Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 280 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 ee 0 a ss oe ote ens at his bitter curses, Little Belt tarned and the pirate. Upon reaching the deck she found two boats alongside, with the crews whieh had been on the cutter and brig in them, while Merle Monte apa at the gangway talking to Captain Mere- ‘*T have seen bim, and when he is hanged I will rejoin the Gold cae 4 Captain Monte; but for the present, good-by,” and Little Belt NS eee axwicned. out his hand, and Merle Monte grasped it warmly. Then, as his rd, which had been relieved by men from the Sea Wolf, came on deck and rege the waiting boats, Merle Monte said w : “New, Captain Meredith, I must leave you, and whem next we meet I hope I[ will be able to give into your keeping the Marauder, her ca n and crew.” ptain Meredith grasped the youth’s hand, amd then Merle Monte rapidly descended to his boat, in the stern-sheets of which sat Mrs, Branch awaiting him; the oars were let fall, and the Condemned Midshipman and. his crew corny away in the darkness on their way to heir veesel, the Gold Skip, whieh was hidden in an inlet a league away. CHAPTER IV. THE SEA MARAUDER, THe Galf shores of the United States have a formation that constituted them the piratw’s paradise, as there were innumerable biding- Beccs in the lagoons, bayous, inlets and bays at indent the shores. Upon either side of the Mississippi river were these hot-beds of piracy during the last and in the early part of the nay 3c century, and even after the free rovers had been swept generally from the seas, there were a few bold freebooters who bad their haunts along these shores. It was in one of these numerous inlets of the Louisiana coast that Merle Monte had secreted the two pirate vessels he bad captured until o eoremney offered to surrender them to Captain yo Meredith, of the Sea Wolf, and, as I have Before stated, his own vessel, a schooner, yet known as the Gold Ship, was then hidden, and most securely, though numerous cruisers were there on the search for the mysterious craft, whieh epee ramor said was none other than intricate and secure were these basins as hiding-places that, at the very time Merle Monte was pulling slowly — the shores in bis boats en route to his Gold Ship, after leaving the Sea Wolf and her prizes, he within a few cables’ vy ox? of a craft lying concealed in the mouth of the lagoon. Even had it been daylight the boats might have within a hundred feet, or nearer, and not | ato the. craft, for, by a natural eana), hardly wider than the vessel’s beam, it had been drawn into a pond, for it wasno more, where it could rest in safety. It in upon this: vessel, so securely hidden away, that I would bave my reader accom ey ope the very night on which the surrender of his prizes. The, in which it.rode so quietly without down was not the of an acre in yet the water waa black znd and the could have been drawn through the nar- row canal into the where the breeze could catch its safls, in a quarter of an hour’s The little pond, or lakelet, was. by no means a desirable , for its muddy banks were the resort of alligators, frogs croaked dis- nals ne da me night, os ve trees ? somber in their raperies of Spanish moss, w trailed to the black waters. But itwas the very place for a vessel to hide, whose captain cared not to have his where- abeuta even suspected. The veasel that had sought this secluded and goats refuge was a schooner of a hundred burden, and carried a broadsiije of three ght twelve-pounders, and a thirty-two pivot fore and aft. .. ~ The bull of the schooner was graceful in model, and evidently built with a view to get oh ~~ possible, and still be a stanch sea- The maste were exceedingly tall for the ves- sel’s kgpild, and had the peculiarity of having the tepmaste almost the same length as the lower ones, while the bowsprit shot out to a great distance beyond the high sharp bows, which showed she could crowd on an immense amount of sail, if necessary, above a very small As there was ne need for a watch on deck in y erle a a A Merle Monte’s Fate. ro tas i Seine = ream ap veg oa excepting one, who © with a guick, firm tread. He had a cloak thrown over his shoulders, to protect him from the chilly night air, and his iy rene was that of an officer. sently he started in his walk, for, though evidently deeply meditating, his quick ear had caught the pam of water. It might an alligator floundering in the ey or a fish springing up into the air to fall ck again. Yet he was not one, apparently, to neglect any sound that bad a suspicious ring about it, and.jnstantly he became alert, and peered to- ward'the canal leading into the - d. But suddenly, over the side of the vessel, a peared a human form, and turning quickly, the officer confronted it. ‘‘Ha! Peon, is that you?’ he asked, as his hand dropped upon his sword-hilt. ‘Yes, senor, [ have returned,” was the an- swer of the man addressed as Peon. ** You Indians move with such noiselessness, that I heard not your coming, save what must have been the splash of an oar.” “It is better to move quietly, senor,” was the reply of the man, whose appearance, as seen in the starlight, indicated that he was a Mex- ican Indian of the class known as peons. ‘* Well, what have you discovered?” asked the officer. ‘*Two boats have just gone up the coast to the Gold Sbip, senor.’ “Well?” ‘They came from the basin, where I told you the pirate brig and cutter were anchored.” ** And you said one was the Huntress, Brandt the Buccaneer’s brig?’ ** Yes, senor,” ‘*And you thought that the cutter was the pirate craft of Captain Eduardo?” ‘It was, senor. ‘Then the two mus’ have formed a compact to cruise together?” ‘No, senor, they were both prizes.” ‘“* Prizes! how mean you, Peon?” They were both the prizes of the Gold Ship.” “sé o! ‘‘True, senor, for the young captain of the Gold Ship captured them, and this night sur- rendered them to the Sea Wolf, the American cruiser,” “By Heaven! is this true, Peon?’ “Tt is, senor.” ‘‘ How know you this?” “‘T went in my canoe under the stern of the brig, and drew myself up to the cabin stern ports, and while there the Sea Wolf came into the basin, and Captain Meredith came on board the Huntress with Merle Monte, the condemned “Tl did not hear what was said, but he sur- rendered the vessels to the cruiser’s captain, and with them Brandt, the Buccaneer.” *‘ Ha! then at last he will meet his fatef” ** Yes, senor.” ‘‘ Well, tell me more that you saw, Peon.” ‘‘T only saw the boats leave the brig, and the crew of the Bea Wolf placed in charge of the ‘‘ And who were in the boats?” “Captain Monte and his men.” “ By Jove! whata chance we have missed to take the Gold Ship in the absence of her crew.” ‘** Yes, senor, but we did not know that the rma: the Gold Ship had charge of the pirate vessels.” . “True; but A sap know where the Gold Ship lies at anchor ‘** Yes, senor, I saw her last night.” ** How far away?” * Half al from here, senor.” ** Peon, we have sixty men on board; do you think it possible to capture that craft?” ‘‘ Her armament is heavier than ours, senor.” ‘Yes, but I mean in our boats?” ‘‘She has a crew of sixty men, senor.” ‘* But we have the advantage of a surprise.” ‘‘Tf we can surprise them, senor.” ‘*‘ How far does she lie from the shore?” “In the center of the lagoon, senor, which is about a hundred yards wide.” ** And the banks?” ‘* Are overhung with trees, senor.” “Then we can muffle our oars, ourselves along under the ite ee 4 ranches, and dash out upon the craft, and I believe eam cap- ture her.” * We can but try, sener.” “T will eall up erew, and if we are sue- eessful the cruise of the Sea Marauder shall end for we will get gold enough to suit the } t. avaricious bear mm daughter and m afterward most ) Oe me rere a ‘“Go below, Peon, and order the men om Weck,” and the officer turned and descended inte the cabin of the Sea Marauder, in which burned a bright light. CHAPTER V. THE PRISONERS OF A PIRATE, Tue officer who entered the cabin of the Sea Marauder paused as he reached the last ste; of the companionway, and threw aside his bu, and cloak. His face and form were thereby fully revealed, and while the latter was elegant and graceful, the former was noble in expression, and no such a countenance as one would look for in one who held command on a pirate deck. He was dressed in a uniform that was some- what fanciful in appearance, and wore a belt containing two pistols and a sword, the hilt of the latter being gem-studded. His face was youthful, for he could scarcely have passed his twenty-fifth year; but it was resolute, fearless, handsome, and, as I have said, was not marred by the impress of a life of crime, The cabin was one of luxurious surroundings, and certainly most inviting as a retreat, for a velvet carpet and rich rugs covered the floor, paintings were bung here and there, wherever space offered, ottomans, sofas and easy-cbairs were scattered about, and a table under a swinging lamp had on it arich silver service for wines and refreshments, and a few books. Upon either side of the table was seated a per- son, each of whom glanced up at the appear- ance of the young officer... The one was a man of striking appearance, dressed in a kind of sea uniform, and with a face that was very dark, and almost forbid- dingly stern. The other was a young girl of fifteen, per- haps, though there was that about her in calm dignity and roundness of form, which caused her to appear older. Her face was one of rare beauty, though now within her lustrous eyes dwelt a look of sad- ness, commingled with anxiety. ‘*Pardon my intrusion, Mr. Branch, upon ourself and daughter, but ROWE E that you ad not yet retired, 1 sought you for a little talk,” said the pirate officer in a tone of marked courtesy. ‘*Be seated, Lieutenant Murell, for, aince we have been your prisoners, your kindness to us has been such that we have no need to dread your proses,’ returned the genti . ‘* Thank you, sir; but I have t which I deemed to be my duty toward though cruel circumstances over which I had little con- trol, drove me toa pirate’s deck, I yet have not forgotten what ie due to my fellow-beings in their distress,” ‘‘ This sentiment does you honor, sir, and I would tbat you felt it,in your power to release upon the ransom I er. it _“T am not, sir, unfortunately, my own master, as you know, ond Conta laDieTK who went up to the city in the very, ack from. which he took yo ' ughter, demanded that I keep you, .qntil his return, ‘I can »” col ‘So you have said, sir, and I believe you.” “ The truth is, I a0} pos now.e rich,man, and baving been captured by Brandt who seized the vessel upon. which, J sailed, and icked up a bvat in which was my child here, I had to buy our freedom from him, and have now but the gems [ offer you.” “T cannot accept them, sir, I am sorry to say; but as I have a n of hope for you, I have come to make it Known.” “Oh, sir, what hope have you?” cried the young girl, in a rich, pleading voice. ‘I will tell yen “I have a Peon Indian on board, who isa perfest seaman, and in his light skiff goes almost any where he desires to. “While fishing, two days ago, in the mouth of the lagoon, 1 saw @ vessel run in toward a secret bayou up the coast, amd almost at the same time a brig and a cutter seek a haven down the coast, ‘*T returned to the schooner, and sent Peon as a spy to discover just what,the vessels were, for two of them I felt sure I recognized. “He returned from up the coast with the néws that the vessel there was the Gold Ship—” ‘Ha! that craft?’ and the gentleman half sprung from his seat. 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