CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12713, 16 November 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

IN THE CLUTCH OF BRIGANDS. ■■..■.•;■>■.'■'.;'••:•■'■•'■' , , t; ■ ■'••■'■>■'.;-'.:: •..■'■:<••'.:..•. " Now. take care of yourselves, yon-jg gentlemen I don't like this adventure of yours ■ at all. You're'going on . this looilwuly shooting expedition dead against my wishes, and remember, Mr. Percy, that it you get - into trouble I'm not to blame. Morocco is ; a ram country, and if you're captured by brigands, or find yourself anil ■.your_friends'' landed into a nice scrape, I hope you'll call, to mind the fact that I have begged you not'to go ashore by yourselves." "Oh, shut up, Plumberry! What an old croaker you are!" cried Percy Rivers. We're only just going to prowl along by thy .coast, and try to bag a hyieua or two, or a Hon, if we can. We shall hardly be ; out of sight of the Flamingo all the time, and you may expect us back by to-morrow evening. Anyhow, the yacht will lie here in the bay until we turn up." "All right, sir," replied Captain Plum- . berry. "But mind that I've warned you. If anything happened to you I don't know what your mother would say to me; .and; as for your father 1" Here the captain made a gesture of despair, and the boys, laughin,™ loudly, leapt into the gig, and soon were speeding towards the shore. , Percy > Rivera was the only son of ;an African millionaire, whose beautiful steam yacht, the Flamingo, was at the disposal of Percy during his holidays. The boy was at school in England, where his parents occasionally resided, and Furry had persuaded his mother to, allow him to go cruising in the Mediterranean with his two; principal chums, Jack Merridew and Charlie Hill, under the watchful care, of Captain Plumberry. ''■ \ '>■>■ \. • " The three ' boys landed ia high spirits. Each carried a rifle, ammunition, food, and . a water-flask, and away they tramped to, a' ■ '■ range of ■ bills • in, the' hope of ■ bagging '. some '. I . W ■■ : ■ ..■'.„.■■.■,■.■...■:: "* " ■. ...,.-,., big game. ■'■Well, we're off on our own account at : last!'' cried Percy, "This is the first time since we started on the cruise that we've been able to shake off old Plumberry, and go ashore by ourselves. Of course, Plumberry's a dear old chap, but he's too nervousalways afraid of our potting into trouble and all thai sort of thing, and I expect my -mater told him to keep & sharp. eye upon us." "By Jove, pud he's done it « far," said Charlie. "However, it's far better fun getting off by ourselves like this. We'll camp put to-mght, and try to pot some hycenas." " Or perhaps. a lion," put in Jack Merridew. "Anyhow, we seem to be off on a proper sort of adventure. Ido -p.- wo sJuvn't be captured by brigands, though!'' " Brigands t ' Pooh!" laughed Percy. "I . should like to see the brigands who would try to collar us. T think we'd give 'em some. doses of lead first, eh. Charlie?" " Bather," replied Charlie Hill, "although I must .say one reads queer things in the papers about brigands catching millionaires and holding them until a tremendous 1 ransom has been paid. I hope they won't collar you, Percy. Wouldn't your governor be wild if he "had to stump lip ten thousand pounds to get you released';" "He Wouldn't do it," said Percy. "My mater would pay twenty thousand, but my governor would j say* that as ; I '-. had got into a (scrape by myself I had better get out of it by myself. That's the sort he is." . '""Bad job for you, then, if "the brigands : do catch us," returned ' Mcmdsw. "Charlie's no good for a ransom, neither am I, because: our governors are not millionaire? like yours, so I expect we should soon be freed, even if we wore captured." "Oh, no," said Percy. "This brigands would cut off your heads to prevent your going off and bringing a rescue party to release me." • . • The boys laughed ant": tramped on.. They reached the hills, which were wild, rocky, arid dVkihtt*, and ,at wight they chose 1 a resting .place on a mountain slop© whence : .they could look down and see the faint lights of the Flamingo shining like far-away " stars.''"':;'".'. * .