Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 103 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

EE EOD ee eS ——————— ——EEE eC 7 -——_ = a —_— ee CHAPTER III. THE MYSTERY REVEALED. Not a soul upon the craft but looked with ad- | miration upon the beautiful face of the girl, for she was one of those rare types of beauty that are so seldom seen; a glorious creature with great blue eyes , into which one might look day below, there were pale faces among the hearers. The saying argued a supernatural knowledge. ‘‘] crave your pardon, noble sir,” said the skipper, who did not share in the superstitious feelings of the crew, but merely looked upon the lion’ is head as a clever device to he caer mys- tery and so excite terror; and as he ke he approached the stranger nthy in hand, in the | after day for y ears to come and yet find a new most humble manner, evident Bs Ase no easy | beauty each new day to rew ard the search; task for him so to appear. oes your | hair rich, dark-gold in hue, and as fine as finest lordship seek on board of our te pa ‘“Who and what are Ph e?” asked tho stranger, speaking now in the English tongue, having previously used French. The skipper hesitated to reply; he was evi- dently reluctant to use his own language for some reason. “Don’t you understand English?” the Lion Captain questioned. A little, noble sir,” the skipper responded, hesitatingly. ““Speak, then, man, and don’t lie, for I'll wager my craft yonder and all she contains you first spoke English ere you learned any other tongue,” The skipper was perplexed; this Greek pirate used his mother tongue like a native. ‘“We are only poor fishermen, your honor blown out of our course by contrary ¥ winds, anc — now seeking some safe harbor. ral ‘i A contemptuous laugh came from the lion’s head. the life of this gentleman, who is now so strange- ‘‘And is the harbor of Algiers so safe that | ly disguised for a man of his parts. Down to Fo ee tn of ances Delco ie Air he hee spe . ares the Moor as slaves?’ pense for your action; she has saved your life ‘ ~**Oh, no, ce Algiers!” cried one of the crew, | but to what fate have you decoyed her ?” orror-siricken. “Oh, no!” aie rest chorused. ‘‘ Cartagena!” | tion, a sullen look upon his dark face, and it was « Alg ers lies yonder, not two leagues off,” B mes that he chafed terribly under ‘the merci- and the strai, zer waved his hand toward the | less examination of his tormentor, strand—tho low sandy coast. ‘“‘And it is a | ‘I know not what you mean, sir,” he said, at mercy tuat the Algerines have not swooped | down upon youloug ere this; but you are ahead of your time, good master skipper’ you have sailed better than you calculate upon, for you | are not due for an hour yee.” Despite th® firni conmmandthat the dark-faced remaster ofthe larvecr had over his fédtires he tr was startled ut thdwortls: of the’ Dion® Cup in reand ‘betrayed his unsasiness-in his fieé: silk that patient silk-worm ever spun; lips red whole world of love; the complexion so perfect that pearls might pale with envy, anc the handiwork t had lavished upon this most Her form, perfection itself. rfect creature. exquisite woman. nd now with all the charms of her beautiful men—those charms that few eyes had ever look- ed upon, womankind alone excepted, she knelt and cried for mercy for the mar doomed by the fo ranger to such a quick and sudden death. pa. decided change in his manner now, his voice re-pectful, even kind. ‘‘ Your boon was trick me with a falseliood. I know more of you _and of your plans, and of your master’s plans too, than you think for!” Again the skipper started and glared angrily and suspiciously at the stranger. ‘* Aha! I touch you on the quick again!” the “ Aha! TI reached’ homie thay thhd? aren ts Lion Captain cried. ‘Oh, you and this other | ostrangerisnedtort.’ '*vAad Ate 45 2 Bee ‘!