Beadle's Dime Library No. 18 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

But poor Allen, who though twice wound- ed would not leave the deck, ygnashed his teeth in very anger at this silence, for he knew that his almost conquered foe was swe away from him under cover of the night, An the reports which came to him of erippled spare fold him that he could not, even could he see his enemy, pursue him, until new spars had been sent up, others secured, and new rig- ging rove. he crew could hardly realize, in the utter silence which succeeded the thunder of broad- sides, and the yells of fierce combatants, that their enemy had crept off; and it was long be- fore they would believe it—long before they ceased to look for the flash of his guns, or to listen for sounds betokening that he was in the vicinity. It seemed impossible that he sould have gone off so still. . The loss of the Alligator in naen was not near so great in the action as would have been supposed, when she had been almost yard-arm aan yard-arm in action for a half hour or more — but the very means taken to cripple her spars, saved her men ? CHAPTER XXX. The Alligator once more lay at an anchor in the bay from whence she sailed before her combat with Coleefrinas, as described last. It had been necessary for her to run in to repair damages, but her consorts were actively cruis- ing outside, and she soon expected to join them, and Allen yet hoped to test the prowess of the pirate chief in another combat. Allen was below with O’Shaughnessy look- ing over his daily report of the wounded and sick, and hearing his verbal statement of their condition, when a messenger from the officer of the deck announced that a boat had shown itself some way in land, with a white flag “Hoist a white flag, sir, at our fore to en- courage the boat to come on board, and if it comes, assure its crew that their flag shall be respected !” said the young commander, “I will be on deck in a moment!” “Whew! I wonder what'll be done next by the murthern’ spalpeens !” said O’Shaugh- nessy. ‘ They’re like that sort o’ Christians that sarve the Lord of a Sunday, and ould Nick the rest o’ the week !” “How do you make that out, doctor?” ‘asked Allen, with a smile. | “Why sure, cap’n dear, haven’t they been a wearin’ the black flag all the while, and now raise the white one for convaynience. I hope they’re wanting a doctor to cure their big thafe o’ a leader !” “Would you volunteer, doctor ?” “Only let em try me once, sir!” said the doctor with a look that indicated a desire to do something desperate—but as it was directed toward the brandy-decanter on the side-board, Allen invited him to take something to drink. which he did without any apparent reluctance. When Allen reached the deck, the boat with the white flag had already been alongside, and leaving a young man on ni deck, had instantly shoved off, and pulled away. | “ What does this mean, and why did not the boat remain ?” asked Allen of the officer of the deck, “T know not, sir, perhaps this young man ean explain—but I oe that he is blindfolded, perhaps he is a released captive !” “ Few of their captives are released but by the hand of Death!” said Allen, as the sup osed young man, sadling Dimeatt free, tore off the bandage from before his eyes with his own hands A low cry of surprise broke from the lips of the stranger, and Allen who had little expected such a meeting, or such pleasure, oried, in as. tonishment ; “Fleavens! You, senorita—you here, and free from the power of Colcefrinas ?” Maraquita de Regla—it could be none other —gave one look, then as if struck down by the suddenness of her joy, fell senseless to e deck. Allen, heedless of ail but her, caught her up in his own arms, and bore her into the cabin, calling to Doctor O'Shaughnessy to follow him. “Do all you can to restore her, sir—do it uickly !” he said, as he laid his fair burden own upon the cushioned transom seat, “Ts it a her, cap’n, and in boy’s clothes, too? She's mighty purty for a pirate” Silence, by wish no observations, but the use of you skill, sir!” “Then, cap’n, if you plaze, either take off her jacket. or elae rip up the slave of it—it’s The Sea Bandit. bladin’ her I'd be afther doin’!” said the doe. tor, rather testily, for he did not fancy either the captain's words or tone to him. “She must not be bled—where is your sal volatiie—here, steward, bring me some wine and water! Bear a hand with them !” The doctor was about again to urge the ne- cessity of his favorite practice—bleeding, when the poor girl opened her eyes, and began to recover without aid. Allen placed some wine and water to her lips, and as the flush of re- turning strength came out upon her cheek, he turned to the doctor and said : “T can dispense with your services now, doc- tor! If I spoke too harshly, excuse me—I was extremely alarmed for the safety of the lady !”” “ Ah, cap'n dear, a rough word from you would never fray the silken cord 0’ f iendship that binds me to you. Deuce the bit. If the young lady, sir, should feel nervous, if you'll take my poor advice, a drop of smooth ould brandy would set her all right. I’ve some tip- top that I got from ould Mother Mallony in Key West!” said the doctor, and he bowed himself out of the cabin. “Tell me how you escaped, dear lady, and by what strange good fortune I have the hap- piness to recieve y.u here!” asked Allen, the moment that he was left alone with the lady. “ Seiior, I scarcely know. I was his cap- cive--am free ; but why I became free, I am not fully certain. But I believe the jealousy of a mistress or wife of his has been the happy cause. Whatever it was, I bless Heaven that I am free and safe, for beneath your flag I know I will be protected!” “ With my life, and that of every one on board, dear lady. But when did you see this monster—can you give me no directions by which I may trace him to his haunts, and there destroy him ?” “ Would to Heaven that I could !” said Ma- eaquita. I have not seen him for three or four days, and then he only paid me a visit to taunt me with his threats, saying that in three days he would have your head, and then force me to become his bride. He swore that yca were iu