Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 377 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

= & oA ‘‘ No, for we were too busy looking after our- selves, and my idea is that we are done for,” ‘‘ Yes, all is lost and we are doomed,” groaned the woman. ‘Ho, the life-boat!” suddenly fairly shrieked Leo, and his mother sprung to her feet and azed toward the Death Rock. ‘‘Itis the girl!” cried the woman wildly. “Ay, ay, and she is coming to take us off.” “But can she reach us before the Ghost Yacht, father?” ‘‘That is the question; but let us call to her and bid her pull for her life.” ** And ours,” chimed in the woman. Afar off upon the waters was now plainly vis- ible a small surf skiff, and it held but one ocecu- ant. x It was in a direct range with the Death Rock, and had evidently come out from some hiding- place beneath its shelter. In spite of the fierce blow and rough waters, the skiff came steadily on, springing from wave to wave like a thing of life, and impelled by two oars, held in the hands of a young girl. Searcely more than sixteen, the daring occu- pant of the skiff was one upon whom Lo eye could rest without admiration. Her form was the perfection of graceful out- lines, her movements, even in exerting her strength, willowy and easy, and her face lovely to the extreme of beauty. Every feature was expressive, her complex- ion, brown as a berry, was pure, and her teeth milk-white and even, while her lips, a trifle full aud pouting were rosy red with perfect health. Her dress was a strange one, especially for such a scene as she was an actor in, and such a locality. She wore a tight-fitting bodice of finest black velvet, and a petticoat or skirt of red silk, rich- ly embroidered by some skilled hand. About her waist was a blue silk sash, and “eg ber head sat ,jauntily a cap of the same ue. All were now drenched with the salt spray, but this she did not’ seem to mind, as she did not shrink, but merely closed her eyes as the seas broke in showers over her. Her hands and feet were very small and shapely, aud the latter were devoid of covering, for she seemed to ignore shoes and stockings, though she wore in her ears rare jewels, about ber neck a necklace of great value, and gems of richness adorned her fingers, which were literal- ly covered with rings. Witb a steady, skilled stroke she urged her skiff on its dangerous course, guided by some object on the Death Rock, it was evident, as she never looked behind her, which was of course abead. As she neared the wreck she heard voices calling to her, and exerted herself the more; but glancing quickiy over ber shoulder she did not seem to catch sight of the Sea Ghost, now not rely far from the dismasted craft. The sloop had drifted under the lee of some rocks, before the anchor stopped its way, and now lay in comparatively smooth waters, a circumstance which the coming schooner took advantage of to run down and board, luffing up sharp alongside just as the skiff reached the wreck, and vearly running the latter down. The cry of the girl showed that she had not before seen the schooner, and, recognizing it as the Sea Ghost, which she had observed from the Death Rock more than once, she sprung on board the wreck and stood by the side of the Water Wolves, to whose aid sbe had come, , But the crew of the schooner bad not been idle, and, demoralized as they were, the Water Wolves were quickly made prisoners. In dismay they turned their eyes upon the Woman in Black, who appeared before them with a face that wasthatofaskull, _ Her crew, though ghostly-looking in their white clothing, seemed most nearly akin to flesh and blood; but from the woman they sbrunk in mortal terror, the young girl also imbued with the same dread as she gazed upon the tall form, clad in deep black, and the face of bone, Addressing Wambold and his wife by name, the Woman in Black told them that their doom would soon follow, and suddenly removing the face of bone, which was a mask, she stood revealed, with her forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and neck disfigured by tattooing. Then, as they still shrunk in abject fear from her, she made herself known to them as one they had believed dead, one who, the rival of the woman and loved by the man, upon marry- ing another, bad been, as they believed, their victim by poison, But they had failed in their attempt, and marrying the man she loved, she had sailed for SS SS a en eee eee Bonodel, the Boy Rover. a far-away land, been wrecked among savages and deserted by her busband, but at last, mak- ing her escape, she was now a deformed being, an avowed witch, living only to make others wretched. Such a confession, from such a source, fell like a death-mantle upon the ears of the Water Wolves, and bowing their heads, they submitted to their fate, whatever that fate might be. Having already decided what her course should be, the Woman in Black ordered her crew to take the wreck in tow. and soon after the little schooner stood away from the Death Ont slowly drawing the dismasted sloop after er. Hardly had the two gotten well under way, when a young man, with a dark, handsome but evil and cunning face, and who now, held the helm, while the Woman in Black stood near. suddenly called out: **Sail ho!” All started at the words, for certainly it was not expected to meet a third craft in these waters, The woman, generally so calm and unmoved, seemed almost dismayed, and, ber eyes quickly turned upon the strange sail. There was no reason for her to ask where it vas, for it was not a league distant, and had suddenly come into view, as though bounding up from the sea or dropping from the clouds, ‘““That craft can come but from one place, my son,” she said, after an effort at self-control, and addressing the young man at the wheel, who seemed to stand in the place of a mate on board the little schooner. ‘Yes, mother, and where has she come from?” ‘**The Death Rock.” a - h | it is not the Phantom Pirate?’ ‘No,’ | ‘‘Then what other craft could come out from the Death Rock?” ‘*T am at a loss to know.” ‘‘Could she not have rounded the Death Rock?” ‘No, not from her present pusition, or we would have sighted her long ago.” ‘*True, mother; but do you not think she has a familiar look?’ ‘*Yes—ha! it is the yacht Sea Owl, com- manded by that accursed boy who was my cap- tive once and escaped me,” said the woman sav- agely. . ‘Yes, it is the Sea Owl, for I saw her often in New Orleans, and Midshipman Brandt was made her commander and ordered to cruise in the Gulf as a coast-guard.” ‘‘Tf heisin command now, Perdido, we need expect no mercy from him, for he knows me as the Witch of the Chandeleur Isle.” ‘*' Yes, mother; but | bope we are mistaken; but the girl will know.” ‘* Ah, yes, I had forgotten that; let that girl wrecker come on deck,” she added, calling out to one of her crew. In a few moments the young girl stood before her, calm and fearless. “Girl, you came from the Death Rock, to rescue Wambold the Water Wolf, his wife and son?” ‘* Yes,” was the quiet reply. ‘What schooner is that?’ and the woman pointed suddenly to tbe strange sail. At sight of her the eyesof the young girl brightened up and she said quickly: **Tt is the American cruiser Sea Owl.” **From whence bas she come?” ‘* Out of the Death Rock Basin.” ** How came she in there?” _ “Tran her in, to prevent her going to pieces in the storm two nights ago,” ‘‘Ab! but has she a pilot for these waters on board?’ sé 110,”? ‘“Then how did she run out of the channel?” ‘*] do not know, unless ber captain made one of the Phantom Pirates pilot him out.” ‘* The Phantom Pirates?” ‘¢' Yes.” ‘* ‘Where are they?” “In the basin,” ‘Prisoners?’ ‘Yes, they ran their schooner in and were captured by the cruiser,” “Indeed! then this solyes the mystery of that phantom craft. ‘Truly the mysteries of theses waters are being brought down to plain reality,” said the woman with a sneer; but again she asked: ‘*And the cruisers’ crew know all about the Death’s Head Beacon now?” ‘* Yes, [ told them,” ‘* And they did not hold you a prisoner?” rr - ‘* Ro." ‘* And allowed you to come out to the rescue of your fellow Water Wolves?” sé Yes.” ‘That they might capture and hang them?” ‘*No, the young captain promised me he would not harm my parents and Leo,” ‘** Those Po are not your blood kin, as any one could teil by looking at you.” ‘No, but call them my parents and brother.” ‘Girl, I wi)l be your mother in future, and you will have to forget them, for their doom is sealed, ay, and the doom of all of us shall be, ere I allow yonder cruiser to capture us; but tell me, do you know these waters?’ sé Yes,” : ‘““This schooner draws five feet, and yonder craft fully nine; can you run us through that reef yonder, where I know there is a passage, and where the cruiser cannot follow?” ‘**T could.” ‘Then do so, and I will make you rich, girl.” ‘T care not to be rich.” ‘‘Then you shall be my child, and I will do all I can to make you happy.” ‘‘T am bappy now.” Py ae you will pilot us through the reef?” sé 9.” ‘* What! you refuse?” ‘‘'Yes, for the captain of the cruiser wishes tc capture you, or he would not have come in chase, and I will not prevent it.” “Then I will kill you,” hissed the woman, half drawing a jewel-hilted knife from her belt, ‘Very well,” was the cool reply, young girl did not flinch. ‘‘By Heaven! do you dare me? You do not know how little my hand hesitates to kill, and that it has stains on it of lives as innocent as yours,” act do not fear you, and I am not afraid to ie. The Woman in Black gazed upon the young girl with a look that it was bard to fathom. Then she said softly: ‘Girl, I will not take your life, but barter witb baser metal for our safety.” ‘Perdido, bring Wambold the Water Wolf on deck.” In obedience the wrecker, heavilv ironed, was brought face to face with the Woman in Black, and he cowed before her piercing eyes. ** Alfred Wambold, I sent for you to ask hog a question,” the Woman in Black said sternly: “Well?” was the low reply. ‘* You have been long in these waters?” ac Yes, ” ‘*' You know them well?” ‘‘AsI know your hated face, woman,” was the savage response, ‘*Tt is well, I could ask no more; but now tell me if you love life?” ‘ As you do,” ‘And are wine to buy it?” ‘‘ How?” he asked eagerly. , ‘‘T mean not with your gold, for I am con- fident that your dismasted sloop holds your treasure.” | ‘* How then?” ‘* By work.” ‘*What am I to do?’ ‘* Do you see yonder schooner?” ‘‘Good God! it is a cruiser,” wrecker as his eyes fell upon it. ‘* Yes, and the chances are that her crew will hang you for your crimes; but, as I do not eare to be taken too, I offer you a chance of escape.” “ Again I ask what am | to dof” ; ‘I wish you to pilot this schooner, with the sloop in tow, through channels which even the daring commander of yonder cruiser fears to follow.” Yuu c ppear to know these waters, so why ask my aid?” ‘‘T know the open channels only, but not the secret ones. « Will you take the helm?” ‘On what terms?” ‘* Your life.” ‘‘ And my wife’s?” sé No.” “ Then I refuse.” j ‘‘ Well, I will offer you your wife’s life along with yours.” ‘¢ And my son’s life?” : sé 0.” : “T will not stir one band to aid you unle and the cried the you pledge yourself to let the three of us go. free .” said the Water Wolf firmly. ‘‘ How about the girl?” ‘Ab! I had forgotten her.” “ Is she your daugater?” \ * VJOOKS, Com