Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. — to one side of the cabin, she put herself upon the defensive. Instantly, in deadly silence, the two skeleton forms advanced upon her, their blades on guard, A few steps they took, and, as she moved not, nor showed any sign of weakening, as if by common consent, they paused. This was a slight encouragement for the brave girl, and she cried in ringing tones: ‘‘Come on, you bony relics of the grave, for Captain Bess does not fear to cross your blades!” Tho skeleton ferms still did not advance, though thus invited, and each turned his gaze toward the other, and then from one, in deep tones, which to the ears of poor Bessie seemed strangely sepulchral, came this question: ‘* Who are you?” “Captain Bess, the Pirate Huntress,” was the prompt respouse, in a fearless tone. “When did you come here?” ** An bour ago,” * For what purpese did you come” ‘*To make skeletons of pirates,” “How did you come?” “In my schooner,” *“* Where is your schooner?” “Tt will soon be back, with coffins for you two bony gentlemen.” ‘* Was your schooner in this basinf’ ac Yes,” The skeleton who had asked the question now looked at his bony comrade in evident surprise. He was the one who had followed Bessie from the cliff. ** What does he mean, shipmate?” be asked. “He tells the truth, Jack, a schooner did come in here, and scared me nearly out of my wits; but her officer in charge must have been in before, for when he heard the waves moan. ing in tbe cavern he seemed to understand that an island tidal wave was coming, for he slipped his bawsers and drifted out mighty quick,” was the answer of the other skeleton. ‘* Well, you two bony ghosts, if you don’t mean to attack me, step nearer this lamp and give m> a better look at you,” said Bessie. “Well, boy, you certainly have got nerve.” *T am no boy.” *Whut are you then?” **T tuld you my name was Captain Bess,” A woman, by Neptune’s beard!” ec Yer.” * And you command the schooner that was in this basin?’ *T do.” *" What shall we do with her, Jack?” “Tf you and Jack have any regard for your lives, you better not do anything with me, for my schoover will svon be back.” **Not under ten hours, for the tidal wave won’t be over before then.” ‘Well, when she does come, you'll suffer if you harm me, even if you can do so, which I doubt.” * Well, you are a nervy girland no mistake; but what if we prove your friends?” “Then we can come to terms.” ‘We are your friends then,” ** Now let me ask a few questions?” Let run your tongue tackle then.” Who are you?’ “The guards of this island.” “Who left you here?” “The captain.” ** Who is your captain?” “We are safe if we answer all?” Vas,” “The Skimmer of the Sea he is called.” ‘Forrester, the Freebooter?” ty Yes,” “ Where is he now?” **Gone on a cruise.” “When did he leave?” “Two days ago.” “ When will he return?” “ He said within the month.” “* Let me get a better look at you.” ‘They both advanced under the light, and she gazed attentively at them, and, in spite of ‘herself, laughed, which caused one of them to BAY: ** You didn’t think it so funny awhile ago.” **No, but I do now; but, in the name of the Calendar of Saints, what did you rig your- selves op like this for?” **Dhe chief’s orders.” Again she Jaughed and eyed them curiously. ‘They were dressed in the deepest black, Which fitted their forms closely. Then, in the purest white, upon them, front and back, was painted a perfect skeleton form, while over their faces they wore a mask to represent the human skull. ‘* Well, of all masquerades, this is the great- est. “But what is the use of this?” “Our chief has a new kink in his wicked head.” ** What is it?” **Oh, be ran in here and painted the schoon- er’s hull, sails and spars jet-black, and set tha tailors of the craft to rigging us up in this style, and made us swear to wear them day and night. ‘Then with his skeleton crew he set sail to frighten every ship off of the ocean.” ‘* Except one.” * Which is that one?” ‘‘The Lioness of the Sea.” “Whew! Well, we'll ship with you, cap- tain, and I guess we can give you a few points where to find the chief cruising.” “Do so, and your lives are safe, and if you confess where his treasure is buried here on this island, you can share it equally with my crew.” “That’s fair, captain; and if you wish to keep the chief out of mischief, you better sail after him now, for he has run down the Ameri- can Gulf coast, intending to revenge himself, for some reason, upon a fisherman and his pretty daughter, and then marry a young lady who is known as the heiress of The Ever- glades,” Bessie turned deadly pale at these words, and at once confessed to the two pirates in their skeleton uniform just who she was. They had taken a fancy to her already, led her to where the pirate treasures were buried, and the three setting to work to unearth them, | But luck seemed to have forsaken bim from the day he said it was to be hs slave, and that | day was when he heard the news of his sister’s had a goodly pile of riches on the deck of the | old bull when the schooner came running into the basin at sunrise, Raoul Langdon and all on board greatly alarmed for ber safety, as they bad not seen her leave the vessel, and believed her to be in the cabin, and the young officer would not disturb her, when bis knowledge of the little harbor and its dangers told him, from | death. Away went his cash, and he began to borrow, for he had many friends to lend, as it was supposed he was only temporarily em- barrassed, But borrowed money goes