Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1019 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

6 Burd Bayard’s Close Call. The sailor breathed fast and hard. With flashing eyes and heaving chest, he struck his forehead. ** Oh, God, am I always to be an Ishmael, with every man’s hand against me? Are those who have crushed me to the earth to be allowed to keep me forever in torture and disgrace? Will Heaven always withhold the avenging hand?’ And he looked up at the cloudless sky, with its pale moon gazing down, as it seemed, with something like reproof at the blasphemous thoughts of the smitten man, Then, as he turned and his eyes rested on the bowed form before him, a gentler feeling stole into his heart, ‘*Forgive if you can, Muriel, my harsh and reckless words.” She was silent a moment and then looked up, ber countenance unnaturally pale and calm, and without a tear in the lustrous eyes, “If l have anything to forgive, it is forgiven, When you left me, in the night, I knew of few besides myself who did not believe your guilt, Never doubting, I resolved not torest until the whole dark mystery was cleared up and you were justified before the world, For a year I scarcely paused; then there came another ca- lamity, whose memory makes me shudder, for it came to me—to me!” she whispered, with a wild, terrified look. ‘Ii foughtagainst it, and prayed a merciful Heaven to turn it aside, but God willed otherwise!” Captain Bayard was startled and begged her to desist. ‘*Say no more—say no more, Too much has niready been said! I understand your reference and want no other explanation. I can never blame you so much asin thought, The night is waning; let us leave this spot!” They walked a few minutes in silence, her arm resting in his, while she instinctively acted as the guide for him who had wandered from the right course, Captain Sayard’s lips were compressed, and a hard resolution was forming in his heart, ‘* We must part forever,” he said, with super- human calmness, ‘‘I have learned from your own lips that your mother holds the same be- lief that your father carried into the grave. The chasm can never be closed in this world. I shall strive to lead such a life that we shall be reunited beyond the stars. My spirit has often revolted, but that is past. The ways of Provi- dence are beyond our ken, but no murmur shall be heard from me.” uriel Haven seemed on the point of saying something, but, with a courage which few of her sex possessed, she refrained, Reaching a nar- row path, he took the lead, with her walking close behind him, **T must bid her farewell,” he reflected, as he walked slowly forward, ‘‘ and for the last time touch my lips to hers,” Reaching the end of the path, at the border of The wood, he turned to offer his arm, Bat she had vanished! CHAPTER VIII. ‘Sy SURRENDER!?’ CAPTAIN BURD BAYARD waited several min- utes, hoping that Muriel, wrapped in deep thought, might have fallen unconsciously be- hind, but he soon became corvinced that she had fled, doubtless impelled to do so through a wish to escape the last painful parting. **Sbhe did well,” be reflected, resuming his moody walk, now that he had located himself, and knew the right course to take to reach the highway to Buzzard’s Roost, ‘‘There was no l for more words, The great obstacle to our union can never be removed, I took care to make no hint to her of another cause, for it would have broken her gentile heart, and I pray she may never suspect it.” Ah, but the sweet Muriel Haven had not per euspected, but she knew the truth from the t ** Well,” added the young sailor captain, rous- ing himself and looking around, ‘they must be expecting me on the Albatross.” : As he moved across the field, he observed that the night was nearly at an end, The dismal Haunted House loomed through the early morning mists, and it was hard, even then, to recall his remarkable experience within its walls without believing the events. were only some grisly phantasmagoria of the i pd a brain. But he resolutely shut out all tion of the mysteries, knowing they were beyond Ins knowledge, and doubtless would always re- Itt $7) ro, 'ixioy his thoughts on the Albatross and the dues awaiting him there, he strode rapidly for- \. ward, until he came to a familiar point where two roads met, There the first object on which his eyes rested was another of those flaming posters headed: ** $1,000 REWARD!” ‘* What does that mean?” be exclaimed, with a recoil of wrathful resentment, ‘‘ That was printed four years ago, It must have been put up since [ came to Buzzard’s Roost last night!” Assured on this point, Captain Bayard now gave bis thoughts to the personal peril tbat threatened him—a peril not only of the most serious nature, but one that was deepening every minute, He reflected that a dozen hours had passed since his meeting with Doctor Hazeltine—time sufficient for the irate physician to set the ma- chinery of the lawin motion, Pompey may have recognized him, and, though he was a friend, yet he was not bright-witted, and may have be- trayed the secret without thought of the grave consequences to him. He had no wish to stand trial when, accord- ing to every earthly possibility, he was sure of conviction and a disgraceful death, He felt it his duty to take every precaution against cap- ture, As he walked along the road, therefore, in the gray of the early morning, he was on the alert for enemies, Filled with misgiving, he came opposite to the old mansion known as The Cedars; ut, without pausing, he hurried for- ward to ve confronted by another of the ter- rible posters, with its caption, ‘1,000 RrwaRp!” which had sent him skurrying out of the neigh- borhood years before, ‘* This is getting more serious than 1 suspect- ed,” he muttered, hesitating whether to take to the fields and woods again. The hand-bill seemed to grin at him like a de- mon. ‘*My foes are busy,” he added, grinding his teeth, ‘‘ but I am not yet taken.” At that instant a man leaped over the fence beside him, and stopping short with a startled glance, the captain placed his hand on the pisto at his hip, But it was Pompey, the negro, whose sable face was the picture of distress, ‘‘Oh, Massa Bayard, will you forgib me?” he moaned, ready to sink to