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THE BQyPAY OREGONIAlf, PORTLAND, APRILS 8, 1900.'
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1WK LE o WINDS
By s.itc&ocKprr
Figures by G.A.smpLEY
Synopsis of Previous Chapter.
Efr James StansrVeiiJ. of New llUns. In com
pany with bis grandaoo. young- Philip, meets In
an irmhouse his aon Philip and bis son's para
mour. Janet Mark. They quarrel. Sir James
roes home, taking bis BrawSflon. That nl-rht b j
la murdered by hla dissolute son and Janet
Mark. They lay his body ouulde on an Ice
floe. In the effort to lay the crime to others.
Bat the boy Philip has witnessed the crime. He
tells hla grandfather's chief tenant. Umphray
Bpurway. who succeeds In rjs-rlng- the real mur
derers broucht to justice. Philip Is sentenced
to be banred. and his woman accomplice to be
transported. Mysteriously he escapee the cal
lows, seeks out his wife, finds her In the com
pany of Spurway. and tries to murder her. but
does not quite succeed. She Is taken away to
Abercalrn for cure. leaYlng- her son In charge
of Spurway and with Uttle Anna Mark, who
teaches him that in some ways girls are worth
quite as much as boja. Still, they are excel
lent friends, even though she beats him at her
studies In the school to which they go. John
Stansfleld. Philip's lawyer-uncle, brings In a
new teacher. Dominie ningrose, a small man,
with wonderful eyes. Shortly after his coming
the countrywide Is shocked and thrilled by a
i number of bloody ana myetenoui muraers, ej-
VjAectly for the sake of robbery. Business calls
.TJmptiray Spurway from home. In his absence
sV a big packing case, purporting to be lull ol une
Spanish wooL la delivered to "Will Bowman.
TJmphray's clerk, who puts It in the weaving
shed. That night Philip, playing about It. net
ahlnlng through the gauze a pair of eyes. He
calls 'Will Bowman, who counts three, then
stabs the case with a small sword. Bluud
flows. They open the case, and find Dominie
Rlngrose Inside, apparently dead. Shortly after
the house Is attacked by robbers, whom Ring
rose had meant to let In. They are beaten off:
but afterwards Philip's mother refuses to let
htm spend th holidays at New Mllns. Return
ing from a day's visit to New MUns, Philip
falls In with Saul Mark. Anna's gypsy father,
who, under pretense of showing him Sir Harry
Morgan's treasure, makes him a prisoner.
Anna finds out his plight, and ie&ds Spurway
on his track. By the help of hla silent partner.
Provost Gregory Parian. Saul Mark, super
cargo of the ship Corraroantee. Imprisons both
Anna and Spurway. robbing Spurway-ot much
money and a portrait of Philip's mother. Philip
the elder goes out In Spurway's cloak to hla
wife's bouse, and by threats Induces her
aboard the Corraroantee. Anna and Philip
make friends with Shorn. He showa them the
secrets of the island, and where Sir Harry
Morgan'a treasure Is, guarded by Fer-de-tanoe
'and his hosts. Eborra has scented a boat. In
which he plans to escarp with Anna. Philip,
Mrs. St&nsfield and his mother: also Will
Bowman, who is in the clutches of the pirate.
The pirates sail away with two or three ships.
The boat starts, encounters other pirates, but
Is towed safely away by a monster devil
fish. The boat reaches Puerto Rico In safety,
and its Inmates approach a convent seeking
help. The convent takes In the women. The
men go Into a chain gang. It is making a road
for the pleasure of the TOernor wife. Eb
chances to pass along, and Will Bowman and
Philip discover her to be Janet Mark, little
Anna's mother. Janet Mark, now the Lady
Juanlta Sllveda, stands friend to her country
men, but they won find It Is a perilous faor.
Notwithstanding Janet grows violently jealous
when little Anna somewhat takes the Gover
nor's eye. She Is about 10 kill the girl, when
Philip tells her the truth that Anna Is her
own daughter. Another boat comes ashore at
Puerto Rico. It holds Eaul Mark and Philip
6tansneld. who have been beaten In the en
counter with hostile pirates. Saul recognizes
his wife. He and Stansfleld persuade the Gov
ernor to fit out a ship, promising to return to
the Isle and bring back the Morgan's treasure.
He -la.ns to make Philip bring It from the
burning lake.
(Copyright, 1S9S. under the name of "Little
Anna Mark." brE.IL Crockett.)
(Copyright. 1800. by S. R. Crockett.)
CHAPTER XLV.
The Sun Dntclmn.
And In this matter Saul Mark was as
. good as his word. Interrogated In private
by the grand Inquisitor, ns to how he came
to know the Lady Juanlta Sllveda, he de
clared that Scotland was a small country,
the shank bone of the larger and richer
England. Ills companion and he had
heard of the dignified and distinguished
family to which the tody Juanlta be
longed and of their sorrow at her disap
pearance while on a voyage to claim an
estate In the Western plantations.
But the donna had seemed overcome?
Well, so much was to be expected, hear
ing for the first time for years news of
her family.
It was about this time that the rivalry
which Bad long existed between the eccle
siastical settlement of San Juan de Bro
eas and the town and military post of
Puerto Rico began to resolve Itself Into
mutual courtesies and most punctilious
amity. In order to appease the mind of
the Commandante, still seething and
working after storm, in the matter of the
reliquary, a suit of marvelously chased
and damascened armor was sent him with
the compliments of the Grand Inquisitor
and the hope that It might fit the body of
the brave and worthy representative of
the King of the Spalns In these Islands.
It had belonged to a knight whose body,
when last seen, had been wrapped about
In a well-fitting sheet of flame, provided
for the purpose by the Holy Office of
Mother Church.
