Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 181 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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6 ** T will not give her up.” “ Then your sister is doomed.” The stern reply caused Don Isadoro to turn pale, and he gasped forth: ; “What do you, can you mean?” “T will give you your sister safe in your hands, for this vessel.’ The Scarlet Schooner. “‘Sefior captain, the Sefior Marial did not come off with us,” said Anton, as'the lugger’s crew reached the goleta. “True, Anton; he remained on board the lug- ger to give. those who take her in charge a little surprise to-night; you act in his* place, and get the goleta at once under all the sail she will Don Isadoro Sabinas saw now that he was the | carry,” replied Don Diablo. one that was entrapped, and he paced to and <4 in the cabin with quick step and angry row, Silently El Saltador watched him for a mo- ment, and then said: . ; ** Don Isadoro, you need not be told how ne- cessary it is for my chief and myself to put tu a. “The lugger is aground and we cannot go in her, and from some source, as many ashore know what is going on here, news of our presence will be carried to the Spanish vessel, and we will be taxen. “Your sister I will give up to you for this vessel intact, excepting her slave crew and your personal baggage,’ and I give you two minutes to decide whether to refuse or accept my terms.” ‘And if I refuse?” é ‘My chief will lash your sister to the lug- ger’s mast, set the craft on fire, and take this goleta in our boats, for we have half a hundred men on yonder vessel.” The words and mauner of Estevan the Leaper struck Don Isadoro dumb with horror and ter- ror, and he could but gaze upon the daring man in silence. “One minute has gone, sefior,” and the Leaper looked at a gold watch, while he added slowly: “You know the character of the man whom they call.Don Diablo, so I beg you, for the sake of your lovely sister, do not hesitate.” “No, no, I will not hesitate; the goleta is yours if you but give me my sister in honor and safety,” cried the young Cuban, in trem- bling tones; *“A wise decision, sefior; now land guests and crew on the nearest point, and send the Donna Sabinas ashore. ain Now I will return and report to my cap- n. He left the cabin without another word, and slowly Don Isadoro followed him, looking like @ man who had been struck some severe blow. As Estevan sprung into his boat and skulled away, Don Isadoro commanded in loud tones, addressing the young Cuban who acted as first officer of the yacht: ‘*Sefior Lazaro, drop anchor, and land the entire crew on yonder point, for I give up the goleta.” Even the score of negroes, the slave crew of the yacht, gazed in astonishment at this strange command, while Guy Stanhope, the American midshipman, asked quickly: < ’ , reget Sefior Sabinas, why this strange or- er “Yes, Don Isadoro, are you in earnest?” asked the Spanish officer, who had accompanied the young Cuban from Havana, and who was an aide on the staff of the Governor-General. “Yes, Sefior Stanhope, and Major Enrique Alvarado, I am in earnest; I have sold the goleta,” he said, bitterly. “ Sold El Saltador?’ cried Major Alvarado. “Yes, sold her to her former owner, who was jusi on board, and who is none other than Este- van El Saltador.” ’ ‘What! Don Isadoro have you done this?” cried the Spaniard. | **T have, and for a good price.” ““T had no idea that the love of gold could tempt Don Isadoro Sabinas to sell a vessel to a conspirator against his king, the son of a traitor, and himself a pirate.” “Major Enrique Alvarado, I forgive your words under the circumstances, for had I sold my vessel for gold to a pirate, { would deserve their sting. ‘But the price I got for the goleta was my sister i &s * our will Both the American and the Spaniard gave a sigh of relief, and Don Isadoro explained what had occurred in the cabin, and, knowing the character of Don Diablo, they could not blame pe ani preparations were made to leave the goleta. Ten minutes afte? the beautiful vessel lay at anchor crewless, and a boat from the lagger carried Don Diahlo and Nita Sabinas to the shore, and landed within a short distance of Don Isadoro and his party. ““Remember, my sweet Nita, one week hence I will be on the coast in a small lugger, and you know my signal, so be ready,” sail Don Diablo, in a low tone, as he touched the shore, “*T will be ready: and you will prove to me that you are not all they say of you?” she an- swered, agit oie “Yes; adios, my beautiful Nita.” He aided her out upon the sands, and spring- ing back in his