Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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- Don Ivan would not 16 —— ee i navy ;” and turning to M. Noel, she continued: * An old friend whom I met when at school North, and a splendid fellow, too; so do not leave, M. Noel, but remain and meet him.” Thus urged Noel Valverde resumed his seat, and Jacques ushering the young naval officer into the room, he received a warm welcome from Edna, who asked: I er Corsair. A walk of some moments brought them to the private door of Jacot’s cabaret, and the Hunchback led the way to his comfortable room on the second floor. ‘‘ Now, be seated, brother Henrico, and we will have a pleasant little chat.” Don Henrico threw himself resignedly into a chair, as he responded: ‘““You and I can never have one pleasure to- * What lucky star guided you to our part of | gether, Ivan. Well, what have you to say?” the worid, Captain Sylvester?” ‘‘A gnilor’s lot, to go where ordered, Miss “T failed in my attempt to carry Edna off.” ‘* So I know, and heartily glad am I that you Edna, for I am sent to tre Gulf, pirate-hunting, | did.” with head-quarters at your pleasant city.” ‘‘Tam certainly glad to “Hal this sounds as though you were getting ear that; but you | up courage to keep one of the other two oaths, will have to beware of your heart among the | and give up your life or your gold.” New Orleans beauties, or they will steal it from swe: t Mabel De Lisle.” ‘* It is that which troubles me, Miss Edna, for I find, since comirg here, that Mabel’s brother Victor, whom you remember the Government outlawed, is none other than the very pirate chief I have strict orders to hunt down, for I find he is none other than the famous Chevalier Corsair.” M. Noel and Edna exchanged quick glances, while the former said: ‘** An unpleasant task for you, sir, if, as 1 un- derstand, the Chevalier Corsair was once your friend.” “Yes, and more:—his sister is one whom I have ever devotedly loved, and, 1 am not ashamed to confess it, whom I one day hope to moke my wife.” The frank confession of the handsome young sailor caused M. Noel to give a sigh of relief for he had dreaded a rival in him for the han of Edna. Finding that his hostess and her visitor were interested in the Chevalier, Harold Sylvester went on to tell the story of his adventure in the cabaret with the buccaneer chief, his clever ruse, by throwing the charge of outlaw upon Captain Hernandez, and his escape, and the re- turn of the Spanish captain wild with rage at ee, heaped upon bim by his arrest for a pirate. ‘And he escaped?” asked Edna, anxiously. ‘*Oh, yes; but no one knows bow, and the next f hear of poor Victor he will be at sea, fly- ing his black flag.” ‘** And you failed to recall his face when you sat at the table together?” ‘* He wors a heavy beard, which completely changed him from the Victor De Lisle I had known in boyhood, and who was nicknamed ‘The Magnificent,’ for he was a splendid-look- ing fellow, you remember?’ ‘No, I never met him in Boston, as he was away when his sister and myself were friends. Poor fellow, Fate has been most cruel to him.” ‘* And the Government to me, to order me to hunt him down; but [ must do my duty, even if [have to hang him to the yard-arm of my brigantine, and receive the curses instead of the love of Mabel.” But, before any reply was made to the sad re- mark of the young sailor, Don Henrico entered the room, his face pale, bis manner nervous, and it was evident to all that he had just passed through some painftl scene. What it was that bad left its impress upon Don Henrico the next chapter niust reveal. ° CHAPTER XXVILI. THE LAST WARNING, Don HENRICO ENDEROS was sauntering slowly. along St. Charles street, having just come from the fashionable club, of which he was a mem- ber, when he felt a light tap on the arm, and, turning, he bekeld the hideous face of the Hunchback peering up into his own. Involuntarily he sturted, for, since the unsuc- cessful attempt to carry Edna off, he hoped that are venture to New Or- leans again, at least, not for awhile, and he was lutting some means by which he might rid himself?” of this revengeful being upon his track, to demand the fulfillment of one of the three oaths sworn to in the long ago. ‘Tt would havo been better for mo bad I been left to grow up in the mountains of old Spain, and become a bandit—ay, anything rather than have my life thus made wretched by this ac- cursed being,” be said, gloomily, as he walked alony on bis way home, and just then it was that he turned to behold tne object of his thoughts. * Ah, brother, Iam glad we again meet, for I wouid see you,’ said the Hunchback, in his suave way, but beneath which lay