A
J
a dose such as will set them to re
pairing damages and turning to the
crew should she get close enough
asr
s
AFITTE
BY gvgARY gEVEREUX
WTH ILLUSTRATIONS BV DON r wi on
CHAPTER XII
An hour before sunset the fog rolled
up revealing the man-of-war anchored
near enough for the men on her deck
to be seen plainly without the aid of
a glass Tho anchors of both vessels
were raised at once and the chase
was renewed with the pursuer not a
mile away and heading about south-
west which would soon bring her
within range of the brigantine whose
course lay duo west
A curl of smoke soon rose from
the Englishmans deck and a few
seconds later there came the report
of a gun A pressing invitation for
as to show our colors remarked La
fitte as he watched the shot strike
ihe water
A short time passed with the Black
Petrels crew uneasy and Lopez
swearing softly in his native tongue
The pursuer then began amore per
sistent firing with her bow guns but
none of the shots reached their mark
Presently Lafitte who was standing
near Lopez asked quietly How would
a shot work now Try and see
The old gunner with a shout due to
his long repressed feelings set about
leveling his gun calculated the dis
tance and obtained the nroper eleva
tion
There was a report soon followed
by a trembling of the enemys spars
and the brigantines crew crowded to
see the result
You have struck their foremast
just below the futtocks announced
Lafitte looking through his glass
Aye sir and I will sing them an
other such sweet song said Lopez
coolly watching his men reload the
gun
The enemy had meantime come a
little closer and was dropping shot
viciously about the brigantine
Lopez make haste with the gun
cried Laro with an path Give them
one of the hands that were already
growing cold
Jean you will take care of La
zalie And Laros black eyes their
mockery forever slain looked at him
with appealing wistfulness
Lafitte nodded and pressed the
hand he held
She will have plenty of wealth as
you know see that it is delivered to
her safely and kept securely after
ward Take the girl away Jean take
her to the nuns in New Orleans as I
should have done before this and
do you and she have the church say
masses for my soul My soul he re
peated in a quick gasp To where
will my soul go
As Lafittes lips parted to speak the
dying man as if divining what he
might be about to say cried with a
sudden burst of strength No no
boy try to tell me no soothing lies
Living I never knew fear and dying
I scorn it Ah Madre de Dios
Christ have mercy
And with this last cry Laros voice
was -stilled forever
Lafittes heart repeated the prayer
as he folded the doad mans hands
across the broad chest and scarcely
had he done this when he was startled
by the noise of a commotion above
him
Stopping only to draw a blanket
over the face and form of the dead he
went on deck where a number of ex
cited men were gathered on the side
toward the enemy His glance had al
ready followed the direction of their
eyes and he saw one of the Black
Petrels smallest boats being rowed
by the Indian Ehewah toward the
English vessel and clinging to it
while his hoarse voice poured forth a
volley of menacing words was Lopez
Lopez had loosed one of his hands
from the boats gunwale and drawing
his knife hurled it at the Indian but
Ehewah dodged and it fell into the
sea He then rowed on and Lopez
no longer shouting attempted to draw
himself over the stern of the boat
-
With a cursing cry he sank
to try any tricks with grappling irons
have the cutlasses ready my hearties
And remember that it is no quarter
A sound half roar half snarl came
from the men and the next moment
ihere was a whistling amongst them
is a cannon ball struck the bulwark
n front of Laro filling the air with
olts of wood and then glancing into
the water
A large sharply pointed piece of
ragged wood struck him in the side
and with a cursing cry he sank face
downward upon the deck the blood
from his wounds spattering those near
est him several of whom had been
hit by the flying splinters
Lafitte sprang forward and placing
his arms around the quivering form
turned the distorted face to the air
Then looking up at the gunner who
was staring wildly at the sight he
sried Fire Lopez as you never fired
before
A prompt discharge followed the
order and a wild shout of joy went
up from the crew of the Black Pe
trel
The enemys foremast was again
struck this time with disastrous ef
fect as could be readily seen for her
crew were getting the sails off with
all possible speed Her fore royal and
top gallant sails were clewed up and
the topsail yard let go by the run
while the mast was swaying percepti
bly
Laro by Lafittes command had
been borne to the main cabin where
he was laid upon a divan and the
brigantine had been ordered to confe
to anchor The enemy had already
done this and in her present crippled
condition there was nothing to fear
from her as the distance between the
vessls was too great for advantage
ous firing even had the Englishman
