Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 172 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

4 . r 7 eh an Ct a RE o The Black Pirate. ? <n e ee e attempting to send a boat aboard had it cap- sized and the five men in it were drowned, and they made no second effort, but sailed away, believing all doomed that came in con- tact with such a weird vessel. As his orders were to act with the Petrel, Sir Roslyn determined to return once more to Halifax and see if she had come into port, or there was any news regarding ber, and if not, to start alone on the track of the Black Pirate, convinced that the ‘‘gallows-ship,” as the weird wanderer of the deep was called, must indeed be the brig-of-war. Leaving Kent Lomax in charge, and. who had been strangely friendly toward St. Vale, the latter and Captain Sir Roslyn Stanvix went on shore, and were met by Sir Grey Alstone in a carriage and driven to his ele- gant home, where the Governor of the prov- ince awaited them. Having heard the report of Sir Roslyn of his cruise, and the sighting of the gallows-ship, Sir Grey Alstone said: ‘‘ Now, gentlemen, this solves the mystery, for I found it pinned on my front door the fifth day after you sailed.” He opened a large, official-looking document as he spoke, and all saw on it at the head a pair of daggers crossed, one red, the other black, and then Leon St. Vale read aloud: “70 His aenys Commissioner in the Canadas: ‘* GREETING— Whereas the King of England armed, equipped and manned two fleet brigs-of-war to come to the Ameriean shore to drive piracy from the high seas, and to especially hunt down the Black Pirate and capturing his vessel. to hang the chief and his crew in the rigging of his own craft, be it known that one of those said brigs, the Petrel, has met the outlaw brigantine, and, catching a Tartar, had the orders of His Majesty carried out on her officers and crew, and a like fate shall also befall the Vulture at the hands of Tue BLACK PIRATE, “Of the brigantine Sea Scourge.” This terrible communication fell like a bomb- shell upon the party, and for a minute no one spoke. Then Sir Roslyn Stannix sprung to his feet and said hoarsely: “This night shall I sailin pursuit of that sea-morster, and the Petrel outrage shall be avenged, or repeated on the Vulture.” CHAPTER XXI. A FUGITIVE SAVED, A PRISONER LOST. Upon a pleasant afternoon,a month after the sailing of the Vultare in pursuit of the brigantine of the Black Pirate, a vessel was cruising slowly along the eastern shores of the Carribee Islands, and her officers and crew were intensely looking landward. A closer look at the vessel and it was seen to be tke Vulture brig-of-war, which bad run down the coast of the United States, and learn- ing from vessels spoken that a brigantine, sup- to be the Black Pirate, had been seen. heading for the Carribees, had at once follow- ed in that direction. Suddenly Leon St. Vale raised his glass, and afcer but a glance through it, cried: ‘‘There is a boat putting out from the shore, sir, and it bas but a single occupant who is rowing.” Sir Roslyo glanced in the direction indicated and said: “You areright, St. Vale; but I did not be- lieve that island inhabited.” ‘* See, sir, he is pursued by along proa filled with men.” The second boat was now visib'e, and evi- dently in full pursuit of the light skiff ahead, for the sail of the proa was set, and a dozen paddles were working industriously. Instantly Sir Roslyn called out: ‘The breeze is too light for us, St. Vale, to run in, 80 lower away a boat and go to that fugitive’s aid, for fugitive be must be, and for- ward ‘there! throw a shot after that large boat, if you can reach it.” St. Vale at once sprung to obey the order given him, and in remarkably quick time—in fact, just as the bow gun sent forth its shot— the third cutter, with a dozen men, put off from the brig's side, With only a three-knot breeze blowing, the cutter rapidly dropped the Vulture astern, urged by its eager oarsmen, and then it be- came a Lot race between it and the proa, as to which should reach the skiff first. The one in the skiff. was pulling with