Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1165 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

light died, Claudine found herself in the gig rowing shoreward, accompanied by Harold, | Bianca, Racine Ney, and the crew of the che- bacca-boat. .At the little pier they were greeted by Lord | Vivian, who had noted the approach of the car- avel, and seeing a boat put ashore had gone down to meet it, hoping to hear some tidings of his lost daughter, for, whether Claudine had been wrecked or captured he knew not, though he feared the latter, as pieces of the chebacca- boat, which had been scuttled by the crew of the brig, hadcome ashore, causing the distress- _ ed parent to believeshe had foundered with all on board. . With a bound, Claudine was on shore and in her father’s arms, who could only murmur, while tears of joy rolled down his cheek: ; ‘My daughter, thank God I have you once more to love and caress.” “Yes, father, 1 am safe, thanks to the cour- age of these gentlemen, one of whom you have before met and to whom I hope, you will extend a cordial greeting,” and Claudine presented Bi- anca ‘to her father, who received both him and Harold with marked consideration! Leading the way, Lord Vivian, still holding the hand of Claudine, conducted the to the villa, where, after they had partaken of refreshments, Harold and bianca asked for an interview with the nobleman in the library. It was readily granted, and having motioned his guests to seats, Lord Vivian said: “T have already learned from Claudine, gen- tlemen, the sgh & story of her capture by the English brig, and her recapture by your cour- ral and my heartfelt t are due you th. | “'T> you, Mr. Marmaduke, I must offer m hand in pardo&, for my daughter has also made known to me the romantic circumstances of our eventful life. Believe me, sir, I disliked believe the aspersions cast upon you by Lieu- tenant Montclair; but, captain, you asked for an interview; please pardon this digression.” “ Assuredly, my lord. I am glad tosee you acknowledge your error, and offer the hand of fellowship to my noble friend here, whether his ents were Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, for I am not a believer in any creed that condemns a man for the sins of his forefathers,” - Bianca spoke in his usual decided tones, and the nobleman was evidently touched by the ten- or of what he said, for he replied simply: “T agree with you; but, human nature often- er errs on the wrong path ‘than in the right.” ‘‘Lord Vivian,” then abruptly said Bianca, “you have with you here a young man, by name Racine Ney. Will you tell me how you first. mot him?” . *“T will, with pleasure. It was in Switzer- land years ago, and when Claudine was a little girl. She had rowed out upon the lake, near a villa where we were visiting, when a large dog her constant companion, seeing her, swam ou and attempted to get into the boat unheeding Claudine’s commands to desist, for she was fear- ful he would overturn the frail skiff. ‘‘ Her fears were realized, and she was thrown into the deep water, and, unable to swim, would have drowned but for a lad who went to her as- sistance, and by almost superhuman exertions brought her to the shore. : ‘* The lad was Racine Ney, then a mere wan- derer, for he was going along the road, when witnessing the overturning of the boat, he bravely gone to the rescue. “Struck with the handsome face and frank manner of the youth, I questioned him regard- ing himself, and found that he lived in America, had been taken from his home by a man who galled himself his uncle; but, becoming tired of blows and curses, he had at last left him and was seeking employment, : “From that day Racine Ney was my friend, and I did all in my power to make his lifé pleas- ant, for I saw that some trouble was constantly on his mind. | ‘* Coming to America with me, he soon thor- ly learned these waters, and possessing, as he did, considerable Sc sins pane I nchien in eommand of the chebacca-boat, uilt iim @ rus- tic cottage on the hillside; and made him a kind of, generat manager of a3 estate.” : “Lord Vivian, I thank you. In return let me give you the story of tactic Ney,” and Bi- anca spoke of how he had been kidnapped with his sister, when the two were children, and how Sgr oe ae from his heme by the man who was seeking revenge upon a wo Nn, man who had inherited the fortune his crimes | “'The treatment received by Racine, seems to : - a ee _ > 5, a « « 2 Fe =} io - . ee = ee + Se a _-. = fo —s © me a - - a - 2 - -~ * a > ~, -- 4 : ‘ 3 . > Y « . 4 ~ : , hi * F. ~ >. . af ys - Fe . - o v - wes - ‘ + 3 ae . ~~ : . ‘ uf y . i. z é 7. * 4 = » a meg ee ee er nn ee me i we aw se ~ eee as ° — - = - : oe _———— ee way ? i a ee re ee wt ty Ss + —s a a —s oe . » = ° ~ 7 A a . io ti —a od ~ ~ . 