the earth. ‘‘ Forgive you for what?’ demanded the sailor, suspecting the cause of the negro’s emo- tion. ‘* Indeed I didn’t meanit! I didn’t t’ink ob it! Will you please forgib me?” ** How can I forgive you unless you tell me what you mean? Out with it, Pompey.” ‘*Wal, de way ob it war dis way: when l met you last night I wouldn’t hab knowed you, if it warn’t dat you had your whiskers off at fu’st, den you done forgot and spoke like your- self; den I knewed dat it war you, When I got bome and see’d some ob de boys, [kinder forgot myself and ac’dent’ly let it drop dat I had see’d yerself. And dar war Pete—he just slid out, and | didn’t tink what ho war arter till he war gone, and I started to head him off; but he war too fur from de house fur mo so cotch him till I see’d him talkin’ wid Doctor tlageltine, and den I knowed it war all up. I war somad at my- self fur lettin’ out de secret dat I kicked myself all de way back to de house, I spent all night lookin’ fur yer,so dat I might tell yer, but I didn’t cotch sight ob yer tilldis blessed minute, and, oh, Massa Bayard, you must run—and do you forgib me?’ ‘*Certainly, Pompey; you meant no wrong, aud here’s another dollar for your kindness,” The negro caught tne coin tossed to him, and his tears gave way to smiles as he turned about, muttering: “If anybody axes me bout you, I'll tell him he’s a liar and frow stones at him, and don’t for- git to burry, Masser Bayard.” Bidding the servant good-by, the sailor re- snmed his walk down the highway in the direc- tion of Buzzard’s Roost, the conviction strong upon him that be would be unable to reach the little town without trouble, ‘* There’s one thing certain,” he said, to him- self, ‘* it won’t do for me to keep in the main road, for there’s just where they willbe hunt- ing for me. It won’t do, either, to make my way back to the Albatross, unless I do so se- cretly, for they will be watching her. If 1 could only get word to Mate Simmons and have him drop down the bay several miles and wait till dark it would be easy enough to manage it, but it will be as bard to effect an understanding with bim as to escape, unless | should run against one of the boys.” But the only place to meet a member of his crew was at the tavern in Buzzard’s Roost, and, to go there, would be to walk into the lion’s den. He decided, therefore, to continue down the highway a short distance further, since no persons were in sight, and then to make his way to the shore ata point below the little county If unable to communicate by signal with his vessel, he would wait until night and then swim out toit, It was not likely the officers of the law had as yet boarded the craft, and he would keep close enough watch to discover any such action, In the event of the officers visiting the Al- batross, of course he would také good care to give the schooner a wide berth and rely on other means to get out of the country. Accordingly, he kept his course for a quarter of a mile further, when he found himself close to a small stretch of woods, The sound of hoofs caused him to dart among the trees, where he peeped furtively out at a couple of horsemen, as they rode by on a walk, ‘* They are looking for me,” was his thought, ‘© and the hunt will be a hot one.” Unfortunately the woods, as has been stated, were of moderate extent, and he had not gone far when he emerged into an open meadow, where he paused to make sure of his bearings. Standing thus, be was on the point a mov- ing forward, once more, when there was a sud- den crackling and thrashing of the under- rowth, and fully a dozen men, all armed with oaded guns, seemed to spring from the very earth. ‘‘ T guess you're the chap we're looking for,” called out the leader, leveling his rifle; ‘‘ throw up your hands!” ‘¢T surrender,” answered Bayard, seeing all hope was gone, CHAPTER IX. COUNSELOR AND CLIENT. CAPTAIN BAYARD wondered at his own tame submission when summoned to surrender, A few minutes before he was filled with an angry resentment which would have insured a fight to the death before yielding, but at the mo- ment of the summons, a relapse came over’ him, and he felt as though, having vainly bat- tled fate so long, it was useless to struggle fur- ther, He was safely lodged in the county jail at Buzzard’s Roost, and his captors received the full amount of the reward offered, the widow of Colonel Haven paying her portion with an alacrity that would have added wormwood to the bitter cup of the prisoner could he have seen the act. When word reached Mate Simmons of what had taken place, the anchor of the Albatross was hoisted, sail spread, and the sober citizens of Buzzard’s Roost drew a breath of relief, thanking fortune that they were rid of a set of men who doubtless were pirates that had stained their hands in the blood of scores of in- nocent persons. ‘‘ After his flight some years ago,” said the delighted Dr. Hazeltine, while recounting the part he had takenin the capture, to the atten- tive and pleased Widow Haven, ‘‘ word came back that he had been drowned in a distant sea. But I never believed it, for you know the say- ing that the man who is born to be hanged will never be drowned, and I was sure he would turn up here again sooner or later. I kept a good lot of the colonel’s handbills to post up, whenever the wretch’s fate should lea him hither. Jus- tice is now sure to be done, for he is safe within the county jail.” ‘¢ When will his trial take place?” ‘¢ Court sits next week, ana I understand his trial will be among the first. There is no earth- ly doubt of the result,” ‘¢ Do you know whether he has engaged coun- sel?” ‘‘-Yes,” said the physician, frigidly; ‘ ! am ashamed to say that my son has offered Lis Ser- ces,” And yet, despite the words of the old doctor, it was plain that no man was prouder of @ son than he was of that brilliant boy of his, who was admitted to the bar barely three years before, and who had already made a reputation that — known from one end of the State to the other. The doctor wanted Burd Bayard hanged, and yet, if that bright youth of bis should prove smart enough to save his neck, the father, away . down in his heart, woulc be the proudest parent in all Maryland _ ee eee ee | JOOKS.com. x \ * t, + “- «@ + . So . * -