But this in his note of benefaction the
Grand Inquisitor did not mention. It was
not pertinent to the giving and receiving
of a present between a dignified church
man and a loyal soldier of Holy Church
In parllbus. Anon (so ran the accompany
ing missive) the Abbot would ride over on
hla mule with a train of monks, or the
Grand Inquisitor require the pleasure of
the company of Commandante Nicholas
and his noble lady at his next feet In the
grand square. For 'now by great efforts
the road was finished so that the Donna
Juanlta could the more easily drive
thither.
After a day or two Eborra brought us
word that Saul Mark and Captain Stans
fleld with him were allowed their full lib
erty In the Monastery of San Juan de
Brozas. They occupied one room, ana
somo of the negro guards had heard the
man with the silver earrings laughing dur
ing the night, "like the bird which laughs
In the woods, where no man Is" (so they
expressed It). And they were afraid,- for
It sounded like the devil triumphing.
During the day Captain Stansfleld walk
ed silently up and down the quadrangle
of the Monastery, or read books from the
library. He spoke little and ate sparingly.
A sentinel with a loaded musket contin
ually followed him. Saul Mark, on the
other hand, did not appear to be watched
at all. He went everywhere about the
settlement, and a table was kept for his
use near the apartments of the Grand
Inquisitor. Here, under the shade of a
vine-clad arbor, with papers, lnkhoms
and charts .scattered about him. Saul sat
drawing many days and often all day
long.
As for Anna. I saw little of her during
these days. But by means of Eborra and
his witch-mother we managed to exchange
greetings every -morning. She was well.
So came the news. She had found my
mother busy with her broldertng among
the kind sisters, when last the Lady Juan
lta had driven over to tne nunnery, ioo
donna was kinder to her than ever, but,
for fear of Saul Mark, never allowed her
out of her sight for a moment during- th
day. Even at night she would come to
the door of her chamber half a dozen
times so that she was compelled to write
to us on scraps of paper and "hide them
under her pillow when she heard her
mother coming.
I could well understand Janet Mark's
reason for keeping her child In sight
while so dangerous a man as Saul Mark
was closo at hand, and with allies so
powerful as the Abbot and the Grand
Inquisitor. But because of these precau
tions, I could not very readily communi
cate to Anna, which was a grief to me.
Meanwhile. Will and I labored in our
moist-hot weaving shed, having matters
pretty much our own way. o that we
turned out enough cloth for the soldiers
and also for the galleon, which was to
stop here on Its way to Port of Spain,
bringing wool and taking webs of cloth,
as well as forming- the main channel of
communication between our Command
ante and his superiors.
But we) soon became aware that great
preparations were being made for soma
distant expedition. The San Esteban.
tho single ship of any size In the port,
was being scraped and cleaned down with
out and within. Will and I used to slip
down at nights when the moon was at
full to see her masts stand up tall and
sharp against the sky. All was still and
beautiful, the moon hardly shining so
much as glowing with a whitish green
Illumination up In the black sky. The
fireflies glinted blue among the branches
of the orange trees, and tho glow-worms
Jetted fire at our feet. We watched the
darting lamps alighting near their mates,
the tiny fires first brightening, then dull
ing, last of all being obscured as the in
sects consummated their love affairs, all
of which Interested us much.
On board the San Esteban we could
hoar a sound of hammering, and some
times figures moved up the stays and
about the rigging, all black as ebony,
save for a silver edging to each span
mast, cord and moving shadow. But
Lord, how the mosquitoes bit down by
the fat mud banks of the snore great
speckled fellows they were, and wltlJ the
appetites of unfed tigers for good -fresh
Scottish blood.
On these nights It was hot. with a
kind of lukewarm heat, and Will'and I
would gladly have cast off our light
clothes and plunged Into the heaving
waters. We refrained, however, owing
to the presence- of certain curious ob
jects out In the bay. These were most
like black bottles set aslope upon the
sea, save that they passed and repassed
swiftly and noiselessly across, the shin
ing wake of the moon, cllstenlng like
wet leather as they vanished Into the
shadoV. They were the back fins of a
school of sharks, and. as may well be
believed, the sight put bathing out of our
heads.
It was upon our return from one of
these rambles that we found Saul Mark
waiting for us. He greeted us cordially
enough, but with more than usual of
the sneering manner which made me hate
him so. He was seated very much at his
ease In the Uttle chamber at the end of the
weaving shed, where for ordinary we
swung our hammocks and kept what
privacy was posslblo for us. It was a
pleasant ppce save for the mosquitoes,
and these we made shift to rid ourselves
of by raising a great smoko or "smudge,"
as we called It, outside. Just beyond the
-veranda. This we started on one side
or the other, according as the w'nd blew.
It was, therefore, through a fine cloud ot
this smoke that we discovered our un
welcome visitor, his black beady eyes
sparkling nnd his large sliver earrings
glinting In the smoky firelight which came
In through the open door, bringing with It
the rolling smoke. This last kept us all
three coughing, and rendered more bi
zarre our Interview with Anna's father.
"Your health, gentlemen." he said, with
out moving, as we came in.
He had found and opened a large square
case-bottle of Hollands, the gift of the
Lady Juanlta. He lifted a tankard and
quaffed to us courteously, leaning back the
while In our only chair, and crossing one
Uz over the other very much at his ease,
at which Will Bowman only grunted, but
I saluted the man courteously enough,
both because he was Anna's father and
because (save In a matter of conscience)
I have always tried to steer the course
which most avoids the perils of our life's
pilgrimage by land and sea, not always,
I admit, with entire success, but always
with the best Intent,
"You hare been out to visit the sen
oritas ah. youth, youth!" he cried, hold
ing up his hands. "Well. I am the last
man to blame you. I drink. Instead, to
your fair ladles' eyes."
"We have been down by the shore edgv
to admire the moonlight upon the water,"
so I answered htm. gravely.
