Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

lugger, and it call away, followed by many a ki wily wish for success, Knowing where the anchorage of the schooner was, the midshipman headed directly for the Mag noli: a Lagoon, and under a seven-knot breeze, ran into the mouth of the stream within an hour after leaving the ship. A short distance up fe slugg gish and black waters of the lagoon, and the keen eye of the midshipman detected the schooner lying close | inshore. So satisfied was the look-out that no danger | threatened them in that secure retreat, that he | had settled himself down on the deck, with his back against the bulwarks, for a comfortable nap, not expecting his chief back before day- lig t, while the few men left on the craft to hold her, had turned in for a sleep. But ati feet trampling upon the deck, and _ as the look- out s sprung to bis feet in alarm, he fell back dead, cut down by a cutlass in the hand of Mid- | shipman Gregory, who had been the first to tare on board. ew shots, a few cries for mercy, and the Arrow wasin the hands of the young officer, and sail was at once made on her, and both ves- sels headed out of the lagoon. Once out of the stream, and a large schooner hr sighted coming down the bay under full sai ‘‘ It is the Red Wing,” called out Marmaduke Gregory from the lugger on board of which he emained, and then be continued, aacanee com- —_—_-—-- — ing a brother midshipman he had placed mand of the schooner. ‘‘ Hold on, Mayfield, and signal the Red Wing and report, while I run on up the creek yonder and look in on mine host of the old tavern, for I wish to reach there by dawn.” The Arrow at once stood away across the course of the Red Wing, which had not sighted her, or the lugger, they being close in under the land, while, with but a score of meu with him, the aes headed into the mouth of the creek, Once wra ae in by the moss-hung trees, and not reach them, so the sweeps the ated, di were gotten out and the 1 was forced uP ght appeared the the stream until just a day old tavern came in sight leak and dismal, though on the highway be- Around it all was some years before, — tween New Orleans and Mobile, it had once been a favorite resting-place. A breach of the sea, however, forcing the travel further inland, the old place had gone to decay, and eventual- iy roprietor, Senor Jose Machino, a Spanish- erica, had turned smuggler, and become the ally of pirates. Springing ashore, and mat the cloak of the Pirate Chief around him, Marmaduke Gregory advanced to the door and gave on it the a number of knocks, as the buccaneer But Senor Machino slept sound after his night of wakefulness, and the potations he ha’ drank, and it took considerable pe to arouse bim. lancing out he saw the lugger at the bank but no one on board, and with a chuckle of glee, hastened down to the door. But Senor Machino was a cautious man, and before unbarring the portal he asked as was his custom: ‘* Who comes?” “The Arrow,” answered the midshipman’s deep tones Instantly the door was opened, and Senor Jose Machino started back with a cry of of hor- ror, his hand upon his knife, But the point of the midshipman’s sword was pressed over his heart, and he heard the stern words: ‘*Senor, you are my prisoner.”’ ‘‘What means this outrage?” yelled the in- furiated and frightened landlord, in a voice that was evidently intended to alarm the other in- nates of the old ang a “It senor, that I'll swing you up to yonder tree Pt utter hwy word, ‘Here, Baldwin, guard bim, and kill him if he attempts to esca Come, men, follow me!” and the middy das ed into the building, and up the rickety stairs. An old woman, a dark-faced girl of sixteen, with Gipsy-like beauty, an aged sailor with one leg and a trio of ey Pat with a vast quantity of remy ¥ poets hidden in the attic, were the e capture of the tavern, and with his prisoners and bis booty, the midshi n set sail for Mobile in the lugger, right well pleased witb his night’s work. Arriving at Mobile, whither the two schooners and the Monarch, lightered over the bar, had already y pr , Marmaduke Gregory, in honor of bis gallant. services, was in command of the roe | with a Rel re crew, and ordered to carry h er to W ashington and re- to the (stared ie capture, and, te toa ape home, Mr. Raymond and his pen ac took aromatase of — So mga