The Sea Hawk

1
The sea that breaks today 
on England's wave-lashed
coast, thunders majestically
its age-old songs of dim,
forgotten yesterdays.....

2
And one's a song of brave,
bold days when Queen
Elizabeth reigned and every
breeze brought tidings of
England's growing might.

3
Penarrow, manor house of
  the Tressilian family
  on the Cornish coast.

4
Here Sir Oliver Tressilian
 took his ease, enjoying
 the knighthood a grateful
 Queen had bestowed.

5
Sir Oliver's seafaring had
 found its climax in the
 gallant part he played when
 Spain's proud armada was
   swept from the sea.

6
Lionel, Sir Oliver's 
    half-brother.

7
"Nick, ye old sea dog, how
  will you like it when I
  bring a mistress here?"

8
"Mistress Rosamund has
 promised to be my 
 wife."

9
Peter Godolphin, Rosamund's
 brother, a hot-headed
 young blade from the 
   adjoining estate.

10
"Neither my guardian Sir
 John Killigrew nor myself
 will permit you to marry
 my sister!"

11
"No sister of mine shall
 ever wed with a blood-
 thirsty buccaneer - a
 pirate!"

12
"Sir John Killigrew is
jealous of my position 
at court - he taught
you that pretty lesson."

13
"I'll not quarrel with 
a boy - Sir John shall
answer to me."

14
"I'm for Godolphin Court
to teach Sir John a
lesson!"

15
Godolphin Court, adjoining
 the Tressilian estates.

16
Sir John Killigrew,
 guardian of Peter and 
  Rosamund Godolphin.

17
Rosamund Godolphin.

18
"Sir Oliver is an honorable 
gentleman. I love him and 
shall wed with him."

19
"We'll not allow you to 
 marry this cut-throat
 - this...."

20
"It has pleased you, 
Sir John, to have
named me rogue and
- pirate!"

21
"I hold letters of marque
from my Queen. He who
names me pirate, lies in
his teeth!"

22
"Let this be a lesson.
Next time you give me 
cause to draw blade, I'll
not be so merciful."

23
"My heart refused to 
believe you ruthless and 
cruel, but now my eyes 
have seen the truth."

24
"He called me coward and
pirate - still, I spared his
life because he is your 
guardian."

25
"Would Mistress Rosamund
 have wed with one whom men
 have branded - coward?"

26
"Our love, dear, is too 
fine to be the plaything
of others - too sacred
to be marred by family
quarrels."

27
"Swear, Noll, that you'll
come to me before you
draw blade again in
quarrel."

28
"As God's my witness
    - I swear!"

29
Nearby lived a matron whose
  conscience was elastic and
  whose husband was - old.

30
"Dearest Noll; it seems
not possible so much of
happiness can be ours.
My heart warns me it 
cannot last."

31
"Our love is God's gift.
It will endure though
men part us and the 
seas divide."

32
"Come tomorrow."

33
"You jade! You've made 
  a tryst with him!"

34
"I've had enough of
you and your breed,
you swaggering bully!
Send your seconds to 
me or...."

35
"Ride on, Peter;
 you're drunk."

36
"Until you give me satis-
faction, I'll horsewhip
you every time we meet!"

37
"A sword was forged today
that will need blood to 
temper."

38
Sir Oliver dined alone 
that night, wondering
 what detained his 
      brother.

39
"Nick, fetch me a bottle of 
that old madeira we took
from the Spanish galleon
on our last raid."

40
"In God's name, what has
happened? Who wounded
you?"

41
"Peter Godolphin."

42
"Although I killed him in
fair fight, we fought with-
out witnesses - the law
will call it murder."

43
With morning came the finding 
  of Peter's body and to
  Rosamund's horror, the 
 ugly rumor that Sir Oliver
      had killed him.

44
"Rosamund, surely you do 
not believe this lie that
is told against me!"

45
"I did not heed the warnings
of my poor brother. Now,
I pray God that they may
take and hang you!"

46
"I swear to you that 
I am innocent of 
Peter's death."

