Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

PAS: ee — for there was something in the manner of the rman that made him respect him. ‘‘ And, boatswain, as you have had a hard trip of it, the captain suggests that you seek rest, and leave the yacht to my management.”’ **Certainly, sir; but are you the new officer he expected to have join us?” “T am,” and turning to the crew of four m on board the yacht, he gave them their orders in a voice that they knew meant should be obeyed, and springing to their posts, in five minutes the yacht was flying away over the rough waters, for the wind was blowing halfa gale, and the night looked stormy and wicked, CHAPTER L, ADRIFT. Away darted the Jack-o’-lantern over the dark waters, her weird light showing to her owner, who gazed at her departure from the library window of The Everglades mansion, how swiftly sbe was flying along on the errand upon which he had sent her. ‘“‘She’ll make splendid time, Mark, and be back within three days, and to-morrow | will start in one of your small boats,” said Frank Forrester, as he turned away from the window, having watched the Jack-o’-lantern out of sight, but little knowing that a stranger was upon her deck of whom he little dreampt. On flew the yacht with the speed of the wind, until she went about on the starboard tack, to stand out into the open waters, when the quick eye of the stranger caught sight of something upon the sea, “Tt is but the foam of a wave, sir,” said one of the crew, as the new commander, who had so quickly taken control, ordered the helmsman to lay the yacht to. “It is no such thing, sir. “It is a boat,” was the stern reply, and then running forward, he seized a coil of rope and threw it over the objeet his keen vision had descried. A loud cry followed, and a human form sprung half up in the boat. The cry was in a woman’s voice, and sent a _ thrill of horror to the men. But the new officer quickly dragged the boat alongside, and then seized the form in bis arms, To his amazement he discovered that she was bound fast in the stern of the boat. The ropes were quickly cut, and the form was tenderly raised in strong arms and borne to the cabin, while the Jack-o’-lantern was once more put on her course. Once in the cabin, and the man started, for the swinging lamp revealed who it was that he beld in bis arms. “Good God! it is Miss Mortimer,” he cried. “Yes, lam Mabel Mortimer,” was the low response. ine was given her, and then to her rescuer she told her story of that awful trip with the superstition-maddeved witch, and of her es- cape. Then she was told what yacht it was, and asked for ber commander. ‘‘ At The Everglades,” was the answer. ‘And where is the yacht bound?’ asked. “To New Orleans.” She seemed surprised, and as there was no one in the cabin now but the maiden and him- self, the stranger said: ‘Miss Mortimer, I am in disguise, for I am Percy Wyndham.” She quickly stifled the cry that arose to her lips, and then said: ‘A second time I owe you my life.” “Do not speak of that, I pray you.” “ T will speak of it, for it has wiped out the past which I held against you. ‘It may seem strange for a daughter to say she forgives the one who killed her father, but I do from my inmost heart forgive you, for I know, from recent papers I saw, your cause,” He bit his lip nervously, though his false beard concealed the act, and after an effort of self-control, said: ** Miss Mortimer, I owe you an explanation for ny being on this yacht; but of late I have had cause to suspect her captain, and I baye dogged his steps, and to-night learned enough to make me playa bold game to ferret out what secret the Jack-o’-lantern holds. “This yacht is now bound on that mission, and I am known on her only as the friend of her commander, so I beg of you not to betray me, “T will put back and land you at The Ever- giades, if you desire it, but I would rather bave she Ne -_—— | The. — -— —— —— ee ——__— you continue on in the yacht and aid me to run the fox to his den.” “T will go with you, Mr. Wyndham,” was the low reply, and Jeaving the cabin to his fair releton. Bohooner ee oe turned aud crept forward once more to report progress, or rather the lack of it. ** Well, lads, if he don’t lay to soon I’ll speak about it,” said the coxswain, while another re- passenger, Percy Wyndbam went on deck with | joined: renewed courage to carry out the daring plot he had planned. CHAPTER LI. THE STORM, OvER the high waters bounded the Jack-o’- lantern under ber new commander, who anx- iously watched the increasing darkness of the clouds and the rising of the sea, for somehow | ‘“‘ Yes, there are shoals about here, if I re- member right, and he may be running dead wrong.” ‘‘Miss Mortimer, you are not comfortable there. ‘‘Allow me to make you as much so as the circumstances will admit of,” said Percy, and in a loud voice he called out: ‘‘Ho, lads! I want a good man at the tiller Percy Wyndham seemed to feel that he had | for a moment.” more reason to guide the little vessel with ‘Let me go, shipmates, and stand ready to greater skill, since he had on board the young | obey orders!” cried the coxswain, and quickly girl whom accident bad thrown across his path | he took the helm. to a second time save from death. Then Percy Wyndham put a storm-coat True, she was the daughter of the man | around Mabel, and arranged for her a seat in whom his mother had slain, and whose death | the companionway, lashing it firmly and secur- he had with filial Jove taken upon himself. And more, she was the sister of Mark Morti- mer, who had slain his own father; but in her | beautiful face had been no