Beadle's Dime Library No. 18 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Allen ?” asked the first officer who sprang on board “Nothing, but that I've been an egregrious fool!” said Alien. “ Nothing else in the world. I was led to take nearly all my crew away in boats to try and hunt out the pirates, who made signal-smokes on adozen different islands ; and while | was gone, my remaining crew were hocus-pocussed in some way — what way I have not yet found out, bat soon will—and the pirates have been here and spiked my guns, robbed and seuttled the veseel.” “Pretty well done, but no blood spilled so far,” said the other, with a smile. Now that we are all together, perhaps we can turn the tables on these gentlemen, and show them a Yankee trick or two. Don’t be disheartened, my dear Allen.” “Tam not disheartened, Gregory,” replied Allen; “but Lam most contoundedly morti- fied. But if you and the rest will do me one favor—mark, I ask where my rank permits me to demand—you will oblige me eternally.” “Name it—y>u know that I am in fraternal feeling bound tw do all I can for you.” “ Then rest easily right here until I run into port and refit. 1 can get all I need in Man- tansas from the arsenal there, and be back in four or five days all right below and aloft, and ready with you and the rest of ‘the old mess” to carry the war with this Colcefrinas and his red-handed gang into every den and strong- hold they may lurk in. Ihave been caught onee, but do not mean to be again while life is left me—at least in these latitudes.” “ J will do as you wish,” said Gregory ; “ Kearney and Rammage will undoubtedly do the same.” “Yes; what is it?” said Kearney. who at that instant ri th on board, closely followed by his last-named colleague. . Allen’s wishes were explained, and the three other officers willingly agreed to remain at an anchor until he could refit and return; at the same time receiving directions to send strong boat expeditions out to try and discover the depot or main rendezvous of the pirates, for that they had some place in which to store their plunder and refit their vessels, there was no doubt in the mind of. By the time these matters had been arrang- ed, Doctor O’Shaugnessy had become a little more fitted for decent society than he was when we last saw them, though his head still was feathery, and his red face Teciked the more fiery for its recent alcoholic em bet 9 “T hope now, doctor, that you will be able to give me a clear and succinct account of all that has oceurred within your remembrance, since I left the vessel,’ said Allen, as he sat down in the cabin with his visitors, when O'Shaughnessy came out of his state-room. “T hope that you will show that you have been rather the victim of misfortune than the dupe of your own carelessness or neglect.” “Faith, cap’n dear, it's a victim I’ve been that’s as sure as that me mother Bridget was a lady, and Ill invite the gentlemen to a dose of owder and ball, whoever says to the contrary. ut how I was victimized, 1t bothers the life o’ me to imagine. Your friend, the Spanish sefor, and meself took a glass of wine or two after you left, and that is all that I remember until you woke me from some sort of a wild drame I’d been havin’, and I found myself feathered like a booby.” “Where did you get the wine you took?” asked Allen, as a strange suspicion flashed like a spark of electricity on his mind. “The wine or brandy—for sure I forget which it was now—eame from the private stores of the sefor.” “ And did the crew get their liquor from the same source ?” “T belave they did—in truth, they couldn't have got it anywhere else, for I had the keys of the store-rooms in my pocket,” replied the doctor. ‘“ By Heavens! I see through it all. What a blind foul I have been all this time!’ mut- tered Allen. ‘“ This Quiestra is a confederate of the pirates; most likely a piratical leader himself, and under the disguise of friendship has been shading me astray, and is even now laughing at my folly. Butif I ever set eyes on him again, he’ll have something besides laughing to do. Gentlemen, you must exeuse mé, for I am in a hurry now to get to a port where I can refit and prepare for such a foray on these wretches as will, in some measure, re- trieve my lost honor. 