Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 172 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

= ' a S he | Pa ee eee ees Ce ee” . oe + ow eS A ES IE —— ee coe seemed that he must run his sharp-bulled brig- autine under the waves, driving her before the wind, for even the larger brig was in danger. But Lord Cecil, who had the deck, would not take in an iach of canvas, and his heart held hope all the time that the pirate would lose her ' foounted, and the aim of the sticks, or meet wits some other mishap, that | would enable them to get within range. ‘‘ Kight days’ steady chase, and nearly two thousand miles run, and we are not a cable’s length nearer to him than when we left the Vulture,” said Lord Cecil, despondently. ‘* Nor a cable’s length further astern, my lord; bat—” ‘‘ Land, bo!” The voice rung out clear from the foretop. ‘* Whereaway ?”’ ‘One ‘““Ay, ay,my man. Now, my lord, that fel- low has timed himself well, for he comes in| sight ot the coast of Maine, off which we arse, just at sunset, and will elude us, as I feared, by running into some of the inlets.” ‘‘By Heaven! but we are in for it! bands ahoy! to take in sail!” sudden! poimt off the starboard bow, sir; it | epens like a bold coast,” answered the look-out. | ———— ° —a-- Cuthbert te fire, for half a dozen of his men lay on the deck, a starboard forward gun was dis- very had proven too true to allow trifling with him. With the roar of the guns of the brig ¢ame the stern order of the Black Pirate, shouted in tones that needed no trumpet’s aid: ‘* Boarders ahoy! we’ll take that fellow with the knife!” ‘*Great God! will he attempt to come along- side in this flerce sea?’ cried Captain Cuthbert, ‘‘ It seems so, sir, for I see the Black Chief in the bow, with his men at his back,” answered the lieutenant to whom the eaptain had addressed his remark. ‘it will sisk both vessels, and we have but one thing to do, curse him!” impatiently said Captain thbert. ** And that ia, sir?” “To ran for it, until the sea goes down and then turn and fight bim.” This seemed to be the only course for him to pursue, to avoid the collision of the two vessels, _ which would send both vessels to the bottom, is» All | cried | Lord Cecil, as glancing astern, he beheld a hur- | ricane sweeping down upen them. Instantly the rigging was alive with busy seamen, and the brig was stripped of all but sterm-sails, and bore round to meet the tempest just as it burst upon her. The shock was fearful, and for a moment all | believed the stanch craft would never rise from beneath the weight of waters upon ber. Then followed a cracking of timbers, the bursting of sails with eannon-like report, stern orders, a ery or two, and the Petrel arose from her peril and faced the furious gule. had gone, snapped short off, ber sails were rent, a boat had been wrenched from the davits, and ee ee eee all probability, for the Black Pirate appeared bent on boarding, and was reckless enough to athempet it. Instantly the brig swung round, and her men sprung into the rigging and bastily set what sail she could stand up under, with half a gale blowing. . The pirate was not a quarter of a mile away, and the movement of the brig caused a wild yell to break from the lips of her savage crew, and it reached the ears of those on the Petrel. “Oh, you may yell, you devils, for it is a strauge sight for a king’s craft to be running from an aceursed pirate; but just wait until we | see that itis not sudden death to board you, Bui in that awful moment her foretopmast | the infuriated several of her crew had been washed over- | board. ‘*We must lay to, my lord, and ride it out,” eried Captein Cuthbert, turning to where he had last seen Lord Cecil. ‘By Heaven! where is he? Who has seen Lord Cecii Milnor?’ trumpet. Bus no voice answered, and with a groam trom her peril, for he knew that one of those who had been swept off by the flerce waves, Own son. \CHAPTER XIV. DOOMED. Havina gotten his vessel well under hand and snugly laying to, Captain Cuthbert set about repairing damages as well as he was able, anxious to be busy to keep his thoughts from flying over the wild waters with bis noble young lieutenant. For several hours the storm continued with unabated fury, the night being intensely dark, aml the men fearful that haps their fate might yet be to fellow their comrades, whom the crue] sea had dragged off upon its waves to a death in the ocean depths, But shortly before dawn the storm blew itself | y of came eut, the elouds broke up, and as the morsing stole over the waters, a relie to every heart. But just then the keen eye of the leok-out deseried a dark object upon the waters, and he éalled out Instily: ‘Sail hol” There was no need