Evening star., 1924-10-27
CAPTAIN BLOOD
Bu RAFAEL SABATINI
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)

They came out upon the green pla-
teau and headed for the stockade and
the overseer's while house. Pitts eyes
looked out over Carlisle Bay, of which
this plateau commanded a clear view
from the fort on one side to the long
sheds Of the wharf on the other.
Along this wharf few shallow boats
were moored, and Pitt caught himself
wondering which of these was the
wherry in which with a little luck
they might have been now at sea. Out
over that sea his glance ranged mis-
erably.
In the roads, standing in for the
shore before ii gentle breeze that
scarcely ruff1ed the sapphire surface
of the Caribbean. came stately red
hulled rigate, flying the English en-
sign.
Col. Bishop halted to consider her.
shading his eyes with his fieshly hand.
Light as was the breeze, the vessel
spread no canvas to it beyond that of
her foresan. Furled was her every
other sail, leaving a clear view of the
majestic lines of her hull, from tow
ering stern castle to gilded beak-
head that was afiash in the dazzling
nshine.
So leisurely an advance argued d
master indifferently acquainted with
these waters, who preferred to creep
forward cautiously, sounding his
way. At her present rate of progress
it would be an hour, perhaps, before
she came to anchorage within the
harbor. And whilst the colonel viewed
her, admiring, perhaps, the gracious
beauty Of her, Pitt was hurried for
ward into the stockade, and clapped
into the stocks that stood there ready
for slaves who required correction.
Col. Bishop followed him presently
with leisurely rolling gait.
"A mutinous cur that shows his
tangs to his master must learn good
manners at the cost of striped
hide" was all he said before setting
about his executioners job.
That with his own hands he should
do that which most men of his station
would, out of self-respect. have rele-
gated to one Of the negroes, gives you
the measure of the mans beastliness
II was almost as if with relish. as if
gratifying some feral instinct of
cruelty, that he now lashed his vic
tim about head and shoulders. Soon
his cane was reduced TO splinters by
his violence. You know, perhaps, the
sting Of a flexible bamboo cane when
it is whole. But do you realize
its murderous quality when it has
been split into several long, 1.-the
blades, each with an edge that is of
the keenness of a knife?
When, at last, from very WEAKNESS.
Col. Bishop flung away the stump
and thongs to which his cane had
been reduced, the wretched slaves
back was bleeding pulp from neck
to waist
AS long as full sensibility remain
ed, Jeremy Pitt had made no sound.
But in a measure as from pain his
senses were mercifully dulled, he
sank forward in the stocks, and hung
there now in Il huddled heap, family
moaning.
Gel. Bishop set his foot upon the
crosshar, and leaned over his victim,
a cruel smile on his full, coarse face.
Let that teach you a proper sub
mission" said he. And now touch
ing that shy friend of yours, you
shall stay here without meat or drink
without meat or drink. dye hear
me?-until you please to tell me his
name and business" He took his
foot from the bar. When you've
had enough of this, send me word
and we'll have the branding irons
to you"
On that he swung on his heel, and
STROBE out of the stockade, his
negroes following.
Pitt had heard him, as we hear
things in our dreams. At the mo-
ment so spent was he by his cruel