47
"From the spot where
my poor brother lay,
a trail of blood led
to your door!"

48
"Should I take my trial
for this deed, who will 
accuse me?"

49
"I will accuse you!"

50
Sir Oliver had a
  staunch friend 
   in Justice
  Anthony Baine.

51
"Justice Baine, I thank you
 for refusing to issue a
 warrant against me."

52
"I hold you justified in
punishing an arrogant
offender."

53
"From Peter Godolphin's
body a trail of blood
was traced to my door."

54
"Now, you shall bear witness
to my innocence that there
is no fresh wound on my 
body."

55
"Justice Baine is making
affidavit that will prove
my innocence should I 
be brought to trial."

56
"Lal, dear boy, you
worry too much. Leave 
this all to me."

57
The torturing fear that 
 his brother's defense
would result in his own
 arrest and punishment.

58
There was an ale-house 
 in the village where
    seamen met and
       caroused.

59
Captain Jasper Leigh,
 who had never violated
 his conscience - because
     he hadn't any.

60
"I'm told you are a
discreet seaman not
averse to doing a 
daring deed."

61
"I'll take the risk -
but it'll cost ye a 
hundred pound."

62
"I mean a hundred pound
for myself - my crew'll
have to be reckoned with
- 'twill mean another
hundred."

63
"A servant from Godolphin 
Court bade me tell you
that Mistress Rosamund
desires a word with you."

64
"Even now she awaits 
you on Trefusis Point."

65
For a week, Jasper Leigh's
 ship, "The Swallow," flew
 South till she sighted 
  the Portuguese coast.

66
"Sir Oliver, I can swear
by the ten holy toe bones
that of all men thou art
most foully abused."

67
"Give me your word ye'll
make no quarrel wi' me,
and I'll cast ye loose."

68
"I was bidden to take ye
and sell ye in slavery
to the Moors."

69
"I meant ye no harm, Sir
Oliver, so if ye'll pay
me well, I'll 'bout ship
and put ye ashore on
the English coast."

70
"Who is this enemy 
     of mine?"

71
A jewel ring - his last
  birthday gift to Lionel.

72
"Up on deck and put your 
 tub about - I'll double 
 the price he gave you!"

73
"A Spanish galley almost
abeam of us - comin'
fast!"

74
 Spain - that proud and 
  powerful kingdom -
ruled these waters .....

75
"We're lost - it's
surrender or sink!"

76
A fate more cruel than 
 his brother had planned
 - a slave to Spain.

77
"Chain him in the 
    forehold."

78
"To the oars!"

79
"Rascal, I set you free to 
navigate your ship, under
guard, to Spain...."

80
"....after that the
chains and then -
the oars!"

81
Throughout Cornwall, the
  disappearance of Sir
  Oliver was construed 
    as a confession
       of guilt.

82
"Even though he fled - I
cannot believe my brother
is guilty."

83
"We cannot doubt your
brother's guilt, Lionel;
we must find strength
to put him from our 
hearts."

84
For six months, Sir Oliver
  had been a slave chained to 
  the oar of a Spanish galleon.

85
His body hardened by the
 gruelling toil, became
 as tempered steel; his
  soul a cauldron of
   smoldering hate.

86
Day in and day out, blistered
 by the pitiless sun -
 chained to a torture bench
 from which only death could
       release him.

87
Yusuf-Ben-Moktar,
a high-caste Moor,
recently captured.

88
Aboard the vessel, the
 Infanta of Spain was
 making a pilgrimage
      to Naples.

89
"Put your ship about,
Senor Commandante, the
stench from those slaves
offends me."

90
Precious water - to rot 
  the wood that held
    their chains.

91
"A curse on those that call
themselves Christians and
countenance such cruelty."

92
"But art thou not a
  Christian, too?"

93
"If these be Christian,
then do I call God to
witness - I renounce
the name!"

94
Night brought relief to
 bodies wracked with pain
     - and memories.

95
The Spanish galleon -
 along the shores of the
Mediterranean .....

96
The Minorcan headland was
  but a familiar landmark to
the Spanish commander ......

97
.....but on the 
other side of 
the headland....

