Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1117 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

, ate | , ~_e “eat Se =e He knew that the Mexican Government had offered a large reward for his head, and the. United States also had several cruisers in search of the pirate. To surrender the man to Mexico would gain for him gold, and what cared he for that? To give him up to the United States would give him a name among the people he intended should be his own. He remembered having seen an American brig-of war in Vera Cruz, and heard her offi- cers talking together at the hotel, and that they then spoke of sailing in a couple of days in search of the very man who was now his prisoner. At once he determined upon his course and said, addressing Brentford: ‘* Are you Brandt the Buccaneer?” The man smiled grimly, and answered: ‘* Be I who I may, boy, I am no fool.” “His name is Brandt Brentford, Master,” said Mezrak. ‘* Yes, and that looks suspicious, ” and turn- ing to the group of prisoners, Merle con- tinued: ‘Tf any one of you tell me the truth about this man I will set him free.” ‘‘’m your man, senor, for I owe the chief a grudge for giving me the cat once, when I didn’t deserve it, and as this looks like a hang- ing matter, ll save my neck and speak out,” said one ofj ‘the men, and who was evidently an American. ‘* Well, what have you to say?” ‘* My freedom you pledge me?’ ‘¢ Yes,” **On oath?” ai Yes.”’ ** Enough. I’d have taken your word, young sever, from your face, but an oath makes it more binding. “That man is Brandt the Buccaneer.” ** He lies,” cried Brentford, savagely. ‘*No, for a wonder I tell the truth, for I have not been given to it of late. ‘Now, young senor, as I’ve told you this much to save my veck, I'll tell you more for gold.” ‘‘ What more car you tell?” ‘*The gold I ask will make known just what I have to tell,” ** What is your secret worth?” ‘“‘T know whsre the buccaneer craft is at apvchor.” **Ah! this pian’s vessel?’ ‘“‘ Yes, young senor, she got badly handled ix a brush. with the American brig-of-war, now lying etanchor off Vera Cruz; but she managed to get away, though with splintered timbers, and a heavy loss in men, and Captain Brandt ran her into a lagoon for repairs, and went on with a few men to add to his crew in town.” ** You know this?” ‘**[ was one of the men.” ** Indeed?” ** Yes, we rep in in the polacca here, which we captured off Corpus Christi, and seeing you, and recognizing your slave here, he said he could make a fortune for us all by following you, so we went off on that tack, and you see that we ran upon breakers,” “Well, my man, pilot us to the ‘lagoon, where the buccaneer craft is at anchor, and ma give you a thousand pesos.” ‘“‘ It’s worth more, senor, for if I’m going to be honest, [ want enough to lay the founda- tion.”’ Merle turned to Mezrak, and addressed him in the Persian tongue, and after the response ef the slave he said: ‘** Name your price?” ‘“‘Five thousand pesos.” ‘I will give it to you.” “I ought to have said ten, for you'll get that for the head of Brandt from the Mexican Government, not to speak of what you’ll re- ceive from the schooner.” ‘* Now tell me, how many men are on board the sehocner?” ‘* Half a score,” ‘You are known to them?” Merle, the Middy. “Yes, young senor,” ‘Well, Pll use you in capturing the craft, and then you shall be at liberty and have your gold,” Turning to Mezrak again, Merle conversed with him for awhile in the Persian language, and then said: ‘Now, my man, we'll go in search of the schooner, and your life is in my hands, so be careful,” ‘“‘ Tll be careful—never fear.” ‘*'You have betrayed your comrades, and if you play a like game with us your death will be sudden. ‘‘ Be faithful, and all will be well. ‘* Now come on board the polacca and act as pilot.” Ten minutes after, having gotten the wound- ed man from the island, and buried the dead one in the sea, the two vessels sailed away— Merle upon the polacca with three of his men and the traitor pirate, and Mezrak on the yacht with three more of their allies and the prisoners. CHAPTER XIX. THE PIRATE PILOT. MERLE had kept the traitor pirate with him, determined to keep his word to him faithfully, if he proved true to him, and to kill him in- stantly at the first syn of treachery. But ere they had gone half a dozen leagues under the pilotage of the buccaneer, Merle felt convinced that the man was really acting from a spirit of revenge against Brandt Brent- ford, and also, perhaps, with a desire to save his neck from the noose, and at the same time get a good sum in gold with which to seek other lands or seas. After talking with the man upon the sub- ject, and finding out just how the schooner lay, it was decided that the best plan would be to keep the yacht concealed along the coast somewhere at anchor, and then to run on in the polacca toward the mouth of the lagoon before dark, so that those on the pirate vessel could see her, and recognizing her as the little craft in which their captain sailed for Vera Cruz, be thrown off their guard. ‘You can take the helm and hail the vessel as we draw near, and say the captain sent you back with a letter to the lieutenant you say is on board, ‘*As we touch the side we will board, and, ‘if there are no more men than you say there are on board, the craft is ours,” ‘Yes, little senor, and my neck is my own, and the five thousand pesos, too?’ ‘Yes, you have my promise; but you are sure there are only ten men on board?” “The officer and eight men, sir, and the negro cook, making ten men.” ‘‘Then I bave no fear of the result,” ‘*Not if you show the nerve you did in cap- turing us, and that giant black Satan slave of yours wields that cutlass of his about the deck as he did when ke boarded the polacca.”’ Several others among the prisoners now told Mezrak that they would serve Merle if he would release them and promise them pardon, and the black hailed the polacca and told the youth so, ‘No, [ll not trust them, Mezrak,” very properly answered Merle, and the pirate pilot said: ‘‘’You are right, little senor, for they are as slippery as eels, and once they saw a chance to change the fight in favor of their comrades, they would do it.” The polacca was now headed inshore, the yacht following, and, finding a good and se- cluded anchorage, the anchor of the Mezrak was let go and her sails furled and all made ship-sbape on board: Mezrak and his crew, bringing the prisoners, now came aboard the polacca in a boat, and the craft was at once headed down the coast, the pirate pilot saying the mouth of the lagoon was but three leagues distant. A fair breeze was blowing, and, standing well ow. Merle so headed the craft that they 11 came in the offing off the mouth of the lagoon just half an hour before sunset, The prisoners were in irons down in the hold, and the traitor pirate, Merle, Mezrak and their allies stood upon deck. Taking the helm, the pirate headed into the mouth of the lagoon, and it was not long be- fore the outline of a vessel was dimly seen back in the shadow of the moss hung trees, The sun set ere the polacca entered the stream, and rapidly the shadows deepened, while, apparently recognizing the polacca, the crew on the buccanesr craft bad set a light. It was a most critical moment for MerJe and his men, for failure meant death to all of them and the release of Brandt, the Buccaneer, and bis men, But the boy gloried in the excitement, and the danger had a charm for him that was most fascinating, As they drew nearer the vessel Merle said, as he took his stand by the side of the pirate: ‘* Remember, my pistol presses against your heart,” ‘“‘T know it, senor, but I’ll not betray you.” “ Tt will be your last act on earta if you de,” *‘ So be it, senor,” ‘* Mezrak, those prisoners are all safe below?” continued Merle, ‘‘T gagged every one of them, master,” ‘‘Then be ready with your men, and when I spring on board let all follow and do their duty.” A low murmur of assent followed, arid then came in clarion tones from the deck of the pi- rate craft: “Ho, the polacca!’? ‘‘ Ay, ay, the Scorpion,” answered the pi- rate pilot, calmly, but in tones that reached the ears of the ove that hailed, for instantly came back the words: ‘Ts that your sweet voice, Brailf’ ‘“‘Tt is Brail, Lieutenant Samas,” ‘‘ Where is the captain?” ‘*Up in Vera Cruz, senor.” ** Why did he not return?” A groan was heard below as the conversa- tion reached the ears of the chief in irons, and he was unable to utter a word or free bimself from his irons, ‘* He sent me down with a few men for you, for he said he did nob wish you to be so short- handed,” ‘‘Tam glad of it, for [I feared I might be caught here like a rat in his hole and be able to offer no resistance.” All this time the polacca, hardly feeling the breeze in that tree-locked stream, was gliding slowly toward the brig. ‘‘How many men have you brought, Brail?” again called out Samas, the pirate officer. ‘‘ Only twenty, sir.” ‘Please let a man catch a line fore and aft, senor,” The officer gave the necessary orders, and the next instant the polacca glided alongside of the brig, the lines were thrown and caught by the pirates, and ect tis upon deck by the side of the man who had led him there, Merle cried in trumpet tones: ‘‘Now, men, do your duty.” CHAPTER XX, WINNING HIS SPURS, STaRTING back at the ringing cry of Merle, the pirate officer found himself confronted by a slender form, while a sword was held at his heart, To surrender meant death at the yard- he well knew, and a quick glance showing him —_ ‘ - od FT Pere ae : P . : A Rawle eae SG Aw a a oi eet ° ‘ «4 a the paucity of Merle’s force, he determined to — resist, and yelled out, as he sprung backward several paces: | ‘*Cut the dogs down, Inds!” As he sprung backward he had ietakity wrenched his sword from its scabbard, and the next instant bis blade crossed Merle’s, So quickly had all this occurred that the _ weapons met ere a shot had been fired, on a either side, and before all of the od force had really gained the eee sien or 2 2a eee 4 s toe .: ; + bi . apes i Dwae SF a yy -* +. « - PS mn