The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-26
THE SNAKES MARK.
pejpa an Account of the Finding of
the Lost Treasure of the HaIloweII
Family.
OzieI Rescues Justin.
by p. Y. BLACK.
DOWNRIGHT 1885, by the S. $. Mcclure Co.
CHAPTER XII.

al himself by Sir Roger and Oziel and
smiled overwhelmingly on the latter, as
enough he had never done him wrong. lie
eo,risbed his cutlass in his right hand.
and held A long pistol in his left while
he handed another to Sir Roger with a
how. and babe one of his men provide
Oziel The salormen followed his lead
al once, and together they altered the look
of the affair materially.
Dixey Lynch was aghast ne spluttered
and swore in disgust at this unexpected
move of the trader, which he saw, left
the Donnereau party and himself at
great disadvantage. The big negro was
dumfounded at the complete Illustration of
his plans. Sir Roger had, as it were, come
10 life. and from him he had expected 10
resistance In his sudden renewal of wit
and strength he had won back to him the
falling regard of most of the savages, and
now Lynch's fury and hunger for imme-
diate possession of the treasure had pre-
cpitated action and given Babel his cue,
Donnereau saw his scheme fail through
aud was helpless, but Lynch's active mind
sought to at least gain time, and he ad-
uItSSEu tHt OAlS VIM AASW SN~AAAo~- -
the ground.
Sir Roger" he cried, you are visit"
The old man waved his staff and frown-
ed upon him.
Where is my SOM" he said.
Lynch again opened his mouth to speak,
but all attempt at compromise was at
once destroyed by a sudden act of Noll
Dade's. The half-witted sailor had been
wrought by his return to the company of
serpent worshipers to an excitement more
intense than his weakened mind could
bear He had been fourishing his cut
lass wildly for some minutes and mutter-
ing to himself, and now, before Dixey
Lynch could reply, the little half-savage
man gave a fearful cry and sprang with
slashing steel right into the press of ne
groes He had gone raving mad.
That was the spark which fired the
train. At once the savages, now dn their
perplexity at what was happening, and in
spite of their comrade Donnereau's assur-
ances, in their growing suspicion of the
presence of the whites) as craZed as Non,
dashed with spears ana clubs and loud
yells upon the whites and upon each other.
Donnereau and Lynch had no choice but
10 follow Noll Dade, although those who
were under Donnereau's influence stin,
and took his side, were few.
A jet of flame and a loud report and
Lynch had fired his pistol straight at
Gabriel in return for his desertion. I'M
mediately the muskets of the crew RETURN
ed that shot, and then pistols and muskets
we're abandoned or dubbed and the sail
ors swung their sea swords and the saw
ages their spears. Right into the thick of
the melee went old Sir Roger, with as
much apparent zest and vigor as in days
when he had led many a fight by land
and sea. Still he held his staff and swung
it with power. the heavy golden head of
it quickly battered out of shape, and
even as he fought he rallied his black
hek about with words in their barbarous
toFFte which goaded them to religious
~ him always was Oziel, fighting grim
n but old Gabriel played cautious game.
He held back, and made but a show,
watching the others, for, indeed, he was
not himself sure how it would profit him
In regard to that treasure for whose own
ership ali this strife was, if Sir Roger was
slain or Lynch, Oz,el had first the pistol
alone which sailor had passed him. and,
with il dubbed, he did his best, out, be-
fore he was well in, a negro's spear passed
clean through NoI Dade's body, and the
New Highlander dashed for the falling
man and secured his cut.ass ere the wretch
was dead BY this time he was in aG-
vance OF his party, and found himself
face to face with Donnereau.
There was little to choose between the
night of the two, but Donnereau's age
gave him more weight The great black
came charging on the lad with a yell The
pseudo civilization which he had picked
up from his plantation masters and his
mates at sea was now utterly vanished,
ana of ali the demonicai and bloodthirsty
cioWd OF Africans there he seemed the
most furious, the most devil possessed.
ne swung at Oziel with a giant blow, and
tAe lad mad barely time to lean aside ana
SASH at the negro's arm with a side
SUoke. The cut told and blood gushed
from 1t, but II served to make Donner-
eau the wilder He came again veIIine
and leaping with the strength Of an OK
s"n the agility of a panther. Yet Ole.
ned him, and saved his skin. bur that
was an. The young fellow found il i'm
posslole TO land decisive blow or thrust
quo not leave himself uncovered. Again
ana again, while all about them the fight
go, these two, the hugest on the field,
osteu on each other until both were
t1''lHS' when Dixey Lynch clearing a
uloody way Gamer INNING 10 his confed-
e'''e ald and the two fell upon Oziel
unanimously. For a moment he fought.
Guy ne leit he would be beaten down, when
n.a. nay over his back a long stout stan
thrust violently full in the face of
,.,r. H. ana voice cried fieroely:
COL, ,. tIeh your treasure that Won
''rA' Els gold; eat Of itr,
ur. heavy gold snake of the staff vas
s .Il Us, =, at these words Of Sir Roger with
M lorce fairly in the mouth Of Dixey
iSnch mat the blow sent him staggering
G 0ath"ard' splitting blood and teeth. and
o, @'T,' eheered by that support. cut saw
his al al Donnereau and drew blood from
gir ~ ana distorted face. The rest OF
2 5m Rogers party had meantime driven
1 T5vA tne others For a short minute
ra,,e SOUGHT TO stay the flight and then
Ave way completely, and ne and loon-
h hesgaS bounded like deers for the woods
tioh, 49, 80 '9ok breath and looked about. The
Hsmt had been short, but furious Tbres
or ne schooners men lay pierced by snears
era 9ro' py lynch and the blacks had H.
rem, 'u . each other in their
itehzy. A very few followed Dixev ana NJ
s traitor to their religion who had se-
,bis mem mem, Tor his own, betterment, into
n.d cat. ssonal strife; round Sir Roger ana
20 GABRIEL many more were dead ana a.,
ing oz.el felt sick at the siaht. sici,