of m es "tor Captain ‘Clead had a mest alse mere dB aac An irened and wabenses fer wial, and te were awakened by the sound of | | | gagement to | 2 the delay, as it enabled him to spe is honeymoon with his beautiful bride, and The The Mad Mariner. with a fair besnus the Arrow set sail, and, in [sp spite of a desire on the part of her young com- mander to make a slow passage, arrived in re- |markably quick time to an anchorage in the Potomac. | And in that time, Cupid had shot his love- arrows deep into the hearts of Marmaduke | Gregory and Eva Raymond, and they had learned to love each other with almost idola- trous intensity. But upon reaching his home, Mr. Raymond, | the once ,wealtby merchant, found that, durin his year’s absence abroad, bitter reverses ha | befallen bim, and ruin was upon him. Even his hundsome home had been taken from him, and almost a pauper, he was left with his daughter to the mercies of a friendless world. This sad news Eva at once wrote to Marma- duke Gregory, and released him from his en- er; but quickly he left the scene where he was being lionized for his gallant ser- we pee the famous pirate captain hastening by stage to Baltimore vice in ca Cloud, an secured for the father and dau quarters, and so earnestly urg at once become his wife, that she consented. ‘* All will be well, Eva,” he said with en- thusiasm, ‘‘ for I have been promoted to a lieu- tenancy, ‘and am to be sent off in command of the Arrow, on a cruise in the Gulf, and upon my return I will carry you to old ’ Massachu- setts and introduce my father to my beautiful bride, while in the mean time, I have my prize money for your father to invest as he deems anghiee pleasan upon Eva to But, in preparing his vessel for sea, attending the trial of the — and other duties, if was several months before Lieutenant Gregory was able to put to sea, and he by no means 4 n see her father and herself comfortably situated in their new home, But one morning he received orders to at once put to sea, for Captain Cloud and half of his men had made their escape, and the Govern- ment felt confident the pirate chief would re- turn to his old haunts and red work once more, Bidding farewell to his wife and her father, Marmad Gregory set sail from his native land, little SORTS what the future held in store for CHAPTER VIL. THE RETURN. ‘‘ WELL, Nevil, as this storm has driven us so far to the northward, and we are within twenty leagues of my home, I shall take the op- portunity of ar wats and making a visit to have not seen for four years, Lieutenant Marmaduke Gregery ned to = first officer, a midshipman, who had been with him on two years’ cruise on the Arrow, which had been taken from the pirates. In the two years that had passed, since he sailed from the Potomac for the Gulf of Mexico, the young officer had won new laurels at sea; but not once had he been able to return to visit his young bride, from whom however he had heard every few months, when touching some southern seaport. His father too he had not seen for four years, and it was no wonder that he longed to visit the old mansion by the sea, and to know how he had received his wife and child, for he had written to Eva to go to his father and tell bim that she was his wife, feeling assured that she would be warmly welcomed. Shaping his course for the part of the coast, on which stood the oak ra?” wnt whom aud old home of bis an- cestors, the young officer waited anxiously for the loved hills to come in sight, and it was with a glad heart that he at last caught a view of the tower of the mansion, and just at sunset dropped anchor and ordered a boat alongside to row him to the shore. At last he sprung out upon the rocky shore, and alone started up the path he knew so well, from in bovbood traversed it many and many a time in, bo The sow rode in a cloudless sky and lighted his way, and with an emotion he could hardly restrain from breaking out inte shouts, as in the olden time, when he had returned from a sail, he walked on with rapid stride. “'T know my father gave Eva and my child and also Mr. Raymond a warm welcome, an that my sister greeted her as my sister should greet my wife. a eae Mr, Raymond! misfortune seemed to his Ripa and his losses doubtless im- a hae but as my father’s heir I wiil avs ample for and des, my prize money is net i erable.” on