BUCCANEER BURKO AND THE SLAVE GIRLS

By ALEX AUSTIN

Illustrated by Brendan Lynch

Originally published in Climax - Exciting Stories for Men - April, 1960

Ireland's boldest rogue won gold with a flashing cutlass and women with a rakish charm. But his fortunes changed the day he gave up his mistress for the fiery Lisa Holly—

WITH a wild cry, John Burko leaped from The Bally Inn to the deck of the Cathay. His dark eyes flashed and his cutlass gleamed in the sun as he shouted, "Give 'em your blades, me buckos!" and swung into action.

Burko's men roared for blood as they swarmed over the rail. "Easy on 'em!" the pirate captain cried. “They back off like a pack of scared rabbits." His hard-bitten crew laughed scornfully while the outnumbered men of the Cathay retreated, unwilling to face hand-to-hand combat.

Only the Cathay's captain-a short, fat man with a red face-foolishly challenged the boarding party. "Get off my ship, you black-hearted devils!" he bellowed, lunging at Burko.

The buccaneer nimbly jumped aside and shook with laughter. “You'll have to do better than that, you fat dog," Burko said tauntingly as he deftly knocked the sword from his opponent's hand. “Now, Captain, maybe you'll talk like a gentleman."

Just then, a terrifying scream pierced the sounds of battle. Everyone turned to see a Cathay crewman rolling around the deck, writhing in pain as blood welled out of the red stump that had been his hand.

"You filthy scum!" the stocky captain shouted wildly, retrieving his sword. "I'll make you pay for that!”

“Then set the price," Burko said calmly, raising his cutlass.

The captain ran at Burko and lunged again. This time his blade missed Burko's head by mere inches. The big man ducked, thrust his own blade deep into the fat captain's stomach and yanked it out quickly. Burko stepped back. The captain stood there dazed, blood oozing from the great wound and making a large round stain on his gray uniform. His bulblike eyes stared blankly at Burko and the sword fell from his hand just before he pitched to the deck-dead.

This cold-blooded killing incited several of the English crewmen, who drew their swords and charged the nearest pirates. Burko grinned as he watched his marauders handle the attack with ease. He turned toward the bridge just in time to see one of his new men, Hal Jonnick, a big, blond youngster, trying to ward off two assailants. A deep gash ran across Jonnick's left arm and he was swinging wildly, cursing the Limeys as they moved in.

Burko rushed to his side, parried a down-slashing blade and ran the man through just above the breastbone. The victim crumpled to the deck. Burko spun around and in one motion swung another mighty blow which ripped the second attacker's neck so wide open that in a few seconds the man's entire body was scarlet with blood.

"You use that blade like a tailor," Burko said to the relieved Jonnick. But you'll get onto it, lad. You work too much with the arm and not enough with the wrist. It's all in the wrist, you know. Quick that way; doesn't give them near as much time to defend."

Jonnick nodded as Burko started to patch up the bloody arm. "I'll get on to it soon, Captain," he promised.

"I hope you do, boy," Burko said. "We don't want to lose you before you even get started."

In the first ten minutes of battle, 14 men of the Cathay had been killed or wounded. None of the pirate crew had been killed and only Jonnick had been wounded. When the Cathay's crewmen realized they were hopelessly beaten, they threw down their swords. Then Burko's rogues collected the weapons and lined up their opponents against the starboard rail.

Burko faced the captured crew and reassured them. "There's no shame to bein' a bit scared, lads. You're paid to sail a ship, not to bleed, you know."

Buccaneer John Burko spoke in a clear, deep voice. Standing six feet three and straight as a plank, his broad back, huge chest and sinewy arms, matted thickly with black hair, did not show a trace of fat. He had large, powerful hands, and his square face was deeply tanned by wind and sun. Each move he made was with the graceful, restless ease of an untamed animal.

As soon as the fight had ended, several of Burko's men set to searching the hold and cabins. They came up with an impressive haul. There were giant chests of jewelry and more than £30,000 in gold coin; but what pleased them almost as much was the huge store of fine wines and brandies. The corsairs handled the liquor with great care as they loaded it on The Bally Inn.

Suddenly, Burko saw something that made him forget his talk to the captured Britishers. The 30 passengers aboard the Cathay had been led on deck at gunpoint, including ten young women. But Burko had eyes for only one. She was a slim, full-bosomed redhead in her early 20s, with wide-set green eyes and a mouth as sensuous as a sailor's dream.

A smile softened Burko's face as he studied the girl. "Well, now," he said, "here's a pleasant bit of business."

"See how soft she is, Captain," one of the buccaneers called out.

"Ah, just like a lovely lass I knew back in Galway," an Irish hand named Jim Finley said wistfully. "Maybe the same, Jim boy," someone shouted.

Finley laughed, shaking his head. "No, but I wish it was. She was so soft it made a man think he was walking in the clouds, it did."

Burko barely heard the gay banter as he gave his attention to the girl. She was wearing a long green skirt and a tight blouse that accented each curve of her well-formed body. Burko approached her slowly, eyeing her up and down. The girl flushed and started to turn away in contempt, but he caught her shoulder and roughly pulled her straining body to him.

She opened her mouth to scream, but Burko silenced her by forcing her head up and kissing her hard. The girl kicked and scratched, desperately trying to twist free, and when Burko finally released her, she defiantly spat in his face.

