Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1117 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

" ‘ At Ves 2, Q a) B.S ag ay 2 Merle, the Middy; The Heir of an Ocean Freelance. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ MERLE, THE MUTINEER,” ‘‘ MON- TEZUMA, THE MERCILESS,” ETC. CHAPTER LI. DOGGED BY DESTINY. Ir wasa dark era for the fair land of Per- sia, Iwo years before a strange heir had been called to the throne, a man whose mother had been a Persian princess, and whose father had been an American, whom a cruel destiny had sent drifting about the wide world on sea and land, now a prisoner to a cruel Moorish mas- ter, again a captain of a corsair craft, and in the end known by the name of Freelance the Buccaneer, one of the most noted rovers of the Southern waters. Born upon the ocean, the son of Zulah, the Persian princess, and Freelance the Buccaneer, was a veritable child of the sea, and from a ““ Waif of the Waves,” became first known to history as Merle the Mutineer, and after cruel misfortunes into which Fate led him, arose like a star in its glory, as Montezuma the Mer- ‘ciless,* whose revenge upon his foes even to- day brings shudders to the hearts of those who know them as they were. Living for revenge until he accomplished it in all its bitterness, he in the end married Mil- dred, the one woman of his love, and sailed for the native land of his mother, where he ar- rived in time to become Prince of Persia. But there were those in that luxurious land of the Orient who hated him, in spite of his nobleness of soul and kindly ruling, for he was not of them wholly, and a bitter rival sprung up in the person of a young kinsman, whose coming Montezuma had prevented from grasp- ing the cimeter of power, To add to this batred of Prince Montezuma, Frince Kaluta saw and loved Mildred, the beautiful wife of his cousin; and a bold, bad man at heart, he determined to usurp the power and have all his own way. Faithful subjects to Montezuma bore to him the plot against him, and at the earnest en- treaty of his beautiful wife, he decided to yield his power to his cousin Kaluta, and, with Mildred, his riches and his slaves, to seek an- other land in which to dwell for the remainder of his life. ‘‘ At heart, Merle, you are an American, and not a Persian, and what care you for power? ‘‘ Yield to Prince Kaluta the throne, and we will seek a home elsewhere,” had urged Mil- dred. “J will doas you wish, Mildred, and for- mally resign my power to ‘Kaluta within the week, and at once have my yacht, the Nemesis, loaded with my treasures, and send my slaves on board to get gll in readiness.” Such was the response of Monteszuma to his loving wife, and he at once gave orders to car- out his wishes. But little he dreamed that the wicked Kaluta was not content with the throne, but was de- termined to keep Mildred also in Persia as the queen of bis harem. The flight of Montezuma and Mildred, the birth of their son amid storm and battle apart the sea, and the career ‘* >*to» veare of tuat little son, Merle, form the theme of this ro- mance, kind reader, for he, like his father a pene. of the sea, is the hero of my story. CHAPTER IL. THE FLIGHT. Buwears the shadows of a group of trees stoud aman and woman enveloped in long spake, and with turbans upon their heads, ” * For the romance of the } the lives of “ Freelance = Lamnase “ith; 945 ‘s Monee o 3 No. Montezuiaa ae 38 usny No, 104 , ‘+ af WA ho rey? . oe Se “| 4" wrk Pasko oo. Ge Se |) ad Oe ore IGr"ws “i % ram a a ~ ¥ mee Sin 2 Oa } A Wy ier : ** Se i fy tees Sop Fs Merle, the Middy. — —_—_—-- eee The siapeltehs rendered the scene one of sil- very beauty, and cast light enough within the shadows to reveal the tall, commanding form of the man and the slender, shrinking form of the woman, for she clung to him as though in dread of danger. ‘‘ Mezrak comes, and we will soon know all,” said the man in a low tone, as a dark form came toward the group of trees. The moonlight, falling upon the one ap- proaching, revealed an Abyssinian slave, biack as ebony and attired in rich, oriental garb, His body was Jarge and long, his legs stout and short, and his arms of huge length, while his head was massive and t e face revealed courage, indomituble will and cunning. Ke came at a swift pace to the trees, and, raising his clasped hands to his brow, bent low at the sight of those standing there, and said in the Persian tongue, and a voice that was soft and pleasant to hear: ** Mighty Sidi, the yacht is ready, and the Prince Kaluta is wild with rage that you dis- obeyed his will, and is to pupae in his armed cruiser.” ‘‘Ha!l he would tear you from me, my beautiful Miidred, as faithful Valik told me was his intention, and you have suspected; but he will find the crew of the Nemesis subject to my will, not his, and woe be unto him if he follow me to sea,” said Montezuma, for he it was whom Mezrak had addressed. ‘‘Come, then, Merle, let us hasten,” cried Mildred, nervously. “Ts all in readiness, Mezrak?’ ‘Yes, mighty Sidi, your slaves have obeyed your every wish,” answered the slave. ‘* And the yacht?” ** Lies yonder in the cove, Sidi.” ‘Then all is well. Come, Mildred, let my arm support you.” Hardly had they gotten out of the» shadow into the full moonlight, when there came a stern order from beyond a wall not far away, followed by running feet. The steady tread told, Montezuma that they were the footfalls of soldiery, and he at once raised Mildred in his strong arms and bounded away at marvelous speed for one who carried the burden he did. ‘‘Come, we must fly,” he had said, earnest- ly. But the glitter of the iowa in his turban caught the eyes of half a dozen men who just then came through a portal in the wall, anda second glance showed the fugitives to the eyes of their leader. A sharp word to his men, and the Persian officer and his six soldiers bounded on in pur- suit. They were fleet as deer, and soon began to gain upon those they pursued, and, seeing this, Montezuma halted beneath a large tree, and placing Mildred against the trunk, took a stand upon one side of her, while Mezrak, without a word, stepped to the other. “ Ah! we will be taken,” groaned Mildred. Ts No!” The word broke sternly from the lips of Montezuma, and remembering the deeds of her husband in the past, Mildred regained hope, On came the officer and his men and halting near cried in stern tones: “The mighty Sidi, my master Kaluta, de- mands the instant return of the Princess Mil- dred,” “And what says he of Montezuma?” asked Merle in calm tones. ‘““His yacht is laden with his treasure, his slaves are on board, and he can sail to unknown lands to seek a home,” | ‘‘ And the Princess Mildred goes with me, Mikra,” replied Montezuma firmly. “Tt is the wish of my master, the Sidi, that she does not.” ‘“You and your master are dogs whom I will kick from my path if you stand in my way, so aside, and let me pass.’ - The Persian officer and his men were as- tounded and horrified at this insult to their mighty ruler, who had asceaded to power only £ vs ae ge A ane teeny ? mes. i ‘- d av > * 3 . ‘ ee 6 ere ay a, ve ete Fa Se TN the day before, and instantly they drew their cimeters. ‘Will you stand aside, Mikra, and let us pass?’ said Montezuma drawing his own weapon, and his act being followed by Mezrak, the Slave. ‘Do you dare disobey the Sidi’s command?” éé Yes,”? ‘“‘T shall punish you then as you deserve,” and the Persian officer called to his men, and they all rushed upon the brave man. There were fiery serpents seen in midair in the moonlight, there was heard the ringing of steel against sleel, and then came a groan, @ fall, a shriek of agony, and two men bounded away from the fatal spot, and five others lay dead at the feet of Montezuma and his slave, while Mildred had sunk down against the tree- trunk in a faint. Raising Mildred in -his arms Montezuma bounded on his way, followed by Mezrak, for he well knew that the two guards of the Sidi would report all, and others would come, and to disobey the command of Prince Kaluta meant instant death. Arun of halfa mile brought them to the shore, off which lay asmall and graceful vessel, her sails set, and the waves causing her to tug impatiently. at her anchor. A boat was at the shore, and springing into this Montezuma, Mildred and the slave were soon upon the vessel’s deck. Five minutes after the pretty craft was fy- ing away from the inhospitable shore, and just in time, for a league away was visible the Si- di’s own cruiser in pursuit, and Prince Kaluta had been Rais* of the fleet, and was a good seaman, and well did Montezuma know what would be the fate of himself and Mildred, if he fell into the hands of his vindictive cousin, CHAPTER IIL. BORN IN TEMPEST AND BATTLE, THE Nemesis was an Anerican built schooner, as far as the hull was concerned, having been the yacht of Montezuma the Merciless in his cruises after his foes; but her rig had been changed to lateen, and she had the appearance of an orienta! craft. Long and narrow in the bull, and spreading a vast surface of canvas, she drove along over the moonlit waters, leaving the cruiser of tne Sidi Kaluta gradually astern. A stern chase is proverbially a long one. and so it wasin the case of the Nemesis ana the. Persian cruiser, and eventually the fugitive craft might have dropped her pursuer out of sight. But the moonlight nights kept her in view of those on the cruiser, and her gaim on her pursuer was so slight, that Montezuma could not elude her, and there came no storm to aid | him, only a light breeze that served one vessel as well as the other. Prince Kaluta baving been, as I have said, the Rais of the Persian fleet, Montezuma knew him to be a good seaman, and was well aware of his determined energy in carrying out any design he had formed. Knowing his admiration for Mildred, he had kept her out of the sight of Kaluta for months; but still the wicked prince was determined % one day make her his wife by fair or foul means, and having now, through the death of his soldiers at his cousin’s hands, a good excuse for putting Montezuma to death, he swore to follow him to the ends of the earth. He felt no gratitude that Montezuma had yielded the power to him, but took it as a right, and once possessed of that power was determined to make his kinsman feel it. The cruiser was much larger than the yacht, and fully armed and manned; but Montezuma was not a man to count odds where he intended to act on the offensive or defensive, and he told his men plainly that he) intended to ight wie the death,