Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

« ee ———<—e a -_-——-—— ‘“Mv oath forces me to do so, for it does seein tike a crime against you.” ‘* i, is a crime and one that shall be severely punished, as you will find out.” ‘You are brave to think you will escape; but you cannot.” ‘Do you intend to sink this boat?” ‘Oh, no, 1 could not do that, for it is a life- boat, and can ride out this storm.” ‘‘ Whither are you taking me?” ‘“ Where I am bid.” ‘‘ Ah! you serve a master in doing as you do?” ‘‘T serve myself, and keep my oath, lady.” ‘‘Speak, sir! where do you take me?” “To your doom,” He spoke impressively, and it made her shudder, and almost lose heart. But sbe said: ‘‘ That implies that you intend to kill me?’ **T do.” ‘* How have I ever wronged you?” ‘‘In no way. ‘‘On the contrary you befriended me, but duty must be done.” ‘“ And you deceived me about your dying friend, simply to get me into your power?” ‘‘ Yes, I came here alone, for the purpose of kidnapping you, and I succeeded far better than I expected.” ‘‘Ts it money you wish to release me?” ‘‘ No, I would not touch one dollar of your gold.” “Some one else pays you then for your work?’ ron” ** Who is it?” “The witch.” ‘““ What witch?’ she asked, in a whisper. ‘*The one who bade me kill you.” ‘‘ Great heavens! do you mean to say that witches have ordered you to kill me?’ “Yes, one witch did, and I must obey. *‘T am sorry, ob, so sorry, but I must do my duty.” “Good God! I am in the power of a mad- man!” she groaned, and her head dropping forward upon her knees she burst into tears. CHAPTER XLVIILI. THE PUNISHMENT. THE oarsman of the life-boat, whom the reader has without doubt recognized as Jean Jewett, the superstition-crazed seaman, had not pulled a quarter of a mile from the shore when the winds increased to half a gale, caus- ing the little skiff to dance like a feather upon the rising waves. At last be said slowly, but in a voice loud enough to reach the ears of the young girl: ‘‘T did expect to bring you out to die, in your own boat, so that the people of The Everglades, would think you had gone off on the waters for a row and been drowned. ‘But seeing you as I did, I dared not miss the chance of getting you into my power, so brought you in the life-boat, and now I will have to take you ashore, when you are dead, and leave you on the beach, and get your own boat and put it near you. “Ncw you know your fate, lady.” ‘And would you thus murder me?’ asked Mabel, in a terrified whisper. se Yes.” “Have you no mercy?” “Yes; my heart bleeds for you.” “‘Then why stain your life with so foul a crime? ‘* Because it is so ordered.” ** And by whom?” “The witch,” ‘‘Man, you are mad? ‘* There are no such things as witches,” said Mabel, indignant at his superstition. ‘*Oh, yes, there are witches, and you will rue it for saying there are none,” he answered doggedly. “Do you ever expect to have one night of quiet rest?” “Do you think your conscience will ever be Slilled ? “Do you not know that my face and form will rise ever before your eyes, if you so cruelly, coldly put me to death?’ she said, in tones that should have touched him. But instead, he answered: “Ob, I'll not be baunted by any dreams, and l’ll not be frightened if I do see you at hight sinking down into the waters, for the Witches order, and men must obey; while, if I COmmit crime, they bear the sin.” “Oh, man! creature, brute, or whatever you be, have mercy upon me!” she cried in bitterest agony. “No; I cannot.” ** And will not?’ “ And will not.” ‘Then Thou, ob, God! desert me not to the power of this madman! ‘‘Thrn his brain from its madness, that his eyes may see into his heart the red crime he would stain it with. “Thou, God, that rulest the storm, have mercy upon Thy poor child, I beseech, for I am all alone, excepting Thou in Thy mercy save me from death.” As she held up her head, and the fervent prayer burst from her lips in clear, distinct, pleading tones, the man ceased rowing and trembled violently. He gazed at her with a look akin to horror upon his face, and then he essayed to speak, as though he would break the charm of her prayer. But in vain, for his tongue seemed glued within his teeth, and he could utter no word or cry. As she ceased he glanced at her with a fixed stare, until with a terrified shriek he sprung to his feet, dropping the oars, and with arms stretched out before him, he cries: ‘‘God above! it is the Skeleton Schooner, and I am doomed ! ‘*Outraged Heaven! have mercy upon me!” It was no wonder that the wild cry broke from his lips, startling Mabel with its intensity, and causing her to turn her head and glance quickly behind her. There, not a cable’s length away, she beheld what was also an awful sight to her, but it did not strike upon her superstitious fears as upon those of the poor wretch who was now so thoroughly cowed and humbled. It was apparently the phantom of a vessel, and yet it was not white, but black, It wasa rakish schooner, coming on under considerable canvas, and carrying with her a weird light, that came from what appeared to be human skulls, with streams of fire coming from the sockets. Upon the masts and ends of the yards were three strange and ghastly lanterns, while one of huge size and greater brilliancy was upon the end of the bowsprit, and cast its strange glare over the waters far ahead. Her figure-head was a skeleton form, with one bony hand grasping a cutlass, and the same weird light was emitted from its sightless eyes, By this glare the schooner