might and main, and the proa was steadily gaining upon bim nevertheless, and was only a quarter of a mile astern, while the cutter was yet a mile and a half distant from the fugitive. _ The ball from the brig fell short, and seeing this, Sir Roslyn ordered the forecastle long thirty-two to open, and although its sbot swept dangerously near the heads of the rowers in the proa, they still held on in pursuit. ‘Row for life, men, for that fellow has some good cause to fly,” cried St. Vale, and seeing that the men were forging the cutter still faster, he added: ‘‘A month's pay to every man at the oars if we save bim.” The seamen smiled, but would not waste breath in a cheer, and their blades bent double as they forced them through the water, and.the cutter seemed to fly. Watching the fugitive eagerly through his glass, Leon St. Vale saw that he was straining every muscle, and rowed with a strong, plucky stroke, that showed his nerve had not left him in spite of his danger. .But with the wind astern, a sail in the proa, and a dozen paddles to his pair of oars, the fugitive was in great danger, as his pursuers gained steadily upon him, and seemed wholly to disregard the shots from the brig, which, with the wind ahead, could not approach nearer except on tacks, and it was too light a breeze to serve her much. Suddenly the fugitive glanced around, and momentarily leaving his rowing, coolly took in the position of the Vulture and the cutter, and then calculated the distance of the proa from him. As if hopeful, he again bent to his oars with renewed will, and once more his light skiff seerned to fairly fly over the waters. As the fugitive was now in a range with the proa, the brig was compelled to cease firing, aud in silence the three boats’ crews bent to their work, and matters looked disimal for the plucky man in the skiff, and St. Vale again turned his glass upon him. At that moment the rower once more turned his head, and then broke a cry from Leon St. Vale’s lips: “Great God! it is Lord Cecil Milnor! For your very lives, men, pull and save that man!” Though the cutter was dashing along at ter- rific speed, at the earnest pleading of the lien- tenant, it seemed to jump half out of the water as the oarsmen bent to their work. The sweat covered their faces, the veins on their foreheads stood out like cords, and they breathed hard in the fierce struggle; but no man would yield to fatigue, and on the cutter flew. ‘* Yes, it is “Lieutenant Milnor of the ill- fated Petrel, for 1 recognize him now, as he again turns, and he is in uniform. ‘¢ And those devils in chase art determined to retake him, but by Heaven! I'll follow them into their strongbold if they do,” and the men knew their lieutenant would keep his word. Nearer and nearer the skiff came to the cutter, and nearer and nearer the proa crept up on the skiff, until St. Vale remarked: ‘* We'll save him, lads, but we will have to fight for it.” A cheer broke from the crew at this, and with seemingly renewed strength they con- tinued their killing pace. “Ho! Lord Cecil, ahoy! pullfor your life,” cried St. Vale, as they came in hailing dis- tance of the skiff. Turning his head, yet still making his oars bend, Lord Cecil called back: “Ay, ay, Vultures, but be ready to meet those devils, for they are the Black Pirate’s minions.” ‘‘Holy Neptune! but we’ve run him to his den! Bravo, lads, for a rich reward awaits you,” and springing up into the stern sheets, St. Vale seized a red flag and whirled it thrice around his head, the signal agreed upon, should he need more aid from the brig. — ‘‘ Bravo, boys, they are lowering boats to our aid. ‘*Now one strong pull, and Lord Cecil is safe.” The nextinstant the skiff dashed up, turned suddenly to face its pursuers, and Lord Cecil cried: ‘Pitch me a cutlass and pistol, my good friend, St. Vale, and we'll meet these devils.” The weapons were thrown to him, the crew gave a cheer at having saved him. and the next instant Leon St. Vale skillfully guided the cutter in between the proa, which was heading for the skiff, and the two cume to- gether with acrash that stove in the side of the lighter