Burko's men watched him expectantly as he wiped his eyes. “Well, girl," he said in a surprisingly calm voice, “if there'd been a crew like you, we'd of had ourselves a rough time of it." Then he swiftly scooped her up in his arms, her skirts flying and her hands beating his face, and carried her away from the others.

A tall, thin man with a pale face and soft eyes stepped in front of Burko. "Put Lisa down, you savage. She's my wife.”

“Well now, friend,” Burko said, looking down at the man. “Do you aim to stop me?"

"'I would if you didn't have this gang of cut-throats to protect you."

"What name do you go by, brave man?” "John Holly, and I command you to unhand my wife."

"All right, John Holly, let's see if you'll fight for the little girl," Burko said coldly. "Billy, come here."

Billy Clyde, Burko's mate, approached the captain, Clyde was a mountain of a man, weighing nearly 300 pounds, with a face scarred from countless brawls at sea and in waterfront pubs.

Burko took Clyde's sword and tossed it to Holly, “All right, Mister Holly, fetch any blood out of me and you can keep your wife. Fair enough?”

BUT HOLLY did not lift the sword. Burko had called his bluff and Lisa Holly watched with horror as her husband shamefully backed away,

“Come on," Burko urged. "The two of us to duel for your wife, nobody else. You've my word on that."

Holly dropped the sword on the deck and turned away slowly, as if in a trance. The crew exploded in derisive laughter, and Burko remarked, “ 'Tis too bad you're such a coward, my friend, for a coward has no right to such a beauty." Then, turning to his men, he said, "All right, let's finish loading our prizes. Billy, bring the girl."

In a matter of minutes, the men of The Bally Inn were back aboard their own ship with the booty safely stored and Lisa Holly locked by herself in the captain's cabin.

It was 1829 and buccaneer John Burko was the scourge of the Atlantic. No ship, no matter how well armed, was safe from the fearless pirate and his brawling band. There were enormous prices on his head in half a dozen countries, and women in countless ports put a higher price on his love.

Born on April 23, 1798, in the small Irish coast town of Ballycotton, Burko learned the ways of the seas at an early age. Night and day he worked in his father's tavern, serving food and ale to the rogues who made their living by plundering anything that sailed the sea. Young John listened, wide-eyed, to their tales, and watched them drink, fight, lie, curse and carry shameless wenches to the rooms on the second floor.

Burko stretched his sea legs when he shipped out as a cabin boy at 13. Six years later, he was made mate on the Tynaghi under Captain Harry Bales. And finally, at the age of 27, he was the proud master of his own merchant ship, The Bally Inn--named, with the permission of the British National Shipping Company, after his father's tavern.

For three years, John Burko was a reliable captain. He took whatever cargoes were piled in his hold, delivered them properly and picked up his salary. But eventually he grew dissatisfied with the honest life. Working hard and earning little rankled him when he spoke to some of the captains he met in the coast taverns. They explained how easy it was to rob and steal from the shipping companies. This was the way to real riches and a life of luxury.

On March 7, 1827, Burko picked up his last legitimate cargo. It was a load of wool to be carried from Sydney, Australia, to Lisbon, Spain. Burko took on the wool in Sydney as ordered, but it never reached its destination. He sold it in Liverpool, paying his crew a sum that never could have been earned on an honest ship and keeping a handsome profit for himself.

A few more illegal trips followed before he accumulated enough money to carry out his scheme. He kept the same crew and outfitted The Bally Inn with as fine a set of Long Toms and 18-pounders as could be found. Now he was ready to go after the big prizes giant merchant ships heavily laden with rich stores and bullion.

The black-hulled Bally Inn struck often in the next two years, with unfailing success. The plundered shipping companies estimated that Burko pirated more than £600,000 in gold and cargo during that time.

Shortly after The Bally Inn had set sail away from the looted Cathay, leaving the Cathay's frightened passengers to care for the wounded crewmen, Burko went to his cabin and barred the heavy oak door behind him. He hardly looked at the sobbing girl on his bunk as he slowly unhitched the leather baldric that held his sword and carefully laid it on a mahogany chest on the far side of the room. Then he poured two big glasses of brandy before turning to the girl for the first time. The bare, white shoulders showing above the low-cut blouse caught his eyes. He watched the swelling of her bosom with each breath she took.

"Here, have a swallow of this,” Burko said kindly, “ 'Tis good stuff. It'll dry up those eyes." He extended the glass but she reached out and knocked it crashing to the cabin floor.

Burko laughed."

"Get out of here, you pig." Her voice rang with the hatred reflected in her fiery green eyes. "I'll kill you."

“Little tiger," he said, grinning. “It's always a temptation to clout a stubborn one. And with hands like mine, it's always possible to break such tender bones."

Lisa involuntarily raised her arm in front of her face but continued to glare at him. "You're very brave, I see-with a woman."

*Now, calm yourself, little one," the buccaneer said gently. "I'm only jesting with you. You've such a terror in your eyes that I thought a bit of amusement would help. And that drink surely would have settled you some." He glanced down at the broken glass and the dark stain of brandy on the floor. “Besides, you have nothing to fear. I'm not going to rape you. I'll steal a woman, yes, but I'll only take her when she's ready for me. Loving is fun, not battle. When you want me, you'll let me know."

“Want you? I'll kill you first," she swore.

Burko tossed down the last of the brandy and ran his tongue over his lips. "No, girl, with a pretty mouth like that, you're not one to be killing any man. It's a pity you insist on playing the sweet lass." He chuckled and poured himself another drink. "And you know that, don't you?"