- •■'''., f'Heigho!" yawned Percy. "I'm aleepy, Who'i: toke first watch? "1 will," replied Jack Mcrride-Wt l ; "Ail right; mind you keep 'a' look-outi for wild beasts." ' "And brigands," put in Charlie. Five minutes later Pesey and Charlie were asleep,,' while Jack Merridew, leaniiag on his rifle,, stood .s-axi.ig down the mountain slope. The night was still as death, ; and above, in the velvety heavens, th? stars shone like diamonds., So intense w;w the silence, so desolate were the- hills, that Jack shivered, and more that) once he thought ' he saw a shadowy shape flit about amid the rocks. ' With a thrilling of the heart he saw that the hyrenaa were on the prowl, and he was about to awaken his comrades when a great : goat, with, magnificent horns, sprang upon a. reck not far from him* and then with » ! terrified bellow bounded away. But too late! For next instant, .with' a roar that echoed through the night, a' mountain lion' had leapt upo:: him, and from the hyaenas broke forth a chorus of hideous yelp/ and , bowls. .' : '":'" : '. V. Up leapt Percy, up leapt Charlie Hill, and, rifle in hand, three boys stole with wildly beating hearts towards tie scene. "It's a lion He's. caught a goat I":whispered Jack Merridew. *'Xook! There they arol. A.hd the hyanas are sitting' round them in a! circle waiting until the lion has finished his feast." "He never shall- finish it," said Percy. "Let's aim at hitti;-together.' 1 Now then, . shoot!" .: "" The rifles cracked, aim oat at the same instant, and the lion, with a tremendous bellow of rage and , pain, ?left: his prey, upon which the hytenas fell with teeth and claws, and came bounding towards the three boys. "Fire again 1 Quick I" : cried Percy. Once more the rifle? rang, and this time the lion fell sideways and rolled over and over in his death struggles. "Hurrah!" shouted Percy. "We've bagged him! Hullo! Hi! Hi!" His exclamation of surprise ended in a ■ yell of fright and dismay, for next instant he was upon his back by . the , side of his companions, and all three were at the mercy of Moorish brigands! 11. ;i v,; .;,. , ,/. :^<<Y : >i>>^&; : m ** ■■'$'y:«;'' ; i'S^:^^ : P^s|;;*sft > ■ "We're ; in, a pretty ' scrape," groaned Percy Rivers.;. " Old Plumberry was .righlt," and 'we nevsr ought to have come ashoie by ourselves. .Great'.-heaven., how these, chains gall met" : • , 'T.yi in agony," mumble)! Jack Meriddew. ''."'■ '■'{ ".- ' ::;'' : ■ . "So am I," said Charlie Fill, . The b.cys weie in a Moori mi prison in a town . udiejte ally the inhabitant were hti* 1 or -..worse. :; They belonged to a tribe ; which was constantly in rebellion against ■ the reigning Sultan of Morocco, and th« three young English adventurers began: to feel that they were in a very dangerous predicament. They had been taken straight to this small town by the brigands who , had captured them, and thrown into prison. We must try to escape, somehow," saw Percy. . ■ "But how? .That's the -i question," re- : sponded Jack. "Hark!" surd Charlie .suddenly, "Who's that knocking?" They ' listened, ami presently they heard a: gentle'tapping' upon the wall of their : prison. "There's someone in, the next cell," whispered Percy, "end he wants to communicate with us. Perhaps he's an English captive, like ourselves." ' Jack Merridew;,drew himself across the floor of the prison and tapped back an answer. Then came a sound as of someone scraping, or digging, and presently the point of a long Moorish knife came right through the It was quickly withdrawn, ond the astonished boys almost jumped with excitement to hear the v muffled voice hailing them In English. , c " There you are! I was right!" whispered Percy,;;; "Ad English prisoner isiia the next cell. Stick your ear to the 'hole, Jack, and tell us what he's 'saying." Jack Merridew obeyed. " Who are yoiii" asked the voice _ "Three English boys, captured by Moorish brigands,- returned Jack. . ; "And I am an Englishman," said the man in the adjoining cell. "I tame to this : \foundM country,:and!:got l)he'Sultan's per? I founded country and for gold, Sultan's permission to prospect for gold, with the result that I was collared by these scoundrels, and have new fees here a week."

