Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1117 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

123 But, with the second savage elash of the blades of the leaders, came a shot from the pirate pilot, at a former comrade, and at the same instant the huge cimeter of Mezrak cut a buccaneer down. When he first met the blade of Merle, the pirate officer, seeing that a mere stripling op- posed him, expected to make short work of him; but to his instant surprise, he found he was matched by a skillful swordsman, boy though he was. Almost at once Merle pressed him so hard that he drove him step ‘vy step backward across the deck. The fight was raging around him savagely, and Merle could, by his deadly marks- manship, have picked off a foe or two, ere he engaged the buccaneer officer; but he looked for the highest game and that he was deter- mined to bunt down. Seeing that he could not kill his enemy with his sword, the pirate dropped his hand to his belt to draw a pistol, and at once the act was fatal to him, as seeing it, Merle knocked down the guard of his adversary, and drove his keen blade through his body. A ery burst from the lips of the buccaneer and he sunk to the deck a corpse, just as a warning cry came from the pirate pilot. Turning quickly, Merle beheld coming over the bulwarks, from the deck of the polacca, Brandt the Buccaneer and his men, the irons upon them held firmly as weapons. Instantly be cried to Mezrak a warning, and the freed buccaneers were met bravely and hurled back upon the deck of the polacca, and again secured, though two of them lost their lives in the struggle, one by the hand of Merle, and the other form a cimeter blow given by the giant Abyssinian, who never wounded a foe. Then the youth glanced around him and saw that the brig was won, and his heart beat with pride at his achievement, as Mezrak said: ‘‘My master is worthy of his father, the Sidi.” A consultation was then held, and, as the breeze was light, Merle decided to at once stand out of the lagoon with the schooner, while Brail, the traitor pirate, went in the polacca with one of the men to Vera Cruz, and carried a letter to the captain of the American cruiser at anchor there. “ll carry she letter, senor, butif you sur- render Captain Brandt to the Mexican Govern- ment you’ll get the ten thousand pesos offered as a reward for his head,” said Brail.” ‘‘T care not for the reward, so take the let- ter to the commander of the American cruiser,” replied Merle, “ Yes, senor,” and Brail marveled greatly as he looked at Merle that he should so readily throw away so rich a reward. Going into the cabin of the buccaneer craft, Merle wrote: “7 the Commander of the American Cruiser Sea Wolf: ‘Sra: If you desire to have delivered into your hands Captain Brandt, the Buccaneer, and his bri ’ the Scorpion, run out to sea upon receipt of this let- rer ae Mike MonTe.”’ This letter was given to Brail, who, having also received from Mezrak the promised re- ward, at once set sail for Vera Crug, the man accompanying him being ordered to anchor the craft in the harbor and remain in charge of it until his comrades then on the buccaneer craft should return, when they might have it in common for the services they had rendere‘. Shortly after the polacca departed, the Scor- pion was towed out of the lagoon, and with his small crew manning the vessel, Merle stood off and on until dawn, when he headed to- ward the rendezvous appointed with the cruiser, going by on the way to pick up his yacht, which remained safely at anchor where he had left it, It was late in the afternoon before the cheer- ing cry came from one of the men, of— ** Sail ho!” Then around a point of land dashed the Merle, the Middy. cruiser, coming along merrily under a press of sail, As she drew nearer it could be seen that the men were at their guns, ready for action, and astern of the cutter was now visible, driven under a tremendous pressure of canvas, the polacca, with fully a dozen seamen upon her decks. As the cruiser drew nearer, Merle luffed up and lay to, and Mezrak on the yacht followed suit, and the two vessels lay quietly awaiting the coming of the American. Running down within a cable’s length of the Scorpion, the cruiser also luffed up into the wind, and a stern voice hailed: ‘‘ Ho the brig!” “AY, OF, ait.” : ‘(Ts that the buccaneer craft Scorpion?’ ‘“‘Ay, ay, sir,” again answered Merle; and a cheer broke from the American crew. ‘‘Ts Senor Merle Monte on the brig?’ ce Yes. ”? ‘¢T will come on board and visit him.” As though still prepared for treachery, should any be meditated, the crew of the cruiser still remained at their guns, and a boat, filled with marines, and with two officers in the stern-sheets, put off from her side and headed for the Scorpion. It was certainly a surprise to the American officers to be met at the gangway by a mere boy, dressed in sailor garb, and to observe that there were but four men visible upon the buc- caneer’s deck, ‘‘T would see the Senor Monte, my lad,” said Captain Mayo Meredith, of the Sea Wolf. ‘My name is Merle Monte, sir,’’ said Merle, modestly. ‘¢ You! impossible!” ‘‘T am Merle Monte, sir.” ‘¢ And you wrote me this letter?” ‘7 did, sir.” “‘ And are the captor of this craft?” ‘¢ With the aid of a few men, yes, sir.” “ And of Brandt, the Buccaneer, you state in your letter.” éé Yes. ? “This is certainly the Scorpion, for I have chased the craft often enough to know; but where is the buccaneer chief?’ ‘‘In the cabin, sir, a prisoner, with five of his men.” ‘There is some strange mystery in all this, my lad.” ‘¢ None, sir, for accident put it in my way to capture Brandt, the Buccaneer, through a plan formed by my slave, Mezrak, and, one of his men proving traitor, J was enabled to also get possession of the Scorpion.” ‘‘Senor Monte, you have done a brave man’s work, though you seem to be but a boy in years; but pardon me if I ask a direct ques- tion,” and Captain Meredith seemed confused. “Certainly, sir, I will answer you.” ‘¢ Are you in reality a boy ?” “T do not understand you, sir.” ‘‘ Again pardon me, but your very beautiful face and slender, graceful form lead me to sus- t that you are—” ‘Ha! ha! ha!’ laughed Merle; “ you mis- took me for a young girl.” ‘‘T did, I frankly confess, and do.” “ No, sir, Iam no girl, but a boy, I assure you, captain, as Mezrak can vouch for.” “You are a Mexican, from your name, and et—” ar I am not a Mexican, sir, but I bave a home on the coast, and was returning with Mezrak to that home when chance led Brandt, the Buccaneer, into my power.” ‘‘ Your English is perfect, and I hope you are an American,” continued Captain Meredith, more and more interested in the mysterious youth. ‘‘T was born at sea, sir, but I am an Ameri- can in heart, as my father was before me, and for that reason I surrendered this vessel and her captain to you.” “And thereby threw away ten thousand dollars which the Mexicans would have given you for Brandt’s bead.” <n re ee eee ‘‘T care not for the money, captain, and the: vessel and her buccaneer chief are yours, but f must beg you to release my messenger, whony I see you have brought back with you.” ‘‘ Yes, I was not certain it was not a trap, so brought him along as a hostage. ‘¢‘ He is free to go.” ‘‘'Then come with me, Brail, and I will land you in safety, while these other men who have served me can take the polacea and return to Vera Cruz,” said Merle, and the face of the heretofore alarmed traitor pirate brightened at his words, ‘“‘But, my dear young sir, you have won your spurs by the capture of a man and his vessel that have eluded the cruisers for two years, and, as you seem to be a seaman, I shall not take the honor of the capture from you, but give you a prize cruise and send you to the United States as second in command of the prize. “Tf you do not get a middy’s warrant for your gallant act, you will have served a most thankless Government.” Merle’s face flushed with pleasure, and he turned to Mezrak, who had run the yacht alongside and come on board. The Abyssinian understood the boy’s look and addressed him in the Persian tongue, which turned the eyes of all upon the black, A few words passed between the boy and the slave, and then Merle said: ‘‘] thank you, sir; but can Mezrak accom- pany me, for he has done as much as I have to capture the pirate?’ “Who is Mezrak?” ‘*My Abyssinian slave here.” “Yes, if you wish it, he can go.” ‘¢ Thank you, sir,” and after escorting Cap- tain Meredith to the cabin where Brandt and the other prisoners were confined in irons, Merle held along conversation with Mezrak, the result of which was that the boy deter- mined to go in the Scorpion to the United States, and the black was to accompany bim, while the yacht was given in charge of Cap- tain Meredith, who promised to put a middy and several men on board torun it back to Vera Cruz, where it was to be left in charge of the Padre Superior of the college, subject to the youth claiming it at will. The polacca, which Merle had given to his faithful allies in the capture of the pirates, soon after departed, with each one on board happy with a golden souvenir given them by Mezrak, and just at sunset the cruiser and the yacht headed back to Vera Cruz, while the Scorpion, with a prize crew on board, and Merle as acting junior officer, and the bearer of dispatches from Captain Meredith to the Government of the United States, spread her huge sails and flew over the blue waters of the Gulf. CHAPTER XXL MERLE, THE MIDDY. In good time the Scorpion ran up the beau- tiful Potomac and dropped anchor in front of Washington. Those were not the days of telegraphs and steam-engines, and consequently her coming had not been heralded weeks before her ar- rival, As she glided by the different vessels of war at anchor in the river many an eye was ad- miringly turned upon the beautiful craft, and several old tars, who had late/y returned from cruising in the Indies, said: “Tf that lively craft don’t turn out to be the pirate Scorpion, then I’ll stop my grog for a month o’ Sundays.” ‘¢ And it’s promotion to the officer who has capter’d her, ef she be ther brig o’ Brandt the Buccaneer,” responded another knowing one. Delighted at all he saw, and proud at being in the United States, Merle stood on the deck watching the Potomac’s shores, the vessels in the river, the distant city crowned by the capitol, and charmed with all that met his aze. att We anchor there, Mr. Monte, and as you COMICDOOKS.CO | | | | | | i ee ae * “ - oR & - § oy > i 4 mM