and the whole top glided round as if on a pivot, and
revealed an ojiening dimly lit apparently from below.

"There, sor," he said, "I dishcovered that by accident
when I was here alone wan day. I pushed a big stone against
that corner and it gave way, and when I pushed the whole
place opened, and down there's as good a hiding-place as a man
need have."

" Dinny," cried Humphrey, excitedly, " and doesn't the
captain know of this V'

" Sure and I think the last man who knew of it died be-
fore the flood, sor, and it hasn't been opened since."

" And these rough stairs — where do they lead ? "

" Down into the cabin, sor, where there's a little door out
into the forest. Sure and the artful baste who made it little
thought he was going to find us as purty a hiding-place as was
iver made. There it is, sor, all ready for us if we hear annyone
coming. If we do, down we go and twirl the lid of the pot
back over our heads, and then we can either go or shtay."

" Can you move the cover when you are down 1 "

" Aisiiy, sor. I've thried it. Now, then, what do ye say
to that?"

Humphrey's answer was to hold out his hand and wring
that of his companion.

There was an ample supply of food in the place for a week,
and water and wine. Dinny's ideas respecting their safety

THR SAFEST PLACE.

297

scomod to be quite correct, for though voices were heard at a
distance, no one approached the place. They had the hidden
subterranean tomb-like chamber into which they could retreat ;
and on the second night, while Dinny was watching and Hum-
phrey, utterly worn out, was sleeping feverishly and trying to
forget the troubles and disappointments of his failure, there
was a faint rustling noise heard, and directly after his name
was whispered softly fi'om abova

" Murther ! " cried Dinny, unable to contain himself as he
sprang up.

His exclamation and the noise he made brought Humphrey
from his couch, alert, and ready for any struggle.

"What is it?" he said.

" Sure, sor, something freckened me. A mouse, I think."

" Dinny ! " came in a reproachful voice from above.

" Mistress G'-eenheys ! " cried Humphrey. " You there 1 "

" Yes. I can. ^ to try and learn tidings of you. I did not
know you were both prisoners."

" Sure an' we're not, darlin'," said Dinny. " We only tuk
refuge here, so as to be near you. An' where have you been ? "

" 1 crept back to my place," said the woman, " and reached
it without having been missed."

" Then ye're quite free to come and go 1 "

"Yes— quite."

" Erin-yo-hragh ! " cried Dinny, excitedly. " Then what
yeVe got to do, darling, is to go back and come agen as soon
as ye can wid something to ate, for we shall soon be starved.''

"Yes, Dinny ; I'll come again to-night."

"There's a darlin' for ye, aor. But tell us. What are
they doing]"

" Searching for you far and wide ; and the captain is
furious. He says he will have you found."

" And ye've been quite well, darlin' 1 "

21)8

COMMUPOUE JUNK.

"Yes, Diniiy. No, Diiiiiy. I've been fretting to death to
kii'.)W w liat Imd Ix'coiiu* of you."

" Sm»' and I've been 4uito right, only I wanted to know
about you. Nobody's inicUlled wid ye, theni"

" No, Dinny — not yot."

" Arruh, slipako out now, and say what ye mane wid your
* not yet,' " cried Dinny, angrily.

'Milack Mazzard."

" Well, he's shut up."

" I Te ('sea[)ed the same time that you did.

*' ]':shcaped ! Holy Moses ! "

"That, wretch freol" cried Humphrey.

"Yes, sir."

" Where is he ? "

" No one knows, sir ; but they have p'vrties out searching
for him and for you."

"Oh! murther! murther !" groaned Dinny. "My heart's
bruk entirely. What'U I do at alH Shtop, darlin'; ye must
come here."

" Stop here, Dinny ! Oh, no, I couldn't ! " said the woman,
piteously.

"Sure no, and ye couldn't," said Dinny. " It wcildn't be
dacent, darlin', for ye've got a characther to lose. Captain,
dear, what'U I do?"

" We must wait, Dinny, and try to-night if we cannot find
a boat."

*• And lave that poor darlin' to be f reckoned to death by
that great black baste 1 Oh, captain, dear, I'll have to go wid
her and puriect her ; and if I'm hung for it, why, I can't help
it. I should have behaved like a man."

" Wait, Dinny," said the woman, cheerily. " You keep iu
I hiding for a day or two, dear. If Black Mazzard does come
and try to get me away, I can but die."

THE SAFEST TLACE.

299

" Sure, an' what good'll tliat tlo me 1 " cried Dinny. " D'ye
want to make mo a widow, too ] "

" Hush ! You're talking too loudly," whispered the woman.
" Good-bye ! Next time I come I'll bring food. Perhaps good

news.

" No, no ; don't go yet, darliu'," cried Dinny. " She's gone.
Oh, murther, sor ! What'll 1 do 1 Can't ye put me out of mo
misery at wanst ? "

Dinny calmed down at last, and Humphrey resumed his
place upon the couch, which was arrangcid so that at. any
moment they might secure their retreat. But thr night had
not passed before the faithful little woman was back again with
sucli provisions as she could bring and lower down to them,
for she would not hear of Dinny coming out, threatening to
keep away if he ran any risk.

This went on for two nights, during which time they had
no alarm. Not a soul l)eside approached the place ; ivA the
same report was brought them that their hiding-place baffled
all, but the captain was Hercely determined that the prisoners
should be found.

" Then why not try to escape inland, Dinny 1 " said Hum-
phrey, at last. " Surely, it cannot be impossible."

" Haven't we all thried it again and again wid the captain,
sorl" said Dinny, in ren monstrance. "He set us all to work,
so as to make sure that we couldn't be attacked from the land ;
and ye can't get in a mile anny where, for thick forest worked
together like a powerful big hurdle that's all solid, and beyaut
that's mountains — and burning mountains— and the divil
knows what ! Sure, and ye can't get that way at all widout
an army of wx)od-cutters, and a life a hundred yeara

long!"

A week went by, food was wanting, the prisoners were in

despaii', and they had both crept out again and again to the

300

cud of l]i

COMMUDOUE JUNK.
\nd listcued to try and make out

lung;

idor and iistcueU to trv and make out some-
hut uii ouisKii* was soieiiiniy sun, ana Uie place might
Imvo bocu onco more the abodo of death, had not a couple of
Benti'ics always been visible keeping watch, so that it was im-
possible to stir. »

"I caul slitand this anny longer, sor," said Dinny one
t'vc^ning. " I'm going to see if I can't find her, sor. I must
have news of the darlin', or I shall die ! "

" It's madness, Dinny ! " said Humphrey, excitedly.

''Sure, and I know it is, sor. I am mad."

"But you will injure her and yourself too."

" I can't help it, sor. I've a faling upon me that Black
Mazzard has got her again, and I'm going to fetch her away."

" You are going to your death ; and it will be through me,
man!"

" Make your moind aisy, sor, about that It would be all
tho same if ye were not here. Sure, and I'd be a poor sort
of a boy if I towld a woman I loved her, and thin, when the
darlin' was in difficulties, jist sat down quietly here, and left
her in the lurch."

" She would not have you stir, Dinny, if she knew."

" What of that, sor ] Let 'era hang me if they catch me ;
and if they do, sor, Oi'll doie like a Kelly. And not a word
will I shpake of where ye are ; and I wish ye safe away to your
swateheart — for ye've got wan, I'm thinking, or ye wouldn't bo
so aiger to get away."

"Well, promise me this, Dinny — you'll wait a few hours
and see if we have news."

" Faix, and for your sake, sor, I'll do that same," said
Dinny.

He went to the window opening and leaned thero, listen-
ing; while Humphrey seateil himself upon the edge of the
couch to watch the opening above his head, in the expectancy

THE SAFEST I'LACE.

301

that Mistress Groenheys luiglit arrive and put an oml to tlie
temble suspense as to lior silence.

The still, sultry heat was terrible, not a leaf inovcMl outside,
and the darkness came on more obscure tliau usual ; for as
Humphrey looked out of the window from tiiuo to time, to
gaze along the forest arcade, there was not a tlrotly visible, and
the heavy, oppressive state of the air sc'cmcd to auuouucc a
coming storm.

Dinny's figure had louij b.;eu invisible, but lie made bis
presence known by crooning over snatches of the most depress-
ing minor-keyed Irish melody he could recall ; but after a
time that ceased, and the silence grew heavy as the h(;at.

" How long have I been asleep]" ho muttircd, starting up
and listening. " Dinny ! "

No answer.

" Dinny ! Hist ! Are you asleep ] "

He dare call no louder, but rose from the couch.

" Dennis Kelly, the traitor, bus gone, JIuinplney Arm-
strong ! " cried a hoarse voice, and he felt himself driven back
into the great tomb-like place.

" Connnodore Junk ! " cried Humphrey in his surprise.

"Yes, Commodore Junk. Hah I I have you. My prisoner
once again."

"Your prisoner V No, not if I die for it!" cried Hum-
phrey, passionately ; and he struggled to free hinuiclf from the
tightening grasp.

" I tell you it is madness. You have proved it yourself,
and, weary with your folly, you have returiied."

" Returned !" cried Humphrey, fiercely; "ye;, but only to
bo free."

The caj)tain tried to utter some angi y ap[toal, but a iieico
struggle had connnencetl, an 1 the great stony place seeuied to
be full of whispers, of hoarse sighs, the catching of breath,

302

COMMODORE JUNE.

harsh expirations as tho contending pair swayed here and there
— the captain, lithe and active as a ]>antltor, bufHing again and
again Huinplirey's superior weiglit and strength. Twice over
the latter tripped and nearly ftill, but he recovered himself an»l
struggled on, seeking to wind his arms round the buccunoiT
and lift and throw him with a west-country wrestling tiick.
But try how he would, his adversary seeuiod to twist lilv.j an
eel and recover himself, till suddenly, as they swayed here Jind
there, with the thick rugs kicked on one side, there was a low,
jangling noise as a sword escaped from its scabbard and fell
upon the stony floor.

It was a trifling incident, but it attracted the buccanec^r's
attention for a momi^nt — just long enough to put him otl' his
guard — the result being that he was thrown heavily, lluniplirey
planting his knee upon his breast, and as he thrust out a hand
it encountered the fallen sword, which he snatched up with a
shout of triumph, shortened in his hand, and held to the
buccaneer's throat.

" Now," he cried, fiercely, " I have the upper-haud, my lad.
You are my prisoner. Make but one sound, and it is your last."

The buccaneer uttered a low moan, and snatched at the
blade, but the intervening hand was thrust away, and tho
point pressed upon the heaving liesh.

" Do you give in ? " ' *

" No ! " cried the buccaneer, fiercely. " Strike, Humphrey
Armstrong ; strike, and end my miserable life ! Then go an I
say, I have slain the woman who loved me with all hei- heart ! "

"What! " cried Humphrey, starting back, as the sword foil
from his nerveless hand, and a flash, as of a revelation, en-
lightened him as to the meaning of much that had before
seemed stmnge.

" Well, why do you not strike? Did I not speak plainly 1
I am Mary DelU"

303

OHAPTKR XXXV.

A fim:sii alarm.

"Yes; who culled ]" cried Humphrey, titorting up.

"Hist! Be careful. It is me."