HE GIRL sat up on the bed and pressed her back against the wall as he approached again and held out his glass. "Just try a sip of it."

Lisa Holly spat in Burko's face for the second time.

"You bitch!” he cried, splashing the brandy into her face. "If you want to play games, then you've got to be prepared to lose." He picked up the bottle and stamped angrily out of the cabin.

For the next month, the pirate captain continued to try his hand with Lisa, but he got nowhere. True to his promise, however, he didn't force himself on her. She was well-treated, with a cabin of her own next to Burko's and given the freedom of the ship, although she rarely left her quarters..

Meanwhile, Burko and his men continued their plundering. Two British merchantmen--the Drysdale, out of Southampton, and the Betty Mars, from Liverpool ---proved to be easy pickings and surrendered rich hauls of jewelry and gold.

The night following the Betty Mars raid was calm and warm. Under a full moon, The Bally Inn's crew was making ready to celebrate its latest conquest. Barrels of rum and brandy were secured in neat rows under the steps leading to the poop deck and the men began to gather on the main deck in groups of two and three. The talk, as usual, was of their latest victory. The Betty Mars, as they had known from the beginning, was easy prey because her shallow hull made her a clumsy craft for fighting.

"You damn near let that little wench put a knife in your guts, Johnson," Billy Clyde said to a baldheaded man called Swede. During the attack, Johnson had dragged a tiny brunette below deck and raped her.

Johnson nodded. "Aye, but it was worth it." Clyde's huge frame shook with laughter.

"I like a woman who wants to kill a man," Johnson added. "Shows she has fire. Not like the silly ones; all they want to do is cry." He lifted his wooden tankard and emptied it in one long swig.

By the time Burko joined them on deck, most of his men were well on the way to getting blind drunk. Their quiet talk had turned to boisterous shouting. The battle had long been forgotten and they were exchanging lurid tales of women they had known.

Clyde greeted Burko by handing him a solid silver goblet, just taken from the Betty Mars. "It was a good day, Captain John," the mate said.

"Then that means another good night for the men, eh, Billy?”

"Aye, sir, that it does. And they deserve it." Clyde grinned. "And how's the girl behavin' tonight?"

Burko shrugged and took a long swallow of rum from the goblet. "The same, I'm afraid. Defies me. Won't let me come near her. She's a tough one."

Clyde shook his head. "May not be my place to say, Captain, but I think you've let her play that game too long. Just throw the lass down one night and show her who's in command."

"That I..." Burko's voice trailed off as he saw Lisa Holly standing near the railing, watching him closely. “Well now," Burko said, smiling. “Maybe the wind's changed."

command of herse, sir, I'd not thinte sil

THE MATE looked at the girl, her even profile silhouetted against the moon. "Aye, sir, I'd not think twice about takin' command of her," Clyde muttered.

"Come up for a bit of air, Lisa?” Burko asked.

She stared at him, neither moving nor speaking. The men gazed at her longingly, poking each other and describing what they would do with this proud, stubborn and beautiful wench.

Burko leaned over to fill his goblet. When he glanced up at Lisa again, he realized there was something strangely different in her eyes. She started to walk toward him. The men also sensed the change; they stopped talking and anxiously watched her move deliberately across the deck.

Lisa stopped within a few feet of Burko, her eyes gazing boldly into his. "I'll take that drink now," she said in a steady voice.

Her long red hair glowed in the bright moonlight. Burko, still puzzled by this sudden change, drew off some brandy and handed her a silver goblet. The girl drank deliberately and didn't stop until the goblet was empty. Then, tossing her head back and laughing recklessly, she flung the goblet overboard.

"Hey, that's good silver," Burko said, sitting down on a barrel.

Lisa leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. "But I'm worth more," she whispered.

THE PIRATE was surprised but quick to size up the situation. Chuckling, he reached up and pulled her willing body down into his lap.

“That's more like it, Cap'n," one of the men bellowed drunkenly. The others cheered their agreement.

"I knew you'd come to your senses," Burko told her triumphantly. She smiled at him enticingly, and when Burko kissed her, she tightened her arms around his neck and pulled his face down as hard as she could. The buccaneers exploded, some crying out comic obscenities, others pleading for a kiss.

"I'll not sleep this night," Billy Clyde shouted as Burko lifted Lisa in his arms and carried her below to his cabin.

They spent two days there, with Burko coming out only to get food or give an order. No one would ever know how it happened, but overnight the respectable Lisa Holly had become as wanton a woman as any man could ever hope to know.

Then, on a clear, windy morning in April, all hands were startled to see her appear on deck. It was while Burko and his men were making ready to raid an unwary Spanish galleon sailing to starboard.

Captain Burko shouted his commands and The Bally Inn's cannons boomed. One ball sailed across the Inga's bow and the next two, fired in rapid succession, split her mizzenmast and splintered the hull amidships.

"Well done, John!" Lisa called to Burko.

The buccaneer leader whirled and spotted her. She was wearing a man's shirt and slacks, her long red hair billowing in the breeze. He was surprised to see her but pleased that she was taking an interest in the raid.

"Better get below, Lisa," Burko called as he ran to her. “There'll be some bleeding with this one."

She kissed him and threw an arm about his waist. "You've made a pirate's woman of me, John. I want to watch. Don't worry, I'll be safe."

"All right, then. But be careful," he warned as he hurried away to lead the attack.

