Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

} i, r’ -_— Co 4 _ The Chevalier Corsair. —_— —— me ee ee ~~ ee = - eae ———EE at his back; when instantly a sharp fol- lowed, a heavy fall of a body upon the deck, and with shouts and stamping feet, over a score of ae young seamen bounded upon the brig, driving its crew back as before an irresistible avalanche. A few shots were fired, a few clashes of steel against steel were heard, and several human forms lay upon the deck, dead or dying; then silence reigned upon the scene, for the crew of the schooner had carried the brig. Bidding one of his officers hold'the deck, the schooner’s commander turned toward the cabin, when he was suddenly confronted by Don Hen- rico and Edna, the latter pale and trembling, for so unexpectedly and suddenly had she been brought face to face with a scene of carnage, she was unnerved. ** Pardon, lady,” and the dashing youn sailor raised his cap politely, ‘‘for the alarm have caused you; but this brig holds a prize for me that 1 have risked much to gain; but I wil disturb you no more, and depart.” He passed into the cabin, and a moment after returned, but not alone, for he was accom- panied by a young man, a few years his senior, with a dark, fore én face, striking appearance, prods oy) haggard look. ith heavy irons upon ankles and wrists the risoner walked with difficulty; bnt, aided by wo seamen, he was soon upon the schooner’s deck.. Once more the young captain turned to Don Henrico and Edna—the former bending over the dead body of the brig’s skipper, who had been tho first to fall in the ry ‘“Now, lady, adieu, and again Il ask pardon for the fright I have given you.” The young girl made no reply, but Don Hen- rico said, sternly: “You have run your neck into the hang- man’s noose, sir, by this day’s work.” ‘*Tt may be, sir; I wanted no bloodshed, but it was forced upon me, and now I must take the consequences, be they what they may,” and, raising his cap, he turned and bounded upon his ‘own deck. The schooner was now in a dangerous posi- tion, as the entire fleet of vessels astern, sur- mising trouble to the brig, were either hastening to the rescue, or lying to and landing boats filled with armed men. ‘Up with the , union down!” cried the mate of the brig, as the schooner’s captain left his deck, and the signal of distress was answer- ed by loud shouts from the crews of the other vessels, ‘‘ Cast her clear!” came in the trumpet tones ef the young captain, as his foot touched his ore een and once more he sprung to the wheel. ‘* All clear, sir!” sung out an officer, and as the schooner swung off from the wind, every brace and sheet was hauled close, and the obe- dient vessel shot under the brig’s stern. ““We cannot run back, sir, through the fleet, for there are half a hundred boats in the water to intercept us,” and the second officer of the schooner ted to the hostile demonstrations of the fleet. ‘* You are right, and we cannot weather the head of the reef and run back as we came, be- yond the ledge; but we can venture yonder rocky ” was the cool rejoimder, and the commander pointed to a me narrew opening through two re rocks, an leading from the main channel into the dangerous one he had so skillfully run in his chase of the brig. “It isa desperate chance, sir,” declared the t. “Desperate indeed, but not hopeless, and if the wind holds good, and the schooner knows her danger, we perm make it, and no more.” ‘There is not a foot to spare on either side, “*T know it, but I shall risk it, for once back into that channel we can show the boats our heels,” and the young captain turned a search- ing glance around him, which revealed the fact that the whole fleet was now bent upon the cap- ture of the schooner, all realizing the desperate danger the rovers were in, and that if they did not back through the boats, they must run as trend Hell Gate to the ve f where. if hot chase were given, the forts wo d scent danger and bri e daring creft to or sink her. AS ott taut ev bowline and brace, until they aro like harp-strings! Give not an inch of lay! Every man throw his weight to leeward! ow, steady all!” called out the young com- mander, when his orders were ats ay and the schooner was dashing along swiftly, and Lepr for the narrow pass between the recks, added, y: * Now, good craft, do your duty, for we can do no more for you.” As though a thing of life, and fully realizing ber danger, the schooner held unswervingly on her course, her sharp bo rit ted for the ey ; but should she fall off a point or the wind fail her, the only alternative would be to fight her way through the fleet and boats where there was not a shadow of chance for success. ‘She is dropping off, sir; the wind is failing her,” said the lieutenant in a_loud whisper, so great was the tension to which all on board were wrought up to, or <_< it acai CL LLL LLL LL LLL