he went st until he came to the highway, and rid none bes Sh ts, rb of tae tbesaeeaetene weman ded pasand sion,” and the woman stepped before him, and he saw a sad, pale face ter, white hair that seemed to indicate age. ‘“Why Mrs. Bond! isthis you?’ he exclaimed, debighing forth bis band at recognizing her, “Duke!” she almost shrieked, and springing forward she s emed about to cast herself upon his broad breast, and throw her arms around his neck; but checking herself suddenly she drooped her head and said sadly: ‘Forgive me, Mr. Gregory; but you remem- ber I was your old nurse in the long ago, and I “rae myself,” ou need ask no forgiveness of me, Mam- my Bond, for never can forget your great kindness to me as a boy; but tell me, are all well up at the mansion, and have you been well and hap PRY ' iy?” ‘Of those at the mansion I know nothing Duke; but myself I can speak of and say, that 9 usual, I am sick at heart though well in rs ret home is down yonder in the glen, and there you will be ever welcome, should you care to visit me there. ‘You have grown to be a splendid man, Master Duke, and have won a name that makes yoar old nurse proud of you; but good-night, aster Duke, for I know you are anxious to cross the threshold of the old mansion.” She held forth her hand and gens Tom it vient he yee it icy cold and trembli violently, and said fear you are nok well, Mammy Bond, and to- Peo I shall run down to see you and bring some one with me too; 3 pood-night "and rapidly he walked on, ascended the br stairway of stone, and gave the brass lion-head knocker a heavy rap. A step was heard within, and the door open- ing 6 gr ray-haired butler in livery fr. ared, ‘Why Burton, how are you?” om young officer gay ly, stretching forth his han ‘* Pretty well, sir; do yan, vis to ~s Judge Townsend, sir? was the cool of the butler. ‘* Judge "Townsend be “omy urton; I wish to see my father, my wife, my child and my sister.” ‘‘ Your father is dead, sir.” ‘‘ Dead !” gasped the young officer, s n back and Jeaning against the door- gy vein “ Yes, sir dead, and your wife and child are not here; but J udge Townsend and your sis- pede ie sg and I will make known to them your co Thess. was that in the tone and manner of the old butler that sent a cold thrill through the heart of Duke Gregery, and unable to utter a word he stood trembling and waiting, as though he stood upon the yong of a burn 5 ane that threatened him with more than CHAPTER VII. DISOWNED. Upon the threshold of his own home for a mo- ment Duke Gregory stood like a statue, while the liyeried butler went forward and threw open the lib door, at the same time announc- ing in a loud tone to those within: ‘ Lieutenant Marmaduke G ry.” The shock at hearing of his father’s death had momentarily unmanned the brave youth, a' d the knowleige that be was not to find in his home his wiie and baby child, aided in unnery- ing him; but now,at the pompous and cold manner and greeting of Burton the butler, he sins iy with an effort his self-control, and said errs hat means this silly ceremony, sir? Stand aside and let me The butler caught his stern eyes fixed upon him, and quickly stepped aside, Shile the yet officer strode into the brilliantly-lighted library. There was but one person within; a man of sein -five, and a cold, hard face and cunning es, seated in an easy: -chair at the side of a table, engeged tare in mending, until the butler’s an-. nouncemen him to glance quickly around at the — He beheld a tall, elegantly-formed young man of twenty-four, clad in a full-dress eutenant’s uniform, and with a face that was full of char- acter and intellect, and decidedly good-looking. It had been years since the two bad met, Judge Leroy Townsend and Duke Gregory, and then the latter was a mere boy in years; but each recognized the other at a glance, a in, sir, and be seated,” said the lawyer co ‘Tf I mistake not,” answered Duke Gregory, nettled by the other’s manner, ‘‘ l am the ost, you the guest, sir, in this house,” ¢ rere me to sa , Lieutenant Marmaduke FS mistake, sir, for J am. ere,” was the sneering reply, maste at You! in God’s name waar do you mean?” “* Just what I say.” r A “Te I ber t pcp tay Test ee Wh Tinie” =e i gl Bp ete ty father to- pape ate ap! pane ce Gregory, hg yeur wife; iny father dead, and poor Grace 0)(0)(0) Goim CS (S one CO