Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 181 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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- i fore we float again; but see! the captain keeps the pack at bay,” and Conrado Marial referred to the scene, then transpiring, where Don Is- adoro had run into the water, as though to seize the boat in which Don Diablo was retreating. ‘‘He could keep his namesake, E] Diablo, at bay I believe,” muttered Anton. All on the lugger now narrowly watched the coming boat, which Don Diablo was rapidly sculling from the shore, and in a few moments the young Cuban drew Nita Sabinas on board, while he thought: ‘* Madre de Dios / what beauty!” Aloud he said: ‘*Glad to welcome you, sefior en and that your injuries are not now painful.” ‘‘Tbank you, Conrado, I nearly went under but thanks to this fair maiden I am almost myself again; but come into the cabin with me, for my s\eet charge here is reviving, I see.” He descended into the cabin, a most comfort- able one for a vessel of its kind, and saw that Nita Sabinas had opened her eyes and was gaz- ing with wonder at him, and then at Conrado Maria). “*Tt is real then, and not a dream?’ she mur- mured., ‘* Yes, Nita, itis no dream that I love you, and that you saved my life from the meditated attack of your brother and his friends; it is real that you are on board my own lugger, which, by letter, I ordered to join me here,” be said, in his soft, fascinatin way. “‘] am here with you, you whom men call Don Diablo, the Rover,” she muttered. ‘* Nita, hear me; men call me all that is bad, but the devil is not as black as he is painted, and I might be far worse. ‘* What I have been, matters not; but what I will be under your nobler, sweet influence, the future will show, for I love you devotedly, and am happy in the love you have given me,” ‘*Yes, I love you, oh, so devotedly; only al- low metogo back to my home, and when you have removed the stain from your name come for me, and I will go with you to the ends of the earth.” Don Diablo was about to make neers when, for the first time, he noticed the list of the lug- ger, and said quickly: “You are aground, Conrado?’ ‘‘ Yes, captain; we ran in too far, and the tide going out has grounded us.” oy Diablo’s face grew dark, and he said uickly: . s I ale ashore just now that there was a Spanish vessel-of-war up the coast a couple of leagues.” ‘There is, sefior; we passed her as we headed for the bay.” ‘‘Sefior capitan, they are going on board the goleta,” called out Anton, from the companion- way ‘* Nita, pardon me one moment; come, Con- rado, | would speak with you,” and Don Diablo left the cabin, followed by the Cuban. ‘“*Sefior Marial, the lady I have here is the Sefiorita Nita Sabinas,” hesaid, in an undertone. ‘So I surmised, captain, from your words.” ** After I captured that American cruiser, the San Juan, I sailed to Sisal to add to my crew, and was caught in a hurricane, and my vessel went to pieces on yonder rocky point, and I alone was saved, and through the bravery of the Sefiorita Sabinas. ‘*T wrote you to Havana of the loss of the schooner, and that we would have to still de- pend upon the lugger.” ““T received ge letter. captain, and came here according to your orders.” ‘ **You did right, and arrived just in time, for I was reeognized by some accursed planter who had been my captive, and your coming as you did saved me; how many men have you?” 4é captain.” “Good? and the lugger’s guns?” “* Are in hold.” ‘' Better still; were she not und I would lay alongside yonder goleta and take her, for she is as as a bird.” ‘True, sefior; we chased her when we had your old schooner El Cinto de Acero,* and she outran us, fast as was the Belt.” “Tt is too bad that you ran info shallow wa- ter, and got left by the tide.” ‘‘I knew not the bay, captain, and had no pilot but the goleta, that came in ahead.” ‘*'You did well, Conrado; but we are caught, for the goleta will bring the Spanish war-vessel down upun us, and her commander will board Me: in spite of my threat to kill Sefiorita Sa- inas.” ‘True, sefior; but what is to be done?” asked Conrado Maria], with a puzzled air. **T am like the lugger, Conrado, ashore,” and Don Diablo