The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- eee eee SSS EE eae 14 THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. ese ee ees chest containing that precious metal for which men sell their souls— Gold. “ Uncounted—this inexhaustible wealth—all shall be yours in exchange for one year of liberty.” “ Liberty ?”’ fee “ Yes, yours for mine—one short year of captivity for the wealth of Vanderdecken.”’ Paul Jones hesitated. “Hear my story, then if you waver not In your re- solve, we have agreed.” “J listen,” replied the pirate. “ Many years ago, in the olden time, Vanderdecken and his devil crew were the terror of every sea. “Never passed a day that these decks were not crimson with blood enforced by guilty violence. “At length the bright star of my destiny set: tempest and wreck, and loss in battle ensued—mutiny next. “The ingrates, who had shared alike my plunder and my crimes, as if I alone had been culpable, cried aloud that the misfortunes that pursued the ship were Grawn down solely by the enormities of her captain. “J was dragged down from my cabin,” continued Vanderdecken, “and manacled in the dark hold, while they, in riot and demoniac exultation, returned to perish.” “Perish !’’ echoed the pirate. “Yes; fearfully, terribly was Vanderdecken aveng- ed,” he cried, ‘‘ As I lay in my prison, fettered, loudly descended to my ear the drunken sounds of mockery and defiance.” “The rage—the strength of superhuman force pos- sessed. me. “I burst assunder my iron bonds, and reaching a porthole of this devoted vessel, snapped, as though it were a frail thread, the chain that held it. “In furiously gushed the booming waters. “Deeper and deeper down, with every roar, the ship descended. ‘‘] cared not for myself. To die avenged was all —avenged, and like Vanderdecken. «‘From thence your doom— “ To watch the fearful wreck one year in a century, and at one especial hour of the night to encounter the re-animated forms of those I murdered,”’ ‘And must I endure all this?” asked Paul Jones. ‘‘ Not endure, but witness in my stead, one hour at the set of moon for gold,’ returned Vanderdecken. “You are innocent of the blood I have spilt,” he continued; “the curses of the doomed will flow harmless back, as sea-foam from a rock of iron.’’ “If I refuse?” ; “4 ‘It is too late to retreat,.’ shouted Vanderdecken. “The moon is already on a level with the waters,’’ “A desperate zeal inspires me,’ muttered Paul Jones. ‘‘ The excitement which conducts to hope; is better than a notbingness worse than death.”’ The pliantom skipper laughed bitterly. “You have no power over mé, demon,”’ cried the pirate with a shud “Indeed ; then you reject my offer to you >” “T reject an offer which delivers me to perdition. Remember it is never too late to repent and atone for past evil.” * An idle fear,’ rejoined Vanderdecken, “I care not for your soul—you wili forfeit that without my aid. I have need of you, and > “I will not consent to join you in this unholy com- pact.?” ‘Then I must compel you.” ‘You dare not touch me.” A derisive smile was the answer of Vanderdecken. “fT am armed with a relic—the holy cross upon which you made your impious vow.” With the words, Paul Jones drew the sacred em- blem of Christianity from his. breast. It was no sooner exposed to view than the heavens darkened, and forked flashes of lightning burst through her sable mantle. The crew of the charmed vessel again aroused from torpor, became endowed with the appearance of life. . The waters changed their hue, the old lanterns lit dimly up, and the wreck assumed its pristine sem- blance, as these livid spectres advanced on all sides. With brutal ferocity they stabbed their invulnera- ble commander, who, with fierce mocking, defied their deeply-dealt blows. rial They flashed their fire-arms at him, but still no sound prevailed. While liquid flames hovered o’er his head, and once more pronounced his dreadful doom, ‘A foretaste of death seemed to pass over the faee of Paul Jones with a marble paleness, and thick drops of sweat gathered on his brow at the ghastly encounter, , Protected by the holy cross which he still held in his possession, he gradually recovered from his terror, and, in defiance of the Supernatural band, plunged from the vessel’s side into the surrounding sea. Engulphed in the waters, his senses were over- powered, his eyes swam in his head, and he remem- bered nothing till he found himself peacefully reclin- ing in his own cabin. “‘Thank heaven, then, it was a dream,’’ he cried, joyfully, “ and not sad reality. CHAPTER V. HANS A PRISONER—THE LASH—A DARING EXPLOIT— THE ANACONDA‘ The sea is like a mirror. The breeze caresses the sails of the El Malachor as she speeds on her course. The sun gilds the ropes. Her daring crew, basking in the beams of day, form an assemblage of light repose, and harmony. Who could see, in those hardy mariners and around them, the prelude of a terrible and unlooked-for event. Human life and its contrasts form one eternal sar- casm. A flash of lightning, and the waves will roar. r A. word; a blow, and blood will quickly follow. No matter; a bold and venturous life suits both the inclination and finances of the buccaneer, and he has enrolled himself under the dreaded black flag. The perfidious ocean, which hides under its surface its monsters and its depths, has ever been the rover’s model, and is so still. It was his cradle; it will be his grave, perchance. Let us now turn to the forecastle of the schooner, some hours later, and see what is going forward there. Look, look! What are they bringing up now? By Jove! there are all the hounds in the pirate pack. A fine head of game, sure enough; bound, pinioned and corded, The party, armed with drawn cutlasses, who 6ur- rounded the prisoner, were accompanied by the cap- tain of the watch, Black Bill. At the same time we may remark there was no- thing about the unfortunate being in custody, save and except his deformity, which could warrant the “acne of glistening weapons that were pointed at im. He was quiet, silent, sullen. --—— Cconnicloooks conn