Beadle's Dime Library No. 109 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag. 17 though iron bands encircled him, and the next instant he was hurled upon the stone flooring with a force that caused every bone in his body to crack. The men fell back, and stood glancing at Carlo, and tho other sub-officer, but they spoke not a word, and once more the ringing order came: ‘To the lugger with this treasure, or, do you wish me to teach you that I am master here?” It was evilent from the hasty way in which they sprung to obey, and bent over into the vault, grabbing at the bags and keys, that they needed no second lesson, while Carlo,as if to hide his shame at allowing a stranger to utterly ignore him, knelt over his superior, as he lay oe and motionless upon the stone pave, and said: ‘* van is dead, senor.” “‘T know it,” was the calm reply, and then through the vaulted chambers rung such a wild, mocking laughter, that every pirate there cowered down in dread and began rattling off his prayers, as though he expected his Satanic Majesty to ei betore him. ‘*Cowards! it is but an old crazy hag that frightens you,” said Kyd, sternly. ‘* Hal hal ha! well, boy, you have begun well, and proven thyself well worthy of thy father: ha! ha! ha! son of Red Hurtel, success attend thee, sorrow and death follow in thy wake.” The mocking laughter, and the strange words came from far back in the gloomy dungeon, and the men needed no second bidding to shoul- der their precious loads, and beat a hasty ro- treat from the dismal spot, without giving a glance at their dead lieutenant. Closely did Kyd follow them, and reaching the stairs he sprung into the stern-sheets, giving his orders in a way that none dare dispute. A few moments more and he was upon the deck of the lugger, and without opposition he assumed command, the story of the scene in the dungeon in the castle being quickly whispered around, Standing upon the high deck astern, he issued his orders in a way that proved he was a thorough seaman, and, as the boat’s crew had done, the entire lugger’s force recognized his leading spirit, and sprung to obey his com- mands with an alacrity that had not been seen since the death of Red Hurtel. As the lugger forged through the waters, on her way to the sea, the eastern sky was growing ray with the approach of dawn, and the grief- aunted man, who so fearlessly and so recklessly had forced himself into the position held by his dead father, that father whom he had slain turned his burning eyes oP to Castle Cor, an like a wail broke from his lips the i b ‘*Oh, God! when and where will all this end?” But no answer came to his cry: anJ out upon the blue waters dashed the swift-sailing lugger, while her commander turned his gaze upon the receding shores, just lighting up with the rising sun, and murmured: ‘¢ Alas! the die is cast, and I drift upon the tide of destiny, wherever it may drive me; ay, from this day I am the Pirate, Kyd.” CHAPTER XXVIII. THE WARNING OF THE WITCH. WHEN it came to the ears of the Earl of Bel- mont of how his son had behaved toa guest of the castle, he was very wroth, and regretted having given him a letter to the king, asking for a commission, for he said: “Tf the boy behaves in that manner toward one whom he believes an inferior, he is not fit to assume command of men, good sailor though he may be.” And yet, though angry with Lord Gerald for his unwarrantable conduct toward Kenton Cavanaugh, he was most anxious regarding bis safety, when the storm swept down upon the sea, and he kuew that he must be exposed to it, Having learned of Lord Gerald’s departure from the castle, and to be absent an unimited time, Lady Grace, at the entreaties of her cousin, the earl and the conntess, changed her determination of returning to Castle Greyhurs*, and remained where she was, for most devot- edly was she attached to the lovely Kate of Belmont, And that night, as the storm-clouds swept down upon the scens, the inmates of the castle stood in awe watching its ravages, while a shriek went from the lips of the countess, when she saw the lightning stroke descend upon Castle Death. ‘* Alas! Castle Crag has received its death- blow, as did my poor, unfortunate brother,” muttered the earl. “Father! father! it is there, in that old ruin that Kenton Cavanaugh is to-night!” cried Lady Kate, andshe made known all about the ride of the morning, and the promise of the young officer to meet Zebel, the Witch, that ht an hour after sunset. — ‘I wish I had known this an hour before, my child, I would