Evening star., 1924-12-07
CAPTAIN BLOOD
BIZ RAFAEL SABATINI
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Continued from Yesterdays star.)


my man." he admonished him.. You've
done something toward it, ! confess, and
you've shown your quality i'll doing IT.
That's why offer you the governorship
Of Jamaica in His Majestys name
because l account you the fittest man
for the office that have Seen"
Blood bowed low. Your lordship is
Very coed. But ,.''
'Tchahi There's no but to it. II
Tou want your past forgotten and your
culture assured this is your chance. And
YOU are not to treat it lightly on ac-
count of apple blossoms or any other
damned sentimental nonsense Your
duty lies here, at least for as long as
he war lasts. When the wars over You
may get back to Somerset and cider or
your native Ireland and its potheen, but
until then you'll make the best of
Jamaica and rum
Van der Kuylen exploded into laugh
ter. But from Blood the pleasantly
ELECTED no smile. He remained solemn
to the point of GUINNESS. His thoughts
were on Miss Bishop. who was some
where here in this very house in which
they stood. but whom he had not seen
since this arrival. Had she but shown
tiln some compassion
And then the rasp!ng voice of Will
ioughby cut i'll again, upbraiding him
for his hesitation. pointing out 10 him
his incredible stupidity in tritling with
such golden opportunity as this. He
Stifened and bowed.
My lord. you are in the right. 1 am
a fool. But don't be accounting me an
migrate as Well If ] have hesitated it
is because there are considerations with
which | will not trouble your lordship."
Apple blossoms. 1 suppose" shifted
his lordship.
This time Blood laughed. but there
was still Il lingering wistfulness in his
eyes.
1T shall be as you wish-and very
gratefully, let me assure your loFdship
l shall know how to earn His Majesty's
appreciation. You may depend upon my
loyal service"
IF l didn't. I shouldn't offer you this
goveTnorship."
Thus it was settled. Bloods commits
sion was made out and sealed in the
presence OF Mailard, the ccmmandant
and the other officers of the garrison
who looked on in round-eyed astonish-
rnent, but kept their thoughts to them
solves 4
Now We can aboud our business CO.
said Van der kuylen.
we sail tomorrow morning, his
lordShip announced.
Blood was startled.
And Col. Bishop" he asked
He becomes your affair. You are now
the governor You will deal with him as
YOU think proper on his return. Hang
him from his own yardarm. He de-
serves it
Isn't the task trihe invidious"
wondered Blood
Very well. I'll leaye a letter for him
I hope he'll like it
Capt. Blood took up his duties at once
There was much to be done to place
Port Royal in a proper state of defense,
after what had happened there. He made
an inspection of the ruined fort, and is
sued instructions for the work upon It,
which was to be started Immediately
Next he ordered the careening of the
three French vessels that they might be
rendered seaworhy once more Finally
with the sanction Of Lord Willoughby
he marshaled his buccaneers and sur
rendered to them one-fffth of the cap
tured treasure, leaving ii to their choice
thereafter either to depart or to enroll
themselves in the service of King Will
liam.
A score of them elected 10 remain.
and amongst these We're Jeremy Pitt.
Ogle and Dyke. whose outlawry-. like
Bloods. had come to an end with the
downfall of King James. They were
saving old WolVerstone, who had been
left behind at Cartagena-the only sur
vivors Of that band of rebels convict
who had left Barbados over three years
ago in the Cinco Llagas.
On the following morning whilst van
der kuylens feet was making finally
ready for sea, Blood sat in the spacious
whftewashed room that was the gov
ernor's office. when Maj. Mallari brought
him word that Bishops homing squad
ron was in sight
That is very we'll said Blood Il
am glad he comes before Lord Will
1Srrt~ =
are that YOU place him under arrest the
moment he steps ashore. Then bring
him here to me. \ moment" He wrote
a hurried note. THAT to Lord Will
loughby aboard Admiral van der Kuy-
lens flagship"
Maj. Mallard saluted and departed
Peter Blood sat back in his chair and
stared at the ceiling. frowning. Time
moved on. Came tap at the door, and
an elderly negro slave presented him
self Would his excellency receive Miss
Bishop?
His excellency changed color He sat
quite still, staring at the negro a mo-
ment, conscious that his pulses We're
drumming in manner wholly unusual
to them. Then quietly he assented.
He rose when she entered. and if he
was net as pale as she was it was be-
cause his tan dissenbed it. For a mo-
ment there was silence between them, as
they stood looking each at the other
Then she moved forward and began at
last to speak. haltingly, in an unsteady
voice. amazing in one usually so calm
and deliberate.
I Maj. Maliard has
Maj. Mallard exceeded his duty" said
Blood, and because of the effort he
made TO steady his voice it sounded
harsh and unduly loud
He saw her start, and stop, and in
stantly made amends. You alarm YOUR
self without reason, Miss Bishop. What
ever may lie between ne and your uncle
you may be sure that I shall not follow
the example he has set me- / shall not
abuse my position to prosecute pri-
Nate vengeance. On the CONTRARY
shall abuse it to protect him. Lord Will
2 ioughby's recommendation to me is that
I shall treat him without mercy My
own intention is to send him back to
his plantation In Barbados"
She came slowly forward now. st
am glad that you will do that Glad.
above all, for your own sake" She held
SCOUT her hand to him.
He considered it critically Then he
bowed over it. fI'll not presume to take
: it in the hand of a thief and a pirate, y
said he bitterly.
i You are no longer that she said,
: and stroye to smile.
- Yet / owe no thanks TO you that am
pot." he answered. 81 think there's no
more to be said, unless it be to add the
assurance that Lord Julian Wade
has also nothing to apprehend from
B1e. That, no doubt, will be the as
surance that your peace. of mind re-
%quires?"
B For your own sake-yes. But for
your own sake only would not