been In proper form to continue the
fight
Laro was breathing heavily In brok
en gasps and beckoning to Lafltte
he asked to have sent away those who
ere about him still striving to check
the blood that flowed so freely as to
soak the red of the divan until It
showed black
Lafitte sent the others away and
sitting down by the dying man took
At this the Indian had stopped row
ing and struck the gunner over the
head with an oar continuing the blows
until Lopez released his hold and sank
from sight
A boat which had been lowered
from the English ship was now seen
pulling rapidly to where Ehewah still
pausing appeared waiting for the gun
ners body to rise
This it soon did and the Indian
showing an agile strength one would
not have accredited to his slight
frame drew it into the boat
The crew of the brigantine saw Ehe
wah parley with the men from the
enemys vessel after which he rowed
in their company to the man-of-war
and Lafitte watching through his
glass saw the form of Lopez carried
aboard in their midst
Lafitte bidding Garonne accompany
him went below to Laros cabin Ga
ronne lit the brass lamp swinging over
the small table and turned to Lafitte
who stood looking about him as if for
some sign of Ehewahs treacherous in
tention when the gleam of a gold
band hanging over Laros bunk
caught their eyes
It was a bracelet which the Indian
had always worn upon his naked arm
since the day Laro placed it there
in a burst of gratitude to Ehewah for
having saved his life
Both Lafitte and Garonne knew
enough of the Indians tribe lore to
understand that this was Ehewahs
mute announcement of ended friend
ship and loyalty
He doubtless stole in here to per
form what to him was a religious rite
and having hung Laros gift where we
found it went his way intending to
attempt that which he has now ac
complished mused Lafitte aloud
Then as if struck by an after
thought he went to Laros bunk and
throwing aside the rich draperies dis
closed a heavy wooden locker
Its lid was contrary to custom
locked and when Lafitte opened it a
disarranged collection of papers and
canvas bags showed within
It is as I supposed not a coin nor
jewel touched but charts and papers
gone that are of more importance
than all the valuables The rascal
knows th way to the Barra do Hlerro
and the charts he has taken will In
form others showing them where to
find what now belongs to the Senorlta
Lazalie
I Garonne forgetful of his usual re
straint whenJn Lafittes presence now
proke forth into a flood of closes
Which the latter checked at once
The mate turned to the cabin door
vhere he paused and asked in a voi
trembling with the anger he dared1
not show Have you any orders foi
me captain
yNone save to let the men have
their supper at once and see to it thai
onjy half allowance of grog is served
The fog is coming in and we will sail
as soon as may be
Like an army of shrouded ghosts
the fog was again about the Black
Petrel enclosing her in a world
where she was the sole tangible thing
But as over a path familiar to blind
eyes the hands that manned her
could shape an unerring course for
their secure haven
Long before midnight she was feel
ing her way north toward the mouth
of the treacherous channel that would
bring the crew to their island strong
hold the Barra de Hierro
The early morning air was heavy
with odors of aromatic shrubs grow
ing beyond the beach and tho carol
of wakening birds was filling It with
music when Lafitte came ashore Ieav
ing Garonne in charge of the brigan
tine
His course lay inland at first ovei
waste fields and then cultivated ones
of sugar cane coffee and tobacco
Then came some banana and fig plan
tations interspersed with groves ol
palms and cocoanut trees until aftei
a walk of twenty minutes he reached
a clearing in which stood many smali
huts evidently dwellings and apart
from these rose the walls of a stone
building surrounded by a high wall
with circular towers at the angles
Lafitte crossed the open spaca and
stopping before a stout oaken door in
the wall called for admission But
there was no response and alter a
longer silence than suited his humor
he fell to striking upon the door while
he called still louder
This resulted in its soon bolng
opened cautiously to show a stalwar
giant whose black face and nakr
arms showed all the darker by cou
trast with the white cotton of bis rai
ment draped in a barbaric fashiot
that told of its not having knowj
thread and needle
My young captain he exclaime
in Spanish a pleased surprise lightinj
his grave face and catching Laflttei
hand he kissed it as the latter ro
plied Greetings to you Ezrah Is 1
all well here
Yes my young captain All is well
but it will be more than well nov
that you have returned
Lafitte waited until the Arab fo
such he was had closed and barree
the gate and then in a few words
he told him of what had taken place
adding that Laros body would bi
brought ashore later in the day fo
burial
Ezrah listened with a face showinj