Lisa stood on the poop deck and calmly watched The Bally Inn swing over sharply. Within minutes the pirates were ready to board the Inga. Knives flashed in the bright sunlight as Burko led them over the rail and the two crews locked in hand-to-hand combat. Screams and curses filled the air and men of both sides fell to the deck, which was red and slippery with blood.

Burko and Billy Clyde fought side by side, leading charge after charge against the stubborn defenders. It was a half hour before the Inga's officers finally conceded defeat. Burko and his rogues had won again.

When the valiant Spaniards threw down their arms and began lining up along the port rail, Lisa suddenly grabbed one of the boarding ropes and swung over to the captured ship, landing nimbly on the deck.

Burko was angry. "You crazy fool, you could have broken your neck."

"Nonsense, John. It's too pretty to break," she replied spiritedly.

Burko's anger dissolved in laughter and he walked alongside Lisa, who began to inspect five women standing in line with the other passengers. They watched her with fear and indignation as she looked them up and down. At last she stopped and removed a pearl necklace from one woman's neck.

"Why, you wicked slut!" the outraged passenger exclaimed.

Lisa slapped her face, then fastened the pearls around her own neck. "Thank you, darling. They're pretty," the new lady pirate said in a mocking tone.

"You've caught on pretty quickly, girl," Burko bellowed proudly.

Lisa winked at him and continued her inspection. At the end of the line, she came to a girl about her own age and proportions. She carefully appraised the girl's black silk dress, front and back. "Do you like it, John?” she asked.

"On you I would.”

Without another word, Lisa started unbuttoning the girl's dress. “But. . you ... you . . . can't ..." the girl stammered.

"Stand still or I'll put a piece of steel in your belly," Lisa told her coldly.

The girl began to sob, covering her face with both hands as Lisa quickly undressed her on deck in full view of both crews. When Lisa finished, she boldly removed her clothes and put on the black dress, She turned around once, as if inspecting herself in a mirror, with the men of The Bally Inn cheering her on.

"Have her things taken aboard,” Lisa commanded. "And to think," she told Burko, "I might have wasted my life being a damn lady."

Burko slapped her backside appreciatively, then set about transferring the captured cargo to his ship. After the job was done, he allowed the Inga to sail away with not a man or woman harmed.

Later that night, the only trouble ever caused by Lisa Holly aboard The Bally Inn occurred during a celebration in the crew's quarters.

Billy Clyde and Burko got roaring drunk shortly before midnight. Clyde was seated near Burko and the girl and kept making playful passes at her which she fended off gaily, even kissing Clyde once on the cheek.

But the passes soon lost their playful quality when Clyde leaned over, grabbed Lisa in his arms and pressed a long kiss on her mouth. Burko flung his goblet aside and seized Clyde by the arm, pulling him away from Lisa. "Ease off!" Burko commanded. "If you want a woman, get one on the next ship we take. Meantime, keep your hands off mine."

Clyde stared drunkenly at Burko with a crooked grin. “But I like this one, Cap'n John," he said thickly.

"Well, I'm glad you like her," Burko said. "But manners is manners, ain't they, Billy-o?”

"I said I like this one," the mate repeated. "And dammit, I mean to have her. Now, will you fight me for her or do I just take her?”

Burko's smile faded. "I don't want any fighting on my ship,” he said quietly.

The crew watched silently as their two rugged leaders glared at each other.

"What's wrong, John?” Clyde said scornfully. "Has she emptied the guts out of you?” He staggered to his feet and steadied himself against one of the barrels of rum. "I've fought at your side for two years, John, and I never knew you to be yellow before."

Burko squinted at his friend for a moment, then got to his feet.

“There, that's better," Clyde said, grinning and crouching with his arms spread, waiting for Burko to charge.

The crewmen rolled the kegs out of the way and formed a circle. Burko shuffled toward Clyde while Lisa watched in silence, fascinated by this spectacle of two hardened pirates about to fight for her.

"Come on, Johnny lad," Billy shouted.

Burko threw the first punch, a hard right hand aimed at Clyde's nose. The mate ducked and the punch harmlessly grazed his forehead. The two men fell into a clinch, pounding each other's body without letup. Then Burko stepped back and caught Clyde on the mouth with a powerful left hand, bringing blood to his mouth.

"We're properly started,” Clyde snarled. He lowered his head like a bull and charged at the captain's stomach. Burko tried to dodge, but he was not quick enough and Clyde bowled him over, landing on top with one knee pressed against Burko's chest. Clyde smashed the side of Burko's face three times, then started to choke him.

Gasping for breath, Burko kicked out his legs and heaved his body into the air, sending Clyde tumbling backwards with a loud, angry cry. Both men scrambled to their feet and rushed blindly at each other.

The two giants fought viciously as Lisa and the crew watched in speechless awe. Their faces were covered with blood and their gasping grew louder. One of Clyde's eyes was completely closed, the lump over it turning a deep shade of purple. They wrestled from one side of the room to the other, battled up and down stairways, tumbling, cursing, falling on each other, swinging more wildly as weariness began to sap their power.

The fight lasted more than an hour. Neither man looked as if he had the strength to continue, but they kept throwing punches, like men battling in their sleep.

It ended when Burko caught Clyde with a wild right to the side of the head and the mate slumped to the deck. For several minutes, Clyde didn't move; he just sat there, leaning back against a broken keg, his eyes half-open, blood pouring from one corner of his mouth. He tried to get up, fell back limply, tried again, and failed.

