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Frank Merriwell Down South, a novel by Burt L. Standish |
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Chapter 37. Frank's Mercy |
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_ CHAPTER XXXVII. FRANK'S MERCY The forenoon passed, and the afternoon was well advanced, but still Socato the Seminole did not return. But late in the afternoon a boat and a number of canoes appeared. In the boat was Leslie Gage and the two sailors, Black Tom and Bowsprit. The canoes were filled with Indians. "Great shnakes av Ireland!" cried Barney Mulloy, amazed. "Phwat th' dickens does this mane, Oi dunno?" "It means trouble," said Frank, quickly. "Have the rifles ready, and be prepared for hot work." "Indians!" gurgled Professor Scotch. "We're all dead and scalped!" "Those must be Seminoles," said Frank. "It is scarcely likely that they are very dangerous." The boat containing the three white persons ran boldly up to the shore, and Leslie Gage landed. Advancing a short distance toward the hut, the door of which was securely closed, he cried: "Hello in there!" "Talk with him, Barney," Frank swiftly directed. "The fellow does not know I am alive, and I do not wish him to know it just now." So Barney returned: "Hello, yersilf, an' see how ye loike it." "You people are in a bad trap," declared Gage, with a threatening air. "Look," and he motioned toward the water, where the canoes containing the Indians were lying, "these are my backers. There are twenty of them, and I have but to say the word to have them attack this hut and tear it to the ground." "Well, Oi dunno about thot," coolly retorted the Irish lad. "We moight have something to say in thot case. It's arrumed we are, an' we know how to use our goons, me foine birrud." "If you were to fire a shot at one of these Indians it would mean the death of you all." "Is thot so? Well, we are arrumed with Winchester repeaters, an' it moight make the death av thim all av we began shootin'." "They do not look very dangerous," said Frank. "I'll wager something Gage has hired the fellows to come here and make a show in order to scare us into submitting. The chances are the Indians will not fight at all." "You're not fools," said Gage, "and you will not do anything that means the same as signing your death warrant. If you will come to reason, we'll have no trouble. We want that girl, Miss Bellwood, and we will have her. If you do not----" He stopped suddenly, for there was a great shouting from the Indians. "The phantom! the phantom!" they cried, in tones that betokened the greatest terror. Then they took to flight, paddling as if their very lives depended on it. At the same time, the mysterious white canoe, still apparently without an occupant, was seen coming swiftly toward them, gliding lightly over the water in a most unaccountable manner. Exclamations of astonishment broke from the two sailors, and Leslie Gage stared at the singular craft in profound astonishment. When the attention of the crowd was on the remarkable sight, Frank unfastened the door and before Gage was aware of it, our hero was right upon him. "You are my prisoner, Gage!" Frank shouted, pointing a revolver at the fellow. "Surrender!" Gage saw the boy he believed he had destroyed, uttered a wild shriek, threw up his hands, and fell in a senseless heap to the ground. Frank swiftly lifted the fellow, and then ran into the cabin with him, placing him on the couch. The two sailors did not pursue. In fact, they seemed almost as badly scared as the Indians, and they got away in their boat, rowing as if for their very lives, soon passing from sight. "Well, begobs!" exclaimed Barney Mulloy; "this is phwat Oi call a ragion av wonders. It's ivery doay and almost ivery hour something happens to astonish ye." Gage was made secure, so he could not get away when he recovered from the swoon into which he seemed to have fallen. A short time after, Socato was seen returning, but he was alone in his canoe. "He has not found my father--my poor father!" cried Elsie, in distress. "Those terrible men will kill my father!" "Wait!" advised Frank. "Let's hear what he has to say. I have great confidence in Socato." "The bad white men leave their captive alone," said Socato, "and I should have set him free, but the great white phantom came, and then the white captive disappeared." "What's that?" cried Frank, in astonishment. "Make it plain, Socato. Whom do you mean by the great white phantom?" "The one who owns the canoe that goes alone--the one who built this house and lives here sometimes. Every one fears him. My people say he is a phantom, for he can appear and disappear as he likes, and he commands the powers of light and darkness. Socato knew that the bad white man had hired a hunting party of my people to come here and appear before the house to frighten you, but he knew you would not be frightened, and the bad men could not get my people to aid them in a fight. Socato also knew that the great white phantom sent his canoe to scare my people away, but he does not know what the great white phantom has done with the man who was a prisoner." "Well, it is possible the great white phantom