Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

a - and escaped, I fear nothing that I may meet, especially as you will be my protector,” she answered, innocently. “Then I will gladly take you back in the yacht, and will leave you on board while I ride into the city; but 1 will return as soon as possible.” The yacht had now run in to her anchorage, and calling to Lomax to accompany him, and leaving one of the three remaining men of the crew in charge, Percy Wyndham rowed ashore, secured a vebicle, and was driven rapidly to the city. ‘“The captain told you how many men he needed ‘” he asked quietly of Lomex. “He did, sir,” answered the boatswain, whose respect for Percy had greatly increased, and who, with the others of the crew of the Jack-o’-lantern, felt that the captain had made a good selection in his new lieutenant, for such they believed the young planter to be. ‘He told you where to get your men?” “ Yes, sir.” “Well, we will talk the matter over when we reach the botel, and then decide what is best to be done,” answered Percy, quietly. Arriving at the hotel, Percy registered a fictitious pame for himself, and anotber for Lomax, and asked for a pleasant room, Then the two were shown up, and the young planter remarked: ‘Now, I will write a note to a gentleman who is most anxious to know of our captain, and when | have had a talk with him, we will set to work.” The note was written and dispatched by a messenger, while Lomax employed the time in gazing from tbe window down into the busy street. Presently a knock came at the door, and a gentleman entered, and said: ‘“ Ah, Wyndham, I am glad to see you. ‘‘T came as soon as | got your note.” “Glad to see you, Norton; permit me to introduce you to Mr. Lomax, the boatswain of the schooner.” The two men bowed, and: the stranger, whom Percy bad addressed as Norton, took a seat. He was a man of middle age, with a bold, resolute face, and eyed one and then the other with some curiosity in his glance, and seemed rather to wait for the young planter to speak. After a slight hesitation, Percy Wyndham said: ‘*Lomax, I told you that I would write to a person who was most anxious to know of your captain, and I have done so, for this gentleman is the commandant of the City Guard.” ‘Furies! are you a traitor?’ and Lomax sprung to his feet, his eyes glaring at the young man, ‘Oh! no, for I was never true to the master you serve— Hold! sit down, and rest your hands upon that table, or I will kill you as I did the coxswain last night, but obey me, and I pledge you a pardon.” The man groaned, but sunk down into the chair and did as ordered, while he turned deadly pale. ‘Now, Lomax, I know that you are boat- swain of the famous pirate craft known as The Skeleton Schooner, and which is also called the Skimmer of the Seas.” Lomax groaned, but made no reply. ““T know the vessel has lately been in action with an American cruiser and was crippled, losing many of her crew, and that she is now lying in a lagoon undergoing repairs, while her captain has sent you here to get half a hundred men to make up her complement.” Still no reply from the astonished and fright- ened man. Then Percy Wyndham contenued: ‘J laid a trap into which you fell, and I now wish to catch your captain and his craft in the same trap; but 1 need your aid, and if you serve me faithfully, you are free to go with what ill-gotten riches you may have on the schooner. 3% “ Bat, Lomax, if you refuse now, I will sim- ply kill you, and if you acquiesce Dow and then turn traitor, I’ll bang you to the y ard-arm. “So, sir, what do you decide upon! ‘‘ Life is sweet, sir,” said the man In @ lugu- brious tone. ‘Even to a pirate?’ ‘é Yes, sir.” ‘Then you decide in your own favo “ Yes, sir.” | “And will betray your master and his crew?’ r? e+ ee SS ee — = Captain Norton and his men, for I will not “You bave decided wisely.” touch a dollar of it.” ‘‘He has indeed,” said Captain Norton, the “Thank you, sir,” said Lomax, while Cap- Commandant of the Guard, who had received | tain Norton answered: in Perey Wyndhazn’s letter a bint of what he ‘* You are indeed most generous, Mr. Wynd- was wanted for. bam.” ‘‘ Well, first, who is this famous Skimmer of ‘‘Now Lomax, what were you going to tell the Seas?” me?” ‘He is a gambler ashore?” ‘Tt was about your father.” ‘And a pirate on board; but what is his ** Well?’ name?” ** And the captain.” ‘¢ He is known as Forrester, sir.” ‘* What captain?’ ‘Frank Forrester?’ ‘The Skimmer of the Seas,” was the low re- ‘Yes, sir.” | sponse Of the traitor to his pirate shipmates, ‘‘ Aha!” said Captain Norton, with a pleased | and ally to their foes. look. ‘‘ He spends much time here, does he not?’ ‘Yes, sir, and in cruising in his yacht, the THE PIRATE’S CONFESSION. Jack-o’-lantern, which was captured some “You refer to Captain Frank Forrestar?” time ago, as a smuggler, but which he bought | asked, Percy Wyndbam. again.” “Yes, sir.” “Aba!” again said the commandant, as ‘Well, what know you of him in connec- though his eyes were being opened upon mys- | tion with my father?’ teries which had long puzzled him. ‘*‘You know Mr. Mark Mortimer, sir?’ “The men you are sent here to engage, “Yes,” was the low reply, and Captain are from a reserve he keeps cn hand, are they | Norton glanced at Percy to see the effect of not?” the pirate’s words upon him. ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘*He fought a duel with your father?’ “You know where to find them?’ ~ en,” * Yes, air.” “The duel was fought on board your father’s “You can pilot the Jack-o’-lantern back to | yacht and the Jack-o’-lantern?”’ where the Skimmer of the Seas is hidden in ‘It was.” the lagoon?” “And your father was killed?” “Yes, sir.” “ True,” was the low reply. “ And will do it?’ “He fell from the yacht into the sea, and ‘““Tf you force me to do so, sir,” Captain Forrester sprung overboard and saved ‘*T do not force you; I only suggest what is | his body from sinking.” best for you to do.” “ Did be do this?’ quickly asked Percy, ‘*T will do as you say, sir.” “He did, sir.” “You are wise, my man; very wise,” put ** How know you this?” in the commandant. “T was on the Jack-o’-lantern, sir, at the CHAPTER LIII. ‘‘How many men has the Skimmer of the | time.” Seas?” ‘* Indeed?” “ Now?” “Yes, sir, and Captain Forrester acted as * Yes,” the second of both your father and Mr. Mark ** About thirty on board,” Mortimer.” ‘‘Then we shall need half.a hundred, for I “ He did.” waut no failure.” ** But he was the friend of Mr. Mortimer.” ““T can easily get that number from the ‘*So I know.” agent, sir, the captain sent me to,” eagerly ‘*He proved it.” | said Lomax. ““Man, what do you mean?’ cried Percy — But Percy and Captain Norton both laughed | Wyndham, realizing that Lomax was keeping lightly, while the former said: something back. “No, Lomax, it may be a good thing to set ‘“‘T mean, sir, that he put no bullet in your a thief tocatch a thief, but Pll not risk it in | father’s pistol.” this cas». The words came distinctly, and they brought ‘The men who are here, you must lead into } a cry from the lips of Perey Wyndham, vw hile a trap for Captain Norton to get his hands | Captain Norton sprung to his feet with an oath, upcn, and he’ll take care they don’t go upon | losing momentarily his suave manner that sel- the high seas as pirates any more. dom deserted him. “Then we will go and take the schooner.” ‘‘Good God! Do you él the truth, man?’ Lomex looked crestfallen, for he had hoped “‘T do, Mr. Wyndham.” Percy Wyndham would be led into the trap of ““ How know you ths?” trusting himse!f with the crew he had come ‘‘T saw the act, sir” after, and whom he knew-to be as hard a set as “ You saw it?’ ever scuttled a ship or cut a throat. “*T did, sir.” “All the men you need, Mr. Wyndham, I ‘* One question More, can furnish you with, and will also be glad to “ Did Mark Mortiiner know this?” serve as your lieutenant,” said Captain Norton. ““ No, sir.” “ Certainly, sir, and it will be well to pick ‘You are srre?’ your men.” “T think no, sir.” ‘Yes, and you need seamen.” “ What mctive had your cbiof for thisy “If I can get them, sir, for they understand “He was the friend of Mr. Mortimer, whe boarding and fighting on a deck.”’ owes him »rge sums of money, won at cards, I “You sball have them, Mr. Wyndham.” have head, from the talk in the forecastle.” ‘Are you any ielation, sir, to Captain Percy “Doe Mr. Mark Mortimer know the real Wyndham?’ asked Lomax, with considerably | character of his friend, Frank Forrester?’ asked interest. Captain Norton. ‘‘IT am the son of the late Captain Wynd- “No, sir, he knows him only as a gambler.” ham,” said Perey sadly. ‘Tam glad of that, at least; and, captain, ‘‘T served under your father years ago, and | J must beg of you, that though Mr. Mark Mor- will tell— But, sir, you and the captain here / timer is my foe, bis name be not drawn in with both give me your pledge to protect me?’ this Skimmer of the Seas, ‘“‘ Certainly.” “Task this asa special favor,” said Percy “ Will you give it to me in writing, so that | Wyndham. there will be no mistake?” Captain Norton looked surprised, but an- ‘“You are most particular, my man,” said | swered: Captain Norton, while Percy said: “Certainly, Wyndham, if you wish it; bat J “Certainly, if you prefer a signature to a | think here is a chance to lower the proud head verbal promise.” of Mark Mortimer.” ‘‘ Please write then, sir, if I give you full “No, I will only fight an enemy openly,” particulars that you wish to know, entrap the | was the response, and then Percy Wyndham reserve crew here for you, and pilot you to | continued, after an effort to banish the bitter where you can capture the Skimmer of the | thoughts called up by the confession of the Seas, you will give me full pardon for all my | pirate Lomax: offenses and set me free.” ‘““Now come, let us get to work, for we have Percy Wyndham rapidly wrote the desired | much to do?’ paper, and added: ‘““T am ready,” answered Captain Norton, ‘‘And I also put here that you get one | and after deciding upon a plan of action the thousand dollars of the reward offered by the | three men left the room, Lomax congratulat- Government for the capture or destruction of | ing himself upon his escape. the Skeleton Schooner, while the rest goes to Acting promptly and with success, it was | | 7 > "comicbooks.co