to ask whereaway, for the enptain and all of the crew caught sight of the vessel, and a score of voices cried: “ Tbe Black Pirate!” It was true, for, not half a mile away, snugly laying to, as though in no ways inconvenienced by the storm, the brigantine was now distinctly visible, If they bad discovered the Petre] no sign on board made it known, aud Captain Cuthbert, anxious to drown thought by action, at once gave orders to reef down and set sail, and for the men to go to the guns. ‘We cannot attempt boarding now,” he raid to the officer who took Lord Cecil’s place; ‘* but we can perhaps cripple him and keep near, 50 as to run down to him when the sea falls.” But, as the Petrel stood in the direction of the pirate, it became evident that she had been scen, for there was still no confusion on board, and the crew were coolly setting sail, as though utterly regardless of the cruiser’s presence, A law moments after the corsair aleo got under way, and, to the surprise of those on the brig, stood down to meet her. “Has the fellow decided to strike and hope for mercy, finding bimeelf under our guns?” said Captain Cuthbert, with amazement. Almost instantly an answer as to bis inten- tions came from on board the pirate, for luffing up he sent a broadside upon the Petrel that bit hard and did considerable da Wearing round, as though on a pivot, the pirate vessel then delivered her other broadside, almost before the Petrel’s crew oould recover from their surprise. Leud now ruug the orders from Captain ~~ he ealied through his . Captain Crethbert turned to rescue his vessel | and we'll change that cheer to a how!,” said glishman. And a strange sight indeed if was, to see the brig, larger, carrying more guns, and fully a scere more men than the pirate, flying away from him with all speed. Yet, f that the reckless chief would board, Captein Cuthbort dared not risk the coming together of the two vessels in that mad sea. But the pirate had no idea of allowing his foe a peaceful flight, for his heavy bow- mounted on the forecastle at once began to play | ape the Petrel, whieh returned the fire from _ her stern-guns, which were, however, of lighter was his brave lieutenant whom he loved as his | ; ———— a ee + caliber than tke thirty-two of the corsair, and coneognenll did less harm. As the ntine soon showed herself to be the fastest vessel, the pirate caused his belms- man to luff sharp up every mile run and bring his port broadside to bear with disastrous effect, and regaining headway once more, continue firing from his bow-chaser. In this way the brig was getting the effects of a broadside every now and then, and the almost | continual fire of the heavy thirty-two, which rr re | | was a galling storm of iron to receive, where she could only return it with the two twelves she had on her stern. Often did Captain. Cuthbert and bis men ase over the waters to notice the running own of the sea, which would enable the brig to ef pees and board the pirate, without fear of vessels going down with the shock. But two hours bad passed, and still the Petrel was forced to fly; bat her captain sail grimly: ‘* Another half-hour and we'll risk it, Sanford.” Hardly had the words loft bis lips before the ob luffed suddenly, and his broadside came urtling after the brig. Down to the deck went Lieutenant Sanford, and one of the stern guns was dismounted ; while a dozen of the crew fell to rise no more. ‘By Heaven! this is fearful! Stand ready all! ready about!” With the ringing order of Captain Cuthbert the Petrel swung round, and the next instant, olose-hauled on the back track, she was heading to meet her reckless adversary. The sea yet ran fearfully high to risk board- ing; but Captain Cuthbert would fly no longer, for be had but one lieutenant remaining and a score of his crew were gone, so that he felt be must act ptly. And. tho Black Pirate seemed nothing loth, but with @ look of viciousness the saucy vessel oame dashing on to meet her foe. ‘There were a few rapid shots from both bows, a igh broadside from one, a starboard broad- @ from the other, stern orders from their commanders, a sudden luffing up of both. and the two belms eame together with a shock, tbeir heads to the wind, and the iron grepvels were thrown and readily made fast upon each craft, showing that the crews, pirate and man-of-war’s men, knew that ff must a fight to the death. Rocking wildly, with volumes of water dash- ing up between the buils and deluging the decks, striking bard against tbe fenders, with shocks that made each hull tremble, and with -d r- ate men struggling to board the deck of their foes, the scene was one ef awful ferocity. Bat, accustomed to just sueh wild scenes, the pirates held the