Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 580 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

The Outcast Cadet. two men left on their vessel fall under the fire of a party who had appeared as if by magic from the rocks and had bourded their schooner. They hesitated in indecision, for the fire from the wreck had already been more severe than they had supposed it would be, and while they halted there they were between two fires, for Lone Star and his men were opening upon them rapiayy- ndismay they charged back -toward their vessel, but she was already free and drifted off, Dick Darling, who was a good sailor, springing to the helm, Then the wreckers turned again upon the wreck, but the fire upon them was hot, from Lone Star as well as the skipper and his men, and with more than half their number either dead or wounded the balance bounded along the reef and took refuge among the rocks, Then tbe schooner ran again alongside of the reef and Lone Star and bis party landed, while aman carrying a white flag wasseen advanc- ing from the hiding-place of the Sea Wolves, ne had suddenly found the tah es turned upon em, eer lee CHAPTER IX. THE TABLES TURNED. THAT the wreckers were completely cowed by their defeat, there was not the shadow of a eloubt. They still outnumbered the wrecked crew; but what they had failed to do when consider- ing themselves masters of the situation they were well aware they could not accomplish when all was in favor of the strangers. They therefore were willing to come to terms and so sent a man with a flag of truce to see what could be done in the master. They however began by PERE AR OCO, for the man when met by Lone Siar Luke said: ‘*T have come from our captain to say he will let you alone and take his vesseland go.” ** You be a durned fool, pard, so you can tell your captain.” ‘* He will attack you again.” ** Let him do it, for we would like to wipe the rest of you out.” ** What will you do about it then?” “We'll jist take your craft and set sail from here, while if yer wish ter go back to your island, you kin hev a boat and then skip,” ** You mean to take our vessel?” ** Sart’in, for she are our pirit prize, don’t yer diskiver?” ‘*The cap’n will not let you have the vessel without fighting for her,” ‘*'We has fought for her, and she’s our craft, and we intends ter keep her. ‘*Now go and tell yer cap’n ter git out soon as he wants ter and ter look arter his wounded, fer don’t yer git heart-sick at ther groaning 0’ ther poor fellows?” ‘¢T’ll go and report,” said the man, and he de- parted. Returning to the schooner, on board of which the wrecked crew were now all assembled, Lone Star told of what had occurred, ‘“* Had you not better keep one of their men as a pilot, sir, for we cannot find the way out, even after we get the vessel ready to go?” said Dick Darling. *“Pard, your head hain’t hollow, by no means. ; ‘* Are it, eap’n?” said Lone Star, ‘It isa wise suggestion; but here comes the man again,” The same man was now seen coming back, and he reported to Lone Star, who went to meet him, that the captain said he would give them a craft that was in the basin, to depart from the island in, if they would let bim have his vessel to return ashore in, and they might keep the wounded men as hostages, to show his good faith. ‘They bain’t worth no more nor dead men, and they is most of °em dying now, _ “No, sir, we keeps the schooner, and you kin jist pile by to ther boat yonder, take yer dead and wounded with you, and light out. ‘* Does yer hear? ** Yes, but the captain won’t agree,” ‘Then he can go to thunder,” and the Texan was turning away when he called out: **My man, does yer wish to tarn honest?” ** How do you mean?” ‘Tf you does, when the others go ashore, you come to us and [’!l find gold-dust for you,” ‘What am I to do?” *‘ Run this craft out to sea when we gits ready th go.” _ “Phey would kill me,” It’s catchin’ down in Texas, whar I sojourn, afore hanging.” ‘* Vl tell you,” and the wrecker spcke in a low tone. ‘*T don’t like it here, and I was roped in, so if you give me a lift when I get ashore in the port you make, Pll go with you,” ‘* You know bow to run the craft out of this reef-harbor?”’ ‘*In fair weather, yes.” ‘* Well, you come to us, pard, and Pll fix you squar’.” ‘*Can’t you, when we go to our boat, start out to meet me with a white flag, and then seize me, for (ll be watched after I get on the island, and it will be hard to get away.” ‘*T hates to do anything under a white flag as hain’t squar’,” ‘* But what do you care, when those men are little else than pirates?” ‘*That’s so, and I'll think it over,” was the cautious reply of the scout. The atoaY 6 now returned to his comrades, and the scout went back on board the schooner. Soon it was seen that the wreckers were going to accept the terms offered them, for they ap- ared in view, and came slowly and with sul- en miea down toward the beach on the inner shore of the reach, Some of them were slightly wounded, and all of thea were mad as hornets, But there was no help for them and they filed sullenly down to the boat, which the skipper had placed for them a hundred yards from the schooner, ‘‘ Hold, pards, take yer dead and wounded with you. ‘We don’t want ’em,” roared Lone Star Luke, The wreckers obeyed with bad grace, and then Luke called out: ‘* Pard, I wants yer fer a object.” Boldly he sprung over the bulwarks, and ad- vanced toward the wreckers. The man who had come under flag of truce walked toward him and the two met, ‘*Pard, I didn’t come out under no false colors as yer sees; but you is my game at the point of my revolver,” As the Texan spoke he covered the wrecker, and marched him back, no unwilling prisoner, to the schooner, The wreckers halted and seemed excited. For a moment they appeared about to reck- lessly charge the schooner. But the Texan called out: ‘¢ Better not be