Humphrey sprung from his couch, und was ul.out to Mpeak,
when the curtain wus thrown roughly aside, and Bart entered
quickly.

'* What's the matter ? " \u* «uid, rou,i;hly.

"Matter!" said Humphrey. "I— l—niust have been
dreaming."

Bart looked at him sourly, and then gave a suspicious look
round.

" What time is iti" said Humphrey, hastily.
" Time ! What do we know about time here ? 'Bout f lur
Dells."

Humphrey gazed excitedly at the dindy-seen figure, visible
by a faint light which streamed in bt-side the curtain, and then
as the curtain fell he advanced slowly till he could peer throu-di
and see that Bart had gone right to the far end of the coriidor,
where he had a lantern set in a stone recess, beside which he
ensconced himself, und played sentry once again.

" Esca|)e is impossible unless I choose the gates of death,"
muttered Humphrey, as he stole back cautiously, and then in a
low voice said —

" Hist ! Did anyone call 1 "

"Yes. Is it safe to whisper?" came from above.

"Mistress Greenheys 1 " cried Humphrey, joyfully. *' Speak
low, don't whisper ; it penetrites too far. How X have longed
X> hear from you ! "

804

COMMODORE JUNK.

** Oh, sir, pray, pray, Have him ! **

** Dinny V iwiid Humphrey, starting.

" Yes. He is to be killed, and it was for your sake he ran
that risk. Pray, try and save him."

"What can I dol"

"Implore the captain. He may listen to you. I cannot
bear it, sir; it makes me feel half mad ! "

" Have you seen him ] "

" Seen him 1 No, sir. He's kept closely shut up in one of
the stone chambers by the captain's quarters, and two nuni
watch him night and duy."
• " As I am watched," said Humplirey, bitterly.

"Yes, sir; but you have not been untrue to your cii'tain.
You are not sentenced to death, and every man eager to see
you hung. My poor Dennis ! It is my fault, too. Why did
we ever meet ? "

Humphrey was silent.

" You will see the captain, sir, and ask him to spai'e his
life?"

Humphrey ground his teeth. To ask Dinny 's life was to
ask a favour of Mary Dell, and to place himself under greater
obligations still. *

" That is not all the trouble," said the woujan, who was
evidently sobbing bitterly. " That wretch Mazzard is still at
liberty."

" Not escaped ? " cried Humphrey.

" Not escaped ! — not taken !" said the woman. "He is iu
hid'ng about the place, and I have seen him."

She seemed to shudder, and her sobs grew more fre(juent.

" He has not dared to come to you ? "
• "No, sir; but he came near enough to speak to and threaten
me. He will come some night and <lrag me away, and it would
be better to die, 4h ! "

his

A PRRSH ALARM. 805

Slie utterfid a low cry ; and us Humphrey listened he heard
low, (|uick talking, a faint rustling overhead, and then the
sound of the voices died away.

"Discovered !" said Humphrey, bitterly. "Fate ia working
HLjuihst me now. Better, as she said, to die."

A quarter of an hour's silence ensued, and conscious that at
any moment he might be watched, as far as the deep gloom
would allow, Humphrey seated himself ujwn the edge of the
old stone altar, and folded his arms, to see what woald be the
next buffet of fate he was to bear.

He had not long to wait.

There was the sound of a challenge at the end of the cor-
ridor, and a quick reply, followed by an angry muttering, and
Hunq^hrey laughed mockingly.

" Master and dog ! " he said, bitterly. " Mistress and dog,
I ought to say."

He drew himself up, for he heard a well-known step coming
quickly along the [)assage. The curtain was snatched aside,
and the buccaneer took a dozen strides into the place and
stopped, looking round.

"Where are you?" cried the buccaneer, in a harsh, imperious
voice, deep almost as that of a man.

There was no reply.

"Where are you, I say]" was repeated imperiously. "Are
you ashamed to speak ? "

" No ! What do you want 1"

The buccaneer started in surprise, and faced round.

" Are you there ? Coward ! Traitor ! This explains all.
This is the meaning of the haughty contempt — the miserable
coldness. And for a woman like that — the mistress of the
vilest slave among the men. Humphrey Armstrong — ^you, the
brave officer, to stoop to this ! Shame upon you ! Shame ! "

" Woman, are you mad V*

SO(i COMMODOUE JUNK.

"Yes.! Mad!" criod tho huccaiieor, fiercely. "I KA)vn
inywdf for my weak, pitiful fancy for ho dvi.spicable a creiwfure
ii8 you. Ho tliis in the brave captain, holding nightly nieevingH
'with a woman lik<' that ! "

" Ah T would with anyone who could help me to ebcape
from thin vi!(^ lujudage," said Humphrey.

•« ViN' ! Who has made it vilel"

** You," Hai<l tfumphrey, sternly; "and aH if I were u\A> do-
giaded low (Miough by your bas(! passion and declaration, you
conn; lien; in the night to insult me by such an insinuation oh
that." .

Th(!re was utter sihttiee for a few moments, and then a '^uick
n.A!j) forward ; and Ixjfon) Humphrey Armstrong could ixjalise
the fa(;t, Mary Dell had cast herself down, thrown her arms
around him, and laid her cheek against his feet.

" Trample on mo and crush mo, or kill me," she mMtned.
" T am mad. I did not think it. Humphrey, have pity on
nie. You do not know."

Tie trembled as she sjxike, and clenched his fists ti|^htlj ;
but nuiking an effort over hims ilf, In; said coldly —

" You have imprisoned tin; woman's lover, and she 8*ys he
is to die. She cam<; tlu^e, as she has come many times before,
to plan esca|)e with me and the man T persuaded to be the
partn<;r of my flight. For this he is to di<?."

•' Jt is the men's will," groaned the prostrate woman.

"She has b<ien praying to me to save her lover. I felt I
could not ask you ; but I do ask. Spare the poor fellow's life,
and set him free."

" l>oyou wish it?"

"Yes."

"He shall Ik; set free. You Hee, l can be merciful, while
you alone nre stern Gn<l cold, llow long am 1 to suffer this?"

" How long will you \n'r\» me here a prisoner?"

A FUKSII ALARM. 307

" ITow long will you keop yourself a prisoner, you should
H;iy. It is for yoti to ho lUiister hen? ; for nio to be your slave.
How Clin I Imrnhlo inysrlf -dof^rad*' myHcIf -morel"

Huinphroy drow his hrcatli in uii an^ry, impatient hiss.

" For lI»;avon'H Hak«^, rise!" ho oriod. "You lowor your-
wlf. You humhio mo. CAuiut : lot vh talk sensibly. I do
not want to he hard u|)on you. I will not say bitter things.
(Jive me your hand."

lie took the hand noarost to him as he bent down, and
raised the prostrate woman.

'* I3(i seated," ho said, gravtily. " Ta'X me talk to you as I
would to some one who can listen in an unprejudiced
spirit."

I'herci was no reply.

" In your character of the captain of these buccaneers you
asked me, an Enj^iBh ofIic<;r, to bo your frioiul and companion
— to share with you this command. Is that all? "

Still no reply.

*' Let us Ur.ir away the veil," he continued ; " for surely I am
no egotist when I say to you that from the beginning it was
more than this."

" No ; I did not know then. I thought that you might bo
njy friend ; that I should keep up this disguise until the end,"
was faltered piter)usly.

"Impossible!" critid Humphrey, stendy. "Let me be
plain with you. Lot m(} toll you that I have sat here alone
thinking, reading your character, pitying you for all that is
past."

" Pity I " came in a d(»ep, low voice.

"Yes," he said, gently, "pity, f^et me try, too, and be
gratt'ful. For you spared my life at lirst; you saved it after-
wards."

"Go on. You torture me."
T 2

308

COMMOOORK JUNK.

" I must torture you, for I have wordu to spottk that must
be uttered."

Ho paused for a few moments ; and tlien went on, speak-
ing now quickly and agitatedly, as if the words he utteied
gave him pain at the same time that they inflicted it upon
anotlu^r.

" When I was chosen to command this expiidition, against
one who liad made the name of (N)mmodoro Junk a terror all
round the gulf and amid tlie isles, I knew not what my fate
might be. There were disease and death to combat, and I
might never return."

He paused again. Then more hurriedly —

" There was one to whom "

" Stop ! " came; in a quick, angry voice. " I know what
you would say ; but you do not love another. It is not
tru(^"

Jlumphrey Armstrong paused again, and then in a low,
husky voice —

" I bad(i farewell to one whom I hoped on my return to
make my wife. It panis me to say these words, but you force
them from me."

" Have I not degraded myself enough ] Have I not suffered
till I am nearly mad tliat you tell me this?" came in piteous
tones.

'* Was I to blame r'

" You ? No. It was our fate. What a triumph was
mine, to find that I, the master who had lived so long with my
sccnst known but to poor iJart, was now beaten, humbled — to
lind that ihiy by day I was less powerful of will- that my men
were beginning to lose confidence in me, and were ready to
listen to the plo^ and plans of one whom I had spared, for
him to become a uiore deadly enemy day by day. Humphrey
Armstrong, have you no return to offer me for all I have

A FRESH ALARM.

309

8ufferr4 — all I have lost? T(;ll rae this is false. You do not
— ^you cannot — love this woman.'*

He was silent.

" Is slio so beautiful 1 Is she so true ? Will she give you
wealth and power? Would she lay down her life for yout
Would she de^M-ade luu'solf for you as I have done, and kneel
before you, saying, ' Have pity on me — I love you '?"

" Ifush, woman!" cried Humphrey, hoaraely ; "and for
I)ity'ssak«! — the pity of which you speak — lot us part and meet
no more. I cannot, I will not listen to your words. Give me
my liberty, and let me go."

"To denoimce me and mine?"

" Am I such a coward, such a wretch, that I should do
this ? " he cried, passionately.

" Then stay. List(;n : I will give you love such as woman
never gave man before. T loved your cousin as a weak, foolish
girl loves the first man who whispers compliments and sings
her praises. It is to her all new and strange, the realisation
of something of which she had dreamed. But as the veil fell
from my eyes, and I saw how cowardly and base he was, that
love withered away, and I thought that love was dead. But
wh(in you came my heart leaped, and I trembled and wondered.
I shnmk from you, telling myself that it was a momentary
fancy ; and I lied, for it was the first strong love of a lonely
woman, thirsting for the sympathy of one who could love her
in return."

" Oh ! hush — hush ! " cried Humphrey. " I have told you
that it can never be."

"And she will never love you as I would — as I do," came
in a low, imploring whisper.

" Yes, yes, a thousand times yes I " cried Humphrey.

" Even if it were not so I could not No, I will not

speak. I only say, for pity's sake let us part,"

310

COMMODORE JUNK.

He paused, for there was no reply.

"You do not answer," he said, gently. "Think of what I
say. I cannot give you love. I should be unworthy of youra
if I could. My friendship I can give, and it shall be devoted
to saving you from this life."

Still no reply; and the silence and darkness seemed deeper
than before.

" You do not take my hand ! " he said, bitterly. " You
do not listen to my words ! Come, for heaven's sake be just
to rue. Say that I have spoken well."

Still no reply, and he listened as he leaned forward ; but
there was nothing to be heard but the beating of his own heart.

