Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 280 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a ee eee ee we a es ee ee - for I have surrendered you and your vessel to this gentleman.” | ‘Ha! Captain Meredith!” cried the chief, evidently momentarily nonplused, as that gen- tleman stepped into the guard-room, ‘““ Yes, Brandt, we mect again, and again do I accept you as a prisoner from Midshipman Monte,” said Captain Meredith, quietly. ‘* Midshipman Monte? sneer.d the pirate. ‘‘Then I suppose his capture of Brandt, the Bueeaneer, has given him bis old place and rank in the navy?” ‘‘Tt would do more than that for him, Cap- tain Brandt, if he would accept it.” ‘* Is be such a fool as to refuse?’ ‘* At present he prefers to cruise in his Gold Ship,” quietly said Captain Meredith. The pirate chief looked earnestly at Merle for an instant, and then said: ‘Merle Monte, do not be a fool, but accept all you can get for your capture of me, for, if you continue to cruise about without a flag you will one day end as [ will, at the yard-arm of a man-of-war.” “T thank you, Captain Brandt, for your ad- vice, but I prefer to do as I please in the mat- ter,” said Merle, coldly. he pirate smiled, and turning to Captain Meredith, he said: ‘‘ Strange as it may seem, sir, I like the boy, and [I liked his father before him, for he was a good friend to me.” ‘*On moment, please, Captain Brandt. ‘It was reported at the court-martial that ep were none other than Merle Monte’s fa- her.” “True, Captain Meredith, and I set that rumor afloat, for I sought to drive Merle from the navy, to further my ends.” - And you did save his life by a most daring 9) “*T did, sir, for I was determined not to see him die on the gallows,” ‘May I ask your motive for this clemency on your part, when you will end your life on the gallows through him?” ‘‘- Yes, it was to obtain his treasure, for if he died, it would be forever lost.” “But you failed in that?” ‘I did, through the boy’s nerve, for he re- fused to divulge the secret of where lay his treasure.” ‘The same which you now have on the Gold Ship, Merle?’ asked _— Meredith, turning to Merle, who answered: ** Yes, on So Meredith.” ‘Tt was left him by his father, sir, who was known as Montezuma, the Merciless, and created the wildest furore in New Orleans a score of years ago by his extravagant living. ‘‘ He went to Persia to live, and leaving there, earried his immense riches with him, along with his wife, and this boy was born one night of storm, in the midst of battle, and his mother died then, while his father was killed. “The faithful slave, Mezrak, whom you know, being the bead servant, brought the yacht to the Mexican’ coast, I then being an under © on board, ‘But I sou to get the treasure, was thwarted oP ezrak, and set adrift in an open boat, and the yacht went ashore on an ? \“Mezgrak saved the infant boy’s life, an brought him upupon that island, and in long years of search I failed to find them; but when at last I did, I determined never to give up until I had the treasure. too. ‘Now, Captain Meredith, you have the his- tory of the boy and his treesure, excepting that my vessel was wrecked upon the island where the-riches were buried, and I escaped death to so and get a vessel to seek the place once more. ‘‘T returned there, to find that the boy had tiwarted me pyein; for he had already secured a vessel, his treasure on board, and it isin that craft, the Gold Ship, that he cruised after me and captured me by a most daring deed. ‘‘Now I am your prisoner, it seems, and it looks as though my end had come; but, as I have lived, I will die, without fear.” The pirate chief had spoken rapidly, and in a manner that proved he seemed anxious to show that Merle Monte was more sinned against than sinning, and Captain Meredith had listened at- téntively to all that he had said, deeply in- terested in what he heard of the youth who had in the past bees his protege and friend, and whose life had been one of such strange romance and i adventure. ‘* Well, Captain Brandt, Iam glad to know what you have told me regarding Midshipman Monte—” “Midshipman Monte,” sneered the pirate. “Why, he is as fit to command a seventy-four Se eee eee eee a ee SSE SS Oe eee ~« Merle Monte’s Fate. ae ee ree ee as you are, and a better officer to-day than half the admirals in the service.” ‘*T agree with you, Captain Brandt, for Mid- navy, is a born sailor and commander, and be has been wronged. ‘But my duty compels me to keep you in crimes, and hang you if you are proven guilty.” “Why not hang me now and be done with it, for my trial can bui be a farce,” said the chief bitterly. “No; if there is one thing in your favor you shall have justice, sir. ‘*“Now I will send ers for you, and have you carried on board of my vessel.” . ‘*T care not where [ am; but what is Merle Monte to @o?” “Fle prefers to still cruise in his Gold Ship.” *“\\ y¥ do you not seize it, as in duty bound, fort: - reeass has no flag.” * Pecuuse, Sir Pirate, I have honor, and Mid- shipman Monte having trusted in my honor, is free to go as he came, with no act of mine to de- tain him.” ‘Then I havea favor to ask.” ‘* Name it.” © It is to request Monte to send a message for me.’ ‘If he so desires he is at liberty to do so,” said Captain Meredith. ** Will you do this for me, Monte?” Yes, if I consistently can.” ** Well, let me whisper to you.” Merle stepped close to the chief, who raised his manacled hands to his shoulders, and drew his ear toward him. Then, quick as a flash of lightning, he sud- denly raised his right hand, and it descended with terrific force straight for the beart of the outh, and in it was a small dirk-knife, with ong, narrow, nceedle-pointed blade, CHAPTER JIL BACK TO THE GOLD. SHIP, Wir a cry of borror at the sudden and daring act of Brandt, the Buccaneer, Captain Meredith had sprung forward to check the blow. But he bad been too late, for Merle Monte had himself thwarted the deadly deed of the pirate. He was ever watclful, and when he had stepped up to Brandt to have him whisper to him the message, he had s°en a motion of his right arm that was suspicious, aud as the hand was raised to lis shoulder his quick eye bad caught sight of something held tightly im it, and which . ad evidently been dropped there from up the sleeve. : Thus he was on bis guard, and when Brandt, the Buccaneer, bad quickly elevated his hand and brought if down, witha knife-blade aimed at the heart, bis arm had beencaught ina grip of iron, which checked its dowuward flight though the keen point had cut through the c oth and pierced the flesh for half an inch just over the vital spot. ca Then, still grasping the arm with a strength that was almost superhuman, for Brandt was a powerful man, he drew a pistol from his belt and struck the knuckles several hard raps with the iron barrel, which caused the pirate to utter aecry of pain and drop the dirk to the floor, where its point entered the deck, and it stood quivering like an aspen. | Kicking itaway out of reach, Merle released his hold of the bleeding, benumbed hand of the bucceneer, and sprung backward, out of reach, just as Captain Meredith presented his drawn sword at the heart of the intended assassin, for all had occurred in an instant. “Hold! do not cheat the gallows by killing him, Captain Meredith,” cried Merle, seein that that officer was white with rage at the ac of the buccaneer, and meant to him then and there, As he spoke, Merle clutched the blade, and Captain Meredith said quickly: “You are right, Monte, and I thank you for your interference.” | ** Ourse a boy, you have again thwarted me by your strength, that broke the force of my arm, for I sought to avenge myself by kill- ing you, and make that officer, his anger, shoot me or run me through the heart, and thus cheat he eee : ‘Merle laughed lightly, while tee Mere- dith said anys “Merle, did knife not wound you eae d ngne% ‘““A mere scratch, sir, though his blow was a terrific one, and well intend < ’ cows ‘Now, sir, [ will leave the vessels and the arias 5 *, ¢ 24 ‘ — —_ shipman Monte, for such is his rank only in the: | shall have all justice at my hands, and I thank | mere you for your honest acknowledgment that he | _ by, whom you will care less to see than you do | Ine,” and irons on board my vessel, try you for your | Captain Meredith, who had ste 8 risoners in your charge, and return to ved Geld hip with my people.” nd «if ta dee “Tf such is your decision, I have nothing to say, Merle,” answered Captain Meredith, | ‘Farewell, Captain Brandt. May God have upon your crime-stained soul. » OT ‘**‘ Now I will send one down to bid you ap~<e a er ee + ee erle turned on his heel to follow pg outside of the guard-room, when Brandt, the Buccanéer, said eagerly: ‘‘ Will you still pledge yourself to do mea fa vor, Merle Monte?” **T will.” ‘‘Then send a messenger to New Orleans to seek out one Busil Branch, a planter and a gam- bler; his plantation is on the Mississippi River, and known as The Retreat. ‘* Let that messenger te)l him that Brandt, th Burcancer, is a prisoner on board the Sea Wolt brig of-war.” ** Well?” | ‘That is all.” ‘ What is Basil Branch to you?” ‘It matters not what he is to me.” “You set him and his daughter free when the were your prisoners?” pi FF Ele ‘‘ And you now wish only that message deliv- _ ered to him?” ‘That is all.” ‘‘ Well, he is not in New Orleans.” * ‘“ What?” asked the chief, in surprise, } i | pe the truth.” ‘* Where is he?” q ‘‘On board the pirate schooner known as the Sea Marauder.” ‘*Ha! And his daughter?’ ’ ‘Ts with him.” : “‘ How came they there?” 2 ‘‘They were captured by the Sea Marauder from the smack which you placed them on board of, and the pirate captain holds them for ran- | som ” ‘‘Ha! ha! ha! Little ransom gold will he get out of Basil Branch.” y ‘* Well, as I cannot deliver the m 6, farewell,” and Merle left the guard-room: e: joined Captain Meredith. renee Instantly orders were given to have four boat - loads of men sent from the Sea Wolf ‘to relieve the two dozen seamen Merle hadin c eof ti» brig and cutter and to take charge of She cap- tured pirate vessels and their prisoners. —— While these preparations were going ew. ” Belt slipped down to the guard+roem as - denly confronted the pirate chief, The prisoner sat in moody silence, his hand, which had received such a severe from the pistol of Merle Monte, left, though of the pain he suffered he seemed not to be t ingi (civ enous evad ‘““ Well, Brentford, we meet again,” sald Little Belt, who had bade the guard step aside being one of Merle’s crew, had readily ot ‘*Great God! your voice is tbat of Bel ag ham,” cried the priscner; half springing te feet and facing her. inow | Jar? <awre ‘*T was Belle Denham, Brandt, r, before.you dragged me from my home sorrow and despair upon me,” disguised woman in earnest tones. —— » ** In Satan’s n what do vou her, after ak tho harm you have brought upon v- age a «i : tag . Carriy “7 will tell you, Sir Pirate, what here,” “Curses rest on ‘IT th es ad de with you when voustettercmiel nd vers Monte’s Island and I left you there.” ‘Oh, no, for I let yougo then, to have you yet die on the gallows or yard-a1 wee | or Ad qigwil foe! Mfoate? & port and | to or Monte’s: oie eee ou é Sf pF | fant aes then that Merle Mezrak, yet lived, and it was I th ed to get a swift-sai vessel, place his’ on rd, and thus thwart you. © _ ‘He did so, and more, be has hunted you down and captured you and your vessel, and I sided him todoso, = = * po on) ‘““Now he has given me leave to go to New Orleans, and I not return to the until I see you hanged at the yard-arm. ‘*Now I will leave you, Brandt, the Br neer, but remember I ana near you, # you come to die for your crimes you Ww you, and upon mine you will i the jey I feel at baving at last breught you te your death at Without another word, but with a mocking m (S eC) ,00KS > Ee Pere eae A ~