Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-03-23

md Rob tid n0t doubt tint ~ eeew
~ IN Black cAt' w1rs pirates aS ~
O. smugsleFa ssS M
CHAPTER vi.

# He felt q thrill OF apprehension -
he saw the black shadows cast ~ the
blazing torches and heard the grumb-
ling tones OF the moving men In that
grewsome place Oh! What hiding
places there were. among these piles
IT bales or in those black recesses OF
rock, where he could hear the con-
slant trickling OF water from above! .
Shivering, he went the whole length
Of the place, deposited his burden, and
followed the line Of spectres out again.
What glad sigh Of relief escaped him
as he breathed once more the fresh
air outside. But there was no time to
stop to enjoy it. The procession moved
on, and Rob, with trembling limbs and
perspiring brow, went back for another
load. The boats had brought some
casks from the schooner by this time,
and these were to be taken into the
cave.
It was hard work, and when Rob
saw Torrevo standing on shore by the
side of the Englishman. his heart gave
bound Of fear. What was the mystery
Of the hatred felt by these men toward
himself? He could not understand 1t.
But it seemed certain that they were
bent on his destruction; or, perhaps,
he was to be henceforth a slave. Per-
haps all these dark fellows were slaves.
Rob did not know whether there were
any slaves in South America now. but
these men were slaves in reality, even
if they were not such in name. And
what would be his own fate?
Again he fell to work with the
others, but could not resist sending q
look OF appeal into the eyes Of Tor
revo. The captain Of the BLACK Cat"
saw this, and saw also that at tho
same time the tall aEnglishman was
looking at the boy.
Course you!" shouted Torrevo. II
will kill you yeti" l#
He struck him fiercely. and poor
:. Rob, feeling now certain that the
friendship Torrevo had shown on
board the schooner was assumed. fell
to work with heart that was like
lump of lead in his bosom.
He helped roll a heavy key to the
opening, and was almost run down by
it as it sped downward from the top
Of the ridge. A great, ugly fellow. half
Indian and half negro, caught him in
a powerful grasp and swung him out
of the way to safety. 81.
ooh, thank you!" gasped poor Rob
"Uh! No t'ank!" said the black fell
low, with hideous grin. me no want
to see kill. Capitang Elvin him. kill
soon nun" -.
Captain Elvin! Is that the mans
name?" ~ - 20" =
"Ho! Yes. Him Capitang Elvin.
Him great man. Him chief all dc
gangs. Him kill you" -. Z.
'Why does he want to kill me?"
asked Rob. h .@SgsS 4
Gum! Me not know. Look out. dat
ALL" i;s
Again Rob went into the dark cav
ems, doing his best toward his share
of the work. But 1t was an astonish-
ing fact that as soon as they were out
Of sight over the ridge, no one cared
whether he did any work or not. In
fact in the work of placing the casks.
barrels and kegs, he was decidedly IN
the way of the experienced men, and
they showed him aside.
While doing nothing he looked
around the caverns, but was sure to
follow the men of his gang out when
they returned for another load.
Four or five trips he made into tho
caverns in this way, Ginning nothing
but blows and kicks and curses from
Torrevo, no matter how hard he
worked.
Ito be continued.)