98
.....lay a Moorish galley!

99
Asad-ed-Din, fighting Basha
  of Algiers, whose deeds
reddened the Mediterranean
 with the blood of Spain.

100
  "The hour of our
deliverance is near -
'tis the galley of my 
uncle, Asad-ed-Din!"

101
"Allah - Y'Allah!"

102
"Allah - Y'Allah!"

103
"Alhamdollilah!"

104
"The hand of Allah has 
given Yusuf-Ben-Moktar
back to us!"

105
"This is my comrade, ripened
for Allah's service by
Christian's inhumanity to
Christian!"

106
"By Allah! The strength
of the Prophet is already
in his arm!"

107
   END OF 
 FIRST PART
   _____

INTERMISSION

108
The Second Part.

109
Thus - three years passed and
 a name rang through Spanish
Christendom that made all mariners
quake in terror ......

110
"Sakr-el-Bahr," the Moslem
  name meaning "Hawk of 
the Sea" - the victorious
corsair of the Basha of
        Algiers.

111
"An easy prize,
 my Corsairs!"

112
"Allah is great! 'Tis
 the ship from which
 the Spaniards took
    me prisoner!"

113
"Bring down their
      masts."

114
"Allah - Y'Allah!"

115
"The fortunes of war,
 Senor Commandante."

116
Captured with "The Swallow"
   were the prisoners
      in her hold.

117
"I'm from Hadley in
Sussex, England, sir."

118
"My custom holds - I make
no war against England
or her subjects. Have
these two set ashore."

119
"I suppose ye'll give
yourself the pleasure
of hanging me this fine
morning, Sir Oliver."

120
"I'd save your dirty neck's
acquaintance with a rope
if I was sure I could
trust you."

121
"Ye can - by the
ten holy toe bones
- ye can!"

122
"I would have you sail
this ship to England
and deliver a message."

123
"Prove worthy of this
trust and I'll never
forget your service."

124
Few changes had taken 
place at Penarrow Hall
in the three years that
     had passed.

125
"Would ye dare refuse
hospitality to one who
brings a message from
Sir Oliver?"

126
"Bring me food and wine
in plenty and have horses
put to the coach."

127
"Sir Oliver is then declared
an outlaw and the Crown
decrees the estates to his 
brother, Lionel."

128
"A most extraordinary
 personage from the
 Orient to see Lady
 Rosamund."

129
"His Lordship, the Admiral
 Jasper Nicodemus Leigh."

130
"I bring you this message
from my master, Sir 
Oliver Tressilian."

131
"Ye are condemning an 
innocent gentleman whose 
heart is breaking for
love of ye!"

132
"Ye dastard - 'twas ye ...."

133
"Fetch Justice Baine -
he'll bear witness to
the truth!"

134
"Justice Baine be dead
   over two years."

135
The City of Algiers.

136
"Belak! Make way! Way
for the Lord Asad-ed-Din,
the exalted of Allah!"

137
Fenzileh, the Basha's
    favorite wife.

138
Marsak, her son,
 harem-born and
  woman-raised.

139
Fenzileh, jealous of the 
Sea Hawk's growing power,
ceaselessly plotted to
 poison Asad's mind
    against him.

140
"Wilt thou forever close 
thy heart against thine
own son, Marsak, and
cherish this infidel
Sea Hawk?"

141
"Is that dog-descended 
Sea Hawk to take my
place in thy heart?"

142
In a cove of the Mediterranean
  the Sea Hawk awaited his
     messenger's return.

143
"And I learned in the 
village that your brother
weds Mistress Rosamund
this coming month."

144
Sir John had at last contrived 
   a marriage that joined
 Penarrow and Godolphin with
  himself in virtual control.

145
"Always a fear is with
me that I was over-hasty
when I destroyed Oliver's
message."

146
"Sakr-el-Bahr!"

147
"So the eyes of brotherly
love pierce the change
exile hath wrought in me."

148
"Sir Oliver Tressilian -
you dastardly renegade!"

