Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

> -_- ——- -_- — —— a ‘And his deformed slave, Jocko,” said an- other, when the negro was seen at his master’s bac k. ‘¢Yes, messieurs, I am M. Valverde. I have come to interfere, for I see you are pressing rudely these two men, and [ always take the side of the weak,’ remarked the young man, in a calm, fearless way. ‘Bravo! you are always good, M. Noel!” ‘‘ He is the friend of the poor man!” ‘Long live M. Valverde and his name!” Such were the shouts that went up from the fickle crowd when they recognized the young creole,* who was, indeed the poor man’s friend, ‘‘ But he does not know their vileness,”’ “They are kidnappers!” ; ‘‘They were flying with a young girl!” came the answering cries, and M. Valverde turned to the Hunchback, and said: ‘Monsieur, there is some mistake here, is there not?’ “There is, sir; at the request of Don Enderos I was bearing hi ay gp to him, and she fainted, and beholding the crowd around cried out in alarm, and I was set upon, with my friend here, and she was taken from me,” ex- plained the Hunchback, with ready lie. ‘‘ Ah! the Sefiorita Enderos, you say? I trust no barm has befallen her.” ‘‘Oh, no, monsieur; she returned to her home, when myself and companion were pressed by these mulattoes; do you not recognize me as the friend of Don Henrico, not his enemy? I am Don Ivan Enderos,” “ Ah! I recall you now,” answered M. Val- verde, too anxious not to wound the Hunchback by saying that he recognized him at a glance from his carriage, and spaung out to come to his rescue; and turning to the crowd he con- tinued in a loud tene: ‘‘ Messieurs, there is some mistake here, for this gentleman is my friend, and he was not bearing the lady off for evil reasons. If I an- ere? ere him, you will let him pass, assuredly.” » yes!’ “Long live M. Valverde!” ‘*Hunchback, you've saved that ugly face of yours this time,” and like cries resounded upon all sides, while, raising his hat to the throng, the young creole led the way toward the levee, cn Ivan telling him that his boat awaited him ere. ‘‘ Monsieur Valverde, again I owe you lasting regards. Yonder is my caravel, and will you honor me by going on board and having a glass of wine with me?’ asked the Hunchback, earn- esfly. “Yes, I will accept your invitation, Don Ivan, as I observe from here that you have a very beautiful vessel. Jocko, bid my carriage await me here,” and whilethe slave darted away, with as none would have believed him ca- pable of with bis short legs, the creole, padre, and Don Ivan entered the boat. But, as it swung off from the shore, with a mighty bound Jocko lighted in the stern, and crouched down behind his master. _“* Why, Jocko, your rudeness I must reprove, sir,” said Noel V verde, sternly. ‘* Me wantee go with massa; me likee Hunch- back too,” said the negro, in excuse; but it was evident from Don Ivan’s face, now unmasked, that the oe regard Jocko held for him was not reciprocated. A row of an eighth of a mile brought them to the caravel, a three-masted schooner of two hundred tons burden. She was crouching, rather than lying upon the murky river, and suggested the thought of a long, lean-bodied greyhound about to spring upon its prey. Her huil was bronze rather than black, and a ribbon of gilt ran from her sharp bows to the stern; the bulwarks were high—so high, in fact, that only the red skull-caps of her negro crew could be seen above them. Her sides were pierced for five guns to a broadside, yet none were visible on her decks, and only a dozen men, all dlaves, could be seen. Her model was as faultless asa regatta club- boat, and her slender masts, single sticks, raked far aft, and were also bronzed, as were the long slender yards, crossing them obliquely and sus- pending the huge lateen sails, as white as snow. ‘* You have a beautiful vessel here, Don lvan,” declared Noel Valverde, as he stepped on deck, followed by the padre, whostill remained mask- ed, and yet who ene around him with the admiring gaze of a man who had been upon dark-blue water in his time, and knew a pretty craft when he saw if. ‘« Yes, she is my yacht, and cost me a round sum. I havea permit to arm her, for it is dan- gerous cruising nowadays, M. Valverde, upon an unarmed deck. My guns are in the hold; but important duties called me to your city be- fore f had time to get the Whirlwind in perfect ‘An appropriate name, doubtless, Don Tyan, for she looks as though she could fly like a whirl- * It is erroneously believed by many peopleof the North and West that the word erecle means a gqua- droon or negro ; but