The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

22 chalance, “fortune may be a pretty purser, but whenever there’s an allowance of good luck to be served out aloft, she always takes care to keep me in the cockpit.” Oth, Whether it was that Rotaldo read his ill-affected uneasiness, or detected his secret resolution, 1s 1m- material; but however it might be, a stern and scrutinising glance made the hitherto bold captive tremble. : “Tt ig useless to trifle with me,’’ cried the Spaniard, turning from the pirates he had been whispering to, and suddenly facing Nick. “ You are a traitor to us.’’ The addressed was too much agitated to offer a remark, “Tell me, if you would save your hide from the lash and your carcase from the wave, for what pur- pose you concealed yourself in this place?” Nick was still silent, and Rotaldo continued— “ Basta! you will find me as good as my word, and if you do not answer, your life will assuredly pay the penalty of your rashness !”’ The toper, ashamed of his late weakness, braced main and topsails, and bore down on the enemy, as he called it, by announcing that he knew nothing of the matter in question. “You are a spy,” cried the Spaniard; ‘but, still continue ignorant of your errand, and it in the end will gain nothing by your treachery.”’ ‘‘You are wrong there, my hearty,” replied Nick, with courage, and the quality next in value to it. self-possession. ‘I have discovered the existence of a consplracy, and the name of its principal.” “Ha, ha! I thought we should worm the secret out of the sot.’’ ‘“‘]’ve only to put ship about, pop upon the skulk- ing squadron in the wind’s eye, and you all dangle from the rigging before seven bells to-morrow morning.” “ Well, sirrah—well, sirrah,” replied Rotaldo’ with visible calmness. ‘* But I am not such a loblolly boy as to peach to Paul Jones, who appears to me to be no more be- witched than the rest of the crew,’’ continued Nick. “Tf T am——” “Paid for silence, eh?” added Rotaldo, with a grim smile. ‘“‘ Precisely,” replied his associate. ‘* You are in my power, and I am in duty bound to make the most of my position, and to fight to the last drop of my——_”’ “Bottle,” he would have said, but finding the vessel empty, replaced the same in the pocket from which he had taken it, and obtained consolation in a long-drawn sigh. “Umph!” said Rotaldo, looking fixedly at Nick. “Tt was my first intention to hang you from the mast head, as a warning to those who might have qualms about our present venture; but I since find 1 may have reasons for employing you, and will also make it worth your while to be faithtul to me, and I shall spare you such a fate. ‘‘For the present, however,’’ continued the Spaniard, “‘ you must remain under arrest, and when I require your service I will send for, you. Remem- ber, while you are a prisoner, should you attempt to play me false, no power on earth shall save you from my vengeance ; while if you are true, money and friendship shall reward you.” With these words, Nick was conveyed to a cabin beneath the deck, and Rotaldo was left in company with Black Bill, whom he addressed when they were alone. “There are none now averse to our scheme?” “None,” answered Black Bill. “Then we have ensured success ?” aa THE FROZEN OREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. *‘T hope, Senor Rotaldo, you are satisfied with my efforts,”’ continued the other buccaneer, * for I have worked hard, and have had a great deal of trouble with our messmates, who have dull heads and tender consciences, though they be only pirates, “You shall be rewarded as you deserve depend upon it,” replied the Spaniard, who shrewdly guessed his companion’s drift, ‘and if fortune siands our friend, we need pursue her wheel no further at sta, but set ourselves down with contentment for the rest of our days in the peaceful groves of the banana and palmettoe. eo | “I don’t presume to advise, Senor Rotaldo,” said Black Bill, fawningly, ‘ but you know our destination is not yet known to the captain, who seems to bear a charmed life if we may judge from bis recovery from what appeared to us last nicht but death, and the crew are impatient to put into practice your pro- ject. oS I am now going to his cabin,’ returned the Spaniard. “He must yield to us or proclaim a successor.” ‘‘ There is but one, he dare to name !”’ ‘And once pronounced his heir, Paul Jones, shall find Rotaldo will not tardily await the enjoyment of the power already dropping from his doating hand,” The speaker stopped short in his discourse, and after a moment’s scrutiny of his companion’s countenance, found he had not mistaken the person to whom he had opened his plan. “There is one thing yet to guard against,” continued the Spaniard. ‘‘The boy Gonzalvi—is he safe ?” “ Sa’e as bolts and bars can make him.” ‘‘Where is he confined ?” “In the lazaretto; he is unshackled, but the locks of his prison are strong.” “ He still believes you his friend.” “Yes, he readily believed the tale I trumped up, that his capture was only a ruse to deceive you.” ‘‘ What do you propose ?” “¢ Why the sooner Gonzalvi is silenced the better,” said Black Bill, ‘‘if he should for a moment enter- tain a doubt of my sincerity he will give us trouble.” “« And the papers ?” “ Are stillin his possession instead of ours, a mat- ter most essential to ? “ Visit him at once,” interruptea Rotaldo, “ while I sound Paul Jones on our present enterprise. Should the boy refuse to yield the documents, you know how to act ?”’ Black Bill nodded assent, and with a grim smile, parted company with the Spanirad. Crossing the deck, he descended the hatchway, and entered the lazaretto in which Gonzalvi was in- carcerated. The youth had been treated with great consider- tion by Black Bill, who hoped to carry out his point more successfully by artifice than severity. When the gaoler entered he was pacing to and fro within his prison in great excitement, but agitation ceased on seeing Bill, whom he addressed in hasty accents— ** You bring me liberty !” ** Not now,” returned Black Bill; “in fact, at toe present moment it would be dangerous to effect it. “ But make your mind easy,” continued the speaker, “seating himself at a table beside Gonzalvi, “ your detention will be of short duration.’’ “If you are deceiving me,” cried Gonzalzi, furi- ously, “you will rue it. If Iam not free within an hour I will fire the ship.” A significant glance passed between the gaoler and his prisoner, as the tormer ealmly remarked— CODA coim iGbooks