The crew realized the battle was over and broke into loud cheers. Lisa ran to Burko, throwing her arms around his bloody neck and passionately kissing his swollen face.

Burko gently pushed the girl aside, walked over to Clyde and reached down to help the mate to his feet. The two men looked at each other and smiled through split lips. At last Clyde slapped his enormous belly and threw his other arm around Burko's shoulder. “There's not a man alive who can fight like you, Johnny boy," he said admiringly.

"Ah, now, Billy, you might be my match one of these days," Burko said gently.

It was all over. The two men began to joke and the party was in full swing again, with Lisa sitting between the two men who had nearly killed each other for her favors.

For the next three years, Captain Burko, Lisa and the marauders of The Bally Inn continued to ravage the high seas, plundering shipping along the British, French and Spanish coasts. In the summer of 1832, the skull and crossbones flew over new waters as The Bally Inn set sail for the rich pickings to be had off the coast of America.

A heavy mist rolled in from the sea and covered New Orleans like a wet woolen blanket as The Bally Inn put into port on August 18. Burko told his men they would have four days and nights ashore. They needed no more encouragement.

Hours after they reached shore, the pleasure-hungry crewmen turned the already wild city into a jungle of violence. They roared drunkenly from bar to bar, then nearly tore one of the town's most expensive bordellos apart, carrying half-naked girls off in their arms just in case the selection in the next house wasn't to their liking. The police were called, but they could do little to stop these men who had been seaborne for nearly four months.

John Burko's approach to New Orleans was far different from that of his brawling crew. Decked out in the finery of an English gentleman, he escorted his delighted redhead-wearing her expensive, stolen gown and white gloves-to a grand ball at the home of Andrew Calhoun, the town's wealthiest citizen. Billy Clyde, in a long black coat and a tight-collared starched shirt, completed the trio that confidently walked down the tree-lined street as if born to this kind of life.

The pirate threesome had not been invited, but that didn't bother Burko. He knew that all of New Orleans society would be there and he wanted to meet them. Calhoun's mansion was one of the finest Burko had ever seen—a white manor house with graceful Greek columns, rolling green lawns and elaborate gardens on three sides, five giant willow trees in front of the house, and colorful lanterns strung along the wide front porch.

Burko, Lisa and Clyde slipped in through a side entrance and quickly mingled with the gay, noisy crowd. Billy soon lost himself at the tables, laden with such delicacies as iced lake shrimp, caviar, baked oysters and squab casserole. Burko took Lisa by the arm and led her into the main ballroom. A string quartet was playing waltzes while attractive couples whirled around the floor under the giant cut-glass chandeliers.

FOR SEVERAL hours, the handsome giant and his mistress danced, drank champagne and chatted pleasantly with other couples. It was a sharp change from their wild days of fighting and looting, and no one would have guessed that they were anything but members of New Orleans aristocracy.

They were talking quietly with a distinguished couple when Burko suddenly stiffened. He was staring across the room as if he had seen a ghost. Lisa looked at him quizzically, then followed his eyes until she saw what had attracted him. She dug her fingernails into his arm and whispered, "I'll have to scratch your lovely eyes out, my darling, if you don't stop gawking."

"Stop being silly, Lisa. I'm just watching the dancers,” Burko said feebly. But he was unable to take his eyes off the girl across the room. She was the most excitingly beautiful female he had ever seen a tall octoroon girl of not more than 20, with an incredibly slender waist, provocative bosom and long-lashed eyes that burned with a soft glow like black pearls on a satin cushion.

· Burko sipped a drink and studied her over the rim of his glass while the girl talked to a tall, thin man who looked to be twice her age. The pirate captain put the glass down and excused Lisa and himself from the couple. "Let's get out of here," he told 'Lisa, leading her to the dining room where the tables of food were spread. They found Clyde alone in a corner, busily stuffing himself with baked oysters.

"Billy boy," Burko said, "see that Lisa gets some of this food, will you? I want to learn more about the shipping that goes in and out of this port. There are a lot of big men here tonight."

"And little girls," Lisa added, forcing a smile.

Burko didn't answer her. He walked quickly to the main ballroom.

For about ten minutes, he watched the octoroon girl waltz with several young partners but always return to the same tall, thin man after every dance. Burko turned to a young man standing next to him and asked if he knew the girl's name.

"Deutremont. Abbe Deutremont,” he answered politely. “I've heard it spoken about. Sorry, but that's all I know, sir."

Two other guests gave Burko the same kind of answer.

Finally, a fat, bald man in his late 60s informed the buccaneer that she was the mistress of Louis Patri. "That's him," the fat man said, pointing to the companion that Burko had seen with her between dances. "Patri," he continued, “isn't his real name, of course. In fact, New Orleans hardly has a real name left in it. All sorts of scoundrels come here after they've made their fortunes. Then they devise a fancy name for themselves, settle down and become respectable." He giggled softly in a high voice that sounded almost like a woman's. “Patri was a sea captain once. Now he owns the largest shipping firm in New Orleans."

Burko listened patiently, a strange feeling beginning to take hold of him. He had never felt such a strong desire for any woman-not even for Lisa Holly. Burko stood in awe of the young beauty and knew he must have her at any cost.

When the fat man finished, Burko thanked him and shouldered his way across the crowded dance floor until he reached the girl and Patri. There he bowed in front of the girl and introduced himself. “I would be honored if you would join me for the next dance," he said respectfully.

