Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 284 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

- —oe eee ee ‘Were not your vessel the fleetest craft in the barbor, I would not disturb you, sir. ‘*Mr. Branch, please see that Mezrak hails the boats as they come down, and order them on board.” sasil Branch Jeft the cabin, to find that Mezrak had already sighted the boats and halted them, ‘‘Come on board, men—and to work!” he ordered; and Merie Monte coming from the cabin, sail was set, the cable was slipped, and taking the helm himself, the daring youth laid the brigantine alongside of the brig that bad Leen seize | by Brandt the Buceareer. ‘Spring upon her decks, boys, and make her fast to the brigantine! ‘That is the way; now slip her cable, and Conrad, take her wheel and steer in unison with the helmsman of the brigantine,” and Merle called to two of his black crew to.take the wheel, The wind was blowing down the river, and the brigantine under full canvas, carried both vessels swiftly along, while Merle and Basil Branch ealled the crew to transfer the beavy guns from one craft to the other. The brigantine had been pierced for guns, hut. her owners had decided not to arm her after the capture of Brandt the Buccaneer. But the small-arms of the brig, and the am- munition was quickly transferred to the brigan- tine, and ropes, with blocks and tackle being rigged between the two vessels, the heavy canner, with the large force working upon them, were carried from deck to deck with dispatch and far less trouble than was deemed possible, And all the while the brigantine and brig were sailing side by side, lasbed together, and _lesing no time, At last, and before the glimmer of dawn in the east, the transfer of guns was complete, and Merle turned to the still astonished cap- tain of the brigantine and said: ‘Now, captain, [ will leave you and your crew upon the -brig, and you better drop an- chor as soon as we cut away. ** You can find enough canvas to rig work- ing sails, and make your way back to the city, and report what has occurred.” *T fear you will get yourself into trouble, Mr. Monte," said the captain. “ Not in the least, sir, for-I am not stealing yeur vessel, or causing bloodshed in seizing her. “{ merely charter her, and leave five times her value in yeur hands for ber owners. ‘Ts all ready, Mr. Branch, to cut away ?”" “* Ay, ay, sir,” came the answer. “‘Then get yeur crew oa the brig, captain, at once.” ' ‘““] will, sir, amd success to your voyage, for you deserve it,” responded the captain, and calling to bis men, he sprung on board the Huntress, and then loud rung Moerle’s order: “ Cut away there!” A few sharp blows upon the lashings, and the brigantine shet ahead, while the brig swung eff, and as her anchor was Jet fall, she swerved round with her bews up-stream. And while the brigantine sped away like the wind, these on the brig went to work te rig what canvas could be set upon the craft, and after a couple of hours’ work spread enough sail to beat slowly back to the city, where, upon their arrival, the startling tidings were made known of the Sea uder’s bold cap- ture of the Dragon, and Merle Monte’s wonder- fal and quick pursuit of the pirate with a vessel he had pressed into service, a crew of his own slaves, and guns taken from the dismantled brig Huntress. But all admitted that the Sea Marauder had a dangerous foe in his wake. CHAPTER XXIII. THE SEA MARAUDER. Tue captured Dragon went by the city like a Seigineued bird, and held on down the river ; The Sea Marauder. for the open waters of the Gulf, for Captain Pierre well knew his danger should be meet an American cruiser coming up. Once be had dropped New Orleans astern, he at once set to work to make himself at home on his new craft, his first duty being to appoint officers from the crew. This done he overhauled the craft from stem | to stern, deck to hold, to see just what stores, ammunition, and the most important of all, treasure on board. He found that Merle Monte had the schooner well stored for a long cruise, perfectly armed, and his heart bounded with joy, as he raised the hatch in the cabin floor, beneath the velvet carpet, and beheld boxes securely fastened with iron hoops, which he knew could be notb- ing else than the treasure so long coveted and hunted for by many. When the dawn came and the schooner bounded over the blue waters of the Gulf, Captain Pierre was in hiselement. | it had been his intention to give up piracy upon the capture of the treasure of Merle Monte, and to seek other lands to enjoy it, letting bis officers and crew have the schooner | I shall begin my reformation by hanging you | to continue their career of crime if so they wisbed, But the old Adam was in him strong, and he felt that his appetite for robbery upon the high seas was not by any means satiated, although he believed he held millions of gold beneath his feet. No, his vessel] was so fast, so strong, and bis crew so willing, he would just make a few captures before he left off from hoisting the black flag. Knowing that the Sea Welf was nof in port, that the brig Huntress, the catter Gold Hunter and his own vessel, the Sea Marauder, had been dismantled, he had no fear of immediate pursuit. Then, too, he believed he had crippled Merle Monte financially, by