He leaned forward with outstretched hand, and bending
down it touched the cold stone of the altar.

He swept his hand to left and right, listening intently ; but
there was no sound.

" Why do you not speak 1 " he said, sternly, as he realised
the folly of his first surmise.

His words seemed to murmur in the roof and die away, but
there was no reply.

He took a few steps in different directions, suddenly and
quickly, listening intcnitly the while, feeling certain that he
would hear her try to avoid him ; but all was silent, and at
last he made for the entrance, drew aside the curtain, and
stood listening there.

Feeling sure that his visitor coukl not have gone that way
he turned back, and with outstrecched hands paced the great
chamber to and fro till at each crossing he touched the stone wall.

Satisfied at length that he was alone, and that the great
stone which formed his couch had not been moved, he went
once more to the great curtain, pulled it aside, and passed
through so as to go along the corridor, for now that his visitor
had left him the desire to speak again came strongly.

A FRESH ALARM.

311

Half-way down the passage lie suddenly became aware of
an advancing light, and directly after he saw that it was
gleiiming from the brown face of Bai*t.

"Hallo! What nowT' he growled. "Where are you

going]"

"The captain! Did you meet the captain?" said Hum-
phrey hastily.

" Meet him ! No. He came to me and sent me back,"

said Bart, grimly.

" Where is he, then 1"

" At his quarters, of course."

Humphrey Armstrong turned upon his heel frown* ng, as he
felt that a great deal of what he had been saying must have
been addressed to vacancy.

He'did not turn his head as he paced the corridor, but he
was aw'are that he was followed by Bart, whose lantern shed its
faint yellow glenm upon the great curtain till he had i>assed
through, and all was in darkness as he crossed the great
chamber and threw himself upon the couch. But the place
was feebly illuminated directly after, as Bart drew the drapery
aside and peered in, holding the lantern well above his head
to satisfy himself that his prisoner was there.

Then he drew back, the great curtain fell into its place,
and Humphrey's jailer went slowly to his niche, where he set
down his light, seated himself, and with arms folded and chin
resting upon his breast, moodily brooded over the position.

" A curse ! " he muttered more than once—" a curse ! If
he were dead there would he peace once more, for she would

forget him."

"Suppose," he thought, after a while- -" suppose he was to
be gone next time she can.e. Well, he might have escaped,
and after a time she'd be at r ■ t. It would be so easy, and it
would be for her. And yet he's so brave and so handsome,

812

COMMODORK JUNK.

such a man for her ! Bottor hco hor liaj)py and Icill mysolf.
Not that I iwed ! " ho said, bitterly ; " for slio said slie'd do
tliat if aught happened to him."

" It's liard work," he muttered, rtftor a wlule, " seeing the
woman you love care for some one else, and him lying (hero,
and UH good as asking you to put him out of the way."

Bart's hea<l sank lower hh Ik* (rreuehed there, struggling
with the great temptation of his life, till at last hv. shiwly rose,
and, shading the lantern within his hreast, stepjMul «'autiously
toward the curtain which drnpc^l the door. Stretirhing out his
hand, he was in the act of drawing it softly aside when there
was a firm clutch at his shoulder, and a low voice whispered in
his ear —

" What ar(5 you going to do ]"

Bart drew back, h^t fall the curtain, and faced his
leader.

" Nothing ! " he said, abruptly.

" You villain ! " whispered the buccaiufer. " i read murder
in your eye ! "

" I'm tired of it," growled linrt. " I give it up. I know
■what 1 am. T hopes for nothing ; but when I see you go mad
for one who hates you, and who will bring ruin on us all, as
well as nuike you uidiMppy, it makes me niad too. He's an
en«'my, and I could kill anybody us gives you i)ain !"

"As 1 could, and would, slay you if you hurt a hair of the
licad of the man 1 love ! "

"The man you love!" muttered Bart, bitterly. "Time
back it was the other Captain Armstrong. Now it's him.
Anybody but a poor fellow like uw ! "

"You have told me again and again you were cont«'nttobe
my friend. Go back to the (piarteis, and I'll watch myself I
Lave no one here I can trust ! "

Burt's face worked as they slowly returned along tho

M«'rn.

Ill

A FKESII ALAIIM.

;U3

* corrfdor, and rago and pain were marked in turn upon lti»
feu,ture8.

Ah they reached the Mlaco where he not down tiis hiiiteru,
he stood in a bent attitude, as if poiidtriiig upon the wonis
wliich had been .said.

" Why are you waiting?" said th(j captain, iinpcTiously.

"Them words o' yours," said Bart. " You said you could
kill me."

"Ah I would have done," was the fierce reply, "if jiarm
had befallen him ! "

" Jietter it had ! " said Jiart, bitttulv. " Better it had, and
you'd killed me. Sav<!d you from pain and nuj from a life of
misery. Ami to go?"

" Yes," said the captain, less firmly, as the man's tones be-
trayed the agony of his spirit. "Go; 1 have no one now
whom I can trust ! "

" Don't say that to mo," said tht; poor fellow, hoarsely, as
he fell upon his knees and claspcul his hands. " Kill me if you
like, captain, but don't doul)t nu!. All these yisars I've done
nothing but try and serve you faithful and well,"

"And you would have slain the nmn I love ! "

"Something tempted me, and it said that it was for your
good, and when it was like that I felt I couhl do any thing."

" You would have Ixitrayed mc; ! "

"I would have killed him as giv(; you pain, him who hjis

• changed you, and broken you down to whiit you are. I knew
as 1 now know, that it's ruin to you 1 "

" Silence, man, and go ! "

"What has he done for you ! " cried Bart. "Nought but
give you hard words, and curse you ever since he has been
, here, and yet you go on loving him !"

" What have I ever done for you, IJart, but give you hard
words and cold looks, and yet you liuvo ^oim on loving me 1 "

COMMODOUK JUNK.

" TriK*," said IBart, hoarsely ; " and so I shall till I die 1 "

*• And so shall I, Bart, till I die I " '

" Don't talk like that," ho groaned. " It's better to live
and suffer than to talk of death. I give in— once more
I give in ! "

"Then go; I will watch!"

'' No, captain ; don't send me away ! Trust me this oncOi
I am faithful to you ! "

" Ay ; but not to him."

There was a pause, and Bart seemed to be struggling hard
with himself, till he had won some terrible victory.

"Tell me," he said at last, "tell me to swear. 1*11
be as true to him as I've been to you, and I'll swear it. I'll
die for him, if you say I am ! "

" Then swear, Bart. Swear that I may depend on you as I
would on myself! That, for my sake, you will defend him
from all evil, come when it may ! " •

" Because you love him ? " said Bart, slowly.

" Because I love him, man ! "

There was a painful silence for a few minutes, and then, as
he knelt there, on the time-worn stones, the simple-hearted
single-natured man said, in a low husky voice —

" I swear it : so help me God ! "

Bart rose slowly, with his breath coming and going as if
after some terrible struggle, and, as he stood there trembling,
he felt his hand seized and held tightly between two warm,
moist palms.

He let it rest there for a few moments, and then snatched
it away.

" What are you going to do 1 " whispered the buccaneer.

" Obey orders," said Bart, relapsing, as it were, to his former
manner.

*' Ko ; stay. I have only you to trust,**

ONE PRISONEU FREE.

315

"And youll leave mo now along of him 1**

" Without a feeling of dread, Bart ; because the temptation
would come in vain."

" Are we all mad 1 " said Bart, softly, as he stootl listening to
the retiring footsteps ; and then he sank down upon the stones,
with his back to the wall, and the light shining upon his
rugged head.

I'll
I'll

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ONE PRISON F, R FREE.

Tinny! You herel"

" Yes, sor — it's me."

''But at liberty 1"

"Yes, sor ; and I'm to attend on ye as I did avore."

"But "

" Oh, it's all right, sor ! The captain's a bit busy, and I'm
not to be hung at present. I'm to be kept ttll there's a
big holiday, and be strung up then. It's the fashion out
in this part of the counthry."

" My poor fellow," cried Humphrey, " I am glad to see you
safe again ! "

" Safe, sir ! and d'ye call it safe, whin the first time,
perhaps, as the skipper gets in a passion I shall be hung up
in all me youth and beauty, like one o' the big drooping
flowers on a tree V*

" Nonsense, man ! "

"Oh, it's sinse, sor; and I shall droop, too, wid all my
moight ! "

31(1

oomroDORB junk.

" ^«, no," mid TTumphrey as h« . ,, .
«»^^ ^Hw in Dinnj 's reprieve 7^ ^' '"^ "P"'^ *»»« P^

the result." ^ ^ *^ 'P«^« ^0"r We, and this i«

** J>i(I ye, now, sor 1 gurf> „«» t x.
""'«;'«■■<.•»• l,a.,,.en down '„ Ll^'tl""' ""' """'^
■»« wl.at a thnptin, Httlo beaut/In »i"° '' """^ '""■
I be«a„ to co„,i,,,, w,„t ,„j of a man th " """ ''■'^•" '"'

when the hoy, ,„„,„ i„,^,„ ^ " •»»" «>« <»pte« is. and how.

"•wl- P"ix, and he's alwavs UT ' ^"""^ ^ » "'"Slo

~n', The shipper, one of the arCvr^'"* '^^ «•"•
Jlumphrey looker! «f fi "»rnts.

"- "e hid Jo hi: 1!'17 ""'"''' ""' ^' -" -«»'

"Sme, sor," continued Dinnv "»i. r .
'*o, it has always seemed to Zl if T ' *"* ••»»* ^o-
David to your Jonathan, only "L ott '*''*'^ ^-^d to be
"n't a bit like King DavidT ""^ *"'' '<* *^« -kipper

"HaveyousufleredmuchJ" '

" Suffered, sor ! "

"I mean in prison." < '

" D^il a H sor 1 IVe li«j i-u .

a'-aysfadeamanupweirinS I'/"**'*^-^ "^V
they finish him off." "^ J""* "^ *^« Monthly befo.1

-oiX'^Xr :;:^' ^^"-" -^-^ H-pHrey.
takes mine too." ''°* **k« yo» life unless he

-^^^otening the ^r so^^t d^S " '^*^* "^^^
'^^•'•"■t.b.owthatsam,. .1 .h»B riw^. be

ONE IM{IS(hNKU FUKK.

'Ml

kre

frockened ul>out him till a diuMMit prnst»> li;is tifil us two to-
gother toightly, and then [ shji'n'b )u> lifti»i>y till I know tliafc
Black Mazzard's nailed up hfclMickst four Uoards ; an<l if I'vo
annything to do wid it they sli.ill l»o as thi<!k as treo.s and
nailed wid Rcrews."

" He has made his escape somewlnTe ] "

" Not ho, Hor ; and [ don't like the look o' thinj^s. I've
been too nnich shut up to see iiniiythini,', hein;,' more like a
cockroach in a whishky bottle nnd the cork tied down than
annything else. Ihit I'm sk«?art, cuptain darlin' ; and if anny-
thing happens whisht ! have ye kept my saycret ? "

He put hJ3 lips close to the prisoner's ears, and whispered
as he gave a knowing look at the ccmch.

"It is a secret still, Dinny."