LL LL ALLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LDL LALI DLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLLLL LLL A os OEE oo _— ——— --— + end -_——— ~ ne ee ae a ee + ee Se ee -_-—— ss —— + — - we ‘‘T see it: we must fight our way through the | ‘ The crescent moon sailed boldly into the ether, boats or put her before the wind and boldly run Convoyed by fleets of stars upon her way}; by the city. Stand by all!” t, Aare, ee in slumber deep the earth be- mane the words left his lips the wind, as | Was sleeping off the fever of the day.” though to aid the rein A young rover, freshen- | ; ed a little, and a cheer burst from the crew as | And with the coming of the goddess of night the needle-like bowsprit once more pointed | came the first ‘‘paw” of the evening breeze, through the dangerous pass. All held their | sending first the vessels furthest seaward along breath to await the result, for a minute more | Over the rc waters, and then the others would seal the schooner’s fate. abreast of the pyramid known as “ Nix Mate,” And then came the instant of awful suspense, | and thus on with those nearer shore, until che- the second which would decide all. Even the | bacca boat, pilot craft, cruiser and schooner hoats paused to wateh the result; but the firm | were all moving along toward the city, whose hand on the wheel gave no tremor, the eyes | lamps cast a thousand glimmering rays across never flinched:—the graceful schooner shot | the waters, : through the gantlet of death, the ragged rock | ‘‘Now, Lieutenant Sylvester, just look at to leeward just scraping her hull! that_craft; she is walking right by us as saucily From her decks arose an exultant shout; the | and gracefully as a Cuban belle at a Yankee sails were freed to the breeze, and like a fright- | ball,” called out Walter Nevil, the midshipman, ened deer the beautiful craft bounded away to- | as the strange schooner, catching the breeze, ward the open sound, while the disappointed bowed to its welcome presence, and, in spite of pursuers poured volleys of musketry and oaths | the speed of the man-of-war, threatened soon to upon her as she swept along with a flowing | throw her slippers in the cruiser's teeth. sheet, saved by the skill and daring of her gal- ‘‘She’s a nimble craft, Nevil, I admit, and if lant commander; but what misery had not that she has made as good time on her cruise north- one deed laid up for him in coming years? ward as she does now with the breeze, her skip- Let the sequel show. per will reap a rich harvest from his cargo.” ~— a Ko ee aaa sae dubious- y, for he made up his mind that the CHAPTER V. schooner was a suspicious Visitor in a New En- THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL. gland harbor, and he kept his eye upon her, Tne waters of Boston Bay were unruffled | even after she passed the castle ahead of the even by the shadow of a breeze, and numerous | cruiser, and dropped anchor in an open way, vessels ‘‘homeward bound,” from the stately | free from the other crafts around, as though cruiser to the chebacca boat of the humble fish- | not wishing to be crowded, _ erman, were idly resting wpon the mirror-like Still gazing, as though fascinated by the wea- surface, which reflected in its deep depths every | ther-stained but beautiful craft, and his own ar, sailand rope, and the dark green islands | misgivings, Walter Nevil saw the schooner come that here and there dotted the calm bosom of | to anchor with sails still set, and a few moments the deep. | after beheld a small boat leave her side and row A golden sunset illumined the scene and cast | shoreward., gorgeous hues over water and sky, and rays of | And the occupant in this boat, for it contain- silver, purple and gold were reflected from the | ed but one person, with an author’s prerogative domes, towers and spires of the distant city, | we will follow. from which came, Tg cr over the wa- Had Midshipman Walter Nevil been able to ters, the din of traffic, the rattle of wheels and | follow the little yaw) to an old ruined pier at iron hoofs upon the stony pavement. the foot of ey s Hill and see the person who Some of the fleet, left motionless upon the | sprung ashore, he would indeed have bad cause waters by the dying of the wind, had their sails | for yr on for he was no West Indian sailor brailed up, hanging in festoons from the a with dark brows, swarthy face and seaman’s while others let them hang to catch the first | dress, but a tall, well-formed man, wearing a breath of the welcome breeze. heavy cloak and a slouch hat that shadowed his Among the numerous vessels thus lazily | face completely, drifting upon the bosom of the rippleless bay, After climbing the abrupt bank, he came to were a large lean-hulled sloop-of-war, bearing | the burying-ground, that covers the whole hill- the stains of long and rude buffetings with the | top, and entered it by a stile, for the path he fol- waves and winds, and a rakish-looking schoon- | lowed wound among the graves to the open er, whose beauty of outline attracted universal | space beyond. admiration from all in the fleet, and caused As though unawed by the presence of the many comments age to her character. dead, he stood and gazed around him, first at Her sails were stained and tattered by long | the ves, and then at the moonlit scene of use, her hull had turned to a hue of brown, and | sail-dotted harbor and lighted town—the dis- there was a general look about the craft that | tant hills and meadows northward, and Bunker betokened a long and rough voyage; but this | Hill towering aloft to the left, the low fields to look could not d t from her beauty of Pt pad cD + oo — Pes er line, her long, raking, slender masts, and a) a silver aroun em, an sou saucy air that indicated speed and rare sea-go- | the village of Dorchester:—all these, scenes Mi TT deaailier $6 tle eyes in-ekildhiodd, camewader his = Oe ea ee ee ee ee ee ee 2 eee eee ing qualities. | Doon her decks were visible but half a dozen ae dimly. men, with woolen shirts, red and swarthy With a sigh he turned away to continue his faces that indicated their f nationality, | walk, when involuntarily he started, and dro and it was generally surmised that the craft | ped his hand upon a weapon beneath his cloa was a fruit-trader from the West Indies. | as a white form, looking weird-like and ghostly Upon the handsome sloop-of-war the schooner | in the moonlight, arose before him. created as much admiration as among the mer- But a glance showed him that it was a young chant craft, and a young officer, who had been l, robed in pure white, and with the moon- watching her, as she lay a couple of cables’- | light falling omy her pale face, and a bunch of es tw astern of the c r, remarked: flowers she held in her hand. ’ utenant Sylvester, in spite of the trader ‘Pardon me, lady, for I meant not to disturb look about yonder saucy craft, Ican but think sep at one of some loved one, and scarce- she has not always sailed under an honest flag.” — to. find the living here among the ‘*You have expressed my opinion, Nevil, and " if she ne a port of the West. Indies 1 He spoke in a low tone, but his words caused would wa out for her, expecting to see the | the maiden to start, and then spring toward darkness bring half a hundred men out of her | him, as though to throw herself into arms; hold,” replied the handsome young lieutenant, | but, checking the impulse, she cried: ' who was the second in command of the sl f- ‘Oh, why have you come here to this sacred war, and he approached the midshipman whose spot, Victor De a” babe Forme ob n aroused by the rakish look ‘*Great God! Marian Dalton!” of the strange vessel. The words seemed wrung from him, rather ‘‘Had I not better take a boat and have a | than uttered, and he raised his hands to his head look at the saucy craft, sir?’ continued the | in a dazed way. dashing middy. “Yes, Victor De Lisle, 1am Marian Dalton, ‘Oh, no, Walter; we are not in the Indies | and I stand by the grave of my father,” she now, where everything has a suspicious look, | said, sadly, and he stood an instant in silence, but in the bay of prac old Our pi- | and then answered with te mee yrs rate-hunting in southern waters has made you| ‘* Your father dead, Marian knew him suspicious of every craft not, but for your sake I mourn him, though hrough,” answered Harold feel that my own deeds have driven me out of your heart forever.” ‘‘ Ay, Victor De Lisle, forever, for I can feel no love for you when a grave is between us—a | fife you made, for your hand took my father’s | life ou cannot see _ ylvester, with a sm “It may sir; but, if yonder craft don’t mean mischief, Vil give my a Hage Wl spite of her old sails and tain’s cook. In ng, and weather-stained hull, I’m confident | . ve seen her before, and that under full sail | ‘‘No! no! no! say not so, Marian, for your getting out of the way of this geod ship we now | father and I never met.” standon.” | ‘‘Would to God you spoke the truth; but “It may be, Nevil; but she’s in an honest | stand not on this sacred spot and add falsehood trade now, it seems, and, unless she gives us | to crime, Victor De Lisle, for you shot down some cause, we must believe her to be my father upon his own deck, because he at- what she seems, a West Indian fruit-trader,” | tempted to defend the prisoner intrusted to his and Lieutenant Sylvester turned away, leaving care, and that act made you an outlaw from the suspicious witishipennt still gazing upon the your land, and has branded you with the name pretty schooner, of pirate. 4 And thus he stood until the hues of sunset | Oh God! bitter is this blow, that now falls blended with the twilight, and ' with crushing weight upon me! But here, CONNIE OOO KSEEO) ‘