"Ah." he cried, with a note of 'added
eusto in his voice, "so It was In my
time. I also went to admire the moon
light upon tne wntcr!"
"Nevertheless, the thing Is true, sir,"
said I. with a respectful assurance which
I thought fitted to convince the most un
believing. "Ah, what have you in that pocket?"
be said, pointing to the place In my blue
working blouse where I carried Anna's
letters In a flapped Inside pouch, secured
with a button and tag. "
Al this I was astonished, and. I fear,
showed somethlnir of It.
Saul Mark nodded gently.
"Good lads good lads." he said, "why
should you be shamed? We are all a
family party here husbands and wives,
sons and daughters a little mixed per
haps at present, but full of the possi
bilities of domestic bliss when once we
settle down a little." -
And his expression was that of a de
mon driver who cracks his whip ot fire
over a new and unstalled team.
Will and I had no words to answer
him, and, after gloating over; our silence
for a moment, he went on:
"But now I need you, youne sirs."
he said: "you and I have work, before
us. I remember well your many excur-
J sions In the High Woods when we were
all In a manner of speaking so happy to
gether on the Isle of the Winds before
the coming of Captain Key's cruel pirates.
You know the place of our adventure.
I will -reveal to you s secret. Under the
blessing of the Almighty, we are fitting
out an expedition to retake the Island and
find Morgan's treasure. It Is not the first
time Master Philip here has gone treasure
seeking. God give him better luck on this
occasion! four dusky friend comes with
us as sutde. I think you know what he
will guide us to. Therefore, make ready.
Leave tho weaving for a week or two.
The weavers will have a holiday, and the
webs will not rot. The commandante
also will leave a guard to keep all safe.
So be ready to go on board the San Este
ban at any time upon a summons."
There was nothing for us but to obey;
and I nodded my promise of obedience;
while Will sulkily combed the back of
his hand with a teasle.
"We will not fall you!" I answered.
"No. I shall see to It that you do not!"
he answered, smiling.
And that was the one word of threat
ening he used.
CHAPTER XLVL
Saul Mark Explains.
In addition to warning; Will and my
self, that very honest man. Saul Mark.
made himself clear to all concerned on
& certain hot evening a fortnight later.
It was in the wide, half-underground
apartment set aside for Captain Stans
fleld and his companion In the monastery
of St. John of Brozas. The Donna Juanlta
Sllveda had Just arrived to visit her com
patriots. As was her wont on such oc
casions, she had left Anna without In
the arbor, where were Saul Mark's papers
and charts. The girl lifted one at ran
dom, and, to her surprise, found it a
map of the Isle of the Winds, with the
fathoming of all the anchorages and gird
ing reefs carefully marked. The position
of the village was exactly Indicated, but
the work had evidently been Interrupted,
for the interior was a blank, with only
a few vague pencil markings upon It.
"Why have you brought me here
again?" Anna heard her mother say. ia
she entered. The reply was Inaudible.
Then in a few moments the woman's
voice grew louder. "I will' not" she
cried, shrilly. "I tell you I will not I
would die sooner!"
Whereat the girl moved nearer to the
door, thinking It no shame to listen when
aU our lives depended upon her vigilance.
She had not to go outside, for even where
she was, hidden among the crimson blos
soms of -the arbor, the voices came clear
ly enourh to her ear.
Then Anna distinguished the voice of
Saul Mark, not raised like that of a com
mander, but only made more emphatic, as
If what he said admitted of no argument.
"It is not a Question of vour wllL mv
Lady Juanlta. but of your necessity," ho
said; "not of may; but. of must. I speak,
remember, to a man. and a woman wno
are both at this moment not only sinners,
but convict murderers."
"And who planted the thought In our
hearts? Who hounded us to that which
was done?" It was her mother's voice,
raised almost to a shriek, that Anna
heard as she stood trembling among- the
heavy crimson-petaled creepers.
"Hush, Janet, it Is useless," Joined in
the deep, quiet voice of Captain Stans
fleld. This man. Is our taskmaster. Let
him say the thing he will."
Saul Mark laughed a tittle scornfully.
"How wise Is Sir Philip," he said.
"How clearly he grasps tho situation!
It Is a pity tn!s prescience had not come
somewhat earlier. It. would have pre
vented many things the blue room at
New Mllns for one thing, the limekiln
of Provo- Gregory Partan for another,
a hundred .all ships scuttled and burned
upon the high seas, plunglngs from
slippery plank ends, poor Jim Pembury
and the lads of the Corramantee, some
thousand boys, dropping one by one In
plantation cane brakes these and much
more. And now Sir Philip chooses to be
nice about a puling woman and a pair
of youths as little distinguished from the
others as the acorns of one tree!"
"Eaul," said Janet Mark, as if trying
to touch him, "one of them is his son
and loves our daughter!"
If she spoke the word with the Intent
of excitliur pity It was Ill-judged. He'
only shook his silver earrings and laughed
a short, crackling laugh.
"Ah. love Janet lover It Is a great
word. And who knows Its meaning- If
not rou? You loved me. You told me
so. jrou remember, once on a day. Sir
Philip there once loved his father. He
loved his wife, and swore It at the altar.
His brother John loved him. Then by a
twist of the sandglass all is changed.
You, my lady, loved Philip. You hated
me. Philip hated his father, his wife, his
child. Only I, poor Saul, do not change.
I love you as much now as ever. And I
will help you aU to obtain that which your
heart desires."
"Villain!" cried Janet, "You. not he.
killed Philip Stansfleld'sfather. You egged
him to speak the words which condemned
him In the blue room of New Mllns it
was your hand struck the blow!"
Looking past the lintel of the arbor door,
Anna could see Captain Stansfleld lift his
arm and lay his palm upon the woman's
wrist, restrainlngly. He would have spo
ken, but Saul went on.