hatred for him, but | heard her low thanks, when the coxswain, as on the contrary kindness, forgiveness and sym- | the yacht was suddenly half drowned forward pathy in all she felt that he must suffer. Bound on the mission on which he was, hav- ing daringly ventured life to carry out his plot to unravel the mystery of the Jack-o’-lantern and ber strange commander, Percy Wyndham yet would not do one act to hazard the life of the young and beautiful passenger in his charge, so he ordered the sails reefed down close, and himself held the helm. It seemed as if nature frowned upon his daring venture,for blacker and blacker grew the storm-clouds, and higher and higher rose the seas. But he held the yacht on her course, though forward she was under water continually, and the spray dashed viciously half-way up her mast. The pitching of the yacht brought Lomax upon the deck, and he saw that the danger was great, so said, to lead the way to a little advice he thought necessary: ‘A bad night, sir.” ‘Yes, a very bad night,” was the reply of Percy Wyndham. “If it gets much worse, I fear the Lantern can’t live in it.” “She is a stanch craft, and can live in any storm if properly handled.” Lomax was silenced for the present, but worked his way amidships to where the crew were lashed to the bulwarks. ** A nasty night, boys,” he said. * Nasty, indeed,” was the answer, almost in chorus. ‘‘ Have any of you sailed with the skipper at the helm?’ he asked. «< No.” “None of you?” None of them had. ** Who is he?’ No one knew. **T guess the captain must have confidence in him, or he would not have put him in charge.” They all guessed so, too, but it certainly looked as though he was riskimg much to hold on as he did, and they said so. “Better go aft, boatswain, and tell him to lay to,” said one, “I don’t like to, for he has the look of a man who won’t be interfered with.” “Well, if you don’t I will,” boldly remarked the coxswain. “Oh, I'll do it if you think best,” and, so saying, Lomax walked aft and said: ‘** Don’t you think we had better lay to, sir?’ Before Percy Wyndham could reply, the doors of the companionway opened, and Mabel Mor- timer appeared. “What! Miss Mortimer, you do not intend to face this storm?’ he asked. ‘Yes, if you will allow me, for it is fearful to remain shut up in the cabin. ** Let me stand just here, please.” Certainly,” answered Percy Wyndham, and she clung to the doors leading into the cabin, and after one glance above at the clouds and around her at the wild waters, fastened her eyes upon bim. A fearful lurch of the yacht just then em- boldened Lomax to repeat his question: **She labors so, sir, don’t you think you’d better lay to?” “When I need your advice, sir, I shall seek it,” was the quick, stern rejoinder. Lomax was repulsed, and after an instant ing her to it in such a way that sbe could not be thrown out or washed overboard. Hardly bad he secured her in the seat and by a huge wave, sung out: “Stand ready, lads, to aid me! ‘Now I'll lay her to! Ready, all!” “Villain, how dare you act without my orders!” cried Perey Wyndham, in a voice that rung above the storm, and he sprung toward the helm. But another of the crew had jumped quickly to aid the coxswain at the tiller, and the latter shouted, while he drew a long knife: ‘‘Avast there! ‘You shall not run us all un- der by your foolhardiness.” ‘‘Do you threaten me?’ cried Percy Wynd- ham. ‘“T do!” was the bold answer. ‘Put this vessel on her course at once.” “Tl not do it.” ‘Then your life be upon your own head.” A flash and a sharp report followed, and the coxswain fell dead across the tiller. Following up his advantage, Perey Wynd- ham sprung forward, hurled the other seaman aside, and seizing the tiller, cried: ‘Stand back, men, for we are in the midst of shoals, and 1 am running the channel, which I know well. ‘In half an hour more we will be in deep water, and then lll bring her to and ride out the gale.” Horrified at the act of the young man, in so promptly slaying their sbipmate, and im- pressed by his manner, the others at once felt that they must obey him, and they slunk back to their posts, Lomax inwardly congratulating himself that he had not been the one to take the reins into his hands, To show he was not to be trifled with, Percy Wyndham threw the body of the coxswain into the sea, and held the yacht on her course, while Mabel sat gazing at him with awe and wonder. A run of a league further showed that the gale bad blown itself out and seeing that there was no necessity to bring the yacht to, Percy Wyndham held on toward New Orleans, and at his every order the men sprung nimbly to sone for he had taught them a most severe esson, CHAPTER LII. THE TRAITOR ALLY. WirtH a good breeze all the way, and driven hard by Percy Wyndham, the Jack-o-Lantern was not long in reaching the lake-shore, from whence communication could be had with New Orleans, When the place of anchorage was in sight, Percy Wyndham sought Mabel in the cabin and said: ‘‘Miss Mortimer, I am going to the city, as soon as I drop anchor, and will leave you on board, unless you have friends there whose protection you wish to seek.” ‘No, not if you intend returning, as you said, to the neighborhood of The Everglades,” she answered. ‘* Yes, it is my intention to return there, as soon as I visit the Black Lagoon, where, as I said, I have an important duty to perform,” ‘‘ Then allow me to go back with you.” “Certainly, if you wish it; but it is my duty to inform you that I will carry back with me a large crew, and my mission is a most dangerous one,” ; ‘“‘I have passed through so many dangers (E JOO in S) (E(@) (ECO)