Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 284 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 “ Ahi [have a bsp thought, and with my snow-white bair, which that alligator turned so for meina minute of time, and my beard shaved off, I can muster for a respectable planter. “\ Now for the metamorphosis from an Indian wap a et and Captain Pierre set to work ange bis disguise, and succeeded so well that when, two hours after, Peon came into the room and saw an elegantly-dressed, white- mrt stranger, he started back quickly, and 8a @ Beg pardon, senor, but I have mistaken the **Hal ha! ha! well, Peon, I am changed if you do not know me.” “Sener Captain! “Yes, Peon.” “* Hombre de Dios! but you are changed,” ex- claimed the Mexican Indian, who always swore im bis native tongue when excited. “ Well, Peon, what luck?’ “T have a fair craft, senor, a regular tion coaster, old but good enough, and I her at the yard for half a thousand pesos.’ ** Good! and where is she?” ** All ready to sail, and below the city, off our eamp, with two men on board, for, as I had gotten a few stores to last the crew a couple of ‘y I did not wish to leave her deserted. hat was well thought of, my good friend— ah! that is Giro’s knock, and I'll see if he knows me in my fine clothes and shaven face. ** Come in!” It was the host of the lodging-house, and he entered with a smile, but upon seeing, as he sup- posed, a stranger, he seid : ‘“* Peon, I came to see your master, but as he is not here I will call in again,’ ‘* He is here, senor,” said Peon. “Where?” and Giro glanced about the large, eld-fashioned room. ‘Tam here, Giro.” ** Saere ! is that you, Captain Pierre?” “It certainly is, Giro, and I feel that I can run the gantlet of any eye’ now, after deceiv- you and Peon, “But come, what tidings?” ‘“*T was successful.” “ That is splendid; but how many men?” “‘ Just four score, senor.” “Good! Where are they?” ‘‘ They can be sent at dark to any spot you name,” “My vessel lies at our camp, and they must be there as soon after dark as possible; and you, - Peon, set sail for the rendezvous I told you of up the river. ‘‘Isthere a man among them you can placein cha e, Giro?” oe senor, & young fellow who was once an officer 1 in the a, ish Navy.” **Then place him in command. ‘* Now lll be off, for I have a double plot to earry out,” and after a few words more, Ca tain Pierre left the lodging-house a while siased. thd tue pick tor yedetied ant itt! bad and the p or revenge and go been started. ” lanta- ought CHAPTER XVI'I. A CLEVER GAME TO PLAY, Urom the bank of the river, fronting Monte Manor,.a large boat-house stood, and here a erew of slaves, four men and a coxswain, were comstantly in attendance to await any desire of their young mas(er for a row on the stream or a pull to the city below. Teward this handsome boat-house a small boat was rowing some two hours after the departure of Captain Pierre from his lodging- house, and a glance at the person seated in the stern was sufficient to recognize that worthy in bis new disguise, which was really in his natural self. At the oars were two burly-looking negroes, who pulled a swift, strong stroke. As the boat touched the shore the coxswajn of Merle Monte’s crew, recognizing the gentile- manly appearance of the pirate, came down and met him, thinking that he was some visi- tor to the mansion. “ Ah, my man, I am glad to find some one I | can question. Is this the home of that won- derful youth, the Senor Monte?’ and the pi- rate dropped a piece of go'd into the hand of the negro. * Yes, massa, it am Master Monte’s home,” was the polite response, “TI bave heard so much of him and his The Sea Marauder. ee es ee oe 7-_-_---- or lc er gn ge gE hcme I had a desire to see the place, so Lrowed up for the purpose. ‘*Is he at home?” “No, massa, he done drove down to the city.” ‘““Ah! then perhaps you can tell me and show me all I would like to know,” and the pirate drew the negro apart from the others. After some little conversation he asked: ‘* What is your name, my man?” ‘* Abram, sah.” “An ancient name, indeed. have you a good master?” vag Ob yes, massa, he am werry good, our massa,’ «Bat you would like to be free, and have only yourself to serve?’ “Vas, massa, ef I could buy my freedom; but I hain’t got de money, and never ‘spects ter hab.” *“T do not know about that, Abram; but are you on duty here to-night?” ‘*No, massa; Tam de day man and Zekiel am in for de night. a “T see, ‘Well, Abram, sailor?” ** Yes, massa; I hab foller de sea when I b’long’d ter Massa Claiborne, who hab a plan- tation on de lower shore.” * How would you like to be steward on a fine vessel?” ‘Werry much, sah.” ‘‘ Well, Abram, you do as [tell you. Keep your mouth shut, and to-night you shall have gold enough to buy your freedom, and I will take you with me as my steward,” “Golly, massa, but don’t talk too fas’, for dis heur nigger can’t git it all in his head, r cried the delighted black. The wily pirate slowly reaps’ his words, | and the negro asked: ‘*What you want me to