Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 181 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

> board the goleta, as he knew not what force the pirate carried. ; ; But determined, either to make him strike or sink him, he wore ship once more and again sent a broadside upon the doomed craft. ‘Do you strike now?” he called out again in hoarse, angry tones. ‘‘No, sefior, sink me,” was the fearless re- sponse. ‘* By the gods of war, but I will,” cried War- burton, furiously. ‘Hold! Lieutenant Warburton, that is a wo- man’s voice as I liye,” called out Guy Stan- hope. “By Neptune! you are right, I verily believe, Stanhope.” ‘*'You remember that I told you of the chief running off with the Sefiorita Sabinas, who loved him, believing him to be an honorable man,in fact Captain Austin Aubrey, and was so infatuated that—” ‘*She would not give him up’ on discovering who he was? ‘Yes, { remember it, Stanhope, and do not wonder at it, for she, beng a woman, is an enigma; but what then?” : ‘I believe, sir, that Don Diablo has been killed, and that the one who hailed is the Se- norita Sabinas, who is anxious to die too, rather than go back to her home in disgrace.” ‘Right you are, I'll wager six months’ pay, Guy; but what are we to do?” | “Ttisa iatter of very Jittle importance to you whether those fellows are dead or alive, so ou know the fate of Don Diablo, and can save hat beautiful girl?” ‘I don’t care a copper for them, Stanhope.” “Then offer all who surrender, excepting the officers, a free pardon,” ‘Tl do it, by the hoary head of old Neptune: ‘*Helmsntan!” ** Ay, ay, sir.” “Run close in under the goleta’s stern when we wear sbi P and go back on the other tack,” ren er.” The lieutenant then gave the order to ‘‘ bout it and the next moment the schooner was Se so as to pass within her length of the goleta. ‘** At the guns there!” ‘Ay, ay, sir.” ** Cease firing until further orders, now!” and raising his voice he called out: ‘‘ Well, have you struck your flag?” ** No, sefior.” ** All right; all on board that craft, excepting officers, who will surrender, shall have a free pardon for their crimes of piracy.” A faint cheer came from half a dozen voices on the goleta, and then a voice was heard in angry denunciation, followed by several pistol shots in rapid succession, and the clash of steel against steel. ‘* Great God! they are fighting among them- selves; hark!” : It was Roger Warburton who spoke, and ge ag to the schooner’s wheel he brought her up into the wind, and she lay quiet upon the waters. ‘Help! she is killing us! help, for the love of the Virgin!” : > ‘*Quick! let a boat be manned and I will board,” cried Guy Stanhope, and he ran to the starboard davits, and in a minute’s time a cut- ter was in the sea with a full crew in it. **Be wary, Stanhope, and if you need me hail!” cried Warburton, as the boat pulled away with the tiller-ropes held in the firm gripe of the daring midshipman. The sea was rough, yet not runnin high and without much difficulty the boat was lai ‘along- side of the low hull of the goleta, and Guy Stan- hope, cutlass in hand, sprung on board, followed py the half-dozen seamen who had accompanied m. As their feet touched the deck amidships, a sickening scene met the gaze of the Americans, for the foremast was gone, shot away even with the bulwarks, the mainmast was tottering, and the wreck of rigging and sails hung about it. The decks were seamed with shot-marks, and strewn with the dead, while the bulwarks were shattered, and the small gurs, which Don Isa- doro had been so proud of using in salutes, were all dismounted except the one on the forecastle. Not a human being was risible upon his feet, and yet one-half rose as the Americans came on deck, ‘* Well, my lad, you teem all of life that is left here,” said Guy Stanhope, Sei “T am, your honor. all that can kick on deck,” said the man, ina rich English accent; ‘ but,” he added in a low tone, “ there’s life in the cabin yet, I can swear.” ‘*Why did yo not strike your flag and save this bloodshed?’ ‘* Well, sir, it was an easier death to die than by a rope, the lads thought.” **But pardon was offered you.” ‘And the few of us left was longing for it, sir; but that handsome devil on the forecastle would not allow it, and when we called out to accept your terms, sir, we were just shot down to the last man, and thar were five of us stand- then. ‘I got it here, sir, and I guess I’m done for.” The midshipman bent over and looked at the man’s wound. It was a pistol-shot in the right side, and had bled freely. ‘*Well, my man, the surgeon of the schooner 2 pull you through yet,” he said, not un- indly, ‘** To be hanged, sir?” ‘No, you accepted the offer of Lieutenant Warburton, and will be pardoned, **Look after him, lads.” “The goleta is settling fast, sir,” said the boatswain, Campas Caliente, ‘* Yes, sir, she got it strong between wind and water,” said the wounded pixate, ** Well, we will not tarry; now, who isin the cabin, my man?” **Only one, sir.” **Don Diablo?” ‘*One who is his equal, sir.” The midshipman waited to hear no more, but telling the men to look over the goleta, and if he needed them he would call, he walked quick- aft. A battle lantern or two continued to burn, showing clearly the sickly scene; but in the cabin a bright light was burning, and with his cutlass ready Guy Stanhope entered. The handsome cabin had not escaped un- tarred, for the cruel shot had torn their way throughit, scattering ornaments here and there, shattering the furniture, and playing sad havoc generally. But in the coipenonwey uy Stanhope paused, for before him he beheld a slender form, ciad in half dress uniform, and a ea upon the table, before which he sat, his heac buried in his arm. A splintered mark across the table showed where a shot had cut its way, and the mid- shipman believed that the one he saw was dead. ut no, as he looked the bead was raised, and a profile of rare beauty was visible. And rising, there was seen in the hand a giver cup, and slowly it was brought toward the lips. . Diicotiastous of the presence of a stranger the lips moved, and the words distinctly reac ed the ears of the midshipman: “Well, the end is come, and I have escaped unhurt through this hell of iron hail, while others have fal‘en around me. ‘* But I will not be taken alive, and I too will die by this fatal cup, and my victors will con- sider that Lam a boy and I'll be thrown into the sea, and none ever know the fate of Alma Aubrey. | ‘* Ah me! mine has been a sad lot, but cir- cumstances, not intention to sin, made me what I am, and I will end this wretchedness, and none will mourn me, not even Reno Quesala,” As she ceased speaking she raised the cup slowly to her lips. CHAPTER XXXIV. THE LAST OF THE GOLETA, As the cup approached her lips, although her hand was firm as a rock, Alina Aubrey could not restrain a shudder. But while a stern look crept over her face she brought it nearer, and the next instant the fatal draught would have been taken and the wretched woman have ended her own life, had the midshipman pot bounded forward and dashed the goblet to the floor. a, shriek burst from the pallid lips of Alma’ rey, and turning upon the intruder, she attempted to draw a pistol from her belt. But there was a gripe upon her slender wrist she one not resist, while Guy Stanhope said, sternly: ‘*Hold! do not struggle, for it will be useless; as I have help at band, and noone need know who you are, if you remain quiet.” *Do you know who I am?” she asked, turn- ing more pale than she had in the presence of the death she sought. ‘ ” “You think I am the son of Don Diablo?” ia No ” ** Who then?” “You are a woman.” ‘*Ha! how know you this?” “The beauty of your face and form would betray you to me if not to others.” ““Oh God! my beauty has been my curse,” oon I feat ha? af so,” — ran ou speak kin me, and ‘yet you fin me on board this erat,” ‘“T know who you are.” ‘* And who am 1?” she asked, in a trembling voice. ** Alma Aubrey.” ‘* Heaven have mercy! Iam utterly lost.” **No, I will not betray hres “Tf you will do this for me I will worship you; do you know aught of me?” “T know your brother well; I was serving as senior midshipman on board his vessel, and was in command, as duty ashore called the other of- ficers and most of the crew, when Don Diablo captured her. ‘Was he killed by our fire?” ae Who?” * Don Diablo.” ** Ah, no. ”? 