Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

look into my face and see if you do not recall who I really am?’ “Then we have met before!” and Mark gazed fixedly into the smiling countenance of the man before him. ‘Well, my disguise is certainly most thor- ough, if Mark Mortimer does not recognize his old friend and intended brother-in-law Frank Forrester.” ‘¢Good God! you here?’ groaned the young planter. ‘Why not, the seas and shores are free for me to come and go at my will,” was the smil- ing reply. “Your hair—” and Mark spoke as though thinking aloud, ‘*Is a wig, my boy.” ‘Your beard is gone, and—” “ Ah, a razor easily took that off.” “ Your voice is changed, and—” “Tean change my voice at will, while my bearing is more soldierJike, now, than sailor- like, free and easy as it was.” “But why have you come here, Sir Pirate?” suddenly cried Mark indignantly. «« Now I like that, Mortimer, for you to call me a pirate.” “You were formerly such.” ‘*Granted, and I have come to this coast for three reasons. “ First, to revenge myself upon Percy W ynd- bam—”’ “‘ Ah! that is good.” “Certainly, for it chimes in with your hu- mor.’ ‘*He is my foe.” ‘‘ And mine, for he captured my vessels and their crews, got much of my treasure—” “He gave that to the men who aided him.” ‘‘ Doubtless, for he is rich, and generous, and the honor was enough for him. ‘‘But I have come to settle the debt I owe him.” ‘“What will cancel it?’ “* His death only.” ‘‘T am glad to hear you say that.” ‘Of course, for it will keep him from kill- ing you some day, but let me continue: ‘1 have another debt of revenge to pay.” “To whom?” ** Bessie Gito.” “Why?” ‘‘Sbe acted as pilot for Perey Wyndbam, and proved to be a traitress.” ‘‘ She is not at home pow.” ‘‘So I discovered, for I ran my vessel into the lagoon above her home, and paid the cabin @ Visit.” ‘« She left just after her father’s death.” ‘* Juan Gito dead?” «i Yes,” ‘When did he die?” “Nearly two months ago.” “* How?” “ He was killed.” ‘‘ By whom?” “‘T killed bim,” was the cool reply. “ You?” “Yes, be came into my library, and, as we could not agree upon certain matters, he at- tacked me, and I sbot him.” “T believe you shot him before he attacked you.” it) Sir!” “Keep cool, my dear Mark, for it will do you no good to show temper witb me. +‘ Now tell me where is Bessie?” “They ‘say shes ran off with a smuggler eraft, and has turned pirate.” *‘No!l’ and Frank Forrester seemed sur- prised beyond measure. ‘‘ It is true.” ‘‘Tben I shall have to find her upon the high seas, and avenge myself upon ber.” Yes.” “Well, I have another motive in coming here.” “What is it?” . . “To marry your sister, according to our en- ement.” ark Mortimer started, and turning very le, said in a quivering voice: ‘‘Frank Forrester, at least respect the ” “The dead?’ and it was the pirate’s turn to grow pale now. ‘““ Yes, my sister Mabel is dead.’ “* Good God!” “Tt is true.” “Your sister Mabel dead?’ repeated the pirate slowly, and them fiercely turning Upon Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. the young planter he hissed forth through his shut teeth: at ay: Mark Mortimer, you are her mur- rer CHAPTER XLVIIL BROUGHT TO TERMS. Wuen Frank Forrester made this telling charge, hurling the words into the teeth of the man before him, Mark Mortimer stag- gered back as though he had struck him a physical blow. They were at the little arbor now, for they had walked along as they talked, and with a groan Mark Mortimer sunk into the rustic seat, from which he bad risen upon beholding the approaching boat, ‘*Pirate! red-handed robber of women and children; how dare you make such an accusa- tion against me?” cried Mark Mortimer un- able to rise to his feet, and trembling in limb and body, as though he had been seized with a sudden chill, . ‘¢ Tell me of your sister’s death, Mark Morti- mer?’ was the commanding reply. “T was ill in New Orleans, and sent my yacht for her to come to me. ‘‘She started, and was lost overboard in a gale,” gasped, ratber than said the planter. ‘* Who accompanied ber?’ ‘“‘Thecrew of my yacht.” ‘’ Who else?” ‘* Her maid.” “ And who else?” ‘* My valet, Duke.” ‘¢ Ah! and who else was on the boat?” Mark Mortimer remained silent, and the Freebooter continued: “Answer me; for I shall ferret out and know all.” ‘“‘There was no one else, excepting a man whom the yacht had picked up at sea, he hav- ing been wrecked.” ‘‘Did you know that man?” ‘*T had seen him,” ‘‘Mark Mortimer, again I repeat it, that you murdered your sister— Hold! No silly nonsense toward me,” and the pirate drepped his hand upon a pistol, for the young planter seemed as though about to spring upon him. ‘‘T will call my slaves, have you seized, and carry you to New Orleans and get the yrize offered for your head.” ‘You will do no such thing, for, did you succeed in getting me there, I would have you hung with me.” ‘‘T am guiltless of any crime.” ‘‘-You speak falsely, aud you know it. ‘‘ Listen, and see if I do not know you. ‘* You say that Juan Gito is dead. ‘“So be it; but before he died I heard from bis lips a secret.” The young planter groaned, but spoke no word, “He told me how you came to his cabin in disguise, and hired him to kidnap your sister. “The plot was well planned, but failed in the carrying out, through the coming of your foe, Perey Wyndham, upon the scene. *‘ Again you bired him to make an effort to kidnap and then to kill ber. ‘‘A witch maddened young fisherman did carry her off, urged by Juan Gito, through his superstitious fears, and he nearly succeeded in killing ber, when the coming of my vessel, the Skeleton Schooner, frightened him to such an extent that he sprung overboard, and again she escaped, and once more Percy Wyndham saved ber life. ‘‘Now I know that Juan Gito was cruelly shot by you, when you discovered that he had penetrated your disguise, and knew you as the would be assassin of your sister, *‘ Now sheis dead, and you say that she was lost at sea, and I denounce you as her mur- derer, for I know the terms of your father’s will, and that you have not a dollar of your own, ‘“‘Tam an evil man, