Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

a A et sair, standing erect an 27 e- - wee! ee ee SSC Oe SE eee ee@=.2-—OCrC OO te -_— schooner well, and, at fir’ sight, b eeyeomy ger her to be the famous FE] Maldito, the craft of the Chevalier Corsair. That one was Stella Enderos. And there was one other on board the mer- chantman who recognized the caravel, and knew it to be under the command of the pre- tended Padre Bonito, but in reality Conrado Costello, the conspirator. * And that one was Don Ivan, the Hunchback. Nearer and nearer drew the two sea-warriors together, until a flash came from the caravel’s bow, and a shot went hurtling toward the schooner, But no response was given, and a second shot was fired from the cararel, and down came the fnglish ensign, which she had been flying, and up went a black flag, with a red dagyer in the center, 1 Yet, still there came no response from the schooner, and her peak remained flagless; but, with the speed of a whirlwind, she still came on. Luffing up suddenly, the caravel sent a broad- side upon the schooner, and well-aimed; the crashing of timbers was distinctly heard on board the clipper ship; but, though staggered, the beautiful vessel swept on, not @ spar, or rope injured. And still no reply, but another cruel broad- side from the caravel. ‘‘Great God! has he no guns?” asked the clip- per ship’s commander. ‘The caravel will blow him out of the water,” said the Hunchback, while M. Noel cried, with enthusiasm : ‘‘He intends to carry the caravel by board- » Oh, God! this is horrible!” and Manine Val- verde bent her head in her bands, for, witha glass handed ber by her brother, she recognized the tall form of the Chevalier Corsair. “There stands the schooner’s commander— the Chevalier chief,” suddenly called out the Hunchback, and his daughter added: ‘* And Alvarez, father, is by his side,” The schooner was now near enough for those on the ship to distinctly see the Chevalier Cor- calm upon his quarter- deck, and directing the movements of his vessel, which the heavy fire of the caravel was wound- ing deeply aking advantage, after a broadside from his foe, the schooner attempted to run between the caravel and the ship, when, putting about quickly, the lateen rig sent another hail of iron upon hee adversary, but which went c into the merchantman with terrific force. There were shrieks and curses, groans, and then a moment’s silence: but, beneath ’ that deadly broadside several went down, and among them poor Jocko, killed in his tracks, and Don Henrico Enderos. M. Noel bounded toward the fallen Dwarf, but was recalled by a piercing shriek from Edna, who was bending over the prostrate form of her father, while she cried, in heart- ee ee “‘Father! father! Speak to me, and say you are not dying.” The eyes of the wounded man opened slowly, and rousing an instant met those of the Huneh: back fixed upon him with malignant hatred, ane ns _— rag : . sia ‘Ivan, in my death you have your revenge; spare Edna, my child. Down upon his knees dropped the Hunchback, and bending over until his lips were néar the pallid face, he said, softly: ‘Yes, Henrico, 1 will, for, with thy death, the bitterness of my heart dies, too.” A smile crossed the lips of Don Henrico, and the basely born, who had wrongfully held a heritage of gold and a proud name, was dead, while the one whcse inheritance had been sor- row, bitterness and hatred, bent in triumph above him. “Oh! wh oe he “s* Manine Val The pleadin roke from Ma - verde, Li unmindtul of the death scene about her, had her eyes riveted upon the splendid form, that in the midst of death and destruc- tion, stood unmoved up: n his vessel, which was ing down to pple with his adversary, the very silence with which he approached being ominous, and as terrible almost as the shots of the caravel. And the cry caused those on the clipper ship once more to turn their gaze upon the two ves- sels, and a shout went up from their midst, as at last they saw the schooner strike; but it was with three-score men bounding upon the deck of the caravel, led by the ringing cry all heard: ‘‘Boarders away! follow me!’ And then the roar of the guns ceased, and the rattle of small-arms, the clash of steel mbaget | steel, and the eries of combatants followed, an the wad chaos of sounds struck terror to the hearts of those who looked on in safety. ‘*Oh, brother Noel, must he be killed? Will vor_not aid him?’ cried Manine, earnestly. “In Heaven’s nime, Manine, who co you mean?” said the surprised brother. ‘‘That man! the Chevalier Corsair, for he it was that saved my bonor, my life, for you re- member I confessed all to you, though I kept back his name.” ‘And he it was, the Chevalier Corsair, who saved me from worse than death, Noel,” aud Edna Enderos sprung from the side of her dead father, and stood before the man to whom she was engaged. ‘“*Then to his aid I will go, pirate though he be; ho! men, who will follow me to youder deck to serve a noble man?” A dozen of the clipper’s crew answered with a cheer, but the voice of the Hunchback re- strained them. ‘*Hold! the fight has ended; the Chevalier Corsair triumphs!” It was true; cries of mercy were heard on the caravel, and men, in their fright, were springing into the sea. ‘*Strike no man who cries for quarter !” All heard the humane order, and all reeog- nized the ringing voice that had commanded: ‘‘ Boarders, follow me!’ “Thank God he is safe,” said Manine, fer- vently, and with staring eyes she watched the confused mass on the two vessels that lay side by side, and her face flushed as she saw a boat og off for the clipper ship, and she recognized the stern the form of the Chevalier; but it paled again when she saw that he held in his arms the form of a young girl. It was Mabel De Lisle, and she was uncon- scious, for when she beheld her brether on the schooner’s deck she had swooned away, know- ing well the moment of death had come for either Conrado Costello or himself. Over the ship’s side came the corsair chief, still bearing his sister in his arms; but he start- ed, and came toa standstill, when he beheld the little group awaiting bim; yet, recovering him- self — he said in his low, musical , and from which every atom of anger had gone, as had the fire of battle from his face: ** Ladies, pose pardon for bringing a scene of a age before your eyes; but war is unavoid- able, ‘‘We are grateful for your victory, Sefior Chevalier, for, from all accounts, we all owe Pe for past services rendered, and you ave certainly saved us, and this vessel, from the — a bad man,” said Noel Valverde, frankly. ‘*Ay,a bad man indeed; one whose heart is utterly black, but who shall feel my just ven- geance, for he lies on my deck a prisoner; but, sir, may LI intrust to the care of these ladies my —I shame to confess it, for her sake, yet must— my sister, whom the chief ef yonder vessel last night decoyed from her home, to bring dishonor upon her, even worse than having me, a pirate, for her brother?” “Your sister? ‘Yes, rladly will I care for her, monsieur,” and Manine Valverde a proached timidly, just as Mabel De Lisle opened her pe and glancing up with a startled look, cri ee daty fe “Victor, my trother, am saved, saved from worse than death! and by you, my noble brother.” He drew her toward him, with an emotion he could not hide, in spite of his iron will, and not one present was there but was touched by that meeting between the pure, beautiful sister and her erring, outlawed brother. ‘Sail ho!” The ery came from the schooner’s deck, and in Alvarez Navarro’s voice, ‘“‘ Whereaway, Alvarez?” cried the Chevalier, springing to the ship’s side. | ‘‘Our sails hide her from your view, sefior chief; it is the brigantine-of-war Huntress, and about a league away.” “Ay ay, Alvarez; put the prisoners in irons, to await the coming of the brigantine, but take Conrado Costello on board the schooner, and have all ready to cast off,” was the Chevalier’s order, and with trembling lips Mabel turned toward him: | ‘Oh, brother, will you harm him?” “‘ Mabel, he is guilty of more crimes than have ever fallen to the lot of one man, and he must suffer the penalty.” “But leave him to the brigantine’s com- mander, Victor.” ‘*No, Mabel, for the commander of yonder vessel is Harold Sylvester, and should he find me here his duty would force him to attack me, and not a gun would I turn against him; he will see you in safety to your home, and one of these days you may welcome me back to the dear old spot, for from this day I raise the stars and stripes at the schooner’s peak, and will no longer cruise the seas in dishonor, but against the enemies of my native Jand,” ‘* Well said, sir, and our best wishes attend you,” said Noel Valverde, frankly. “Ay, Sefior Chevalier, let the brightness of thy future illumine the gloom of th past,” and Po the Hunchback grasped the fend of the Cc e . “The Huntress is coming swiftly down upon ws, sefior,” came the warning voice of Alvarez Navarro, “Ay, ay, sefior; Mabel, my sister, farewell,” and folding her in his arms an instant, he re- leased her, and doffing his cap, sprurig over the side into his boat. A few moments more he was upon the deck of his schooner, which swung tres from