Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 eee -— -_——- - *‘ Guess he don’t want our ’quaintance,” were the comments of the two negroes, But be shall know us better, boys, whatever he may be. “Have you seen more than the five men on her deck?” **No, sah.” ** One is a white man?” *f Yes, sah.” ‘‘And the others are negroés, so that would indicate some plantation yacht,” “That, are so, massa, but it do look more and more like the Jack-o’-lantern, sah,” ‘Well, we shall soon see, for the Glide catches the breeze well, which he does not, and we will pass within a few fathoms of him,” Phil and Dot both looked as though they were of the opinion that they would rather not get any nearer, but they knew whatever their master set his mind upon he would carry out, if in bis power, and they wisely held their peace. ‘Are you sure, Phil, that is the Jack-o’- lantern?” asked Captain Wyndham, as the Glide had overhauled the stranger, until they were only a few cable-lengths apart, ‘‘ Yas, sab, thatam the identical craft, as I hopes for glory when I dies,” firmly answered Phil. The two yachts were now sailing upon a parallel course, and though a good cable’s length apart, if the Glide continued to gain as she was then doing, she must pass within ten fathoms of the other, and so near that the stranger must naturally take the wind out of her sails as she went by, for the other craft was further in-shore, from which direction the wind came, It was now nearly sunset, and the slanting rays of the declining orb fell upon both yachts, revealing every outline and rope distinctly. The strange yacht was certainly a beautiful craft from hull to truck, and glided through the water with stately ease, though not as rapidly as her model and rig would give indication of, for she seemed built to go, and carried a vast spread of canvas, even more than did the Glide; but had the breeze been stronger she would have doubtless dropped the little vessel from Lakelands with ease. Upon her decks every coil of rope was in its place, and all was neat and ship-shape, Her crew of four men, whose black faces indicated the African, were forward, lazily watching the Glide, while her master sat in the cockpit, bis hand upon the tiller. ; He was a white man, with heavy beard, and dressed in sailor garb. | As the Glide slowly overhauled the stranger a silence rested upon both crews, until the small yacht had crept up until her sharp bow- sprit was even with the stern of the larger yacht. | Then Captain Wyndham began to bring h's vessel closer to the wind, and seeing it, the helmsman of the stravger yacht did likewise, uatil it became a question of which could point closer into the wind’s eye, But the sails of the stranger shivered first, end he was compelled to keep off a point and hold her at that, while the Glide, with her main- sail as flat as a board, could still keep two points nearer the wind, a circumstance which, if her master did not change his course, in a few minutes would lay the bows of his vessel alongside the other craft, This the master of the stranger saw, and called out angrily: ' ‘‘Ho, there!._ do you intend to run me aboard?” _“ What yacht is that?’ asked Captain Wynd- haw, in clear, sailor-like tones. “The Jack-o’-lantern,” came back the cry. “Didn’t I done tole yer so; massa?” cried Philip, sotto voce, . “Ha! the smuggler craft of that name?” said Captain Wyndham, ‘Yes, the smuggler craft that was, but now under a different master.” ‘** Ah! she was captured then?” “Yes, two weeks ago in Mobile bay, and I bought her—look out, sir, or you'll be into me.” ‘No, I shall not touch you, sir; but Iam obliged for, your information, for I was told by one of my men it was the smuggler Jack-o’- lantern, and intended making an effort to take you,” was the bold reply of Captain Wynd- ham, though delivered with courtesy. “You are willing to take great chances, sir,” said the other, with a smile. “True, but the game would have been NE Eee T = well worth the risk, for I am Percy Wynd- bam, late a captain in the navy, and well know the value my Government puts on the smugglers of this coast.” ““Indeed! I have heard of you, Captain Wyndham. “Allow me to introduce myself as Frank Forrester of New Orleans, an amateur yachts- man and seeker after sport generally. ‘* Do you head for New Orleans?” *.- OO, Bir.” ‘“‘T have rooms at number Ten St. Charles, and will be glad to see you there.” “Thank you, sir, and sbould you cruise near Lakelands plaptation at any time, I will be pleased to entertain you. **Good-evening, sir, and a pleasant time,” and Captain Wyndham raised his hat politely. The yachtsman returned the salute, and the Glide baving forged ahead, the two vessels were soon quite a distance apart, and were soon lost to the sight of each other by the shades of night. The wind increasing, the Glide went bound- ing merrily along, and at dawn was within a league of her anchorage. “Massa, ’fore God, sah, does yer see dat craft at anchor, yonder in de harbor?” sudden- ly cried Phil, addressing his master who had remained at the helm all night. Captain Wyndham glanced quickly in the direction indicated, and beheld a vessel which caused him to fairly start, while be said earn- estly: ‘*By Heaven! it is the counterpart of the yacht we passed last night.” “Tt am de Jack-o’-lantern, sah,” “Tt cannot be, Phil.” “Yas it am, massa,” put in Dot firmly. ‘Well, we shall soon know.” The Glide held on to her anchorage, and let go her hook within a length of the stranger. “It is certainly the craft,” said Captain Wyndham, but he was surprised to see that it lay at anchor with sails furled, and that there was not.a sign of life on board, Going ashore in his dory the captain asked a fisherman; ““My man, when did that craft come