no emotion whatever save perhap
that of anger that the nation bis mas
ter had taught him to hate shoulc
have been the means of the former
death
His young mistress the Senorit
Lazalie was of course not yet awake
and Lafitte after bidding the Arab t
leave her undisturbed went to hi
own apartments
Lazalie was now sixteen and sine
leaving a convent school in Seville
two years before her entire time ha
been passed upon the Barra de Hierrc
to which Laro her only living rela
tive had brought her and where shf
had seemed fully contented with he
luxurious and independent life
Laro of necessity passed much o
his time away from the Barra dc
Hierro and during his absence La
zalie was its head and ruler excep
when Lafitte found it necessary t
visit the island Then the Spanisl
girl gave place and with entire will
ingness to the man whom from theii
first meeting she had loved with al
the fervor of her uncurbed nature
To be continued
Cause of Thanks
It was a Coffee county boy who mar
ried and went to Texas and upon ar
riving there wrote promptly back U
his friends that he got there safe anc
well
And that was the very last time
that he ever did write to them They
waited and they waited and they
wondered and they wondered and
they wondered and never a word fur
ther from the wanderers Some anxl
ety was felt or would have been felt
but for one old woman of distant kin
who whenever his name was men
tioned would always say
Well he got thar safe and theyre
all well thank God
Finally his name was dropped him
self forgotten till one day ten years
after his departure something brought
up his name and the old query came
up Why doesnt he write
And the same old woman piped the
same old song
Well anyhow he got thar safe an
theyre all well thank God Nash
ville Banner
Novel Relay Swimmmg Race
A novel cross channel swimming
race from Calais to Dover has been
promoted by the Belgian Swimmnig
federation for a challenge cup to be
known as the cross channel cup The
competition is open to the world for
teams of five amateur swimmers
The first swimmer of each team would
swim as far as possible across the
cnannel The second man would then
take up the task and would be fol
lowed by the others In turn The
team whose men first reaches shore
would win the cup The race is to
take place In July or AUEtct
I
-
WM MlMWM - JJ
Miii
lAFITm
JLUjO
er number of them upon the island
where there was abundant food and
shelter and take with him only a few
including such as Lazalie should select
for her own
A rustle of draperies a stealing of
perfume like that of jessamine flowers
a pair of soft arms thrown about his
neck and a rain of passionate kisses
on his face and head these roused
him quickly as a rich voice broken
by tears cried Jean my own Jean
He tried to rise and to unclasp the
arms clinging to him so closely that it
was difficult for him to disengage them
without risk of hurting her
Still clinging to him she threw her
supple form across his knees
You have been so long so long
away and I was so glad you had come
back to me Ah Jean will you not
know bow dearly I love you I would
follow you to death if you would but
say that you love me in return
Jean Lafitte was a mai and pos
sessed a mans nature But there was
scarce an added throb to his heart-
tiful face Its glorious eyes brilliant
coloring and full crimson lips affected
him with a sudden loathing while he
felt the velvety arms around his neck
He yet had the arrogance of youth
and this gave severity to his judgment
making him fail to consider her girl
ishness her ignorance of convention
alities or to make excuses for her
impetuous untrained nature
Speak she cried showering
kisses upon his clothing Are you
dumb that you will not answer me
Then I will draw the words from your
lips And pulling his head down
she kissed him
At this gripping her white arms
with unconscious force he tore them
from his neck and pushed her from
him as he rose to his feet
Are you insane Senorita Lazalie
he asked in a tone whose coldness
caused her to shiver as she stood like
a criminal before a judge
Yon are unnerved by what has
come to you and do not know what
you are saying he continued in a
low evi voice that affected her like
an icy torrent rushing into a tropical
stream I will be your friend and
you must believe that you have my
sympathy and my wish to be of all
possible service to you
She showed no recognition of his
offer but remained silent with droop
ing head and heaving breast
Forget what you have caid as
shall I and let us be friends he add
ed still calmly but with kindliness
Let us work together for there is
much to be done Remember he
said finally in answering to a ques
tioning look in the face she now raised
to him we must sail this night for
iew Orleans or the English may
make us prisoners and deal out such
insults to you as I might be unable to
prevent
She made no reply but turned and
left the room
Two stories of the building were
above ground how many there were
below was known definitely to no one