"Good luck to ye, sor ! Thin, if annything happens, just
you go there and lie shnug till I come to ye ; and if y^'ll tak'
my advice ye'll keep on putting a dlirop o' wine in the cellar
and shtoring up a bit o' food ; and if it isn't wanted, why
ye're no worse off."

" Explain yourself, my lad," said the prisoner, for the lively
chatter of the Iiishman relieved the todiutn of his confinement.

"Hist:"

" Murth(U" !" ejaculated Dinny, as a faint signal came from
ovcj'head. " 8ure an' I was niver cut out for a prophet afther
all."

" Dinny ! — Captain Armstrong ! " came from above.

" Good luck to ye, darlin' ! kape on shpaking," whispered
Dinny, excitelly. " It does me good to hear ye ; but niver
mind the captain, darlin'. Slipake to me." - '

"I came here — at great risk" caijie down, as if the speaker
was panting heavily. *' There's souK^thing wrong — I want to
put you on your guard. Tell the captain. Quick ! I dare
not stay."

o« ..

818

COMMOnOUK JUNK.

k-.

"But, darlitk', wliatH wrung? WhUht ! Hhpako out, and
let'H liiiar yv. liook at tliut, now ! Why, she's gono ! "

For therH was a faint rustling overliead, and then all was
Bilence onoe again.

" Hure, sor, would ye look at me," cried Dinny, with a niOHt
jM^rplexed exi)reHKi<)n of countenance, "and tell nie if I'm awake
or it's only a dhrame."

"Dinny," said Humphrey, "she would not have come in
such haste if there had not been good cause. (Jo and warn
tlie captain. Quick ! "

Th(; day passed without news, and, weary with his tedious
pacing of his great cell, Humphrey Armstrong threw himself
U|)on his couch, where he lay, with the great solemn face of
the old stone idol seeming to loom down mysteriously from
alK)ve.

It was not until the next morning that he saw Dinny again.
The night had passed quii^tly, and the day found Humphrey
still watching. He, however, droj»ped into a pleasant slumber
as the sUn rose, in which sleep he was still plunged when Dinny
came.

"Jist nawthing at all, sor," he said. "The darlin' must
have got a craze in }.er head, for when I told the captain he
trated me wid scorn, and Bart asked me if I was playing
the fool."

" Then there is no danger 1 "

" Divil a bit, sor, that I can think out," said Dinny.
" But Mistress Greenheys."
" What about her, sor?"
" What did she say ? "

" Sure an' you heard it all, sor. I couldn't repate it now if
I thried."

" But you have seen her since ? "

•* Sin her ! Bedad I'd only like to -if it was only to bhpake

ONE PRIKONKK FUKB.

311)

was

lUOHt

wake

mo iu
waru

toi\iou9
hunscU
face of
\y from

ly again.

8\umV)or

lin' must
aptain be
playing

Le it now

to b

bhpake

wan word to hor wid me oi. No, sor, I cnn't got Hpache of
her."

" But iK all qiiiot in th« placo ?"

'• All' Ih it <|uiet ? Why, a Um\h in Aygypt ih a lively pliu'^j
to it. Tho Hchoonor*H getting rotting for want o* work, and tin*
mon do nothing but dhrinic and Hiilap<>, and the ciiptiiin'H sliut
up all alono whin lie iMn't down in i\w forest Haying his
prayers."

" Is it the calm that comes before the Ktorni, l)inny ]" said
Humphrey,

" Sure an' I don't know, sor ; but I'll kiipe watch if [ can,
and give ye word if there's annything wrong ; but me poor
head's in a mix, and since I've been out of prishn I seem to Sv'e
nothing but TUack Maz/^trd Hhwarniing all over the place an(i
takkin' me darling away. Did ye int,<!rHade wid the captain,
sorT'

"Dinny, I have not seen him again," said Humphrey,
frowning.

" Not seen him, sor ! Why, he has been here half a do/.en
toimes." . ,

" Been here 1 No." . .

"Sure and I saw him wid mo own ois, sor. Twice he
came to the windy there and four toimes along by the big
passage. Sure I thought ye'd been colloguing."

" I was not aware of it," said Humphrey, calmly ; but his
words did not express the feelings that were raging within
his bre&st, and as soon as he was alune he tried to analyse
them.

He must flee. He could do nothing else, and growing
momentarily more excited, he tried to force himself to uct an<i
think.

The old temple. He would flee there for the present, ho
said. It would remove him from Mary's pursuit, for she

I 11

-TSr . :

f\'2i)

COMAfOnORE JUNK.

would lu'.vor droani of his seeking rofugo there, and from that
placd hv might perlm|>s \m aWe to open up communication with
Diiiiiy.

He liad no weapon, so he caught up a large table-knife and
stuck it in his waistband. It was not much, but something,
and at that inoment ho recalled Mary Dell's history —how she
liiid told him that they had begun with a canoe ; through that
captured a larger boat ; that larger boat had enabled them to
t:ik(; a vessel ; and so on till the swift schooner had been ob-
tained.

In the same way that knife should grow into a sword, he
said to himself ; and then he felt a sensation of half-blind rage
at himself for making the comparison.

*' What is this hateful unsexed creature to me ! " he said,
angrily, as he stood thinking as to his next step.

Food ! Ho must have food. In his exoitement and the
fury of the haste that was upon him, the trouble of taking it
angered him ; but he knew that he must have it, and gathering
together what he could, he paused once more to think and
listen.

All was silent, and the drawing aside of the great curtain
proved that Bart was not on guard, for there was no dull,
yellow gleam of his lantern at the end of the corridor, and
once more it came over the prisoner as a feeling of wonder thpc
he should not again and again have taken such steps as these.
Almost unguarded, his prison doors and windows always open,
and freedom given him to wander about the ruins, and yet like
a pinioned bird he had stayed

" They know that the sea before, the forest and mountain
behind, are stronger than bolt and bar,*' something seemed to
whisper to him as he stood hesitating.

"But not to a determined man, ready to do or die 1" he
pried, as if forced to answer aloud ; and he set his teeth ai

ONE PUIRONEK FIlEE.

S21

, that
I with

fe and
Bthing,
ow hIio
gh that
ihem to
)een ob-

jyord, he
lind rage

» be said,

it and the

taking it
gathering
think and

at curtfa-in
BkB no duU,
l>rridor, and

ronder th^o

Lb as these.

llways open,

[and yet like

id mountain
seemed to

or die I" Vie
bis teeth ai

he. still hesitated and paused befon; hurrying out of the great
(lark place.

Ho stopped. What would she do when she found that lie
had gone 1 What would she say of the man whom, with all
her faults, she (evidently dearly loved, and would sacriiice all
to wini

ITumphrey Armstrong stamped fiercely upon the old stone
flooring, making the vaulted roof echo as he thrust his fingers
into his ears in a childlike attempt to shut out and deafen
himself to the silent whisperings which assailed him.

He gave one glance round, trying to penetrate the darkiu'ss,
and hesitated no longer, but strode away, passing out of the
long corridor out among the ruius, and, well accustomed to the
place now, making straight for the pathway which, at its divi-
sion, turned toward the old temple.

All was still ; but it seemed lighter away to his left than lie
oould quite account for, and he was starting again when a
distant shout as of many voices came through the silence of the
night and died away.

" Carousing," he muttered, and he hesitated again.

If the men were carousing the watch kept would be less
strict, and there might be some chance of obtaining a
boat,

"To start alone on a cruise," he said, half aloud. "What
madness ! " Then passionat(;ly : " It all seems madness, and I
can do nothing but drift with fate."

Fighting down the strangle h(;sitancy which kept assailing
in various forms, e.specially now in that of conjuring up diffi-
culties in the way of escape, he plunged sturdily into the forest
path, and, as fast as the durkn<'ss allowed, went on straight for
the old temple, a grim place of refuge, with its ghastly relics ;
of Abel Dell lying, as it were, in state ; and the horrible,
haunting recollections of the huge cavernous cenote where the

n22

COMMODORE JITNK.

1/ •

would-bo assassin had met his fate, and the other had been
consif^ned as to his toinb.

It was painful work. Every now and then some thorny
croopor of rapid growtli liung across and tore his skin ; at some
siKlden turn iio came in contact with tree-trunk or mouldering
sloiu^ ; but the greater the difliculties in the darkness, the
greater the rest seemed to Humphrey Armstrong's brain, and
he kei)t on till a sudden turn brought him close to the fork,
wh(u-e one path went winding to the left toward the men's and
the captain's quarters, the other to the temple.

As he approached he became conscious of a rustling sound,
as of a wild creature passing through the forest, and he snatched
his knife from his waist, ready to strike for life if attacked ;
but, (irmly convinced that there were no denizens of the wild
there but such as were more likely to avoid him, he kept on
again, to reach the dividing path just as he became aware that
it was no creature passing through the wilderness of trees, but
someone, like hiniself, hurrying along the track from the men's
quarters so rapidly, that they came in contact, and a hand
seized him by the throat, and the point of some weapon seemed
to be [)res8ed against his breast, as a voice exclaimed in a
hoarse whisper — V

" Make the slightest sound and it is your last.**

And as these words seemed to b > hissed into his face, a
shout arose from some distance along the path, and the tramp-
ing of feet and rustling of branches intimated that people were
rapidly coming in pursuit.

" You ! " exclaimed Humphrey, hoarsely, as he stood with
hand uplifted to strike, but suspended in the act as if every
muscle had suddenly become stone. <

" Humphrey Armstrong 1 '*

The hand that had grasped his throat dropped nerveless, and
the weapon fell from his breast as the shouting of men increaaed.

ONE PRISONER FREE.

323

been

,l\omy
b some
ideving
S8, the
jn, anil

en's and

g sound,
snatched
attacked ;
£ the wihl
e kept on
^vrare that
: trees, hut
i the men's
nd a hand
pon seemed
j,imed in *

his face, ft
the tramp-
people were

le stood with
aa i« every

inervelesfl, an*
^enincreaied.

"Well," said Humphrey, bitterly, as if he were forcing
himself to say words that he did not mean, *♦ why do you not
strike ] I was escaping. Call up your gang of cut-throats and
end it all."

" Hush ! For Heaven's sake, hush I You will be heard."

" Well," said Humphrey, aloud, and as if in defiance ; but
a warm soft hand was placed over his lips, and its owner
whispered —

" You were trying to escape, or did you know 1 "

" Know ! " said Humphrey, involuntanly speaking lower.
"Know what? I was escaping."

" To the old temple ! No, no, tjhey are going there."

" Your hounds ! "

" Silence, man, for your life ! " was whispered close to bis
ear, and the hand once more sought his lips.

" Come on, my lads ! '' came out of the darkness ahead.
" I know where to find him, snivelling yonder among the old
images. Come on ! "

There was a shout, and it seemed as if the leader of a body
of men, beneath whose feet the rotten branches that bestrewed
the path cmckled, had suddenly halted for his companions to
close up before saying a few final words of encouragement.