his power, aad I trembled lest it vas true!” “ He thought so, and by treachery | nearly became so; but he has learned his error, and it has cost him dearly !” replied Allen—in generous kindness withholding the nature of the treachery by which he had ge nearly fallen into the power of Colcefrinas. “ But from whence came you to-day ?” . “ From his main rendezvous, I should judge ; for from the latticed blinds of a house where I was mene some hours, I saw many vessels and men. During the night before I had been re- moved from a cave where he has collected im- mense treasures, and where he had me confined after I was taken with poor Captain Howard !” “ Where is he ?” “T know not. [have not seen him since the hour of my capture. I have not been carried anywhere without having my eyes bandaged !” “ The place of rendezvous cannot be far from here!” said Allen, thoughtfully. “ Have you an idea of the length of time they were engaged in bringing you here?” “ Not more than three or four hours, cer- tainly |” “Then I will have this coast scoured so closely that its whereabouts cannot fail to be learned. That done, and the infamous wretches shall be exterminated! But dear lady, how to make you comfortable will be my first thought. Should you desire to be sent to Matanzas—” “T have no such desire, sir! I fled from my father’s house to escape his tyranny, and a foreed union with a man whose crimes he knows, and the profits of which I fear he shares, But I know Si are too noble and enero to use this belief of mine against m ” “I would not harm him for the world, lady —if I wished, I have grave cause to doit. But for your sake I ignore that all; and if you will give me the bliss of becoming lawfully your protector, the moment that duty will permit, I will sail for a port where we can be united !” “The heart which has so long been yours, trusts to you entirely !” said the lady, frankly --for hers was not the nature, nor was she of a nation that is icy, or backward in expressing the strength of its passions. CHAPTER XXXI. “Madre de Dios! What, what does this mean? Your vessel, with the evidences of re- cent combat in her piereed hull and sails, brought to an anchor in our port, in broad day-light ; and you, armed to the teeth, etalk 17 through the town and into the palace, as if you were lord of both !” These words, half in anger, and half in ter- ror, were spoken by Don Garcia de Regla, to the pirate chief, soon after his escape from Allen. And it was no wonder that the audacit and fearless boldness of the pirate astonishe as well as frightened De Regla. The fact that his was not a national vessel, though on this occasion she wore Spanish colors, must some out; and De Regla knew not how to act “T did not come here to answer questions, Gareia de Regla, but to ask them !” said Colee- frinas, sternly. “ Why, did you give that infer. nal Yankee good powder ?’ “TI did not! He was supplied with the damaged !” ‘Garcia de Regia, you need not lie to me!” “Iie? Do you dare to use such language to me ?” ** Ay, worse than words! I have lost more than half my men by your treachery! I ran my vessel right under his broadside, and taunted him to fire, when my erew was already weakened 4 Sire ta intending to eut him up at leisure, believing the word that you sent was true, and that his powder was worthless !”” “ The powder which J furnishet, him was 60 ’ “ The loss of more than half my men prove that!” said the pirate, bitterly. “He may have got powder elsewhere !” said De Regla, who, for many reasons, wished not to excite the pirate more, “Impossible! He has been in no port but this. It is your treache Garcia de Regla, I see through it all! You have tired of me and our compact, and thought to be rid of me. But mark you, Colcefrinas, the master of fif- teen hundred daring men, and more than fifty millions of dollars, is not to be destroyed in a moment. You are in my power—body and soul—you are in my power, sir! your child is in my hands, and if I take ten thoughts upon the subject, I will probably fee! more than half ane to take you and hang you before her e ” “ You are going too far, sir!” said the mar- uis ; for Castillian pride, as well as some na- tive courage, began to come back to his aid. “Were I but to breathe your name, or the character of your vessel here—” “Well, what then?” asked the pirate, with & sneer. The marquis did not know what to say. “I would tell the people and the soldiers that their Intendente was my c nero—that he was an old hand at the trade, and that if they didn’t want their town burned up, they would beware how they angered Colcefrinas! And they—they would tremble as you do now, Garcia de Regla!” “I do not tremble, or if I do, it is with an- ger, not with fear!" said the old Spaniard. “A child’s anger is not dangerous. But call insome wine, De Regla—I am thirsty! Ieame oor hot, and you've said nothing to eool me ye ” “ When will you leave this port ?” asked the marquis, not heeding the demand of the other. “When it so pleases me—uot before. I called for wine. Wall you order it, or shall I ring for a servant ?” “I will order refreshments ; 1 would do that if the devil asked them. But suppose the American fleet were to come in here now ?” “I would run my vessel under the guas oi your fort, and make you protect me.” “ Make me ?” “Yes; or else drag you on board, and blow you, and myself, and all that’s dear to y ou, up together.” “Is my daughter on board of your vessel ?” “No; she is where she is treated like» f neote: oe will be, cw lo < ~ and her fa er ve yerly. But I have not do with you in mol to that powder,” “n “On m hanes I eee I” “Tush wear by somethin tangi something that exists.” : mre “TJ tell you, by my bonor as a Castilian—- by every tie that is binding on earth or in heaven, that I gave him the poor powder!” “Then he has made it geod by some Yan. kee trick; for 1 had all that I could do to es- cape him. Had he been favored with an hour more of daylight, it would have been my last cruise !” Had the Marquis expressed the wish thas was in his heart, it would have been, that Al. Jen had been favored with sufficient light to have put Colcefrinas out of his way forever, S G (e) cComicboo