°Whom you wot of, have planned shrewdly, but iygood Mastet Richard ‘Ternarell, ore you have done with me you sb ‘find ‘ ealledsBiack Diek of Creer :Bat! cone Ae bear when you wear the bh rine foknow vot, although 'T have tic’ dout ot ot hatcyou are a¢ "good a’\Moor as aiiy’ of the rest ‘etten hé turned to the lady. (sf them <Edid not: ize YOu po mas- | gat to eh in some way?” uk of his ** Can I not be of | vyqueradinglike acommon fisherman. | itt éome! No, si a not,” she replied. She had _We are wasting time)” Wou' thavé- a Hell cargo > ‘ risen to! war was surve ring the strange | eaboardithatdewill' rélieve'you'of, for fear that | disg that’ t oy ore with curiosity. Hhesedugh of Algerines ‘fay’ tale it! frori ‘You, meee Ny? lar ie my appearance, lady,” thecunchristian rascals! Produés it - e lion’s head bodes " The skipper wes thintérstruck: for the teten: neti a yi u,. Heaven knows, dear crger hadna ted shim’ oily too ' correctly + dnd ‘and he dy, T h jane you 86'Well that I could al- aiso understood the mesiitiee Or Una ay a wn_the f rfeit, ht hand if I \ thon are mristikena, ndvle Sel HS c ey Soule a x a Bake een ard of my strying hardté\dissemble, *wé"Have® Bat’ o ut cou i xh lives)’ roam r4t> Fours: honor "seeks" ‘Ghent we ith bs Lrybuvsmeney. 9 1 * aebs97TRIp ote DOCU “CWO, We'll “fake. your - life sinesvou Offer it ‘80 — ote aertioe rrhess la , i and: you, honest oe eee it hier : walkiit. ‘There's 405i P Hof. As pl may Dae Tonowet1ockkois an ‘the ou fo your. ad oe but, ine yout. ai a oie omni on! _ ever existed; t The Lion of the Sea. as rubies, and so rich in dewy fr eshness that they seemed to hold within théir soft confines a | roses | droop in despair, not daring to attempt to rival | hat the great goddess, Nature, , In fine, nature | never created—art never represented, @ more. face exposed to the free gaze of these strange | ‘* Do not fear, lady,” said the Lion Captain, a_ granted ere it was asked; your appearance saves | The man slowly returned to his former posi- | “Oh, you are a much ill-used man!” the other | exclaimed, in mockery, “‘but do not attempt to — I ihat the a who flies the lion’s Head from the | craft has means of information | méwhat superior to the rest of mankind.” | ith lends has the care. a? ine with‘a pi ‘i fa st ily Sho ek Gt pictat sohows join rage, but word he dared not speak, ane Re aaa Cae “4 3 and as she spoke she pointed to the black ensign now flaunting proudly in the breeze. ‘Yonder ship is called the Lion; I am her _master; no nation claims her, and she sails the seas.owning no master save my sole will; but of this one fact be assured, that ship fires no gun against any vessel that flies the St. George's Cross, old England’s banner!” “But, why do you take this interest in me, a stranger?” she asked, her curiosity excited. + re % cannot answer that, at present; but in the future I may be able to ex lain. For the last time I implore you to quit this doomed craft and seek refuge on board of my snug and stanch sea- bird, as good a vessel as floats the waves this day. “It may not be—it may not be,” she a listlessly; ‘‘ although I go to my death: ust I go!” '\“ You are destined for a fate worse than | death!” cried the Lion Captain, impulsively. |. ‘Worse than death!” echoed the girl, open- | ing, her great blue eyes wide in astonishment. _. * Yes, a thousand times worse to such a wo- man as I think you are! _ * Alas! I do not know what I am; I am not even sure of my own name!” she exclaimed, pa- thetically. “What! is it as bad as that?” ‘“‘From early infancy I have been kept in ig- norance in regard tomy birth, and who or what I am. I know that I am called Cleora; but, what else, 1 know not. I know that I have a father—I have seen him twice when he visited me in San Tropez—I am going to him now at Cartagena—” _ “Tt isa foul lie, lady!” the Lion Captain ex- claimed, abruptly. ‘*You are many leagues from C artagena, and you are not two from the _ city of Algiers, the nest of these accursed, dus turbaned pirates, the very scum of the earth! “Tl know nothing but what I am told,” the