The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-03-16

breast, he eyed the boy from under
bent brows, an said, in deep. gut
tural voice:
How came you adrift?"
Jack told him, without mentioning
the name of his ship, for he suspected,
from the appearance of the fierce-look-
ing horde, as well as that of the brig,
her raking masts, enormous breadth of
canvas and the five guns on each side,
that he was aboard pirate. A man,
however, now brought from the slziff
the book which Jack had been reading,
and the captain, taking it, saw on the
cover, written in large letters, the
ships name and the port to which she
belonged.
THE Ocean Queen" he muttered. 81
have heard of her, and know her to
be treasure ship. Well, youngster,"
he added to Jack, you've most likely
guessed we are pirates, and you are
right We are free rovers; am chief
of this brig, the Sea Serpent, long may
her black flag waveP
A murmur of applause from the ras-
cally crew. They turned their eyes on
the boy. as if to note the effect of the
speakers words. The youth, while
alarmed, was at the same time dis
gusted. Meanwhile he contrasted his
pirate leader and his slovenly set with
the fanciful rover-chief and his band as
they were depicted in the volume he
had lately read.
These dirty fellows" he reflected,
''are real pirates'-not like the some
times falsely painted ones ofromance. :"
AS if divining his thoughts. the cap
tain, glaring savagely at him, roared
out to his men:
What shall we do with the boy?''
Kill! Kill!'' rose a chorus of voices
"Ay, yeesl Yeesl Make her walk
plank, as we soon make her fadder do
and him crew of that Ocean Queenr'
cried an ungainly Portuguese-thefi first
officer, who had but one eye, lop--
sided visage, and who wore big gold
rings in his ears.
The captain meditated awhile, and
then said:
1--WE will keep the lad for spell. as
he may be of use to us. We are too
close upon Jamaica to safely risk q
long chase of the ship and the firing OF
our guns, which might be heard by the
naval craft often cruising about these
waters Better the prize be brought
straight into the coils of the serpent.
The youngsters father must have
missed the boat long before now, and
perhaps he will come this way while
looking for his son. The boy may yet
be made to lure the ship to u.s.
Even as he spoke sail was seen in
the distance, to leeward, where the
last remains of the fog were lifting.
Dawn was now breaking, and as the
sail drew nearer to the brig, which was
still lying with her headyards aback,
Jack could not repress cry of regret
on recognizing the ocean queen.
LAY, here she comes. and she is your
fathers ship-a doomed ship, with a
doomed crew." said the captain, on
hearing that cry from the lad, who was
so intently watching the approaching
vessel amongst the scoundrels about
him.
All at once, with sudden movement,
the youth swung himself into the main
shrouds, and, pulling out his kerchief,
he was about to make backward sig
nal with it to the ship, in the faint
hope that his father might see it, even
at that distance, and take warning,
when lie was roughly pulled to the
deck by several of the pirates.
None of that, my boyl'' roared the
captain, fiercely. But for my want
ing to make use of you, you should now
be the first of that ships people to die.
We will have to put you underhatches.
Bring up the small handouts, hanging
near the steerage door that opens into
the holdl' he added to his first officer.
my mother is with my father.
aboard the Ocean Queen" said the lad,
turning pale. II hope you will, at
least, spare her life"
mo, lad, death is ever the motto of
our Sea Serpent She spares neither
man nor womanl But your life, for all
that, may yet be saved. on certain con-
ditions"
The handouts were now brought out
and put on Jacks wrists Then he was
made to descend steps leading into the
hold, after which the hatch was
fastened above him. The hold was
very dark, but through the cracks in
the steerage bulkhead, aft, he could
see the glimmer of light 1t proba-
bly, came from a lantern, and it inspired
him with sudden thought
II he could contrive to set fire to the
brig, he could thus save his parents
would also save the ship and her crew.
He trembled, and there seemed to be
a lump in his throat Success in such
an undertaking would probably seal
his own fate. The pirate had spoken
of sparing his life, but if he fired the
brig he would be cut down or shot,
even if he were brought on deck. ere
he persisted in the flames. Neverthe-
less, he hesitated only a few minutes
He was a plucky, unselfish boy, and he
soon mustered the necessary resolution
for carrying out his purpose. Slowly,
step by step, he forced his way
through confused heaps of tarred
ropes, canvas. oakum and rigging, to
the bulkhead he fumbled about it
for some time ere he could find and
push open the door, of which he had
heard the captain speak while he was
on deck. Entering the Storage, he
found it deserted, as he had expected
The lantern. one of the short, square
kind of that period. and having a glass
door in front. hung by a hook attached
a1 has
Though his wrists were ironed. the
youth could grasp the handle of the
lantern with both hands and detach
it from the hook. Into the fore
part of the hold he conveyed it;
then, having opened the glass
door with his teeth he nushed the