the ; —_—_—————— rr rr a ee a a a a mt LR The Chevalier Corsair. — eee eee 0 re es a cararel, and sped away wing-and-wing before the wind, the eyes of those on board the elipper ship anxiously watching his flight, for the Huntress was not a mile away. And as re, ice y they saw two forms, with hands bound behind them, led upon the quar- ter-deck, and facing them stood’a file of men with muskets, and all knew that two men were doomed to die, “Oh, Heaven have mercy upon him! for one is Conrado Costello,” cried Mabel De Lisle, as, fascinated by the sight, she stood gazing upon the deck of the flying schooner. ‘*And the other Manuel Hernandez, my kinsman, and they richly deserve their fate,” said Don Ivan, sternly. And then the rays of the setting sun flashed on the bright sword held in the hand of the Chevalier Corsair, a rear of musketry followed, and the two doomed men trunk down upon the schooner’s deck, while up to the peak fluttered the stars and stripes, and from her sides burst forth a salute of thirteen gunsin honor of the new career the beautiful little vessel had entered upon, CHAPTER XLV. CONCLUSION, At the close of the war of “1812,” and a month after the declaration of peace between the United States and Great Britain, an armed schooner, flying the ‘‘stars and stripes,” sailed up Boston bor, and drop ancbor within hailing distance of the Trysting Tree near the cemetery, wherein lay buried Marian Dalton. A boat put off from the schooner’s side, and as it struck the shore, aman sprung out upon the beach; a man with darkly-bronzed face, sternly-set mouth, and sad, dreamy eyes. He was one to attract attention in any gather- ing, for he had few peers in manly beauty of face and form, and his naval uniform was most ray 3 With dignified tread he ascended the hill, and in crossing the graveyard, paused and glanced down upon the grave of Marian Dalton with an ression it was hard to read. moment he stood thus, and then with a sigh moved slowly on, turning into a street, and at ~¥. approaching the handsome home of Com- modore Harold Sylvester. Upon the piazza sat a young and beautiful woman, and her side stood a )ittle child of two years, who had just thrown a ball of worsted down the broad steps. “Oh, you naughty Victor! Mamma must have her worsted,” said the lady, and the little child was starting to get it, when the stran in uniform bent, picked it up, and ascended steps, and his 2 pe and the young mother’s met. “Oh, Victor! my brother!” “Mabel!” For some time neither spoke more, and then Mabel said: “Victor, how proud of you we all are, in spite of that bitter past, and the commodore, Harold you know, has gotten for res a pardon, for the President willingly gave it, after your gallant sea-service; but my husband will tell you all about it, for itis time for him to return from the Navy Yard.” “I promised you, Mabel, that I would sink the name of the Chevalier Corsair in one of honor, and I have done so; and more, not only you and Harold have — me the past, but also Manine Valverde, whom a yee remember.” ‘““Remember! why how could any one ever forget that beautiful gin, Victor; but tell me, y have you seen her late “When last in New Orleans, after the great battle of Jan eighth! I was wounded, as I wrote you, and her brother carried me to his home, and a more devoted nurse sufferer never had than Manine, while Edna, now Mrs. Val- verde, was also most attentive.’ ‘““They were noble people, brother: but tel! me, what becameof that West Indian beauty, Stella Enderos and her terrible father?” ‘‘ He was killed in the battle, fighting bravely, and his daughter married Alvarez Navarro, her cousin, and who was 1: y first lieutenant, and I landed him at Charleston, to return to New Or- leans by stage-coach, for he dearly loves his beautiful wife.” “‘ And have you not a secret to tell of your- selfs brother mine?” asked Mrs, Sylvester, archly. ‘Yes, for Iam to marry Manine Valverde, for I Jove hereven more than I did poor Marian who sleeps in the churchyard ond the hill,* and Victor De Lisle bent his d over the sunny curls of his little namesake, for the memories of the past would crowd upon him with painful vividness; and, in spite of the h pe that came to him in after years, with his ovely wife, Manine, he could not always drive from him the grim specters that would come trooping up from the grave of the buried by- gone, to whisper in his ear the words: “With all thy honors now, Victor De Lisle, once thou wert branded as Belmont the Bucca meer, Exrewnt ommes. GOMIGIOOKS (E@) —— a ee a ee ee ee ee ee ee I A em teeta eagle nnd aetiiah A _—_— —- ee