Beadle's Dime Library No. 109 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

| & SS el a - Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag. we headed across the sea with our pretty play- thing for good King Billy. ‘* We went along well the first day out, but just before dark we sighted a queer-looking craft, that some of the Jads forward said was the lugger of Captain Kyd. ‘Now we all wanted todo a big thing, and that was, carry to the king his beautiful vessel along with the pirate Kyd to hang, and we put about for the lugger, and when in range we opened, and then we kept it up. ‘** But bless your el, lial and you, my lord, the pirate didu’t return a shot, but came right down to grapple with us, not caring anything, so it seemed, about the iron hail we were pouring upon him. “The wind was light, but became on swiftly, his large lugger sails cut up terribly by our shot, and we could see the splinters fly when we struck his masts and buiwarks, and sometimes half a dozen men would go down together in a eap. “But it mattered not to that murderous crew, for they never flinched, and | soon saw the reason, for they had a chief who didn’t believe in dodging. ‘There he stood by the helm, cool as you ee and as handsome asa portrait,and he ept his home eye on the crew, and the weather one on us. ‘‘Our captain told the men to kill him, but it didn’t do any good, for he kept bis place, and in the hottest fire calmly raised his glass and look- ed at us, while 1, looking at him, actually saw him smile as sweet asa lady, toa young man who stood near him, and to whom he spoke.” ““Wus The Kyd a young man?” asked Lady Grace, quietly. ‘‘ He was indeed, and the handsomest man I ever saw, lady; but to go on with my story: he just took the lugger’s helm himself, and, though we poured in a terrible fire that made bis vessel reel fearfully, he laid it alongside of us as skill. fuliy as though it were a pleasure craft, and then over the sides he came, followed by his demoniacal crew. ‘‘ Well, ladies, our captain was killed, and about one-half of our crew went down, and then the lads cried for quarter, for they didn’t be- lieve they were fighting human beings, so ter- ribly did the pirates fight. ‘Now, ladies, I'm a good swordsman myself though I sav it as shouldn’t, and I crosse blades with The Kyd, who came at me smiling; and such a smile! | never saw one like it before or since, forit was worse than a frown, I can tell vou. ‘* Our blades crossed, and I haven’t seen mine since, for it went thirty feet away into the sea, and [ cried quarter, though I didn’t expect to get it; but I did, and turning around ho called out to his lieutenant: ‘ : Call off the hounds, Valdez; the schooner’s mine. ‘¢ And soit was, and a pretty property he had, too. ‘** Who commanded this schooner? he again called out. ‘**T had that honor after my captain’s death,’ I answered. ‘‘ Well, sir, I heard of your beautiful vessel, and it does credit to her builders; but I need her more than does King William, and shall take her; but should he desire her very much, he'll have to come and fight for her.’ ‘‘T then knew why he hadn’t fired on the craft —he didn’t want to hurt her, so carried us by boarding.” “ And did he treat you with crtelty, Captain Dent?” asked Lady Grace. “Bless you, no, lady; he had our wounded looked after, sent them on board the lugger, which was leaking badly, and told me to head for the nearest port, which I did; but the craft sunk off shore a league, and we had to take to the boats.” : : “T heard of the affair; and, if St. Vane can retake the schooner for the king, he’ll be knight- ed,” said the earl. « He won’t dc it, my lord, though he’s got the nerve to do it, and I hope—” “Sail ho!” “ Whereaway, lad?” cried the captain. ‘* Dead ahead, sir.” All saw the distant sail, and when it rose higher above the horizon, Captain Dent hailed the foretop: ‘* What do you make her, lad?” All waited anxiously, and then came the an- swer: ‘it is the Galley Slave, sir.” “The very craft we spoke of; he has doubled on us during the blow,” said the captain, while the ear] asked anxiously: ‘‘ Can there be no mistake, sir?” The old seaman leveled his glass, and after a moment said slowly: ‘We wero driven off our course; he headed back for New York, and has either run away from, or—” “‘Or what, Captain Dent?” asked Lady Kate. **Or sunk St. Vane.” ‘You are sure it is the pirate schooner, cap- Fr’ ‘1 cannot mistake her, my lord; that is Kyd the King of the Black Flag.” he ’ es 7 CHAPTER XXXIV. THE COMBAT. Hap any one doubted the