Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

on, me ei Ce Ci‘ - ——— ee OO ooo — — hevalier Corsair. The ‘‘T mean, monsieur, that Pierre Louis merely | ‘Will remain with the lugger until the re- took back the money you stole from his mother | turn of the schooner, and then Sefior Tolosa years ago; and departed; but do not feel bad | can return with his vessel to the West Indies.” about it, monsieur, for I like your hotel; its ‘* And you will go back on the schooner, cou- cuisine is excellent, the beds are soft, the wines | sin Alvarez?” again asked the maiden. good, and I have no dread of an assassin harm- ing me beneath thy hospitable roof; good-night, my dear Jacot, andif I return not for a day, feel no alarm regarding me,” and the Hunch- | back dashed off his wine, and, followed by the | young corsair, left the cabaret. CHAPTER XL. IN THE LION’S DEN. At the time of which I write there were bayous, or lagoons, that found their way up to the very city of New Orleans, not only from the lakes, but also through the swamps border- ingthe banks of the Mississippi, and so connect- ing with each other that a boat could go all the way to the Gult. It was by one of these bayous that Alvarez Navarro had made his way in a small pirogue, that was kept concealed at the rendezvous, or secret anchorage of the schooner, and by the same route he returned with Don Juan, the lat- ter seated motionless in the bow of the frail canoe, and the young Cuban using the paddle that urged them swiftly along the dark | stream, whose windings were followed only by | keeping the eyes upon the open streak, where the skies were visible between the tree-tops. “Here, sefior; we are at the lugger; and in time, for yonder comes the daylight,” said the young Cuban, pointing at the brighten- ing eastern sky, and skillfully guiding his pi- rogue in under the festoons of moss and laying it alongside of the lugger, which lay quietly at anchor in this natural arbor, which formed such a secluded retreat even for the large schooner. As Dun Ivan sprung on deck, a sleader form lided from the cabin and he felt the arms of is daughter around him; but the joy of that meeting between the Hunchback and the link that held him to life, it would be sacrilege to break the sacredness of by portrayal, and the two, the hideous man and the beautiful wo- man, I willleave alonein the delight of their reunion, and tell of the surprise that awaited Alvarez Navarro upon his return. ‘** Well, Jacinto, ail bas gone well, I see?” he said, ina toneof inquiry, addressing the man whom he had leftin charge of the lugger, and who made no reply, but simply pointed out through the mossy curtain. The young Cuban started, for at anchor, not two cable-lengths further in the inlet, lay a vessel, dark and ominous-looking. ‘Tt looks like the brigantine,” he whispered. ‘* it is the brigantine, sehor; she came in the inlet shortly after you left and dropped anchor there; but, whether they know of this retreat, is hard to tell.” ‘“*] think not, but only came in for an anchor- age; bnt we must be as silent as death on the lugger, for it would be impossible to get out of here, now, though to-night we may do so; keep Don Manuel Hernandez gagged, Jacinto, for if he knew of her presence near, he would as- suredly cry out for aid and betray us.” ‘“He is with thé lugger’s men, sefior, in the steerage, and they shall know nothing of the brigantine’s presence; but, I fear the schooner may run in, and be caught in a trap.” ‘* There is danger of it, for the chief will hardly suspect that a vessel-of-war has sought anchor- age in this little inlet, and he would doubt- less return here as soon as hesaw the brigantine and cutter give up the chase,” and, glancing more searchingly upon the vessel, as the light of day increased, he continued: ‘‘It is the brigantine, 1 see, now, as the tide sweeps her round, and a beauty she is, too, and heavier in hull, metal and men, than El Maldito; still, if the chief would fight her, he would be victorious, for he handles the schooner in action as a good dancer does a belle in a ball- room,” said the young lieutenant, with enthusi- asm. And all through the day there was a silence like death on the lugger, for the seamen walked the deck with shoeless feet, and conversed in whispers, Don Manuel and the lugver’s crew, except the wounded Tolosa, who had proven himself the champion of Stella Enderos, were gag ec ard keptin the closed steerage, and even in the cabin, Don Ivan, his daughter, and Al- varez Navarro conversed in hushed tones, until, as evening approached, it was a relief to see the skies darkening with storm-clouds, hear the muttering thunder, and the howling of the winds. During the day spent in the cabin, Don Ivan Enderos had decided to dispose of bis home in the West Indies, and transfer his residence to