Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 and capture the noted rover, Skimmer of the Seas?” “ Ha! you do indeed go to the point, sir; but as the Skeleton Schooner, the craft of that no- torious pirate, now lies in the river below the town, and her chief bas not been beard of since her capture, there is little need of fitting out a vessel to send after him.” ‘He escaped, you may remember, your ex- cellency.” ‘Se it was believed, while some said he was killed.” ‘*He escaped, your excellency, and is now cruising the Gulf in command of his other vessel.” ‘Hal! to what vessel do you refer?” ‘The Red Rover!” ‘*By Heaven! but the play grows interest- ing. ‘‘ Pray tell me how you know this?’ ‘IT was chased by the Red Rover, and e6s- caped by a russ only, while I recognized on the deck of the pirate none otber than Forres- ter, the Freebooter.” ‘* You know bim then?” “Yes, your oxcellency, I knew him when he was known as Captain Frank Forrester, the yachtsman of your city.” ‘‘ And you are assured that the man you saw on the pirate’s deck was this Forrester?” ‘«T am, sir.” ‘What vessel were you on?’ “Tbe brig Lioness,” ‘Hal where is she?’ “(In the river, sir, having been detained be- low, and her captain will report to-morrow the capture of the pirate schooner known as the Scourge of the Coast.” “By the Lord Harry! young gentleman, but you bring good news, for though we knew a pirate schooner had been captured by the crew of the Lioness, it was not kvuown to be the crait of that famous sea devil, Captain Como,” “Tt was his vessel, sir, as I told you.” ** But why do you seek a commission to hunt down this Freebooter Forrester?’ and the Gov- ernor fastened bis piercing eyes more fixedly than ever upon the face of bis young visitor. * My mctive, sir, is first, revenge, and second, to bring to justice a red-handed villain who isa curse upon the sea,” * The latter iscertainly a most praiseworthy motive, and it issaid that revenge is sweet; but pardon me, if I say you seem rather young for a vessel’s commander.” ‘‘It is not years, sir, that make the man, your excellency,” was the quiet reply. ‘*Trae; and you say this rover has wronged you?’ ** He has wronged me.” ** And you ask for a commission to hunt him down?” — , ‘That is all I ask, your excellency,” was the modest response, ** And your vessel?” ‘Ags I said, sir, I will procure the vesscl, armameut and crew; all I ask, sir, is a con- mission from you to hunt from the high seas, wherever I may find him, Forrester the Free- booter, also known as the Skimmer of the Seas.”’ ‘‘And what if you abuse this right, young sir?” ‘‘Then I make myself liable as a bucca- meer.” ‘By Neptune! Ihave half a mind to trust you with the paper.” “Deo so, your excellency, and I will not give you cause to regret it.” “ Whatif I do not give it to you?” “Then I shall take my chances and sail without a commission,” was the frank reply. **Then you will be a pirate.” “In name, your exceliency, but not in act, and when I have accomplisbed my purpose, I will have won pardon for sailing without a commission or a flag.” | “ By the way, what flag will you sail under, for you know my commission is not a national one, and can only be given for you to act asa coast guard against piracy, with the capture of the Freebooter Forrester in view?” ‘*T know that, sir. “My flag will te a simple one, sir, only a white hand grasping a hangman’s noose, ip a field of biack.” * A good one, by my faith, but smacking so nearly of the skull and crossbones in the black flag, you mest take care you are not taken for a pirate.” — “JT will take those chances, your excel- lency.” ‘Well, my young friend, I like you, and I shall take the chances of doing right, and give you the paper you ask,” ‘Thank you, sir.”’ ‘* Your name, please?’ and the Governor seated himself at his desk and seized a quill. ** Make it out, your excellency, in the name of Captain Bess—” ‘*By heaven! I thought that face was too beautiful for a boy’s,” and the Governor gave a long whistle; but unmoved the visitor con- tinued: ‘Make it out, your excellency, for Captain Bess, of the schooner Lioness of the Sea.” The Governor was silent a moment, and then said in a kindly tone: ‘* Now that you have confided to me your sex, let me beg that you pause in your des- perate undertaking.” ** No, your excellency, with or without your commission, my mind is made up as to the course I shall pursue,” “Then you go with my commission, and heaven preserve and give you success,” Ten minutes after Cawsar showed Captain Bess out of the door, and, baving received an additional souvenir, urged the suppcsed young man to; ‘‘Draw dat ober-cloak around yer, sah, an’ don’t cotch cold, fer it am an awful nasty night out ob doors, an’ yer doesn’t look too strong.” CHAPTER XXXII. A DEEP-LAID PLOT. WHEN Captain Bess left the mansion of the governor, sbe wended her way rapidly through the driving storm to a quarter of the city which bore not the best reputation for morality and honesty. As though unfamiliar with the locality, she made several inquiries of passers by, and at last stopped before a large mansion built in the Spanish style. All seemed dark within, but a loud knock brought a man to the dvor, who grouffly asked: ‘Who are you, and what d@ you want?’ **Captain Juan,” was the reply, and the name seemed an ‘open sesame,’ for the door was thrown open, and Bess stepped into the broad hall, while the man bolted and barred the portal behind -her as securely as though he expected a visit from burglars. . ‘Up this way, captain,” he said, leading the way up-stairs, and ushering the maiden into a large room back on the second flor. A bright ligbt was within, and seated ata table, upon which were decanters and glasses, was none other than Raoul Langdon, At the entrance of Captain Bess he rose politely, and said: ‘‘Tam glad to see you, Captain Bess, as I was growing a little nervous about you.” ‘*{ was detained some time in looking up the exact locality of the Skeleton Schooner, and finding out if she was fully fitted for sea, and how many crew were on board of her,” was the answer. ‘*T hope you found all to your satisfaction.” ‘Your remark suggests that you were not pleased with the pirate schooner?’ ‘*] was not; she is good in a light breeze, but is no sea-boat, Captain Bess, and I tried her as thoroughly as I could under the circum- stances, according to your directions.” ‘‘ Well, I am sorry, for I would rather that she would bave suited, than to have te cut the schooner out.” ‘The latter is all we can wish, and if you saw the Governor, as you intended, and suc- ceeded in your desire, we can ask no more.” ‘*T saw the Governor and received the com- mission.” ‘*] congratulate you.” “ Thank you, Lieutenant Langdon; but where is the schooner?’ ‘*T left her with the brig in the little hiding- place, on the river below the city.” ** And Lieutenant Harding?” ‘* Has charge of the brig, as you directed.” ‘And the men?” ‘‘T sent Binnacle Ben on with a letter to the Senor Pietro, here, and the men have already been enlisted, and as Langdon referred to the one who admitted Captain Bess, as the Senor Pietro, that personage, an evil-faced man, with fierce eyes and a grizz'y beard, said in Eng- lish, but with a slight Spanish sccent: ** Yes, Senor Captain, 1 secured for you just fifty good men, all seamen, and all of them have seen service.” ‘‘Most of them doublless upon pirate Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. BE hn AT i ne EE AL TY AEN ee ne | decks?’ said Captain Bess, with some sarcasm of tones, ‘Many of them have been unfortunate in life, captain, and thus necessity has made them sailors of fortune,” was the cautious reply. ‘* Well, so they are good men, seamen, and not actual cutthroats, I care not,’? was Bessie’s indifferent reply. ‘* Ah, no, Senor Captain. ‘*T have secured men for the Skimmer of the Seas, as the Senor Don knows, for he came to me to enlarge his crew, and brought a letter from the chief; but I have men for different purposes, and you desiring, so Senor Don told me, those who were not of the worst character, I selected those of the best, and the bill is just ten pesos per man.” ‘* Ah, yes, I will pay it you; but where are the men?” ‘In a cafe, Senor Captain, awaiting your command,” ‘You have seen them, Lieutenant Lang- don?” ** Yes, Captain Bess.” ** And your opinion of them” ‘‘ Far above the average, as seamen go.” ‘‘ Enough; here, Senor Pietro, is your gold, just five bundred dollars,” and Captain Bees took just that amount from her purse and handed it to the delighted Spaniard. ‘* Now, lieutenant, as I find that one person I was most anxious to see is not in the city just now, I am ready to start at once, so, if the Senor Pietro will take us to where the men are to be found, we will start.” ‘‘ Certainly, senor captain; the cafeis buta stone’s throw from where the Skeleton Schoon- er lies, ‘“‘T will get my cloak, and be at once ready,” and a few moments after the three left the old mansion and wended their way through the deserted streets, to carry out the bold plot which Captain Bess had formed of running off with the Skeleton Schooner, CHAPTER XXXIII. A MYSTERY SOLVED. Tue Ske!eton Schooner, after its capture by Perey Wyndham, was at once ordered to the dock by the admiral of the station, who was (hen in port, and it underwent a most thorough overhauling. Toe very day before the visit of Captain Bess to the Governor-Commandaut, the schoon- er’s repairs had been completed, and stures bad been put on board, the magazine supplied, and all made ready for a cruise as soon as the fleet should return to port and officers could he selected to command her and a crew de- tailed to her. ln the mean time she had been left under the immediate charge of a young middy, a marine lieutenant and four marines, and the two former were enjoying themselves in the cabin over a game of cards, with two boon companions, scions of aristocratic families in the city, while upon the vessel were then mov- ing half a hundred gallant tars, ready for any expedition of daring. The marines, little dreaming of danger, had followed the example of their superiors, and were engaged in gambling in the steerege, and happy ia being able to escape the driving rain and bleak wind. The schooner had been hauled off in the stream that very day, just her own length from the shore, and swung to one anchor, while all on board was in perfect trim, and those in cabin and steerage little recked the storm without. But there were those who boldly faced the driving rain and bleak wind, and out from the dark shore suddenly shot four boats crowded with men, ) The oars were muffled, and they reached the side cf the schooner and clambered on board without disturbing the gambling guards. The boats then returned shoreward with but one man each to handle the oars, and a slender form,-enveloped in acloak and followed by four others, moved toward the cabin, out of the companionway of which streamed a light. Down the companionway he stepped, and a pleasant scene met his gaze. The cabin was luxuriously furnished; in fact.the same beautiful furniture which the Skimmer of the Sea had placed there, had ‘been retained, At the table sat four young gentlemen, one in midshipman’s vniform, another in a marine officer’s dress, and two in civilian’s clothes. Before them upon the table were decantery ——_< (E(0) NAICS S) JOO ((0)