Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 181 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

OS ere fe Be ee et Parry The Scarlet Schooner. bt = at —— — oh rr es | and glancing around upon them, said. quickly» ‘‘Men, who and what are you?” ‘The , Wreckers, sefora, and members of the Lagquss ‘* What league?” she asked, not comprehend-, ing them whoily. “The Buccaneer League, sefora, that ac- knowledges Don Diablo chief.” ' At that name the face of the woman turned pale, and she said, falteringly: ‘You are the Bahama Wreckers, taen?’ ‘* Yes, sefiora,” continued the-spokesman, “ And this is one of the islands that this wreck has driven upon?’ ‘* Yes, sefiorita,” ‘“‘Then I need expect no more mercy than from wolves,” she said, with scorn in her voice and look. ‘Pardon, sefiorita, knowing you as we do, you are entitled to any respect that we can show,” said the leader, <eppoerheely, ‘“Knowing me?” she asked, with surpzise, “Yes, lady.” ; ‘You do not know me.” ‘‘The Seforita Sabinas that was; now the wife of our chief,” was the firm res e. ‘No, no, no! I am not his wife, for he is dead,’ she cried in a tone of deepest feeling; while up before her surged like a nightmare the whole buried t. ‘*Don Diablo dead, lady?’ and the man asked the oa with surprise. | ae es.” “Tt is hard to believe, lady, for we Wreckers were broken up some time ago, and yet here we are, , ‘‘ Then, Don Diablo has been killed so often, and yet lives.” ‘*T saw him die,” ‘* Ah) then there can be no,doubt, ‘‘ When and where was this, lady?” “Tt was when his schooner, Sea Gipsy, was sunk by the Red Schooner, six months ago.” ‘“ Why, lady, have you not seen him since then?” asked the man, with evident surprise, “How should I, when I say to you that he is dont: ‘‘ No, lady, Don Diablo lives.” “No! no! no!” ‘* Yes, sefiora, he was here one week ago.” ‘‘ What! Don Diablo lives! he is not dead! he was here one week ago!” She fairly shrieked forth the words, and springing toward the speaker, grasped him firmly by the arm. ; ‘““T swear it, lady; he is again afloat on the seas, having retaken his Sea Gipsy from the Mexicans, who purehased her and the Red Schooner from the Americans,” ‘* Not dead, and once more in the Sea Gipsy, dyeing the waves with blood? ‘* Then, Don Diablo, my task is not yet done, and once more shall the Scarlet Schooner follow your wake, with Nita Sabinas, an avenging Ne- bs 7 - bay tne her f d to er eyes , her form was drawn up its full hight, the eolo. came back into her face, and the Wreckers upon her with absolute awe, and in d silence, for they knew not why the woman that some of their number re- membered as the one love of Don Diablo’s life, had so changed.as to wish to hunt him to death, ‘Men, hear me!” she cried, vehemently, and all bowed in silence, J ‘‘- You live here tbe life of cowards, luring vessels to ruin for a paltry booty you gain from them, and it is unworthy of you, “T intend tosweep the seas, and hunt from off its blue face the scourge of mankind, Don Dia the Rover. ‘* You say he has retaken the Sea Gipsy, his old schooner, ; ‘Pledge yourselves to come with me, and I pledge myself to place you on the deck of as fleet. a vessel as the Sea Gipsy, and to fill your pockets with gold by the capture of a human aa * and to gain pardon for you from,the ‘‘ Have no league but our own, and when Don Diablo has beeu strangled on the gallows, then haul down your lawless flag, apd seek to live under the ensign of an honest nation.” ‘* | follow. your lead, Nita Sabinas, and justly do you deserve to become a Nemesis, and I, too, an avenger.” j The speaker steppe down into the cabin, and was evidently the leader of the Wreckers. But, with one glance into his face, Nita Sa- binas started pack with acry of horror, for in the handsome, stern, and sad face before her, she beheld Conrado Marial, The per. There was no mistaking his face and form— is was Estevan, the Conspirator, the same whom Don Diablo had forced to walk the plank for warning her against him. CHAPTER. L. GOLD AND REVENGE IN THE BALANCE. Colonel Fernando Navaro sat in his elegant uarters, plotting some new scheme to ‘ raise the Maton, Pea in other words to get funds to