149
"Not Sir Oliver Tressilian,
but the Sea Hawk -
the Moslem scourge of
Christendom!"

150
"The plundering Corsair your
cupidity hath fashioned
from a one-time Cornish
gentleman!"

151
"You blaspheming renegade
- you'll hang for this
as God's my life!"

152
"Come - lady."

153
"Away - Away!"

154
Fenzileh's spies had
informed her of the
 Sea Hawk's voyage
    to England.

155
"Sakr-el-Bahr returns victorious
  - with treasure and slaves
   beyond aught ever known!"

156
"Sakr-el-Bahr!"

157
"Sakr-el-Bahr!"

158
The Moslem law decreed
 that all captives be
 sold by the State at
    public auction.

159
"It is my will to inspect
the Sea Hawk's captives."

160
Fenzileh's spy,
the chief eunuch,
Ayoub-el-Samin.

161
"She is white as the snow
   upon the mountains."

162
"Thou shalt purchase her at
the sale, though the price
be a thousand philips."

163
"Thou shalt outbid him
and buy this girl for
me though the price be
fifteen hundred philips."

164
"Then - she shall
disappear - quietly."

165
The hour for the sale
 of the Sea Hawk's
     captives.

166
"Five philips for that 
  skinful of bones."

167
"Consider ye those lean
shanks! I buy for the
Sea Hawk; five philips
- no more!"

168
"One hundred philips."

169
"Two hundred philips for
  the milk-faced girl."

170
"Four hundred philips."

171
"One thousand philips!"

172
"Take twelve hundred philips,
Oh, Dalal, and give the girl
to me."

173
  "Sakr-el-Bahr!
 Sakr-el-Bahr!"

174
"Two thousand philips,
     Oh Dalal."

175
"The slave is thine,
Oh Sea Hawk - may
Allah increase thy
victories!"

176
"Bear her away to
    my house!"

177
After the Muezzin's
 evening call to
     prayer.

178
"I have bought you -
you are my property."

179
"Behold how nobly mis-
fortune is borne by
this stalwart man of 
your choice!"

180
"You find me strong, eh?
I toiled at the oar of a
galley until it formed
my body into steel and 
robbed me of a soul."

181
"I've brought this humiliation
upon you, that you might
learn the truth."

182
"Your brother Peter was
killed by this false
weakling whom once
I loved."

183
"You sprang upon Peter
unaware, and killed him
before he could draw
sword."

184
"A lie! His drawn sword
 was found beside him!"

185
"You drew it and laid
it beside Peter after
you had slain him."

186
"As God's my witness,
'tis false! I killed
him in a fair fight."

187
"Why then, did you flee
from England so secretly?"

188
"Here stands the seaman my
brother bribed to sell me
into slavery. He will tell 
the tale."

189
"He shall have a taste 
of the long oar - chain
him to a bench on my
galley!"

190
"And now, I shall con-
trive a way to return
you safely to England."

191
"Asad-ed-Din is below."

192
"This maiden has found 
favor in my sight;
thou wilt yield her
up, I know."

193
"Master, I cast myself 
on your mercy; but
she is not for sale."

194
"Must I then take 
  her by force?"

195
"In all this I obey thee,
   but this Oh Asad!"

196
"Take this dagger; if
my plan fails, use
it as you will."

197
"By the Prophet's holy law,
before thee, Asad-ed-Din,
I take this woman to be
my wife."

198
"And may Allah damn to
everlasting torment him
who violates the bond
thus sealed in his most
holy name!"

199
The Moslem law -
 sacred and inviolate.

200
The following morning the
 Sea Hawk received orders
 to put to sea and lie in
 wait for a Spanish argosy.

201
"Oh, mighty Asad; I
crave thy blessing
on this voyage!"

202
"I shall do more than 
bless this voyage. I
shall command it."

203
"When we reach anchorage
carry that pannier quietly
to the fore-hold."

204
Late afternoon found
 the galley at her
    rendezvous.

205
"A challenge, Oh Sea Hawk;
  let us test our skill
   with the cross-bow!"

