Beadle's Dime Library No. 109 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

= = ew ee , i ! i ; | : : — —— = . <—-— vr = <a Sl TNT HY _ — a ——_— . ne 2 a LO ‘If society turns her back on them, and sets the bloodhounds of justice upon their path, would it take me into its fold? ‘*Am I not lower than the lowest of them, for was I not born in infamy? ‘* What hope have I to win honor, when I was dishonored at my birth? ‘* By the Cross! I am not even the fit comrade of pirates.” e paced to and fro for an instant; over- whelmed by his bitter thoughts, and then stop- ped suddenly, and exclaimed: ‘‘Ha! can I not live without this stain show- ing upon my brow? ‘What if I should win honor, and—no, no, no, that witch of Hades would make known the fell secret, and then down, down, down into the mire of shame and guilt would I sink,” he cried in impassioned and despairing tones. ‘** No, like a living serpent in my heart and brain would be that secret; that vessel comes here, guided by Fate, to decide my course. “With it I cast my destiny; yesterday a man of honor; to-day a pirate—ay, more than a pirate.” He buried his face in his hands and shook with . emotion, for over him swept the remembrance of allhe gave up, and floating before his eyes came the fair form of Kate of Castle Cor, wav- ing him a last farewell, and shutting out from her eyes, as it were, with horror, the man whom she had loved, and who had fallen so low, ** Let fall!” The low, stern order reached his ears distinct- ly, and then came the splash of oars in the water. ‘‘Give way!” The boat moved slowly toward the stone stair- way of the castle, and the wretched man who watched its approach, shrunk further back into the gloom of the tower, his mind made up, come what might, he would cast his lot with the pirate crew. CHAPTER XXVI. AN APPARITION. Wun the boat touched the stone stairway threes men sprung out, one of whom turned and said; ** Lay off a boat’s length and be ready tocome if I call, though I dread no danger, as no one is likely to be near this old castle. hen I need youl willsend after you.” .- ‘““Ay, ay, senor,” answered the boat’s cox- swain, and the order was obeyed, the men rest- ing on their oars near the shore, The one who appeared the leader, and who wore his arm in a silk scarf, as though it was wounded, then called to the two who had sprung ashore with him, and taking a ship’s battle lantern from beneath his cloak held it above his head to om the way, and, with a sword in his right hand, moved through the arched entrance to the tower. ** You know the spot well, Senor Evan, I sup- pose?” asked one. ‘Yes; I have been here half a dozen times with Captain Hurtel,” was the answer. ‘Well, it’s a safe piace to hide a treasure, as I'd be afraid of spooks and goblins here in broad daylight,” said the third man. ‘Tis said the castle is haunted, and I do not doubt it; but the treasure here is enough to make me face the devil himself,” was the re- markof the leader. ‘‘ And we are to have the jewels, and the crew the gold; that is the ar- rangement, I believe?” ** We are to help ourselves to a round fortune in jewels each, and the balance and the gold and silver will be divided on board ship; of course the crew will not know about those we have concealed about our persons.” ‘True, Evan, very true; we'll take what we want, and then make an equal division of what is left between all hands; but don’t you think you’d have gotten the lion’s share if you had not been afraid to come in here alone?” ‘‘ What bave I to fear, Carl?” ‘Oh, nothing; only this is a place where it is best to have company along, and a good dozen men in easy call; but what honest fellows we'll be when we civide spoils’and go ashore to spend our hard earnings.” ‘Yes, ll go into business, for I’m tired of throat-cutting, and besides, without the captain the tables would be turned upon us, and I fear our throats would be cut.” “You are right; I never saw such a cowardly set of men since our fight with the cruiser; but which way now, Evan, for I’m anxious to finger that treasure and get ashore somewhere as uickly as possible, though I liked the life when Ca tain Hurtel was alive.” “This way; come,” and the leader moved on once more, for the three had s within the arched corridor leading under the castle to look at their arms, raise the wicks of their lanterns, and make ready for the work ahead. That all three dreaded entering the vaults of the castle was evident, and only the desire for the vast treasure hidden there could have screwed their co up to going, for, once the them their eombat with