Story of the Phantom by Lee Falk Read Free Book Online Page B

of Natala's ships to add to his fleet, and Natala. He roared with delight when he realized the unexpected prize he had nabbed. The Queen of France! What a beauty she was. Raven-black hair, flashing gray eyes, a proud strong young body, smooth skin with the pale flush of a damask rose. Red- beard had roamed the world, but he had never seen such a magnificent woman. He was strongly tempted to make her his lady, but Redbeard Was a businessman first, and he knew the great powers would pay a queen's ransom for her safe return. But he never got the ransom, because the seventeenth century Phantom got there first.

    This Phantom, the sixth of the line-and called the Sixth by Kit's father-was captured in his first attempt to rescue Natala. For the enjoyment of his crews and himself, Redbeard arranged deadly contests for this masked would-be rescuer. All watched in the large plaza of the pirate town-shouting pirates and their laughing ladies, on the walls, in windows and doors, on benches, and Red- beard himself at a long table drinking beakers of wine- while at a barred window, where she was imprisoned, sat Queen Natala. Who was this masked man in the strange costume, she wondered, who had made such a hopeless attempt to save her from this roaring crew?

    First, this Sixth Phantom was to face Gillaim, a lean agile panther of a man, who-next to Redbeard himself- was the deadliest swordsman in the pirate kingdom. He faced the big masked man arrogantly, announcing he would be merciful, and kill him quickly. For this, as all battles in this place, was to the death. The boisterous crowd quieted, in anticipation of the slaughter. Smiling, Gillaim moved in confidently for the kill, his legs like steel springs. Natala covered her eyes with her hands. There was a flash and clang of steel. Gillaim's sword flew into the air, and Gillaim was flat on

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    his back on the cobblestone street with the point of the masked man's sword at his throat. It had all happened faster than the eye could see. There was a hush. Not a sound, except the lapping of waves at the nearby wharfs, and the screech of a seabird. Gillaim stared up, his eyes popping, his face waxen and sweating as he faced death. But the masked man turned away and faced Redbeard and the throng.

    "I have not come here to kill," he said in a voice that was deep and soft and yet could be heard all over the plaza. "I have come to return the Queen Natala to her home."

    All looked at Redbeard who, even as he sat at his table, towered over most men.

    "I make the rules," roared Redbeard. "You will fight to the death."

    The masked man took a step toward Redbeard, and twenty swords were drawn from their scabbards.
    The crowd waited expectantly. The masked man laughed, a loud laugh that roiled across the plaza.
    And he threw his sword high into the air.

    "Next!" he shouted.

    Next was The Crusher, a man built like a bull. His arms were as wide as a large man's thighs. He had massive hands, legs like tree trunks, a shaven bullet head on a short heavy neck that sank into shoulders as wide as a barn door. The Crusher fought bare-handed. His specialty was to get men's heads between his palms and crush their skulls like eggshells. (Young Kit enjoyed that part thoroughly, and practiced without success on Guran).

    This was to be a bare-handed fight to the death. Once again the crowd was bushed. They had all seen The Crusher in action more than once. It was not a pretty sight, and most of the women turned away to avoid it. The Crusher moved slowly toward the masked man, his hands poised to grab. The masked man circled him, then suddenly moved in, his fist exploding on The Crusher's jaw. It is said that a wrestler can always defeat a boxer. This may be true if the wrestler can get his arms around the boxer. To do that, he must be conscious. But The Crusher was no longer conscious. He hit the pavement with a crash. The masked man had struck with all his might, a blow that might have knocked the head off a