" Now then," the voice said in thick, husky tones, " stand
by me, my lads. He's gone on there, and there's ro getting
back. One good, bold blow and we'll scotch him like a snake.
Then fair share and share alike of all there is hidden away,
and start straight. He's no good now, and the others *11 j\>in
in wJien he'b gone. Ready ? "

" Ay, ay ! " came in hoarse, drunken tones ; and as
Humphrey felt himself pressed back into the pathway by
which he had come, there was a staggering of feet, and a dull
trampling, as about a dozen men passed on, leaving behind
them the thick reek of hot, spirit-laden breath.
u2

324

COMMODORE JUNK.

■f ;ll|

'I'

** Now ! " as the steps passed on. " Now," was whispered
in Humphrey's ear ; "this way."

** Ah ! " arose in a fierce growl, as some one of the party
who had not gone on with the rest made a dash at and seized
the buccaneer captain. " Prisoner ! Who is it ? Here, hi
mates, I've "

He said no more. Without pause or thought why he did
thisT— why he sought to save his companion — Humphrey Arm-
strong made a spring in the direction of the voice, his hands
came in contact with a coarse bull throat, and its owner was
driven backwards, to fall with his head striking a projecting
piece of stone, dragging the buccaneer in the fall.

The man was stunned, and lay [)erfectly inert as
Humphrey and his companion struggled to their feet, panting
witli exertion, and listening for the return of the party who
had gone on.

But they had not heard the noise of the struggle, the
maze-like turnings of the path had shut it out, and their
voices came now muffled and soft, as if from a distance.

Then Humphrey felt his hand gripped firmly.

"This way." . <

" What ! Are you going to take me back to prison?" said
Humphrey mockingly. '

" Do you wish to go straight to death 1 **

" I am going straight to libeity ! " cried Humphrey. *

" This way, then," whispered his companion ; and without
a word Humphrey allowed himself to be led back along the
dark arcade, listening to the heavy panting of his guide, who
seemerl to be breathing heavily, and as if in pain.

For some time no word was spoken. Then, as he became
aware of his companion's purpose, Humphrey stopped short.

" You are leading me back to that cursed prison," he said
fiercely. " Loose my hand."

ONE Prisoner free.

325

>erecl
party

i-e,

le ditl

Arm-

haiuls

ler was

jecting

lert as
panting
•ty who

gle, the
d their

y* said

[without
long the
^de, who

became
short,
he said

" I aui leading you to the only place where you will be
8af(/' was whispered back. "Have I not suffered enough,
man ? Do you think I wish to die with the knowledge
til at these dogs will seize and rend you in their drunken
frenzy ? "

" Rend me ! "

"Yes. They have risen. That wretch, whom I have
s[)ared so long in my weak folly, is at their head. Humphrey
Armstrong, believe me, I am trying to save your life 1 "

" Then why not make for the shore 1 A boat 1 Qive me a
boat and let me go ! "

" Half the men who were faithful to me are dead,
treacherously burned to death in their quarters. I cannot
explain ; but the doorway was blocked by those fienda The
landing-place is guarded by a portion of his bloodthirsty gang.
To go to the shore is to seek your death. Will you not trust
me now V -

"It is to keep me here 1 " he cried fiercely.

" To keep you here when I would gladly say go I Trust me.
Give me time to think. I was coming to save you when we
met. Will you not believe ? "

" Yes ! " cried Humphrey, hoarsely. " I will trust you 1 **

"Hah!"

That was all. His hand was gripped more tightly ; and,
as he yielded it to his companion, he felt himself led with
unerring decision in and out among the mouldering ruins
of the edge of the clearing to the side of the old amphitheatre,
a faint metallic clink from time to time indicating that a
sword was being struck upon the stones to make sure of the
way.

" You are going back there t " said Humphrey.

" Yes," came back hoarsely. " Do not speak. We may be
heard." ,

326

COMMODORE JUNK.

i»i

|!|:

Humphrey was conscious that his guide had le3 him to the
old altar and sunk upon it with a moan ; but she still tightly
clung to his hand.

There they remained in silence as if listening for pursuit ;
and the deep, hoarse breathing of both sounded painfully loud
in the utter darkness.

Humphrey essayed to speak again and again, but he felt
that he could not trust himself to utter words.

It was his companion who broke the painful silence as she
still clung to his hand.

" I ought to have acted sooner," she said bitterly. " I
might have known it would come to this ; but in my cruel
selfishness I could not speak — T could not let you go. Do
not blame me — do not reproach me. It was my madness ;
and now the punishment has come."

" I do not understand you," he said huskily.

" You do," she said gently. " But it is no time to think of
this. Listen ! These men will search every spot to find and'
slay me — and you ; but you shall escape. Now, listen ? Below
this old place thei*e is a rock chamber, known only to me and
Bart — who lies wounded yonder and heli)less ; but he will not
betray the secret, even if he thinks that you are there. You
will go to the end of your couch, press heavily with your
shoulder against the corner, forcing it in this direction, and
then the great stone will move upon a pivot. There is a way
down—"

" You need not tell me," said Humphrey at this point.
"I know."

" Thank Heaven ! " she ejaculated. " Keep in hiding
there till the wretches are off their guard ; and then cautiously
make your way by night down to the landing-place, and by
some means seize a boat. There will be no guard k^pt when I

am go'ie.

ONE PRISONER FREE.

327

the
;htly

•suit ;
loud

B felt

as she

f. "I
y cruel

0. Bo
idness ;

Mink of
nd and
Below
me and
will not
You
Ith your ^
ion, and
s a way

is point.

hiding
lutiously

and by
It when 1

** And my people — my poor fellows V*

"Gone," she said quietly. "They seized a boat and
escaped long ago. All has been confusion here since — since 1
have been mad," she added piteously.

" Escaped ! "

" Yes ; and you will escape. And in the future, when you
are away — and happy — don't curse me — think of mo as a poor
lost woman, driven by fate — to what T am— but who saw and
loved you, Humphrey Armstrong, as woman has scsMom 1ov«hI
before."

" Oh, hush ! " he said huskily. " For Heaven's sake <lon't
speak like that ! "

" No," she said gently, after listening for a few moments ;
but all was still. " T will not speak. It is nearly over now.
You will forgive meV

" Forgive you — yes ! "

She uttered a low sigh, full of thankfulness, as she still
clung to his hand.

" It is enough," she said. " Now, go ! You know the
way. Be cautious, be patient, and bide your time ; and then
Heaven speed you safely home ! — He has forgiven me," she
sighed to herself, and the pressure upon his hand seemed to
increase.

" Well," she said after a few moments' pause, " why do you
Stay]"

Her voice startled him in its intensity, for it seemed to echo
through the place ; and his hand had, as it had been for many
minutes past, grasped hers with crushing force as the tide rose
to its fullest height and bore him on.

" And you 1 " he said. " What will you do ? "

" I ! " she said with a faint laugh ; " I shall wait here
until they come."

" Wait here ! " cried Humphrey. " They will kill you I "

♦.!

328

OOMMODOUR JUNtt

** Yes," hIio Hni«l Hoffcly.

** Thon why not sliaro my (light 1 Come with me now
\v\u\o. thorn is time. I will protect you and take you where
you will. I cannot leave you like thin ! "

" Not leave niel" she said with a soh.

•* No. Do you think nie Huch a cur that I could leave you
to the mercy of these wretches 1 "

*• It is too lat<s" she said. " Go I "

"Gol"

"Yes, while tlu»re is time."

" But you can hide as well as 1 1 " he cried excitedly.
"Come!"

" It is too late/' she said, and he felt her hand tremble in
his grasp.

" And leave you 1 " he cried. " I would sooner die I "

"Then you do love mel" she cried wildly, a.s she half rose
from the altar, but sank back.

" Love you ! " he cried j)assionately. "I have fought with it,
I have battled with it till I have been nearly mad ! Love you,
Mary, my brave, true heroine ! I love you with all my heart! "

She uttered a wild ciy of joy as he threw himself upon liis
knees and clasped her to his heart, his face buried in her breast
and her two arms clung tightly round his neck, as she uttered
a low moan of mingled joy and pain.

"Love you !" he whispered, as he raised his face, and his
lips sought hers ; " my darling ! words will not tell my love !
Come, what is the world to us] You are my world, my own,
my love I Come ! "

She clung to him passionately for a few moments.

"At last ! " she said softly, as if to herself; "the love of
one true noble man ! Ah ! "

A low deep sigh escaped her, and then, as if roused to a
sense of her position, she thrust him back and listened.

ONE PUIHONKU FHRR.

320

now
irlicro

B you

litcdly.

lUf rose

with it,
)ve you,
heart '. "

ipou

hirt

breast
utterod

and his
love !

Iny

own.

love of

sed to a

" ITark ! " who Raid, nn a low shout a»*oKo. "They an' roin-
iiig hack — thoy will bo horo Hoon ! Quirjk ! lowi no iiino ! You
must escape I "

" A nd you ? " he said, wildly.

She took hin hand and laid it slowly upon hor hn.soni, to
press it there, ho that ho couhl feel the heavy dull throh of Ucv
heart.

For a moment even then he did not realise what shu
meant. Then, with a wild cry ho loapc^d to his fo(!t, for his
hand wa** wet with the warm blood which welled from a
terrible wound.

" You are hurt 1 " he cried.

*' To the death, Hnmjjhrey. Oh, my lovo, my love ! Take
me in your arms once more and hold me to your lioart, T(!ll
me that you will remember mo, and then lay me li(?ro, ujKjn
this old stone, with your kiss wot upon my lips. Death will
be easy then ! "

" Death easy ! I leave you I If you must die it shall be
together I " he panted, as he once more enfolded her in his arms.

"This is madness," she whispered, as she strug^^lod f(?obly
in his embrace. "Oo, for pity's sake — go ! "

" My place is here ! " he said in a low fierce voice, hh he
took up the sword she had lot fall upon the pavonicnt. \V«'
shall not die alone. Whose cowardly hand iuHictod that
wound?"

" You need not ask," she said feebly. "lie missofl brfon;
— the blow was true this time."

"The fiend I The devil!" groanod Humphrey, as tho
sword quivered in his grasp. " Well, we shall want a sla\e
to open the gates of death. His shall be the task ! "

She clung to him with failing strength, and drew lua-solf
up by him till she could onc(5 more rest upon his brea.st, with
her arms tightly clasped about his neck.

330

COMMODORE JUNK.

1,1 :

li.:-

" You told me at last you loved me," she panted. " You
said the words I have so hunijered to hear — words I thought
that I should have died and never heard pass your lips. Now
that I know it, and that it is true, do not embitter my last
moraenfcs by showing me that I have tried in vain."

"I could not live without you now ! " he cried passionately,
as he held her to him more tightly still.

" They are coming. It is too late for me. Let me die in
peace, knowing that you are saved."

He raised her in his arms and bore her to the great stone,
and, as he laid her gently down, the noise of the coming gang
could be heard.

There was not a moment to lose, and any slip in his instruc-
tions would have resulted in destruction; but as he pressed
against the stone it easily revolved, and he stooped once more
and raised the fainting woman in his arms, to bear her down
into the tomb-like structure and place her at the foot of the
broad stone stairs which led into the vault.

As he loosened hei arms from about his neck and passed
quickly up again^ there were heavy steps in the long corridor,
and lights flashed through thb openings of the great curtain.
So close were the men that Humphrey saw their faces as ho
stood on the upper step, and dragged at the slab by two great
hollows underneath, made, apparently, by the olden masons for
the mover's hands.