2 ’ ° - e* I ee tg er Ot te et oe ery — ee Pa -“ * Sr aed ‘a « bo re ? ‘ - oe be ” re ** 2 aa ‘ . - k ~Z ‘ . a aE | — -* sd Porn a es PT ne penn a ee ee ree ~~ : - —o——-- ~*~ ~~ ~ % . \ > ao? ‘ A i ol - Oe -. > ~ * ; ; ’ ’ o> ‘ : a , —- si ‘ Soe > : ~ ° . ey -_— a SS Se aa YS wes WH - i.) NS me 4. r OY ee ‘47 ——_w , “/ ee” . | as ys a om = a. eS et , TS AS we : S 7% 4 =. rim wv, r re, et ae "7... > a, : "<5 aw — . tare > eae ger LK ew - ss | PSS : “a +.>+ » 2 > Sleiaie sees oe . rd a e. ” * oo . m7 . ra ae me ah ex oe vit i “he” ee ee aN » a a -_ -. - — Beadle’s Half:Dime Library. have been such as to almost cause him to forget his happier younger life, for 1 have talked much with him upon the subject. ‘From his poor little sister, Clarice, he was separated, he says, soon after arriving in Vera Cruz, and bs knows not what became of her, other than that she was taken from the Mexican house where they were stopping, by a woman, old and hideous; his supposed uncle kept him with him, carrying him to sea, and from what Racine says, Il am confident the kidnapper was — rege than the noted smuggler and pirate, ngelo,’ “Tndeed! that ferocious brute who has so long escaped punishment, and under numerous disguises has mingled with the officers of the very vessels of war sent against him!” ‘‘Ay, my lord, I believe that Angelo and my uncle are one and the same. ‘‘Tt is now my intention to sail for Vera Cruz, carrying Racine with me, whom I hope you can spare. ‘‘ He is at your service, Captain Bianca.” “Thanks, my lord; my third luff, Edmund Orlando, is desirous of returning to his own country, so I will proceed to New York and lace him in command of my old vessel, which is fitting up there for the Mexican Government as Racine shall have his place on the Steel elt. ‘‘Then I will sail for Vera Cruz, serving the United States en route, and endeavor to find some trace of little Clarice, after which I shall head up the coast, cross the ocean and visit England with Harold, here, that we may trace the history of his phar ** Would you put your heads into the lion’s mouth, captain? Do you not know that you would be hung as spies, if captured?” “Ay, ay, my lord; very true; but risk noth- ing, nothing gained, and we will not be taken. ‘Now duty calis, and we must obey, so if you will summon Lady Claudine we will say fare- well. . An hour later and the Steel Belt, skillfully guided through the darkness of the dangerous channel, by Racine— stood seaward. Touching at Sandy Hook, under cover of the night, Orlando was landed at the home of Enoch Ellis, who was to see him to New York and pilot the Mexican cruiser to sea, and again Claude Bi- anca and Alin e Ellis met, to part more deeply in love with each other than ever before. Down the coast flew the privateer, capturing severa) prizes, and now and then engaging in a combat with some vessel of war, until the name of the Steel Belt became famous—admired b the Americans, and dreaded by the British. At last she dropped anchor in the harbor of Vera Cruz, and leaving Muriel in command, the three friends, Bianca, Harold and Racine went ashore to commence the search for the long lost Clarice. | It was a long and tedious search, but was at last successful in finding out her fate, for be- neath an orange tree wasachild’s grave, the resting-place of poor little Clarice, who had lin- gered on awhile, and in a foreign land, among 8 ers, had sunk to sleep. Satisfied that Clarice was really dead, and al- so discovering from his search that. his uncle was indeed Angelo the pirate, Bianca and his companions went aboard the Steel Belt, after a week's absence, and avain the fleet craft put to sea. Capturing a valuable prize off Cape May, Captain Bianca de‘ermined to carry it into New Yotk harbor, as it would give him another op- portunity of seeing the lovely Aline Ellis, who was ever in his pe nS : a! poeccateyy the Ne sil ay nee 3 shortly after sunset, the Steel Belt and her prize an- chored beneath the Highlands, and was boarded by Enoch Ellis and Aline, who had seen the ap- proach of the well-known privateer. ‘* Welcome, cay tain; and Harold, my noble- boy, I greet you; but do you know you have -some one ‘ stealing your thunder? ” yn : — ~~. S ‘* How mean you, Captain E}lis?” asked Claude Bianca, as he still, absentmindedly, clasped Aline’s hand. “Why, your old rival, Montclair, with the twin of your versel, has received all the credit of your deeds down the coast! ‘‘She came into New York a few days since, and to-night will put to sea, for one of my men has enlisted on d, as she needed a regular pilot for these ~vaters. Although Montcleir has really done sorne service, he keeps mum about there being another craft afloat like his own, and swallows complacently all the praise for what you have done.” | " “Tdeed! hen we'll sail to-night also; follow him “% se,and give him another scare; but, ‘ a a“? . - ~~) — < ~~ F -_ ¥ iy 4 . lites re oy a ees eS . > a é 7 i wee ‘ +r . os ~ * = i reine Captain Ellis, we are then bound to England to search for the missing link ig Hlarold’s life, and after we have found it, will return to the coast. of Maine, and make all perfectly clear in the eyes of my Lord Vivian—” ‘‘ Lord Vivian! Lord Raphael Vivian! Is he an American?’ demanded the pilot, excitedly. ‘‘ Ay he is, and it is his lovely daughter that Harold here loves more than he does life.” “My God! how wonderful are the workings of that unseen Heaven! y power. Captain Bian- ca, Lord Vivian has a daughter, you say?” ‘Ay, ay, sir—a most beautiful creature. I would describe her for you, did I not fear te make Aline jealous.” ‘* Not a bit of it. I love the beautiful ever, especially in my own sex,” answered Aline, pleasantly. ‘* A daughter! and she is beantiful, and good? He lives in America, then, upon the rugged coast of Maine? Well, all is for the best, per- haps,” and the pilot spoke musingly, aud as though his thoughts were far in the past, ex- huming buried memories. . Suddenly he said; ‘‘ Captain Bianca, when you have visited Eng- land and gained the knowledge you seek re- ears Harold, promise me you will do me one avor. “ T will, so help me God, pilot.” ‘Thank you. Seek out, in Berwickshire—an old woman, she must be now, by the name of Mary Smythe—and from me, offer her gold sufficient to induce her to come acress the ocean with you to thismy home. Tell her Eaoch Ellis sends for her, and with her greed of gold, it wiil cause her to come, 3 ‘* Bring her here, ere you touch at the home of Lord Vivian, and thither, not only myself, but my wife and Aline will accompany you, for a revelation must be made. ‘* Promise me, Claude Bianca,” ‘* | promise.” | ‘Indeed I thank you. Aline, child, we must get ashore now, for in a short time tho Surf @ueen will be coming down the harbor. Ca J will see your prize safely up to the: ‘ tain, city.’ So saying the pilot and Aiine entered their boat, and an hour after the Steel Belt turned her razor-like bow across the harbor, once more to fallin the wake of the Surf Queen, and to spread. consternation aboard her decks. : The surprise of Lennox Montclair and his officers and crew, to behold astern of them the same p as they sailed seaward, may be well ima- The last time we sailed from this port the same shadow haunted us,” said Lennox, to'Wal- — ter Lyle. : lt is unaccountable,” answered the lieuten- ant, ‘You have as large a vessel, a full comple- ment of men and guns, why not fight him and solve the mystery, Captain Montclair?’ abrupt- ly put in Talbot Latrobe, who stood near. ‘*T am the best judge of my actions, sir,” said Montclair, angrily, but not wishing to be cow- ardly, he continued: | ** Besides, Mr. Latrobe, yonder craft carries the United States flag.” | “True; but I would fight him if he carried the ensign of Heaven, if he'dogged my steps,’” vehemently replied the lieutenant as he w forward. As before, the Steel Belt rapidly gained upom the Surf Queen, and silently plowed by, un-~ heeding the hail from Montclair. Standing directly seaward the Steel Belt was soon lost to view, bound upon her mission across the ocean. CHAPTER XIII, - STARTLING REVELATIONS. | : To follow the Steel Belt on her voyage across the sea would take too much time, so I will hasten on to the scenes more nearly connected with this romance. | Seeking a quiet harbor on the Trish coast, Bi: anca left Carryl Muriel in command, aud Racine to aid him, and departed with Harold for Eng land, both dressed in the Mexican uni who had been in the boat with him, and guided by the information the pilot had given, Harold commenced his search and readily traced hig = s parentage, discovering himself, with pride and = |.“ leasure, to be the descendant of one of Eng- nd’s noblest families, the on ; Anxious to welcome an heir f ~~ 7 4 re hd re 5 . x ' q, . ¢ ea r . = we * s : > - = _: e .-*- = ~ =r = oe MES fs = ep Pai <tr, sS—GomicpooKS ———- ~ a - aS . ss tom, or shadow of their own vessel, | . 4 3 st P roy, 7* carryi rts as citi ft Niprenen ae ng pa as citizens of - heived sei the diary of Arthur Danie | y malo member — of which living, besides himself, w is grand — father, the old” Earl of Marmadnke’ sd Ee to hisname, title “ ~ © . a - > F _ pe py” ey ales 2 % Le. - eos Ce ee) 4 > “ aS ste wr Or es * . a _ i <x uf — * * wi I i. ye * . \ - = i. a . se! 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