She glanced at Patri, who nodded slightly. The gir] turned to Burko, smiled and said, "Thank you. I would like very much to dance."

As Burko took the girl's hand and led her to the center of the floor, he felt an uncontrollable tension sweep over him. His tongue felt as if it were coated with glue, and he couldn't get a word out after asking his partner her name. They whirled around the floor and Burko was flattered that she followed him so adroitly. Yet he was relieved when the dance ended and another young man waltzed her away.

Burko was standing against the wall, fascinated by the delicate movements of Abbe Deutremont, when Patri walked up to him. "She is a prize, eh?” Patri asked with a knowing chuckle.

Burko smiled a bit uneasily and nodded.

"Abbe is a great joy to me,” Patri continued in his soft, French-accented voice. "For me there is no greater pleasure than observing the charms of a truly beautiful woman."

"Aye, right you are,” Burko said. “And she is a real beauty."

Patri nodded. "Come, my friend. It is senseless to stand there eating your heart out. Let us find some champagne and a room for quiet talk.” He picked up two glasses and a bottle of champagne and led Burko into the library.

SETTLED in a black leather chair, Patri began to talk of the lovely Abbe Deutremont. Burko stood, staring into space and listening with half an ear, thinking of a way to steal her from him.

"The thing that is so amusing, my friend," Patri said with a sly wink, “is that this superb girl who drives half the men of New Orleans crazy is nothing but a slave."

Burko snapped his head around to face Patri. "She's your slave?" he exclaimed.

"Yes. I discovered her at an auction down by the wharf. I was lucky, indeed. It is not often that a man can find such a beauty on the block-or anywhere else, for that matter." Patri drained his glass and reached for the champagne bottle on the desk. "Of course, she fascinates you too,” he went on. "That is easy enough to see. Well, I would let you borrow any ordinary woman from me for a night or two. What does it matter, eh? I mean-between friends?" He waved his arm carelessly. "But Abbe ... ah, she is too expensive to be treated lightly."

"Mister Patri, are you hinting that perhaps you'd like to sell Abbe? Is this beauty available for a price?"

"Hinting? I?” Patri's eyebrows lifted in amazement. "Mon Dieu, why would I ever want to sell such a divine creature? Do you take me for a madman?" He squinted at Burko and his expression grew serious. "Besides, I don't think you have enough money to interest me."

"A thousand pounds," Burko said. "A thousand? You can't be serious." "Ten "

"Absurd," Patri snapped. "I tell you, you wouldn't have nearly enough."

Burko was silent for several minutes. He listened to the music drifting in from the other room and he could picture Abbe passing from partner to partner under the glittering chandeliers-her hypnotic dark eyes, her sensuous body ...

Patri's voice broke the spell. “I must admit, my friend, I have been offered several fortunes for her. It amuses me to turn down these fine offers, but you must understand that Abbe is very dear to me."

The buccaneer's fist crashed down on the desk. "All right, Patri," he bit out. "I've a ship sitting there in the harbor. A three-master boasting the finest cannon you'll find anywhere. There's a crew of thirty-eight hardy men who know the sea like their own hands. I'll give you the whole lot for that damned girl!”

Louis Patri's eyes betrayed his surprise. He carefully placed his glass on the desk, saying, "What is your ship called?"

"The Bally Inn." "The Bally Inn?" Patri repeated pensively. "Yes, yes, I saw her arrive this morning. She looks to be a fine ship."

Burko nodded impatiently. “Well?"

Patri thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh enthusiastically. "You've just made yourself a deal, my passionate captain. Wait here, I shall bring her to you." He got up and left the library.

Within five minutes, the Frenchman returned with Abbe Deutremont. "I think you already know Mister Burko," he said as the pirate jumped to his feet. She tilted her head and smiled politely. "Abbe, my dear, Mister Burko has just purchased you." She glanced at him, but he merely nodded in answer to the question in her dark eyes. "I think it best that you go with him tonight. I shall have your things sent to you in the morning."

THE GIRL'S eyes seemed to burn brightly for an instant, but there was not a trace of emotion on her face as she walked over to her new master, took his arm and calmly said, "I'm ready."

"You see?” Patri told Burko. "She accepts such things easily. Abbe will do absolutely anything for you."

"Then we'll be off, my dear,” Burko told the girl.

The handsome couple left the home of Andrew Calhoun and stepped into a carriage at the front door. Among those who saw them leave was Lisa Holly. She flew into such a violent rage that it took Billy Clyde and two other men to hold her back from tearing Calhoun's house apart. When they finally calmed her, she fell into an ominous silence that lasted the rest of the night.

Burko lived the life of a country gentleman for the next year. He rented a large residence adjacent to the famous DeBore estate on the edge of the city and he and Abbe attended all the leading social functions. They made an impressively dashing couple and were invited everywhere-even to the home of Louis Patri. The swashbuckling seafarer made no effort to contact Lisa, Billy or any of the crew of The Bally Inn as he threw himself into the role of an illustrious member of New Orleans society.

Then, on a cool September night in 1831, Burko's peaceful existence was broken. He and Abbe had returned home late after a gala party, and while Abbe went directly to their bedroom on the second floor, Burko entered the oak-paneled library to have a brandy nightcap.

STANDING quietly in front of the large bay window overlooking his wide, sloping lawn, Burko grunted in surprise when he felt a gun shoved roughly into his back. He turned his head slightly to see Lisa holding the pistol.

"Lisa! What is this foolishness?"