For the moment Humphrey, as he bent down there beneath
the place on which he had so often slept or lain to think, felt
certain that he must have been seen ; but the mufl3ed voices
came close up, the steps trampled here and there, sounding dull
and hollow, and there was no seizing of the great stone, no
smiting upon its sides.

He held his breath as he stood bending down and listening
for some indication of danger ; but it seemed as if the men hud

* You
ought
Now
ly last

nately,

die in

it stone,
ng gang

i instruc-
) pressed
nee more
tier down
ot of the

lid passed

corridor,

curtain.

ces as bo

two great

asons for

re beneath
tliink, felt
led voices
[iidiug dull
Btone, no

listening
le nieu hud

IN THE VAULT.

331

coursed all over the place, searching in all directions, and were
about to go, when, all at once, there was a shout close to the
place where he had raised Mary from the altar.

The shout was followed by a muffled sound of many voices,
and he listened, wondering what it meant. Some discovery
had evidently been made, but what 1

He shuddered, and a chill of horror shot through him, for
he knew directly after*

It was blood.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

IN THE VAULT.

With the deathly silence which ensued as the heavy echoing
steps of the searchers passed away, the men being completely at
fault as to why certain drops of blood should be lying near the
couch, Humphrey descended the steps once more.

" They are gone," he whispered, but there was no reply ;
and, feeling softly about, his hand came in contact with Mary's
arm, to find that she lay back in a corner of the vault, with a
kerchief pressed tightly against her breast. ^

He hastily bandaged the wound, firmly binding the hand-
kerchief which she held there with his own and the broad seart'
he wore, and, after placing her in a more comfortable position,
began to search in the darkness for the food and water which
were there.

The water was soon found — a deep, cool cistern in the middle
of the floor.

The food lay close at hand, and with it one of the silver

332 COMMODOIIK JUNK.

cu|>K lu; liad had in U8fl a)K)ve. With this ho bore Home of the
c'uol rofrt'Hhing liquid to the wounded woman, holdin<; Home to
lier lipH and bathing her brow, till nhe uttered a bigh and
returned to conaciousneHS, her firat act being to ntretcli out her
}iand and lay it upon ICumphroy's shoulder to draw him nearer
to her.

" Don't leave me ! " Bhe said feebly. " It is very dark ! **

" But we are safe," he whispered. " They are gone."

" Yes," she sighed ; " I heard them. How long is it to
dayl"

'* It cannot be long now," he said, as he took her hand.

She sighed as she felt the unwonted tenderness and rested
her head against his shoulder.

"No," she said, softly, "it cannot be long now. It will
come too soon ! " . ,

There was so much meaning in her voice that he felt a cold
chill, as if the hand of death had passed between to separate
these two so strangely brought together.

" Are you in pain 1 " he said.

" Pain !. No. Happy — so happy ! " she whispered. " For
you do love me ? "

" Love you ! " he cried.

"And she— at home?"

" That was not love," he said, wildly. " But now tell me
about this place — shall we see the day when it comes?"

"You will," she said, softly. "I shall — perhaps."

" Perhaps ! No, you shall ! " he whispered, as he pressed
his arm gently around her, forgetting everything now of the
past, save that this woman loved him, and that there was a
future before them of hope and joy. " Tell me what I can do
— to help you."

" Hold me like that," she whispered, with a sigh of content
" It is better so. It could never have been — only my wild

IN THE VAULT.

333

of the
oine to
gh and
out h(^r
I nearer

irk!"

is it to

Bind.

id rested

It will

3lt a cold
separate

"For

H tell me

•}»

e pressed
(W of the
ire was a
I can do

dream — a woman's thirat for tli<> love of one in whom slie
could believe. A woman's love ! "

Little more than an hour could Iinvo pussod, during which
Humphrey had twico iH'ard soinuls of voice's, and one** a heavy
step overhead — this last niakin<,' him st(ml his ri<^ht hand s(»ftly
toward the sword that lay hy his sido — when a f lUit li«,'ht
seemed to gleam on the surface of tlio water in the centre of
the vault ; and soon after he found that this served to .shed a
softened dawn through tlu^ piaeo— a dawn which grew stronger,
but was never more than a subdued twilight. It was enough,
though, to show him the proportions of the place, its ipiaint
carving, and the fact that beside the long shaft which opened
out far above his head there was what seemed to be a stone
grille, beyond which was the tangled growth of the forest, much
of which, in root and long, prickly shoot, penetrated nearly to
where they sat.

As the light grew stronger he saw that his companion seemed
to have lost the old masculine look given by her attire ; for
coat and vest had been cast aside, and the loose shirt, open at
the neck, had more the aspect of a robe. Her dark hair curled
closely about her temples ; and as Humpln-ey Armstrong gazed
down at the face, with its [>arted lii)S and long lashes 1} ing
upon the creamy dark cheeks, his heart throl)bed, for he lelt
that he had won the love of as handsouK; a woman as any upon
whom his eyes had ever lit. .

He forgot the wound, the bandaging keichief seeming in the
semi-darkness like some scarf; and as he sat and gazed he bent
down lower and softly touched the moist forciioad with his
lips.

Mary awoke up with a frightened start and gazed at hiiu
wildly, but as consciousness came her look softened and she
nestled to him.

"I did not mean to wake you," he said,

...>-u' — JismiB

334

COMMODORE JUNK.

She started again and looked at him wildly, as if she fancied
she had detected a chilliness in his manner ; but his eyes unde-
ceived lier, and as he raised her hand to his lips, she let it rest
there for a few moments, and then stole it round his neck.

" Tell me," he said gently, " your wound 1 "

She shooL her head softly.

" No," she whispered ; " let it rest Talk of yourself. You
will wait here two days, and then steal out at night and make
your way down to the shore. You know the way ^ "

** If I do not you will guide me," he said.

She looked at him keenly to see if he meant what he said,
and then, reading the sincerity of his words in his frank eyes,
she shook her head again.

" No," she whispered. " You asked me of my wound. It
is home. Humphrey Armstrong, this is to be my tomb ! "

" What ! " he cried. " Oh, no ! no ! no ! You must live to
bless me with your love ! "

" Live to disgrace you with my love ! '*

" Mary ! " '

There was such a depth of love, such intensity in the tone
in which he uttered her name, that she moaned aloud.

" Ah, you are in pain ! " he cried.

"In pain for you," she whispered, "for you suffer for my
sake. Hist ! Do you hear 1" ,

Siie clung to him tightly.

" No," he said, " there is nothing."

"Yes," she i.aid, softly. "Steps. I can hear them — they
are coming back."

He listened once more ; but his ears were wanting in the
preternatural keenness brought on by his companion's exalted
nerves, lie heard nothing for a tew niouieuts ; and then witli
a start iie seized the swoid, for steps were faintly heard now to
grow plaiiHT uiul plainer till they wore close overhead.

JN TilE VAULT.

335

they

Mary signed to him to listen ; and at that moment the
8to:ie slab moved gently a fexv inches, for someone had
seated himself upon the edge, and the buzz of talking wa^
heard.

" Now, my lad," cried a hoarse, drink-engendered voice,
which came plainly to where they crouched, "you know all
about it, and I'm captain now. Where's that prisoner ?"

" Sure, and how could I know anny way, Black Mazzjird 1 "
"Captain Mazzard ! " roared the tiiyt speaker.
" Oh ! murther ! Put them pishtols away, and I'll call ye
captiiin, or adhmiral if ye like ! "

" No fooling ! Whore is that i)risonorr'
"Which one, sor?"

" No fooling, Paddy ! Captain Aimstrong ? "
" Faix, an' he must have run away, skeart loike, whin
he heerd you were coming."
" You know where he is r*
" Faix, and that's thrue," said Dinny.
" Where is he, then ? Tell me the truth, and I'll let you live
this time. Tell me a lie, and I'll hang you."

" Och, don't, captain ! Ye'd waken yer crew horribly if ye
were to hang me."

"I'll hang you, as sure as you stand there, if you don't
confess." ■

" Murther ! Don't, now, captain, for I shouldn't die dacently
if ye did hang me. It isn't a way I've been accustomed to.
Ah, moind ! That pishtol might go off."

" It will go off if you don't speak. He's hidden somewhere
hei-e, and you know where. Speak out ! "

" Shpake out ! And is it shpake out 1 " said Dinny, slowly
as with advanced blade Humphrey stood ready to plunge it
into the breast of the lii-st man who attempted to descend.
" Oh, well, I'll shpake out then."

i k!

330

COMMODORE JUNK.

I- 1

h" .

"The tmitor ! " mattered Humphrey. "False to one,
false to all."

" Where is he, then ?" roared Mazzard.

" Faix, he's in his skin, captain."

" You dog ! " roared Mazzard. And there was the report
of a pistol, followed by a wild shriek.

"Don't — don't kill!" cried a piteous woman's voice.
« Don't kill him ! "

" Not kill him ! " snarled Mazzard.

" No — no ! Spare him, and I'll tell you."

" Bedad, an' if ye do, I'll niver forgive ye," cried Dinny,
fiercely. " Ye don't know nawthing. He's eshcaped."

" Where is he 1 " roared Mazzard. " Speak out, woman, or
rU blow his head off!"

Humphrey sprang up a couple of steps to defend Dinny ;
but Mary Dell lay there, and to show himself was to betray her
— the woman whom he knew he passionately loved. Of him-
self he thought nothing.

But the task of betrayal to save her lover was spared to
Mistress Greenheys, for, as Black Mazzard stood with one
hand on Dinny's shoulder, and his second pistol pointed close
to his ear, so that his second shot should not fail, one of his men
exclaimed aloud —

" Why, he's there ! Look at the blood 1 "

Mazzard turned and glanced down at the floor upon which
he stood, then at the stained stone which formed the cover of
the vault. He uttered a harsl:i laugh, for the stone had
been slightly moved.
. '♦ Here, half a dozen of you ! '' . - ared. " Lay hold ! "

His men seized the stone ; and after one or two trials
to raise it up, it was thrust sideways, and the hiding-place
revealed.

With a yell of savage delight Black Mazzard began to

m THE VAULT.

il7

•JO one,

report

voice.

Dinny,

Oman, or

Dinny j

etray her

Of him-

pared to
with one
ed clo»e
his men

)n which
cover of
K>ne had

old ! "
■wo trials
ing-place

began to

descend, followed by his crew. There was the clash of swords,
two men fell, wallowing in their blood, and then Humphrey
drew back into the comer V>efore Mary Dell, determined
to defend her to the last.

Two more men went down ; and there was a Krief pause,
followed by a savage rush and a melee, in which Humphrey'.s
sword snapped off at the hilt, and the next minute he was above
in the great cliamber, pinioned between two of Maz.-iard's men ;
and Mary Dell was borne up to lie at her conqueror's feet.

"You savage !" roared Humphrey, as he .sank panting on
a stone.

" Savage ! " retorted Mazzard, with a brutal grin. " Stand
up, you dog ! "

"Stand yourself — in the presence of your king's officer!"
shouted Humphrey in his rage.