have ridden there in search of Lieutenant Cavanaugh, for no servant of this household would set foot in yonder ruin,” bim ys mail Tedy @ stroke of **The morrow will tell us; but if it killed the old Witch I will not mourn, formy retainers are each day standing more in terror of the hag, and I wish I had some good excuse to rid the country of her.” ‘Yes, she is one to be dreaded, for I felt a chill come over me, when she turned her burn- ing eyes upon me, as we passed her the other day while out driving,” said the Countess of Bel- mont with a shudder. ‘“‘T sent servants to the beach after Cava- naugh, but ren reported they could find noth- ing of him; but to-morrow I shall have diligent search made and bring bim back to the castle, for I honor the youth greatly and the letters he brought me, speak of the high consideration in which the pe and the admiralty hold him; I wish that Lord Gerald had half the manhood,” said the earl, who had became an enthusiastic admirer of the ee officer, who had so swiftly ascended the ladder of fame. And all through that long dreary night, while that bitter, fearful story was being told, and strange scenes transpiring in Castle Death, Kate of Belmont lay tossing bee her pillow, thinking of the one, who, each moment was growing stronger in her love, and about whom she felt such anxiety, for, if the old ruin was terrible in the sunlight, what must it not be in the storm and darkness? Shortly after the break of day the Earl of Belmont ordered bis barge, and to the dismay of the dozen oarsmen, sprung into the stern, and told the helmsman to head for Castle Crag, for never would he call it by the name supersti- tious fear had fastened upon it. Across the bay rowed the barge, rocking on the waves, not yet run down after the storm, and when he bade the man at the tiller to steer for the castle stairs, it looked for a moment as though there would be a mutiny in that well- trained crew, ‘‘Howly St. Patrick! but is it yer swate silf, sir, that manes thim blissid words?” asked the helmsman, ‘‘[ do: steer for the castle stairs,” was the stern ee But the Witch, sir; the howly hag o’ Sa- ‘* Curse the old hag!” **So say I, sir; but she won’t be cursed, but is after cursing; sure, sir, an’ it’s a swate along the coast this blissid morn.” ‘You have my orders, Michael Downie; do you intend to obey?” ** Vis, sir, I'll land ee at thim stairs, if the Witch herself stands there tu wileome you; but its damned in Purgathory we'll become next Easter.” “T’ll give you gold for your prayers, Michael; so give way with a will, my men. The crew of the barge had been resting on their oars during this conversation between the earl and Michael Downie; but they now rowed on once more, and the boat soon touched the landing. ‘**TIs not that the fishing skiff of old Dermot lying yonder against the shore?” asked the earl. “It is, sir, and for a fact.” **Go and bring it to the barge, and two of ou come with me,” and the earl sprung ashore, is sword in hand, and followed by the two trembling oarsmen entered the castle. From chamber to chamber he went until he had visited nearly every part of the castle, but no en of human being did he find, and loud and long did the boatmen shout the name of Kenton Cavanaugh, ‘The ligbtning dealt the sea tower a severe stroke; but it killed no one, that is certain, yet where is the youth?” said the earl, in a per- plexed tone. ‘““T’m not afther knowin’, sir; but I’m afther guessin’ the divil has got him afore this, if he came here under the shades o’ night,” remarked Michael. ‘*Some harm has befallen him, I am assured; return at once to Castle Cor, and take the skiff in tow.” With an alacrity and display of muscle they had not used in coming over, the oarsmen bent to their oars and sent the barge ee the water, yet, to the eyes of Kate and Grace who watched its coming, and saw the skiff in its wake, it seemed to creep, Arriving at Castle Cor, the earl at once or- ganized his servants into squads, and sent them forth to search for the lost young officer; but though be directed the large party to go to Castle Death and search it once mcre from vault to tower, there was not one of those de- tailed for this work that had the remotest idea of going there, and as soon as they were out of sight of Castle Cor they very coolly secreted themselves among the rocks, and went busily to work arranging the lies to tell upon their re- turn, and one and all mentally swearing to throw in gratis a ghost-story, in which he was an actor. Having seen the search-squads