Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 103 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

throw off the yoke of the tyrant, Aboo Hassan, and how gladly yield to a milder ruler. In him- self Aboo Hassan is nothing! He is aman ut- terly without ability. He cannot lead a squad- ron in the field, command a ship upon the ocean, nor plan with wisdom in»the council- chamber. Hamet can do all three. And now, daughter, for the part which you are to play. You are now of age, and it is time that you were wedded; you are heart-free, are you not?” ‘‘Where have I seen any man to win my love?” “True, and it was to keep yous wondrous beauty from the rude gaze of the world that I decreed that in public you should always wear a vail. Well, I have a husband for you—no turbaned Moor—no follower of the Prophet—no rine with half a hundred wives, but a Christian like yourself, although in the future, for certain reasons, he may be forced to keep that fact concealed. What think you of this Hamet? He isa good Christian—was so reared by his mother, and although his life has been one of wild adventure yet still he has stuck to his creed. What say you, girl, will you wed with him and queen it over Algiers after his strong arm, aided by my wits, has wrested the scepter from the tyrant?’ ‘‘One question, father!” cried the lady, tre- mulously, “this man—I have met him, have I not! ee or CHAPTER VIIL. THE RENEGADE’S QUEST. “QouLD you name him?” the renegade Eng- dishman observed, with a peculiar look from un- der his heavy, overhanging brows, at the face of his child. o Yes, from ene description I feel sure that I could!” and the girl spoke with the impulsive- ness common to youth. ‘‘ Perhaps you could; but of that no more at present. Now that I have fully and freely ex- plained my position and my aims, will you give me the trust and faith that a daughter should give unto a father?’ ‘Oh, gladly, sir!” she cried, longing to cast herself into his arms, yet restrained by some influence, but what it was she knew not. “My child, confide in me, trust wholly to my guidance and I will place you in a position from which you can look down upon a kneeling world!” Then he folded her to his broad breast, imprinted a kiss upon a white forehead, bade her be of — cheer, assured her that her every want should be attended to, and withdrew, promising soon to return. In the outer apartment tho skipper of the lug- er waited. Not now, though, was he attired in he rude garb natural to the sons of the sea; on the contrary, he was arrayed like an Algerine and a Moor of quality, too, for his garments were of the richest description, and the hilt of the Turkish saber he wore sparkled with costly ms. A man of rank in Algiers was this renegade son of the British isle. Muley Mahomet he was called, and he was chief of the mercenaries who formed the body-guard of the Dey. So uncer- tain was the grip: that Aboo Hassan had of the Algerine scepter, that he dared not trust to his subjects, but surrounded himself with soldiers of fortune whose fidelity he believed he could rely upon, because he. paid them well. The tyrant was nota shrewd calculator, and did not take into account the well-known fact that these desperate blades who sell their services for gold, always go to the highest bidder, and that in time of trouble his mercenaries could hardly be depended upon to back his quarrel to the death. ‘‘ Well, is she reasonable?’ Tendrell asked. A most faithful follower of Thomas Craven’s for- tunes was he, not for gold or worldly advantage, but because he was a foster-brother to the once roud earl of Crofton, and had grown up from babyhood with him. ‘*Oh, yes; she has perfect faith in me, and will follow my bidding to the very letter.” ‘‘ By Satan and all his imps!” cried Tendrell, suddenly, “‘I can’t get over the meeting with that fellow with the lion’s head! It is the stran- gest and most mysterious affair that I ever saw or heard of! The knowledge that he was wonderful, and the way he handled his ship was most marvelous. Never in all my life did I witness such a complete and overwhelm- ing victory. hy, Ali Blue Beard stood no more chance with him than if he had been a country lad who had never smelt blue water. He pounded his frigate to pieces, in no time.” Craven came up close to Tendrell, laid his The Lion of the Sea. hand upon his arm, and then, in a cautious tone, as if afraid the very walls had ears, said: ‘“ Dick, I am not sorry for it. Ali was no friend of either yours or mine. I believe him to be secretly in league with El Tokar to over- throw us, and behind both of them stands a wo- man.” ‘‘ You mean Gulnare, the Dey’s favorite, the queen of his harem?” ‘‘ Yes; she hates us both.” ‘*But why?’ ‘‘ Because she cannot rule us. She is a fool and dreams that the time will come when her will shall be as law to the Dey. Through him she would queen it over Algiers, From the con- fident manner of El Tokar Lhave suspected for some time that he felt certain of some powerful backing. I knew that the scum—the any of the city, were at his beck-and-call because he is a ‘Holy Man,’ and these ignorant wretches, big- oted and fanatical, think that they serve heaven in serving him. The Dey, thanks to her counsel and the advice of El Tokar, is mad to bring on a war with England. Admiral Blake even now with a powerful fleet is at Gibraltar. Aboo Hassan this very day has openly defied the English embassador, and but for my interfer- ence would have at once declared war.” ‘* Algiers is strongly fortified,” Tendrell sug- ‘‘ Yes, and it has stood many a siege in the last two hundred years. Charles the Fifth was wofully defeated when he essayed to storm the city, but that was over a hundred years ago, and while the defenses of the city are no stron- er now than then, the art of of war has great- y improved. Algiers might succeed in repuls- ing Blake, but it is doubtful, for a better commander than he does not now exist in the world, either on sea or land.” ‘‘Gulnare has great influence over the vony ‘“‘ Yes, greater influence than any woman that has ever stepped foot within the walls of Al- giers; and she is crafty, too, and knows how to use her power,” ‘‘ But when the star of the new beauty arises, Gulnare’s power will ily vanish.” Vy : ‘“T trust so,” the other replied, and then changing the subject of the conversation ab- ruptly, he said: ‘But in regard to this Greek rover—my cu- riosity has been strangely excited. 1 would give much to come face to face with him. Do you think that the matter could be arranged?” Tendrell looked at his chief in amazement, but the calm, grave face of the renegade was like a mask, and fully concealed his thoughts. ‘*-You would like to see the Lion-head?” he de- manded, in astonishment. ‘Yes; can you —— the matter?” ‘‘Oh, I presume so, although when I last saw him his ship was flying before the wind with a dozen Algerine cruisers sharp at his heels.” ‘‘Tf report speaks true, there is no craft in these waters that has the heels of him.” ‘**So I have heard.” ‘*T must see the fellow!” Craven ss “Tt is important to my plans that he and I should have a conference. Again Tendrel! stared; this disclosure was al- toge her unexpected. ‘Faith, my lord, the fellow is no friend to you, but rather a bitter enemy.” “Tf he is an enemy then the quicker I dis- cover how powerful he is and how much mis- chief he may be likely to do me, the better. In this life the prudent man is wary how he defies the malice of an unknown foe.” ‘*That’s true enough.” “‘And, therefore, good Tendrell, you must search this Lion of the Seas out; bear him a message from me; say that I have heard of bim; that his daring deeds have excited both my ad- miration and my curiosity, and that I most ar- dently desire an interview with him. "You can find him?’ ‘Oh, yes; there is little doubt about that. If I take the lugger and put to sea the chances are that I shall not have to go far to find him, for I feel sure that he is hovering near the coast some- where. The fellow’s knowledge puzzles me though. Why, my lord, he knows all about you —all about your daughter and the purpose for which you bring her here, as I related to you when I first got in; and it was plainly apparent to me that he had been on the watch for us; it was his intent to reveal your plans to the girl, and so induce her to accept his protection.” A quiet smile came over the face of the out- cast lord, and he nodded his head carelessly. ‘‘ He is well served, that is all; his spies have earned their pay as my men earn theirs: but, one thing, Tendrell, you may rely upon, and | that is, that his knowledge of me and of my | sorts of wives, but a French daneci, Z ES ——— es lans are not half as good as my knowledge of im and his