mastery, and the deck of the Potrel became the scene of fierce conflict, instead of the corsair’s deck the battle-ground, as Cap- tain Cuthbers had intended. : ‘ : ee rene we eee ee | aS eee Headed by their mons chief the pirates cut down their foes on all side, and the losses of the crew of the Petrel baving made their numbers ual they began to drive before their inevitable vance the man-of-war’s men, in spite of the mad struggle to hold them at bay. ‘‘For God's sake, men, hold them!” cried Cap- tain Cuthbert, bareheaded? and a wound in his forebead covering bis face with blood, but only maddening him to greater energy in the fight. § Cheered by their leader the Petrel’s crew again made a desperate rush forward, and for a moment bore back the pirates; but only for a moment, as to their front sprung the Black Chief, and one sweep of bis huge cutlass laid ~ three of the king’s men upon the deck. ; ‘** Devils! you were hunting me to hang me, were you? : “Well, you have found me, and by Satan’s a a Pll hang you to your own rigging,” yelled the giant black, as, his uniform crim- soned with life-blood, his eyes burning, ard his white teeth glittering, he dashed forward into the very midst of his foes, who gave way in terror before the advance of what seemed a very demoa of the deep. ”* CHAPTER XV. THE KINGS ORDERS. SEEING his men giving way before the ad- vance of the terrible Biack Pirate, and know- ing that if he did not check them all would be . lost, Captain Cuthbert tbrew himself to the gep to face the chief, and called upen his crew to rally around bim. They made a noble effort to obey: but this very effort served to arouse the Biack Pirate and his men to greater frenzy and they bound- ed forward with demouiacal yells, enough to | strike terror to the stoutest heart, and the Petrel’s brave lads were again forced before them. > *‘Die here, men, for you are on your own . deck!” shouted Captain Cuthbert, and bis men cheered his brave words aad again pressed for- ward to stem the inevitable avalanche of mad humanity that was rushing upon them. But suddenly their brave leader sunk to the deck, and with shrieks of joy the pirates again rusbed forward, and in dismay the Petrel’s crew fled from before them. 4 ‘“‘ Mercy! for the love of God, mercy!” Such was the shriek that went upon ev side, and then came the answer of the Blac Pirate: ‘*My men are mostly Spaniards, and do not nglish word mercy.” know the meaning of the ou understand it, so call your blood- ** But hounds off,” shouted a young officer, theonein command, after the fall of Captain Cuthbert, 0 asd springing forward he boldly faced the huge ee chief. ‘fl understand the meaning of the word, sir, but Iam more merciless than my crew, who do ' not,” was the cool response of the Black Pirate, , 5 “Then you are indeed all a set of blood- — hounds,” said the young officer. ‘Yes, sir; thatis ju-t what we are; but do you commend this vessel now ?” , AD ‘lam a prisoner, sir, but the ranking officer over my crew, what few I see your men huve wi spared.” eee ‘Very well, then as the commanderI beg to ~ ask you the name of yeur vessel?” ‘The Petrel, brig of war, belonging to His Majesty, King of England.” ** Yes, I have he that such a vessel was to be sent at a stated time, to hunt down the pirates on the Ameriean shores.” . ‘* You have heard right, and that was the . order given the e¢aptain of this vessel.” A ‘Well, it seems the biters are bitten,” and the Fas Black Pirate smiled grimly, while the young x4 officer made no pat Mr b8, ‘“What report shall I send your king?’ asked the chief, after a moment of silence. Ao “That we did our duty, but. Fate was against tan “TI being Fate,” and once more the Black $ Pirate smiled blandly. : 5 “You are a cruel monster, full alto all . eS that has been said of you,” was ld reply a of the Englishman, on ae ai, sir, just what Iam painted, and the xe “4 coloring is not put on too strong, as you shall | over. : VS ‘‘ But now tell me what your orders were,for Tam anxious to go back on board my vessel, 2s I see that another storm is threatening,” and ai turning to an under officer he ordered him to = oe thoroughly search the Petrel for anything of PR: value, and carry what was found on the nr ol brigantine. Rie ‘Now, sir, your orders were—” oa ‘Especially to hunt down the Black Pirate ! and his crew.” WEN. ** And then, sir?” oe ‘To hang them to the yard-arms of théir own vesse!, from you down.” _ “That order of the king I shall carry out, but’ with his crew, not mine. 7, ‘You and your men, sir, have but a few minutes te live,” was the eruel response. ‘ “What! would you hang us?” cried the young Officer. | ‘*Most certainly; every man of you that is ( JOO “~~comicbooks.c