Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-09-19
CHAPTER XXXIu,

A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
It was, indeed, the Vampa. Clumsily and
slowly that huge, black, unwieldy craft
forged ahead, cleaving her way through the
CLASSY waters, and, when darkness fell,
came to anchor about a quarter of a mile
from land.
There was no moon; but the stars gave a
feeble glimmer, enough to enable one
family to distinguish objects at moderate
distance.
By and by lights were seen flashing over
thew water and the dip of hasty oars grew
louder. Then came the sound as Of a boats
keel grating over the pebbles, and soon, in
the darkness, a black mass, moving as one
man, came tramping solidly up the slope
with measured step toward the tower, which
doomed up high and clear against the starlit
dome Of heaven.
Fairfax began counting the men as they
approached nearer.
'Twenty, t~wenty-one, twenty-five, tpensy-
three, TwENrY-FoUR, TWENTY-FIVE,
"Great heavensl And all powerful fell
lows, armed to the teeth, too. Boys, this is
q fight for life, and the sNamovna's' crew
thirty miles away! Will you risk it,"
"What I begin that I fnishr' quoth
Nebbitt, grimly.
AS no other man said anything they all
lay quiet, watching the turn of events.
Up it marched, that solid phalanx of des-
perate men; shoulder 10 shoulder, four
ranks deep; six men in a line; their case
knives and guns and pistols cleaning and
glttering in the starlight; silent and grim
and led on by a man Of gigantic stature,
who strobe imperiously before them.
''That's Matteor' whispered Fairfax, as
he glanced m~ournfully at his W broken
arm and then at the tremendous frame OF
the man.
At q word from their leader, the men,
with one accord, paused and stood motion
less, like statues in the night. Stepping
cut before them, he remained silent a mo-
ment. Every voice was hushed, save that
Of the breeze ~murmuring through the tow
Then he began. Nebbitt, Oxford and Fair
fax, with their excellent knowledge Of
italian, were easily enabled to follow him.
'Mates, ye know how I would have won
the Greek woman; but the poor, silly fool
escaped me. Ye know how we slew our
stubborn captain and his shadow, Luigi, and
that swart Nubian fiend, too, whose knife
bit so viciously into my scarce. healed side.
Ye know how we have all risked our lives
like brave men. But, like brave men, now
have we come to our rewardi The Vampa
is ours and SO are the broad seas and all
that sails them. For, with the riches of that
Greek dog, we can make our ship o fortress
impregnable.
swin you follow me and live the life ]
speak OFF,
"We will" came back the deep-toned
answer.
ssThen win / read the writing.".
Amidst the most breathless silence
broken only by the roll of the swell on thu
shore md the distant sound of steam es
Gaping from the Vampa's safety-valve
Matteo, translating the English into italian
read in q harsh, hard voice that penetrated
far and e into the quiet night air.
"1sa miles to the sosthsrsst Of Tangisrs stand
Ia rsised tocer, FL Babd. Tirenty steps dH
sorfhcard from is EASTERN doorway % q stone
fsxfeoysred. This ssoss ~escloses TIE mouth a
On I'D rslL long ssaes dried. Donn this speR
efsr my fathers death, Al and I cast all NJ
E~saah-tlsls Of aatold Bains, brass-bosns
casks aud boxes barstiay rth gold and silss,
sof., diamonds Of nsafehless spseadoy, pearls ia
estshisaHg taose Of Ind, a thousand Fashins
precious stoaes aud asmsied fagots-rtcas
Aosgh for ns nnaddsst dysams of asayieen
A wild cheer broke forth at the conclusion
Of his words. But It was hushed into i'm
mediate silence by the sharpiy-uttered com
mand and threatening gesture Of III
italian.
aNow, mates, I scanned the shere witt
n1suest eye for signs OF life when we ~
preached, but saw none, save that strangel
eraft which we left behind US, steaming n
esttQae& But I Like not her looks, nor 4
-EEN Ha4ss