Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 580 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Se a ~ - es See Se > > é - >» — he — a - * . a « “ ° ; "a bs S » Ove - The Outcast Cadet. ee ee oO peert, ther cap’n o’ this craft says, and hearin’ as you was aboard in the charge 0’ constables who was carryin’ you to Mexico, 1 told’em as how they should set you free, They thought dif’rent, but I argified ther matter with my re- volvers and they was convinced, so I jest come down ter invite you ondeck and give youa chance with ther rest o’ us. ‘* TJ hain’t bad ther pleasure ©’ seein’ yer afore, but yer don’t look like a bad man clean through and I'll interdooce myself as Lone Star Luke o Texas at your sarvice, pard, as long as this old ark floats.” The Texan was unlocking the irons as he spoke, and the prisoner smiled at his quaint manner, while be answered: ‘You are a noble man, my friend, and from my heart I thank you.” ** Don’t do it, for lL acts only from duty; but, what might be your name, pard?’ “a Darling. ‘i *“‘Darlin’? Waal, that’s what I called my gal, years ago, when I hed one.” ‘s ns name is Dick Darling,” “Waal, Pll call yer Pard Dick, for ef I was heerd callin’ yer Darling folks would think you was a gal in breeches, and yer is good enough lookin’ fer ’em to think so. “* Now, Pard Dick, let us git out of this rat hole, for we is liable ter—” He said no more, for as be uttered the last word there came a terrific crash, a shock, and the sea poured over the devoted craft in fiercest torrents, The schooner had driven ashore with fearful force and was a wreck, CHAPTER VII, SHIPWRECKED, THE shock of the vessel striking upon the weefs, threw the Texan, seaman and prisoner down; but they were apie upon their feet and making their way on deck, The seaman seemed half scared out of his wits, but the Texan and the prisoner were perfectly cool, the former helping the latter along, for he was stiff from long confinement, ‘We bas struck, Pard Dick, that are sart’in; but we'll soon be on deck and know if it’s die or live.” ‘* The vessel seems to rest solidly at least,” re- plied the prisoner coolly, and then they reached the gangway aud a moment after passed up through the hatch to the deck. The vessel had struck upon a reef that en- circled a rugged island, and was hard and fast upon it, some quarter of a mile from the shore, The dawn was breaking, so that those on deck could see about them, The captain, bis crew, and the two constables stood amidships and were anxiously looking about them, as though fearful that the wreck would go to pieces, The storm was abating rapidly, however, and this the Texan saw, for he sid: ** She’s stuck fast, pards, but she’s solid as a rock, and as the storm are getting winced, I guess we hain’t to drown jist yet.” The two constables eyed their prisoner curi- ously as he jomed the group with tbe Texan, and the gaze of the captain and his men also fell upon the splendid form and handsome face of the young man, ‘‘'Pards, ef it are to be war between you and me, jist declare whenever you gits ready, for I intends ter pertect this here young pilgrim, so don’t make no mistake, ‘He are misfortunit, and this shipwreck sets him free jist now, so let us all work together for our gineral good and git out of a bad scrape ef we can; but ef you means ter act dirt towardsa man in misfortune, ’m right here to say no, Now what are your declaration, pards?” ‘We want no trouble, and we were but doing our duty in taking the man to Mexico, ‘We know nothing about bis crime, but we was told he were guilty and paid to take him there for trial; but if we is shipwrecked we can’t do it, and that’s all there is about it,” said oue of the men, ‘*T do not. blame these men, sir, for It believe they are only doing their duty; but a kind fate has come to my rescue, and I shall make the best of it to remain free,” said Dick Darling, calmly, ‘You is right, pard; but now let us all be barmonious, and you, cap’n, jist see what you kin do to git us out 0’ a bad pickle.” ‘*We have one good boat and can go ashore when the sea runs down: butif I am not mis- taken, this is a wreckers’ island,” ‘Does yer mean it are ther abidin’-place o’ ‘them sea cut-throats I has heerd tell on?’ asked Lone Star Luke, “Yes, for they will commit any crime for gold,” ‘Waal, I guesses we might give ’em a sur- prise-party ef they tackled us, for we is thirteen all told,” ' ‘** An unlucky number,” muttered the mate. , | ‘Waal, ’d a heap rather it were thirteen than twelve, if it is to be a fight we'll have,” ‘*‘That man will be our Jonah,” growled one of the constables, with a glance at Dick Dar- ling. *Pard, I knows a Jonah a whale will git a chance ter swallow—and he won’t be a lively Jonah, nuther, when ther whale spits him ashore, ef he don’t keep a civil tongue in his teeth. ‘*Mebbe you know as to whom I are alludin’; ef not, ef yer goes inter ther cabing and looks at yerself in a mirror, yer’|I see ther gent,” There was a threat in the manner of Lone Star Luke, which caused the constables to feel tbat they had better keep quiet just then. In the mean time, the captain of the wrecked schooner was gazing shoreward with his glass, ** Mates, this is the island of the Sea Wolves,” he said, ‘* Wreckers?” asked Dick Darling. ' sé Yes,” ‘** Do you know their force?” ‘** Some score or more, sir,” answered the cap- tain with real respect in voice and manner as he addressed the prisoner, ‘**Then we can beat them off I think and per- haps seize their boat and leave the island in it,” 2 A good suggestion, sir, and we'll act upon it. ‘* Pard Cap'n, I are use ter prairie and chap- arral fightin’, but maybe I kin give yer a word fer sea scrimmagin’ aad it are thet yer let about half o’ us go ashore so as not ter show yer whole force, ‘*Then ef them pirates come aboard we kin entertain ’em more handsome,” This plan was adopted, and the Texan, prisoner, two constables and a couple of the sailors went down into the