in?” “ Last night, some time, sur.” * What yacht is it?” “It were the smuggler craft, Lantern, but she got took some weeks ago, and she were bought by one o’ our fancy city sports they “But I passed her yesterday at sunset, sixty miles from hore, and outsailed her fairly, and now [ find her at anchor here.” “It are a mysterious craft, sur, so we. all says.” “But where are her crew?” “Dunno, sur; ther cap’n told me to keep a eye on her.” ‘Well, [cannot account for it,” and Cap- tain Wyndham walked off to the little inn near by to get a conveyance to carry him into the city, distant four miles, where be intended to accept the invitation of Mr. Frank Forres- ter, and learn how it was he had so easily beaten the Glide to her anchorage. CHAPTER XVIII. A FATEEUL LETTER. Upon reaching the city, Captain Wyndham sought the hotel where he was wont to put up when in New Orleans, and after breakfast sent his card to Major Mark Mortimer, whom he knew always stopped at the same house. To his surprise the waiter returned with the information that the major was not in the city. Rising from the breakfast-table, Captain Wyndham sought the clerk and asked: “‘Is there not some mistake about Major Mortimer not being here?” The clerk had heard of the old-time affair between the Wyndhams and Mortimers, and seemed surprised that the captain should ask for his enemy; but he responded politely: “No, sir, the major is not here.” “‘ He always stops with you, does he not?” _ “He does, sir, whenever he is in the city.” “Strange, for they said at The Everglades he had left for New Orleans.” ** He has not arrived then.” ‘I left long after he did, and with a fair wind came over in good time.” “His son arrived this morning, Captain Wyndham.” “ But not the father?’ “No, sir.” “This is strange indeed, DBRGPTOR BOROONPT: rr ‘Toby could not have made a mistake, and have asked for the young maf instead of his father,” muttered Captain Wyndbam. Then turning to the clerk, he again asked: “Where is Mr. Mark Mortimer?’ ‘In his room, sir, at breakfast with a friend.” ‘Will you kindly send up and ask him if he left his father at The Everglades, or whether he is expected in the city? ‘Say a gentleman would like to know, only mention no name,” The servant went on his errand, and returned with the information from Mark Mortimer that his father was at The Everglades, and would not be in the city for two weeks; but if the gentleman was a friend of his father’s, to come up and join bim at breakfast. Captain Wyndham turned away with a look of disappointment upon his face, and sauntered forth to attend to some business affairs ha thought it best to arrange while he was in town. The business detained him the greater part of the day, and when he returned to the hotel he was surprised to find a largo and excited crowd assembled there, As he entered a dread silence fell upon all, and every eye was turned upon him, as several recognized him and his name was spoken, whils there came the low words: ** There he comes now!” He gave a slight start, and bis face paled, as he saw one of his own negroes, haggard and weary-looking, standing by the office awaiting him, a letter in his hand; but before he could speak fo him a tall, fine-looking man, with heavy beard, stepped forward and addressed him It was the helmsman of the strange yacht, but no longer in his pea-jacket and duck pants, but dressed in the hight of fashion, and with the elegant manners of a courtier. “We meet again, Captain Wyndham, and I must beg to see you in your room, as I bear an important letter to you,” he said with a pleas- ant smile. ‘* Ab yes, it is Mr, Forrester; but you will pardon me just now, as I see here one of my slaves, and I fear ill tidings from home,” ard Captain Wyndham passed on with a bow and eagerly reuched forth his hand for the letter Caleb held forth to him, with a remark that caused him to dread the worst. “Oh massa, dey wants you at home bad, sab.” . Captain Wyndham broke the seal with a hand as firm as iron, and with a hundred pairs of eyes upon him. . Though his eyes were blurred by anxiety he read: *““ LAKELANDS, Tuesday. “FATHER :— “ Return at once with ali dispatch, as I shot Major Mark Mortimer in a duel to-day, and the shock has prostrated mother. Percy.” Clinching the few fateful lines in his hand, Captain Wyndbam asked calmly for the key of his room, and walked away, followed by the faithful Caleb, and one other. That other was Mr. Fravk Forrester, wear- ing the same smile upon his handsome face, and which seemed to be called there to hide other feelings. CHAPTER XIX. THE CHALLENGE, ONCE in his room, away from the gaze of the crowd, and Captain Wyndham turned to the negro, and said in a trembling voice: “*Oh, Caleb! what does this mean?” ‘* Massa! ’fore God I is sorry, sah; but I were at the beach gettin’ ready ter fish, when Uncle Toby comes down in a run, sab, and he says: ‘**Caleb, Mars’ Percy hab kilt Major Morti- mer in a duel for ’sultin’ missus, an’ he are lay- in’ dead up at ther Magnolia Arbor now, with a bullet in his fo’head. *** An’ Mars’ Percy says he wants yer ter take ther Lance, his own yacht, an’ sail right straight ter Orleans, an’ car’ this letter ter massa.’ “I tuk ther letter, massa, an’ me an’ Ben comed right over, sah, fer we hed good wind; but whey we run out inter deep water I seen ther Qui¢kstep, the major’s yacht, runnin’ along under all sail, an’ in her two niggers same as we was. , ‘When we headed fer Orleans, they wasn’t far away, and I seen it were Tony and Peter, an’ they hails us an’ says they was goin’ ter tell Mars’ Mark o’ ther awful tidin’s, an’ they beat, us ober, sah, some two hours, an’ ther news hev spread consid’ble,” but in making this latter as- TAICEL OXOKC) KS, (E00) (E(@) Ce a! eee