Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 280 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

-‘S Me mother and father of Pearl, i4 nee @bhip could not be discovered in there even by afiy one forty paces distant. ~ A wait of an hour, and then the steady dip of oars was beard, and Mezrak, who had been reconnoitering in the gig, reported the boats towing the schooner in, and that they were already in the lagoon. With bated breath all waited, and especially whom they mpnged to see, ani yet dreaded ‘to hear what ‘¢.ight have been the fate of the beautiful girl. Standing upon the deck of the Gold Ship by the side of her husband, who rested in a chair, for he was not yet recovered from his wound, Mrs. Branch listened to every stroke of the oars that brought her daughter nearer to her, and with an anguish which only a mother’s heart ean feel. Nearer and nearer drew the Sea Marauder, the boats headed for the canal, the helm was vub down to point into it, and not one on tLeard dreamed of danger, Then the two boats in advauce entered the canal, the next two followed, and then the sharp bews of the beautiful schooner passed into it. “ On board, lads, and remember not a sh t #3 to be jired ! Take her with the cutlass!” The cry of Lieutenant Trenor fell like a thunder-clap from a cloudless sky upon the oars of the Sea Marander’s crew, and in obedience to his command half a hundred men sprung with mighty leaps upon the deck of the schooner, following their leader, and instantly, almost, the vessel was in their possession, while the crew in the boats, unarmed, surprised and eaught, cried lustily for quarter. At that in- stant a bright light illumined the scene, for a blue ight had been lit upon the deck of the Gold Ship, and upon the quarter-deck, his hand upon the wheel, plainly revealed, stood Vance Marell, the pirate lieutenant, and by his side ‘Pearl, watching the strange wild scene with ter- ror, ‘With amazement they had both heard the ringing cry of Merle Monte, and, with two- thirds of his men in the boats ahead, and those om deck at once cut down by the boarders, the young officer knew that resistance was useless, ‘That pirates were his foes he felt assured, and well knowing in such case what a fate would be Pearl’s, he determined to defend her with his life, or even take her life, rather than it she “should fall into their power. Hence he drew a sword in one hand ‘and a pistol in the other, and, as Lieutenant Trenor, who in Merle Monte’s absence held command, advanced ‘vith several men at his back, he cried: “‘ Back, or you die!” “Surrender, sir, | demand you!” ordered Lieutenant Trenor, sternly, _ “To whom?” «To the Gold Ship.” _““ Never!” was the defiant reply. “Then your fate be upon your own head. Adve men, and cut him down, but fire no shot to hurt the maiden,” _ “Ha! that is your game!” cried the young officer, hearing the words and misunderstand- ing them; and he turned toward Pearl, at the ‘same time placing his sword’s point over her art. She never flinched, but stood like a statue, seemingly preferring to die thus than become the prisoner of pirates—which she supposed the attacking party to be. “God forgive me, but Pearl, my beautiful darling, I will drive my sword through your pure Beart before their vile hands shall pollute you with a touch!” ance Murell said the words in calm defiance of his foes, and he would have kept his word and then fought until he fell; but suddenly a black form sprung over the stern ‘of the schoon- er, a very demon it looked in the wild glare, the sword’s point was knocked upward, the pietol wrenched from the young officer's hand, and ke was at once in the fearful clutch of ak. . _ “Hold, Mezrak! do not harm him,” cried Lieutenant Trenor, springing forward just in time to cateh poor ro hae whom the sight of a _— -— —_* « a4 Merle Monte’ S Fate, '. = —— the sohaal and diagniesd black had caused to faint away. **Senor, we are no pirates, and mean you no harm. ‘‘Come with me, for I bear this lady to her father and mother who await her on yonder vessel,” said Lieutenant Trenor; and in a half- dezed way Vance Murell, whom ho had ad- dressed, and whom Mezrak had released, fol- lowed his captor in silence, gazing the while anxiously upon the face of Pearl as she was held unconscious in the strong arms of the officer of the Gold Ship. Springing ashore, Lieutenant Trenor crossed the narrow strip of land, and thus reached the Gold Ship; and with a glad cry the mother sprung toward her daughter, crying: ‘““My God! is she dead?” ‘* No, madam; she bas only fainted and will soon recover,” assured Lieutenant Trenor, as he placed Pearl in her mother's arms. And, kind reader, over the scene that fol- lowed, when Pearl revived, to find her mother and father not dead, but living, I will draw the vail, for the reunion of those three, so strange- ly parted, and more strangely met, was too sacred to dwell upon. CHAPTER XXIV. THE TRAP, THe night passed away in the Lost Pond, and, reunited once more, the fatber, mother and daughter were happy, and sat in the cabin until a late hour. Nor were they selfish in their joy, for they invited Lieutenant Trenor and the pirate lieu- tenant, Vance Murell, who bad proven such a true friend to Pearl, to be with them to talk over the past and plan for the future. Pearl told her story, and Vance Murell bad his to tell, and thus the hours passed, while the crew put the pirate prisoners in irons, and got both vessels ready to greet Captain Pierre, come in what shape he might. As