will explain a few things we do not understand," said Frank, "for here he comes in his canoe." "And father--my father is with him in the canoe!" screamed Elsie Bellwood, in delight. It was true. The white canoe was approaching, still gliding noiselessly over the water, without any apparent power of propulsion, and in it were seated two men. One had a long white beard and a profusion of white hair. He was dressed entirely in white, and sat in the stern of the canoe. The other was Captain Justin Bellwood, quite unharmed, and looking very much at his ease. The little party flocked to the shore to greet the captain, who waved his hand and called reassuringly to Elsie. As soon as the canoe touched and came to a rest, he stepped out and clasped his daughter in his arms, saying, fervently: "Heaven be thanked! we have come through many dangers, and we are free at last! Neither of us has been harmed, and we will soon be out of this fearful swamp." The man with the white hair and beard stepped ashore and stood regarding the girl intently, paying no heed to the others. Captain Bellwood turned to him, saying: "William, this is my daughter, of whom I told you. Elsie, this is your Uncle William, who disappeared many years ago, and has never been heard from since till he set me free to-day, after I was abandoned by those wretches who dragged us here." "My uncle?" cried the girl, wonderingly. "How can that be? You said Uncle William was dead." "And so I believed, but he still lives. Professor Scotch, I think we had the pleasure of meeting in Fardale. Permit me to introduce you to William Bellwood, one of the most celebrated electricians living to-day." As he said this, Captain Bellwood made a swift motion which his brother did not see. He touched his forehead, and the signal signified that William Bellwood was not right in his mind. This the professor saw was true when he shook hands with the man, for there was the light of madness in the eyes of the hermit. "My brother," continued Captain Bellwood, "has explained that he came here to these wilds to continue his study of electricity alone and undisturbed. He took means to keep other people from bothering him. This canoe, which contains a lower compartment and a hidden propeller, driven by electricity, was his invention. He has arrangements whereby he can use a powerful search-light at night, and----" "That search-light came near being the death of me," said Frank. "He turned it on me last night just in time to show me to my enemy." "He has many other contrivances," Captain Bellwood went on. "He has explained that, by means of electricity, he can make his canoe or himself glow with a white light in the darkest night." "Begorra! we've seen him glow!" shouted Barney. "And he also states that he has wires connecting various batteries in yonder hut, so that he can frighten away superstitious hunters who otherwise might take possession of the hut and give him trouble." "Whoop!" shouted Barney. "Thot ixplains th' foire-allarum an' th' power thot throwed me inther th' middle av th' flure! Oi nivver hearrud th' bate av it!" "It is wonderful, wonderful!" gasped Professor Scotch. At this moment, a series of wild shrieks came from the hut, startling them all. "It is Gage," said Frank. "He seems to be badly frightened." They hurried toward the hut, Frank leading. Gage was still on the couch, and he shrieked still louder when he saw Frank; an expression of the greatest terror coming to his face. "Take him away! Take him away!" screamed the wretched fellow. "He is dead! I killed him! Don't let him touch me!" Then he began to rave incoherently, sometimes frothing at the mouth. "He is mad!" cried Professor Scotch. "It is retribution!" came solemnly from Frank's lips. Two days later a party of eight persons emerged from the wilds of the great Dismal Swamp and reached a small settlement. They were Frank Merriwell, Barney Mulloy, Professor Scotch, Leslie Gage, Captain Bellwood and his brother William, Socato the Seminole, and last, but far from least, Elsie Bellwood. "What shall be done with Gage?" asked Professor Scotch. "He shall be given shelter and medical treatment," declared Frank; "and I will see that all the bills are paid." "Thot's the only thing Oi have against ye, me b'y. Ye wur always letting up on yer inemies at Fardale, an' ye shtill kape on doin' av it." "If I continue to do so, I shall have nothing to trouble my conscience." Frank did take care of Gage and see that he was given the best medical aid that money could procure, and, as a result, the fellow was saved from a madhouse, for he finally recovered. He seemed to appreciate the mercy shown him by his enemy, for he wrote a letter to Frank that was filled with entreaties for forgiveness and promised to try to lead a different life in the future. "That," said Frank, "is my reward for being merciful to an enemy." If Jack Jaggers did not perish in the Everglades, he disappeared. Ben Bowsprit and Black Tom also vanished, and it is possible that they left their bones in the great Dismal Swamp. William Bellwood, so long a hermit in the wilds of Florida, seemed glad to leave that region. _ |
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