The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-22
MPlAlN brand
THE PIRATE SCHOONER.
A TALEoFTHEsEA

IaATALE OFTHE SEA.
PART I.
CHAPTER XII
LAUNCHED INTO ETERNITY.
Halfa mile, perhaps, inland from the
sheds where the sailors lived, and beneath
he steep face Of the ridge like ersg which
split the island In two parts, stood . Low
'hapel. built Of loose stones nicely fltted
ogether and rooted with tiles. A rough
ron cross was fastened over the doorless
sntmnce. and ct the other end was rough
stone balustrade. with rude painting Of
Tho Nativity over the altar, on which stood
four or five tall brass candlesticks and Q
lighted taper.
Within the chapel kneeled dozen OF
more of the Centipede's crew, the coarse
md sodden faces and uncombed lock.
from their nights debauch, in striking
contrast to the place and the apparent de.
routness of manner in which they conduct.
I'd themselves while tho rites Of the Church
we're going on. Before the altar stood
Padre Ricardo, bending his knee and
chanting forth from his deep lungs the
services Of the Church. In few minutes
The unholy hands and lips which performed
tho solemn ceremony ceased word and ges-
iure; and with sonorous benediction, the
sailors rose from their knees and again
staggered back to tho sheds, to slumber
through the day. When all had gone, the
padre elapsed his book, tucked it into his
bosom, and with a genuaexion the sacri-
legious wretch turned and left the chapel.
Pursuing the winding path which led to
8 now habitation for certain distance,
ae then turnedto the left, and carefully
picking his way through the sharp cactusea
and Spanish bayonets along the face of the
craR, he stopped at q yawning fissure which
mped open in the rock. Here, too, the
same wiry vegetation had crept: and it was
with great difficulty, and many an invoca-
ton. TINT the padre succeeded in passing
into the great dark, ragged mouth Of the
cavern.
by the ashes Of San Lorenzo!" he
muttered, there are serpents and venom
uus insects in the pit Of purgatory. Oh.
misericordia! what has pierced my leg?
Why should my son drug me through this
hole? Alb, blessed Saint Barnabas! q
shiny reptile has crossed my instep!'
Feeling with his outstretched paws in his
fright, as he gradually made his way into
the dripping chasm. getting narrower and
lower as he proceeded, he at last, after
stumbling prayerfuily along for about a
hundred and fifty yards, came to loose
pile Of stones. Here opened another low,
narrow tissure on the left; and, in some
doubt, he was about to enter, but the noise
he made BY stepping on stone was an
swered ny the Kissing warn Of q serpent, and
in pool of stagnant. Shiny water.
"Oh AIisericordia! I am stunR by a
cobra! my new eassock ruined too! light
me out Of this abode Of darkness!"
Slowly recovering, however, from his
fright, he once more regained his feet, and,
after few steps, which he was obliged to
accomplish by soraping his crown against
the Jagged rocks above, his outstretched
hand touched an IRON bound door.
"Gracias! Thanks be to all the saints!
am here at last; but alas! I shall be
obliged to return by the same path, unless
my son allows me to escape by the casa.
Cautiously searching with his fingers as
ne muttered these words, he touched O bolt,
Ind grasping it with both hands, he drew 1t
partly out, like the knob Of "a bell. Then
placing his ear to the door, he presently
heard q rattling, creaking noise, as IL a
beam of timber with pulley and chain was
being raised from behind the entrance,
When the sound ceased the door yielded to
the PADRES sturdy shoulder, and there was
just room to admit his portly body. Here
the passage was wider, the rock evidently
chiseled away by the hands Of man, and on
one side was an artificial chamber, blasted
out Of the solid rock, with narrow door
with heavy iron bolts on the outside. Al
this opening the padre paused and listened.
No sound caught his ear ct first; but as he
clutched tho bolt and it grated back in ita
bands, he was saluted by such volley OF
frightful oaths rs to make him start back
and cross his ample breast. It was the
voice OF Master Gibbs, lying there on low
iron settle in the noisome dungeon, with
not ray of light to cheer him, and only a
Jug OF water and some weevily biscuit to
save h m from starvation. All through the
day and during the long, long hours Of the
nwful night il pain and suffering from his
lopped-off limb, had he lain ON his hard bed
with clenched hands, impotently raging in
his agony and despair, No repentance.
however, softened his ruthless heart, NO
prayer was breathed from his brutal Inns:
but he wasted his strength in fruitless ef-
forts to free himself until he fell back in
utter exhaustion. As the noise, however,
OF the bolt struck his ear, he clutched the
stone water-jug from the floor, and hurled
It, with vehement exclamation, towards
the door, where the fragments fell with
Gathering crash on the stone pavement.
Grinding his teeth in his frightful
passion, he lowled: "Let me but once
have you in my power, and il the mother
that bore We will know her son again nv
names not Bill Gibbs! Ha! you miserable
swab, with your soft words and white hands!
when get out. Of this hole I'll make
short work with you and your vile tools!
Give me fair play, and, even ON one Of my
legs, I'll cur the cowardly tongue out Of
Won, Captain Brand! Come in, will We, and
I'll teach you how to treat free-born
American"
Here the hoarse and painting wretch
again ceased his hearings, and the padre
timidly opened the door.
AHa! who's that?-Babette"
mo, my son; it is your good Padre Ri
cardo, come to console you
Wuut tue IualmeO Villain fepl0Q TO the
priest, and what means the holy father
took to allay thespassion and assuage The
sorrows Of the man lying helpless in the
dungeon, or whether successful in his mis-
sion, is not important to state in detail. An
hour later, however, the priest seemed re-
lieved in body and spirit as he retired from
the loathsome hole, and shooting the bolt
M he closed the door, cautiously felt his
why along the dark and narrow passage
Presently, ms he turnedan angle, q ray Of
light from the loopholes of the great store
vault beneath the pirates dwelling lighted
his pathway; and q moment after with a
hearty sigh Of satisfaction, he seized Q cord
above his head and gave it q jerk. A bell
sounded above, and then large square
hinged trap. hatch fell down, and swung
gently to and fro from the beams above
At the same time the padre put his arms
about square wooden stahchipp which
supported the floor Of the saloon, and theu
painfully sticking his toes in some deep cut
netches ut the sides, he slowly began tc
mount upward. When, however, his oil,
shaved crown appeared nearly at the level
of the floor, n vigorous grasp was laid on
his shoulders. and he was pulled up like q
Tapping lobster and rolled into the apart.
ment. 1t was Captain Brand who kindly
assisted the holy father, and 1t was the
captains hollow laugh which saluted him