The Corsair King

ing a

fish were now making their clumsy leaps from wave to wave,-a sign of fair weather. A brigantine which had outlived the gale was moving slowly over the almost unrippled surface of the water; all hands were engaged in rep

which he had been driven by the storm. The movements of the needle were scrutinized more and more carefully, while from time to time, the voice of an officer taking soundings, echoed on the air. At last the captain's finge

le and, blowing a signal, ordered the mate to summon the

sails were tattered, yet the captain spoke as calmly in passing sentence up

thrown overboard?" he asked, turn

ered it," repli

captain, wheeling round to lo

gentle, whose features when smiling are even captivating, until some expression of mocke

n overboard. The men first cast out the heavy ballast; then you ordered them to add whatever else could be spared. Then the cannon went, though it was a great pity, for we stand in need of them, especially when off the Ladrones, but even this did not lighten the ship sufficiently. You again issued orders that everything superfluous must be ca

"for this inhuman deed you will be cashiered, kept in irons

at the helm, and several of the c

captain and, smiling contemptuously, said

unishment a few hours; you or some one else

in. "To die without a doctor or to be thrown int

end, had you relieved the ship of the sick in the first place,

e concealed in the hold, and that every man should go to his post to be prepared for any attack. He himself, taking his

ack flag was already visible, and a cannon ball, whistling close by

was interpreted by the pirates as fear, and one of their num

A word with

fluttered from every mas

orders in loud, hoarse tones, upon which half the sails were furled, and with a swift turn the light craft came round before

Devil, and, which, the pirates humorously asserted, was the living image of their Captain Davis

der of the report of the sailors' arms followed; when the smoke dispersed, the two vessels were already fast locked together, the fire had killed several of the pirates; the others, pushing their comrades' bodies

, with his eyes fixed on the pirate leader, who had already fir

ge hammer above his head with his right hand, he sprang on the deck of the brigantine, felling two of her crew at the same instant. The pirates, with deafening yell

ain by rolling his eye-balls hideously. The latter fired, and whoever was looking at Davis at the moment saw a bloody star on

center of the brigantine. While the fight had been raging on one side, six pirates in a boat had rowed around her and crept noiselessly to her deck, which they reached just as their captain fell. These men, too, turned to

ld, ringing tones, and the sailors, disheartened by the capture of their

lift him on their shoulders, declare him their captain and, with

d, and, pointing to the figures lying weltering

our leader better tha

e!" was the un

m for your leader

responde

m the Hercules' shoulder. "I

athlete; "does any one

e. Come forward, Lord Simpson, you oppose my election. Step fo

a tall, fair man, who, with his hands thrust into his po

ng his sinewy hand, threateningly above Simp

ied Simpson, nonchalantly, glancing at his comra

e do!" shout

otestant nobles to the scaffold. My father suffered with them. Since that time I have hated the Pa

friendship, after Barthelemy had assured him, on his honor as a pirate, that he had not entered a church since his christening, and had never been in a priest's presence dur

red letters the names of the pirates, and read them one by one in a loud tone. Often nobody answered and

hand and foot, to the mainmast, where he laid him flat on t

in so uncomfortable a position. You are a brave

casting a doubtful glance at his

if the captain will promise

e nothing,"

that he doesn't break anybody's head. And now, captain, be kind enough to declare the conte

nd can search every corner of

ain. Men,

g through every part of the ship, they returned to Barthelemy with the sorrowful tiding

smiling at the fury o

rred that, if I had been in such straits that I was forced to th

brave fellows eaten lead and drunk salt water for the sake of an empty box,

replied Ro

be of no use to us," said the giant Skyrme,

bulwark, holding a short pipe between his teeth. The silver whistle ha

d. "Bore a hole in the bottom of the ark and

n, with his hands tied behind his back, threw himself at Barthelemy's feet and tried

seech you not to murder me. Kill all my comrades, the scoundrels deserve it for resisting you; but I have given you no offence, I n

rates stared,

uted as you are; I have nothing to do with these people; I am the mortal enemy of Captain Rolls. I implore you to distinguish between me and these people,

thing, while Moody kicked at the writhing figure,

elemy, "it appears that you

mned. The judgment lies

harge; we'll represent the court of justice. Barthelemy will be judge, we t

d his eyes without

with the crafty glance of a man who f

wn upon you, as if it would be a disgrace to him to recognize such worthy men as judges. Oh, I will submit to your sentence, I have n

do so!" cried R

ll not even permit me to repeat the charge against me! Very natural! He knows that he, and not I, will be condemned. So liste