"Hear me out at least for old sake'i
sake. We were speaking of love, were we
not? I give the sandglass another turn
(ho had been fingering one which stood
on the table), and what do I see? . Still
this love. Philip loves his wife. You, my
dear wife, love Don Nicholas and your
red-and-gold coach. My daughter loves
Philip Stansfleld the second.. Again I am
the only faithful one. I alone love you all,
and make my dispositions without consid
ering the turning of hour-glasses and the
chameleon called Love Eternal!"
Then Philip Stansfleld spoke:
"Say that which you have to say. Saul
Mark. What do you wish us to do? By
the sin I have .sinned, by the blood I have
shed (there Is enough on my hands, wheth
er that of a father or no), I am bound to
this man as men bind their souls to the
devlL"
Saul Mark bowed a smiling acknowledg
ment of the comparison.
"You do me too great honor. Sir PhUlp
we made a bargain, you and L For so
much you gave so much. Did not you re
ceive that which you bargained for? Am
I a devil then because my side of the bar
gain holder'
"Say plainly that which you desire, Saul
Mark," cried. Captain Stansfleld. wearily.
"I am In no mood to bandy words. As
to your main contention, God knows I
deny you not."
" 'My desire." say you," answered Saul
with a curl of his lip, "well, to be" plain,
I am tired of all this. I will no longer
be o. pirate, privateer, conquistador. I
would go home to that which Is mine. I
would settle down at New Mllns. live de
cently and cleanly, huzza for the King
on Coronation day, hobnob with the par
son on Sundays, squeeze Umphray Spur
way and In a word. Sir Philip, do all the
things which the little matter of the blue
room and several others prevent you from
going home to do."
"There are obstacles." said Captain
Stansfleld, quietly, "the law my brother
John, who will yield nothing- easily my
son"
"Stop." said Saul; "we will only consider
the lost. If j ou please. As for the lawyer,
Jock (the name Is your own), I hold him
In the hollow of my hand, even as I hold
his elder brother. His practice and char
acter In Edinburgh are such that he dares
not quarrel with me. But 'your son." eay
you? Now I will not Insult a man of sense
by supposing that as a father you can
have any affection for such a son. You
were no stickler. Philip, when your own
father, who gave you all, stood In your
path. This boy Is altogether too puny a
gnat to strain on now. He Is in my way,
I tell you. He threatens to be more In
my way. He has a faculty, common to
cats and other sleek animals, of landing
en his feet. And when I am settled at
New Mllns r.nd Lieutenant of the Shire. 1
want no lon-lost "heirs coming knocking
upon my front door. We must put that
beyond doubt. Plainly, Philip Stansfleld
the elder, you cannot go back to claim
your heritage. Philip the younger shall
not!"
"What would you murder the Innocent
lad?" cried Janet Mark.,
"Murder, murder!" cried Saul scorn
fully, "we three are far beyond calling
any necessary rearrangement of dead
and living by that name. The thing Is
at best but a convention. There are many
"ways by wh'Ich killing Is no murder the
holy Inquisition, for one. There is to be
an auto-da-fe In a fortnight. If you. Sir
Philip, have any suggestions on heresy for
the reverend fathers of St. John, they
will. I doubt not, be pleased to consider
them. There Is much done in these Isl
ands which Is Impossible, even In the capi
tal of the his most Christian and Catholic
majesty of Spain. But I know of some
thing better for him and for all of us.
The lad Is brave enough and shall die a
brave man's death. You have heard of
Morgan's treasure? Well, I have found
It! I have promised It to the convent and
Don Nicholas as the jirlce of my liberty.
The good fathers are even now fitting out
an expedition to recapture the Is'e of the
Winds, to recover the treasure, and bring
the whole back.whlther!"
"But Morgan's treasure cannot be
reached alive." said Sir Philip. "How will
you perform your romlse?"
"I shall not perform It. I Intend that
Masters PhUlp Stansfleld "the younger and
Will Bowman shall reach It. They shall
descend to the pitch lake! Whether they
be permitted to return Is another matter!"
"You shall not you shall not!" cried
Janet fiercely. "Of this your wickedness
CRUSHED
r--g ' 1
Tramp Would you be kind enough, good 1 ady. to give me asms old pair ot trousers dis
carded by your husband, the doctor? . ,
Mrs. Dr. Newwoman I am sorry to say I can't I am the doctor! Mesrendorfer BJaetter.
my husband Don Nicholas shall be In
formed!" "Silence." cried Saul Mark. " "your hus
band," says you I am your husband. 1
and none otheV. You shall do as I bid
you, Janet, or I will go to Don Nicholas
and tell him the Lady Juanlta Js e. sen
tenced murderess, the paramour of a
parricide, the gamester's lure, the lime
on the fowler's twig!"
"Saul Saul," the woman cried, "have
pltyl Have some pity. Who made me
these? Was I not Innocent before I knew
you?"
"Innocent Innocent," sneered Saul
Mark, "how Innocent we all are! Go tell
Don Nicholas of your Innocence after
I have done with him! Where were your
carriages then, your snowy mules, your
petticoat governments all gone up In the
fiery reek of the next heretic burning."
Janet Mark was silent. She knew her
new husband's Spanish nature and was
afraid.
"And Anna?" she said weakly, as If
she had abandoned her former'contentlon.
"Anna "shall bide here with you she
need know nothing. By and by we shall
marry her to a don. And that poor
sage bird, your lawful spouse, by good
Philip, will make an excellent nun. Wo
win keep her safe out of the Yorkshire
man's reach. I am an easy man, but
sho could do little harm even If she were
free and had a swallow's wings."
He looked first at one and then at the
other. They were both silent before him,
"Now, you see," he said, rising from his
seat, "how moderate I am. The lad and
tils friend are all I demand, who might
have asked It. It Is, Indeed, how runs
your Scripture (you were piously brought
up, Philip), a work of necessity and mercy
to remove two such youths from an evil
world. And the boy Is a. great seeker of
treasure. Well, he sholl-flnd it now!"
