Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 284 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER V. THE EXECUTION ON THE GOLD SHIP. on board the Gold Ship, prior to her appearing | in sight, around the bend of the Mississippi, when she came in view of Captain Pierre and Peon. The vessel was one of uncommon beauty, from The Sea Marauder. . a ey + a | Little Belt disappeared down the companion- | here,” and Brandt turned te his wounded ex way and soou reappeared, followed by Mezrak, Merle Monte’s Abyssinian slave, deformed in I WILL now ask the reader to accompany me | body, but with a heart all love for his master. Mezrak was dressed in a rich Persian cos- tume, for a slave once in the Jand of Persia, he | had never discarded its dress. keel to truck, and that perfect discipline was | kept on board, a glance was sufficient to prove. | | of the Guif Pirates, and a man whose life had very rope was coiled and in its place, the sails not spread were furled neatly, the decks were as clean as a dining table, the brass guns shone like polished gold, and the iron pivot pieces of heavier caliber looked like ebony. The crew were mostly attired in a jaunty uniform, and, as for the model of the vessel, it was perfect. Rushing along as it did through the muddy waters of the river, it seemed like a gaunt greyhound after prey. The hull was long, narrow, went deep in the wacer, and her masts raked far back and tow- ered high in air, giving her space to spread a vast amount of canvas. Upon the quarter-deck stood a group near the two helmsmen, whom I must introduce to my reader. One was Merle Monte, the ruling spirit of the vessel, calling himself Midshipman Monte, though his officers and crew gave him the title of captain. A youth with a face that would have been caHed beautiful in a woman, there was yet abont it a look of perfect manliness, He was attired in a handsome uniform, and paced the deck to and fro, while the others pres- ent were conversing in low tones. In the group that stood apart was a person who ap to be a youth, to judge from the attire, but the slender, graceful form and lovely though touchingly sad, and yet at times stern face, was a woman. Belle Denham once her name bad been, but her love won by Brandt, the Buccaneer, who had cruelly deceived her as to his character, and then done her bitter wrongs, she had cast aside her feminine garb to track him to death and had borne many aliases, but upon the Gold Svip she was known as Little Belt. By her side, upon the right, stood a young girl of rare beauty of both face and form, though scarcely could she have been over fifteen; and this was Pearl, the daughter of Basil Branch, a dark, stern-faced man, who half- reclined in a chair near her, for he was suffer- ing from a severe wound. pon the baek of his chair affectionately leaned his wife, a handsome lady of thirty-six though looking a little worn from all she had passed through, Up to within a Iehgue of the city the Gold Schooner bad been under shortened sail, not: to run out of sir? of the two prizes. Upon the deck of the lu stood a young man of twenty-five, perhaps, with a face bronzed by exposure, intelligent, resolute and ng. It B br Vance Murell, formerly an officer of the United States navy, whom cruel circum- stances, over which he held no control, had dlriven to piracy, and he had been the lieutenant of Captain Pierre, and left in command of the Sea auder while his chief went to the city. Basil Branch and Pearl had been left in his charge, and to him they owed the treatment they had reesived, and which had endeared him to both father and daughter, for at least he wasaventleman. — The truth was that the handsome pirate had loved Pear! from the first, and his noble conduct and a knowledge of bis life bad caused Merle Monte not to include bim in the list of his pirate prisoners, but to give him command of the luz- ger to take up to the city. Upon the quarter-deck of the Sea Marauder was Captain Trenor, the commander of the packet schooner, which bad been wrecked in his two victims, Mrs. Branch and Pearl, had taken passage for Galveston, as the mother and duvgbter had supposed. 3 He was a fine specimen’ of the bonest sailor, I eat =~ ¢ if <- *% = Ti sees sy his side as he stepped on deck was a man beavily ironed, but of superb presence and | magnificent physique. It was Brandt the Buccaneer, one of the last been one long career of crime. Many times had he escaped death, when it was believed that escape was impossible, and only a short time before Merle Monte had de- livered bim a prisoner on board the Sea Wolf, from which he had escaped by bribing his guard with gems wortb a fortune. His face was pale now, but firm and fearless, as he approached his captors, for Little Belt, bis wronged wife, had béen the one to bring him again to face death at the yard arm. Arriving on deck, Brandt the Guccaneer glanced quickly around bim, while Merle Monte watched hit with the eye of a hawk. He saw first that the schooner was in the river, which he knew well enough to under- stand that New Orleans was but a league above where they then were. Then be smiled grimly as his eyes fell upon Merle, and his glance upon Little Belt was full of fierce hate and resentment. Then he glanced at his former lieutenant, Basil Branch, whose wife and daughter little dreamed what he had been, and he seemed about to speak. But he caught an appealing look in the eyes of the reformed pirate officer, and with a smile turned his gaze upon Mrs. Branch and Pearl, bending his head in courtly salute. Wheeling suddenly, be looked back at the Sea Marauder and lugger, and said, quietly: ‘*Well, Merle Monte, you have done weil to capture yonder two prizes.” ‘I think more of my capture of you, sir, than all else,” was the calm reply. ** Doubtless, for I have given you much trou- ble; but I am not hanged yet,” was the cool reply. ** But shall be within five minutes,” ‘Ha! do pe intend to hang me without a Le rll and the pirate chief’s face grew a shade er. “A trial given you would be but mockery, and I am determined you shall never escape to again hoist your black flag, as you have done time and aga.a.” **Satan rebuking sin,” sneered the pirate. . ** No, for though I wear the brand of muti- neer and deserter me, I bave done no eens and my vessel has not been a sea rob- er, ‘But words are useless, for you shall die.” ** Little Belt?” and Merle turned to the woman, who acted as his lieutenant. ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” was the quick reply. * Your rope is ready, is it?” ‘It is, sir; I bave arranged it, as you see, sir, in the rigging, so that the prisoner can be drawn up from amidships.” “And you desire to execute the pirate” **I do,” was the almost savage response. “Then the prisoner is in your hands, Little Belt, for you to execute the sentence of death upon him, by hanging him in the rigging of this vessel, and there Jeave him until one hour after we shall have dropped anchor before the city of New Orleans.” These words of sentence Merle spoke in loud, ringing tones, so that they were h , not only by all on the Gold Schooner, but by the crews of the Sea Marauder and lugger, which vessels had approached near and were just holding their own against the stream, as their com- manders temporarily checked their : Then turning to Brandt the Buccaneer, Merle | Monte continued: | the storm and upon which Captain Pierre and | an’) may Heaven have mercy u | | ‘** You, Sir Pirate, have heard your sentence, n you. Brandt glanced full in the face of the mid- shipman, and saw that he was in deadly earnest, and that it was not bis intention to deliver him over to the Sea Wolf agen, #0 be had hoped, and had served as lieutenant to Merle Monte on | and that his death was assu the Gold Ship after rpotbe been picked up off the wreck of his own vessel. As the three vessels roached the city, Merle signaled for the Sea Marauder and lugger to spread al sail and to keep as close in his wake as they could. Then before they reached him he luffed up a.) ordered sternly: _ * Little Belt, bring the prisoner on deck!” | **T demand at least a week’s respite,” he said, | sternly, hoping to gain time. ‘* Not a minute, sir.” ‘* Would you send my soul on its flight un- prepared to die?” . ** You have so lived and faced death, and so y ou die. “Basil Branch, to you I appeal, for, from the way matters look, you have somé influence officer. Basil Branch flushed crimson at the appeal, and then became very pale, for he dreaded the secret of his deeds must come out; but he said, in a low tone: ‘*T can do nothing for you, Brandt,” ear by Heaven, I’) strike you a blow that shall—- ‘Up with him, Little Belt, and lose no time,” shouted Merle, who saw that it was the pirate’s intention to expose his lieutenant before his wife and daughter. Startled by bis words Little Belt seized the rope, threw the noose over the head of the pi- rate, while Mezrak sprung forward and tied a Sage io and instantly the woman sternly cried: , ‘*Now, Brandt Brentford, I am avenged at ast!” ‘*Gurse you, woman, with my dying breath, apd you, Basil Branch, shall not—” “Up with him, men!” almost shrieked Little Belt, to whose side Merle Monte had sprung, and said something in a low tone, determined that he should not betray Basil Branch. Bound as he was hand and foot, anc with bis irate flag wrapped around him by Mezrak, randt, the Buccaneer, had a bitter curse strangled upon his lips by the noose, and was instantly dragged high in air, by the balf- dozen seamen who had hold of the other end of the rope, In horror Mrs. Branch and Pear] had turned away, and buried their faces in their hands. while Merle cried in clarion tones: ** All hands aboy, to get the schooner uuder may once more)” he men sprung to their posts, the schooner fell off from the wind, and once more began to shoot ahead, while above her decks were spread cloud after cloud of snowy duck, until she dashed into full sight of the city, a beuutiful, et terrible sight, with that dead form swing- ing in her rigging. CHAPTER VI. MERLE MONTE’S TRIUMPH. THR young bero of the Gold Ship sat alone in his vabin, brooding over the past. His snrroundings were luxurious jn the ex- treme, for the cabin was furnished with every comfort, and Merle Monté reclined upon a vel- vet divan, his eyes fixed upon vacancy, and his thoughts dwelling upon something that seemed to wholly enwrap bim. : ‘‘Captain Mayo Meredith, of the Sea Wolf, to see you. sir,” said an officer, entering. It was Vance Murell, the young Heutenant of the Sea Marauder, who had ab piracy forever. ‘“Admit bim at once, Mr. Murell,” was the response, and shaking off the reverie upon him, Merle Monte sprung to his feet to receive his distinguished visitor, lt was the day after the arrival of the Gold Schooner in J with her two prizes, and the form of Brandt, the Buccaneer, seen swinging in the rigging, and the whole city was eo in a state of uproar at the joyful occurrence, The next instamt Vance Murell entered, ac- pg ner by Captain Meredith, “Captain Meredith, 1 am delighted to wel- come you, sir; permit me to present to you my lieutenant, Mr. Murell, of whom I spoke to you yesterday.” Captain Meredith grasped the hand of the lieutenant and ex-pirate, and said earnestly: “I am giad to meet you, Mr. Murell, and fee] that, from all Monte tells me, that you wil) sink the past forever, and once more become a man of henor.” “I will, sir; and to you and Captain Monte I owe it, that I was not with Brandt, as I richly deserved for becoming an outlaw,” and not wishing to trust himself further, for his voice was quivering with emotion, Vance Mer- rell left the cabin hupried ys ‘‘He seems a noble fellow at heart, Merle,” said Captain Meredith, as the officer disap- ‘‘He is, and it was because he killed those who had wronged and robbed bim, that he was forced to fly, for, although he fought them in a fair duel, one of them, out of revenge, ere he died, proclaimed him a murderer, and he was f to fly to save his life. ‘Captured by the Sea Marauder, he drifted into an officer’s position on board, and Iam glad that you so kindly included him in the pardon of gag and crew.” ‘My dear boy, here is the Government's par- don, sent me for you, for your gallant capture oi Brandt, when last you took him, his vessel ‘€O mMIGWOOKS{EGO ~