1 must be under way at once.” «We will have to beg or borrow another The Sea Bandit. suit of sails first, sir,’’ said the first-lieutenant, who entered the cabin in time to hear Allen’s last remark. “ The scoundrels have ribboned every sail on the spars, though not loosened from the brails and gaskets.” “ But we have another suit below.” “ They are in even a worse condition, if such a thing can be possible! The wretches meant utterly to disable us.” “ Well, thank fortune, it is not quite done. The leaks are stopped—are they not?” «“ Yes, sir—and the sails can be mended. But it will take some time.” “Time which we cannot spare. Gregory, you can spare us your second suit of sails to make shift to get into pn with, can you not?” “Certainly,” replied the officer addressed ; “and anything else which you need that is in my possession.” : It is not necessary that I should prolong this chapter by a description of how it was done, but in less than two hours the Alligator was under way and standing up the const with a fresh breeze, while her consorts remained to await her return, and to watch for such signs of the pirates as might be seen. CHAPTER XXI. It was but two days later. The Marquis de Regla, yet disconsolate for the loss of his daughter, was pacing to and fro in his private chamber, only receiving reports from those who had thus far made vain search for the missing lady. His face betokened his opep grief; for, heartless as he might seem to all others, he almost idolized his child. He did ao, even though he seemed cruel to her in his smbition to rise, by the hes of her hand to one whom he knew to be a lawless and desperate criminal: although, in those days, and even yet, piracy, and its fraternal hand-maid—nig- lak! sol on the coast—have not been eemed very criminal among the Spaniards. The entrance of the Secretary of the In- tendente, with a look which bespoke news, at- tracted the attention of the marquis, who hastily eried : “ Has she been heardfrom? Speak! for by our face I read that you have news of some kind for me. Be it good or bad, let. me hear it ; for no new ill can befallme! At least, none greater than that which I suffer now!” ‘The American man-o’-war schooner, whose captain has had the audacity to pay such marked attention to your lovely daughter, has just entered the harbor, and anchored. The captain desires an interview with your excel- lency !” “ Admit him at once; he pins A he muat know of her absence, The note she left: plain- ly intimated that she intended to seek his pro- tection |” The seeretary withdrew, and in a few mo- ments Allen entered the room. “ Well, sir, where is my daughter ?” asked the marquis, sternly, before Allen had even time to salute him as common courtesy would dictate. | “T do not understand your excellency!” said Allen, hastily. And then, while an ex- eae op: of painful alarm gathered vn his face, e added: “Is she missing ?” “Yes; and I have every reason to believe she has gone to seek you, who so vilely have stolen her affections from me !” * Marquis de Regla, this is strange language for you to use, who so lately permitted me the utmost freedom of access to her. But your feelings at her loss—if indeed she be lost—are a suflicient excuse with me!” “Tf indeed she be lost?” said the marquis. Do you doubt my word? Do I look like one who had passed sleepless days and nights in grief, or not? She is lost—has fled from my roof, and gone Heaven knows where only, if ou do not know !” 10 “T do not!” said Allen; and then, sudden- ly, the remembrance of the note left by Colee- rinas came to his mind. “Did I understand our excellency to any that you believed she d gone to seek me?” he asked. «So a note left by her intimated !” il “How could she have reached me? Ha any vessel sailed henee bound down the coast, except my American consorts?” _ wild “I know not. My yachtis missing, and has been stolen, I suspect, by an American ca tain and his crew—one Homatd, whose vessel was lately taken by the pirates, and who wished to join you!” , | “ Merciful Heaven! I believe I ean see , through all now. If she reached my vessel in i4 my absence, she ia in the power of that vile wretch—Colcefrinas ! Now 1 ean indeérstind the meaning of the note le left on hoard my vessel after he had disabled