do, massa? re “T wish you to come here just at dark, and tell Zekiel your master ordered you to take his boat and crew aud row up to The Retreat plantation.” ‘* But he didn’t tell meso, massa.” * But I do, and you will obey me if you wish to earn your gold and go as my steward. “See, I have the gold here, and don’t mind giving you a hundred dollars to prove I mean what I say. **Take it, Ahram, and slip it in your pocket.” ‘*Tankee, massa. Now say it ag’in. ** Well, you tell Zekiel that \ our master or- dered him to go to The Retreat and request Mr. and Mrs. Branch to come down and see bim at once on an imporfant matter, but not to bring Miss Pearl.” ‘Yas, sah,’ “Tel them to say to them to go on board the yacht and run down in her to Monte Manor.” ‘Yas, massa, but won't Zake ketch it when he gits back?” ‘*No, for be’ll say you told him.” ** Den I cotches it.” “You forget, Abram, that I expect you, after seeing Zeke off, to get into your boat and row up the river to the Live Oak Point, and I will meet you there.” **' Yas, massa.” ‘** Now, here is another hundred in gold, and when you have done as I tell you I will give you a cool thousand more.” ‘You don’t mean no harm, massa, does you?” ‘‘No, no, my man, it is only a joke on them.” ‘* Yes, sah.” ‘‘Now I'll get you to sbow me the grouuds, and then return to my boat, and I'll go on up the river to await you at Live Oak Point,” and ten minutes after the pirate captain was on his way up-stream quite satisfied with his work so far. It was just after sunset when Vance Murell beheld a small boat approaching tbe schooner from the other shore, opposite to the one on which the Branch plantation was situated. e. : But Abram, are you anything of a | 7 ——_ —_———— Watching it in the ~altianitg gloom, he ob- served that its destination was the yacht, and soon he hailed: “Boat aboy!” ** Ahoy the yacht! can I come on board, sir?” answered a voice, politely. “For what purpose?” - ‘To see your captain and ask his aid.” ‘‘Ay, ay,” answered Vance Murell, and soon after none other than Captain Pierre ap- peared over the gangway and raised bis bat to the young officer. ‘Pardon me, sir, but do I address the com- mander of this ‘vessel- of-war?’ ‘Yes, sir, 1 command the vessel, but it is not a Government cruiser, but simply an armed yacht, owned by Mr. Merle Monte.” “Ab! I have heard of tkat distinguished young gentleman. ‘But, sir, | am forced to ask of you a favor. “My name is Dupree, and my plantation lies six miles up the river on the other shore, and learning that there was an armed vessel lying off The Retreat, I came down to tell you that I learned only ‘Tate this afternoon of a plot to attack my bouse to-night by none other tban Pierre Dupont, once known as the chief of a band of Mississippi Marauders, and lately as the captain of the famous sc hooner Sea Ma- rauder, which Monsieur Monte captured some time since.” ** Indeed, sir, can this be true?’ asked Vance Murell, in surpriee. ae te Gre ‘* And Captain Pierre is to lead the party?’ ‘So my informant, one of my negroes, a runaway for some time past, informed me, for he came in and gave himself up, feeling that the news he brought would gain pardon for his running away.” * But can you trust him?’ “ Assuredly, for he gave me a minute de- scription of their plan, for he acted as the guide of the band, and told. me where they were to lie in wait until nearly midnight, and then attack my house as I am known to keep a great deal of money at home, and also my silver plate is most valuable.” ‘*And you wish me to attack the outlaws, sir?” ‘Oh, no, sir, but to go with a few of your men to my house and remam concealed within to give the pirates a surprise, and, as I know the land well, I will myself go back by the place where they are hidden, and see if there can be a possibility of the negro deceiving me, ” ‘* Did he speak of their force?’ ‘* Yes, he said Pierre had twenty men.” “Indeed, then | will bave to take half of my crew, and will be ready to start at once, sir,” and Vance Murell gave the orders to get two boats’ crews in readiness, fully armed, and he sighed to think he would not see Pearl that night, as was his wont, for each evening he had been in the habit of visiting the mansion tc spend a social evening. But could he capture Captain Pierre then it would be a feather in bis cap to be proud of. Five minutes after the two boats of the yacht pulled away up the stream, and over to- ward the other shore, while the pretended planter rowed in his boat in the direction of the creek, where he said the pirates were con- cealed. ~ CHAPTER XIX. PLAYING HIS CARDS WELL. As soon as the boats had gotten out of sight in the darkness, Captain. Pierre put about and started down the stream, He kept a safe distance from the yacht ie passing, so as not to be seen, and then drawing over toward the left bank continued on until he reached a bend in the river known as Live Oak Point. Here he landed with the two men who had served bim so faithfully for the last-six hour, and said: EONMIE KOOKS (E(@) ~ —— oS *~* ~~ )