Evening star., 1924-10-27

or dled.
Soon, however, from the partia
stCpor which pain had mercifuIIy in
duced, a new variety of pain aroused
HIM. The stocks stood in the open
under the full glare of the tropica
sun, and its blistering rays streamed
down upon that mangled, bleeding
back until he felt as if flames OF
fire were soaring it And, soon. u
this was added a torment still more
unspeakable. Flies, the cruel flies Of
the Antilles, drawn by the scent OF
blood, descended in cloud upon him.
Small wonder that the ingenious
Col. Bishop, who 50 well understood
the art of lOoSening stubborn tongues
had not deemed it necessary To
have recourse to other means of tor
ture. Not all his fiendish cruelty
could devise a torment more cruel.
more unendurabie than the torment
nature would here procure a man
in Pitts condition
The slave writhed in his stocks
until he was in danger of breaknG
his limbs, and. writhing. screamed in
agony.
Thus was he found by Peter Blood
who seemed to his troubled vision to
materialize suddenly before him. Mr.
Blood carried large palmetto leaf
Having whisked away with this the
back, he slung it by d strip of fiber
from the lads neck, so that it pro
tected him from further attacks a.
Well Is from the rays of the sun
Next, sitting down beside him. lc
drew the sufferers head down on his
own shoulder, and bathed his face
from a pannikin of cold water PITT
shuddered and moaned on long, IN
drawn breath.
lri nj ha nrip nj
the love of Christi
The pannikin was held to his quiy-
ering lips. He drank greedi'v
noisily, nor ceased until he had drain
ed the vessel. Cooled and revive.
by the draught. he attempted to 81
up.
My back" he screamed
There was an unusual CLINT in Ar
Blood's eyes; his lips were com
pressed. Put when he parted them IL
speak, his voice came cool and STEADY.
BE easy, now. One thing at n
time. Your backs taking no harm
at all for the present. since TX
covered il up. I'm wanting to know
what's happened to you. Dye thin
we can do without a navigator thai
ye go and provoke that beast Bishou
until he all but kills you?"
Pitt sat up and groaned agair.
But this time his anguish was menta
rather than physical.
Il don't think navigator will H.
needed this time, Peter"
What's that?" cried Mr.. Blood
Pitt explained the situation -
briefly as he could. in a haltinS
gasping speech. I'm TO rot herr
until l tell him the identity of my
visitor and his business"
Mr.. Blood got up. growing in his
throat n he
said he. But it must be contrived
neverth eleSS. To the devil with Nut-
tall Whether he gives surety for
the boat or not, whether he explains
it or not. the boat remains, and we'r,
going, and you're coming with US"
You're dreaming, Peter" said tha
prisoner. We're not going this tim.
The magistrates will coniscate tn,
boat since the suretys not paid, even
if when they press him Nuttall do,
not confess the whole plan and g..r
US all branded on the forehead"
Mr.. Blood turned away, and witt
agony in his eyes looked out to sea
over the blue water by which he "a
so fondly hoped soon TO be traye..a-
back to freedom.
The great red ship had drawn con-
siderably nearer shore by noa
Slowly, majestically, she was enter-
ing the bay. Already one or tuu
wherries were putting off from tn.
wharf to board her. From who"
he stood. Mr.. Blood could see the
glinting of the brass cannons noun
ed on the PROV above the curvin-
beak-head, and he could make our
the figure of a seaman in the fore
chains on her larboard side, leaninc
out to heave the lead
An angry voice aroused him from
his unhappy thoughts.
What the devil are you doing
here?"
The returning Col. Bishop cam
striding into the stockade, his negroes
following ever
Mr.. Blood turned to face him. and
over that swarthy countenance-
which, indeed, by now was tanned
to the golden brown of half caste
Indiana mask descended
"Doing?' said he blandly WIN.
the duties of my office"
The colonel, striding furiously for
ward. observed two things. II,
empty pannikin on the seat besfd,
the prisoner, and the palmetto lea
protecting his back. Have you dareG
to do this?" The veins on the plant
er's forehead stood out like cords.
"Of course l have" Mr. Blood's
tone was one of faint surprise
Il said he was to have neither
meat nor drink until I ordered it
Sure, now, I never heard We"
You never heard me? How should
you have heard me when you weren't
here?"
Then how did We expect me to
know what orders ye'd given?' Mr..
Blood's tone was positively aggrieved.
'All that I knew was that one of
your slaves was being murthered by
the sun and the flies. And / SAYS
to myself, this is one of the colonelS
slaves, and I'm the colonel'S doctor.
and sure it's my duty to be looking
after the colonels property So !
just gave the fellow spoonful OF
water and covered his back from the
sun. And wasn't l right now"
"Right?' The colonel was almost
speechless.
BE easy. now. be easy" Mr. Blood
fmplored him. It's an apoplexy yen
be contracting if ye give way to
heat like this"
The planter thrust him aside with
an imprecation, and stepping forward
tore the palmetto leaf from the pris
oner's back.
"In the name of humanity, now
| - Mr.. Blood was beginning.
The colonel swung upon him furi-
ously. "Out of this"' he commanded.
| And don't come near him again until
SEM IoT YOU unIesS you want TO
be served in the same way"
He was terrific in his menace, in
his bulk and in the power of him.
But Mr.. Blood never fiinched. 1t came
to the colonel, as he found himself
steadily regarded by those light blue
eyes that looked so arrestingly odd
in that tawny face-like pale sap
phires set in copper-that this rogue
had for some time now been grow
ing presumptuous 1t was a matter
that he must presently correct
Meanwhile Mr.. Blood was speaking
again, his tone quietly inSistent