save Lafitte Lazalie and Maam Brig
ida Ezrah and a few of the sub-officers
knew something of the vaults
and passages but they were ignorant
of the treasure concealed there its
bulk value and location
Lafitte not wishing the Arab to ob
tain more accurate knowledge pro
ceeded with the Irishwomans help to
UISJATSE
w
BY 4RY BEVEREUX
YfTH ILLUSTRATIONS BV DOM C WJL50N
CHAPTER XIII
The sun was nearly two hours high
when Lafitte awoke from slumber and
prepared to make himself- ready for
the responsible and arduous duties ly
ing before him
In view of Laros dying request he
had considered carefully the arrange
ments for Lazalies immediate future
and this he unfolded to Maam Brigida
Lazalies old nurse and companion
after sending Ezrah to superintend
the gathering of such stores as were
to be taken to the shore preparatory
to putting them aboard the Black Pe
trel and another craft which was to
sail under command of Ezrah who in
addition to his other valuable attain
ments was a skillful navigator
As to the slaves of whom there
were several hundred it was not pru
dent to attempt taking them in a body
to Louisiana and Lafitte decided for
the present to leave by far the great
Al
empty the chests and pack their con
tents for removal
The chests were soon emptied and
the bundles lying reay for removal
Early in the afternoon the entire
crew came ashore with the body of
their dead captain and all on the
island were given a half holiday in
order that they might show respect to
its interment
Lazalie was not present and La
fitte saw her no more until evening
when with high held head and scorn
ful air she joined him and the others
at the table to partake of the last
meal that would be eaten on the Bar
ra de Hierro
In the midst of it they were startled
by tho sudden appearance in their
midst of a bedraggled and weary form
It was that of the gunner Lopez who
still wet from the sea and his gar
ments torn by the thickets through
which he had pushed his way dropped
silently into a chair seemingly too
worn out for speech His faco was
white and a bandage enveloped his
head
It was as Lafitte had supposed and
contemplated Ehewah by help of the
charts he had stolen had gained the
enemys favor and the latter ip con
sequence of the information furnished
by the Indian had lost no time in re
pairing damages and setting sail in
pursuit of the brigantine
There was general rejoicing over
Lopezs escape But this feeling was
in a measure tempered by anger at
Ehewahs treachery and hard indeed
would have been the Indians fate
could any of those sinewy hands have
grasped his brown throat
When the gunners story was ended
a half suppressed roar had surged
through the room to be hushed by the
uplifted hand and reproving frown of
Lafitte for Lazalie had not yet left
the table but sat with Maam Brigida
beside her at the farthest end Her
red lips were parted slightly and an
beats as he looked down into the beau- angry light glowed in her black eyes
3fg5Eb Ifeplliijlte
Are you insane Senorita Lazalie he asked
Why did you fail to kill the In
dian she demanded imperiously as
if holding Lopez accountable for a
grave offense
Kill him repeated the old gun
ner whose hand was carrying to his
mouth a huge piece of turtle meat
Kill him Senorita Lazalie
Yes was her haughty reply You
should have killed him
How was I to do that he asked
with a scowl as if feeling the unjust
ness of her accusation I had wasted
my knife on the traitor and it now
lies somewhere off Satans Key my
powder and pistols were sea soaked
and he took good care to keep out of
reach after I came to my senses
aboard the English ship
I understand she said now in a
more gracious tone and we are very
glad you escaped But she added
what could have happened that Ehe
wah should think of committing such
an act of treachery
Lafitte caught Lopezs eye and
obeying the command he saw in the
formers look the gunner made no re
ply
Lazalie appeared to have forgotten
her question for she remained silent
and in a few minutes went to her own
apartments followed by Maam Brigi
da
The meal was soon finished and
then the men gathered from the table
the gold and silver plate packing it
into canvas bags which were borne to
the shore to be taken aboard the
Black Petrel
The greater part of the slaves to
gether with those brought from the
brigantine to be turned loose among
their sable fellows were of course ig
norant as to the plans of their owner
and when they retired for the night it
was to slumber but little less deeply
by reason of their brief respite from
labor while the new arrivals half sick
from their long imprisonment with its
darkness and poor air slept far more
soundly
But the next morning the former
awakening in affright at the lateness
of the hour and wondering why no
overseers lash had roused them long
before soon realized that something
unusual had befallen for the sun was
not two hours high when a compact
bodv of scarlet uniforms and shining
-
rnnfIIH Til i J