"Are you surprised, John? I've come to repay your kindness," she said sweetly. "With this." She raised the pistol and pointed it directly at his head.

Burko was sweating. He hadn't seen Lisa since he had left her at Calhoun's ball more than a year before. Aware that she might pull the trigger if he made a suspicious move, Burko decided to play it safe, hoping to rekindle the love she once had for him.

He took a long swallow of brandy. “What have you been doing for the last year, Lisa?” he asked. "How is Billy? And the rest of the crew? Have you been sailing with them?”

“A lot you care, John Burko," she said bitterly. "You and that girl you bought, tramping around New Orleans like high society. It's disgusting. We were all fools to look up to you, John. Now I've come to stop you from making more of a fool of yourself ... and me."

Burko looked past Lisa to a cutlass and helmet hanging on the far wall. They had belonged to the Duke of Northumberland in 1624. The buccaneer had grown to appreciate the rich trappings and easy living of his present existence. Yet now, hearing Lisa's voice, he remembered the way it had been when they were at sea.

He took a step in Lisa's direction. "All right, John, that's far enough," she said icily.

"I was only going to offer you a drink." "It seems you offered me a drink once before."

"Aye, that I did. And you were a long time in taking it," Burko remarked with a soft laugh. "But tell me, how do you like my house?”

She glanced around warily, not daring to keep her eyes off him for more than a split second at a time. "It's got a tame look, John. The lads on The Bally Inn would laugh if they could see you living like this."

Burko decided this was the time to gamble. Her hesitation told him she still loved him and probably wouldn't pull the trigger. "Well, Lisa, I'm glad to see you didn't choose to raise your neckline. You look as good as ever."

She smiled coldly. "You still remember those sweet words, don't you, John? If I let you talk for ten minutes more, I suppose I'd put the gun down. But I'm afraid I don't have that much time to spare."

He shrugged, then swiftly grabbed her gun hand. She fought bravely but he easily twisted it out of her hand.

“Now, Lisa, maybe we can talk like old shipmates," he said, pocketing the pistol. She flushed angrily and turned away. "You really would have killed me, wouldn't you?” he asked.

When she didn't answer, Burko ran a hand along her bare shoulder. "I like a wench who'd kill a man because she loves him," he said, taking her in his arms. The black-haired corsair was not pretending now. He had missed Lisa's unrestrained fury of emotion. He waited an instant for her to struggle, but she didn't.

"I've missed you, my girl," he said, kissing her.

Her only reply was to move her arms around him, slowly, helplessly, in complete surrender. After a moment she stepped back and, with that familiar brazen smile on her lips, began to undress. "I had to be with you or kill you, John," she said huskily, "Now, come here."

As he moved toward her, Burko dismissed Abbe Deutremont from his mind. As beautiful as the slave girl was, she could not match the uninhibited passion of this girl he had molded himself.

That night Burko handed Abbe $3,000 in cash and informed her she was a free woman. She could do as she wished- he was taking Lisa back.

In the years that followed, Abbe used the money to open one of the most luxurious bordellos in New Orleans. Soon she became famous as the "Tigress with the black cat," because of the huge jet black cat she kept as a pet. Abbe called the animal Burko; and taught him how to drink champagne and eat caviar. Whenever she would take a man into her chambers, "Burko" would always be curled up on the wide four-poster bed beside her. More than one man told the story of how she would cry out its name and stroke the cat's head, as if the customer ware not there, at all.

John and Lisa lived in the elegant manor for four weeks, but the staid life of respectability wore thin for them both. One night Burko learned that The Bally Inn was in port and he went to meet some of his old crew in town. Finding them was no trouble since he knew all their old haunts. As he had expected, they weren't angry with him for trading them and the ship for Abbe.

"Ahoy there, Johnny boy!" Billy Clyde greeted him. He rushed forward and playfully threw a bear-hug around Burko. "Here's the trader, lads. Gave us all up for a pretty wench, he did."

“Was she worth the price, Cap'n Burko?” one of the men yelled. The others laughed heartily.

"She was for a while, boys," Burko answered. "But I gave the girl her freedom last month. She was a beauty, but there's no woman in the world to compare with our Lisa. We're back together, and itching to get the sea under us again."

The good-natured talk continued for more than an hour while Burko bought ale and brandy for his old crewmen.

“Of course, Patri's paid us well enough," Clyde informed Burko. "But he hasn't got your fire, Cap'n John. He sits at a desk all day and tells us what to do. It's nowhere the same as knowing that the man who commands has his steel out next to yours when there's a fight on."

"I've missed the old life, Billy," Burko admitted. "Land's too tame, eh?"

Burko grinned broadly. "A man needs a little bleeding now and then."

“And a taste of salt, John." “That, too."

The men drank tankard after tankard, warmly recalling their old days together. After a while, Burko had little trouble convincing the men that they could get more money if they betrayed Patri and sailed under him again.

The drunken rogues quickly accepted Burko's scheme. There was no time for packing or goodbyes. That very night, The Bally Inn set sail from New Orleans harbor with buccaneer John Burko on the bridge and redheaded Lisa Holly standing proudly at his side.

The Bally Inn once more was the devil's own threemaster. For the next seven years, the pirates looted merchant ships of all nations and poured a treasure into her bulging holds. They fought, caroused and drank their way through several fortunes, but always came back for more.

The United States Navy finally set out to halt Burko and got its big chance when The Bally Inn robbed an American ship, the Philadelphia, in the Gulf of Mexico on October 1, 1840.