boat seulled rapidly directly toward the goleta, where the lugger’s boats had already carried his crew, whose a rance roved to Don Isadoro that Estevan EL Raltador ad not spoken falsely when he said he had force enough to carry the yacht by boarding. | | Five minutes more and El Sualtador was flying seaward with k pirate crew upon her decks, and the daring Don Diablo at her helm, for, during his convalescence at the villa of Don Sabinas, he had learned the channel out of the bay, while sailing of an afternoon with the beautiful maiden whose love he had won. Se ee ee | | ' | ss 95SISISII III EES CHAPTER VIL. THE CORSAIR’S RETURN. JUAN LAZARO, the sailing-master of the lost El Saltador, so cleverly captured from Don Is- adoro, sat alone in the cabin of the lugger left by Don Diablo. The tide had come in and the eful vessel was riding the waves, which a six-knot breeze be syncing sboreward to break upon the sandy ch. The greater part of the goleta’s crew had been sent to the negro-quarters, their services not being needed, and but four of the black sail- ors remained upon the lugger, and were for- ward singing African melodies, and enjoying the moonlit scene of bay, seaand shore, for there is ever a love of nature in the breast of the negro, 4 r the cabin, though it was far from being the luxurious quarters of the goleta, Juan Lazaro was not at all miserable, for he had been on a voyage of discovery and found some choice wines and edibles, which showed that the former commander of the vessel had not been in want of the luxuries of life. Diseussing his second bottle of Amontillado, he did not observe, what appeared to be the partition of a state-room, slowly turning, as though on a pivot, and disclosing a& narrow space some eighteen inches wide and ten feet long. . It was but a false wall, or partition, ingenious- ly arranged so as to deceive any one; but it contained a am deal of mischief, for seven men stood in line in the narrow space, and the lamp in the cabin showed that they were a des- perate-looking set, and all well armed. At the head of the «was Conrado Estevan, or El Saltador, ag known to Cubans, and, asthe false w istlessly swung open, he stepped quietly f and a pistol-muzzle was thrust in the face of Juan Lazaro, and the the low, stern words féll on his ear: ** Move, or ery out, sefior, and you die.” ‘* Nombre de Dios! who are you?’ gasped Lazaro, in a hoarse whisper. ** El Saltador,” was the calm reply. ‘Hal! and what want you here?’ asked La- zaro, in the same whisper, for he dared not raise his voice. **T am at home, here, sefior, this being my lugger, which, not caring to have fallinto other hands, I remained to e charge of; see, here are my crew,” and he beckoned to his six com- rades, who passed before the of the terror- stricken man, having step out of their hid- ing- lace and closed the wall as it was before. ‘Holy Virgin protect me,” gasped Juan La- zaro, believing that he was to be killed. “T do not intend to harm you, sefior, if you do my bidding.” ** Oh, [ will do anythin , everything, sefior, if you do not kill me,” cried the frightened man, Tf I killed you, you could do nothing.” ‘*T am not fit to die, sefior.” ‘“*T can believe that: but now obey me,” **In everything, good sefior.” ‘* Step to the companionway, and call one of your crew. Juan Lazaro obeyed, calling, in a loud tone: ‘** Pedro!” ** Si, sefior,” answered the slave called, and he entered the cabin to be immediately seized and bound, while a knife at his throat prevented any outery. 1? this way the rest of the crew were safely captured, and then, leaving the lugger in the charge of one of his ‘men, Conrado Estevan speung into a boat and pulled ashore. As though thorough! inted with the surroundings of the villa, he made his way through the grounds, and approached the wing in which were the rooms of Nita Sabinas. There was-a light streaming from the long windows, and he heard voices within, and knew that the young girl and her maid were convers- ing together. aking a hasty tour of the villa, he discov- ered that Don Isadoro and his guests were in the parlor Playing cards, and returning beneath the window of Nita Sabinas’s room, be hastily wrote something on a piece of paper, the moon- light guiding him, and wrapping it around a builet he took from his pocket, threw it into the room. He heard it fall upon the floor, and the star- tled cries that were uttered both by Nita and Alena, her octoroon maid, and knew that what he had written would meet the eye of her for whom it was intended. Then he walked rapidly back to the shore, i i ees sprung into his boat and