such a tor- rent of passien and hatred. ‘Tt is more chan | can say for you, Ivan,” was the gloomy rejoinder. ‘Come, the street is no place for converse such as ours; let us go to my room.” Don Lonrico gave a suspicious glance at the Hunchback, as though he dreaded a trap, and, secving it, Don Ivan said, sneeringly: “ Oh, your lifo is in no danger, brother mine for I know you will keep one of your oaths, and I leave it to your choice which.” | As though reassured, Don Henrico answered, shortly: * ‘ead on: T will follow.” ' Sn. mR mR ea a a er eae ea Ce ee el O—S | | ‘‘It were better that [should die, with this treble terror hanging like the sword of Damo- cles over me forever, for it isslowly killing me.” Don Ivan rubbed his shapely hands together as though in high glee at the misery he caused, and laughed in his soft, musical way, but which jarred so harshly upon the heart of Don Hen- rico. After a while he asked: ** Who was the man you paid to rescue Edna, after I had successfully entrapped her?” ‘‘The man J hired? Why, Don Ivan, you dream, for I know not to this day who he was. Doubtless, though, some young cavalier of our city, from what Edna tells me.” There was no doubt upon Don Ivan’s mind now that his brother was innocent of having planned a rescueof his daughter; but headded: ‘‘Some young gallant of the town, you say? Bah! he was a man of lion courage and iron arm, for he handled both myself and—and— and my accomplice with perfect ease. Did he not make himself known to Edna?” ‘It seems not: he drove her home, and went away in the cabriolet he himself hired, refusing to come into the mansion.” . ‘“ A strange man, indeed; and, now I think of it, his form, his bearing, and his bherculean strength recall to my mind one personage who is an exception to his fellow-men.” ‘‘ And that is—” ‘‘ Never mind; he is one whom both my beau- tiful niece and yourself have cause to dread, should he seek your friendship; but, we wander from the subject, so let us resume.” “What would you wish, Ivan?” and Don Henrico became a shade paler. ‘‘ Oh, the keeping of one of your oaths: which shall it be, dear brother?’ and the Hunchback smiled as sweetly as though he had asked the most ordinary question. ‘““Oh God! Ido not know,” broke from the trembling lips of Don Henrico. “ it must one, Henrico.” ““T know it, alas! I know it but too well; but, Ivan, can you not compromise? Will you not take half my fortune, and -—” ‘ ‘* Half your fortune? Why, my darling bro- ther, it slips your treacherous memory that itis my tortune, not yours. Shall I recite the story over again, that you may be edified, and I made more bitter, how our noble father—” ‘* No! no! no!” ‘‘ Of course you nor I are really to blame, dear brother; but then you know the creed that visits upon the children the sins of the father, and while I was cast aside on account of my hideousness, although honorably born, you, the basely born, because of your noble presence, was placed in my shoes, for, innocent little ba- -bies that we were, we of course could not object or acquiesce, and our father was content; but my mother loved me, even though I was a hor- ror in the eyes of mankind, and she it was who sought me secretly, and instilled into my heart the heritage of hatred I hold against you, and my heart becoming as deformed as my body, I claimed of you recompense for the honor you held, the riches you squandered, and all I asked was one of three oaths. Which one will you keep, [ again ask?” Don Henrico made no reply, and seemed so overwhelmed with grief, that the Hunchback said, after a moment’s thought: ‘“*T will not demand an answer to-night, Hen- rico, but give you time, as I have a pressing matter to attend to just now: but within the month, it may be sooner, I shall claim the keep- ing of one of that treble oath, so do not forget. Now come, and ‘I will walk with you on your way homeward.” ilently Don Henrico arose, and the two passed out together, and slowly walked in the direction of the elegant mansion of the unfortu- nate man, to whom life was rapidly becoming a burden, As they neared the house, and passed beneath a row of gloria mundi trees ee the pave, a dark object dropped down behind them with a heavy thud, and, turning quickly, from the lips of each broke a startled cry. ‘* In God’s name, what is it?’ asked Don Hen- rico; but Don [van made no reply, for he recog- nized the Black Dwarf, the slave of Noel Val- verde, and he felt that his steps were being dogged, for the warning of the young creole came to his memory, and a shudder crept over his frame. “Come, let us go into the mansion, for the creature seems hardly human,” cried Don Hen- ————$——— ee => -—-oe e ET LL - — eee oo ee ee — ee ee = _-~+ —- — " _ _ rico nervously, for he had never seen the Dwarf before, or knew of his existence. ‘* Hardly human! and yet how strangely like myself! No, 1 will not enter your home, Don Henrico, until 1 come to claim the keeping of your oath.” ‘‘ But the monster may attack you?” ‘‘Ha! ha! ha! how generous on your to think of me, Don Henrico, when it would be a consummation devoutly boped for by you did he kill me! But remember my warning,” and the Hunchback turned away without another word, while Don Henrico hastily entered bis own door, giving one nervous glance over his shoulder, and discovering that the Dwarf was slowly follow- ing on the steps of the Hunchback. ‘* He cannot be bis companion, for he started with alarm, as I did, at sight of him;and yet, they are strangely alike in deformity! Ah, God grant that {van Enderos may die by the hand of the black monster!” and with this rayer upon bis pallid lips he entered the par- ors of his own home, nervous.and trembling. CHAPTER XXVIIL THE LAKESIDE CABIN. Ir will be remembered that when the Cheva- lier Corsair left Jacot’s cabaret, it was on horse- back, and he rode out into the country, taking the road leading along a lagoon, and bordering a cypress swamp, which stretched away in the direction of the lake. It was a lonely, gloomy ride, with the croak- ing of the frogs, the shrieking of the nightbirds, the splash of the alligators, and the sighing of the winds through the moss-draped trees; but unheeding these dismal sounds, and even un- noticing the trilling of a mocking-bird in a magnolia forest in the distance, the Chevalier rode steadily on, his horse needing no urging from the master, who seeméd wholly wraps in his own meditations. At length he came to a path that branched off to the left, and led through a dense forest that bordered the beach, not far distant, for the wash of the waves mingled with the other sounds. A ride of half a mile brought him to an open- ing, in which stood an humble white cabin, a lamp gleaming forth from its windows in the rear, and which looked out upon the pathway, for the roadway had stopped at the entranee to the timber. The cabin, though of one story, was built with several wings, and occupied considerable ground. It was known to the Chevalier to bea resort of lake fishermen, and, some suppssed, even the rendezvous of the smugglers; but, though a close watch had been kept upon the occupants, nothing had ever been dircovered inst them by the keen-eyed officers of the law. iding slowly by, the Chevalier seemed anx- ions to avoid detection; but a loud laugh sud- denly caused him to bring his horse to a halt, while he distinctly heard the words: ‘“‘If the captain don’t come to-night, lads, we'll be merciful and set the lady free, while we fingers his gold ourselves.” The remark was in Spanish, a langusge the Chevalier spoke fluently, and it caused him to ride off into the forest, fasten bis horse, ar«l re- turn on foot, and cautiously, to the cabin. Approaching by the side, for it was only half a score rods from the lake sbore, he came to a halt upon the rude porch in front, and could distinctly hear voices witbin, and a tois French mingling with the low Spanish of the West Indies. But it was not the foreign tongues that inter- ested the Chevalier, but thesubject of their con- verse. ‘*Messieurs, you order more of your Spenish wine, I believe?” asked a voice in nch is, and who was evidently the keeper of side tavern, or cabaret, for such the ‘* Yes, more of our native uice,” re- plied one in English, and he added, in Spanish: ‘*We will take a bottle for every quarter of an hour the eaptain detains us here, lads.” ‘‘ Bravo!” shouted half a dozen voices, and the ker went on: ‘‘ You are making an onza a day, camaradas, and I, as captain, two onzas, so we should not complain, for it beats fishing off our own : isle, to which we can soon return with gold for our families.” — ‘You mean the treasure-kegs, camarada?” asked a voice. ‘Oh! if aught has befallen the captain, and we take these, we'll be as rich as the Dons of e sea- lace was. old Spain; but we must be honest yet awhile, . ’ for the captain may return all rigbt. ‘* And the sefiorita?” ** Ah, poor lady! I wish she were not on our hands, and I fear me the capitan is cruel to her; but that is his business, not ours, for we are paid to keep our mouths shut, and not to let her es- cape. The last words heard by the Chevalier Corsair seemed to determine him as to his course, for he arranged his pistols and blade to hand and tapped lightly upon the door, nstantly there was a dead silence within, and again he rapped. ‘Look to your weapons, camaradas,” said a voice, evidently the leader, whe had before com Ghooksscom