belief of the cruis- er’s captain regarding the character of the strange sail, a glance at the crew would have confirmed the idea of their commander, for many of them had been with him when Kyd had wrested from him the beautiful cutter. ‘‘ There is no use running, my lord, from yon- der craft, as you on the yacht found out; and es- pecially with this old lubberly craft, that is only good to give and receive hard knocks,” said the captain. ‘All right; if we must fight we must, so there is an end of it; but I would it were under differ- ent «ircumstances,” replied the earl, sadly. ‘Yes, that is the schooner, uncle, so I may as well ask the captain to do what was done on the yacht,” said Lady Grace, approaching the spot where the two stood. ‘* And that is, fair lady—?” asked the captain. ‘To haul down the British ensign and run up the Castle Cor flag.” ‘Hal Lhad forgotten that ruse and whim of yours, Grace; bring up the colors, niece,” said the earl, feeling once more a great weight re- moved from his mind. The maiden descended into the cabin, but soon returned with a serious look upon her face, while she said: ‘* Uncle, the roll of Castle Cor flags were left upon the yacht.” ‘*Too bad! too bad! Well, Captain Dent, what is to be done?” “Fight it out, my lord; [hate to fire on that pretty schooner, for if I could retake her, I’d et have the honor of taking her over to King ily; but then ’'ll blow her out of the water, before that pack of fiends shall ever spring up- on my deck again. ‘“And Vil aid you, captain, for I have not forgotten ay early tiaining in the army,” re- plied the earl. In the meantime the schooner had drawn much nearer, and was now plainly visible in the moonlight, and not a mile distant. “Til keep right on my course, my lord, and woe be to him if he attacks this old ironsides with that pretty plaything, though I must ad- mit she is as stanch as a line-of-battle ship.” The crew were then sent to quarters, the shot- stands placed near the guns, and filled, and the pig aos naps by bristling cutlasses and board- -pikes. i rae ladies, dear, you will have to go into the cabin, and lay low on the floor, fcr this will be no chi.d’s play, even if we do outnumber and outweigh yonder fellow,” said Captain Dent, and reluctantly the countess and the two maid- ens went into the cabin, fur they could not re- main to see those they loved aud respected ex- posed to such fearful danger. ‘‘That man Kyd must be a remarkable per- son, captain, to possess the power he holds over Lis fellow-men,” said the earl, who had just re- turned to the deck, armed with his sword, aid a brace of the clumsy pistols of that age, yet they were serviceable if not handsome, ‘“He is a remarkable tnan, my lord—oh, my dear lady, have you returned to the ceck?’ and the captain turned to Grace. ‘‘ Yes: please let me remain until the first is fired, and then I will go below. You were napa of the courage of The Kyd, I believe?” ‘* Yes, Grace, I was wah he wields a mar- vellous power over mankind, and possesses an indomitable courage, for he seems to lead his fearfu) life more from a love of danger than a desire for Looty,-as he will attack a vessel of war even, and one of double his strength,” re- marked the earl. ‘* Yes, uncle, it is the same courage that Lu- cifer possessed, and which enabled him to lead arinies of angels from Heaven down to Hell,” said Grace, with bitterness. ‘* God grant he lead no angels out of this ship; but if Kyd attacks us, this vessel will be a very hell with angels in it,” remarked the captain, sotto voce, and then he ordered the helmsman to steer straight on his course, swerving not half a int. The two vessels now were not more than two- thirds of a mile apart, and yet neither of them had fired a shot; but the crew of the cruiser were at quarters, and it was very evident that the schooner’s men were ready for action. ‘‘There is a flash!” cried the earl, suddenly. ‘‘No, ’tis a battle-lantern seen through his open ports; he will board us, for that is his style, my lad.” | “We'll give him a broadside before he does, captain.” ‘Oh, yes, my lord, a dozen of them if we can. Ho! at the guns there!” “‘ Ay, ay, sir.” ‘*Sénd a thirty-two into yonder craft.” “Ay, ay!” and a moment after the heavy gun boomed forth with a report that caused the cruiser to tremble, while the solid shot hurtled onward and struck the water just astern of the echooner. “Too far aft; another one, and send it home!” And again the thirty-two belched forth its messenger of aenthana struck a few feet He, 4 = this ‘ fatal waa