Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 181 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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cr ee ee ‘Yes, my officers and myself will take the New Orleans packet from Vera Cruz, and there we are to report to the Admiral of the Gulf squadron; how long have you leave for, Stan- hope?” Bomé two momar or until the captain’s new vessel is completed.” ‘‘ Better run over as my guest, and return with us to New Orleans,” ““T will, thank you, lieutenant, if you will make use of me, for I am tired of Havana.” “T’ll give you half of a watch to keep you out of mischief,” laughed Roger Warburton, And thus conversing the two young officers paced the deck until midnight, when a boat came off with the messenger that had been sent to the consul, Ten minutes after the beautiful schooner was flying away seaward, and by daybreak had dropped the frowning fortress of El Moro out of sight astern. Shortly after breakfast, as Guy Stanho was reading in the luxurious cabin of the schooner, Roger Warburton called to him to come on deck, “Stanhope, if I did not have orders to do no fighting and run direct to Vera Cruz, I would overhaul yonder craft, few men as I have on board, for he has been in mischief,” and Lieu- tentant Warburton pointed to a graceful goleta a league away, and apparently baving just left a lugger that was lying tp. ‘It is the goleta of Don Isadoro Sabinas, as I live!” cried the midshipman, with some excite- = 3 as his eyes fell upon the beautiful ves- se ‘What! do you mean the one the pirate Don Diablo so i got possession of, and then eluded the Spanish schooner in?” ‘* Yes, the same ; I would know the craft among a thousand.’ **Well, we will give him chase, and if he proves too strong for us, why, we can run for ** And, lieutenant, do you observe that that is the same lugger we saw in Havana?” *‘ You are right, Stanhope, as I live; well, we will run down and board him and find out who this goleta’s commander is, for the Don may be on her, as you do not know which he remained on, when they parted company, you said.” **No, and think it was the goleta; but the skipper of yonder lugger can tell us, and if the Don is on the Sabinas craft, it would be a feather in your cap to take him, as with your guns you could bring him to terms.” ‘** The goleta is not armed then?” ‘*Only with a couple of sixes to a sidé, and a twelve-pounder pivot in the forecastle, more for salutes, and protection from the lagoon pi- rates, than anything else.” ‘Then ho for the lugger, first, and then for the goleta,” : “The goleta is very fast; as fleet as the wind, I may say, sir,” said the midshipman. ** And this schooner keeps ahead of the wind,” responnas Lieutenant Warburton, with a smile, and then, turning to his first officer, he gave the necessary orders for crowding sail on the schooner. The boatswain, Campas Caliente, piped all hands on deck, and five minutes after the beau- tiful vessel was flying down upon the lubberly sailing lugger, which had gotten under way a , and was shaping her course due west, while the goleta headed northward. CHAPTER XXTX. A WOMAN IN THE WAY. WHEN the lugger sailed from the harbor of Havana, so thoroughly disguised by her false bulwarks, raised stern, old sails, and her s hidden from sight in the hold, she held on her way to the south-westward, before a fair breeze, keeping the coast of Cuba a league off on her port quarter. ; She had run steadily in spite of her disguise making a good seven knots out of asix kno breeze, when, just at dawn, as the island of Cuba was growing dim in the distance, a sail was discovered coming from the direction of Yucatan. “a A second glance at the stranger and Don Di- ablo, who still maintained his disguise, except- ing the false beard, recognized the goleta which he had ordered to the Bahama Wrecking Island. **Can she have been blown off her course, or chased over toward Yucatan, or is that Sathan- ess, Alma, watching me?” he muttered, as the goleta drew nearer. The rest of those on board, and who had in- creased in number largely, since coming out of Havana, also recognized the ieee and could not understand why Don Diablo seemed anxious to avoid the craft. But, certain it was, that he ordered more sail