The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-18
CHAPTER w.

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publicly garrotted in the Plaza of Nor,
Castle"
CHAPTER Nv.
CCNvERsATIoN IN SLEEVES AND POCKETS
Captain Brand laid down the piper with
ont sign OF outward emotion, aud nodded
his head several times ut the one-eyed mar
facing him. lie then extracted his per.
| funed handkerchief, examined the ciplc,
in the corner. and waved it before his face
Don Iguacio pulled out n red silk banlana
md polished his eye as if it were the len,
to spy glass. At length the former spoke
Amigo milo! The nets are spreading! But
the fish are not in them yeti"
"No, amigo!"
All, compadre! viento y ventura poc,
dum! the fair hreezes have chopped around
in our teeth! Success, my friend. creates
jealousy, envy. hatred. and malices! Now
here were We swimming along us quietly us
sharks under water, only coming up for q
bite occasionally, when on comes those
villanous sword fishes and wish to drive
us away" Captain Brand gave expression
to this piOus homily in q tone of virtuous
reproach against the world at large. and rs
if ho were u very much maligucd and ILL
used gentleman. He touched the bell over
head ns he spoke, and putting his mouth to
the tube, asked
Anything in sight?"
Nothing, senior.
Telegraph the man at the Tiger Trap
station to keep bright look -out, and direct
the gunner to keep the battery manned
day and night! Tell the boatswain to set
taut the Chain on the other side ut the Ali
gators mouth
Don Ignacio gave rather suspicious
given. and smiled: that is; il IL one sided
twitch to the wrinkles about the lines of his
mouth could be tortured into smile. His
companion seemed to divine villa. was pass
ing in tine Don's mind. for he added, polite
ly-
Tho cable won't interfere with the
Panchita."
NO. amigo! the felucca is anchored Just
outside of it!" The Tuerto was not n
man to leave anything to chance. and he
had taken the precaution to be ON the safe
side Of the pirates, either MS friends or
enemies. He had indeed been Us near IN
approach to pirate himself MS could be
and had only abandoned the business for a
profession quite as bad, where there was
less risk and more profit. In other words,
he was now colonial officer in command of
Gunrtla Costa, winking-but without shut
ting his eyes-at piracy Whenever he was
we'll paid for il: and he invariably was we'll
paid for it or else he made mischief. With
al he was as crafty and determined an old
villain as ever sailed the West Indies He
had amused large fortune, and owned
several tobacco estates-pretty nearly all
his wealth was acquired by the easy trouble
of holding his tongue. Yet his greed was
Unsuitable, aud he probably would have
sold his fingers from his hands, and his
legs and arms with them, allsa his single
black ball Of an optic-wh.ch was invalu-
able to him for doubloons. In fact, this
ragged in his hot veins, had induced him to
pay Captain Brand visit. and wo shall see
with what result. The truth IL, however,
that Captain Brand WAS the only man Of
his numerous villanous acquaintance alive
for whom he felt the least dread. He knew
him to be bold, skillful, and wary, and SO
the Don had tolerably positive conviction
that, should he play him false, his own neck
might get wrench in the garrote while he
was throwing the moose for his coadjutor
10 return, however, to the pair of worth
les sitting in conclave in the pirates saloon
the captain, resuming the conversation, OBJ
served in careless tone. quite rs if the
subject under discussion was mere ordin.
ary matter
When will this swarm of hornets be
down upon us?"
The Spaniard drew thick Puff of SIN oke
from his cigarrito, and still holding it be.
tween his teeth, while his eye glitered
through the murky cloud. he replied
Perhaps fortnight, little more OF
less. left ST. Jago five days ago. with Or
ders from the administrator to boat up this
side of the island and procure information
for the English consul"
ANY cruisers down that way?"
'Ay! the corvette Scourso and the Snap
per schooner; they arrived the night before
l smiled"
Did YOU happen to nee thor officers,
am,go?"
20, ST. l had long talk with the cap.
tain of the corvette mt the custom house! =
"Hola! and YOU told him"
ayes. showed him u chart of the Isle q
Pines, and pointed out how to get into til.
old hole!"
Here the pair laughed short laughs, wher
Brand continued his questions with
And how did he take the bait?"
Hooked him, for heard him order hi
first lieutenant to DO ready for weighing a
daylight, aud say that my description tai
lied with that of the diving man they pickle.
mp in the Centipede's boat replied Tucrto
with a chucke.
"Bueno!" exclaimed the pirate, as hi
face assumed an unwontel stcrnncss
while he rested his Check OH his left ham,
with the elbow on the table, and slippc,
his right into the pockets of the trousers.
"Bueno! amigo MIC! But how do know
out You may have made littl, mistake
and described another haunt besides III
Island Of Pines. off III this directiun:"
Thclc WAS the faintesl click of noise il
the captain's poke: as he spoke. but no
so faint but that it vibra:ed on the ear O
the Spaniard, and pushing back his chair
foot or two from the table, he raised hi
right hand. the fore-tinsers and thum
slightly, bent inward. but grasping Jewel
hiited knife whose dim, blue blade giim
mered up the loose sleeve. There wa
nothing threatening, apparently, in til
movement, though the two villains locke
} at euch Other with cold, murderous un
, ainching glare.
The Don was the frs: 70 break the silenc
and he said, in % low, kissing tone
! "Becnuse had IL little account Of pla,
to settle with you before before the mer
o'-war should roast you out! But bewar,
Captain milo! I left q little will at S
Jago with directions where 10 find me
case did not return in a certain time!"
"Ho, compadre. how very cautious wit
your friends! Why, what has put sue
thoughts into your head? We have stoo
by one another too longto separate nov
There! my hand upon it"
Saving this, Captain Brands whole man
ner changed, and drawing his hand frol
his pocket he reached over toward his CON
panion. Tho Don, however, watched hi,
narrowly, aud his syo shot out war
sparkle rs he withdrew his hand, when eau
tiously putting forth his own left,
touched the cold. thin brown fingers I
those Of the man before him. This opera
ton ended. he quietly slipped few droF
Of lanisette, and rolled and lighted on
other paper cigar.
well. amigo! let us now proceed To bus