Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 674 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

2 OE we ca ea as f < ye. _ ral AD OPN EE Tt are > Sn z a - = > , i Bea Gypsy, or ha “* Fs ws eee ee ye ee ca tel ~-re a eee ee —~ Pei wre) te rw TR gr ere te One eS ’ 6 home, which you suddenly left, after a year’s sojourn there, yet why I never knew.” ** Shalj I tell you, Clifford, tell youand Kate?” suddenly asked the woman. ** Yes, mother,” ** I left because, one moonlight night, I sawan armed schooner drop anchor in the Sound, and a | man landed and came alone to the mansion’s steps. He came to seek me, for that man was The Wizard Sailor. had met the commodore’s daughter, saved her from death that day under the cliff, The old commodore had called with his daugh- ter, driven in his carriage to the cabin of the sorceress and expressec his thanks, urging that he could in some way prove bis appreciation of the deed. Since then Miss Carr had ridden on horseback alone several times, to visit Kate, and the visits Bazil the Buccaneer, and he, too, had come to | had been returned by Clifford sailing his sister find the treasure by finding me, for some one knew evidently that we were not lost. ‘“* He saw naught but desertion there, read the brass tablet aud went away. ** But, fearing he would return I left the place and once more became a wanderer,” “Yes, mother, and we wandered from place to place, veritable Sea Gypsies, until at last we found this home, “Fortunately an educated woman, you have taught Kate and [, and taught us well, so that we know much of the world and of mankind. ‘““We came here and [ have been content, as also has been Kate; but we have both been ined to see that you played upon the supersti- ious fears of the people, told fortunes, made propneckes and did all in your power to be ooked upon as a weird woman, in other words as a sorceress.” *“* And I have made men and women fear me and in my bitterness I have been revenveful against the whole world, allexcept you, Clifford. you and Kate,” and the woman spoke bitterly. ** Be patient, mother, and hcar me, for I have more to say, and I utter no word of censure and have not done so. ** We have lived here, and no one molests us, while many fear you, “It was my good fortune to save from death, you remember, the daughter of Commodore arr of Harborage Hall yonder, and her cousin, Kenton Carr. **It is my belief that the day his boat capsized that day here near tie eliff, be, Kenton Carr, upset it.” “* Ha! you believe this?” ** Yes, mother, as also does Kate. ** We were watching the boat, and saw it go over, and he ailowed his cousin to be swept off before he allowed the boat to go fully over. *“*T sprung from the cliff, you remem Yer, and Kate came out in the skiff, so we saved Miss Carr and her cousin too, for he had nearly given up when we reached him. ‘* Now he gave us an excuse that his feet were tangled in the sheet rope, so he could not swim pecting no trouble in clinging to the boat. “His coward fear caused him to lose his nerve, and so he too nearly drowned, “That is my idea, for he was most insulting to me, as Kate knows, when [ rescued them.” ‘* But what motive has he?’ “*His uncle is his guardian, and the commo- dore is very rich, “If she dies then the young man gets the for- tune, for the commodore would not live long after his daughter’s death. ‘** This is my idea.” ** And mine,” said Kate, firmly. ** Kenton Carr is also a very fast man, and is doubtless in debt and driven to the wal’, ‘*He has been refused by his cousin, so is doubtless revengeful agains her.” * You are not often wrong, my son.” “Then, mother, he is very bitter in his hatred of me and often has said things to cause me to resent them, so as to quarrel with me for some reason of his own I cannot quite fathom.” “* He cannot know how dangerous his quarrel might prove to him, Clifford.” * ** He is not a coward, I am sure, but I do be- lieve him to be a villain. ‘*Now, mother, we have looked backward, and let me tell you, that as we now live we have no aim in life, I have no hope of more than I now am, unless I throw off this galling yoke and become a different man.” ; **What would you do, my son?’ and the ‘woman’s voice sunk almost to a whisper. **Hope, struggle, have ambition—in truth, my mother, look forward, not backward,” was the stern and ringing response, CHAPTER IX. LOOKING FORWARD. THE ringing words of her son fairly startled the woman who had been glad to be called Salina, the Sorceress, and who rejoiced in having men and women fear her, She knew that love alone had changed the current of Clifford’s thoughts, He bad been bappy in his wandering life of a seemed so at least, until he to her aid; but he had tied them himself, to Harborage Hall in his sloop, and twice had the commodore gone with them in a run out of the harbor and greatly admired the splendid seamanship of the young sailor, and also his beautiful sister. The mother knew that this had ended in her son’s loving the lovely heiress to Harborage Hall, and this had awakened his ambition to be more than he was, After a long pause the sorceress asked: ‘* Have you more to tell me, my son?” ‘* Yes, mother, I wish to say more to you, and you will be patient with me, I know,” ‘* Yes, Clifford.” ‘*First, let me tell you that the man who dwells on yonder point, among the pines, and who is known as Red Ralph, the Fisherman, but is suspected of being in league with smugglers, was once an officer upon Bazil’s schooner, when I was known as the Buccaneer Midshipman,” The woman sprung to her feet in alarm, but Kate showed no anxiety, for she was doubtless already wholly in ber brother’s confidence, ‘*He knows us? Then be must die,” ‘Be calm, my mother, for you forget that when I went to Washington some years ago, to get my berth asa midshipman from the Presi- dent, I told bim in confidence our story and received his fuil pardon for all past offenses, and we have done no wrong since, nor were we really guilty before, ‘*So Red Ralph can do us no harm.” ‘*But bow know youthat heisawareof the fact that Iam