When Saul Mark came out and looked
about him. Anna, his daughter, was lean
ing over the brimming basin of the cen
tral fountain, laughing and trying to catch
goldfish with an angle.
CHAPTER XLVIL
The Jfevr Povrder Monkey,
It may be understood that Anna's news,
which she carried that very night to Will
and me In the weaving shed, touched us
very nearly. For me I did not feel near
ly so much terror as. In such melancholy
circumstances. I might have anticipated.
And as for Will. I think he did not be
lieve In the reality of the danger. He
had that kind of English conceit that
makes a man consider himself the mas
ter, not the slave, of circumstances.
"Courage. Philip." he said. "You and
I are far from being dead yet. We are
forewarned which is to saw forearmed.
If they take us back to the Isle of the
Winds, "as they must If this be so why.
we shall escape and maintain ourselves
in the High Woods till we get a passage
home. Then Umphray Spurway will sure
ly chartor a ship and with our fighting
weavers as well as the crew, faith. It
will go hard with us if we do not drive
those Spaniards Into te sea."
But somehow this seemed too remoto
a consummation to afford us any real
comfort. But-It was Will's way and I did
not contradict him. Then we sent for
Eborra privately, to .eeK his counsel,
who when he heard that Saul Mark knew
(or said he knew), of the hiding place of
Morgan's treasure, was very grave and
silent for n while.
"I will go and consult my mother." he
said, an,d so left u quickly. It wai well
nlgh an hour before he returned, looking
much downca-it and disconcerted.
"It Is true." he said; "he knows. Some
strong Obeah has spoken to him. But not
so strong as my mother's. We shall con
quer yet. but It will be hard. And we
must wait. If you ro to seek the treasure.
Eborra will pro alto!"
"Perhaps hey will not permit you." I
said.
"Yes. yes. they will allow." -ld Ebor
ra. "I alone ran keep the black men
aulct. I alone know the wood. Perhao-i
Saul may kill me after, but first he will
let me -to."
I need not recount the anxious day,
the hot and steeples nights we spent.
Will and I. while tho San Eiteban was
being fitted up and the expedition for the
Isle of the Winds prepared. We soon
found that Don Nicholas also had been
drawn Into the venture. It had been sug
gested to him that the annexation of a
new Island to his master's dominions, and
the destruction of a nest of pirates and
buccaneers which had long been give n to
capturing Spanish treasure-ships, would
bring him vast credit In old Spain. And,
besides, was there not great treasure to
be gained, not only from the hoards of
Sir .Henry Morgan, which Saul Mark had
promised to disclose, but also from those
more Immediate and accessible ones
amassed by Captain Key and his men.
.For long we could not understand whnt
It was the expedition was kept watting fcr.
Everything seemed ready. The arms and
powder were on board. All the bacon and
dried food were on board. Cattle were
In readiness to be slaughtered upon the
eve of embarkation. Yet still we waited.
It was Anna, as usual, who brought us
the word that we were delaying In order
to allow tho new levies to be landed out
of the great galleon now on her way from
Carthaj-ena to Port of Spa'.n.
Ono morning, however, as we looked out
of the weaving shed, we could see her
roasts and precipitous sides looming sol
emnly up the hay. like some huge sea
monster, and the same evening the sol
diers were ashore, a goodly band of stout
fellows enough, with the country bloom
yet red on their cheeks. For they came
mostly from the northern provinces, which
have from the first reared the best fight
ing stock of Spain.
I know not what suspicion had suddenly
taken possession of our captors, but on
the same day that the ship for Port of
Spain landed her first boatload of soldiers,
a detail of men came to the weaving shed
and put us both !n Irons again, or. rather
tethered us up like dogs at a kennel's
mouth. For they fastened the same Iron
belts as at first about our waists; and
to the ring- they welded a awiveled chain
behind by means of Pompey Smith and h's
traveling forge. But. Instead of sending us
HIS HOPES.
to the gang, they bored a hole in the
stout wood of the shed about the middle
of the northern side, then thrust the chain
through and made It fast to. a great stake
of wood driven Into the ground on the
outsMe. It was (In other circumstances) a
most laughable predicament that we were
m.
For we were thus able to do our work,
and even to meet and converse privately,
having freedom of motion to the extent of
our chains, though unable to reach the
fastenings by which we were tethered.
The negro and half-breed women and
lads who formed our working party
laughed broadly at first, but since we had
already been kind to them they grew sorry
In their hearts to see us treated thus.
Besides, we told them that If they did hot
obey us when we spoke, they would surely
have black men set over them overseers
who would whip them as they whipped the
chain gang. For such people of color as
are placed In authority over their own
kind are much more severe than any
white taskmasters. It Is curious to hear
them cracking their whips and crying:
"Youd n nigger," "You black son of
perdition," when In point of color there
is not a shade to choose between slave and
taskmaster.
In the evening arrived Saul Mark-with
great profession of sympathy to assure us
that this was wholly the commandante's
doing, but that it would not be for long.
All was being done that could be done,
and the good will of the abbot and the
Grand Inquisitor were being used on our
behalf.
"But what can such young sparks ex
pect?" he said, with a cunning leer. "I
am advised that your favor has been al
together too high with the Lady Juanlta.
Ah. sly dogs sly dogs I"
But we held our peace, save to say
that we had done nothing to deserve
chains, and that we hoped that they
would soon bo removed.
As of course we could not sleep In our
hammocks In the Inner room, some of the
kinder of our workfolk brought us woven
mats of plam fiber on which we slept
not so 111, having pulled our waist rings
round, as they showed us. till the chain
and Its attachments was In front. So we
made shift to get some sleep, lying whol
ly on our backs, which, on any hard bed
is the only position of comfort.