scheines. But, encugh of this; you must set out at once and return not to Algiers until you have held speech with this so-called Greek, no matter how great the time that elapses. Tell him from me that I desirean in- _terview with him, and as soon as possible, as I have some weighty matters to communicate.” ‘*Will he not suspect that it isa trap?’ the other questioned. ‘‘ Undoubtedly; and so, to remove his sus- picions, inform him that he can arrange all the details of the interview; let him take all the precautions that his active mind may gest—throw around the meeting such enderuaiealh that eee, on my part will be impossible. Impress upon his mind that vital consequences maybe the result of our conference—the fate o: Algiers even may depend won it.” endrell listened in amazement. Used eas h was to the schemes of the | «iished earl he full realized that some momentous and gigan plan oecupied his mind, but he was too well a uainted with his chief to press him to a dis- closure until the time was ripe for it. “Tl be on the sea and free of the h: rhor within the of an hour!” he cried, prepar= ing to withdraw. And, hark ye, Tendrei!, take men with you. whom you can trust; but even to them breathe Pes not a word that you seek the Greek pirate at my bidding!” the renegade cautioned. ‘Oh, have no fear of that, my lord!” the other replied; ‘‘I’ve lived long enough in the world to know the value of a still tongue. The man who keeps his own counsel is always the wisest, and if his plans are betrayed he will have no one to blame but himself,” and then Tendrell departed to prepare for his quest. ‘‘ Right, my bold Dick!” the renegade mutter- ed, after his follower had departed. “‘ A man should keep his plans to himself, and so I will, in this matter, until the moment of execution arrives. Cleora is the only soul in this world who has the sligbtest suspicion of the vast enter- prise in which I am about to risk not only for- tune but life itself, but if lam _ successful, then secure for life I will be. But I must avoid this war with England; the Dey must not dare the wrath of Britain; at any _— the English em- bassador must be satisfied, but, if Aboo Hassam is madly bent.on war, might not the English at- tack be turned to my advantage, particularly if it should be a successful oe?” And musing intently upon this difficult blem, the renegade returned to the grand hall where the Dey of Algiers was busily planning how he might capture the bold L-on-head, CHAPTER IX. THE QUEEN OF THE HAREM, | te j4 WurxHovut the walls of Algiers, nestled under ” the shadows of the grim towers of the strong defensive work known as the Emperor’s Fort, was an elaborately-built country house—a man- sion of the most sumptuous description, sur- rounded by a magnificent garden, that in turn being encompassed by a high and strong wall, almost stout enough to resist cannon-shot. Carefully guarded was the portal, and en- trance could only be gained after cautious scru- tin and night, kept watch and ward at the gate. This palace-like mansion was the abode 0 the reigning favorite of the Dey’s harem, Gulnare, and the retreat of Aboo Hassan when he threw aside the cares of government and sought for- getfulness and rest. 9. The night of the day which had witnessed the stirring scenes on the sea, as we have described, had arrived, and the ebon shades of eventide falling alike on both land and sea, had wra the rural palace of the Dey in a mantle of gloom. Gulnare, the Queen of the Harem, as she was commonly termed, sat, or rather reclined, im her apartment upon a luxuriant couch, clad like an empress—no Turkish girl, no fair slave from the Georgian land, but a veritable ‘‘ Frankish” woman, and not over young. A history, indeed, she had. She was French, captured by one of the Dey’s aie (er cruisers on board of a small craft und from Spain to Italy; by name, Marie de Rohan, or, at least, that was what she called herself, although itis extremely doubtful if she had any right to that most notable appellation. By occupation she was a singer and dancer, and in pursuit of her calling was makiug a prefes sional tour when captured by the Algerines, The master of the Algerine galley was a rene- gade Frenchman, who instantly perceived what a prize he secured. The Dey bred had al a lithe; 4 | COMMU OOK) CS on the part of the sentinels who, both day (E@) | .. RSS st oe eet ee see ee +