cabin. It was now bright day, and the wind was rising, revealing the full outlines of the island, It was a wild-looking spot, with bold forbid- ding shores, and it seemed to be entirely sur- rounded by reefs and jagged rocks, The schooner had driven hard upon the reef, and, as the sea was running down it was no longer shaken by the waves which at first had pounded its stout sides so heavily. As the sun rose out of the sea the mists clear ed away and the captain was cursing that he wason an island frequented by the wreckers known as Sea Wolves, ‘““They visit the islands and place false beacons upon them, and lure vessels to destruc- tion, though they pretend only to gather up wreckage and cast-away cargoes, ‘*If they come out to us it wili be in their boats,” said the captain to Lone Star Luke who was seated in the cabin companionway, ‘*Butis you sart’in that they is on ther is- land?” “Yes, for Isaw two men skulking along the shore, and they have their little wrecking craft anchored in there somewhere— Ah! here they come now!” As the captain spoke a small schooner of per tons shot out from what appeared to be a solid cliff and began to beat out toward the wrecked craft. CHAPTER VIII. THE SEA WOLVES, THOSE on board the wrecked schooner watch- ed the coming of the craft from the island with considerable interest, Those in the cabin had gotten together what weapons they could find and awaited the result, The vessel coming out belonged tova class of West Indian craft that are stanch in a blow and very swift sailers, The captain of the wrecked schooner knew her to be one of the fleet of wreckers, who were generally known as Sea Wolves, Though the vessels-of-war were ever on the alert against these Sea Wolves, they were so cunning as seldom to be caught in acts of out- lawry, and so continued their deeds from year to year. It was said by them that if they found a vessel in distress, with a small crew, they were only too willing to put allon board to death and take possession. Many small vessels had disappeared from view and it was to the Sea Wolves that their loss was attributed, and not unjustly so, as will be seen. The vessel came rapidly on, standing up well under the stiff breeze, cutting through the rough waters like a knife, and beating out with won- derful ease in the face of the half-gale that was blowing. As sbe drew near the reef she luffed up sharp and lay to, not a ship’s length away from the wreck, Upon her decks were some fifteen men, dark- faced as Indians, bearded and with the cut of desperadoes about them. i Ho the wreck!” hailed the man at the tiller, ‘* Ahoy the schooner,” respended the cap- tain of the wrecked vessel. ‘* Who are you, whither bound and what is your cargo?” ‘‘The schooner Glide, out of New York, bound for Galveston and Vera Cruz and with cargo of general merchandise.” ‘* How many are on board?” ‘‘'You see my crew.” ‘Do you know on what island you have been wrecked?” ‘Yes, one of the Wreckers’ Islands of the Bahamas.” ‘‘ Will you turn over your vessel to me in re- turn for carrying yourself and crew to an American port?’ het [Sy ** Why not?” ‘“You are Sea Wolves or you would not wish ay to help men in distress.” ** Granted we are, what then!” ‘*T will keep on board my vessel until help arrives.” ‘* No help will reach you here?” ‘You do not know all that I do.” ‘** What do you know?” **Come on board and find out,” was the de- fiant rejoinder of the skipper, ‘Tl do it when this sea runs down, and you and your crew will have to take the conse- quences,” was the threatening reply. The craft then put back for the shore, putting into an inner harbor through an opening in the cliff not visible from the wreck. Thus several hours passed away, and the wind almost died out, the sea ran down, and once more the little craft appeared. There was deep water close to the reef, and the wrecker craft could come alongside. From there it was buta few rods over the rocks to where the wreck lay. Landing, they could board the wreck and carry her, if not beaten off. Those on board the wreck had meanwhile pre- pared as best they could for the attack, Bales of goods had been brought on deck and placed along the bulwarks as a breastwork, and all the weapons on board had been loaded and placed ready at band. As the wreckers would doubtless land all their force, and their vessel be moored against the reef, Dick Darling suggested that the party bid- ing in the cabin had better slip over the sea side of the wreck and stand ready to rush on board the schooner and seize her when her crew ad- vanced to the attack, ‘¢ You has a level bead, pard,” said Lone Star Luke, and the captain also decided that it would be a good idea to so attack the Sea Wolves. The arrangements were accordingly made, the Texan, prisoner, two constables, and two seamen going out of the stern-ports to the reef, and creeping along among the rocks until they reached a hiding-place near where tte wrecker craft must land, Then out came the little vessel, and it was seen that there were fully a score of men on board, while the glass showed that they were armed to the teeth. Straight up to the reef she glided, and the wrecker leader called out: “ Ahoy! will you surrender the wreck?” ‘‘Tf you wish it, come and take it, for I shall defend it. ‘‘T have ten men cn board, and we'll fight for our craft, wrecked though she is,” was the reply of the American skipper. A derisive laugh greeted this response, and ‘the wreckers threw themselves over the bul- warks upon the reef, Their vessel was made fast, and the men, un- der the leadership of their chief, started for the wreck, leaving but a couple of men on board of their schooner, Witha yell they sterted toward the wreck, but were met by a volley that staggered them, and dropped several of their number. But they ressed On and had nearly reached the side of the wreck, when they heard shouts in their rear. They halted in consternation only to see the JINTA comicl oe ‘Dy Oe 2 a ice 900ks.Cc