In this dolorous manner we lived at
the weaving-house of Puerto Rico till tho
sailing of the Port of Spain galleon, that
Is the better part of a week. The new
soldiers, not yet accustomed to the rou
tine ot small colonies, came and Jeered
at us to pass the time. After a year or
two In these climates they would be con
tent enough to do nothing when they came
off duty.
At last.. the day of the embarkation ar
rived. The San Esteban was loaded deep
with stores and men. Not much provision
was taken, for with a favorable wind,
the distance was no great matter. Yet
there was ever a thought In my heart. I
wondered how with this one ship, loaded
down with soldiers as she was. Saul and
his Spaniards could .hope to force the per
ilous passage of the reefs to the anchor
age of the Isle of the Winds. But I might
have been advised that Saul Mark would
certainly have a plan clear In his head
before setting out.
Not till we were being taken on aboard
were our chains taken off. As soon aa I got
out of the weaving shed, I looked every
way for Anna, but saw no sign of her. I
felt somewhat sorehearted thus to part,
without a word of farewell from her. But
aa best we could behind the bulwarks on
tho main deck. The anchor came up with
a rattlo and a cheer, tho sails filled, and
we were off. I sat watching the long bat
tlements of the Castle of Puerto Rico, but
saw no sign of my sweetheart. Not a
kerchief waved along the whole dull front
of masonry, which made my heart yet
sicker and sadder than ever before.
But r had not time to think heavy
thoughts long. For the drums beat to
quarters and Don Nicholas and Saul Mark,
with the Grand Inquisitor standing near
them, appointed all of us our stations In
case of any attack.
The guns were stripped, run out. and
cleaned. Then came a bout of practice
at the Isolated sea rocks as we sailed past
them. There was a cry for the powder
monkeys. The hatches were lifted and
the first on deck with a bucket on her head
-little Anna. Mark, looking more like
a winsome boy than ever In her high-kilted
Indian dress, the leathern fringes blowing
back ut the light winds, and a flush of defiance-
on her lips as she gravely turned
to salute her father and Don Nicholas.
CHAPTER- XLVHI.
Tor Her Sake."
As usual, Anna Mark (little no longer)
had her own willful way. Indeed, by
appearing so late sBe hati practically In
sured that. For the ship was too far on
her course and the wind too favorable to
return for such a cause. Furthermore,
she alone could bring a smile, swift and
grim. Indeed, but still a smile, to the
close-set lips of Saul Mark. She alone
touched something that was yet human
about him.
"We must clip your wings, my lady."
he said, nodding his head at her, with
appreciation. "We must no"t let you
spoil this cruise as you spoilt some others.
And If you are to be a powder monkey I
shall ee that you do your work on
board."
Anna pulled a forelock and scraped a
foot with all the gravity of the most
ancient follower ot the sea.
"You'll find me do my duty, sar," she
said, hitching at her waist belt with a
certain Impish daring- that went well
with her erect carriage and boyish cos
tume.
Captain Stansfleld stood apart, as usual,
taking no part In the arrangements for
the short voyage of the San Esteban,
but mostly watching Anna as she moved
here and there, with what dark thoughts
who can guess revolving- behind his sunk
en and desperate eyes.
The Spanish ship was strongly manned.
or rather, considering all the soldiers on
board, overmanned. It was but a short ex
pedition, and. with the wind favoring us
as It. did. we might have made the Is
land any time during the second day.
But Saul Mark evidently did not relish
an attempt to force the passage of the
reefs In the teeth of a hostile force, com
posed of such fierce outlaws as now held
the Island. So all day the San Esteban
hung about on this tack and on that
maneuvering for the best position from
which to run In upon the south ot the
Island and attack the settlement from the
back.
During this period, Saul delivered his
directions to the crew through their of
ficers, and proved himself so excellent
a seaman that these, for a time, at least,
laid aside their natural Jealousy ot a
foreigner and aided him with a will to
make his dispositions.
But what puzzled me most ot all and
turned my thoughts away from the ship
was a tall column of smoke, or rather
cream-colored steam, very light and
graceful, which arose high Into the air
from the place where the Island showed
plainly, lying pale blue and as If It were
water-logged In the warm water of the
Carlo Sea.
Will and I talked this appearance over.
It did not seem like the smoke of a great
conflagration, or I should have supposed
that the pirates were burning the vil
lage. It was lighter, daintier, more ethe
real. Sometimes It came In curious spurts
and puffs, as If the Isle of the Winds
were smoking a peaceful pipe before re
tiring to rest. Anon. It was only a soft,
gradual exhalation, like steam wreathing
up from a caldron of boiling water. By
and by Eborra came to us. but not even
his mother's magic enabled him to put a
name on the cause of the mysterious ap
pearance. "Maybe the High Woods are on Are."
he said, "yet It is the wrong season ot
the year for that; or maybe pirates burn
their prizes. Tomorrow we see!"
This was all the assistance Eborra. could
give us.
It seems strange to me now that, know
ins; what we did of the Intent of Saul
Mark, we should yet be able to regard our
return to the Isle of the Winds without
any great apprehension. Yet so It was.
Perhaps It was necause we had been In
so many terrible places, and In spite ot
all had won our way out. Or more Ukely
because In a wild tropic place like the
pirate Isle we thought that there were
many more chances of escape than In one
rottled and cultivated like Puerto Rico.
We knew that If once we had five min
utes' start, with Eborra to help us. we
might remain hidden forever In the dense
woods. And I for one had visions of an
Ideal existence In Eborra's tiny bay, with
Anna and Will and the half-breed. I had
already planned how- we were to carry
off my mother from the nunnery, and I
think, also, the abbot to marry us. If
necessary with a pistol at his head.