as easily over a game of cards as does one’s own gold, and debts of honor accumulated against the sup- posed young millionaire until he felt it his duty to go home and face the ghosts bis conscience told him he would see in every closet and corner of the grand old home, ** Curse the place!” hesaid fiercely. ‘I will go there, send for my lawyers, have the inheri- tance arranged legally, and then leave it under an able manager, while I marry some rich heiress here and settle down toa life in the city. “T will buy me an elegant house here, or marry one, and let the old estate go ruin, for I believe I would get to be a veritable coward if | went there to live. ‘*Come, Duke, pack up, for we go to The Everglades to-morrow.” ‘* How will you go, master?” “I will borrow Fred Fenter’s yacht, and ship a crew of my own.” And thus it was that the Quickstep, a pretty craft belonging to a young man about town, sot sail the following day with the so-called. master of The Everglades. The run over was a pleasant one,and with rare good common sense the slaves gave Mark Mor- timer a royal welcome, for they looked upon him as master, and yet they had never liked him. The house was thrown open, and the library bad been aired and recarpeted, so that the red stain made by Juan Gito’s life-current was not to be seen. Still the room told of the tragic scene and cruel murder, and the master of The Ever- glades wandered into the dining-room. But there be saw his sister’s chair, and he almost fled from the room. Her room door, too, stared him in the face as unmistakable sigos, that the water, from some | he went up-stairs, and hardly bad he thrown movement of the sea, was about to recede from the basin. With wild cheers the crew greeted their girl captain, and the pirate treasure being quickly thrown on board, the Lioness set sail in pursuit of Forrester, the Freebooter, every stitch of canvas being set, so anxious was Captain Bess to save Mabel Mortimer from the power of the merciless Skimmer of the Seas. CHAPTER XLVII. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR AT THE EVER- GLADES, Ir was with a face pale—from having remained long in-doors—and an expression that was very sad, that Mark Mortimer at last appeared on the streets of the city. Everywhere he met sympathizers in the loss of his sister, and by such a fearful accident, for it had become whispered around ‘that her loss was his gain,” speaking ina sense of inberi- tance. ‘ The belles of society, who hoped to catch a man with just such an estate as The Ever- glades, said: ‘Poor fellow! how deeply he grieves for his sister. ** He would make a good busband.” So many designing mothers, with daughters “on the carpet,” bad a way of thinking too, and it was not very long before the fushion- able world in the city, were, metaphoric- ally speaking, at the feet of the young aristo- crat. Every day cards and invitations flooded his table, and of course they were sent from kind- ness, fora man in deep mourning could not be expected to attend parties, though he did manege to drop in on a few friends for a morning call. —————— —- —————————SSES | gantly-formed man, with smooth face, short, . | himself iuto a chair to write to his lawyers, to say that he was at home to have the matter of his inheritance settled, when a gentle rap came upon the door. It was Fidele, and she was weeping, for the fate of ber mistress was ever present with her, and the coming back of her master reopened. the wound. ‘Get out, curse you, with your tears!” He yelled the words, and his face was livid, and away fled poor Fidele in terror. Having completed bis letters, he hastily left his room and the mansion and strolled to the summer-house on the beach. Hardly bad he thrown himself upon a rustic: seat, when his eyes fell upon a sun-shade that had belonged to his sister, and had accident ally dropped off of her head and been forgot- ten. **God in Heaven! the house, the arbor, the place is haunted,” he cried, and he sprung from his seat, to suddenly discover a small boat ap- proaching. | It was a man-of-war’s boat, apparently, and an officer in uniform sat in the stern-sheets,. while four oarsmen in sailor rig pulled with strong, steady stroke toward the shore. Up and down the coust Mark Mortimer cast h‘s eyes in search of the vessel from whence the boat had come. But he saw none, and came to the conclusion that it must be anchored beyond Cliff Point, where was the cabin of Juan Gito, ‘¢ Who can he be?” ‘¢T never saw him before, that I remember,” he muttered, as he strolled down to the shore to meet the bout, It reached the landing first, and a tall, ele- curling bionde hair, and dark, fiery eyes, sprung out and advanced to meet him. He was in the uniform of a captain in the American Navy, end greeted Mark Mortimer He also managed to “drop in” on the gam- | with courtly grace as be drew near, blers too, for an evening call, after a few weeks had passed. ; The truth was he needed money, for Senor ‘Pietro had bled him we'l, and he felt tbat in gaming he alone could replenish his purse, until such a time as he desired to take charge of the estate of The Everglades, and which, strange to say, he felt in no burry about. ‘*Mr Mortimer, I presume?’ : ‘Yes, sir; whom have I the honor of meet- ing and welcoming to The Everglade:#” and Mortimer tried in vain to recall where he had somewhere seen that handsome face before. ‘You may address me as Captain Frank. fort of the American navy, my dear Mark, when wo are before any of your slaves; but EO) NA} ICE] © Co Co sth