" King ! " cried Mazzard, mockingly. " I'm king here.
Now then, you !" he cried to his men, who enjoyed seeing him
bearded. "Quick! — two ropes ! "

He turned sharply upon his men, who hurried off to obey
the command.

Humphrey gazed at Mazzard agha.st. The threat implied
in the order seemed too horrible to be beliavvd, and for the
moment he looked round in doubt.

But Mazzard was in power ; and in a few minutes the ropes
were forthcoming.

Humphrey glanced from the men who aj,proached and then
at Mary Dell, with the intention of proclaiiiing her sex; but
a horrible feeling of dread thrilled through liim at the thouglit
of making such a revelation to the monsters who had gained
the upper hand, and, gathering himself up, he wait(!<l his time,
and then wre.sted himself free, sending the men who held him
right and left, and leaped to where— -unable to stand upright—'
his fellow prisoner was held.

838

COMMODORE JUNK.

Before they could recover from their surprise he had torn A
sword from one of them, and, whirling it round his head, he
drove them back, and clasping Mary Dell's waist, stood with
flashing eyes, ready for the first who would attack.

" Is there no man here who will help ? " he shouted.

" Bedad there is ! " cried Dinny, leaping upon the nearest,
and in a moment tearing his weapon from his hand. " If I dio
for it, captain, it shall be like a man."

Black Mazzard stood for a moment aghast at tho daring
displayed. Then a grim look of «»avagery crossed his evil
countenance, and he drew his sword.

" Now, my lads," he said, fiercely, " it's three ropes we want,
I see. Come on."

He made a rush forward, followed by his men ; but at this
moment a solitary shot flashed from the folds of the curtain,
and as the report reverberated through the great stone
chamber. Black Mazzard span round as if uix>n a pivot, and
fell with a heavy thud upon the floor.

His men paused in their onslaught, appalled by the sudden-
ness of their leader's fall ; but as they saw Bart come forward,
piece in hand, their hesitation turned to rage, and the}'
advanced once more to the attack.

" Good-bye ! " whispered Humphrey, bending for a moment
over Mary, who clung to him, her c^es fixed on his with a
longing, despairing gaze, and then, as he thrust her back, the
attack began.

The odds were about eight to one, and the issue could ni t
for a moment be in doubt ; but hardly had sword met sword,
and blow been exchanged, when a ringing cheer arose, and
with a rush a couple of dozen well-armed sailors uaslied in by
corridor and window, and tlie tables were completely turned.

There was a rush made for the door, but tliose who tried in
that direction w^ere driven Vmck ; whih^ half a dozf n w i»o

LAST WORDS.

339

I lacked into a corner of the great chamber, as if desperately
dcitormined to sell their lives dearly, were boldly attacked and
beaten down, the whole party being reduced from the savage
band of followers of the dead ruffian at their feet to a herd of
lujlpless prisonei's, abjc .t to a degree.

Humphrey saw nothing of this, only that they were saved ;
for, dropping his sword, he sank on his knees by the side of
her who lay back with her eyes fixed upon his, full of a long-
ing, imploring look, whose imi)ort he read too well.

He bent down closely to her to take her hand in his, and
started to find that it was cold ; but there was vitality in it
enough for the fingers to close upon his hand tightly, while the
lips he kissed moved slightly, and he heard as faintly as if just
breathed —

"It is better so."

" No, no ! " he panted. " We are saved ! Mary —
dearest "

He said no more, for the longing look in those eyes seemed
intensified, and the pupils dilated ..lowly to remain fixed and
stern.

It was the buccaneer's last look on earth.

wUq

CHAPTER XXXVIIL

LAST WORDS.

The officer who led the strong boat's crew to the rescue,
guided by some of Captain Armstrong's men who had escaped
weeks before and after terrible privations at last found help,
drew back and signed to his followers,
y2

340

COMMODORE JUNK.

HI •

It was enough. Hats were doffedj and a strange silence
reigned in the gloomy chamber as Humphrey knelt there hold-
ing the dead hand in his till he was touched upon the shoulder,
and looking up slowly, half-stunned by the event, it was to
meet the pale, drawn face of Bai-t.

" Do they know, captain ? " he whispered, meaningly.

For a few moments Humphrey did not realise the impoH
of his question, till he turned and gazed down once more upon
the stern, handsome face fixing rigidly in death.

" No," he said quickly, as he drew a handkerchief from his
breast and softly spread it over the face of the dead. " It is
our secret — ours alone."

" Hah ! " sighed Bart, and he drew back for a moment, and
then gave Humphrey an imploring look before advancing once
more, going down upon his knee, and taking and kissing the
cold hand lying across the motionless breast. -

" Captain Humphrey Armstrong, I think % " said the officer
of the rescue party.

"Yes," said Humphre)-, in a dreamy way.

" We were just in time, it seems."
" " Yes," said Humphrey, with a dazed look.

" I'm glad you are safe, sir ; and this is "

He had not finished his sentence when one of Black Maz-
zard's men yelled out —

" The Commodore — our captain — sir ! ** ":

" Once," said Humphrey, roused oy the ruffian's words, and
gazing sharply round ; " but one who spared my life, sir, and
with tSis poor fellow here defended me from that dead
scoundrel and his gang ! "

As he spoke he spurned the body of Black Mazzard, who
had hardly stirred since he received Bart's bullet.

" 1 am at your service. Captain Armstrong," said the officer
*' and will take my instructions from you."

•ange silence
t there hold-
the shoulder,
lit, it was to

mingly.

,e the impoH

je more upon

chief from his
iead. « It is

I moment, and
dvancing once
id kissing the

said the officer

of Black Kaz-

an's words, and
ay life, sir, and
om that dead

Mazzard, who

fet.
Baid the officer

fixtract from Mr. Sidney Dickinson's letter to the Boston youmat,
descriptive of a trip over the Canadian Pacific Railway from Van«
couver, B.C., to Montreal.

^The impression that is made upon the traveller by a journefr over
this road is, at first, one of stupefaction, of confusion, out of which
emerge slowly the most evident details. If one can find any fault
with the trip, it must be upon the score of its excess of wonders.
There is enough of scenery and grandeur along the line of the
Canadian Pacific to make a dozen roads remarkable ; after it is seen,
the experiences of other journeys are quite forgotten. The road is
attracting large numbers of tourists, and will attract more as its
fame becomes more widely known ; it is, undoubtedly, the most
remarkable of all the products of this present age of iron. I have
crossed the continent three times and should have some criterion
for the judgment, and may say that whether we look to Ontario and
Manitoba for richness of soil and peaceful and prosperous homes of
men ; to Lake Superior for ruggedness of shore, beauty of expanse
of water, or wealth of mine and quarry ; to Assiniboia and Alberta
for impressive stretch of prairie and wild 1'^ of man, bird and
beast, or to the Rocky, Selkirk and Cascade Mountains for sublimity
and awfulness of precipice, peak and crag — we shall find them all
as they nowhere else exist, even in America, the 1 ind of all lands
for natural resources and wonders. No more delightful trip can be
imagined than that by the Canadian Pacific Railway during the
months of summer. For ourselves, until near Montreal, we found
neither heat nor dust, and arrived at our journey's end with little
feeling of fatigue. One point is especially worthy of remark — in-
deed, two, but one above all the rest. That is, the superior meth-
ods of provisioning the line, a thing in marked contrast to some
roads which I could mention, where travellers are sure to be fed
irregularly and wretchedly at the eating houses by the way, and, in
consequence of delays, often are unable to secure any provision at
all for eight or ten hours. The Canadian Pacific runs dining cars
over all its line, except through the mountains, and there well man-
aged hotels furnish a most excellent meal and at a moderate CDSt.
In the diningcars (which are put on in relays at certain fixed points)
meals are served exactly on time from day to day, and even in the
wildest regions the passenger may be sure of dining, supping or
breakfasting as well and cheaply as at any first-class hotel. The
second point upon which comment is permissible is the invariable
courtesy ofidl the railway's servants; I myself am much indebted
to engineers, conductors and division officials for facilities in seeing
and learning about the country over which we travelled, Wonder-
6il in its construction, the road is equally admirable for the spirit
and carefulness with which it is run. ^

I i

11;

IVORY BAR SOA P.

EFFECTIVE, DURABLE & CHEAP

Ivory Bar Soap is superior to imported castile.

Use Ivorjr Bar Soap for fine laiindry work.

Wash infants' cloths with Ivory Bar Soap.

Use Ivory Bar Soap for bathing.

Ivory Bar Soap is delightftdly perfomed.

Use Ivory Bar boap for shaving.

Ivory Bar Soap is a luxury, though very cheap.

Olean painted walls with Ivory Bar Soap.

Ivory Bar Soap lathers freely.

Take home some Ivory Bar Soap.

Glean your teeth with Ivory Bar Soap.

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Ivory Bar Soap the best of all lor Mechanics' use.

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Wash yourself with Ivory Bar Soap.

Shampoo with Ivorv Bar Soap.

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Wash hnen lawns with Ivory Bar Soap.

Wash your hair with Ivory Bar Soap.

Clean painted wood with Ivory Bar Soap,

Wash ftimiture with Ivory Bar Soap.

Wash your hands with Ivory Bar Soap.

Clean silverware with Ivory Bar Soap.

Ivory Bar Soap is healing m its effect.

Remove grease spots with Ivory Bar leoap.

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•r>-:f^, — ^L -r «__ « — _.^^ jg luxurious and

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Ivory

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You get Ivory Bar Soap in pound, two pound six
ounce, and three pound bars, cut it up any size
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ASK YOUR GROCER FOR IT.

ICanofacturbd at ths

BRANTFORD *•* SOAP a WORKS

Brant ford,

A. WATTS & CO.,

Ontario. Ganada.

THE

[EAP

le.

ailltlltiiiiiilkiiiii^di.:

AMP

muninin

lieap.

ios' use.

Ued.
•us and

ind six
bny size

RKS

kxxada.

ANZER+

ANB PO t^TABLE G OOKEI^.

ovel jfeatureg in a Xamp

^ By placing it under the Cooker it may instantly be
used as a Stove.

Cooking may be done for an entire family with one
Lamp and one Cooker.

The Wanzer Cooker will Roast or Steam Food.

As soon as the Lamp is lighted, the hot air ascends
and permeates the food to be cooked, passing through the
top lid of cooker, which is purposely made to tit loosely,
and thence down the outer cover or condenser.

Potatoes alone are well baked in 45 minutes.

Six pounds of meat well roasted in 2| hours.

Two to four pounds of meat roasted with potatoes or
other vegetables and a pudding or tart in two hours.

The ordinary beat of a Wanzer Lamp will generate
team in X5 minutes.

The meal may be kept hours without spoiling,

No odor escapes into the room while cookmg.

Everything cooked is more wholesome and moro
easily digested than when cooked by any other method.

It saves nearly ^ of the food which is lost by the or-
dinary methods.

All the nutriment, richness, and flavor of the food
is retained.

Send for Cataloque and Desoription*

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MANUFACTURERS OP

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These Brands are srudranteed by the Medioal Facility
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- mended for the use of invalids*

KEPT Sy ALL READING QRQCERS IN CANADA,

LAST M'ORDS.