So that when Will spoke of what we
should do If we were compelled to de
scend Into the loathsome crater In which
Morgan's treasure was forever broken oa
a wheel tot pitch. I answered him Indeed,
but somehow not as though I believed
that It would ever come to the pinch with
us.
Toward evening, as the ran sank to the
sea. the creamy smoke-cloud over the
highest part of the Isle of the Winds grew
rosy, and we could see that It extended
a very long way upward. Anally becom
ing combed out toward the top and blow
ing seaward over the high woods In a
long dragoon's plume of trailing- lilac mist.
As the twilight deepened and the wind
freshened, the San Esteban drew inward
toward the side of the Island farthest
from the pirates' village. Here Saul
Mark knew of an anhorage. safe from
every wind exept a furious tempest from
the Gulf, and of that at this time of year
there was little probability.
We looked Into the loom of the lofty
and savage cliffs as we drew nearer
with mingled awe and admiration which
were rendered greater by the strange
pulsing glow, now red as blood, now
yellow as wheat straw, that beat Irregu
larly behind them. The appearance was
as if some vast conflagration had been
dying out beyond the hills, and the beat
ing light was accompanied at Intervals
by a low,' roaring sound like heavy surf
on a windless night. Anon a recurring
rumble would shake In our ears, causing
a throbbing whirl of the brain, like that
which accompanies fever. At this the
glow reddened momentarily, and then
died down, till again through the still
ness only that long, continuous surf would
boom on unseen beaches.
We soon found that Saul Mark did not
mean to take any risks of our escaping.
Even when, the boats were being got
out. and while, the first soldiers were
embarking, our Irons were reaffixed and
our wrists put In heavy fetters. Anna
went to her father and besought him to
trust us not to escape, but he only shook
his head,
"I cannot afford that." he said, speaking-
without heat. "These young men are
over-clever to take any chances with."
Then Will and I resolved that If the
irons were kept on us we would not
march at all through the woods. They
might carry us If they chose, that was
alL Presently Eborra came and
crouched with us behind the bulwarks.
We spoke In low tones of the hiding
place of Morgan's treasure and Its dead
ly guardians. Ebcrra tried hard to teach
us the low. hissing whisper which, as we
had seen, charmed, the snakes. We made
various attempts at It, but without
enough success to give us any real con
fidence. I Judged that most likely the
charm lay In the person using It more
than In the actual sound. Nevertheless
we did our best. and. as Eborra said,
succeeded not HI.
Thus we four Will, Eborra. Anna and
I were waiting our turn to disembark
and listening to the dipping of the oars,
when suddenly a shadow fell between us
and a bank of stars on the side ot the
ship farthest from the Isle of the Winds.
I saw even In the darkness of the night
and the unlllumlnated. ship's deck that
It was Captain Stansfleld who stood there.
He waited silently, leaning on the bul
warks and watching- the phosphorescence
of the sea deep's wave like a banner
under our keel. But as soon as the deck
was quiet about us, and all possible listen
ers removed, he spoke to us In low, firm
tones. s.
"Go forward do not fear." he said.
"No harm shall come to any of you oa
this Island. I promise it."
Then he -was silent a moment, as If
waiting- to take advantage of & favosa
able moment In another's feeling.
"PhUlp." he said. "I speak to you. Yob
are my son. It Is true. I have been no
worthy father. Yet now. before I go
into the presence of the Judge. I would
shake your hand. Mine Is stained deep
ly enough, Ood knows, but. though guilty,
the blood of a father, for which men hold
me' in- loathing, is not upon it. Take my
hand and teU me that you forgive!"
"I forgive you freely for aU the 111 yott
have done me." I answered; "the evil you
have brought on my mother I cannot
forgive."
He sighed a little, and then said.
"PhUrp. you ought to have been named
James. You are your grandfather's son,
not mine. But yet tell your mother that
If she had loved me at first It might
have been otherwise. Yet at the last
my heart dwelt upon her. Yes, In the
blackness of despair and death I loved
her. At least, tell her that the thing
which I shall do I do for her sake!"
I reached out my hand to Captain Stans
fleld. I always thought of him as that
not as my father. His grasp came to
me through the darkness. He held my
hand In his for a long moment, and then
moved silently away. I could see him,
by the light of the red. reflected glow
above the trees, stand by the foremast
watching the men going over tho side
into the boats.
We made our way slowly through the
forest. Saul Mark leading with chart and
compass. The lantern carried beside "hha
The rest of us came stumbling after aa
Yiat ur on-ili". T7niii" Tnn nuiilA tft a
i i.. n.i Ynnlf 1, .. n l..., ,fl
litter. Will and I were each chained to a
veteran of the island wars.
It was Indeed well that we had landed
lax- qqwd luo uneti giuo ui uio isle,
for the large company, most ot them
-Uliq UUIHVUi(VUlVU W H1W tUQU IT UVUO,
made a nolao which might hare -waked
T?i, 1 1 ii nil 1m in mIa--I fn Anw IVIs
tnthtM ftA -urn pntfvr -! what nrmpnrpt j-l
very cave of darkness. Men stumbled
aneau ol us, iuiuus uvcr jru-Juru.o iimi8
with tho rattle of accoutrements, and re
A-fa4fio S A-m csAltrst r-rltri itHnfi AitK
Tall trees moaned overhead. Liana
creaked like cordago between us and the
Mn Iaawiui Tnwo"rilsi ihlnrra tH - s
themselves from strand to swlnglngstrand.
and htes of disturbed .snakes, and as often
a Kmi-rVt , ri t nh ml wif farA T rm1ll
have cried out. for I felt In every thorn
prickle tne oreaarui lasaiag siroito ol ina
And ever In front of us pulsed, clearer
ana Droaaer, mat su-anse rauoy ugui,
against which the leadra of our advance
t-ru-w nut Vi1ai1r 5nmftt!rr'A rliirlntr a hftlt 1
I could see Saul Mark, his chart epread
Via as, j. a us n."-. ,fc,. .
bow, the lantern In hte hand, and the
iron nooK pointing out romeuuns; ou mo
map.
