Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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12 The Skeleton Schooner. ——_—— a ‘‘] know sufficient to make me force a meet- With a light bound he sprung upon the >. CHAPTER XXIL | THE ACCEPTANCE, Ir was a strange sight, yet a pretty one, to see those four beautiful yachts sailing together over the moonlit waters of Mississippi Sound, and strange circumstances had called them together. In the leading craft was one who long years ago had fought a duel with, and wounded a man whom his own son had just killed, or was supposed to have killed, while just in the wake | of his own vessel came the son of the dead | man, hunting down, not the slayer of his father, but his father’s old-time foe. The two other yachts contained the negro messengers from each plantation, and upon one thought was every mind, black and white, which the excitement of the race had no charm for. Nearer and nearer crept the Jack-o’-lantern, until the lantern on her long bowsprit hovered over the head of Captain Wyndham as he sat at the tiller of bis own craft. Did she continue the same speed at which sbe was then sailing, a moment more would force ber sharp bows over the stern of the Lakelands yacht. But a low order from the one who held the helm, the black crew veered, and mysteriously the speed of the craft was checked, until it held just even with the vessel whieh it has go cleverly overhauled. This circumstance did not escape the eyes of Captain Wyndbam, who observed it, without directly accounting for it, and it brought to his mind the mysterious fact that he had outsailed the Jack-o’-lantern on the trip in to New Or- leans, but found her at anchor in the lake har- bor when he got there. When the Jack-o’-lantern’s speed had been reduced to that of the vessel leading her, Cap- tain Wyndham saw Frank Forrester coming forward. ‘‘A pleasant night, Captain Wyndham,” he said, pleasantly. “wy had not observed it, sir; but now that you draw my mind to it, it certainly is a beau- tiful evening,” answered Captain Wyndham, in an absent kind of way. ‘‘ Your yacht sails well, str,” continued Mr. Forrester, — “Not so well as does yours, it seems.” “Ah, yes, I have a good craft; but pardon me, sir, if I recali the object of my visit to you to the hotel this afternoon.”’ “What was that, sir?” ‘‘T came on the part of my friend, Mr. Mark Mortimer.” “Ah, yes, and I declined to meet him until another time.” “True; but he is with me bere in the boat, and demands that the meeting shall not be put off.” “Tf I understand aright, Mr. Forrester, I am the challenged party.” ~ eee.” “Then I certainly have the choice of time and weapons, as both yourself and Mr. Morti- mer should know, if you are not wholly igno- rant of the code,” said Captain Wyndham, calmly. “I believe my young friend understands the code, sir, or he should, as a Southern gentle- man, not be ignorant of it; as for myself, you having referred to me also, some score or two of affairs of honor, in which I have been un- fortunately engaged, have made me most familiar with all the laws of dueling.” This was said with the same smile he was wont to wear, and with no appearance of braggadocio. “Dhen, sir, I wil select my own time and place, for, when I get to Lakelands, I may find that it will be as necessary to meet Mr. Morti- mer asmy son found it to meet bis father, “TI beg, sir, that you will change your course of sailing, as the one I now am on is mine.” Frank Forrester made no reply, but, bowing, returned to the stern of his vessel, where Mark Mortimer was lounging in an easy-chair, a cigar between his teeth. “Well, Frank?’ he asked, indolently. ‘* He says he will select his own time.” ‘** But he shall select mine,” was the haughty reply. ‘* But he has the code on bis side.” **Curse the code! Did his son go by the code when he fought and killed my father without seconds?” ‘** We do not know all about that affair yet, Frank,” li itll ing with Wyndham, for, if I go back with him dead, I shall have avenged my father. ‘Come, tell him he shall fight me now, or I will post him as a coward, and refuse ever to meet him again.”’ Mr. Forrester was an intensely obliging man where it suited his humor to be, and he at once rose and walked forward once more. “Do you intend to alter the course of your craft, sir?” sternly asked Captain Wyndham, who had been observing him by the bright moonlight. “That is of minor importance, Captain Wyndham, for the question to be decided now is whether you will giant my friend a meet- ing.” ‘By Heaven! you seem determined to force this matter upon me,” We do, sir.” ** When?” **'To-night.” “‘ And I refuse.” “Then Mr. Mortimer begs me to say that he will post you as a coward, and as sucb he can- not grant you a meeting in the future.” Captain Wyndham turned livid. Thrice he attempted to speak, yet could not; but after a moment mastered his emotion and said: ‘‘Mr. Forrester, against Major Mark Morti- mer I had bitter cause of quarrel, and I went to New Orleans to find him and demand a meeting, for I believed he was in the city. ** Now news has reached me that he bas fal- len by the hand of my son, and I feel that there was some plot arranged by Major Mortimer, but that he fell into his own pitfall. “ But Iam going now to see just how mat- ters stand, and then I will be wholly at the service of Mr. Mortimer, whose anxiety to follow in the footsteps of his father I shall do my best to gratify.” “But my friend refuses to wait.” ‘* He certainly