'"Won't they release you en ravMaui!'' asked Jack. • ■ . - • , - 1 . "They would but for a rascauy Frenchman, was the reply, . " •*«»«« »■« « blackguard , here named Jules Benac, a sort of 12115- . preter to the chief of the bribe to which this town belongs,: and be is constantly skiving to stir up rebellions." -I don't see wool we've get te do /with that," returned , Percy. T 'Why should B«.e« want to keep us -captive here? ! "■'A. grim chuckle sounded from the nest cell - , , _, ' "'it's my belief that Master Jutes Benac would like to set as CI killed-by these Moors," said the Englishman;," and I will tell you why. because then there would be such a , stir *baat'it.tb!*t.tV people in England would not only sanction prance's interference in these rebellions in Morocco, but would actually encourage her to land troops in-order that our deaths might be avenged. /Don't you see the black plot of the scoundrel? ,1 do. The man has interviewed me.' He has offered to get, me set free if I will give him a hundred thousand :pounds, and when I■ refused he -hinted that my death was only a matter of time." "Is there no way of escape?" asked Jack. "None, so far '.-.'> I can see. The inner walls of ill- prison 1" of mud. or I could 'never have ihrnit my knife through, but -the outer wall is of stone, and we are well - ; guarded. Good-bye; I hear someone com- -. p ~ * nig. . '~'■. . ;', v \ - Jack Merridew turned to his comrades and told them all that the captive, in the next cell* kid* said. ' < ■ "Who is be, I wonder?" reflected Percy. "I don't know. I was about to ask him when he told me that someone to coming," re-ill? jack, ' "Anyhow, we're i\> , a lively fix, it" this Ben-"e is such a fiend as' he appears to be. Hullo; there's a row on in the next eell!" Jack stumbled to the hole ill t the wall. and put his ear to it just in time to bear I the "sound of; a blow, a shrill voice vowing vengeance in French, and then the noisy entrance of'the guards; who, apparently, at once dragged off the captive, for the three boys heard the sound ' of their retreating footsteps and the angry imprecations of the Englishman. "Benae und'ow countryman must few quarrelled, and Bftnac got on« between the eyes/' said Percy. " What- will happen next, I wonder?" ' ' ' - ■ They had not long to wait, for the door suddenly opened,■'"and the Frenchman, a blood-stained bandage round his head, staggered into the room. , , . ; , • » ''% /'■'-, ' ,' - ■•:.' IH . ' ,' 'v ,' He glared first sf,Tw. then, at Ohtelie EM, then at Jack M<;rrieie'v.. , " Which of. you is the son ■ of the "man who owns the yacht that lies hi the* bay?" he demanded, • "I am," replied Party. . ' "Ah," said Bepac, suavely. "Ah, you wonder how I; know so much; you wonder how you were caught so cleverly; but it was -I—who did it. It is always I who set traps for rich 'travellers in, Morocco, always l.who lead the brigands upon their prey/ Sometimes, if I an well paid, I allow a prisoner to escape, but generally I take ray slime of the ransom." : "What are, yon going to do .with as?" asked Percy. • • • •/J, j > ,■: " •'- Benac laughed in a Way that made Percy's; blood run-cold.. ~ ',_ .-';/, .- "I am afraid you Will lose your head | to-morrow, my young friend," fc, «aid, and I then- went out and shut the door. "What does the villain mean 1'" muttered Percy. "Surely such a scoundrel as■iliia'cannot be in the secret service /of Fiance, paid to connive at murders and rebellious in order that his country injy'baw an -e.r.cuss to step in. and annex BjiirocCo." '~ ■:■ "No, but ■ wars ".and con r, js;3ts: are; often. caused by the villainy of men such *s Bssnac," said Jack Merridew. " Their actions provoke the causes-;,wl.'.ch lead to'.'Woodshed, and I believe. this Frenchman is § scoundrel who 5 will. stick at nothing 'forth ft bis own £ ? 