this is a grave error, for it signi- fies native. In Louisiana a creole isa native of the State, whether he be white or black. The Chevalier Corsair. a a oe wind over the waters, I have Frequently thought of havingsuch a vessel built for myself, though it is rather an expensive toy.” ‘‘No; as you see, I have mannedit with m own slaves; but come into the cabin, please,” and the Hunchback led the way, followed by Noel Valverde, but not by the padre. But, in a moment the Don returned, and call- . to him a bright young mulatto, and said to im: ‘Bear this to the home of Don Henrico En- deros, Rue St. Luis, and return at once, for it needs no answer,” and he hastily scribbled on a leaf of his note-book as follows: ‘* Let Don Henrico remember that he did send for the Sefiorita Edna, and impress it upon her mind that she is not to make known who was her escort to-day, or it will be the worse for father eS daugh- ter. VAN The young slave took the note, sprung into a light canoe that was alongside and rowed rapid- ly enorewment, while Don Ivan turned to the re, ‘‘Come, padre, join us in the cabin,” “It is better that I should not, Don Ivan, for M. Valverde knows my face as well as I do his, and I had better not unmask.” ‘‘True; do as you please.” ‘‘And take the dwarf with you—M. Val- serens slave, for his eyes are roving over every- thing. Calling to Jocko to follow him, Don Ivan re- entered the cabin. A slave placed wines and sweetmeats before himself and guest; but, bardly had they drank one glass of wine, when the Hunchback sprung to his feet, crying out: me What means this? The caravel is in mo- on. : He rushed to.the companionway, but found it closed and bolted, and in roaring tones he shouted: ‘‘Ho on deck! Pedro! Alonzo! Bernado! come here!” : And he called for his slaves in still louder tones, yet no answer came, while on deck were heard eavy feet moving rapidly about, and the vessel, careened on one side, was dashing rapidly along! | hat could it mean? CHAPTER XVIII. UNMASKED. As soon as the masked stranger had forced his way through the crowd, with Edna upon his arm, he called a cabriolet, and, assisting her into it, asked where the driver should carry her, and, in doing so, gazed, for the first time, direct- ly into her face, which was now composed, after her alarming adventure, She saw him start, yet the visor he wore con- cealed his face thoroughly, Had he met her be- fore? Was he one of her numerous admirers? she wondered. With perfect politeness, as he had now no further cause to force himself upon ber, he in- tended to leave her, and, seeing this, and with oe a to know more of her preserver, Edna asked: ‘Monsieur, am I not to know more of my kind preserver, or at least to see his face?” It were better masked, lady,” was the strange reply. ‘But you will, if your time will permit, es- cort me to m home, that my father, who I trust is by this time at home, may thank you for your goodness to bis ‘gon onesgak ** No, lady; I need no thanks.” **But, am I safe yet? See the crowded streets, and I am going to impose upon you to still be my kind escort,” persisted Edna, more and more interested in. the strange man, and, upon that account, more desirous to find out who and what he was. “If you command, mademoiselle, I obey. Your address, please,” he said, quietly. She gave it, and, telling the coachman where to drive, he sprung into the cabriolet, which at once rolled away toward the home of Don Hen- rico Enderos, ‘‘And you will neither tell me your name, nor let me see the face of my brave friend, to whom I owe so much?” said Edna, in a tone of pique, as the cabriolet stopped before her fa- ther’s elegant home. ‘‘T must. repeat, lady, that if is better that ou should neither know my name, nor see my ace. Would to Heaven it were otherwise, but a cruel Fate renders it best as it is.” | She was more than ever impressed by bis sad tone, yet would not persist in urging what, it was plainly evident, he did not wish to do; and yet, having bade the coachman to await him, when he escorted her to the door, she said, once more: * Sefior, farewell, for, as you so firmly refuse to give me your name, or a glance at your face, I feel that we shall never meet again. “True, our paths in life must diverge far apart, though thisis the second time wé have met,” he said, sadly. “Then you know who I am?’ ‘Only when you gave me your name and ad- dress.” ** And we have met before, yousay?” . “Yes, once; had we not, I would not now re- jl fuse. to tell you my name, or unmask before —— ‘‘Ha! now I recall your voice, and now I know you! Oh, sefior! sefor! why are you what you are?” and she spoke earnestly. He raised his hand, unfastened his visor, and removing it with his hat, stood unmasked and uncovered before her. She did not start, she simply gazed earnestly into the face she now remembered so well, and which she had last seen upon the deck of the brig, which had been so daringly boarded in Long Island Sound by one whom she now knew had been branded as a pirate. “ Ah! I was right; your voice betrayed you to me; and I owe my preservation to—” “Speak the word, lady,” he said, as she paused, ‘‘Say that you owe your rescue to one whom the world calls a pirate.” ‘No, no! I will not say that, for I do not be- lieve you as evil as report would make you; but, be you what you may, I thank you for what you have done for me, and, outlaw thong you be, I will never cease to remember you for saving me from a fate 1 dare not think of: but, sefior, what do you here in a city filled with your foes, and where a reward of gold hangs over your head?” ‘‘ Business of an important nature brought me here, and one who carries his life in his hand, as I do, , is in danger everywhere; but, adieu, and when you hear of the Chevalier Cor- sair,as men call me, do not believe I am as black as rumor paints me.” He turned quickl away, and impulsively Ed- na started forward, as though to recall him; but she checked herself, watched him get into the vehicle in waiting and drive away, ard then she entered the mansion, her heart aching with sorrow for the man whom she had a second time met, and whom a cruel destiny had driven an outlaw upon the seas. And, spite of the scene of bloodshed she had first beheld him in his cark face haunted her, for she had seen him boldly re- lease his vessel from its peril, and now again face two desperate men to rescue her from dan- ger, and his reckless courage and magnificent appearance impressed her deeply, corsair though he was, and she said, half-aloud: “T must not think of that man, or—J shall love him, and love with me is everything— everything!” CHAPTER XTX, DENOUNCED. GIVING the cabrioleteer orders, he was driven to a cabaret—the café, in fact, of Pierre Jacot, where the reader has seen that Don Ivan the Hunchback had his quarters in the city. It was not far from thé Place d’ Armes, the heart of the French district of New Orleans at the time of which L write, But, instead of turning down by, the Cathe- dral, as he should have done to go to Jacot’s cabaret, or tavern, the driver suddenly wheeled up to the pavé near the calaboza, and sung out lustily in French; , **Ho, guards! Here in my cabriolet is the ? Chevalier Corsair! Seize him!” So. thoroughly occupied. had_ the corsair— whom the reader now knows as Victor De Lisle —been in the painful thoughts aroused by sight of Edna Enderos, the maiden who had witness- ed the first act that made him an outlaw, he had not noticed that the cabriolet was not in the direction he had ordered, but, recalled to himself, by the ringing cry of the driver, he lanced out quickly, and opening the door on the street side sp out of the vehicle. At first the crowd were impressed with the idea Of its being a Carnival joke, perpetrated by the cabrioleteer. Even the ples yy bon the calaboose, to whom he had appealed, did not believe him, until the tall form of the corsair appeared, dashing across the street, and the wild cries of the driver warned them that he was in deadly earnest. ‘It is Belmont, the Buccaneer! Sur ma parole Vhonneur! See! he flies! Seize bim! seize the Chevalier Corsair, and gold will reward you!” and the coachman, almost beside himself, as he saw the rich reward fading from his eyes, sprung from his box in hot pursuit, while, with loud cries, the guard and crowd joined, Realizing his terrible danger, the corsair darted into a dark area, or allée, but, discover- ing that he was hard. pressed, he turned and faced his pursuers, and the reckless driver was the first to feel his vengeance, for he was seized and hurled back upon the throng with a force that knocked bim breathless, and sent a couple of = and several citizens to earth with weight. s _“ Back! if you press me you die!” came in ringing tones from.the dark area, and the crowd shrunk back, relying upon the guards to a ct. ‘*Don’t let him escape! It is the buccaneer, for he captured a vessel on which I was a pas- senger from. Havana, only a few months ago,” cried the driver, recovering rapidly when he re- membered that if taken, he would finger a large sum of the reward offered for the head of the corsair, dead or alive, ; Urged by this determined assertion the GOMlLGEDVOOKS GEO im