lady replied, helplessly. ‘This gentleman brought a message from my father—his written command to come to him and to trust myself entirely to this gentleman’s care. My father wrote that. he i isa man of broken fortunes and could not provide me with a better escort. I mow my father’s hand—Heaven a me! bet- ter than my father’s face! What should I do but obey his written will?’ 2 Lady! cried the stranger, impatiently, “ f _had no idea that you were so utterly ignorant _of all that concerns yourself and fortunes, but you shall dwell in this doubt no longer. I know your birth and race, and what I know I[ will unfold to you. Your name is Cleora—Cleora Craven. You are the daughter of Thomas Cra- ven, Earl of Crofton and Knight of Engleboro!” “Oh! is it possible that I am so well descend- ed?’ cried the lady, clasping her hands together ert Yell descended!” cried the stranger, in bit- ter disdain. ‘* Ah! better were it for you, lady, to be the daughter of the poorest peasant England, if he were an honest man, than to come of the tainted line that calls your father its head! Iam speaking bitter words for a daugh- ter’s ears, but you will learn the truth some time, and it is ‘better for you that you should know it now.’ The black-faced skipper set his teeth to eg or he stood in w a po awe of the strangely-dis- lap fee ‘Gaon, g9.0n! worst; thgtean.be said. Perhaps you speak | bel the lady cried; ‘‘ let me hear andfathéry Conavatotet or hae “Tién “df rast | the -y0ice ef-adoe, and when I am face to ‘yo eens iapimt tte" oO Be BY’ 1 vols Piet pee ann . al ee 1 mB father she hae easily disprove the fen: ‘sala vow ¥ ia chanin chance there was #'si eee a a | 4h” uthat <s will. find him in when tity i RuDSAFE She 1 ae wee ‘sy beet oh@ty KeaGh the lend willohe ample. proof that I f — ogeeally Panels er Au uipori't ch uree nothing but the truth,” the stranger re- { N Sih pi iafig@uatihy. dz ° dor ~~ orm att wean vd ial eaters Tétitirell * -, ove Be ws ES, Aah on! Pe burn with impatience!” she athestranger as ne i spe b . ' the, 0%) cat: ro ay < rlot: irw't ' Tass eee nee TAG Bd ay Baal ‘of ile G95 a mad Shed fel ee it dat eT hemes Graven, Earb of Crof- itor this fdkdath S16 sue Qikeg ‘onb,* : fea tony Wasa used, anden honored friend of the you'll cheat the hangman. w whe Py ost dettanily, tt tah he, Tt “mart arles the Finst, and when he ote div" wt eTai fh ait Jaety Hen is che - ae . per ohare pu exhibited more nd’ RasBaglislehh: his faed F ndPrefivit $han | nve? ts aa ief,,-OF eo more -lendky: to. revenge: shis black, step upon thé? ane anit adivaniced * ¥ es a ot! 4 pet ca Sand revenge, the awfulrévent he did by halfway ap thdwaih © ot td treat atv) ‘“Tady, ff pty oF at ic be! donart ting tothe, enemy, on. the first: favorable w *sMowy!thien,‘& Step "Wo! ribre and 1 uy han ing rok you, ce eke opportunity, « carr ~with him x important solve that great myste ah PA which has® hia Pit Pa woul v0 a if, spaRe rs, Sh nonsenie which, disclosed to Crom- manmya mats héall int Mi : ete ce, ft is evel aided n.ore than, anything: else to ques wTBhe rast watched the? eo crew With | rarh and “plate in yet tt a: my. “fe rafal, of the reyal cause.” .<.0rr ow horror ,2the sbrangers” Htranvers with eae ; ayer a h game drom the lips ofithe. girl, from the* ‘little hel Wee ry i: ; toe iat 4s. your, erat. cd pel? er fair bands.she covered-her glorious her vail now bast-axide in ‘the agitation’ of Fe, bie n ray ao. yo ‘wea _asked, | past Bm by: the act; she--would atest Te moment; atid flun herself upon her knees, cry 25 a: ish’ Ih language, memLrance, pet ear © Kor theldveof Heaven, Mecpes sir, Stain’ fot fay mot ex” "tank § At it, ike a, native; you). ,‘‘ Ob, ng; it eannoti-be truel” she saickat last, your sou? With ‘this deed of “Horfor !”” she ¢riéd, | drbssett domething. like’ an Eplish sailor, in accents wild. b- that lion’s head is not tie flag of England,” | quite feebly. ‘Tt is true!” the Lion Captain replied, firmly. COMIC ‘S 0)(0)(0) (€@)