Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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14 Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. OE OT Ter 7 ae Sk A ce RS a A Re a a was a look in the face of the young officer teat showed be meant what he said. But the men Jooked at each other, and did not move at the stern command, while their ringleader said: *“Cap’n, we don’t mean you harm, unless you are treacherous, and to prevent trouble, we bave already locked the other officers up in the ward-room, and now we will make you prisoner, until we see that all is square at the island, “Tf not, we'll hang you to the yard-arm; but if itis all right, we will release you to take command again.” The eyes of the young officer blazed with in- dignation., He was alone with three-score men, for his brother officers had been locked up, as the ringleader had said, He well knew that appearances were greatly against him, for not a single prize had been captured since he had been placed in command by Forrester, the Freebooter. But he would not be bullied by his crew, and determined to make a bold front, so said, in ringing tones: “Meo, I warn you off at your peril.” But the ringleader glanced over his sup- porters, now tbat they were ripe for the work to ve done, and instantly he cried: ‘Upon him, lads, but do not wound or kill him!” They rushed forward at the cry, and there followed two shots, two heavy falls, and thena third man was cut down by the young officer, who bai thrown his pistols away and drawn his sword. A moment only the struggle lasted, and then, borne to the ground by the weight of numbers, the young captain was held and securely bound. Then the men arose and left him lying upon the deck, and by him were four dead forms, which had fallen before his brave resistance, and among them was the ringleader, the first that bad measured his length. ‘‘Cap’n, you madg a bravo fight, and we knew you had itin you; but you has got to remain bound until we see fit to let you go,” said a-self-appointed leader, and he then cailed to some of his shipmates to stand ready and seiza the little sloop, which was now not far distant, slowly going befgre the wind, with ebout one-half of its jib hauled up. CHAPTER XXIV. THE DEATH - SENTENCE. A FEW moments after the young captain of the Red: Rover had been securely bound, the schooner |uffed up and two seamen sprung into the sloop. ‘Instantly a loud cry broke from a number of lip3, and-an instant after over the bulwarks was dragged the lifeless body of the supposed lad, whom they all knew as Kit, the Cabin Boy. His right hand was clasped hard upon his side, and the life blood, from a wound beneath, had staiued the shapely fingers crimson, - “Great God! it's poor Kit,’ cried one of the crew, and all bound that he was, the young captain struggled to his feet, his face livid, and his whole form quivering. “Bring tbat boy here!” he commanded, in tones that were at once obeyed, for they spoke volumes to those who heard them. Instantly the slender form was borne aft and laid at his feet. ‘“(Men, you accused me of leaving this lad on the island, to plan a trap for you. “He lies before you dead, so that gives your accusation tha lie. “Men, release my bonds, that I may go yonder and find his murderer.” _ *3To, cap’n, not until we know you is square,” said one, A look of intense anguish crossed the hand- some face, and with an expression in his eyes that was most beseeching, he said, in a voice that quivered in spite of his effort at self-com- mand: _‘* Men, I bag you to cut my bonds, for this dead form is no boy, but a woman, my sister.” A. murmur of amazement ran through the crowd, and stepping quickly forward, the ring- leader cut the thongs that bound bim. ‘Instantly he dropped upon his knees, and bent his head over until his lips touched the cold upturned forehead, while he said in plain- tive tones: ~ “ Poor, poor Kate! fie?’ And this is your sad In whispers the men spoke, the sloop was again cast adrift, and the schooner was headed on for the basin, the pilot following the chan- nel with the same skill which Forrester, the Freebooter, had shown in reaching his piratical retreat. As the schooner, with her sails lowered, slowly glided up to the bulk and was made fast, the crew suddenly broke forth with three cheers, for out of the cabin suddenly came none other than their ch’ef, Forrester, the Freebooter, and up to that moment they had been suspicious of some treachery. Worn out by his long swim, Forrester had entered the cabin of the hulk and thrown him- self down to rest, and sinking to sleep, had been aronsed by the blow of the schooner, when it ranged alongside, Instantly he sprung to his feet, believing that Kate bad feigned being severely wounded, and bad come back to make anothsr attempt upon his life. But, to his delight the sight of the Red Rover schooner greeted him, and he sprung quickly upon the bulwarks, in answer to the cheer given him, and cried: ‘*Thank you, my lads! but where is your captain?’ They silently pointed to whero Lieuterant Don, as Forrester called him, but whose real namé was Raoul Langdon, still bent over the body of his dead sister, too much wrapped up in his deep grief, to even know that the schooner bad reached the island, With cruel face Frank Forrester strode aft, and drawing a revolver touched the forehead of the young officer with the muzzle, while he cried: ‘Well, Raoul Langdon, you have found your dead sister, I see, and your time comes next,” The voice and words seemed to rouse the young man, as from some deep dream, for he looked up in a dazed kind of way at first, but his eyes rising to the face of the chief, he sprung to his feet with a savage cry, to fall his full length, stunned by a blow upon the head from the pistol barrel. ‘‘ Throw that treacherous dog into the hold, for to morrow he dies at the yard-arm,’ yelled the chief, The order was quickly obeyed, and the stunned officer was tumbled through the hatches, ** Now cast that body overboard, to become food for fishes,’’ was the next cruel order, and it too was obeyed with equal alacrity, the beau- tiful form of poor Kate, the deserted wifs, falling with a heavy splash into the waters, and sinking forever into their dark depths, CHAPTER XXYV. A FRIEND AMONG FOES, DARKNESS crept upon the face of the deep, shutting out the smaller islands from the view of those who stood upon “ Gibraltar,” as the pirate chief called his rocky isle and retreat, and the crew of the schooner had nearly all gone up to the cabin to have a night of jollifi- cation. lt was the custom of Forrester to allow his crews a few days ashore each month, if in his power, to have a grand orgie, and the men were always constantly delighted when the prow of their vessel was turned toward their retreat, Then the prize money, from the various sea- robberies, was wont to be divided, so that the men could bury their treasure upon the island, if they so desired, until they had need of it. Happy with having so soon gotten command of a vessel as good and fleet as was the Skele- ton Schooner, and with no upbraiding of con- science at having killed Kate Langdon, and left hor brother stunned in the hold of the ves- sel, awaiting death on the morrow, Forrester, the Freebooter, was determined to have a night of carousal, and consequently gave all hands leave to come up to the cabin, where the liquors, taken at different times, were stored. There was no need of a guard on board the schooner, for now that the Skeleton Schooner was a prize to the United States Government, no vessel could come in, and it was not expec- ted that auy one cared to leave, The crew, therefore, almost with one accord, climbed up ‘the ladder and went to the cabin among the pines, and soon after their shouting, laughter and rude songs were borne to the ears of Raoul Langdon, as he lay in the hold where he bad been thrown, ee All was darkness around him, and it was: some time before he could collect his scattered senses. His head was heavy, and putting his hand to it, he felt the gash made by the pistol barrel. Then, like a flash, the remembrance of al} came back to him, and he groaned in agony of spirit as he recalled the sad death of bis sister. ** By Heaven! but that man sball die by my ' hand, for that cruel deed, and then the vile crew can do jas they please with me,” he mut- tered. Rising to bis feet, as though determined to at once carry out his threat, he looked upward, and beheld stars glimmering, where the hatch was not drawn close over the opening. And as he looked, the heavy hatch wag drawn slowly back, and, relieved sgainst the star-lit sky, he saw the head and shoulders of a man, Down, close to the hatchway came the faca, and a voice whispered: “‘Captain!’’ Raoul Langdon made no reply and agaim came the whispered call: ** Captain!” Still no reply, and then Langdon beard the words: ‘*My God! I hope that blow did not kill him,” This seemed as if the strange visitor meant kindness toward him, and he determined to an- swer, if called again, Aloud, next time, yet in a hushed tone, came: again: ‘¢ Captain!” “Ay, ay, my man,” answered the young officer. Thank God, you are alive; but I will drop you a rope and can you come up on it?” one The rope was made fast to a gun carriage near by and the other eud dropped into the hold, Almost instantly by it, Raoul Langdon as- cended to the deck, and confrouted the one who seemed to have come in the night to be- friend him. Ata glance he recognized the man, as the coxswain of his gig, and a resolute, bandsome youth, whom hs had often thought was out of | place on the deck of a pirate, “ Ah! it is you, Harding?’ he said. ‘‘ Yes, captain, and | have come to save you, for the chief‘ intends to string you up in the morning,” was the reply. ** Well?’ was the quiet remark of the young officer, ‘* But it is not well, sir, for you owe it to yourself to escape.” ‘That is impossible, Harding, as you should know, for are not all of the boats securely locked up when we come into port?” ‘True, sir, but the little sloop, which the chief says he came to the island in, I noticed, just at sunset, had drifted upon the beach of Little Gull Island, and—” “‘Ha! the boat is there is it?’ cried Lang- don, quickly. ‘Yes, sir, and you and I are both good swimmers, and can easily make the league to Little Gull.” “Then you go with me, Harding?” * Yes, captain, for I am no pirate at heart, and shipped upon the schooner merely to save my life, when the vessel I was mate of was taken,” ** Good! then we go together; but I am half- tempted to go up to the cabin, where I hear those devils carousing, kill Forrester, and take my cbances with the men,” ‘That would be madness, sir, for they would at once hang you. ‘*No, let us escape, and then plot the capture of the Rover, for the Skeleton Schooner is lost.”” 4 No 1? ‘True, sir.” *‘ When and where?” “The chief told us to-night, that he got into a bot fight with an American cruiser, and barely escaped, when he put into the Black Lagoon for repairs. ““He sent his sloop-yacht, Jatk-o’- -lantern, under Lomax, to New Orleans, for half a hun- dred more crew, for be had lost heavily, and the craft came back loaded with marines, under a young planter, and he alone escaped, while the schooner was carried off in triumph to New Orleans.” ‘“ Well, this is news, Harding. ™ “It is indeed, sir, and I believe, knowing a8 i2. 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