0 1. Frajtfie would * disown > h» every art, of course, but "no doubt ahe would profit by the result of his black' 1 'schemes. >> Still, | why should Bcaaciaarfe you epeciaUy-down j for death?" Percy Rivers shuddered, ,' '", , , ' . "I don'*.know," be ; said, - "Look here,: you fellows, we must escape. We must J" But ere the three had. conferred for half m] hour, or'.= made: plans for an attempted flight, the door of the,cell opened, some j Moots entered, and, seizing ' Percy, .they, dragged him away. Jack an<f Charlie were left together. ,<•! ', . L "Good heaven, : Jack, we' : must get free somehow," whispered Charlie. "" ",Whit' are they .■ going ] to' do i with Percy V' ■ What if they're going to kill him, as Benao said? Look ■' ; Oh, 'I say, old fellow; look!" . He i pointed in* (an ecstasy--at 'the..dopy.' The bolt, hastily b.v-:ohe ..the guards who. had dragged off Percy Hivers, • had evidently missed the -staple; for!;the"kdoor: Was ajar, gad the boys, half mad with excitement, shuffled cautiously out 1 into :. 1 the .'passage, ■■ » -"'How can .we get rid of our chain's if" whispered - Jack. ,"' ■ ' ■ - "By that/ breathed ■Charlie,, pointing to a key -which-hung-uprtt a hook jusi above a seat in the lighted passage,which was usually occupied by a. guard. ; "When the chains 1 Were' placed upon our.' Wrists and'' ankisa 1 saw .the gaoi«s> ; hang the key there. Can you reach it?" , > .'Til try,", replied Jack. •.:... - --v ; Next moment he. bad the key, It fitted the lock of the chninii, and presently both boys were free, >> \, U ' Vl • .'. r ' "Now to escape the guards,",whispered Jack. "Luckily the dawn Wasn't nt come. Pick up that long knife. And here's-a short, curved sword lying on the floor We're: and .we , must make a"<d«.sh« %i i;,Vi..'. f , .' " ~ • < < ' ; ■■■/.< t i j ■!'fhWji''ft door ahead of us," said Charlie Hdl, " and all .the -guards seem to be employed in looking after Percy. Let's make a bolt for it, Jack." They reached the -door and softly drew the bolts. Once, outside they ran ' for , their lives, for'luckily no guard was war, and soon they were a fair distance from the town. . They threw themselves on the ground panting, rested for a few minutes, then sped on again, Hi)w, they reached the bay they never knew, but they did. and again and again, their, voices rang across the water. - ''The yacht's too far away. -No one v...; hear us, Paid Jack in despair. But Captain Pltimutrrv bad heard them, and ere many minutes had passed a biMfc shot .towards the beach, and the cap*aksprang ashore. . .; The boys gasped out their tale," and Piurlberry grasped the danger and grappled with it like a man. ," Therf' are some rifles and cutlasses aboard the yacht," hi,- said, ,"'and a little .■'■ Maxim guo. Mr. Bhera , always -, beliftves :"»,b«ng prepared forM: eventual itieSiVWd no right ,One sever knows what r/.iv,turn up to ; . r . yachting <;n?ise. , You stay tore, young gentlemen, while, I return to the yacht tVir a.few,miJayUis." in an extremely iter, space of time Captarn Plumheriyi, with fifteen men of the yachts crew, well armed, and dragging the Maxim, were.,■ hurrying, towards the town whew Percy Rivers lay at' the mercy of Benac and th 8 brigands, duel: una Charlie led the way, and at dawn the rescue party nalt.'d on a : hill that commanded a view of the town, b "Is this the place?" demoded Captain Plumbeiry ':'!'/' •■"II Yes," replkd Jack. . " Then in we go, . lid tie eaptain. "No time to waste. - He was right, for even as the little party from the yacht descended the hill, the noii : of Dartane iiuttumenu ol musk was heard and a crowd of Moors troonod into the square that lay m front of the chief's palaceand, presently, \ blindfolded, and * with his arniii bound, appeared Percy (Rivers, whilst behind him marched the ecu doner, a husre ruffian carrying a great two-lur.d«,j aword; . Make haste, boys," cried Jack, " Quick 1 Quick!" , And' the sailors flashed forward to the rescue. ' ■ unmu 1 v ,- . IV. , ,i, ( , ■.Percy Siyew n-.u kaesilkg before the executioner. His face was/deathly white, and he was trembling, but net a word escaped lus lips. * ..,;..•: Benae, the Frenchman, stalled; from the piiiaw,, and approached tJi» okeoaiioaer. . ■ " ivtie-n I drop my scarf you will strike," he said, and then returned to the palace and joined the Brigand chief. ■ - The executioner waited, watching the palace windows for the promised signaL, linen suddenly a roar of voices sounded. ' , What was happening? ' Who was wafagj, ':■ \ , \"'A, :

