Beadle's Dime Library No. 18 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

can government to act as a privateer, Te was in the Bahama Channel, heading for the Cu- ban coast, and in the act of taking his meridi- an observations to learn his latitud., when a man forward, on deek (for he had na look-out aloft), sang out: * Sail ho !” Dropping bis quadrant, Howard seized his spy-glass, as he eried: ‘* Where away ?” “A point or two to windward of the weather bow, sir—not one, but three sail, if my eyes don’t lie!” * Yon’re right,” said Howard, as he looked in the direction given. After a short recon- noissance, he said: ‘There are two schooners andasloop. Isu ppose they’re Cuban coasters, for we should be nearly in to the island now. Luff, there, you at the helm—let her come up a point, and we'll speak the strangers !” he sehooner, whieh ha* “--— ~~~~*~e fee, heading a little to the northward of west, now hauled more to the wind and westward, and as the vessels which Howard intended to speak, were standing on a course which threw them athwart his Sones they very rapidly neared him. The young captain of the schooner looked at them from time to time, but saw nothing which led nim to believe them to be other than coasters, as he had at first supposed. But few men were seen upon their decks, and the sails were negligeutly trimmed, as those of the lazy Cuban aréaters usually are—and as to this day you ean see them along that coast ; they were hugged close up to each other, as if there was more safety in company than in be- ing apart. The breeze was not fresh, yet stiff enough to send the sharp-built schooner some six or seven knots through the water. In an hour, or little more, the strange sails were close aboard, and Howard shortened sail to speak them, taking in his foresail and flying-jib, and throwing his sig Pad oor and top-gallant-sail aback, while he hauled his jib-sheet to wind- ward. As his headway deadened, one of the stran- ers crossed his bow, while the other two eaded directly for him to leeward, all having Spanish colors set. “Look out there, you lubberly Spanish eubs, or you'll run afoul of us!” shouted Howard, as he saw the danger of contact. “ Excuse us, Senor Americans ; we couldn’t well help it!” eried a tall and splendid-looking man, who Jeaped from the bow of the nearest vessel on to the quarter-deck of the Pifot, and ' who was instantly followed by fifty or sixty men, armed to the teeth, like himself. Taken completely by surprise, himself and his feeble crew entirely unarmed, Howard could offer no resistance.’ Yet the proud Maryland blood in his veins boiled, and an light flashed in his eye, as he looked the lead- ing intruder in the face, and boldly asked what the deuce he meant by coming on board of his vessel so unceremoniously ? “We are rough people, Senor Americans !” said the leader; “and we do not understand ceremony. But we have need of a fast-sailing vessel, and as yours seems to be speedy, we feel an inclination to try her for a time!” “Then I’m to understand that you're a set of bloody pirates!” said Howard, bitterly. “Oh, no! by no means, Senor! We are gentlemen, Free Rovers—no more! We ex- act tribute, it is true, from those who come within our range; if they are at all obstreper- ous, we sometimes make them walk the plank ; hnt if they are accommodating, and give us all they have with a good grace, wby we gener- ally let them keep the most valueless of their possessions—life !” “Very kind !”” said Howard, bitterly. “And T suppose you'll spare my erew, now that you have them unarmed, and entirely in yout power ?” “Yes; but have you no favor to ask for yourself?” . “T have, . Will you gra. 5? “Tf it is not such a one as wi! ompromise me as a man, | will!” said the over. “Tt will prove whether you area man or not!” said Howard. “ You wear a sword—I have one in my cabin ; and all that I ask is a chance to measure weapons with you on this deck !” The dark eye of the Spaniard flashed, for the tone of Howard was most insulting. He panes & moment, and measured the form of intended competitor with a scornful glance. “Do you know who I am, young man?” he as*ed, a delay of 9 minute or more, The sea Bandit. “Who yon are, I do not know! But what ou are, I do know. You surely are a pirate, if you refuse to fight me, you are a coward !” “No man lives who can call Edward Colce- frinas e coward the second time !” said the pi- rate leader, in a quiet tone—dangerous, be- cause it was so quiet. Go and get your weapon, young man, and if you can conquer me, you and your vessel shal! go scot free !” “Tam contented with the condition!” said the brave young American, and he hastened to his state-room for his sword, a weapon with which he was not unacquainted, and which, in the hands of his gallant father, had done good service in the war of 1812 and 714, In a few moments he returned, and the pi- rate leader, in spite of the murmured remon- strance of his men, who disliked his unneces- sary exposure to danger, prepared for this singular and impromptu duel. There was not much parade, for Howard— who cast away the seabbard of his weapon as he came on deck, to show that he intended to find another sheath for the blade—at once be- gan the attack, and that with a skill and im- petuosity which for a time rather bothered the pirate, and forced him to keep upon his guard and to act solely on the defensive. But Howard could not for any length of time exert so much vigor, and as every lunge and cut he made was coolly met and parried by his antagonist, he soon began to feel that he had taxed his powers too heavily at the start. And by the ease with which the pirate met his most cunning feinta and thrusts, he soon felt that he had found his master. In a short time, instead of attacking, he found himeelf ne- cessitated to stand upon his guard without be- ing able to return a longe. And as the blood of the pirate warmed, his bright steel was more than once crimsoned with the blood of his over-matched antagonist. Yet he inflict- ed no mortal wound, and only seemed to see how near he could come to taking life without doing it—as savages do sometimes when they torture their captives. “Have you not lost blood enough to soo) ur temper, seior ?” at last said the pirate, as he beat