rowed back to the lug- ger. ** Now, sefior when you have run the lugger out of the bay for me, you can go ashore with your crew, and say to Don Isadoro Sabinas that El Saltador bids him keep a close watch on the Sefiorita Sabinas, for she is in danger; now take the helm, please, and, remember, if the lugger strikes in going out, it will be the signal for your death.” Juan Lazaro took the helm, the huge lateen sails were spread, and the fleet craft went sea- ward with a merry ripple under her bows. Once out of the bay, and Juan Lazaro and the four slaves were put in a boat and set adrift to return to their home, while the lugger stood away in the direction of the Isle of Pines, The day after sailing asmall craft wassighted, standing close inshore, and a signal was flying, which Conrado seemed to recognize, for he squared away dir.ctly for the little vessel. As the two vessels drew near together the tall form of Don Diablo was visible upon the deck of the little lugger, and he called out: ** Well done, Conrado, in so cleverly retaking the lugger; now head inshore and drop anchor in the fed Lagoon, and I will join you there as soon as I accomplish my object.” ‘You go to the Villa del Florida, sefior cap- tain?” asked Conrado. *“Yes, and will return as soon as I can; eThet Is parted, the large] d he two vessels parted, the eluggér under command of Conrado Estevan heading straight inshore, and soon disappearing in the mouth of some inlet or lagoon, and the smailer craft standing down the coast in the direction of the Villa del Florida. With the one pu in his mind, of recov- ering possession of Nita Sabinas, and to accom- plish which he had captured a fishing polacca, and sent the goleta on to the rendezvous, Don Diablo, disguised as a common seaman, held on down the coast, until the white walls of the Sabinas villa arose before his view. As the little vessel was gliding rapidly along, close inshore, driven by a hard wind that was blowing, and the daring man at her helm was pipeciee how he was to get possession of the air Nita, he suddenly saw a cavaleade dashing the highway, and with a start re- cognized the beautiful form of Sefiorita Sabinas on horseback. She was attended by the American midship- man, Guy Stanhope, and behind her came two other couples, whom Don Diablo saw were Isa- doro Sabinas and Major Enrique Alvarado, es- corting ladies from some of the neighboring pueblas, ° At a glance Nita Sabinas also recognized her lover, and, acting under the sudden impulse of her most impulsive nature, she suddenly turned her horse and dashed away like the wind, | toward a low point of land, to whica she pointe with her whip. Realizing her intention intuitively, Don Diablo headed directly toward the shore, at the point where he expected her to reach it, and called to the half-dozen men he had on board to be ready for busy action. Astounded at the inexplicable conduct of his beautiful young hostess, Guy Stanhope drew rein for an instant, scarcely knowing what to do, until startled by the ringing tones of Don Isadoro, whose quick eye had also recognized the chief. — “Quick! follow me, for yonder boat carries Don Diablo, and she flies to his protection!” Like the wind Don Isadoro started in pursuit, and, deserting the two ladies, the. three horse- on were at once in full chase of the fair fugi- ve. But holding her way directly for the sandy beach, Nita Sabinas seemed determined to fly from the protection of home and kindred for the love of an outlaw, and urged her splendid horse at once into the foaming surf, for the sea was running high. Boldly the obedient animal breasted the waves, and when Don Isadoro and the others reached the shore she had left, Nita Sabinas was far out upon the wind-lashed waters, an] = ne lugger standing in a direction to head er off. Having relinquished the helm to one of his men, Don Diablo stood on the deck, a coiled rope in his hand, to throw over the daring girl as the lu Gor shot by, and, as be neared the now terribly frightened, but nobly struggling horse, he shouted in triumphant and cheery tones: : : ‘* Bravo! my noble Nits, you are mine once more!” swiftly alon CHAPTER VIII. A PLOT FOILED. IT was a critical moment, and formed a thrill- ing tableau, if the moving objects and persons of the scene may be so designated, at the mo- ment when Don Diablo cried with exultation: ““Bravo! my noble Nita, yon are mine once more.” The sea was running high, half a gale was blowing and pressing the little lugger over until her lee scuppers were under water, the chief stood with rope in hand ready to cast to the \ eGoim S) (C JOO (E(0)