their act, for, like an 21 side of the schooner, sending the spray over her decks, and passing between her masts. ‘You gave them ashower-bath that time, gunner; go ahead, for practice makes perfect, they say.” Again and again the hedvy gun was fired, and around the schooner in all directions the shot struck, and over it, yet not a rope was cut, or . scar made on the tapering masts or graceful ull. As soon as tke firing commenced Lady Grace sunk down in the companionway unnoticed, and her determined pale face proved that she intended to remain tla’ through all, if not dis- covered by her uncle and driven into the cabin. ** Stand by for a broadside!” suddenly shouted the old captain. ** Ay, ay, sir; all ready!” came from the offi- cers at the guns. ‘* Helm a-starboard !” “Starboard it is, sir,” answered the helms- man. “Steady as you are—steady !” “Steady!” came in the cool tones of the men at the wheel. ‘* Give it to them !” The cruiser’s broadside went forth with a shock that made her hull tremble to the keel; but no crashing sounds followed, no shrieks o hard hit men followed, and it was plain that the guns had been fired a second too late, and had not sent the iron hail aboard of the schooner. “At your guns there!” the ringing voice came from the schooner, and was distinctly heard on board the cruiser. bis “siege those lubbers how to aim a gun— The white smoke of the cruiser’s runs bun between the two vessels, hiding them trom eck other; but the well-trained gunners of the pirate sent their shots crashing through the high bvl- warks, splintering the masts, tearing up the decks, and wringing howls of anguish train the wounced. ‘* Well done, ye red Cogs! boarders ahoy!” came the rame clear, commanding tones, and though the cruiser’s men had rallied from tho terrific shock given them, and sent their shots home now, the schooner shot out of the dense smoke, swept around like a regatta club boat turning a stake in a race, and was Jaid alongside of the cruiser with a skill that showed a master- hand at the helm, and an accuracy in the men- just such wild scenes. ‘“‘ Lively at your guns! charge to thy muzzk let °em have it!” yellcd Captain Dent, and then as the schooner came he saw that she had him, he shouted: Boarders repel boarders!” ‘Quit your guns now! boarders kere! fellow me!”’ and with the bound of an athlete the schoon- er’s captain sprung upon the cruiser’s deck, sweeping up, with cne curve of bis huge cutlass, half a dozen pikes leveled at his heart. He was the first man cn the ciuiser’s deck, euver that could only come by long practice j racefuliy alongside, a. d cillfully out-maneuvered and the quarter of a minute went by before Lis . men, keld back by a10ll of the schconer, could follow; and in that irstant Lady Grace, crouch- ing in the ccmpanionway, beheld Lis face, and with a groan of anguish let her head droop in her hands. ¢ Then followed the rattling discharge of blun- cerbusses, muskets and pistos, the clash of stee the cheers of the king’s crew, the wild yells o the pirates, stern orders, cries of pain, and then in swaims the schooner’s hounds poured upon the deck of the vessel of war, and the fight be- came general, savage, Lrutal. Some had fallen between the surging bulls and were ga to atoms in a second: others had gained a footing on tke cruiser, to fall back into the waters, raising the stump of an arm piteously, or a face slashed beyond Lumwan re- sen: blance. Others were cursing, some praying, still more shouting c:flance, and thus the combat raged, while the moon locked calmly down upen the sickening scene, and yet with a sad, reproachful face et man’s inhumanity to man. With strange recklessness the pirate leader threw himself everywhere that the fight was thickest, his commanding voice urging lis men ~ and his cutlass falling unmeicifully around im, ‘Press them back! no mercy to the bloody virates! hurl them into the sea!” cried Captain nt, wielding bis sword with deadly skill, while the Earl of Belmont was fighting like a tiger by his side. ‘No quarter! they are but pirates! save the a trouble!” again shouted the cruiser’s captain, tat old men, that is he cry, is it?” and the Pirate Chief sprung before him. “Yes, no quarter to pirates!” yelled the cap tain. ‘Then take what you would givo!” and the heavy cutlass fell with crushing force upon the head of the poor captain, who, with a cheer to his men upon his lips, sunk dead upon the deck, Paralyzed an instant by the fall of their brave ‘old commander the cruiser’s men hesitated and avalanche JOOKS m — ecomie G Or