311

ITER

1 Faculty

CANADA,

** For the wretclies tak(ui in arms, sir, I have nothing to
say ; but for this poor wounded fellow I ask proper lu^lp and
protfiction. I will be answerable for him."

Bart looked at him quickly and reeled slightly as he limped
to his side.

" Thank ye, captain," he said. " I ought to hate you, but
she loved you, and that's enough for me. If I don't see you
again, sir- Gotl bless you and good-bye ! "

" But we shall see each other again, Bart, and I hope-
here, quick ! " he cried, "help here ; the poor fellow is fainting
from loss of blood !"

Bart wa.s borne off to be tended by the surgeon, and Hum-
phrey Armstrong stood gazing down at the motionless form at
his feet.

He did not speak for some minutes, and all around respected
his .sorrow by*^tanding aloof; but he turned at last to the
olKcer —

"I ask honourable burial, sir, for the dead — dead to save
my life."

The officer bowed gra\'ely, and then turned away to give n
few short, sharp orders to his men, who signed to thoir
prisoners. .

These were rapidly marched down to the boats, two and
two, till it came to the turn of Dinny, who stood with Mrs.
Greenheys clinging to him, trembling with dread.

" Now, my fine fellow," said the warrant officer who had
the prisoners in charge ; "this way."

" Sure, and ye'll let me have a wurrud wid the captain
first?"

" No nonsense. Come along ! "

" Sure, an' he'd like to shpake to me wan wurrud," said ■
Dinny. " Wouldn't ye, sor?"

Humphrey, who was standing witli lii.s arras folded,

842

COMMODORE JUNK.

) !

! i

wrapped in thought, looked up sharply on hearing the familiar
tones of the Irishman's voice.

'* There, what did I tell ye, sor ? " he cried. " Sure, an' I'm
not a buccaneer by trade — only a prishnor."

Humphrey strode up, for Mrs. Greenlieys had run to him
with claspod hands.

'*l'd (uko it kindly of ye, sor, if y(i'd explain me position to
these ginthniten — that I'm not an inimy, but a friend."

" Yes," sai<l Humphrey, tuining to the ollicer in comman<l ;
** a very good friend to me, sir, and one who would be glad to
serve the king."

" Or anny wan else who behave dacently to him."

" Let him tend his companion," said Humphrey. " He is a
good nurse for a wounded man."

Mistress T^reenheys caught Humphrey's hand and kissed
It.

" But she would have betrayed us," Ik; said to himself, as
he looked down into the ^ittle woman's tearful face ; " still, it
wab i^or the sake of the man she loved."

That night, coven 4 with ilie English flag, which .she had
BO often defied, the so-called Conmiodore Junk was borne to
the resting-place selected by Humphrey Armstrong.
' It was a solemn scene as tin; roughly-made bier was boine
by lantern light through the dark arcade of the forest, and the
sailors looked up wonderingly at the .strange aspect of the
mouldering old pile.

But their wonder increased as they entered the gloomy
temple, and the yellow light of their lanterns fell apon the
flag-draped coffin in the centre, and the weird-looking figures
seated round. , '

Side by side with the remains of hei' orother, Mary Dell
was laid and then draped with the same Hag, spread by
Humphrey Armstrong's hands, the picture exciting the wonder

■ ^■MinaWivaiu ai w ii

LAST WORDS.

84 i

ng the familiar

" Sure, ail' I'm

ad run to him

I nie position to

fiiond."

•r in coniinand ;

ould be glad to

him."

rey. " He is a

and and kissed

1 to himself, as
face ; " still, it

which she had
was borne to

Ibier was borne
I forest, and tlie
aspect of the

^d the gloomy

fell upon the

lookinji fif'urcs

|er, Mary Dell
jg, spread by
lig the wonder

of the officer in command, to whom it all snomod mysterious
and strange. Greater wonder than all, though, was that
Humphrey Armstrong, lately a prisoner of the famous buc-
caneer who had been laid to rest, should display such deep
emotion as ho slowly left the spot.

As he stepped outside volleys were fired by the men, and
as the reports of the pieces rumbled through the untitjue build-
ing, and echoed in the cavernous cehote, the reverbei-ation
loosened some portion of the roof over the vast reservoir, an
avalanche of stone falling with a reverberating hollow sjdash,
and a great bird flew out and disappeared in the darkness
overhead.

Three days later, laden with the valuable plunder an\assed
by the buccaneers, and a vast amount consigned to the flames
in pursuance of the orders to thoroughly destroy the hornets'
nest, the rescue shi}) set sail, in company with the buccaneer's
fast schooner, the prize Huinphrey Armstrong once longed to
take into Dartmouth Harbour. But the sight of the warship's
consort only gave him pain now as 1 e lay in his berth or
reclined helplessly on deck, suflfering from the serious fever
which supervened.

" It's a curious whim," said the captain of the ship to his
lieutenant. " One would have thought he'd rather have had
ji couple of decent sailors to tend him, and not those two
fellows, who must have been regular pirates in their time."

But it was so, Humphrey Armstrong was not content
without Bart or Dinny at his side all through his severe illness,
which lasted till they were nearing home.

During the voyage he learned by degrees the whole history
of the escape of the relics of his crow, consequent upoa the
division in the camp and the chaotic state of discipline which
obtained among the buccane(M's during the latter days. He

344

COMMODORE JONK.

heard mo'-d, too, of their struggles to reach a port, and of the
rescue wliich had been planned and successfully carried out

One evening as Humphrey Armstrong sat on deck wonder-
ing to himself that he could be so changed as to look with
distaste upon the western shores of England, gilded by the
evening sun, he became conscious of another presence close
behind, and looking sharply round it was to see the haggard,
worn face of Bart as he stood there, bent and terribly changed
by mental suffering, and his wounds.

As he saw Humphrey Armstrong gaze wonderingly at him
he raised one hand and pointed to the dimly-seen cliff line,
ruddy in the western glow. ^

" Home, sir/' he cried, hoarsely.

" Yes, Bart, home," said Humphrey, gloomily. " What are
you going to do ? " '

" You know best, sir. Prison, or the rope V*
* Humphrey started sadly, and held out his hand, which the
rough fellow, after a momentary hesitation, took.

*' Bart, my lad," said Humphrey, " why not take the old
cottage and settle down to your former life 1 I should like it
if you'd do this thing. Will you ] "

" Will I ! " said the poor fellow in suffocating tones. "God
bless you, sir ! You've made me happier than I ever hoped to
be again."

" Take it or buy it, Bart, as soon as you reach home. I
wish it done, only it is to be kept unchanged, as we two keep
her secret."

A fortnight had passed, during which period Humphrey
Armstrong had kept himself quite in seclusion, when in
obedience to a stern resolve he journeyed slowly up to
town.

'wmr

BBBSXa

B«i

■■■^■1

►orfc, and of the
carried out

n deck wonder-
8 to look with
gilded by the
presence close
e the haggard,
rribly changed

eringlj at him
seen cliflPline,

"What are

cid, which the

take the old
lould like it

>nes. "God
ver hoped to

!h home. I
e two keep

Humphrey
I when in
^ly up to

LAST WORDS.

345

He had good excuse for his dilatory ways, being still far
from strong ; but now he was bound on the task of performing
what he told himself was his duty— that of going straight to
Lady Jenny Wilderaey, confessing everything in an open,
manly way, and begging her to set him free from the engage-
ment he had made.

" I could not marry such a woman now," he said to himself
again and again ; " she would drive me mad ! "

It was a hard struggle, but he was determined to carry it
through, and one morning he crossed the Park and the Mall,
and made his way straight into St. James's Square.

Everything looked the same, except himself, for he was
bronzed and worn, and his countenance displayed a scar. But
he was as brightly dressed as on the day he called to say fare-
well, for he had had to attend at the admiral's to give an
account of his proceedings, and had found, to his surprise, that
not only was the loss of his ship condoned by the complete
rooting out of the buccaneers, but he had been promoted, and
was shortly to engage in another expedition, this time to the
East.

St. James's Square looked just as of old, and the same
servant opened to his hasty knock and met him with a
smile.

He had come without sending notice, and he had made no
inquiry since his landing, telling himself that it was better so ;
and now, strung up for his painful task, he strode into the
great marble-paved hall.

" Ask Lady Jenny if she will see me— a private interview,**
he said to the ponderous old butler who came forward as the
footman closed the door.

"' Lady Jenny, sir 1 The countess is at the lakes with his
lordship." •

" The countess I I said Lady Jenny.**

346

COMMODORE JDnk.

"Tli^ « . •' r "'^w as cue countf»«j.o »

-liie countess! Why von ^« u
" Yes «,v . I ^' ^^ ^^^^ °iean- "

"a. said Humphrey, caJmly • "Th.„ .
I"d,e., and had not heard the ne Jl» ^° *° '^^ W*-*

He nodded good-humouredlr t„ '^i, ■ j .
»on«s the square. ^ '° **' °" •»'««»•, and went off

"Kow, it's rnv hfi]io.<J» -1 ,
-other on 'en. J k^r^LTl^'.'''' '"'"-. "that W.
„„,„ ^* '^^y^'P '"» always a.i,«di„„

"Thaj?k Heaven »"saiH tt„w 1.

-d he went and- behaveTtit! 7'^;- 1'" " ''^ °' "'^'
stmight to his club, ordered hid" ^"«''^"'*''> f°' to walked
for months thor„ug;i, e^d it .^ "'"' ^^ *"« ««» «»«
over the reniains of his botS fi ' ll^ "^ """ ^' •*^««b
that was atety to resto,^ Ll?;:' '^^'^^^ Po^t- wine
he filled his glass slowly, thoul o/ "^ ""'^ *° «^ -«ta«-
ti-t it with its earnest woS;;/'':^'' '^'^'^^ '-^'^
mind diseased, and made urL "ild tl .^^' ""^^ ^^ »
W- to leave his newly-ma/e 1^^^,. t " """ I'^""""'''
of his men. ^ ''* """W l»ve Dinny for one

"And old Bart too if i,« -n
.nentwoor threeti^r;! r -ri^yaid "-^ -^oud.

-age, aU silk and gewgaws L, flowed Er""'"''^'"'*''
. " What a release I Thank Heaven 7" ^ ""agination.

At kst there was but one elass I„ff • ..
raising the handled basket in wLTi r ?' '~'"''' '"•'

'^ej "we always

Winterleyton %
'undred and teq
ir."

'en to the Wet
r, and went off

LAST WORDS.

347

him seemed to be blurred and dim. He was almc.t alone in the
great club-room, for the various diners had rise, a^d gone, and
for the time being the long, gloomy place se..^ .d to be the old
prison chamber, with its stone altar and gi-eat carven idol gazing
stolidly down upon him as he said softly :

"Mary Dell! True woman ! I shall never love a-ain I »
He drained the glass to the memory of Commodore Junk
and, stubborn Englishman to the last, he kept his word

»r, "that he's
'ays a-loadinff

»gh of relief .
'or he walked
the first time
it afterwards
port— « wine
> his veins—
>edition, and
emedy for a
»J<i persuade
inny for one

half aloud,
^d-painted
Pagination,

THE END.

'ottle, and
> carefully
candle-Iit,
dark, im-
ill around