rash, pards, for we is in fight- in’ trim. ‘‘We wants this gerloot asa pilot, and you bets we has got him, for we knows you had a idee we couldn’t git out o’ this hole with yer vessel arter we got ber. ‘*'Ta-ta, pards, and don’t you tackle nothin’ iu future until yer knews what yer is about.” The wreckers swore in as many languages as they had command of, but the Texan shouted: ‘* We is goin’ ter indulge in some pistol prac- tice right in your direction, so you mou’t git hurted ef yer remains in range, ‘¢ See here!” As he spoke Lone Star sent a bullet from his rifle, which hé had carried North with him, right over the heads of the wreckers, They took the hint quickly, and getting into their boat pushed off, rowing toward the island. The wrecked crew watched them until they wero outof sight through the opening in the cliff, and then Lone Star said: * Now, cap’n, it are your trick, and tber sooner fy begin biz ther better all round, fer this pirit pilgrim here tells me thar is a dozen more galoots ashore of them fellers,” ‘*] will pat on board the schooner all the most valuable of my cargo, and then we can set sail,” said the wrecker, The men then set to work, one and all, trans- ferring the stores and most valuable of the eargo from the wreck to the little schooner, The craft was roomy, baving been built with a view to carrying booty, and all of the cargo that was not damaged was put on board, It was now dark, and the schooner was hauled off from the shore and anchored, while the wrecker, Dick Darling, the captain and Lone Star volunteered to keep watch. The night passed away, however, without alarm, and at dawn they returned to finish with the cargo from the wreck. This done, the wreck was set on fire, and the deeply-laden little schooner stood away from the reef. The wrecker was at the helm, and by his side stood the Texan, “Pard Pirit, I believes yer is all right; but sh’u’d yer make a slip ag’in’ us, yer will be ther fu’st mano’ this outfit thet goes ter Kingdom Come,” and Lone Star held his revolver in his hand, ‘*] intend to act square, sir, and as a proof of it, I will tell you that 1 believe the wreckers will attack you in boats, as we round the point of yonder cliff. ‘We have torun close in, and if they dash out suddenly, for we have little rooin, they will be upon us inan instant, and their force will nearly double yours now.” ‘*Pard, you isa brick; and we'll tie to you sart’in, when we gits out o’ this; but yer’ll ex- on me ef I still keeps my shooter handy about yer ‘*T don’t wonder that you doubt me,” and the wrecker smiled. Then he added: ‘** But don’t forget that the wreckers are doubt- less ready to dash out upon you in their boats,” ‘‘ Pard Cap’n, yer hears that?” ‘Well, just bave all ther boys ready with their weepons, and I guesses as how we’ll give ’em a set-back.” The arrangements were quickly made, though not so as to attract attention from the wreckers, should they be watching them. ' The schooner was now nearing the cliff, and suddenly, out from the channel pass, shot two boats filled with men. They were not a dozen oar lengths away, and, but for the warning of the wrecker pilot they you? surely have gained a footing upon the vessel, As it was, they were received with a scatter- ing fire, and, when tuey got alongside of the schooner, they were met with a bold front, Wielding an old cutlass in his grasp, Dick Darling clove the wrecker leader to the heart, an then drove the blade into the bedy of an- other. This settled the combat, for the wreckers sprung back into their boats and shoved off, while the schooner swept on through the nar- row channel and made toward the open sea. CHAPTER X. THE TEXAN CHIPS IN. UNDER the pilotage of the wrecker the little schooner passed rapidly through the channel leading from the island and gained open water. The captain then decided to goon with his cargo to Galveston and there report his loss, so the schooner was put away for that port, and was soon leaving the wreckers’ island far astern, Hardly had her course been laid, when the two constables, who had been talking together for some time ina low tone, came aft where Dick Darling stood, and said: . Now, sir, we must again make you a pris~ er. “What do you mean?’ indignantly asked the young man, ‘* Just what I say, for you are our prisoner.” ‘*T was, though under false charges. ‘Captain, let me tell you that I was arrested one night at my home and by these and four other men, ‘*T was told that I was wanted for a murder’ committedin Mexico, and that that Government had gotten a permit to take me there. ‘‘] knew there was some mistake: but I was powerless to argue, s0I did what T could not help doing, ‘I was brought on board your vessel @ irons, as you know, and sO was on my way when the shipwreck released me, ‘* These men have gotten the wrong man, as I can prove when given a chance; but having been set free by the wreck, and feeling that am not guilty of the crime they accuse me of, I shall not again submit to their making mea prisoner.” | * Bully for you, Pard Dick,” cried the Texan. The captain seemed worried, and replied: ‘‘T am sorry, sir; but I must sustain these officers of the law. ‘A naval officer came on board my vessel and engaged passage for a_prisoner and two guards to Vera Cruz and paid for it, . ‘*He told me that I must uphold his officers in taking the prisoner in safety, and I feel that I must do so, as my duty compels it.” “Then you can do as you please; but J will not submit!” and the young prisoner stepped back and stood at bay, grasping the cutlass he had used so well against the wreckers to detena himself with. _ “ You shall die, then!” shouted one of the of- ficers, and he leveled his pistol and pulled trigger. ut his arm was struck up at the instant with a force that sent the weapon flying into the sea, COMmICcCDOO ' oe . a 4 ——— pas pla ery” ao A ‘ ie o a =J3