Joonkar.
"There is more," said the emissary. "This bay is an excellent harbor. We need a port here. You will grant us this land and coast."
Joonkar rocked on his feet, close to an explosion. The Seventh, who had been watching in the bushes, stepped out.
"His Excellency requires one hour to make a decision," he said.
"Another million?" said the emissary, looking curiously at the masked man.
The masked man nodded. "Go back to your ship and report that." -
The emissary made a mock curtsey to Joonkar, returned to his skiff where oarsmen awaited him, and rowed back to the ship.
"What can I do?" said Joonkar, sitting on a log, his face in his hands.
"You cannot accept their terms. A pirate city here?" said the Seventh.
"But Sheeba!"
They looked at the ship. The sun had set, lamps were being lit on shipboard. One large lamp burned brightly near the cage.
"She is so near. And my army here ... powerless," said Joonkar. Behind them, rank upon rank of horsemen sat awaiting orders. Foot soldiers with muskets, canoneers on caissons, all were helpless.
"My mother was almost killed by pirates. My ancestors have always fought pirates. Some met their deaths by pirates' hands. I will get Sheeba for you."
26
"Too risky," said Joonkar. "If you fail . . ."
"I will not fail. You have no alternative," said this Phantom, the seventh generation of his line. "I must go. We have less than an hour."
It was dark now as he slipped into the water, and swam quietly toward the boat. In a moment, he could no longer be seen from shore where Joonkar and his aides watched anxiously. They could see the dark hulk of the ship, the lanterns, and the cage high up, illuminated by the nearby lamp. Joonkar knelt on the sandy beach as did his aides, and they prayed softly to their god.
The masked man swam to the bow of the ship where a heavy anchor chain held fast. The ship was noisy. The emissary had made his report, and the pirates were a happy lot. Obviously they had won the dare. Joonkar could not refuse this mountainous ransom for his lady- love. They were already sharing the gold and planning their new port. Happy pirates are riotous pirates. As the masked man quietly climbed up the anchor chain, half the crew was drunk. But they had posted sentries on all sides. And, high up on the mainmast, was a pirate with a lighted torch in hand, ready to light the fuse if need be. Clinging to the gunwales, the masked man could vaguely make out Sheeba in the cage.
The poor girl, aware of the ransom terms and of the barrel just below her cage, was shaking with fear.
She stared down at the man with the torch just below her. He too, was nervous. If the worst came to the worst, he'd have to light the fuse and make a quick descent, or go up with her.
The masked man waited. He could see the emissary on the poop deck with a large fat man who might be the pirate chief. They were looking at a clock. "Fifteen minutes more," he heard them say. "If we have to light the fuse, will it blow up the mast?" The other replied, "No, just the cage."
Five minutes now. Most of the men were on the side of the ship facing the shore, watching for any sign of movement. "They have to send a boat now," someone said.
At that moment, by prearrangement, there was activity on shore. Lights flashed, and a small skiff with several lighted lamps on it was seen being shoved into the water. "They're coming to meet our terms," shouted the emissary. The pirates roared with pleasure, and, at that moment, the Seventh slipped onto the deck. One sentry was near, his back to the masked man. A karate chop dropped him without a sound. The masked man raced over the short space and reached the main mast where a pirate was stationed. He turned in surprise and alarm as a hard fist slammed him to the deck with a broken neck. ("The Phantom is rough on roughnecks"---old jungle saying.) And in a moment, he was racing up the mainmast. The man in the crow's nest, looking to shore, was unaware
"There is more," said the emissary. "This bay is an excellent harbor. We need a port here. You will grant us this land and coast."
Joonkar rocked on his feet, close to an explosion. The Seventh, who had been watching in the bushes, stepped out.
"His Excellency requires one hour to make a decision," he said.
"Another million?" said the emissary, looking curiously at the masked man.
The masked man nodded. "Go back to your ship and report that." -
The emissary made a mock curtsey to Joonkar, returned to his skiff where oarsmen awaited him, and rowed back to the ship.
"What can I do?" said Joonkar, sitting on a log, his face in his hands.
"You cannot accept their terms. A pirate city here?" said the Seventh.
"But Sheeba!"
They looked at the ship. The sun had set, lamps were being lit on shipboard. One large lamp burned brightly near the cage.
"She is so near. And my army here ... powerless," said Joonkar. Behind them, rank upon rank of horsemen sat awaiting orders. Foot soldiers with muskets, canoneers on caissons, all were helpless.
"My mother was almost killed by pirates. My ancestors have always fought pirates. Some met their deaths by pirates' hands. I will get Sheeba for you."
26
"Too risky," said Joonkar. "If you fail . . ."
"I will not fail. You have no alternative," said this Phantom, the seventh generation of his line. "I must go. We have less than an hour."
It was dark now as he slipped into the water, and swam quietly toward the boat. In a moment, he could no longer be seen from shore where Joonkar and his aides watched anxiously. They could see the dark hulk of the ship, the lanterns, and the cage high up, illuminated by the nearby lamp. Joonkar knelt on the sandy beach as did his aides, and they prayed softly to their god.
The masked man swam to the bow of the ship where a heavy anchor chain held fast. The ship was noisy. The emissary had made his report, and the pirates were a happy lot. Obviously they had won the dare. Joonkar could not refuse this mountainous ransom for his lady- love. They were already sharing the gold and planning their new port. Happy pirates are riotous pirates. As the masked man quietly climbed up the anchor chain, half the crew was drunk. But they had posted sentries on all sides. And, high up on the mainmast, was a pirate with a lighted torch in hand, ready to light the fuse if need be. Clinging to the gunwales, the masked man could vaguely make out Sheeba in the cage.
The poor girl, aware of the ransom terms and of the barrel just below her cage, was shaking with fear.
She stared down at the man with the torch just below her. He too, was nervous. If the worst came to the worst, he'd have to light the fuse and make a quick descent, or go up with her.
The masked man waited. He could see the emissary on the poop deck with a large fat man who might be the pirate chief. They were looking at a clock. "Fifteen minutes more," he heard them say. "If we have to light the fuse, will it blow up the mast?" The other replied, "No, just the cage."
Five minutes now. Most of the men were on the side of the ship facing the shore, watching for any sign of movement. "They have to send a boat now," someone said.
At that moment, by prearrangement, there was activity on shore. Lights flashed, and a small skiff with several lighted lamps on it was seen being shoved into the water. "They're coming to meet our terms," shouted the emissary. The pirates roared with pleasure, and, at that moment, the Seventh slipped onto the deck. One sentry was near, his back to the masked man. A karate chop dropped him without a sound. The masked man raced over the short space and reached the main mast where a pirate was stationed. He turned in surprise and alarm as a hard fist slammed him to the deck with a broken neck. ("The Phantom is rough on roughnecks"---old jungle saying.) And in a moment, he was racing up the mainmast. The man in the crow's nest, looking to shore, was unaware
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