down the guard of his weakened opponent, and held him entirely at his merey. oward made no reply, but springing back to a fresh position, again raised his weapon. With a skillful turn of his wrist, Colcefri- nas wrenched the weapon from the hand of the young American, who unarmed, but yet unyielding, folded his arms upon his breast, aa awaited the expected death-blow. But it did not come, With a quiet smile upon his face, the pirate ehief reached out to the flag which dangled from the main peak halliards, and wiped his sword upon it. *‘ You fence tolerably well, fer an American!” said he to Howard. “ When I have leisure, I will give you some lessons which will improve your style. But at pres- ent I have not time. By the way, a friend of yours, Lieutenant Allen, of the Alligators, said that letters for his squadron were expected in your vessel. Have you a mail on board ?” “ Yes!” said Howard, moodily. “ Perhaps you will take the trouble to deliver the letters yourself?” he added, aa ath “ Most undoubtedly I shall!" said Coleefri- nas, in a gentle tone. “ Lieutenant Allen and myself are on the most friendly terms. | would not permit his letters or those addressed to any of his officers to be delayed a moment!” 5 Allen your friend? wor he is sent out te hunt up and destroy such bloody pirates as you are |” bh “ Yes—and I am going to help him. He tcld'me how fast your vessel was, and I made up my mind to procure her for that especial service |” “You mock me, sir !”_ “ You are in error, Senor Americano—I am vary serious. I expect in a very few days to se Mr’ Allen, and I shall not only deliver his le(ters, but tell him that the wieked and re- morseless pirates have captured the fastest schooner that has ever worn the American flag!” : Tell him that if Charles Howard had onl known that pirates were near, he never woul have been taken alive!” said the American, | bitterly. 4 “Your message shall be delivered!” said Coleefrinas, with a smile. “ And now we must part, for time just at the present is valuable to ‘me! is your long-boat in good condition ?” “Yes! But why do you ask?” “Merely to know if it will stand the voyage 5 which you and your crew.are anout to make in it!” “So you intend to put us) adrift in it 2” “ Yes, senor. You are exeellent at gueds« ing ’ “You will permit us, to have: provisions, water, sails and oars, perhaps, in your gener. osity ?” . “ The two first. you may have! Bat I ean only spare you une oar. ‘That will keep your boat head to sea, and if a pale does not come me en ee ee et up to swamp you, you may be so lneky as to be picked up by some passing vessel! | may den our friend Allen to look for you!” “You are very kind—I hope the d—1 will reward you in the next world, if you miss your due in this !” said Howard, in reply. An. hour later, he and his crew in the none too capacious long-boat of the selivoner, were alone upon the heaving waters of the Gulf Stream, their frail boat steadied by a single oar, being almost, even with the water's edge. Their only hope of salvation in life was, that some vessel would pass. before a gale should arise, and pick them up. CHAPTER VILL “Well, gentlemen, you. who, have. been so anxious to see service will soon have a chance!” said Lieutenant Allen, one morning, some ten days after the occurrence of the fes- tival spoken of in our first chapter. This firat officer had just..reported that three vessels, American men-of-war, were coming up the harbor; and as he had only waited the arrival of these to commence his seareh for pirates, he had no further excuse for lingering in that too enchanting spot. “Faith, that’s blessed news, and good for the dyspepsy, cap’n dear!” said O'Shaughnes- sy, the surgeon. “A disease which will never trouble you, doctor!” said Allen with a smile. “ That’s true, blessed be the knowledge that keeps it from me!” said the doctor. “Here is a package of letters for you, sir, just brought on board by a stranger from shore, in a small boat!” said a petty officer, handing the package to Allen, “Letters from home and by the Pilot!” ex- claimed the young officer, as he tore open the ackage. “Forwarded by Colce/rinas, the Pirate with his compliments to Uieutenant Allen! Darnation! here is the messenger who brought these letters? Bring him to me instantly !” added the officer, as he read a scrap of paper which was attached to the pack- e “He rowed away as soon as he handed the letters over the side, sir! He did not come on board at all, and is ashore long be fore this time, sir ?’’ said the petty officer. Allen made no reply, buf tore open a nota addressed to him in the same band that the. scrawl was written in, and his face flushed with anger as he read it. No wonder ; its contents were : “Tf the Yankee who commands the Alliga. tor can spare time from his dalliance with tlie daughter of Gareia de Regla, and would like to measure swords with Coleefrinas the Pirate, he can have an opportunity, | : . The datter has .,, taken the schooner, Pilot, and (links her very, _., well adapted to his business. Not nevane use for the private lettera of the officers o pirate-hunting squadron, Colecfrnes takes | pleasure in transmitting them fo ther , dese tination. He deems it, unnecessary, to, send overnment dispatches which he foundin Pilot, as he wishes to preserve the auto- phs.of the Secretary of the Navy, and the ommandant of the Marine Corps, , Colecfri- nas can be found on his eruising-grownd in the Bahama Channel, and takes this opportumty to assure Lieutenant Allen of his distinguished eonsideration |” ; Allen did not hesitate long after perusing this letter. Turning to his first oflicer, he said “ Have all read the the for sailing in an hour, gir! ., As soon as the other yessels come to an ANe an et ehor, send a boat. on board of cach, fling... them that I bave heard from the pirates, an shall at once sail in search of them. 1 haye, some. business..on shore, which attended, to, 1, shall at once weigh anchor. Let the : 7 guUgver, «| and armorer look to their stores and ace, that nothing is lacking for service when we agi These orders given, Allen sprang into bis gig and was quickly rowed to the shore=-where, directions fo his crew.to veinain in: the Pout ready for his retura, be laid bis Cour ~ m Cc (E(0) JOO (0) Wc