Beadle's Dime Library No. 103 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

$e —— +--+ SS owe Ce ** Merle is alive: it were better for him, und all of us, were he dead.” ‘*Why will you keep me in suspense?” ‘*[ will no longer: Merle led a mutiny on board the schooner, and—” ‘‘It is false! false as the brazen throat that told the lie,” and Mildred seemed almost leonine in her fury. rs ee Grenville calmly shook his head. % I believed—so I said; yet it is too damnably true to doubt, Mildred.” ‘* What! do you doubt Merle, Captain Gren- ville?” cae proofs are against him; I will tell you Ina few words Arthur Grenville made known all that he had heard from Wilber Sebastian, and Mildred listened without an interruption. ‘* Now what have you to say, Mildred?’ asked Estelle, a shadow of triumph in her tones. The maiden flashed her eyes upon her and an- swered: ‘*T have to say that if Merle is a mutineer, he was driven to it, to ruin him. ‘‘Ah! there is some terrible mystery behind all this, and time will one day prove that he was more sinned against than sinning. ‘You are going now, you say, sir, to Havana, to send vessels in pursuit of the mutineer ?” ‘** Yes, such is the intention of Captain Sebas- tian, and bitterly as I deplore it, 1 cannot but urge him to do so.” ‘I think you are right; be must be captured, for then we can hear /is side of the story.” ‘* Mildred! do you not believe my brother’s statement?” ‘*No, Estelle. ‘‘T am sorry, but I forgive you, as [ know he will, for you have a deep sorrow to weigh you down. I hope, too, that the mutineers will. be taken, for then you will see that Wilber has spoken the truth.” ‘*'The harbor is in sight, sir,” called out Mer- ton Ainslie from the deck, and the three left the cabin. The Sea Serpent was in the lead a half-mile rhaps, and heading in under the frowning oro Castle, her flag at half-mast and union a. which was excuse for not saluting with er d A half-hour more and the two vessels were at anchor, and Captain Grenville and Wilber Se- bastian rowing shoreward, to have an interview with the Governor-General, for a glance around the harbor had shown that there was no Ameri- can cruiser there. Two hours they remained away, and then they returned, Wilber Sebastian shunning the yac i) “ity going on board his own vessel. ‘*We As she asked the question in one word. Mil- mt looked up into the eyes of Arthur Gren- ville. He silently pointed to several barges, filled ven Spanish seamen and putting out from the shore. ‘Those seamen are loaned Sebastian to man his schooner and go in pursuit; the Governor- General also sends a Spanish sloop-of-war and a cutter in chase—there they come down the har- bor, now.” As he spoke, Captain Grenville pointed to two cruisers swiftly flying through the vessel-dotted waters. As they passed the yacht the Sea-Serpent’s anchor was up, her foreign crew at their posts, and she swung round and followed in the wake of the Spaniards. Half an hour after, as the sunset gun from El] Moro echoed over the city, Mildred saw the American schooner take the lead of the Spanish cruisers, and the three stretch away out into the Gulf under clouds of canvas. ** And you, sir, what will you do?” ** Remain here, Mildred, until they bring us news. Come, we will go ashore to pleasant uarters.” Mildred cast one glance seaward, and silently got inte the waiting boat, whither Estelle had already preceded her. But though Havana lay before her, that old and strange city of romance and tv, she felt no pleasure in the sight, for her heart was bowed down witha crushing woe; Merle had been outlawed by the Governor-General as a de- serter, a mutineer and a pirate. CHAPTER XXII. CONDEMNED TO DIE. THe proud old Governor-General of Spain’s ‘ever faithful isle”—that is ever proving un- faithful—sat in his gorgeous keg a the Pa- lact joying a cigar and glass of wine as a “night-cap.” P fome retiring to rest, for mid- nigbt had passed. | ‘The Senor Capitan De Silva begs an au- dience, Excellenza, late as it is,” said a young page, entering. * What? De wd back again? Assuredly, ; bid hi 2 we deus and the Governor-General aloud: oon He has been gone ten days, and— Ah! senor, I am rejoiced to welcome you home again.” ——EE Merle, The ee A tall, elderly man entered the room, his eyes sparkling, as he advanced and took the proffered hand. He was dressed in the full uniform of a Span- ish naval captain, and commanded the sloop-of- war, sent ten days before, in pursuit of the mu- tineers, deserters and pirates, as Merle and his followers were now called. ‘*T am rejoiced to get back, Hwcellenza, and more so, to report that I was successful.” ‘‘Sainted mother be praised! And the cutter and American schooner?’ ‘*T have not seen them, senor, since the night I left Havana; we parted company after gain- ing a good offing.” ‘And you have the pirates?’ ‘*Safe, senor, and came to report to you, and ask what is to be done with them.” “T’ll decide after I have heard your story— there, help yourself to wine, and light a cigar; I can Aa et talk best with a cigar between my teeth. The Spanish captain accepted the double in- vitation; dashed off the wine and lighted a fra- grant Havana. Then he said: ‘*T obeyed your orders, Hacellenza, and steer- ed for Sisal, and then followed the Mexican coast, while the American headed for Metamo- ras, to run down to Tampico, and the cutter laid his course for Vera Cruz to run up to Tam- pico, which was to be our rendezvous, you know, senor? ‘*The second night out, if your Kxcellenza re- members, we had some very rough weather, for a hurricane had swept to the north-east of us, and must have been felt all along the southern waters of the Gulf. ‘Through this storm I was enabled to meet with success, for otherwise, I am confident, our cruise would have been useless, judging from the young fellow who was the leading mutineer, and a handsome, fearless fellow he is, only too sad-looking, I think. ‘The storm, I say, Ewcellenza, aided me, for the fourth day out we sighted asmall wreck, both masts gone, which proved to be the very craft 1 was searching for. ‘‘T saw by its crowded decks that something was wrong, and on sending an officer on board, found the mutineers, who surrendered quietly, knowing how useless would be resistance. ‘‘ I had them ironed and brought on the sloop, and held some conversation with the leader in may cabin; but you can imagine my surprise when my daughter, the Senorita Rena, who you know accompanied me, as she often does, came from her state-room and saluted the hand- some mutineer as her brave defender.” ‘* Ha! she fell into bad hands, some years ago, when Freelance, the Buccaneer, captured the brig that prougnt her from Spain, and Pll war- rant this was the youth who did her that gallant service,” said the Governor-General. ‘*‘Tam sorry to ey he is, Lecellenza, for he saved my daughter’s life and honor, and you re- member entreated Freelance to release her, which he did, telling her he did so to please his protege, and himself paid the amount of her ransom to his crew.” ‘‘T remember, De Silva. Whata strange fel- low that Freelance was, and, by the way, the American that was here the other day, the Senor Grenville, is the very man we have to thank for ridding the seas of the preens He is now a planter in the States, he told me, having resigned his commission in the Navy. It is not often you sea-rovers get tired of blue water.” ‘* Not often, Hacellenza ; but to return to my story. “When I found who the youth was, I was deeply pained to have to be the one to make him risoner, after the noble service he had rendered na, and I told him so; but he promptly said I must do my duty, and that was the end of it. I put him in irons; but how an ex-buccaneer offi- cer can be a lieutenant in the United States Navy, I cannot understand, and he declined to have anything to say about himself. He smil- ingly told me that all would come out, when he and is men were taken to the United States for _ ‘‘ He doubtless is still following his buccaneer- ing inclination, and, by some means got a com- mission in the American Navy, for the very pur of taking the schooner.” ‘‘It would look so, Kwcellenza ; still, he gave the vessel up when it was in his power, and went on board the trading craft, which, by the way, mer is nothing _ ether of those smugglers we are tryin run do so you see {did double du » en Ri ‘* Yes; but, De Silva, we will have to protect the smuggler in this case, as he was under the Spanish flag; he can go for a coast-trader, you know?” — ‘Certainly, senor, none need know that it was a smug ler the mutineers took, for that would alter the case against them.” ‘“The case against them is clear, De Silva; they were mutineers, committed murder upon the high seas, in Spanish waters, overhauled and seized a Spanish vessel, and were captured by a Spanish cruiser after I had outlawed them as pirates, and I shall execute them as such.” “Then you will not turn them over to the Mutineer. — — o— Me 17 ——_- —_—— =| Americans, Eacellenza?” asked Captain De Silva, in surprise. “NotI! The honor belongs to Spain, and I shal] not be robbed of it. They go to-night from your vessel to the Moro, and day after to-morrow morning, I will have them marched out and shot as pirates; then it will all be pub- lished—‘ A lieutenant of the noted Freelance, the Buccaneer, with his men, seized an Ameri- can vessel-of-war, was run down, and taken by the gallant De Silva—” ‘After the hurricane had dismasted their craft, Kecellenza.” **'You are too modest, senor:—‘ was run down and captured by the modest and gallant Cap- tain De Silva, of the Spanish navy, who carried them in irons to Havana, where the merciful Governor-General put them out of their misery, by having them shot immediately, giving them just time enough to pray to the devil, their fa- ther; how sounds that, De Silva?’ ‘* But will the Americans not demand them, Eecellenza?” “They shall have their bones; there is no American cruiser here, and if one is signaled as coming in, I'll have them led out and shot at once.” ‘* But the Senor Grenville, now here?’ “Is an ex-officer, and here unofficially. No, De Silva, you and I, and Spain shall net be cheated out of the honor of shooting those fel- lows. How many did you say there were of them?” ‘‘ Forty-seven men, with their leader, Hwcel- lenza. ‘* Bueno! I wish there were more; their exe- cution will put down piracy and smuggling in these waters. Help yourself to more wine, senor.” “Thank you, Eeacellenza; and I shall send the prisoners to the Moro?’ ‘** At once; what, going?” “Yes, Excellenza,.” “My compliments to the Senorita Rena; tell her I regret it, to shoot her handsome preserver, but he has only himself to blame for it.” Captain De Silva bowed and left the Gever- nor’s ce. At the gateway a volante awaited him, and he was driven rapidly down to the pier, in front of which lay his vessel, and springing into his waiting boat he was soon in his own cabin. Seated at the table, apparently awaiting his return, was a maiden of twenty. She was attired in a misty white dress, and from the silver comb upholding masses of blue- black hair, drooped a black vail. Her form was exquisitely molded, above the average hight, and pi tf movement was wil- lowy and unstudied, while her dark face, pas- sionate eyes, and ruby lips, made her face won- drously beautiful. This was the Senorita Rena De Silva, a Span- ish maiden of noble lineage, and who, in the two youre or more, she ha n in Cuba, had roken hundreds of hearts, for she was a sad co- quette, the world said a heartless one; but she was forgiven, as she possessed vast riches, in- dependent of her father’s wealth, which was considerable. ‘‘Father, I am glad you have come; and what says the Governor-General?’ she asked, . anxiously. ‘*There is no hope, Rena,” and the Spanish captain threw himself down in an easy-chair. ‘No hope! He will not promise to intercede with the Americans for his life?’ ‘‘T did not ask him, Rena, for I saw that it would be useless; he will allow the Americans no say in the matter—he will have the whole crew, leader and all, shot within thirty-six hours.” ‘“What! Dare he do this?” ‘Yes, Rena, the Governor-General is utterly fearless, as you know, and intends to take the glory, if glory there is, in executing these men as pirates, and what can the Americans say when it is done?” ‘‘Thank him for taking the unpleasant du off their hands, I suppose; but if he inten shooting them all, one will not be missed—the lookers-on must be content with forty-six shot down, and he must be allowed to go free.” ‘“‘T dare not ask it of the Governor, Rena.” ‘** ‘You dare not, father; but J dare de it /” ** You, my daughter?’ * Yes, 1 a, your daughter; I will go to the age to-morrow, nay, to-day, for it is near dawn now, and I will ask, nay, demand his life.’ **Tt will be useless, Rena.” **T can but try, father.” “True, and I hope you will succeed; I hate to see the brave fellow die, Pas though he be. Now retire to rest, while I see that the prison- ers go ashore,” and Captain De Silva left the cabin. But Rena did not retire to rest until she saw boats leave the side of the vessel-of-war and dis- —. in the shadows of the gloomy Moro; en, with a deep sigh, she turned from the stern port, from which she had been gazing, and sought her own state-room, with one determina- tion in her heart. That was that Merle the Mutineer should not die, if gold, ora woman’s plotting could save him, ECO MINCE SS JOO ie a en ee ee ee (E()