set, and seemed evidently determined not to al- low the goleta to get cluser if he could avoid it. Seeing the intention of the lugger, the goleta at once gave chase, and at once the flight began, Don Diablo trying, as much as was in his power, to hold on his course for Vera Cruz. **T hope Nita will not come on deck, for she will know the goleta at a glance,” he muttered. But, almost with the words, Alena, the oc- toroon, came from the cabin, and brought a The Scarlet Schooner. large Turkish rug and easy-chair for her mis- | to the Mexican coast rendezvous and assumo tress ‘Say to your mistress that isa little damp for her on deck, I fear,” said Don Diablo, But Nita had a sweet will of her own, and the lugger was bowling along so delightfully that she decided to leave the cabin, and, for the life of her could not discover the dampness her hus- band spoke of, ‘*T fear you are too careful of me, Nevil,” she said, in a kindly tone. Failing in his effort to keep her below, Don Diablo tried to occupy her attention so as to keep her from discovering the yoleta, But Nita was one who loved the sea, and, in- haling the fresh air, she turned her gaze upon the four points of the compass, and cried, sud- ary * hy, there is a sail.” yn And is a West Indian, from her rig.” oy ** Oh, N evil! do you not recognize her?” “é Yes ” ‘It is Hl Saltador, my brother’s yacht.” ‘** Yes, it is the one I took from him,” " And you are flying from her?” she asked, in surprise, “*T am.” **She has your men on board, and—” ** Nita, when in Havana I learned that a band of lagoon pirates had captured a goleta answer- ing the description of El Saltador, and also taken her off Piaal del Rio, which was the locali- ty our vessel was in about chat time. ** As the Lagoon Buccaneers do not belong to the Rovers’ League, I fear to be overhauled, so fly from the goleta,” It seemed like a very plausible excuse, and Nita said no more, until it became evident that the goleta was gaining on the lugger. Discovering this Don Diablo changed his course of sailing, aplig les the breeze astern; but the goleta still gained, and more rapidly than before. ** Nevil, why do you not signal?” “True, I never thought of that,” said the cun- ning chief, and he ordered the flag of the be are gg the black field and golden eye, dis- played. Instantly the same flag went up on the goleta and Don Diablo gave the order to luff up and lay to, but there was a smothered curse on his lips, and the words: “*Now I must keep Alma on the goleta or there will be trouble,” ‘**Sail ho!” The chief started, turned his glass upon the distant sail, and said: “She is an American schooner from her rig, and is coming directly toward us. “‘I must hasten to part with the goleta, and and now I think of it, I will send Alma to the coast retreat below Vera Cruz, for there I visit less often than the Bahamas, and she and Nita must not meet.” ** No, they must not meet, even if an accident has to befall Alma.” CHAPTER XXX. OFF THE SCENT. AS the goleta came on it could be seen that she had also discovered the strange sail, and was crowding all sail to reach the lugger as soon as possible. Ordering his boat alongside, Don Diablo was about to descend into it, when Nita came for- ward, still attired in her masculine garb, and asked: “Can I not go with you?” “‘No, Nita, for I must hasten; give way, men!” and the boat left the side of the lugger rapidly in the direction of the approaching goleta, and meeting her, caused her to luff up and lay to. ** Well, sefior chief, you are as thoroughly disguised asis your lugger,” and Alma met Don Diablo at the gangway. “Yes, [ am just out of Havana; but come into the cabin, Alma, for I would speak with you,” and the chief quickly led the way below, or he was confident the eyes of Nita were i the goleta through a glass, ‘* Well, may I ask why you saw fit to run from your own vessel, Captain Quesala?” asked Alma, and it was evident that her suspicious nature was aroused. _ ‘Yes, because rumor had it that the goleta had been captured off Pinal del Rio by lagoon irates, and my ans being in the hold and fi ger disguised, I did not care to haye to fight.” eC Ab! that accounts for it; now may I ask who the young man is I saw with my glass on your deck?” + ben ‘A youth I am training up to piracy.” ‘< Ah! poor boy.” ** And, Alma, why is it that I find you here, when by this time the goleta should have been off the Florida coast on her way to the Ba- hamas.” “T was chased over into the Bay of Cam- che by an English cruiser, and could not dou- le on him to get back.” “Tt is just as well, for I prefer that you go / control there.”’ “You mean the Wizard Caves?” “ Yes.” a ae do you wish me to go there, Don Dia- 0 ‘** Well, I have neglected the men there of late, and wish to get them more thoroughly un- der authority, as I will need them. “Tam now on my way to Vera Cruz, for I am going there to take a new schooner the Mexicans have had built in the United States, one then I will drop in on you for a day or wo,’ “‘As you please, Don Diablo; but of late I have grown sadly suspicious of all you do, and I warn you not to be treacherous, for, though you believe no man can kill you, a woman can.” ‘* Nonsense, Alma, you are—” “Sefior chief, the stranger is coming down upon us like the wind, and is an armed schooner,” called out Victorio Nunez down the a a “Ay, ay, sefior,” answered the chief, and then he said to the woman: ** Alma, rigged as she is the lugger cannot fly as fast as the goleta, so lead this strange sail af- rye your } d ly d your lugger and crew are properly dis- — as a coffee drogher way aed ~ y at **True; then you fly, and if he boards me I will detain him as a as possible, and say you brought me to and robbed me.” ‘Say what you please. ‘“*Now adios, Sefior Diablo, and remember my warning not to ‘pay. me false, as something tells me you are olng, or you will find the American girl whose life you have wrecked more revengeful than a Spaniard.” Don Diablo laughed lightly, kissed Alma on the brow and ascended to the deck, followed by the jealous woman, Seeing that the strange sail had approached uncomfortably near he turned his glass upon her and cried: . ** Nombre de Dios! it is my schooner !” ** Your schooner?” “Yes, Alma, the very craft I am going to Vera Cruz to get possession of, and I can tell you the goleta will have to fly to escape her. ** Adios !” As the chief turned awa to Victorio Nunez, who w with him, ‘‘Sefior, my lieutenant, Campas Calient®, says that yonder schooner is the fastest craft afloat, so see to it that she does not overhaul he made a motion ed to the gangway you, ‘‘If she boards me I will say you are a pi- rate.” Then dropping his voice he added; “IT have told Captain Alma, as the band are pleased to call her, torun for the Wizard Cave beet and, sefior, see to it that she gets lost here.’ ‘*Sefior?” **T mean it.” **’You mean, sefior chief, that—” ** That she must die.” ac Ab 7 ** You understand me?” “Yes, sefior chief,” « Obey me.” “Si, sefior.” ‘* Adios,” and Don Diablo sprung into the stern-sheets of his boat and rowed back toward the lugger, keeping the golvta in line so as to hide him from the approaching schooner. As he touched his vessei the goleta fell off and sailed away under full sail, for the schooner was now not much over al 6 distant. That it was the intention of Lieutenant War- burton to board the disguised lugger first, and then give chase to the goleta, the reader has al- ready seen, and, as Don Diablo made no effort to escape, simply getting under way once more, she was soon come up with, ‘Go on board of her, Stanhope, and see what you make of her,” said Lieutenant War- batons and raising his voice he hailed in Span- ish: ‘* Ho! the lugger!” ** Ay, ay, sefior,” answered Don Diablo, in his deep tones, ‘“*[ will send a boat on board, so come to,” sel? ay, sefior, was the reply, and as the chief brought the lugger up into the wind, he turned to Nita and earl ‘**Do you see the young officer getting into the boat?” "Yes, Nevil.” “* And recognize him?” “Yes, he is thesame that came with my bro- ther to the villa to denounce you.” ‘““'Yes, and followed us in the Spanish schooner,” . ‘I must beware, for he might recognize me, as Isadoro did, in spite of my disguise,” “True, so go into the state-room, and see that nothing of a suspicious nature. is lying about the cabin to catch his eyes.” Nita disappeared and Don Diablo met his visitor at the gangway, and greeted the young midshipman in his cool, quiet way in great danger, ’ COR MIG OOOLK<S Col — = ——