running off with his treasure, and he would be unable to pursue him as otherwise he might have done. With feelings of perfect contentment with himself, he descended to the cabin to breakfast, which had been prepared by a good cook, whom the thoughtful Peon bad shipped for just such service, while he was to act in the capacity of steward, valet, and all else that Captain Pierre might need him for. In the cabin be found Vance Murell, pale but calm, and who had, by his orders been relieved of his irons. “Well, Mr. Murel!, we meet again,” be said with a smile, Vance Murell bowed. “ Aud under different circumstances than on our last meeting?” “Yes, sir.” “You have givem up piracy, I hear?” “T have, sir, and am heartily ashamed of myself that, even im my desperate circum. stances, [ was so lost to honor, as to become an outlaw.” ‘‘You way tura preacher yet, if you get the chance; but it is my intention not to give you the chance, for, Vance Murell, you deserted me, went over to the enemy, and you rose while I sunk, und I kate fortune to favor others while it turns the cold shoulder upon me, “So, my dear ex-lieutenant, you shal! be treated with every courtesy, for just one month, and then, as I intend to give up piracy, to the yard-arm.” “ As you please, sir, for you have the power; but I beg you to spare the poor girl who lies in yonder state-room, and whom you have torn from her parents,” pleaded Vance Mu- rell earnestly. “Ah! youare her lover, I remember; but I shall not spare her, for it ismy intention to make her my wife.” ‘“‘ Your wife 2” gasped Vance Murell. “ Yes, for I loved her mother long years befcre her, and sbe cast me off and married Basil Branch, who had already given me cause to hate him. rm | 13 “Now I hate them both, and my revenge shall be to marry. their daughter, ‘“*How they will sorrow over the thought that their daughter is the bride of a pirate, and that pirate Pierre Dupont the old Marau- der of the Mississippi. ‘‘Ha! ba! ha! Ibave rare sport in store, rare joy, in my sweet revenge,” and Captain -Pierre sat déwn to his breakfast with evident $I | relish, unmindful of the moans that came from a eC er the state-room on the port side, and the white, savage face of Vance Murell that was turned upon him. After a hearty meal the cruel chief went on deck, and instantly out of the cabin came poor Pear], looking beautiful in her grief, and showing signs of bitter weeping. “Thank God he has gone!” she cried, “Be hopeful, for Merle Monte will not de- sert us,” said Vance in a kindly tone. “1 do not despair, for Mr. Monte bas shown himself too true a friend to desert us now,” an- swered Pearl, and, determined to keep up her strength, she sat down to the table, and forced herself to eat something. And thus several days passed away and still no vessel came in sight that seemed in reach of the fugitive Dragon, and hope almost faded from the hearts of Vance and Pearl, whem Captain Pierre left togethér, to make the. parting, when it should come, still more pain- ful. CHAPTER XXIV. THE PLEDGE REDEEMED, “Sarr ho!” , It was a month since the flight of the Dra- gon from port, and the last day which Captain Pierre was to devote to piracy. The next day was to be a grand one for all on the schooner, for Captain Pierre had cap- tured a number of vessels, and upon one had found a priest, whom he had at once taken possession of to further his own sinister purpose. That purpose was to make him marry him to Pearl, bis poor captive, after which the booty was to be divided, and then Vance Mu- rell was to be strung up in the rigging. ‘Oh, he will not do that murder,” cried Pearl, as she sat in the cabin with Vance Mu- rell, the last day of grace, * Yes, he will, Pearl, for he will be mad with rage, when he unpacks those boxes to find out that Captain Monte secretly removed from them all the treasure, but left them to appear as though they still held it, “ Then his rage will know no bounds, and I'll be hanged,” said Vance, sadly. Pear] was about to reply, when the cry came | from the deck of: . Bail ho!” ’ Instantly Captain Pierre was en the alert, for he hoped to make one more capture upon his last day of piracy. ‘‘Square away for her, belmsman, for she is evidently a merchantman, and looks like a New Orleans and Havana packet,” he cried. So the Dragon was put on a course for the stranger, which at first seemed to head to meet her, and then, as though alarmed at ber rakish _ | look, turned to fly. Instantly sail was crowded upon the Dragon, and although the chase had set her canvas, she was rapidly overhauled. “It is strange that so trim-looking a craft sails so slowly,” said Captain Pierre, who was most attentively regarding the stranger. ‘*She is unarmed and has a small crew, as well as I can judge, so in this light wind we will rnn to windward and lay the schooner alongside, if she does not come to,’’ continued Captain Pierre. And after an hour more the stranger came to, in obedience to a shot from the Dragon, which ran up under shortened sail, ber men at her guns, and was laid alongside of the cap- tured craft with great skill. As Captain Pierre and his boarders were about to spring upon the decks of the stranger a tall form: suddenly bounded over the high bulwarks, cutlass in one band and pistol in the : neomrcbooks — — GOr