was distinctly vis- ible, and a large black flag, with a skeleton form, was distinctly visible to the eyes of Mabel, who had to confess to a feeling of horror at the remarkable sight. Nearer and nearer it came, and the life-boat was dead in its course, and with trembling form Jean Jewett watched her coming. Confident now that the man was wholly con- quered, Mabel was not afraid to trust him fur- ther, and only hoped that the pirate craft would pass without seeing themor running down their boat, which certainly seemed most probable. Nearer and nearer the ghastly craft drew, until, with a loud cry, and the words: “Tam justly punished,” Jean Jewett sprung into the sea and disap- peared beneath the waves. Just at that instant the Skeleton Schooner changed her course a point, and the next in- stant it had dashed by, leaving the little life- boat rocking in its wake, and Mabel its only occupant, CHAPTER XLIX. A CLEVER RUSE. FRANK FORRESTER sat in the cabin of his yacht, Jack-o’ lantern, a frown and cloud upon his brow. It was the night following his engagement with Mabel Mortimer, and since bis meeting with her she could nowhere be found. There arose in his mind that she was trifling with him, and had gone off to hide from him, or, perhaps, had really run off with Percy Wyndham, and had told bim*what she did to allay suspicion of ber real intentions. Her boats were at the pier, her horses in the stable, and no one had seen ber after Mr. For- rester had left her on the lawn. But be determined to seek for the maiden, and find her, and so he went on board his yacht to get all in ship shape for the storm that was brewing, so that he might then return ashore and devote himself to the search. The Skeleton Schooner. 25 — —— + - eS - As he entered his cabin, quick as was bis eye, he failed to observe a face suddenly disappear from out of the stern lights. But a man’s face had been there an instant before, and a man was then clinging to the rudder-post. Hardly had be entered the cabin, when be heard a boat come alongside, and a voice said: “Captain, a seaman to see you, and he says it’s important.” ‘Come in, my man,” called out Mr. For- rester, and asailor entered, and bowed politely. ‘* Well, Lomax, what brings you here?” said Mr. Forrester in some alarm. “This letter will explain, captain,” was the answer of the man, who looked baggard and worn. Frank Forrester broke the seal and read bas- tily the contents of the letter, and his brow be- came blank and lips ashen as he read. “Lomax, are you too badly used up to do something I need you for?” he asked the seaman. ‘“No, senor captain, I am ready to obey your orders,” was the prompt reply. “Then I will go on shore and write you a letter to my agent in New Orleans, and send it aboard by a messenger. ‘‘ As soon as you receive it set sail for New Orleans, and spread ail canvas, and when the ageut gets you the men I need, bring them back with all speed.” ** Bring them here, captain?” “No; sail for the Black Lagoon at once, and I will be there, for I shall take a small sail-boat to-morrow night and run there.” ** All right, captain.” **Be quick, Lomax, for, as you know, it is most urgent that we get the men.” ‘**T will lose no time going or coming, sir.” Frank Forrester then gave a few orders about getting the yacht all ready to sail, and getting into the boat which the seaman had rowed out in, sculled himself ashore. Hardly bad he gone thirty paces before a form came out of the water, and darted away with the speed of a deer down the beach. Half an hour passed, and then, at the same rapid run, the man reappeared, and at once darted into the shadow of a small group of pines growing near the beach. Le “The yacht is still there, so the messenger has not gone on board. ‘*How lucky was the thought that made me swim out to the yacht and reconnoiter,’’ and the man again turned toward the mansion, and looked anxiously expectant. Soon a person was seen approaching at a slow walk. “By Heaven! it is that negro Duke,” said the man in the shadow. It was in reality Duke, who had so far recovered from his wound that he was able to be about. But he walked slowly, as though not yet in his former strength. | As be paused near the thicket the man con- cealed there darted upon him, and he found his throat in a gripe of iron. Then came a low whistle, and from the shadow of the bank appeared two men. They were negroes, and approached the pine thicket cautiously. - “Here, take this fellow and keep him a prisoner in the garret until my return,” was the low order. ‘* Yes, master.” ‘‘And Toby, you and Caleb guard him day and night, and let bim not escape upon your lives.” “Yes, master.” The huge mulatto was then securely bound and gagged, and turned over to the tender mercies of old Uncle Toby and Caleb. He was greatly alarmed, end suffering from the choking he had received, while be growled savagely, when a bundle of letters were taken from him by his captor. As Toby and Caleb moved off with their prisoner, the man who had acted so promptly and well in the little game he was playing, got into a boat and rowed boldly out to the yacht. It was hanging by a single anchor, and Lomax, the seaman, met the man at the gang- way. “You are Boatswain Lomax, I believe?? said the stranger, springing on board. “ Yos;sin” “Tam an old shipmate of the captain, and he sent me on board with these letters for you to deliver, and he says lose no time in getting to sea.” _ “All right, sir,” answered Lomax, politely, JOO (ECO) MALICE “S