guns was seen advancing from tho
islands shore
The greater number of tho fright
ened slaves fled inland to hide in tho
thickets and gullies But some of
tho more intelligent sought tho shel
ter of the stone stronghold and find
ing it deserted they quickly shut and
barred tho oaken gate
It was not long before a storm of
blows upon the gate called some of
them to it and looking through a
loophole they saw tho strangers gath
ered behind a commanding ofllcer who
was demanding entrance In the kings
name
Tho terrified slaves a few of whom
understood tho words lost no time in
obeying and were soon assured that
no harm would come to them from
the invaders whose leader upon
questioning the negroes was made
aware of the condition of affairs
Meanwhile northerly sailed the
Black Petrel with Lafitte in com
mand and with him Lopez and a pick
ed crew such men as he knew had
his own cause at heart
It was noon when the Black Petrel
reached New Orleans and Lafitte
came ashoro immediately bringing
with him Lazalie and Maam Brigida
No others left the brigantine as its
commanders sole business in the city
was that of providing for the girls
immediate future after which he pro
posed sailing at once for Barataria
One of his most intimate friends
was Philip La Roche a man of middle
age and a banker of New Orleans He
was of fine family of high social posi
tion and a gentleman of the strictest
honor
It was to his care that Lafitte com
mitted Lazalie after seeing her quar
tered safely in company with Maam
Brigida at the Ursuline convent in the
Place dArmes
Lazalie had during the voyage pre
served an air of calmness to which
was added an occasional touch of
scorn but when while they were
alone Lafitte bade her adieu she
put out a detaining hand as she stood
with downcast eyes before him
When am I to see you again she
asked in a listless tone
That I cannot now say but the
mother superior will know how to com
municate with me if I am needed he
answered gently
And may I not return to the Barra
de Hierro later on after a while
she inquired with a humility which
surprised him
It would be most imprudent for
you to do so for some time to come
if ever as you must surely know
he replied firmly looking down into
her face The English must have
seized the island and will doubtless
hold it and as Laros next of kin
you can scarcely hope for success
should you assert a claim to it as own
er But why wish to go back when
you are in safety here with a fortune
which will insure you perfect inde
pendence What more can you ask
I ask your love and I want to be
with you she exclaimed impetuous
ly snatching her hands away and
throwing her arms around his neck
while with a sobbing cry she laid her
head against his breast
Lafittes face hardened as his fin
gers closed about her wrists and
loosened her arms
That can never be Lazalie never
I have never known anything of love
and have no desire to learn of it now
I am not worth any womans loving
nor can I afford to have any womans
fate linked with mine Believe this
and accept it and let us part friends
She turned from him covering her
face with her hands
Mr Philip La Roche will call upon
you in a day or two He is one whom
you can trust and with whom you can
advise safely and I shall place your
affairs in his hands
Lafitte had moved toward the door
and turning at the threshold he add
ed Adios Lazalie and believe me
when I say that if you ever need my
services as a friend you may count
upon me
She di not reply and when she
uncovered her face he was gone
To be continued
GOT PURSE FROM THE BAR
Winner of Race Had Close Call in
Collecting Money
Mars Cassidy the starter is fond
of telling the story of an incident
which occurred when he was racing a
string of horses on the unrecognized
tracks of the outlaw circuit
It was the last day of a meeting in
a town not far from Jersey City and it
was up to Cassidy to win a purse or
walk to the next racirg town He had
a fair skate in the last event of the
day and had engaged a dare devil
jockey who he knew would take all
kinds of chance Just about a hun
dred yards from the finish on this
roller coaster track there was a pitch
hole such as often is seen on a coun
try road in winter
There had been so many falls at this
spot that the jockeys always eased up
when approaching it Cassidy com
manded his rider to make his most
desperate move right at this point
and sure enough when the others
took a wrap before reaching the gully
Cassidys boy dug the spurs Into his
mount and won the race
The owner with a great load off his
mind went into the secretarys office
to collect the purse
Ill have to send out for the money
said the secretary I have paid out
everything on hand
Cassidys jaw dropped with a click
but he managed to say
Send out for it Send where
To the bartender said the secre
tary suavely
And sure enough says Cassidy in
relating the story it was from tho
bar till that they dug up my purse
If the bar had been closed I guess
I would bo there yet
1
V
H
