J. Allan Dunn

“ She saw Sandy ahead, dimly, like a sheeted ghost, twisted in his saddle, watching her. From the hips down he was a part of the mare he rode, from waist up he was in such exquisite balance while keeping his individuality apart from the horse that, despite her present misery and a presentiment of coming evil that was beginning to encompass her, Molly realized what a magnificent rider he was, and clung to his strength and skill, sensing the comforting power of his manhood. ”

“ He saw Tatua, deep-eyed, firm-breasted, with a flower in her black and shining tresses standing on the white sand, watching for the return of Oku, the traveler, bearing gifts and riches.
And then—that vision faded as the burley flung by the mate's orders spattered into the water and the kai-kanaka came gliding up, leisurely but swift, turning over so that his whitish belly showed and his maw opened in a serrated crescent; jaws wide enough to swallow a man, rows of teeth sharp enough to shear off a limb as an ax lops off a bough. ”

“ The pirates hauled madly on the sheets as the Scourge spun on her keel and clawed a frantic way seaward into the face of the gale with the king's ship, plunging like a bull, coming fast up. As the schooner crossed her bows the frigate yawed and fire spurted from her dripping sides. Round shot screeched through the rigging above the voice of the storm, round shot gouged the Scourge's planks and tore away her rail, round shot slugged into her side-planks as she rose to the roll of the sea. ”

“ The northern escarpments of Ghost Mountain soared into the sky, its crags, as wildly rugged as those overlooking Lake of the Woods, touched by the moon with a magic that seemed to dissolve the harsh rock to something more ethereal.
To achieve those battlemented heights, to storm that fortress through some rift backing a waterfall seemed ridiculous. But a growing excitement possessed both of them now that they neared the goal. Jackson, riding in the skirts of the timber on the lower slopes, found what he wanted in the shape of dry pine boughs and resinous knots for torches. ”

“ The reek of the powder smoke was sharp in their nostrils as they gazed from Smith, who stood with a grin on his lips that showed his white teeth flashing between beard and mustache, and a laugh of deviltry in his eyes, to Gardner, face down on the floor, his gun tossed away from him, blood beginning to trickle out down the slants of the worn planking. The thing that held them most was the diabolical but silent revelry of Smith, as if the taking of life was the rarest jest he could have perpetrated. ”

“ In the glow of the lightning it set all the loose ends of the flypapers fluttering where they were not cemented to the bodies of Kaiti, Puriti and all the warriors, now changed into frightened children, what few wits they had utterly flown, knowing only they were bewitched by these things that had suddenly flown at them, magic things that were sapping them of all the strength and courage. ”

“ Out of the bush of matted blond whiskers and tousled hair there shone, in a ray of sun, the light-blue eyes of a white man, a Teuton. The eyes widened as their owner caught sight of Hooper and his companions.
With an effort he got to his feet, grasping a staff of bamboo, and tottered forward. He stopped five feet short of the stockade, his face working with unbelief, with growing credulity, with a wild, feverish gleam that held fear. Then the fear vanished and something like hate, wan and overwrought, took place. The bony shoulders straightened, the head went back. ”

“ He slunk out of the cuddy like a whipped dog, with a snarl he took care the skipper should not see. Sere in soul and body, he finished his bottle in his bunk.
The heat had flattened out the sea as an iron presses linen. It lay unwrinkled, with the barkentine in the midst of it, motionless as a toy model glued to canvas. The horizon was a sharp line of purple against the lighter sky. No bird vexed the windless air. ”

“ Looped about them, twisted across his horny, seamy palm, was a length of the chain that had held the baroque. It was Simon who had snatched loose the charm in his death-struggle. Somewhere, on the shifting sands of the lagoon or in the belly of some fish, attracted by the gleaming thing with its gold-tipped horns, lost irretrievably was the amulet, and with it the luck of Barthelemy Portuguese.
How can luck profit a man when he believes it gone forever? ”

“ Then, as if by magic, the crescent opening left between the top of their breastwork and the arching brow of the cave was blocked by wild figures leaping in from the path and swinging down by lines from where they had climbed the cliff to ledges above the cave and now, regardless of the fire, pendulumed in like apes. The night was filled with yells, the first swift swish of arrows, the crack-crack of pistols, the deeper bark of rifles, and then clubbed weapons were whirled in desperate defence against spears and axes. ”

“ Tiny, piglike eyes glared at Morse from beneath scarred brows. A trickle of blood dripped from his nose, but the broad chest of the fighter rose and fell evenly—as if he had not even exerted himself.
"So, Aulus, you are still champion," said Rana as she bent to place the wreath upon the low brow and dropped some clinking coins into the cestus-bound palm. "This is but a tithe I won on you from the king today."
"I have always contested that Aulus is clumsy," said Kiron, as casually as if he had been discussing the points of a hound. "Some day a quicker, more intelligent man will come along. ”

“ Manning still clutched his rifle in one hand; the warrior was beneath him,-striving to twist uppermost while Manning sought his throat with his left hand. Then weight sagged him, twining limbs imprisoned his. He was helpless, waiting for the final blow like a trussed ox—unless they were after him alive!
That thought shot through him in a lightning-flash. Then the strenuous pressure above and about relaxed. He heaved up. A hand caught him by the elbow and he stood erect. Three of the sailors were down. Hooper, bloody but smiling, was beside him. ”