the eruiser, which lost eaptnin, the crew of the Lugger had been ter- riblv demoralized. sud fear, not repertanee, had eccsed them to hold 4 couneil, at whieh if wis ce a determined unanimously to lead a different life; | and this determination was more readily arrived at, on account of their having no confidence in oar lieutenants, one of whom was the leader van. Following the corridor the three men con- tinued their way, passing beneath the stone pillars that upheld the center of the castle, and presently coming to a small chamber excavated out of the solid rock. ‘** Here’s the spot, and a Calcutta dungeon is not blacker; now let me see; you hold my lamp, Carl,” and the lieutenant placed his back against the wall and continued: ‘‘It is ten paces straight ahead, and I reach the slab, which, when raised, reveals the vault; hold up your lanterns—there: now here goes— one! two! three! four! five—’” ** Hold!” ‘“‘ Holy Virgin! it’s Hurtel’s ghost!” The cry broke from the man’s lips in the wild- est terror, and his comrades beholding a tall form in the dim distance, with arms outstretch- ed, dropped their lanterns and cutlasses and bounded away in the wildest alarm. And Evan would have fled, but his knees faltered, and muttering pater nosters he stood gazing wild-eyed at the apparition, which he was firmly convinced was the ghost of his dead captain. ‘What do you here?” demanded the supposed apparition sternly, his voice sounding deep and sepulchral in the vault. ‘Good captain, Icame for the treasure, be- lieving you needed it not in the other world; but senor, it was my firm intention to give half of it to the padres, to pray your soul out of purga- tory. ‘“* Liar, not a farthing would you have given for the rest of the soul of Hurtel of the Red Hand,” was the stern response. ‘Well, I guess there’s no use lying toa ghost captain, so l’ll make a clean breast of it; except what myself, and those two cowardly knaves that fled, stowed away for ballast, we were going to divide among all of us aboard ship; ut Pll not touch the treasure, Captain Hurtel, if you say you need it where you’ve gone.” ‘Fool. Iam not Hurtel of the Hand,” and he that has been known as Kenton Cav- anaugh strode forward into the full glare of the lamps. % Not Hurtel of the Red Hand! then you ar! be his ghost, for strangely like him you are ‘*T am not his ghost, though I made a ghost of him, *twas I that sheathed my sword in his eart. ‘“‘Sainted Mother! then I'll soon follow Cap- tain Hurtel; tell them not to cut me down, for I surrender,” cried the man, now fully convinced that he had a ship’s crew to deal with, and that eeeere concealed back in the shadows of the vault. ‘‘Coward! you have but me to deal with, man to man; but I want no quarrel with you, for, on the contrary I can serve you.” ‘*In Satan’s name who are you?” asked the buceaneer. “T am an adventurer, without name, rank, kindred or friends,” was the bitter reply. ** And yet you are the man who so clever! handled Captain Hurtel two weeks ago, for recognize you now; and, by my faith, but you are strangely like him, messmate, though much ounger. rs I was on the cruiser, and an officer; now I am age ‘In faith, I doubt you, and would hate to come to close quarters with you; but tell me, messmate, who are you?” “T am the son of Hurtel of the Red Hand!” ‘* By St. Barnabas! but you look it; this then is pour treasure, your inheritance, and dearly as | love gold, I’m not the man to contest the right of its ownership with you, for I saw you swing a cutlass the other day.” ‘You, and your crew are welcome to the treasure; go and bring your men here and transfer it to the boat.” as the Rood! but you are generous, and I'll take you at your word; you are as generous as was your father, messmate: [ll return anon and bring with me the lads, if they have not spread sail on the lugger and put to sea.” ‘In haste, then! return with them and the treasure is yours, for I want it not.” “Tl obey you, messmate, and with alacrity; but you'll me out before the crew that bravely faced you old Hurtel’s ghost. “Tl bear you out that you would have fled with your men, had not your coward legs re- fused to support your weight; but this talk is idle, man; go for those runaways and return at once, There was something in the manner and look of the man, be had so unexpectedly and strange- ly encountered, that showed he would stand no urther trifling, and Evan quickly turned, took up one of the fallen lanterns, and departed, the rays of fee causing his shadow on the walls to appear e dancing giant. ‘Well, you are generous, te give away your inheritance ” even though believing you * ida! it is yeu, is it, thaw imp ef perditiunt resist, he was se'zed Captain Kyd, th King of the Black Flag. — —— ——_——_ + — —_ “at What care I for gold, when my parents have | left me such a rich inheritance of infamy?’ i “Still moping, Isee; never mind, redden your hands a little with blood and yowll soon get — mind at ease; one murder causes specters be ever before you, and a dozen men’s lives upon your hands, drives the phantoms away; but tell me, do you go with that vessel?” a I do. ” ** As what?” “* Their chief.” ** Sup they rebel.” oa quell rebellion.” ‘*’You have nerve, and you will succeed.” 8s right, and I expect to hear great things of The Kyd.” on y “You shall not be disappointed. I shall be king of the Black Flag.” *“* Ha! ha! ba! I rejoice to hear you say so, for I love to have you commit crime; but stand here on this slab with me, for I need a little of this precious dross, and as you are so generous _— will not refuse your old Zebel a few guil- ers. “Take what you like,” and at her direction he stepped upon the twelfth slab from the wall, and the eleventh one raised slowly up, like the lid of a chest. i up one of the lanterns the Witch held it over the opening, which was about four feet deep and three feet square: a vault in which were bags of gold, boxes of jewels and jewelry, bars of silver, diamond-hilted daggers, swords gem-studded, and a crucifix of precious metal and rare workmanship. ‘* This is a souvenir those fellows won’t need, for they served the Devil, their master,” said the woman, thrusting the crucifix into her bo- som. “And this bag of gold they will not miss; what they have never had they will never lose: and now a jewel or two, and I am done, with thanks for your generosity.” She took the things named, and then the slab was lowered into its place once more, The d silently aiding, yet with a look of scorn upon his face. ‘“‘Now, farewell, Sir Pirate, for we must fart a remember, we shall meet again—fare- we He made no reply, and she glided away in the loom, just as the sound of footsteps warned em that Evan and bis comrades were return- ing. But gg lieutenant came upon the safe side this time, for the whole of his boat’s crew were at his back. CHAPTER XXVII. THE DIE IS CAST. “* AH, senor, you are there: in faith, I almost expected to find you gone, for I was half believ- ing you a ghost,” said Evan, as he came for- ward, while his men stood back, half in gloom, and eyed the youth suspiciously, for they did not like the surroundings. “Were I to put my grip on you once, sir, you would not doubt my being of the earth; but come, get your treasure, and let us leave this black hole, for the night is wearing on apace.” “Tam willing, senor, but do you go with us, as your words hint?” **T do.” “Well, I'll give you a berth on board the lug- ger, if only for the sake of your old father, while I'll not song your generosity.” **T ask favor of no man, sir; take your treas- ure and come, for there are cruisers on this coast that may seek anchorage in the bay, and woe to your higwer then; lend a hand here, men, and bear this trash to your boat.” He sprung upon the slab as he spoke, and the next one to it, as before, rose slowly and reveal- ed the riches in the stone sepulcher. And instinctively the men obeyed, recognizing in the strangeman a ruling spirit, but Evan, not wishing his authority cast aside, said insolently : ““-You assume too much authority here, senor, for one who has not the power to back it up.” Instantly Kyd, as I will now call him, be having buried forever the name of Kenton Cavanaugh in the grave of the past—wheeled upon the outlaw lieutenant, his eyes burning, and said: , . ‘* By the Cross, sirrah, if you dare to dispute my authority, you’ll curse the day that you were born; this treasure was my father’s, but I give it to the crew of the lugger, to be divided among you; the vessel aud the crew were my father’s and I am his heir, and woe be to the man that disputes my inheritance; for right soon will I show him that I am indeed the son of my father, Red Hurtel. Bear a hand here, men, and to the boat with this treasure.” The men sprung forward to obey, for they felt that they stood in the presence of their master, but Evan, unheeding the warning, and believing that his crew would defend him, cried 6) . ut; “To dispute my authority, young sir, is to quarrel with me, and I'll punish thy insolence as it deserves.” | He had stepped boldly forward as he and | as the words left bis lips, and before be eculd mM a git p thet vcs cm = GOMIGHOOKS.GO | | ~