wy erew, by the aid of his confederate—Quiestya !” ' “You really think, thén, that she ts in the hands of Colcefrinas Y” asked the Tutendente, while his face wore ah easier expression: “Tf she reached my vessel, T know that she is!” said Allen. “Thank Heaven that if is tio Worse, then!” ‘said the marquis, with @ quite contented air. “No worse !” exclaimed Allens in a tone’ of surprise, and with a look of hérror. “Can aught worse on earth befall a maiden that to be in the hands of a merciless, liwless;' licen- tious pirate? What am | to understand by your expression ?” ’ “That she is where she ean be ransomed ; and where they dare not, for their own sakes, harm her!” gaid the marquis, who saw that he had gone too far—far enough perhaps, to arouse suspicions of his own connection with the lawless bands of marauders whom Allen and his comrades had been sent to extermi- nate. “She shall be réseucd if life is left me!” said Allen. “But for the cowardly conduct of Colcefrinas—who, by a ruse, led’ me away from my veasel, I had met, and saved her And your friend, Quiestra, was the traitor who aided the pirate-chief in his plans!” “Who dares to call Quiestra a traitor ®”’ cried a well-known voice at the door; and the next instant the pirato-chief stood before them in hia former plain ¢itizen’s dress, without a viaible weapon upon him. ney “T do, dog of a pirate—T vo!” thundered Allen; and he drew his sword ere the words had passed his lips. “Captain Allen is very courteous to his late guest ; and very brave to draw his sword upon an unarmed man!” gaid the other, with a bit- ter sneer. And he drew his tall form to its fullest height, and folded his arms hayghtfly across his broad chest. press _ “You can easily provide yourself. with’ a weapon, if you have the couruge to use one!” eaid Allen, bitterly. “ From you I will learn where the Senorita de Regla is, or—” “Or what ?” said the Spaniard, in his cold, oe way, seeing that Allen hesitated. ~~ “Cut your black, cowardly heart ‘out !” cried Allen, alinost beside himself with rag, “Then, as the alternative is rather a séveye one, perhaps you had better be accommodated. he senorita 1s safe within fle quarters of the gallant Colcefrinas, who has permitted me ‘to é his bearer of dispatches as the price of my ‘freedom. Here is a letter to his’ Aahecllbity, the Marquis de Regla—touehing hor-ransom, probably ; and one from Colcetrinas to your- self, which I doubt not will please one of suéh @ combative disposition as is LieutenantAllen. ’ And the Spaniard, bowing low sand mock- ingly, handed Allen his letter, while; morarpo- litely, he tendered the other to the marquis. The first was received with a frown, the other with a smile. But, angry as he was, Allen sheatlied his sword, and read his letter. it was a proposal, written actually in avtdne of chivalry, to meet the chieftain, Colcetrinas, on blue water, and’ at fair termsa—* for,” said thie latter, “I have now got the schooner, Pilot, which I have re-christened * Dhe Maraquita,’ in honor of my fair guest, the daughter of ‘the Marquis de Regla; and having borrowed ‘sufficient arms and munitions from the Allige- tor to fit her up for action, have'no doubt but ‘that I can give Lidutenant Allen o day’s pas- time whenever he desires it!" 0 “ By the flag of my native land, this insult ing boaster shall be tested, and if he daros to ‘meet me on blue water, we will see which is the better man |” niuttered Allen; as he closed the letter. PARES Oy Ver auch: Heoy “He dares, and will, ond buti waits for you ‘to name the time and ‘place, prond Yankee !” “gaid Qniestra. ‘ But, mark you, he bade me tell you that you bring no other vessels with “you. If you do, he remembers thatthe Pilot can outsail even your clipper eraft, and will bide py that advantage! § wii) of owond “Me need not fear that I will ask»other aid ‘than my own brave erow.: Lhavé rivktionm side, and he’ has the wrong tu wekon Nim! | fear him not; and will meet hii the instant. I “ean refit; which, by proper aid Aere, I can do ‘mm a few days. [f T cruinot ! get what I ‘need ‘here, I must sal to Chavleston, or some other southern port of the’ United Stites!) Bute] hope that his er will not refuse, onthe part of his government, phat would melur be —- - — Eomiicb (e oO OOKs