Burko pointed The Bally Inn west for Laguna Madre, where they could put in for repairs. She had to have barnacles scraped off her bottom, two masts needed mending and three Long Toms had to be replaced.

Shortly before noon on October 3, the masthead lookout, Tommy Bales, called out, "Two ships off the starboard quarter ... gaining on us."

Burko hurried to the poop deck. He scanned the horizon with his glass and saw that they were Navy ships, the President and the New York. The buccaneer cursed. They were too well-armed for The Bally Inn to challenge at the same time and the only hope was to outrun them. But the barnacles made for slow going.

"Drop the bonnet and the lateen!" Burko shouted down to the crew on deck. The extra sails would help catch the wind, he thought.

Yet Burko realized that this would not be of much help. The two Navy ships were closing in rapidly. He already could see the black eyes of the twin cannons peering from the galleon foredecks. Eighteen-pounders jutted from below the stern cabin. It would be only a matter of minutes before they would be blasting away at The Bally Inn

"How does it look, Johnny boy?” Clyde shouted up from the main deck. "Can we take 'em?"

“We've taken everything so far, haven't we?” Burko yelled back. The pirate captain grinned, but he knew this would be their toughest battle in 13 years.

Billy Clyde was pleased with the fighting answer. He called to his men, "They've only two against us, lads, so go easy on 'em."

The men roared their approval as they swiftly moved to their battle positions and started loading the cannons and pistols.

Lisa climbed to the poop deck and stood beside Burko. "Here's to our success," she said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. At that moment, the President fired the first warning, a shot across The Bally Inn's bowsprit.

"Put one in their fat belly," Burko ordered. Three Long Toms fired at the same time and caught the oncoming President high in the stern. Wood splintered and men screamed aboard the naval ship.

“We've got 'em, boys," Burko shouted. But he could see the New York heading wide, making ready to circle them and come in from the other side. He turned to Lisa. "You'd better get below," he advised. “This is not a simple merchantman we're fighting."

Her eyes flashed defiantly. “I like the fresh air beside you, John. I'm staying here."

Burko shrugged. He barked orders to steer The Bally Inn away from the enemy ships. He knew he was lost if the Americans boxed him in.

But before they could alter course, a shot from the President snapped The Bally Inn's mizzenmast in two. Then three balls from the New York crashed into the stern cabin, smashing portholes and shattering wood several feet below the water line.

“We're taking in water!" Clyde yelled to Burko. "No time to stop it now," the captain answered. "If only this breeze would pick up and get some gut in it."

Guns thundered at The Bally Inn without letup, pounding her in a deadly crossfire. Direct hits tore gaping holes in her black hull and salvos that fell short sent up towering green sprays that washed the decks clean of blood.

Burko's men knew they were lost, but they fought on with a courage and fury that made their captain proud of his command. But he realized by mid-afternoon that their cause was hopeless. The Bally Inn was finished,

A little after four P.M., Burko called Clyde to the deck. Blood was streaming down the mate's face, but when Clyde saw his captain's concern, he grinned easily and said, “A little bleeding's good for what ails a man, Johnny." "I fear we can't outrun 'em, Billy," Burko told him.

“The men know that,” Clyde said. “They knew that from the start, only it don't matter none to them. We'll fight the bastards down before the day's out."

"No, Billy, you know we won't." "Now, what kind of talk-"

Clyde's words were cut short by two direct hits squarely amidships, right on the water line. The ship listed heavily to starboard.

"That's it," Burko said sadly. "Aye, John."

"Get the men in the longboats. And make it quick." Clyde hurried away to carry out the order.

Burko looked around to send Lisa into one of the boats. But when he found she was nowhere on deck, he rushed below to their cabin. The pirate captain gasped when he saw her lying on the bed, a crimson stain on her white blouse growing wider.

In God's name!” he exclaimed. "There's no pain to it, John," she said, a thin smile set on her pale lips as she tried to blink away the tears.

Burko settled beside her on the bed, fearfully aware that the wound was just below the heart and that she had already lost much blood.

"It's time to abandon ship, Lisa," Burko said quietly. "We're beaten."

"I can't go anywhere," she whispered. "John, kiss me, please."

He kissed her tenderly. "Lisa, girl..." He couldn't go on.

She reached up, traced the tips of her fingers down the side of his face and smiled. "I'm sorry I got in the way of this," she said. "We still had a lot of nights left."

"Johnny.” It was Clyde standing in the doorway.

Burko turned and looked at his old friend. "Go along, Billy," he murmured. “We've got some private business to tend to."

Clyde could see there would be no arguing with Burko. He nodded understandingly, turned and left.

"You'd better go now, too,” Lisa said. “We're sinking fast."

"Before we've finished this fine brandy?” he asked.

He stood up to fetch the cask and silver goblets from the cupboard in the corner, and Lisa noticed a dark patch of blood at Burko's hip. She also saw that he was trying not to limp as he walked back to the bed.

The tall buccaneer filled two goblets and handed one to her. Smacking his lips in anticipation, Burko said, "I've heard there are fine beds in hell for proper folks like us.”

Lisa put a hand on his arm. "We'll drink to that, John."

"Aye."

Buccaneer John Burko and Lisa Holly went down with The Bally Inn. And there were those aboard the President and the New York who claimed they heard them laughing inside the great black ship as she sank slowly into a sea that was the color of blood.

END