-.-■■ . ,-... , •■,. Benac, leaning (W. a balcony. 1 a little cluster of JilloiP running up the street. ~.. dragging a Maxim gc«J. and in an instant r . ~ he r guessed that a rescue party tea the ■ ■■ vacht had come; . "'But' he..would- hive his vengeance lust: The executioner s-u-W,; him ;. drop the ecarf. ; - : Up-.-oso the -huge -.sword—another., moment, and the great blade Would have descended, •and''split"Percy's head asunder, Iter there came V: rush of ! feet; and Jack Merridew , t leapt like a tiger wpc-n the executioper stud • - seized th» handle of hi& «^|p ; [ ' -». , Even then the sword would him fallea had' not Captain Plumberry'e blade flashed : -- under' it, and Charlie Hill dragged Percy ' : aside in timi to let the captain spring '..- tween the executioner and his intended vietim. ':■ - "" - " , A whirl of light, and Plumbeirry s blade , fell right across executioner's.neck, half } severing the bead from the body, and the giant brigand crashed dead upon his back. •" ' Yelling and brandishing their weapons, ; the Moors rushed forward, but round the captain and .the boys stood the sailor:— deadly Maxim opened fire, and in an instant the brigands were hying for their lives. ! liven the chief burst from the palace and" . strove4o follow, -his men, and 'at his heels < ' ran Jules Benao. Bat the Maxim Was snevojlcss-Hhe..bullets ' , ; swept the street, and down went the chief t ■ * and the Frenchman, ; never more to rise. ~ '-■• Cease firing I" cried Captain PlutnijeiTj*. " Thank heaven that 'you're safe,. / Mr. ;. Percy!" -,/ ( I', "Yes, thank heaven! * responded Percy. k " But there's another man to rescue, cap* sin—a captive like ourselves. - He's, some- , where in thev,prison. UTl. show, you the . ' . Way.'* - < The sailors rushed after him, they burst ; into the prison, and presently came , rat "' again, accompanied by a Stout gentleman, ■'■ i -heavily = laden; with chains, at the sight of which Captain: Plumberry and . Percy nearly dropped dead with astonishment. ■ • ; For, I.? was none o';her than. Percy s ;u fatter, Mr. Bivers i ' .T' , ' •' "Father!" cried Percy. "Percy! 'Piumberry F How iri the name J of goodness come you here?" roared ' Mr.. ''- ■ Rivers,. while the sailors bt'gaa to free him ' ' from his chains.' '' ' . , '*~ ',' . . j ' "We.were your fellow captives in the 1 "!; '' next cell to yours,' cried Percy!- and .thenJ ■ '■ came-explanations all round, , "Well, well, you-boys have had a prettyadventure, and so have I," said Mr. River;. . ' "To think that von and I were talking lo ■ one «nUhcr : as strangers, iM And «■: to thafe ' ' Why should he What a monster!"' ■.- - „ /'Why should bo want to kill xmt" asked Percy.",-/ "-. ' / , "To have his fuller revenge on me, bit son, • replied Mr. Rivera. "He came into . my cell and I called him a villain LJ a - scoundrel and other 1 deserving: named - fie . spat- me and drew a Imife. ' I knocked him down, hat was the blow you heard ~ "V_ :^7Hhen removed me to a dark cell and ' that wretch Benac, who by .some marvel-' lon, means had discovered,that vou, Percy, were my son, tonceiveda terrible :reven«>! tie persuaded the L chief ;to have you ■ i cated. He would th, no doubt,! have MnLvand told,me wjaat had been done, and his revenge would have been complete, for T think >t would have killed mc, Percy, if ' you had died at the bandi, of ter.. Well,' I sha-u't come. th'MoS ; prospecting any more, but shall be content to stick -so', my ■ South ' African '" goldfields. -'- .Cora*, i!T|Hftkfif owme,:iio7ar Now t for £* '\ -'' Fknimgo, and for home. There*? no place Wert England, after all !''-ChmiK ° lU1 *: ' . '--- '. - .- ;: ;' "" " ' ;. .-