Evening star., 1924-10-18
CAPTAIN BLOOD
By RAFAEL SABATlNI
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

deal more; but at this point the
lord chief justice interposed in a gem
tie. rather plaintive voice.
LOOK you. sir: because we must
observe the common and usual meth
DDS of trial, I must interrupt YOU
now. You are no doubt ignorant of
the forms of law"
Not only ignorant, my lord, but
hltherto most happy in that ignor-
ance. I could gladly have forgone
this acquaintance with them"
A pale smile momentarily lightened
the wistful countenance.
Il believe you. You shall be fully
neard when you come to your de-
Tense. But anything you say now is
altogether irregular and improper"
Enheartened by that apparent SYM
pathy and consideration, Mr.. Blood
answered thereafter, as was required
of him, that he would be tried by
God and his country. Whereupon,
having prayed to God to send him
good deliverance. the clerk called
upon Andrew Baynes to hold up his
hand and plead
From Baynes, who pleaded not
guilty, the clerk passed on to Pitt,
who boldly owned his guilt. The
lord chief justice stirred at that.
and his four scarlet brethren nodded.
III all were as obstinate as his two
fellow rebels, there would never be
an end"
After that ominous Interpolation.
delivered with an inhuman iciness
that sent a shiver through the court,
Mr.. Pollexfen got to his feet. With
great prolixity he stated the general
case against the three men, and the
s1.r1 L..
whose indictment was to be taken
first
The only witness called for the
King was Capt. Hobart He testified
briskly to the manner in which he
had found and taken the three pris-
oners, together with Lord Gildoy.
Upon the orders Of his colonel he
would have hanged Pitt out of hand,
but was restrained by the lies of the
prisoner, Blood, who led him to be-
lieve that Pitt was a peer of the
realm and person Of consideration.
AS the captains evidence concluded,
Lord Jeffreys looked across at Peter
Blood.
will the prisoner Blood ask the
witness any questions?"
None, my lord. He has correctly
related what occurred
Il am glad to have your admission
Of that without any of the prevarica-
tions that are usual in your kind.
And I will say this. that here preva-
rication would avail you little. For
we always have the truth in the end.
Be sure of that"
Baynes and Pitt similarly admitted
the accuracy of the captains evil
dence, whereupon the scarlet figure
of the lord chief justice heaved a
sigh of relief.
This being so, let US get on, in
Gods name; for we have much to
do" There was now no trace of gen.
tleness in his voice. 1t was brisk and
rasping, and the lips through which
II passed were curved in scorn. Il
take it, Mr.. Pollexfen, that the wick
ed treason of these three rogues be-
ing established-indeed. admitted by
them-there is no more to be said
Peter Biood's voice rang out crisp
ly, on a note that almost seemed to
contain laughter
May it please your lordship, but
there's a deal more TO be said.
His lordship looked at him, first in
blank amazement at his audacity,
then gradually with an expression of
dull anger. The scarlet lips fell into
unpleasant. cruel lines that transfig-
ured the whole countenance.
How now, rogue? Would you
waste our time with idle subter-
fuge?'
Il would have your lordship and
the gentlemen of the Jury hear me on
my defense. as your lordship prom
ised that 1 should be heard"
why, SO you shall, villain; so you
shall" His lordship'S voice was harsh
as a file He writhed as he spoke.
and for an instant his features were
distorted. A delicate dead-white hand,
on which the veins showed blue,
brought forth a handkerchief with
which he dabbed his lipe and then his
brow. Observing him with his physi-
clans eye, Peter Blood judged him
prey to the pain of the disease that
was destroying him. $50 you shall. But
after the admission made, what de-
fense remains"
You shall judge. my lord"
THAT is the purpose for which sit
here"
And so shall you. gentlemen.
Blood looked from judge to jury. the
latter shifted uncomfortably under
the confident flash of his blue eyes.
Lord Jeffreys' bullying charge had
whipped the spirit out of them. Had
they, themselves, been prisoners ac-1
cused of treason, he could not have
arraigned them more ferociously. :
Peter Blood stood boldly forward
erect, self possessed, and saturnlne. he
was freshly shaven, and his periwig,
If out of curl. was at least caretuliY
combed and dressed.
Capt Hobart has testified to what
he knows-that he found me at Ogle-
thorpe's farm on the Monday morning
after the battle at Weston. But he
| has not told you what l did there
Again the judge broke in. Why,
| what should you have been doing
there in the company of rebels, two
of whom-Lord Gildoy and your fel-
low there-have already admitted
their guilt?"
THAT is what 1 beg leave to tell
your lordship."
81 pray you do, and in Gods name
be brief, man. For if am to be
troubled with the say oil all you trail
! tor dogs, 1 may sit here until the
Spring Assizes.
ity as a physician, to dress Lord Gill
doy's wounds"
"whats this? Do you tell us that
you are a physician?"
"A graduate of Trinity College,
Dublin
Good God" cried Lord Jeffreys. his
voice suddenly swelling, his eyes upon
the jury. What an impudent rogue
| is this! You heard the witness say
that he had known MIN IN 1dHslerS
some years ago, and that he was then
an officer in the French service. You
heard the prisoner admit that the
/ witness had spoken the TRUTH
"why, so he had. Yet what / am
| telling YOU is also true, SO 1t is. For
some years / was a soldier; but be-
fore that I was a physician, and l
have been one again since January
last, established in Bridgewater. as
can bring a hundred witnesses II
prove"
| There's not the need to waste OUT
| time with that. I will convict you