T-..- In a mAfisrft fJ-fn tV-nif In rVh ftIlVl
khaI nevitn "it'tc-tl T Wll! Tint nMf
the whispered order, but each of our
guards simultaneously gave a lug at ice
knln i-rr -rirnIrT tnoV nfMfl IM 111 lPHATL.
kA nnjw. na XTIll rttfl not iTlttVfl fftfit
enough, the brute prompuy set ine poms
is-nti- in Vi( TKanV otiA rrlfrtA Ti!ttt
Ui, Cts VUU "- -- "
...,! ik i t w.nM -ma Will turn
wTHt'A. v-rrftVi annO Tn O. TTWTYinr TLr "DBOUld
nUiO -Tft -LUQ-. . - - --
have been at tne ieuows luroai, out .
caugnt nun dj me arm.
Walt." T nld. "if we oar at alL let
is tiev a.- s-inrit.-a At on tt lament-
The fellow with the kniie nounsnea it
Ann. VI.. I,mi anri frtl- Tllir- f-fAvtltrV OmuId
have pricked WU1 with it again, but at
that moment tne rea glow Baoue om uw
sheet-lightning and against It I saw mo
w.&n.nr4iv nfnnthfnp flitrt- black and
straight as an arrow. The next moment
Wills guard uttered a terrioie scream ana.
ifmnnlni. l'n fllTnQ fof nrCAled hlS DOlmS
to his face with shriek after shriek of
pain and terror.
Saul Mark looked back quickly.
now mini!" h commanded. H8
will bring every pirate In the Isle upon
usr-
carried the lantern. I saw him stoop to
tne man on tne grounu aim iuiu mo u
with his iron hook. Will and I were stand
ing quite clcoe. Will Indeed ertlll chained
to the soldier. By the light of Eborra'a
lantern we coum see two uny puncmrra
behind the ear where the great vein of
the neck Is.
T-via mtn ft i"rti said Eborra, stand
lng up, "Fer-de-lanco has stricken him."
And so It proved, for, while flourishing
the knife over his head to threaten W1U
he must have touched tho branch oa
which the snake lay.
Then a great fear fell on all the com
pany. It began to be whispered what th
man waa doing when the serpent struck
him.
"Why do you not sing. Eborra,"" I whis
pered to the half caste, "he may strike,
again."
hw VamM In o rfmllnr tn-A "this IS
no living snake. Philip. Fer-de-lance does
not strike at night, 'mis as a jomoi uwi
enters the body of a snake to strike
down his enemy. Po not be afraid my
mother k working great Obeah for you
now. The Jombls are all about us. They
will protect your
And Indeed lt Is true that we did feel
all about us the sense of Invisible pres
ences. Yet the sensation was not a pleas
urable one. but rather as If somo ons
unseen were about to put his hand oa
your shoulder In the dark.
At this moment Saul Mark ordered Will
to be chained to another armed guard.
They cast tne oeaa man loose, vne iucij
uti. , mtnnA innktncr. strmse1v contorV
ed and of a visage that blackened under
our very eyes.)
"Forward!" commanded Saul, "lead on.
Yellow Jack, If you know the way. There
Is not a moment to waste. It will soom
be morning."
Then Eborra summoned to the front
all the blacks and Indian laborers and
serfs to bring their machetes and cut a
way through tho tangle. He himself held
aloft the lantern and directed them. It
was a strange sight, the red. throbbins
glow going and coming like a furnace that
dies out and Is continually refreshed. Th
dense blackness of the canopy of leaves
overhead enveloped us. The waste ot
hanging vegetable cordage seemed trylns
., ,.(. ,.o n.nMi nm ll.illnps Ilka
huge hawsers and cables, others agiln thin
as trout lines. As the light of the lan
tern flashed across these other pianist
were seen clinging to them as the mistle
toe does to an apple tree In the orchard
at New Mllns rosettes of gorgeous bloom,
flaring red and white and orange even In
that somber light, some tied like favor
on the lianas, others drooping unexpect
edly from above like a spider letting him
self down out of the midst of his web.
In this place the machetes made fierce
play. Hack and slash and cut they went.
Green fruits, strange and leathern ap
ples, horny plums like muiket balls. In
sects like walkinf- twigs, vat -spiders with
less that burnt as they touched the bare
skin, hairy caterplllara as big as bean
pods, rained down upon our heads. But
still Eborra hastened the work, and we
made our way toward the source of tho
llRht
We rose gradually ai we proceeded, pass
ing tho great -rwamp by a firmer path
than that which wo had formerly crossed
from the direction of the- pirate- villnse.
A soft, steamy m'-flt. imprerrnated with
a sulphurous smell, swelled nnd billowed
about us.
Suddenly out of tho derw shndows and
creeping vapors of the hlt-h woods we
emerged upon a wonderful "scene. Before
us rose a great, black hill In nhape most
like the Lair of North Berwick een from
the shoulder of Moorfoot: but It wai not
the hollow tower we had seen. The den"
undergrowth, the matted carpet of moss
nnd wild hemp., the quakinr- hill all had
vanished. There waa a hot nnd deadly
,!.., I. ,1... .'. .,!.n 1rort ., ficnfnf-
Our mouth"- became dry as the dead bone
of the devrt with the thin indv frrlt
that showered upon us and seemed to per
vad everythlnir. crunching between out"
teeth as we walked.
(To Be Continued.)
"Two Jewels time and -rood advice."
Two boon comnnlons. Hood's Sarsapa
rilla and pure blood,
-i-BU
-Sfcl-,
r-J&iib.s if..
.v-