Bazil the Buccaneer’s wife?” ‘*T have noticed that he is very intimate with Kenton Carr, and, in fact, lcould hang them both did 1 wish, for I have been watching their movements and they are nothing more than smuggders, ‘* Of course, all I say, mother, is in confidence, to be used only in case of necessity. ‘Well, after an interview with Carr, the da after my rescue of Miss Carr, Red Ralph board- ed my sloop for a talk. ‘Heat last came to the point and told me that he was Ralph Rogers on Bazii’s schooner, had been captured with him and pretending to be forced into piracy as a captive, had been thus enabled to aid the chief’s escape.” ‘| remember him,” ‘Yes, mother, and he recalled me as the Buccanser Middy, and very coolly demanded hush money, or he would have us arrested.” ** And your answer?” ‘“‘] laughed at him, showed him the pardon which the President bad given me, and my warrant as a midshipman in the navy, appoint- ed for services rendered, and at liberty to report at will for duty, ‘*He was amazed and disappointed, so took his leave, while I told him if I heard a bint of our secret being known, that, as an officer of tae navy, I would arrest bim asa pirate, and have him hanged,” ‘* Cliford, [am proud of you.” “*Thank you, mother; but I deemed it best to keep our secret, for it would only cast a stain upon us, in spite of the pardon we hold. ** Now, mother, what [ would say is just this: ‘* That there is a war threatening, that we are on the eve of a war with England, you know.” ‘* Ere long it must come, my son.” ‘¢ Yes, mother, and 1 desire to win a name in it, to earn fame and riches,” ‘*T have a fortune in gems, my son.” ‘‘' Yes, mother, and every one of them dyed with the life-blood of men, women and ebildren. ‘*They came from a pirate craft, were taken by Bazil the Buccaneer, and though they have given us a luxurious living, I cannot but fee] the while that we could better earn our own riches, ‘* Do not be angry, mother; but I wish you to devote those jewels, in part at least, to a noble purpose, **] believyo I can find the island where we landed, where the pirate schooner Red Scorpion was Wrecked, ‘Tf so, I can get riches to devote to the build- ing of a fine vessel-of-war. ‘The treasure lies there now unused, and it cannot be restored to the unfortunate former owners, ‘But I can give a part of it to the Govern- F pan nt bs ge Se - ; - . ~ - : 4 . , : 7 7 . , , a aed ik Te [; a « on if - Ra Pe ae ee = ment as prize money, and pay for the building, arming and equipping of a splendid schouner, which I can command as a privateer in the coming war. ‘‘T have the model of my sloop, and she can be built on the Kennebec, and armed and manned in Boston, for money will buy a splen- did battery, and fit her out as well as any ves- sel afloat. ‘‘Tf [ donot win a name in her, then it will be my own fault. ‘* But you must help me, mother,” ** How can I?” ‘*Give me some of your jewels to purchase a small craft and man her for & voyage to the island where the treasure is buried. ‘* Tf you wish it, I will return you theamount, from the treasure, which you advance to me in jewels, ‘Then I will be able to pay for my vessel, which I shall commence the building of before I sail, and prepare for her arming and full equip- ment. ‘* Will you do this for me, my mother?” ‘*Gladly, my brave boy,” was the eager an- swer. ‘¢ And, mother, Ihave another plot to carry out.” ‘* What is it, m7 son?” ‘*]T will tell you, and Kate, when I have seen once more Red Ralph Rogers.” ‘*Why do you go tosee him again?” “That you shall know, mother, when I re- turn, for I will now sail over in my skiff to have a talk with him.” ‘*] fear trouble.” ‘‘ Never fear, mother, but hope for the future, for within a couple of weeks I will be flying southward in search of the Treasure Island of the Bahamas, **T will not be gone across the inlet long, but [ must see Red Ralph,” and going down to his skiff Clifford hoisted sail and went skimming over to the point of pines where stood the cabin of Red Ralph. CHAPTER X. BROUGHT TO TERMS, Rep RALPH ROGERS, alleged fisherman, im reality smuggler and ex-ptrate, sat in front of his cozy cabin among the pines, when his eye fell upon the skiff running for a landing on his shore. Behind his cabin was a pile of rugged rocks, and he half-rose, as though to seek a hiding- place, but saw that the youth had already dis- covered him from his hail; ‘* Ho, Red Ralph! don’t run off, for I have business with you.” The man entered bis cabin, and, slipping a pistol beneath his pea-jacket, lighted his p pes and returned to his seat just as the young sailor landed and came with a quick, firm step toward the cabin. : : ‘‘T went into the cabin to light my pipe, Mas- ter Clifford,” he said as the youth drew near, ‘And toarm yourself as well; but 1 come on a peaceful errand, Ralph, and one to your ad- vantage in a pecuniary way, if you care to so have it.” ‘Tam a poor man, sir, and always ready to turn an bonest penny.” ‘Bah! an honest penny would melt in your hand, Ralph; but I do not wish to quarrel, but to talk.” ; “ What is it you have to say?” The young sailor sat down 1n front of the man and said quietly: ‘‘T wish first to tell you how thoroughly I know you, for had I not known you to be one time a pirate officer upon Bazil’s schooner, I could have you dance & rope polka at the yard- arm as a smuggler—nay, don’t turn pale; and, keep your hand out of your jacket, for I did not come here to be shot. ft ‘¢ Listen to me, for I have two propositions to make to you, and you can accept either you desire.” ‘ “What have you got to say?” moodily asked the man, chagrined at finding himself mastered, where he had always prided himself that he could master, ¢ Just this, “You have some knowledge of the past that I wish to know, and for which I will pay you, for each confession, five hundred dollars, giving you one thousand 1m hand.” ‘If itis worth more I must have more, that is all.” “No, for if you tell me what I, would know you get one thousand dollars, and if you do not, why then you shall—” \ { | ; oo «ae a mel | As : MICK