smiled in spite of bis danger. Both men stood an instant in deep thought, and then the face of the young Cuban lighted up as he said: , ‘‘T have an idea, my captain, if you are will- ing to consent to it.” ‘When a man is inad will agree to almost an nificant reply. rate situation, he ,’ was the sig- —_ ; # '¥he Steel Belt. —Tue AUTHOR, The Scarlet Schooner. of the love of the | Conrado Marial started at his words, and his * You are convinced Sefiorita Sabinas for you?” , «You have had proof of it?” ; “She believes my word against all accusa- tions regarding me.” ‘‘ Are you willing to give her up?” ce No !” ‘For the present?” “Explain, Conrado,” ° “3 propose a compromise.” **T am listening.” ‘‘ The lugger is aground and we cannot leave.” cs True.” ‘‘{f we take to the shore we will be hunted sae with bloodhounds,”’ ““ es ~ The goleta is getting under way to go after the Spaniard.” ‘ ” ‘Ye “The Spanish vessel will come in and take s ** All this I know, good Conrado.” ; arn captain, I propose that you take the goleta. : ‘‘Ha! that would be a good idea,” and the one a Don Diablo flashed with triumph, while 6 said: “‘Call the crew up, and we will do it— No, no, for see, she is under sail, and our boats can- not overhaul her in this breeze.” With a muttered curse Don Diablo turned away, but Conrado Marial seemed impressed with another thought, or a determination to carry out his first plan, which he had not fully cxpemitied for he suddenly hailed, in trumpet nes: ‘* Ho! the goleta !” ** Ahoy!” cama back from the yacht, ‘*In Satan’s name, Marial! what would you do?” sternly said the chief. But, without heeding, the young officer called out: ‘‘T bave an offer to make from my captain; permit me to come on board,” ** Again [ask what you intend, Sefior Marial?” cried Don Diablo, angrily. ss But before he could reply, Conrado Marial received his answer. ** Ay, ay, we will Jay to for you to come on board; but come alone.” ‘*T will do so, sefior,” answered the young Cubayp, and then he t to his chief, whose brow had become bl anger. ‘‘Sefior captain, my assuming so much, but I did it for se; you said you believed in the love of the Sefiorita Sabinas?” **' You heard what I said,” ‘* Well, I will go on board the goleta and make a compromise.” ‘ ‘** A compromise?” ‘Yes, captain; I will offer to restore the sefiorita to her brother’s care in return for the ‘‘Ha! do you trifle with me, Marial?” ‘* No, sefior captain; you know it is not my nature to trifle.” ‘* What, then, do you mean?” ‘* Trusting in her love, you can trust her to go ashore and return to her home, and while I am gone make an arrangement with ezvous a week, or a month hence.” “ec Ha !” “*T see you understand.” ** Yes, go on, sefior,” “If she fails to keep that appointment, it is easy enough to get her again in your power, for lam certain my captain will not be content to command only this lugger and a few men when there are better craft to capture.” ‘*Conrado Marial, you are a true friend, and I will do as you say; go on board the goleta and make what terms you can.” CHAPTER VI. CONRADO MARIAL’S MISSION. Wag Don Diablo entered the cabin of the lugger, which now oy over on her beam-end the tide having left her thus, Conrado Maria sprung into the goleta’s boat, which his chief had come out in, and her crew sho it into the water, he sculled rapidly out to the yacht. Allon board watched his coming closely, and endeavored to get a view of his face; but the young Cuban bent his head and drew his hat down over his eyes, until he ascended the side of the goleta. ‘* Well, sir, do you come from that accursed sea devil to offer terms?’ asked Don Isadoro, sternly. ‘*T came from my captain, sefior, and would see youin private,” was the quiet response of Conrado, who still concealed bis face as much as was in his power. ‘‘ Then follow me to my cabin,” was the stern response of Isadoro Sabinas and the next mo- ment Conrado stood in the luxuriously-fur- nished cabin of the goleta, for, with ample means at his command, and devoted to a sea life, Don Isadoro had fitted his fleet and beauti- ful vessel up in princely style. ‘“Now, sefior, if you are not afraid to look an honest man ip the face, raise your hang- dog head and tell me what terms your master, the devil, offers to treat with me on?” and Don Isadoro fixed his piercing eyes upon his visitor, ee ee - her for a ren- | 1 Or dark face flushed as he raised his eyes full to those of the man before him, and said sternly: ‘‘Tsadoro Sabinas, I fear to look no man in the eye.” . ‘‘ Madre de Dios! Estevan El Saltador, do my eyes deceive me?” and Don Isadoro started back in an attitude of amazement, and half- drawing a pistol from his belt. **No, Don Isadoro, your eyes do not deceive ou; lam Estevan, the Buccaneer, or, as I am nown sinve my escape from the garote the da I took that fearful leap for life, Estevan, ZU Saltador.’™* ‘* They said he had been captured and hanged at the yard-arm of an American cruiser,” said Don Isadoro, speaking to himself, as though thinking aloud. ‘They said wrong, as you see, Don Isadoro for I am still afloat, and wear the brand of piracy complacently on my brow. ‘*Banished and hunted down, because my father was a conspirator against Spain; with my home in ruins, my fortune wrested from me, I had but one course to pursue, and that was to ally myself with outlaws. ** You, in one of your pleasure cruises, found my vessel a wreck upon the waters, driven be- fore a hurricane, and you it was who carried me into Havana,, where I was condemned te death.” ‘* But did not die, as you made a leap for life from the cliff into the sea that paralyzed all who saw it. ‘You justly earned the name of The Leaper, Estevan, as your father did that of The Traitor before you. ‘““We will not discuss my father, Don Isa- doro, but turn to the cause of my coming bere and voluntarily placing myself in your power,” said the Cuban, sternly. ‘*And now that you are here I hold you my prisoner,” and Don Isadoro drew his pistol quickly and covered the heart of the young out- law with the muzzle. But Conrado Marial did not move, or show the slightest sign of fear, as he said: ‘You forget, Don Isadoro, that your sister would be held as a hostage againg my returh.” ‘Hal I did forget that; but that accursed fiend has her in his power now, and will not give her up.” . ‘*T have come to offer a compromise.” ‘* Name it,” “you were standing out to sea when [ hail- ‘* Yes, to the Spanish vessel you doubtless saw at anchor as you came into the bay.”’ ‘* Yes, sefior, I saw her.” , ‘* Her commander would be glad to have you a prisoner, Don Estevan,” said Isadoro, with a sneer. ' “Doubtless, and you, too, rich as you are, for oe is a price of twenty thousand pesos on my h . es, and as much on of Don Di- if ig d h the head of Don Di ablo; I would make a handsome sum by the capture of such a precious pair.” ‘Why do you hesitate, Don Isadoro, to get the rewards?’ ‘* You know that my sister jsin your power.” ‘Yes, sefior, and her dead body would be sent to you if harm befell. me, or Spaniard came in and attacked the lugger.” ‘*Good God! I believe your chief to be capable of any crime; but I have on board here a Span- ish Government officer, and he demands that L sail to the cruiser and make known the presence of the lngger aid who is her chief.” ‘Well, Don Isadoro, if you desire to save yous peantan sister, I beg that you agree to my terms. if Name them, I say.” ‘Our lugger is ashore.” ‘So I see; you got caught in your own trap. 7 “We are not caught yet.” ‘You certainly are.’ ‘We shall see, my dear Don.” ‘*But your terms, or those of Don Diablo, for Nex. not with whom I deal, sol save my sis- r. ** Having observed that the lugger is on the bottom, and cannot sail for some hours, you know that we cannot put to sea,” “That is evident.” ‘Well, we must put to ag fii get taken by the Spanish cruiser, and not being able to go in the lugger, I have come to ask you for your pretty vessel.” ‘*In the d+ vil’s name! what mean you?” ‘*This vessel’s hull was once my own craft, 1 believe?” ‘* Yes, she was a wreck, as you know, when I towed her into Havana, and I had ber rebuilt and refitted, on account of her beauty and speed.” ** And honored me by naming her after me?” “True; she leaps over the waters so, | called | her El Saltador,’ *“Then 1 think I havea claim upon her, and offer to buy her.” ‘She is not for sale.” ‘**T must have her.” ‘ ee * The Leaper.—THE AUTHOR, CONNIE NOOLKS (E(©)