Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 172 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

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A : oa 7 A ‘ 7 ee : ; ive f - i im ORD e ; r - € ¢ 4 PS “ * 4 7 , * . ce : r bd a? oa ‘> . ” ¥ » Ae9 ¢ ’ ¢ ral Wu 4 inr ; ee | + eS me ae We in the boat, I caught the look-out’s eye, and was taken on board. “it was an English vessel out of Portsmouth, bound to Beston, and having on board a rich cargo of merchandise and a few passengers. “From her captain and aJl on board I received the utmost kindness, and was hoping svon to reach Boston, from whence I could co to Halifax and rejoin my vessel, when we sighted a sail, which I at once pronounced to be .he Black Pirate’s brigantine, for I had learned to know ber well. ‘‘We did all we could to escape, but it was useless, for tbe pirate sailed like a witch, opened on us with his guns, and in spite of all we had to surrender. **Most of our crew were mercilessly cut down, and then, as the huge black demon, for ican call him nothing else, seemed to be ina hurry to go on a cruise after other deviltry, ‘he threw a prize crew on board of us and ordered his officer to take us to the rendezvous, which proved to be yonder island. ‘On the way the fever broke out on board, and the vessels’ captain and first officer died in irons below decks, and the cruel pirate lieuten- ant, who would not release them even to clasp if their hands in prayer, was next taken down and expired. . ; ‘‘Then the outlaw crew came to me, as the a ee 3; only man on board competent to command Hi - ee the vessel, and told me if I pledged my word : to take the ship to the island, they would give Ma nak a pledge to release me upon arrival there. db “T declined unless they would release all of Bd the passengers and the few of the ship’s crew ‘‘They refused, and threatened to run me up to the yard-arm if I did not take command; but I remained firm and got their pledge to re- lease us all, andI took charge and we reached _ the island in safety, though a number more on board died.of fever before our arrival. “Seeing that they broke faith with us, for I was not eves released, I watched my chance to escape, and sighting the Vulture, and recog- nizing ber, I made a bold run for the harbor, got iuto a skiff 1 had already had my eye on, M4) W hz and you know the rest. i ye _ * Now, I fear, those devils may not only put _| those passengers and the ship’s crew to death, i . but also St. Vale; but I will pilot you to the Sa landing, and then we must fight it out, for _ they are a desperate lot.” ‘‘Tf the brig could only run in,” said Sir Roslyn. There is a channel the brigantine enters by, in her visits to the island, but I do not es know it, and this way there is not over four feet of water in places. No, Sir Roslyn, we must depend upon our strong right arms, and the good cause, and ask no mercy for we shall . _ receive none, for those devils have told me - bow they served the Petrel, and their reckon- _ ing for that red crime shall ‘come,” ** Ay, shall it,” sternly said Sir Roslyn. he oe oy. “* Ay ay, sir,” said the men in the barge, as ss im one voice. on a BS - a a al re 25 ae a lng hele ee ie a - = 2os —— >. «<i _— . . = at aS . “ : . : ’ CHAPTER XXIII. THE ISLAND MYSTERY. i ‘i Wrrs askill that was surprising, when he | had been but twice before through the chan- ae nel, Lord Cecil piloted the bouts into the inlet oe that formed the harborage of the island. | ah Jt was deep, and with high hills surround- ing it,a safe haven for a vessel even larger than the Vulture, did it once succeed in enter- - ing the basin through the secret and dan- _ gerous chavnel leading to it. , To the surprise of all in the boats, they were not met at the beach witha fusilade from the pirates, and, in fact, not a human being was in sight. _ There was the long proa, with its out-rigger _ ‘resting on the sands, a few canoes and yawls, | da small sail-boat of several tons, and upon i oe - the hillside above was a row of shanties, built ieee of logs and pieces of ship timber, but not a living being in view. a “They are ambushed for us somewhere, poe we must find them; but it would be best to divide in half a dozen separate bands,” sug- _ gested Lord Cecil. ia = _» ** You are right, my lord, and you command | one of the parties, and we'll make the huts | pad _ yonder our rendezvous,” answered Sir Roslyn, sand the crew were divided into six bands of | ao ten men each, and separated for a search of the istand. SONS ‘ys a. Cecil went with his men at once =k the shanties, where he knew the pirates i i Flin - ch BD ee - - . ee ee - a ' < the: Black Pirate. had their quarters when on shore, and where the prisoners were kept. He expected that they were concealed there, and anticipated a volley as he approached the huts, and the other parties seeing him ap- proach halted in dread of his instant death. But he walked fearlessly up to the central of the five cabins, and called to the men, who had hung back, to follow him, Dashing open the door be sprung within, cutlass in hand. But the cabin was deserted. With surprise he visited the others, and not an occupant did one of them contain. ‘*They have retreated into the island, lads, and we will wait until we hear a shot, and then rush to the aid of our friends,” he said, cheerily. *‘ Is the island very large, sir?’ asked a cox- swain, ‘‘Oh, no, my man; one can walk around it in a couple of hours,” was the answer, and Lord Cecil went from cabin to cabin, so lately occupied by the pirates and their prisoners, and mentally commented upon the mysterious disappearance of all. One by one the bands came in and reported a careful search, and yet no clew had been dis covered of the missing pirates. Tae last party to return was that under Sir Roslyn himself, and he had the same report to make, “ There must be some secret cavern on the island, my lord,” he said. “TI know of none, Sir Rotlyn, nor have I beard such a retreat even hinted at by the pirates.” ‘Then where are they?’ ‘*That’s what we cannot find out, sir; but let us, in a body, go around the island on an- other searcb.” This suggestion of Lord Cecil was acted upon, and slowly the whole party began the search together, But after two hours they again found them- selves near the cabins, and without the slight- est clew to the missing pirates. Determined not to go back without accom- plishing some good, Sir Roslyn ordered the shanties burned, and soon they were smolder- ing ruins. ** Now, lads, gather up those boats and we'll tow them off to the brig for kindling wood for the cook,” ordered Captain Stannix. ‘*One moment, Sir Roslyn; I would suggest that yourself and half of your men return to the brig, leaving about thirty men, under my command, in hiding here. ‘‘Then, believing all are gone, the pirates will come out of their den, wherever it is, and we can pounce upon them, and at the firing you can come quickly to our aid.” * A good idea, my lord, and one I wil act upon; yet I hate to leave so small a force with you.” ‘‘ They will be sufficient to keep the devils at bay until you come to our aid, andif fewer went off to the brig there might be some spy watching, and he would report accordingly.” “That is true, so you sball have your own way, sO suppose you quietly withdraw with your men now, my lord,” ‘‘No, Sir Roslyn, I shall hide under the shelter of the rocks here on the beach,” Thus it was ar:anged, and, having assembled his men, Lord Cecil ec ncealed them in the crevices of the rocks along the shore of the basin, while the booty obtained from the cabins before they were burned, was rigged out to look like men to an ordinary observer, and the boats departed for the brig and arrived alongside just at sanset. When darkness began to steal over the island Lord Cecil, whose stay there of several weeks had given him a good knowledge of the local- ity, bade the midshipman, who had remained with him as next in command, to keep the men quiet while he went forth to reconnoiter. He went cautiously away in the darkness, dodging from rock to bush, and at last reached the smoldering ruins of the shanties, Here, behind some scrub trees, he sat fora long time waiting and watchiog. Presently, as he was about to return to the beach, he heard a footstep. instantly be crouched back in the shadow and waited. The tread fell distinctly on his ears now, firm and quick, like a quarter-deck step. Nearer und u-arer it came, until presently a tall form came in sight, and advanced directly toward him, ° 3 a _ ’ sr * , rr As the stranger was passing the last pile of embers, and within a few feet of Lord Cecil, a log broke in two, burned through, and sent up a shower of sparks that gave a bright light! ‘* Leon St, Vale, thank God !” The words broke from the lips of Lord Cecil Milnor, and he sprung to his feet as he spoke, But at their utterance Leon St. Vale started back, dropped his hand upon a revolver, and called out sternly: ‘* Who calls me?’ “‘Tt is I, St. Vale, your old friend Cecil.” “Ha! Lord Cecil; amd where are your men ?” ‘‘ Back at the beach. Come, quickly, ere we are discovered.” ‘No, I cannot come,” and Leon St. Vale looked annoyed and ill at ease. “Cannot come? Why, what do you mean, Leon?” ‘You return to your men and leave the island, as I thought you had done,” ‘‘Are you mad, St. Vale?’ ‘‘ No, Iam perfectly sane, Lord Milnor, and repeat I cannot return with you,” was the resolute response. ‘You bave some motive for this?’ ae Mg ‘¢ Will you not tell it me?’ ce No.” ‘* But, St. Vale, you—” ‘Lord Cecil, I ask you todo me a favor, and { feel that you will do so.” “Upon my honor yes, St. Vale, but — ‘Tt is that you return to your men, say not one word of having met me, or seen any one, aud leave this island as soon as you can.” ‘*A remarkably strange request, sir,’’ said Lord Cecil coldly. ‘*‘One you said you would grant upon your honor, and | beg you to go. ‘‘Now I eannot say more, but only leave the island, and I will tell you that it is useiess for you to look for the pirates as you cannot find them. ‘‘Tf you do not see me within three months, Lord Cecil, say what you please about meet- ing me to-night, and set me down in your own mind as whatever I may be considered. “Good-night, Lord Ceci),” and without an- other word Leon St. Vale turned and strode back in the direction from whence he came. ‘* Well, am I mad, or bas he gone crazy? “ Am I dreaming, or has he turned pirate?’ So saying Lord Cecil Milner walked slowly back to the beach; but he did not speak of his adventure, for mysterious as was Leon Bt. Vale’s request, he had promised, and he would not break his pledge made to him. CHAPTER XXIV. THE GOLDEN FETTERS, THE moment that Leon St. Vale sprung into the proa full of pirates, he saw several faces, in one sweeping glance that be took, that he had seén on the brigantine, and realizing tbat his own boat was shattered, and that be ..was wholly at their mercy, he dropped his cutlass, which had been raised with eae intent, and cried in a low tone: ** Seize me, men!” Several who had recognized him, and were tartled at beholding one whom they had be- lieved to be dead, at once did as ordered, and checked the blows of their comrades aimed at his heart. “Pull back with vigor, lads, or you’ll have the whole crew of the brig upon you,” was St. Vale’s next order, in a low tone; but given with no show of hesitancy or appearance that it would be other than obeyed. involuntarily the crew obeyed, and the proa moved away at a rapid pace, when the man at the tiller, a burly fellow with a brutal, savage face, cried: ‘Hold! why do you row back, until we have killed those devils and retaken that dar- ing officer?” “By my orders, Senor Quentin, if you are that personage,” calmly said Leou St. Vale, turving his piercing eyes upon the proa’s com- mander. “Your orders? And who the devil are you, senor?” “T am the lientenant of Captain Ebony, the Black Pirate, and have just escaped from the brig and rejoined my comrades,” was the cool reply of the young officer, who now rose and walked aft, while the prea was dashing swiftly along en her way back to the island basin. Gomigcnpoed S) ~~ “44> . . . Ve .~ " aa : aha on 4. be man ny) ling) c ; Rip . * ' * 7 * ie - § : , . ’ - ‘ ‘ ; :