Beadle's Dime Library No. 109 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

- a — o~ -_—-- —_— - ---—-— —— ee? ee a i + += ee 8 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag, 1 iedulda " Bhe! ida thon taw GRADS batac')” 2YaPh el fol: si EL WEL ee ee Lashed in the main \ rige ing Captain Defeo issued his orders, ave them hurled away upon the tempest, and the vessel was driving along at a rightful velocity, having been twirled around like a feather. Glancing aloft the captain saw that his main top-gallant-mast was gone, and that the fore- top-mast was tottering, and an effort must be mace to save it. ** Ho there, forward!” ~ ‘* Ay, ay, sir!” shouted the crew in chorus, “TT want a bold lad to go aloft with arcpo and fish that fore-top-mast,” shouted the captain in stentorian tones. But not a man moved, although every eye glanced upward and saw that to save the stick, prompt action was needed. ““Up, lads, some of you, or she’ll come down like an arrow and go through our decks; who wants a year’s pay for the act?” Half a dozen men sprung at this offer, and a more furious blast coming at the instant swept three of them away upon tho seething waves. “By Heaven!” it still holds, but it won't do so long; what officer wants promotion for this work?” called out Captain Defoe, seeing that the crew would not move again. Lord Manly at once sprung forward, and was creeping toward the ri eing, when a huge wave boarded the vessel, an ceping aft with terri- fic force, Cragaee him fro om his hold ona gun- lashing, and bore him, with several others, rap- ree astern. n vain did he clutch at the ratlines, and all elso that presented an obstacle to cling to; the wave was irresistible, and swept mercilessly on “ Hold hard all! now men I'll risk it!” It was Kenton Cavanaugh that spoke, and he addressed his two comrades at the wheel, while, with astout rope around his waist he sprung to leeward, and as Lord Manly was being hurled over the bulwark, belpless and despairing, he threw his arms tightly around him. Then came a fearful jerk, as the rope tight- ened, but it held firmly, and grasping it, the two young men dragged themselves back to the quarter-deck in safety, while a wild cheer went 2p from the crew who had seen the daring act of enton Cavanaugh. ‘**Kenton, you have—” began Lord pany, earnestly, but the youth interrupted with: ‘Ay, ay, sir; I must save that topmast now, for it won’t last long,” and he sprung iuto the waist, while Captain Defoe shouted: “You have won an epaulet, wy lad, by that act, but why have you left the wheel?” “To save the spar, sir,” shouted Kenton, above the storm. ‘Bravo! if man can do it, you will,” cried the captain, and, with a coil of ashing upon his arm, the youth sprung into the weather rig- ea eye was upon him, as slowly, and with great difficulty he ascended the ratlines, for the ressure of the gale agains; him was "fearful, ut step by step he went up until he gained the top, and ascending to the wounded spar, ceeded, with the utmost coolness and intrepi ity to secure the mast, so that should it pitch loose cen a not come down and drive t ough the As calmly as though in a calm, he worked, every eye watching bim anxiously, for the ship was pitching and eg verrib y, and they feared to see him hurled to the deck, but at last his task was completed, and he seized a stay and descended to the deck, amid the wild cheers of the crew. ‘‘ Gallantly done, m my lad; the epaulet you won for saving Lord anly’ shall have a com- panion on the other shoulder:* you are a brave youth, and will be an bonor to any quarter- deck,” cried Captain Defoe, and, at his words a proud smile lighted up Kenton Cavanaugh’s ace; but he said quietly: “She'll bear her jib and spanker close- -reefed, sir, and then we can steady her with the wheel.’ “You are right,” and Captain Defoe gave the necessary orders to set the sail, as the gale had blown its rudest blasts, and Kenton Cavanaugh cre t aft and resumed bis place at the wheel. “Cavanaugh, forgive and forget the day at Castle Cor,” and Lord we extended his hand, which the youth grasped, while he answered: “ Willingly, my lord Meredith.” “IT owe you my life, Cavanaugh, anditisa debt I will not forget.” ‘Do not speak of it, my lord; I would have done as much as that for any of the poor lads _ that have gone, had they been swept off, as you were.’ ys So shall not forget you, Cavanaugh,” and Lord Manly turned away; but had Kenton Cav- anaugh seen the look upon his face, he would have felt that in saving the life of the young no- ble, he had but increased his hatred for him. CHAPTER XL THE STRANGE SAIL, Harpy had Kenton Cavanaugh returned to the wheel, when Captain Defoe eame aft, and said pleasantly : a *Tt was the custom in olden times for one epaulet | Tye AUTHOR. SN eee ** You'll get your commission when we reach ort, my lad; but, as lam short cf officers, oue ing il below, I wish you to take his place.” “T thank you, sir; I will do my duty as best I can; but I forgot to say that there is a vessel near.’ ‘* Ha! where is she?” ““T saw ber when I was aloft; she was to wind- ward, and scudding under bare poles,” “We must keep an eye on her, for we are in a neighborhood where pirates are frequent; Til muster the crew and see how many are ne and then get the ship under whee sail she will bear, so that, if necessary, we can lay her to.” Captain Defoe then had the crew mustered, and found that a midshipman and nine seamen had been lost. ‘‘ A dear night for us; poor lads, may they get snug berths aboard some heavenly cruiser,” said the captain sadly. The increased canvas was soon set, and the vessel drove along so furiously, that Captain Defoe determined to lay her to, a feat that was skillfully accomplished by Kenton Cavanaugh, who sprung to the wheel to execute the ma- neuver. As the gale bad now blown itself out, leaving only a strong and steady breeze, the pumps were tried and the crew set to work to repair damages. In an hour’s time all was shipshape once more, the clouds were drifting rapidly away to lee- ward, the wavus were running down, and the moon broke out with renewed brilliancy and cast a silver radiance upon the sea. ** Sail, ho!” The cry came in the clarion tones of Kenton Cavanaugh, and from the fore-rigging. " Whereaway, sir?” shouted Captain Defoe. “Off the weather-quarter, sir; just in the moon’s wake, and walking this way with a nimble foot.” ‘‘Ay, ay! Isee her, and she isa three-master and a frigatoon; no honest craft carries a rig like tbat in these waters. Stand by, all, to get under weigh!” The cruiser swung round on her course, and at once all was busy preparation on board; the beds around the guns were filled with shot, mus- kets and cutlasses were put in the stands and sockets about the masts, and clearing for action was done with a will, after which the crew went silently to the guns. ‘Mr. Cavanaugh, I give you command of the lee battery. Men, obey this young gentleman as though the epaulets were on his shoulders, mj he shall wear them,” called out the.captain, and having witnessed the contempt for danger and skill of the youth, the men recogni their natural superior, and at once cheer, for there is nothing a sailor than courage. The strange sail was now distinctly visible, a little astern of the cruiser and about half a a distant, and sailing a parallel course with bim as ave him a mires more “She was a three-masted lugger, or frigatoon, such as were otten seen in the Mediterranean; her three huge topsails were set, and she was pens along at a pace that proved her a fast er That she was armed and heavily manned there could be no doubt, and that she was a pi- rate all felt assured. All on board the cruiser now intently regarded the stranger, which altered her course a little and shook out her reefs, which caused her to sail evenly with the British vessel and so as to head ber off within an hour, should both hold as they were then heading. ‘* He’s a bold one, for he must see that we are no merchant craft; to convince him, Lord Man- a a shot across his bow,” cried Captain The gun burst forth with a heavy roar, and a shot sent a shower of spray upon his forecastle; but the stranger paid no attention to it, but held on his course. “* His idea is to us by boarding, for those fellows are devils at close quarters. “All l ready, forward, to repel boarders!” said the captain. As the stranger drew nearer it was seen that she was of about three hundred tons, with sharp bows and broad beam, and came along swiftly | with the wind on her starboard quarter, and | causing her lugger’s sails to stand cut as stiff as boards. Forward, and in the waist, a dense mass of heads were visible, and the moonlight flashed on steel, while her open ports revealed a broadside of seven guns. Nearer and nearer came the two vessels, and then Captain Defoe said: ‘1 know that fellow well: we have met before: men call him Hurtel of the Red Hand: but what is he doing in these waters?’ Lord Manly started at the name, for long had he known of the mysterious disap ce of Sir Hurtel of Castle Crag, and ame the rumors that he had become an cua upon the sea. Could it be then, he thought, that the mre vessel was com by the brother of Earl of Belmont? And Kenton Cavanaugh too heard the words of Captain Defoe, and he tco remembered how before Sir Hurtel bad twenty years left his home to go to ruin, and the discovery of the bodies of old Cormac and Elpsey by a traveler. **Can the commander of wonder vessel be the uncle of Lady Kate?’ was bis thought. “T see the chief now,” continued Captain Defoe, glancing through his glass. ‘He the same; a tall, gray-bearded Pinan, with broad shoulders, and dressed like a Turk; see, Mr. Cavanaugh, he is standing by the helmsman.” Kenton took the glass and turned it upon the pirate chief, and at once, even at that distance was be struck with the resemblance to the Earl of Belmont, for the moon shining directly in bis face, revealed every feature distinctly. “Will you allow me to look, please?’ asked Lord Manly, as Kenton silently returned the glass to bis eS tain. ming bal o e fairly started, for in the great dining-ha f Castle Gor hung a full length por- trait of Sir Hurtel, and, exc at the ting t pane chief seemed much older, ‘for he had g eray air and moustachios, there was a striking s ee for the face wore the same look of sad- n the eyes and sternness on the mouth. “Captain Defoe, when I was a very little boy, Sir Hurtel, the brother of the Ear] of Belmont lived in the ruined castle, under the shadow of which you anchored yesterday, and he led a hermit life. * One day a woe Ne entered the castle, and found its servants slain, its master gone, and not a soul in it, and strange stories were told of the old place and the murder committed there, while suspicions turned both upon Sir Hu and a band of Gipsy sailors who camped near on the coast, but who suddenly disappeared about the time with the lord of Castle Crag: row yonder chief is Sir Hurtel, the brother of Belmont’s earl.” “It may be, Lord Manly, for I have also heard rumors of the earl’s Lrotber baving turn- ed pirate; but be he whom he may, he bas twice beaten me cff before, and has the courage of a tiger; once, in the Grecian peer pee, boarded him, on that same lugger, a she drove us back to our decks with heavy loss; I would give much to capture him tonight, even if he were a brother of King Billy!” Silently the dark bull of the pirate drew nearer and nearer, until it was evident that the chief intended to board the cruiser, now that the sea had gone down, and the wind was light. ** See, the old chief is giving orders to Bie for boarding; a shot, Lord Manly, hat dense mass forward, ° will shake them up con: siderably. The 2h was fired, and a crashing of timbers followed, with curses and the groans of wound- ed men, and in a dozen different tongues, which at once betrayed the character of the vessel even if Captain Defoe had not before recognized her te x “90 stand by for a broadside!” shouted the n RAM: ready, sir!” ** Starboar en helm!” ** Starboard ’tis, sir!” ‘*Steady! let him have it—fire!” The shock was a terrible one, and it spread death and confusion on board the lng er; but, cool and commanding stood the chief, — all on board distinctly hear Tis ringing orders: ‘Boarders ahoy! we want that craft, men, so don’t hurt her with iron: now lay her along- side! boarders all!” The pirate, which had been threatenin g to strike the cruiser well forward, suddenly luffed, ae were thrown, and the two vessels la roadside to brondsidia; while over their hig bulwarks came the buccaneers in dark swarms, their chief at their bead. ‘‘ Boarders repel boarders!” shouted Captain Defoe, and instantly the fight became fierce and bloody; the cutlasses clashed oie tlhe tols rattled * incessantly, men cursed, others ut- tered their death-cries, stern crders were given by the officers, the vessels rolled fe y, strik- ing against each other with shocks that threat- ened to crush in their sides, the chains creaked, and the dense smoke and flashes of firearms, made it seem like a esi 3 fiends,rathcr than a combat between human be ee. Steadily, though their numbers were fewer than the crew of the cruiser, the pirates drove the king’s men back, pushing them hard upon the uarter-deck. ow we have them, and their trim vessel is ours; at them, “nt dogs!” shouted their chief, end be sprung forward, sheathing his sword in the heart of an officer who opposed him, and gaining the quarterdeck. ‘Kill him, or all is lost!” shouted Captain Defoe, fighting lke a lion on the starboard side, Instantly a tall form confronted the chief, and two splendid specimens of physical man- hood met, the one a man whose name wes a terror, and who had won for himself the title of Hurtel of the Red Hand; the other, a mere i in years, but a man in strebgth and a ion In coura “Now I will, see how good a& swordsman my father bas taught me “ be,” muttered Kenton Cavanaugh to as bis blade crossed thad of the > mgs chief. i 4 a _ ‘Captain Kyd, the Kin; the King of the Black Flag. a _—_ © denote 2 junier n= TP ilarc keas torn datileh Hinds | oe uh Eomicbooks.com’ 4 : be t : . ¢ f : - ¢ eco * ew Oe EY