19 “Then he lives?” eagerly asked the middy, “Yes,” ** And is wounded, or—” ‘** He is not wounded,” ‘** Nor dead?” “*T said no.” ‘* Where is he?” ‘* He is not here,” ‘*] know to the contrary.” **' You do not.” ‘*T say I do, for I boarded the lugger he rob- bed this afternoon.” A scornful laugh from the woman caused Guy Stanhope to regard her with surprise, ‘* Why do you laugh?” ** At your words.” ** Where is the fun in them?” **'You say he robbed a lug er this afternoon?” ‘Yes, you know it as well as I.” “He did not.” ‘*T saw this goleta alongside a lugger, and eee ee ie boarding her was told by her skipper that Don - Diablo had brought her to and robbed her, and that the noted pirate was on this craft.” A scornful laugh from the woman again puz- zled the midshipman, and he continued: ‘‘T happen to know that be captured this goleta on the southern coast of Cuba, from a planter whose daughter he also kidnapped—” With the bound of a tigress the woman sprung before the midshipman, and faced him with glaring eyes, while shesaid in a command- ing tone: ‘* }iopeat those words! he kidnapped a maiden, you said?” Surprised at her earnest manner and the sup- pressed passion in her look and tone he said; ‘* Yes, he was wrecked in the vessel he took from me, and which your brother commanded, and his life was saved by the Sefiorita Nita Sa- binas.”’ ** Nita Sabinas?” ec Yes. ” ‘‘Nita Sabinas,” repeated the woman, as though trying to fix the name upon her memory forever. “That was the name.” **She saved his life?” ** Yes, she drew him from the surf and nursed him through his illness, for he had a broken arm, and all this time she believed him to be Captain Austin Aubrey.” ‘* My brother!” ‘You admit then that he is your brother?” ‘‘Go on; we were speaking of Don Diablo and Nita Sabinas,” she said, in a tone of au- mart A “Well, she ran off with Don D.ablo, even af- ter she knew who and what he was, and I was in the Spanish schooner that gave chase to his lugger and this goleta, which belonged to Don Isadoro Sabinas,” The woman was now as white as a corpse, and her form trembled violently while she said, after several efforts to keep calm: ‘‘T was captured by one who who would have made me his slave, and Don Diablo rescued me from him. ‘* He swore that he loved me, he treated me with respect and kindness, and he fascinated me, and now I am what I am. - Another woman of honor has, like myself, been fascinated by the serpent, and from my heart I pity her. ‘*No, Don Diablo is not on this goleta, sir, for the reason that Ne was on the lugger you over- hauled the day just passed.” ‘*The luggerf ac Yes. ” ‘That was a coffee drogher.” ‘Not so; it was the ere lugger you say you had c , only so disguised a false stern bulwarks and old sails and ht change of % By Heaven, I believe you are right,” ‘*T know I am; he ordered me to an island rendezvous, when we parted from the lugger some days ago, and meeting again, for I was run off my course by a cruiser, he ordered me to another retreat, and thither I was going when you chased me.” ‘*You are in command of this goleta, then?” asked Guy Stanhope, in surprise. ‘¢Victorio Nunez was sailing-master, but I was the one in command.” ‘‘And you say that Don Diablo was on the nae ‘ es,”’ ; ‘*T would like to have seen him.” “Did you see her skipper?” pe (Fey ‘A tall man With heavy beard?’ e Yes.” ‘What said he to you?” ‘That Don Diablo had robbed his vessel and was on this goleta.” ‘* Aught else said he?’ ‘¢ Yes, that he would not surrender, and the only way was to sink the goleta and all on rd, 2 Ha! that is what he said?” es, “Well, the goleta is sinking.” wean allon board are dead, excepting my- m GOmMlEboOOKS Se €O ae ny}