The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-12-24

BLOOD
BY Rafael Sabafi,i
O RArAIL oABATINi
Appcr MA .SpvtcLysc

strength nj tho time 10 force tho
entrance OF the hnrbor. which Is tho
only way into tho city. Tho strength
which you now command Is ample
FOR that purpose"
but whilst wc arc doing that, tho
Spaninrds viii havo time TO remove
great part of tho wealth this city
holds. We must tnkc them by sur.
prlsc.s
Captain Blood shrugged. III this
Is mere pirutlng raid. that. OF
course. primo consideration. II was
with me. But II YOU are concerned
10 abate tho pride of Spain and plant
tho Lilies OF Franco on tho forts OF
this settlement, tho loss OF some
treasure should not really weigh for
much.
Nj, do Kivarol bit his lip In chagrin.
His gloomy ego smouldcred as Il con.
sidercd tho selfcontainod buccaneer.
"But II command you TO go--to
mako the attempt?" ho asked. "An.
swcr me, monsieur. let VA know once
for oil where we stand. and who com.
mnnds this expedition"
Positively. I find you tiresome.''
said Captain Blood. and he awung TO
NJ. dc Cussy. who sat there gnawing
HIS lip. intensely uncomfortable. II
appeal TO you. monsieur, TO justify
me 10 tho general"
M. do Cussy started OH. OF his
gloomy abstraction. He cleared his
throat. Ho was extremely nervous.
"In view OF what Captain Blood
has submitted (. -
''oh. TO the devil with thnt~ snap.
ped Rlvarol. 1T seems that / am
followed by poltroons. Look you. NJ.
10 Capitaine. since you are afraid TO
undertake this thing. will myself
undertake II. Tho weather Is saim,
and ! count upon making good my
landing. II l do no. I shall have
proved YOU wrong. and I shall have n
word TO say TO YOU tomorrow which
you may not like am being very
generous with you. SIR" He waved
his hand regally. You have leave
| to co.
IL was sheer obstlnacy and empty
pride that drove him. and he received
the lesson no deserved. The fleet
stood In during the afternoon 10
within a mile Of the coast, and under
cover OF darkness 500 men, of whom
200 were negroes---the whole OF tho
negro contingent having been press.
cd into the undertaklng--werc pulled
away for the shore In tho canoes,
pirnguas and ships boats. Rivarors
pride compelled him. however much
he may have dIsliked the venture. 10
lead them in person.
The first ak boats were caught in
the surf. and pounded into fragments
before their occupants could cxtrlca,e
themselves. Tho thunder ~ the
breakers and the cries OF tho ship.
wrecked warned those who followed.
and thereby saved them from sharing
the same fate. BY the baron'a urgent
orders they pulled away again out o,
danger. and stood about TO pick up
such survivors aa contrived 20 battle
towards them. Close upon fifty lives
were lost In tho adventure. together
with half.a.dozen boats stored with
ammunition and light guns.
The baron wont back 70 HIS flag.
ship an Infatuated. but by no means
n wiser man. wisdom--not even the
pungcnt wisdom experience thrusts
upon us--is not for such as NJ. do
RIyarol. His anger embraced all
things. but focused chiefly upon Cap.
tain Blood. In some warped process
OF reasoning he held the buecaneer
chiefly responsible for this misadven.
ture. He went 10 bed considering
furiousiy what he should say 10 Cap.
tain Blood upon the morrow.
He was awakened at dawn By the
rolling thunder Of guns. Emerging
upon the poop In nlghtcap and slip,
pers. he beheld "A sight that increased
his unreasonable ana unrcasonIns
fury. Tho four buccanecr ships