boat. ‘* Spring on the proa, lads, and take her, for one boat goes down,” cried Bt. Vale, and a ee — he sprung, cutlass ia hand into the midst of the pirates... But the shock caused the two boats to re- bound, and before any of his men could follow him, a wave separated them, and a dozen hands grasped the daring lieutenant, while a stern voice cried: “Back to the island, men, for this game will do for us.” With the cutter filling with water no ait- tempt at rescue could be made, and Lord Cecil was compelled to aid the crew, and away sped the proa, with their prisoner, and its fierce crew jeering at their foes. CHAPTER XXIL LORD CECIL MILNOR TELLS HIS STORY. Ir was Lieutenant Lomax that came on with the gig and second cutter to the aid of the drowning crew, for it was with the greatest difficulty Lord Cecil managed to get the men of Leon St. Vale’s boat rescued from a watery grave. The two officers had met befora, but yet were not on friendly terms, though speaking acquaintances, and Lieutenaat Lomax seemed to show little anxiety to hasten, or after ar- riving, regarding the fate of St. Vale, when told ofall that had occurred. ‘‘Tt is strange that the pirates should cap- ture, and not kill him, and also that he should be the only one taken; but St. Vale has a pen- ehant, it seems, for being with buccaneers,” sneered Lomax. ‘¢ Ain I to understand this as a slur upon my friend St. Vale, sir?’ asked Lord Cecil, quickly turning to Lieutenant Lomax, who knew the young noble was no man to trifle with, and ever ready to make remarks that he dared not uphold, he returved with a laugh, as though tu treat the matter lightly: ‘‘My lord, it has only been a few weeks since Licutenant St. Vale escaped from the Black Pirate, and hence my remark.” ‘‘Tndeed! then he has been before most un- fortunate, and is now in as ill luck as myself, and on my account, which I regret exceeding- ly, and if Captain Sir Roslyn Stannix will only send an expedition into the island to his rescue, I will gladly guide it.” ‘* By going on board, Lord Cecil, you can see Sir Roslyn.” ‘‘T shall do so, thank you, Lieutenant Lo- max,” and seated in his skiff he rowed te- ward the brig, followed by the other boats, Going over the side he was welcomed by, Sir Roslyn, who knew him well, and said heartily: ‘‘T am glad indeed to see you, my lord; bet regret that Lieutenant St. Vale is among the missing, for I saw what happened with my glass, and was surprised, Lomax, that you did not pursue.” ‘‘T returned for orders, sir,” was the rather | surly reply. ‘‘ Well, sir, return to your boats and instantly proceed to— Nay, hold! I will lead the expedi- tion myself.” | ‘** And permit me, Sir Roslyn, to act as your pilot, and at the same time to suggest that you take not less than sixty men, as there are two score on the island, as I know.” ‘““T will follow your advice, my lord,” andin five minutes more Sir Roslyn aud Lord Cecil entered the barge, while a cutter and the gig followed in its wake under the command of a junior lieutenant and midshipman. As he took the tiller of the barge, at his own suggestion, the channel being a circuitous one, Lord Cecil replied in answer to a question from ~ Sir Roslyn, as to how he came to be a cap- tive: “To begin my story, Sir Roslyn, I shall . have to say that the Petrel, after transferring her passengers to your kind care, pursued the brigantine for days, yet with little hope of overhauling the pirate, as he seemed to play with us. ‘“Ooe night in a severe blow our decks — were swept by a huge wave and [ wascarried overboard with several of the crew, while at the same time the lilfe-boat was dragged from ite davits. ‘“‘T was unhurt, and seeing the life-boat fly- ing by grasped its gunwale, and managed to draw myself into it, and there I clung, hoping — that the brig would be able to find me. ‘‘But morning dawned and no vessel was in sight, and the sea going down, I bailed out my boat and made myself a8 comfortable as I could — under the circumstances. é ‘‘ Toward evening I sighted a sail, and with my coat aud one of the oars, whieh were lashed | c | ‘ ll! te oe ge = te % \ comicnoo