for Peon, he was kept near Mezrak, whom he now knew was not really Satan him- self, and consequently feared him less. Merle Monte’s absenca was regretted by all, and the bope that he would return in safety was often expressed. In the mean time, while all was satisfactory in the Lost Pond, with the exception of the pirate prisoners, a lugger was standing in to- ward the lagoon which the canal opened into. Her decks were crowded with men forward, but aft only three were visible, and one of these held the wheel. A close scrutiny of the craft would show that it was the same lugger which Captain Mayo Meredith had bailed from the deck of the Sea Wolf, on her way down the river, and with the black washed off of their faces, the two men standing near the helmsman were re- cognizable as Brandt, the Buccaneer, and Cap- tain Pierre, of the Sea Marauder. Captain Pierre was a man of caution in all things, and therefore,-though he telieved the Lost Pond to be known to only himself and crew, he yet would nof run in without recon- noitering, and wher half a league from shore he luffed up, and said: “TN take a boat and two men and run in, for I do not care to get into a trap. “Tf I signal with my Jantern, stand down for me in haste, Mr. Brentano, and keep the lugger off and on under full sail ready to fly, should there be danger.” “ Ay, ay, sir; lower away a boat there, and two men get into it,” ordered Brandt, in his character of Lieutenant Brentano. The boat was at once lowered, and two of the crew promptly sprung to the oars, as Cap- tain Pierre came over the side of the lugger., Away it went, under the strong pull of the oarsmen, and soon disappeared from the view of those on the lugger. Straight for the inlet it was headed, by Cap- tain Pierre, who had the tiller, and crossing this it moved slowly for the mouth of the la- goon, the oarsmen placing their jackets in the oarlosks to muffle the oars. . eset - re SE RT A ER. RHEL TET WEE er rr -'-—"'_—___ om” ee ‘*My oar will creak, sir, so please let me have your cloak,” said one of the rowers, and the one nearest the stern. . Captain Pierre arose to hand it to him, when suddenly his hand was seized with a grip he could not shake off, a pistol muzzle was thrust into his face, and a stern voice cried: ‘‘Surrender, Captain Pierre Dupont, or you are a dead man.” The pirate saw that he was caught in a trap, and that death was certain if he resisted, and be cried nervously: ‘Who are you?” ‘‘T am Merle Monte of the Gold Ship, Odp- tain Pierre of the Sea Marauder,” was the startling announcement. ‘* And you, my man, will you let your cap- tain be seized without resistance?’ cried Cap- taid Pierré, as soon as his amazement would allow him to speak, ‘‘Ob, Iam Little Belt, the first luff of the Gold Ship,” was the careless reply of the sup- posed seaman, whose disguise, like Merle’s, no one could have penetrated. ‘Then I surrender,” was the cool reply of the man, who had regained his nerve. ‘* You are wise. ‘*Hold forth your hands, please,” and Merle clasped irons upon the wrists, and them dis- armed bis prisoner, tied his feet together and gagged him. ‘* Now, Belt, I will land yonder and go by shore to the schooner and get ready to greet the lugger, which you return to and tell Brandt the Buccaneer to run in,” said Merle. The prisoner made a sign that he wished to speak, and Merle removed the gag, after threat- ening bim with death if he cried out. “Did you say Brandt the Buccaneer?” he asked. ‘TI did, and I referred to your lieutenant, Brentano, who is the pirate chief in disguise.” ‘‘Great Heaven! can this be true?” ‘** It certainly is, for he bribed a guard to set him free from the Sea Wolf, and my lieu- tenant here, Little Belt, tracked the man, saw what his game was, watched his chance, shipped on your Jugger, through your agent Giro, and meeting me, I joined him, and here we are,” The man groaned, and the gag was replaced in bis mouth, and he was taken from the boat and tied to a tree for safe keeping until Merle could return for bim. Then Little Belt sprung into the boat and started back to tell Brandt that Captain Pierre said’to run boldly in, as all was safe,. while Merle went along.shore toward the Lost Pond. His sudden appearance upon the deck of the Gold Ship. was a startling surprise. But he had no time to explain matters, so gave his orders quickly, got his boats and their crews into them armed with cutlasses only, and with orders not /o kill Brandt the Buccaneer. Lieutenant Trenor took charge ob one boat, and Vance Murell volunteered to command another, and, as. Merle heard of bis cond.ct toward Pearl, he readily. consented. Then the boats moved out of the canal, and laid in wait under the branches of the trees along the banks. ‘They bad not long to wait, for the lugger came slowly up the lagoon using her sweeps, When opposite the boats, out they darted; their crews threw themselves upon the deck, and, after a short fight, the craft was cap- tured. Brandt the Buccaneer had drawn bis cutlass the moment the boats appeared; but Little Belt was standing by his side, the chief little dream- ing who she was, and instantly striking the blade from bis hand, sbe thrust a pistol to his temple, and cried: ** Brandt the Buccaneer, you are my prisoner at last!” ‘God above! you, Belle Denham?’ gasped the pirate chief. “Ay, ay, sir, and Merle Monte too,” and Merle sprung to his side and. ae seizing his hands clasped manacles upon his w rists, — NY the pegger wes. coptanathin the walhinid. ap Gon G J00 5:€O