" shouted Asphlant, cranin

l useless ballast to be thrown overboard. There was nothing left except the

doctor, of course kept

ver, and now Captain Rolls

an in horror, while Rolls gl

"so there is silver on your sh

ill not t

umb screw will find ou

one have the right to say that the pirates use the tools of the auto-da-fé! Should not we, who call ourselves the heroes of the free sea, honor freedom? If Captain Rolls

in's speech, and began to faste

e merely that the pirates might wreak their vengeance on Cap

miserable craft after you? Release me and promise to spare my l

lemy signing to his men. "I'll promise that we will no

ed to shake hands with each one of the pirat

sping him with both hands, dragged him along, Scudamore protesting that h

d on board their own vessel, while Scudamore showed the utmost zeal in helping the men, calling each, meanwhile, his dear,

g here, captain! The ship is entirely empty. Shall we bore a hole in her bottom? Or will it be

ailors gave no sign of emotion, while Scudamore tried to lock arms with one after anot

ot for us, Englishmen and Frenchmen. Are we to make ourselves ashamed of the name of pirate, admit that it has nothing in common with the word honor? Were not the first inhabit

bbers. Many approved the captain's

iolently. "Is there any one w

e to the captain's face that it almost touched his eyes. "I say you are a fool, captain. You are acting

emy. "Skyrme! Seize this fellow

ned to Skyrme, and the latter, rushing upon the chief mate, bound him, in spite of his struggles, to the mainmast, so that he clasped it

who wishes to oppose me

the ranks of the pirates, but no

lls and, taking from his pocket a p

hat you will return her to her owners empty, but that is no fault of yours, in proo

ific Ocean, and, having just lost his guns and part of his rigging in a gale, defended himself against us in the bravest manner for an hour and a half, and did

Robert B

ceeded in securing the silver on

Barthelemy, addi

udamore trembling, "what a

"We promised that we would n

"but if you release the captain, and

ed the corsair-chief,

aloud. "That's

wing himself at Barthelemy's feet. "Oh, gentlemen, don't leave me in th

r of the brigantine free, let him take this fellow with him; what a fine lot of talk t

at I have rendered you an important service, and shall perform still more. I am a physician; you need one, take me with you. I will be just such a man, such a devil as all the rest, I'll be no disgrace to your band. Y

curtly. "We do need a

r one of our band is wounded in the hand or foot, will cut it off? A living human saw? A poisoner,

ish, and so it shall be. You manage the ropes and sails,

valiant captain, you seem to be such a worthy ma

damore approached near enough for him to reach him with his fo

' nine tails. Give this man thirty blows on th

ught. "To work at once!" Barthelemy comma

e tails approached him, he began to throw himself frantically to the right and left, but thereby

he list of pirates. Scudamore seized the pen with eager joy, and wrote his signature with such horrib

, inform the governmen

and muttered between his teeth: "You sco

s good as a

st with his name enrolled as if it were some diabolical patent of nobility, and eyeing

ssion of your ship. But that we may not leave our mate her

them a severe kick. When he found his hands free, his first act was to give the nearest li

ate; now that it is over we again stand man to man; if you feel that I have wronged you, take

off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, loosed his collar an

rthelemy; "which will yo

d Moody hoarsely, "we sh

. Excuse our fighting in your ship, Captain Rolls, but satisfaction must be given in the presence

severe blow on the back of the person who handed it, he began to strike furiously around him in every direction, so t

scarcely moved his arm to parry the strokes which h

your own eyes out. Look, I am not standing where you are aiming.

ests of the other, the rude laughter of the bystanders, the jee

e, he saw among them Dr. Scudamore, who had spread out his surgical instruments on his knees, and was gazing at hi

istorted by rage, again attacked him. Barthelemy avoided the blow and pierced his right arm. The chief mat

agonist's sword from his grasp and, setting his foot upon it,

ly ran forward to a

or I'll tear you to pieces and put you on m

arm to a beam; and continued to strike about him with the injured one till that too, was bound, after which he kicked violently and when hi

udamore, with a malicious twinkle in his eyes. "

xcept a roar like a wild beast's, and could not ev

d told them that they would find all their weapons in the mate

courteously, and held out his hand. After

ke it, in the hope th

ment tells me that some day I shall kill

t I shall get you hun

keg of biscuits and a cask of water-that will not supply you until

nd trust that you wi

uld willingly lend you a few cannons, t

if I had even two guns, I would

e shall meet again somewh

. Barthelemy gave the sailors the key and, with a bound, reached the deck of his own ship, the pirates shoved off from the Neptune and, with three ch