206
"Softly, my son; thou
 art talking to a 
 warrior."

207
"Dost accept my challenge,
      Oh Dog of War!"

208
"Choose a mark, Oh
   Pup of Peace!"

209
"We will take the
 slender cord that 
 binds yonder pannier."

210
"Child's play! 'Tis but
      ten paces."

211
"I challenge you again
  - at my own mark."

212
"Loose that shaft and 
  - I loose mine!"

213
"Open that pannier!"

214
"I feared for my wife's 
safety in Algiers, so
contrived this way to
give her my protection."

215
"I like not thy secrecy,
but Allah forbid that I
be hasty to condemn
thee."

216
"Learn patience. When we
return, the Sea Hawk shall
disappear, and then ...."

217
Sunset - and then the
      twilight.

218
"I still have your dagger.
 If aught befall you -
 I shall use it."

219
"I would to God I had
died a galley slave
ere I brought you to
this!"

220
"Don't leave me! You
are going into danger."

221
"A great English ship of
twenty guns is anchoring
'round the headland. She
flies a pennant with a 
silver stork."

222
"'Tis not a stork. 'Tis
'The Silver Heron,' -
Sir John Killigrew's ship."

223
"It would be folly to
engage so powerful an
enemy. We'll wait for
darkness to cover our
escape."

224
"Heed not my looks -
pretend I abuse you!
Cringe or snarl, but
if you would save 
Rosamund - listen!"

225
"Sir John's ship lies
just beyond the head-
land. Can you swim 
to her?"

226
"Now strike me and
when I strike back
- pretend to swoon."

227
"Unshackle this carrion 
and heave it overboard."

228
"He is swimming!"

229
"Here, thou prince of
marksmen, is an easy 
target for thee."

230
"'Tis but a trick to 
effect your rescue."

231
"But in thus saving me,
you sacrifice yourself."

232
"When I've rescued Lady
 Rosamund and hanged 
 this Sea Hawk to the
 yardarm, I'll return to
 England - not before!"

233
"Rosamund -- Moorish
galley - in cove -
Oliver threw me -
overboard, and ---"

234
"Hold your fire!
 Lady Rosamund
 is aboard her."

235
"The wind is failing -
 with our oars we'll soon 
 outstrip her."

236
"Hold your oars!"

237
"If any man takes a
step toward me -
I dash this lantern
into the powder!"

238
"Have faith in me my
sea-hawks; I promise no
harm shall come to you."

239
"Hold your fire!"

240
"Order your men back, Sir
John Killigrew, or I'll 
blow this ship to Hell
and we'll perish together!"

241
"Obey and Mistress Rosamund
shall be delivered safely
into your hands."

242
"I have sworn my knightly
oath to hang the renegade,
Oliver Tressilian!"

243
"Swear that this vessel 
and all my comrades
shall go free, and I 
will surrender!"

244
"I pledge you 
   my word."

245
'Twixt the devil and
    the deep sea.

246
"Farewell, my gallant
sea-hawks; may Allah
prosper you!"

247
"Sakr-el-Bahr - may
Allah guard and send
you back to us."

248
Daybreak - the hour 
set for Sir Oliver's 
    execution.

249
"A stowaway we found
in the fore-hold, sir."

250
"Sir John gave me his
knightly word to set 
free every one of my 
comrades."

251
"The poor boy is sinking 
fast - another victim
of that murderer, Sir
Oliver Tressilian."

252
"He may be innocent of the
murder of Peter Godolphin,
but he abducted Lady
Rosamund and that is a
crime punishable by -
hanging!"

253
"He did not abduct me
- I went willingly
with him to Algiers
and became his wife."

254
"Noll, my brother -
   forgive me!"

255
"That was a long swim
last night, Noll -
it was cold - cold
- cold -"

256
Back in England where the
 Penarrow and Godolphin acres
 combined, make the fairest
  estate in all Cornwall.

257
"And after I had saved your
father's life several times,
we became great friends."

258
"I've been telling the
lad how you saved my
life, Sir."

The
   End.