depart, and uttered a prayer for their success, Lady Kate and her cousin strolled out upon the lawn and into the park, where they seated themselves in a rustic arbor to comment again and again upon the mysterious of the young wr ™ 7 YT . ~~, “what mean you?” cried owe Eos | And as they sat there together they did not see a human form coming with cat-like tread toward them. But suddenly glancing up they beheld in the rustic doorway the strange, wild eyes of Zebel the Witch peering in upon them. Both sprung to their feet in an instant, and the face of each paled; but remembering at once that they were in no danger so near the castle, and that the woman must krow some- rt of Kenton Cavanaugh, Lady Kate said, quickly: ‘* Ah, good mother, have you tidings of my father’s guest, that you c me bither?” ‘““And who is thy father’s guest?’ she asked in her cold, harsh tones. ‘*The one who rode with us to thy weird do- main on yesterday; the one with whom thou didst make appointment to meet last night,” eagerly asked Lady Kate. * What should I know of the movements of men if they concern me not?” “Then you have not seen him?” “Yes, he had the courage to come to my desolate abode, yonder ruined castle,” ** And he went from there?” ‘“Yes: he liked not the tale I poured into his ears, and he left me.” “But be has not returned to the castle, and we are alarmed about him,” ‘*Seek him not of me, maiden, for he left as he came.” ‘Not so, woman, for he went in his skiff, and it was found at the castle this morning and aE Sh back by my father,” said Kate Eelmont, haughtily. In spite of her nerve the Witch started, for she had forgotten about the coming of the youth in his skiff; but she answered with scorn: ** Does the proud Earl of Belmont so concern himself about a low-born youth, that he dares go to Death Cestle to search for Lim?’ ‘* My father dare g0 anwhere, woman, end his duty to bis guest, who left in anger, at an insult offered by my thoughtless brother, caused him to seek Lieutenant Cavanaugh to repair the 2 ‘You are strangely interested in this low- born youth, Lady Kate of Castle Cor,” sud- denly said the woman, and the eyes of the maiden flashed as she retcrted: ‘*Lady Kate of Castle Cor allows no insinua- tions as to her conduct, and do vou possess the hg of the Evil One or not, 1 warn you to eep a more civil tongue.” ‘*My tongue wears no fetters, maiden: it is as free as my soul.” ‘* Ah, woman, would to God that thou wert different: but ’tis said of thee that thou dost revel in doing evil.” ‘*Hal! ha! ha! you are right, Lady Kate of Belmont: to make others suffer is my joy.” ** And hast thou made him suffer?” It was Lady Grace who spoke, and in her quick, earnest way. ‘*To whom do you refer?” she asked. “If thou hast the power thou claimest, then why should I tell?” “True, Lady Grace: you need not tell, for I know that thou referrest to him whom men call Kenton Cavanaugh: ay, did 1 make bim suffer, and as men never suffer but once in a lifetime, or else madness would seize upon their brain and tear reason from its throne.” She spoke earnestly, and Kate Belmont cried out: ‘Woman! woman! what hast thou done to Kenton Cavanaugh?” ‘** Dost thou love him, Kate of Castle Cor?” “How dare you ask me that?’ cried the maiden, Sat gitah ‘* Zebel the Witch dare do anything, girl: but sha gt l ask, for well I know, as i read it in ace. x Ay, thou dost love that brave, bonnie youth: thy heart bas no horizon beyond which thy love can disappear: but Hope, the star of thy love, beckons thee to ruin: Hope, the beacon of thy life, glimmers across breakers, hidden from thee now, but upon which thou wilt dash to wreck and ruin. “Be warned, and tear out the germ of love, for it is but a serpent that will be nursed to Jife, and then strike thee with its fatal fangs: be warned, for Love and gold sway the world, girl, but they are twin devils to drag it down to ruin and death.” “Strange, fearful woman, in Heaven’s name! ady Kate, who with Lady Grace, was deeply impressed with the words and manner of the woman, ‘“‘Tf I have made thee miserable, Kate of Castle Cor, I am content; but let we add one more brand to the burning—thou wilt never see thy lover more.” Without another word she turned and strode away, while, with bitter grief in their hearts the two maidens hastened back to the castle, to mer known the dire prophecy of Zebel the CHAPTER XXIX. A SURPRISE. THe valiant crowd of searchers for the lost officer, who had been picked men, speci tailed to go to Castle Death, and ge ~~ ‘comicbooks.co