does not expect us to fight here?” “He does, sir.” “ How?” “On my vessel, which I can lay to for the meeting.” “ But it is not according to the code.” ‘We admit that, Captain Wyndham, but thought you would grant an exception in this case, as the duel between your son and Major Mortimer was not according to the code.” This was a home thrust, and Ceptain W ynd- ham said quickly: “Under those circumstances, I accept the challenge of Mr. Mortimer, sir, and let the duel be fought at once.” CHAPTER XXIII. WHAT THE MOON SHONE DOWN ON. HAVING gained the acceptance of Captain Wyndham to a bostile meeting with his friend, Mr. Frank Forrester said politely: ‘As soon as I have conveyed your decision, Captain Wyndham, to my friend, and learned his wishes fully in the matter, I shall return and offer my services to you, as, under the circumstances, I shall bave to act as your second as well, if you accept me.” ‘Certainly, sir, for, as you see, I have only my negroes with me, and I thank you for your kindness,” Frank Forrester returned to the stern of his vessel once more. Well?’ ‘He accepts.” “Now?” ce Yes.” ‘* What weapons?’ ‘That I have to yet learn from him, as soon as I know what you prefer.” “Pistols, of course, for he has the reputa- tion of having been the finest swordsman in the navy.” ‘* Then pistols it must be.” “Tf he does not refuse.” *‘T will arrange that, for my little scheme must be carried out well, as 1 am the second of both gentlemen.” ‘*T am in your hands, Forrester.”’ ‘‘ And I will pull you through, my dear boy, for I cannot afford to lose you. ‘‘Ten paces I suppose will suit you?’ and Mr. Forrester smiled as blandly as though he had asked him to have a cigar. ‘Yes, suit yourself, and you will suit me.” ‘Thank you. ‘Now for a chat with my other friend,” and Mr. Forrester walked forward once more, / ' stern of the yacht in advance, and coolly took a seat by the side of Captain Wyndham, ‘‘Now, my dear captain, I am at your ser- vice, to learn your wishes in the matter.” ‘‘Swords, sir, as the rolling of the vessel may somewhat destroy our aim, and I mean this to be a thorough settlement between Mr. Mark Mortimer and myself.” ‘“‘T regret to say aught against it, my dear Captain Wyndham, but you have ever been famous as a swordsman while my other friend is but indifferent in the use of a blade.” ‘‘Then let it be pistols, sir.” ‘*That is better,” ‘At what distance,” “Ten paces.” ‘‘ A good distance, and as my yacht is very deep, she will lay comparatively easy upon the water, and she can be the ground.” ‘‘ No, sir, I shall remain upon my own ves- sel.” ** But, sir, how—” ‘] will tell you how it can be fought,” “‘T am all attention, sir.” “The two yachts, your vessel and mine, can lay to, ten paces apart, , ‘“‘I can stand upon the starboard quarter of my vessel, Mr. Mortimer upon the port quar- ter of your craft, and you can give the word to fire.” “A good plan, Captain Wyndbam: have you your meeponsp: * T have, sir,” Calling to the negro Dot he told him to bring him his pistol-case from the cabin, and opening it, he exhibited the two superb weapons nestled away in their velvet couches. ‘‘They are certainly beautics, sir.” “They are as true as they are beautiful,” ‘Ab! you have tried them then, dear cap- tain.” ‘* Yes, with that one I wounded Major Mor- timer years ago. ‘7 will use this one to-night.” He took the weapon he last referred to from its case, and handed it to Mr. Forrester, who said quietly: ‘‘ With your permission I will borrow the but other weapon for Mr, Mortimer, as I do not. like his pistols, and mine I never lend.” “ Certainly, sir.” The yacht was then brought up into the wind and lay to, and Mark Mortimer, who held the helm of the Jack- o’-lantern, at a word from Forrester very skillfully laid the vessel almost alongside, and the two pretty crafts were lying almost motionless upon the waters, The Quickstep and Lance were then hailed and ordered to lay to, as Mr. Forrester said blandly: ‘*‘ Although negro testimony is not taken in court, captain, it is well to have witnesses who can be believed by their owners, ‘*Come, boys, Captain Wyndham and Mr. Mark Mortimer are going to settle a difficulty between them by a hostile meeting, and we wish you for lookers on.” There was dead silence among the negroes, and then, having loaded both weapons before Captain Wyndham, Mr. Forrester sprung into the yacht’s dory and rowed a couple of boat's lengths to the Jack-o’-lantern, He carried with bim the second pistol be- longing to Captain Wyndham, and leading Mark Mortimer to tbe stern of the yacht, placed him against the bulwark on the port side. In the mean time Captain Wyndham had taken his stand opposite to his adversary and upon the starboard quarter of his craft. ‘“‘Have you any requests to make of me, Captain Wyndham?” asked Mr. For rester kindly, as he stocd on the deck of the Jack.o’- lantern, a few feet from Mark Mortimer. “Before leaving for New Orleans, sir, I made all arrangements necessary, thank you, to meet anything that might arise in case of my death,” was the calm reply. ‘*Then there is nothing else that you would say?” “ Yes; if I fall, be good enough to break the news to my wife and son. “That is all, sir; thank you,” Mr. Forrester bowed and then turned to Mark Mortimer. ‘‘ And you, Mr. Mortimer, bow can I serve you in case this duel should go against you?” ‘Tell my sister that I died in the endeavor to avenge the death of my father.” ‘Mr. M-rtimer seems to forget that it was Gbooks com (E(0) = ists