The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-06-28
woather-beaten face, climbed it as nimbly
as a cat, and stood upon the deck OF the
Spaniard.
CHAPTER III.

pay, will mutiny, as matter of course, and
then the fortress falls into our hands without
stroke of sword. That vessel and that treasure
must be taken, cost what it may, and, to do
self, my Gernaro !"
The man to whom the last words were ad
dressed was a huge, black ck-bearded fellow, whose
tattered red shirt revealed through its rents
the thews and sinews of Hercules. 1t would
have been difficult indeed to find better spec-
men of his class, whether physically or
morally. By turns fisherman, brigand sailor,
fruit-seller, he had faced every dangers and
committed every violation of law which could
well be faced or committed by any human being.
When he heard himself named by Mas
anielo for the conduct of an enterprise which
most men would have regarded as all but GER
tain death, the jovial grin which lighted up his
dark face might have beftted q school, boy
listening to the unexpected announcement of
o whole holiday.
"Lads ~ he roared, iu voice that dominated
all the surrounding clamor, GO want fifty men
for job. Who'll follow?"
The rush of shouting volunteers that nearly
swept him away the next moment showed
plainly enough that, if he had called for five
hundred men, instead of fifty, he might have
had them all.
"Fifty are enough" said he, with decision
which admitted of no reply. "Follow me
down to the harbor, and there III tell you what
to do"
leader was really in no small perplexity as to
what he was to do himself. To attack openly,
with tlotilla of light fishing boats, a vessel
which could send them all to the bottom with
one broadside was not to be thought of for an
instant and no feasible method Of ambuscade
occurred to him at the moment Pondering
this knotty problem, he emerged upon the
quay, where the first object that caught his
eyes was an enormous barge loaded with hay,
which had come in from Capri the night before.
"Trovato !" (Found y shouted Gennaro
exultingly slapping his huge thigh with hand
as broad and hard as o trencher. ''Who owns
this barge?"
"I." piped pale, meager looking man, COM
ing timidly forward.
"Good,' said Gennaro, eying him from head
to foot very much Us a lion might look at
monkey. "Well. my friend, we want the loan
of your craft, and the hay in it, for few hours,
in the service of Masanielo and the people.
You don't object, suppose?"
The unfortunate proprietor saw clearly
enough that, if he did OBJ ject, he stood very
good chance of finding himself at the bottom
Of the harbor in another moment and he
hastened to protest his hearty affection for
Masaniello and the good cause, and his per-
feet willingness to sacrifice in their behalf not
merely his barge but everything else that he
possessed.
"Bravely spoken ~ cried Gennaro, clapping
him on the shoulder, with grin which showed
how thoroughly he appreciated the situation.
"Now, lads, be smart and hide yourselves
under the hay. want two Of you to help me
to manage the craft the rest keep close tllthey
hear me call out: Good luck to our fishing !!
Do you understand ?"
Apparently they did, for in few moments
not man was to be seen. except the two whom
Gennaro had selected as his assistants Having
completed these arrangements, the daring
leader hoisted his huge, three-cornered sail,
and stood out in the direction Of the galleon.
CHAPTER III.
Gennaro's first care, on finding himself at
length upon his enemy's quarterback, after
the dialogue that has already been related, was
to glance keenly. though stealthily around him,
in order to ascertain what resistance he might
have to expect. His eyes frightened as he
noted that not more than dozen of the crew
were on deck-that even they were either
asleep, or nearly so-and that the only men
capable of making any instant opposition, were
the admiral himself and two of his officers.
The matches once battered down, and those be-
low thus imprisoned, the ship and her con-
tents were at his mercy and as he saluted
he admiral, sinister smile broke over his
dark face, which might have somewhat dis
turbed Fernandez had he observed it.
"Well, now, fellow!' asked the latter, i'm
patiently, "what are those countrymen of
thine doing yonder in the town ?"
"Ah, signor, answered the giant with an
air OF well feigned horror, "they've been doing
some very bad deeds-San Gennaro protect us
all"
"Why, what are they about, then ?" inquired
the admiral, with look of some disquet,
while the two officers edged forward to hear
the answer.
~ could tell you better if my mouth were
not SO dry, noble signor," answered the laz.
zarone with significant gesture.
"Ah, see ! you want to remind me of the
wine that promised you. Well, help your
self !; and he handed his strange guest silver
flask.
"Lads !" cried Gennaro to his oarsmen,
who were still on board the barge, 'this noble
signor is good enough to offer us some wine
Come up, both OF you, you rogues, and drink
his excellency's healta, and good luck to our
fishing!"
So speaking he planted his huge bulk in
front of the admiral, as if to hide from the
latter the view of something that was passing
behind while his two rowers-who had sprung
up the moment they were called---planted
themselves to right ard left of him (apparent-
ly with the same objecD and watched very
keenly his every movement.
"And now, your excellency," pursued Gen.
naro, when the bottle had been passed round,
sin thanks for your good liquor, I'll give you
all the news l can, though it's bad news at the
best. The lazzaroni are up-and they have
beaten the soldiers and driven the duke into
the citadel--and they're burning and pillaging
at their pleasure--and Masaniello of Amalf is
at their head"
At that moment slight noise attracted the
admiral's attention. He stepped aside, so as
to carry his eyes past the towering figure that
blocked their line of view---and beheld q sight
which startled him not little.
There stood on the deck before him, not two
men, but twelve and others were clambering
up as fast as they could scramble, each with a
long knife between his teeth, and business
like look on his face that was anything but
reassuring.
"Ha !" cried Fernandez, starting back,
"what means this ?"
That question was fated to have no answer
in words at least for the only reply to it came
in the form of a crushing blow from Gennaro's
sledge-hammer fist, planted with such hearty
goodwill in the admiral august visage, that the
latter fell senseless upon tho deck as if struck
down by shot. At the same moment, the
two officers were felled by the ready oarsmen,
while the rest of the lazzaroni came pouring
over the bulwarks to support their chief.
''Six of you tie these fellows, and pass
them down into the barge" said Gennaro,
coolly. 1.-THE rest of you follow me !"
In twinkling the matches were clapped on
and battened down, fore and aft, catching
those below in a trap; and not a soul remained
to confront the fifty desperadoes. save the
handful of seamen, who now started from their
sleep at the noise Of the scuffie.
But their presence availed nothing to change
the fortune of the day. Unarmed. bewildered,
scarcelv raalizinp what had fakan placa thew