Evening star., 1924-11-20
CAPTAIN BLOOD
By RAFAEL SABATINI
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
RAFAEL SABATINI

the men who stood there SO gium
| and obviously Ill at ease.
They are ships of the Jamaica
| feet" his lordship answered her.
1t should in any case have been a
sufficient explanation. But before
| more could be added their attention
was drawn at last to Ogle, who came
bounding up the broad ladder. and
to the men Iounging aft in his wake,
In all of which instinctively they ap-
pretended a vague menace.
At the head Of the companion Ogle
found his progress barred by Blood
who confronted him, a sudden stern
him.
What's this?" the captain demand
ed sharply. Your station is on the
gun deck. Why have you left it?"
Thus challenged, the obvious trucu-
lence faded out of Ogles bearing,
quenched by the old habit Of obedi-
ence and the natural dominance that
was the secret of the captains rule
over his wild followers. But 1t gave
no pause to the gunner's intention.
If anything. it increased his excite
ment.
Captain" he said, and as he spoke
he pointed to the pursuing ships.
Col Bishop holds us. We're in no
| case either to run or fight"
Blood's height seemed to increase,
as did his sternness.
"Ogle,' said he, in a voice cold
and sharp as steel, your station Is
on the gundeck. You'll return to it
at once and take your crew with
you, or else
But Ogle. violent Of mien and ges-
ture. interrupted him.
Threats will not serve, captain"
will they not?"
1t was the first time in his buc-
| caneering career that an order of his
had been disregarded, or that a man
had failed in the obedience to which
he pledged all those who Joined him.
That this characterization should
proceed from one of those whom he
| most trusted, one of his old Bar
| bados associates. was in itself Bit
terness, and made him reluctant to do
that which instinct told him must be
done. His hand closed over the butt
| of one OF the pistols slung before him.
Nor will that serve you," Ogle
| warned him, still more fiercely. 1.-The
men are of my thinking, and they'll
have their way"
And what way may that be?"
The way to make US. safe. Well
neither sink nor hang whiles we can
help it,"
From the three or four score men
massed below in the waist came a
rumble of approval. Capt. Blood s
glance raked the ranks Of those res
olute, flerce-eyed fellows, then it
came to rest again on Ogle. There
was here quite plainly a vague threat,
mutinous spirit he could not Under
stand.
You come to give advice, then, do
you" quoth he. relenting nothing Of
his sternness.
That's 1t. captain; advice. That
girl, there" He flung out a bare arm
to point to her. Bishops girl; the
governor of Jamaicas niece :.
We want her as a hostage for our
safety
Aye" roared in chorus the buc-
cancers below, and one or two of
them elaborated that affirmation.
In flash Capt. Blood saw what was
In their minds. And for all that he
lost nothing Of his outward stern
composure, fear invaded his heart.
And how" he asked. do you imag-
Inc that Miss Bishop will prove such
a hostage?"
ITS providence having her
aboard: providence. Heave to, cap
TAIN and signal them to send a boat
and assure themselves that Miss is
here. Then let them know that If
they attempt to hinder our sailing
hence, we'll hang the doxy first and
fight for it after. That'll cool Col
Bishops heat, maybe"
And maybe 1t won't" Slow and
mocking came Wolverstone's voice to
answer the others confident excite
ment. and as he spoke he advanced