pay niagnie ing debts. e had ascended the ladder of promotion two grades, since the flight of the schooner Wizard a ee bs) & E. fromthe harbor of Vera C at the helm, and by plot an not only kept, his head above, water in public opinion, but had managed to convince the Goy- ernment that he was absolutely necessary to its safety and proper advancement. If his nan.e was connected with anything that was. ‘‘off color,” the colonel-commandante. al ways came out untarnished. But money he nt like water, and bis ex- travagant mode of life and gambling. demanded = sums of him to keep him going. : ime,.touched him lightly, and the .evil heart within was carefully hidden from. public. view, and his face bore no trace of wickedness. mthe morning when he is again called to the notice of the reader, Colonel, Navaro was ill at ease. He had gambled largely and lost, and had spent considerable sums, until he had drawn upon the Government fund in his keeping, and pay-day had come when he must make it good. resently a seryant entered and announced a visitor, ‘* Who is it, Jaquez?” he asked. ‘(A lady, sefior colonel, and deeply vailed.” “Ah! how do I look, Jaquz?” . - ‘‘ A Jittle haggard, from late hours, sejfior colonel, but very handsome,” ‘‘ Yes; I feared this brown silk dressing- gown was not becoming; it looks well, then, does it?” “ Beautiful, sefior.” **Show the Jady in, Jaquez.” Tbe confidential servant of Colonel Navaro disappeared, but soon returned and ushered into the room a lady of slender, graceful form, and superb carriage, though with a somewhat haughty toss of the head. ‘*The Sefor Colonel Navaro, I believe?’ she Bal, to a voice of remarkable sweetness, ‘Yes, lady; in what can I serve you?” ** Are we alone?” was the cautious question. ‘* Well, yes.” ° ‘Is there any doubt of it, Colonel Navaro?” The commandante got a little nervous, for his conscience was not a good one by any means. “No, we are alone, sefiora.” ‘*T believe, Colonel Navaro, that you are em- financially ?’ was the bold question, ‘* 7?” and the colonel started, for he was not one to admit he ever needed money. ‘Yes, senior.” ‘‘Who could have told you such a thing, sefiora?” " ‘‘It matters not; but I happen to know that you are heavily in debt, and I have come to with Don Diablo coun ot had show you a way to get clear of your financial difficulties.” ‘‘Why, what sweet angel is this that thus comes to me with words of cheer?” “T am not a sweet angel, Colonel Navaro, but on the contrary a sinful, designing wo- “‘T cannot permit such slander of yourself from lips so fair; but permit me to see beyond that naughty vail,” and the colonel made a step forward. But the voice, clear and resolute, checked m: “Tf am not on exhibition, Colonel Navaro, bes to serve you, and in so doing I serve my- se ‘Enough! your words and manner tell me you have something to propose.” ‘*T have.” “T am listening, sefora,” ‘* You have heard of Don Diablo lately?” Colonel Navaro started visibly, but answered angril , while his face turned pale: : o has not? After the seas had hada rest, for a while he is now at his old trade aln, . ° ‘He has of late committed a very bold act in your harbor, I believe?” “Yes; the Government bought from the Americans the Sea Gipsy, Don Diablo’s old craft, and the one that captured him; they are. sister vessels, and were acting as a coast guard; but Don Diablo, who certainly can boast of haying nine lives, came in here in a yee lugger, ran afoul of his old vessel, and boarde her with nearly a hundred men, while, to make good his escape, he sent the lugger flying out of the harbor, and pretended to be pursuing with the schooner.” * A bold deed surely.” ‘‘ A man such qs heis can only do such deeds. ‘¢Tn some way he learned that the castle was being repaired on the side on which he age or aud this aided him of course, while the officer in command of D’Uloa turned what guns he could upon the lugger, believing that to be the one to fire at of course,” ‘‘ This has caused your Government to offer a reward of a hundred thousand pesos for the pirate’s head, I believe?” | ‘‘ There is an offer of that kind.” ‘Will it be paid?’ : ‘What! have you knowledge of Don Diablo?” ‘“T have.” “You, @ woman ?” ‘Why not?” ' F ‘*T see no reason why you should not, if you are beautiful.” ‘* Tam beautiful.” 2 a ee . With the words she threw back the dark yail, and Colonel Navaro fairly started at the loveli- ness revealed; but it was a face to fear as wel as adore, yet he saw only its beauty. : “Tn the name of the Virgin, who are you sefiora?”’ asked the Mexican, with a stare o eagie he could not withdraw from her ace. **T am a Cuban, sefior colonel, whose life Don Diablo wholly wrecked, whose father and bro- ther he killed, and who seeks only to revenge herself upon him,” she said, in a suppressed voice. . ‘“‘ But you have a name, sefiora?” ‘Call me the Nemesis of the Sea, for I ply the blue waters only for revenge.” ‘« And you know of this Don Diablo?” ‘t’'Yes, I know his haunts, and [ can take you there.” ‘* Where is he, sefiora?” ‘Where only I can find him, sefior.” ‘*' You will not tell?” “T will pilot you there, and more, I will give to you the reward offered for him dead or ive. ' ft would ratber have him killed than taken alive. T will never take him alive, ssfior, though he must know who his slayer is.” ‘You do indeed hate him, sefiora?” ‘More intensely than I onee loved him, Col- onel Navaro.” ‘‘ And you offer to give to me the reward for the head of this man ‘Yes, every peso,” “if I aid you?” **Of course.” “*Show me how I can?” ‘‘Take with you a hundred soldiers on the schooner-of-war now in the harbor.” ‘*She has her crew. “You will need more, for the attack must be made both by land and water.” ‘* And when?’ “The first night of storm I will run the schooner into the secret bay.” “Why in a storm?” “On calm nights a watch, is kept; when it blows there is no need of it, for no vessel can enter the bay without a skilled pilot.” *“ And you are such a one?” ‘Yes, I know the channe] the darkest night.” Pardon me for looking at the matter in a business light; but what guarantee have I that I will get these rewards, if Don Diablo is taken?” said the sordid officer. ‘You shall lead the expedition, and, as its chief you can claim the reward, and also get the credit of having run the pirate to his lair. “T am simply your pilot.” M4 Enough; and revenge is all you.ask for your services?’ ‘*'Yes, sefior colonel.” . “Tam content; you take your revenge, and I will take the money.” The woman smiled scornfully, but made no reply pnd Colonel Navaro asked; . : en will you be ready?” ‘Within the bour.” — ‘*Where will I meet you?” ‘*T will come here; but remember, I wi'l go in male attire, and you are alone to know my sex. *““As you please, sefiora; do but place that man in my power and I will bow down and wor- ship you.” . , “or the gold I bring you, sefior?” “No, for your beauty. “ Ah, sefior colonel, gold, though stained with blood, is far more valuable in man’s eyes than beauty tarnished with dishonor. “The one can be polished to shine like the sun, but from the other the rust will never wear off,” she said, sadly, “You speak strangely, sefiora,” said the man, impressed by her words and manner. “y truly, Colonel Navaro,” and she turned toward the door, adding: “Within an hour [ will return and send in my name; it will be simply Nemesis,” ** And I will send at once to the schooner and have her gotten ready, and order out picked men from the barracks. “Adios, sefora,” and in spite of bimself Colonel Navaro was forced to show the beauti- ful woman the deepest respect. Returning to his room, the Mexican’s face fairly shone with the joy he felt, and he mut- tered, gleefully: ‘Now once more I can pay my debts, and then an end to gambling. * With the éclat of capturing Don Diablo I will be a lion, be prope: win a fortune at a stroke, and, by the Cross! I will marry that beautiful being eyen though she be the cast-off bride of a corsair. ‘But there is one thing I must do, and that is, kill Reno Quesala, the pirate chief, forif I do not he may let out some ugly secrets, ““-Yes, he must die, if I drive the knife to his heart after he is in irons,” and the glitter in the dark eyes showed that Colonel Fernando Na- varo was fully equal to the duty he set himself 4 perform, in case Don Diablo fell not in the y. (E(©) mn ElOOO KS; (e(6)|