New Orleans, a decision that greatly pleased his daughter, and also Alvarez Navarro, who had, in fact, urged ib. ‘‘To-night I can send you, sefior, my sweet cousin and her maid, to the city in the lugger’s yawl, which willalso carry the kegs of treasure, and you can go at once to the cabaret of Jacot, , until you secure a home for yourself.” », **And you, cousin Alvarez?” asked Stella, with considerable interest. “My duty calls me there, sweet cousin; it is my only home, at least for the present,” he added. And thus it was decided; and aided by the storm, on account of the near presence of the brigantine, rather than retarded, the yaw! left the lugger’s side shortly after dark, with the Don, Stella, and the Quadroon maid, and all the treasure the Hunchback had been robbed of, excepting afew jewels already disposed of by Manuel Hernandez, Beforo leaving the vessel, however, Don Ivan had entered the steerage and gazed upon the man who had been so treacherous to bim; but, as though afraid to trust himself in his presence, he turned quickly and sprung into the waiting boat, uttering no word to his wicked kinsman, who, bound and gagged, quailed beneath his burning gaze. Not daring to leave the lugger, for fear the schooner might arrive, Alvarez Navarro or- dered Jacinto to goin charge of the boat, with instructions to take Don Ivan and his treasure in safety to the cabaret of Pierre Jacot, and return with all speed to the vessel, and, all be- ing in readiness, he held out his hand to the maiden, saying, sadly: ‘*Farewell, cousin mine; with your going the sunlight leaves my heart.” **It need not, Alvarez, for you have it to reake, or mar your future life; farewell, aad my the Virgin protect you in your wanderings will ever be my prayer.” He Landed her into the boat, and grasped the outstr>.ched band of Don Ivan. ** Alvxrez, Iny son, come to us when you can, and, when you choose to wipe from your brow the brand of pirate, my home shall be thy hore; but remember,” and his voice became deep and earnost, “‘I have left Manuel Hernan- dez in your hands, and when next we meet, I would listen with rapture to the sweet story, to my waiting ears, cf his death.” ‘The Chevalier Corsair will not permit him to escape the punishment he so richly deserves; farewell!” ‘‘Give way!” said Jacinto, in a low tone, and with muffled oars the yawl left the lugger’s side, and crept slowly along close inshore, the darkness and storm hiding her from the view of the watchful eyes on boar.1 the Huntress. Without adventure Jacinto, who knew every on and inlet in the vicinity oc New Orleans, guided his passengers to the city, and delivered them and their treasure safely into the hands of Pierre Jacot, who turned pale at sirbt of Don Ivan, and seemed most anxious to do all in his eens to make him forget that he had plotted is assassination. With a handsome recompense trom the Don, Jacinto and his four comrades returned to their yawl, and were just preparing to shove off, having buttoned their storm-jackets closely prt them to shelter them from the pelting storm, when two persons approached, enveloped in cloaks, and wearing caps. That they were naval officers, the rays of a lamp which the wind kept dancing about on its swinging chain, revealed distinctly, and the buccaneers dropped their hands upon their weapons, believing they had been surprised; but the first words of the larger of the two strangers reassured them. ‘**Ah! here is a boat, Walter, that we can doubtless charter,” and approaching the bank of the canal, or bayou, he continued aloud: ‘“‘My men, do you wish to earn an onza apiece?’ ‘*Gold is always acceptable, sir,” answered Jacinto, politely. “* Well said, my man, and here isa purse to divide among you if you will row us to tle lake.” ‘It is a bad night, captain, to be on the water; but if you are from the brigantine we will take you.” “Ah! you recognize us then? Yes, I am Captain Sylvester, her commander, and you, by the way, look like men-of-war’s men.” _ ‘ Weare, sir; we are from the cutter, which joined you in the chase of the schooner of Bel- mont, the Buccaneer, day before yesterday.” “Then the cutter has returned?’ asked the younger officer, who was Walter Nevil. ‘* Yes, sir; she is anchored in the inlet a mile above where the brigantine lies; we just car- ried Captain Dumont to the city,” responded Jacinto, with eee lie, for, being acquainted with the names of the cutter’s officers, and hav- ing witnessed the chase of the corsair, he had the advantage of Harold Sylvester and the midshipman, especially as himself and coin- rades were in seamen’s garb. ‘‘Then of course he did not capture the pi- rate? Now, my man, you can give way as soon as you are ready,” and Captain Sylvester and Walter Nevil settled themselves as comfortably as possible in the stern-sheets. ““Give way, lads!” ordered Jacinto, and the yawl moved out into the bayou and:headed for the lake, while the two American ofluicers, little dreaming in whose power they had placed a a ee er ————7= et lier Corsair and the attempt to capture him. ‘*T regret exceedingly, Walter, that I was not on board the Huntress; but Frayne no doubt did all that he could to capture the corsair.” ‘‘There is no doubt of it, sir, from what I have heard, for you know I was not in the chase, as, having sent the boat back as you ordered, and | going out to the lake on horseback tbe next morning I arrived after the Huntress bad left.” ‘‘And the corsair cleverly eluded both the brigantine and the cutter?” ‘Yes, sir, and when the Huntress ran in the inlet last night and drop anchor, and I got the keeper of the lake-shore cabaret, where I was stopping, to row me out to her, I never in my life saw such a dejected set of men, from Lieutenant Frayne down, and the officers, like the men, are almost inclined to look upon the schooner as a specter craft, for she showed no flag, tney say, fired no shot, and just glided away from the brigantine like a racer from a scrub.” ‘* And Frayne was to send a boat for me in the morning, you say?” ** Yes, sir; but 1 returned the way I went, on horseback.” ‘Well, Iam glad I did not wait, even if this storm does drench us through, for the corsair may return at any moment, and I wish to be on board the brigantine.” ** Yes, captain, for there is no telling, sir, when or where Belmont, the Buccaneer, may turn up, for we, of the cutter, have chased him scores of times, and he’s like a sea-wizard, here, there and everywhere,” put in Jacinto, in- nocently. ‘* Ah! I forgot you were in the chase; tell me about it, my man.” Without the slightest hesitation the pirate told the story, guessing at facts of which he knew nothing, and hitting strangely near the truth, for not once was he contradicted by Walter Nevil, who had heard the narrative from Lieu- tenant Frayne. ‘‘ Well, Walter, it seems we have all had ad- ventures, for I arrested that Spanish gentleman for the pirate, and then drank wine with the very man I have been ordered to take dead or alive— Ha! now we get the storm from the lake, sweeping up this bay \u; but we will soon be in comfortable quarters, and I sincerely hope the corsair will not make us put to sea to- night. ; 3 There is no telling, sir, for he may be an- chored now within a few cable-lengths of the brigantine,” said Jacinto. ‘True, he might be; but let him come that near the guns of the Huntress and he is my prisoner.” Jacinto made no immediate reply; but after a moment Ane his tiller bard down, and the yaw] dashed in under the overhanging branches of the trees that lined the bayou’s banks, and then, while the cold muzzle of a pistol pressed the temples of Harold Sylvester and Walter Nevil, he said, in deep, stern tones: * Gentlemen, you are my prisoners! One word or movement and you die !” CHAPTER XLI. WHAT A BLUE-LIGHT REVEALED, For pen to portray tbe surprise, and the in- dignation of Captain Harold Sylvester and Wal- ter Nevil were impossible, and they at first be- lieved, or rather hoped that it was a joke, and that the crew of the boat were some of the cut- ter’s officers on a lark; but the pistols pressed against their heads, soon dispelled this Heston, while Jacinto said sternly, yet forcibly: ‘* You must pardon me, gentlemen, for mak- ing you prisoners: but I fear the schooner, El Maldito, may return at any moment, and of course with the brigantine’s commander in our power, we need feel no fear, should the Cheva- lier Corsair run into a trap, for, where your vessel lies is one of his favorite anchorages ” ‘*Then you confess to belonging tothe crew of Belmont the Buccaneer?” asked Haroijd Sy1- vester. ““ Why deny it, sir, for you will soon find out that we are pirates; but will you give your pledge of honor, both of you, not to ca!l ont, or attempt to escape when we pass near the brigan- tine?’ ‘** And if we decline?” curtly asked the officer. “Then I shall be forced to place you both m irons, much as 1 should dislike to do so; ay, and gag you too.” ‘*Then I pledge myself, for I wish no greater humiliation than I now suffer in being the cap- tive of a a “ And he my parole Vhonneur,” said Wal-, ter Nevil, lightly, for he rather liked the ead- venture, in being captured by the very pirates they were hoping to make prisoners. ‘* Then, gentlemen, I trust a but it is need. less for me to say that should you break your parole you will give the signal for your ‘own death ; — way, lads! and mind you pull steady, upon the brigantine may see us,” and sealing himself between his prisoners, Jacinto ayain took the tiller, and once more the boat moved on in the darkness. A row of some moments brought them in view GOMIGOOOKS or in spite of the storm, some keen eye €o >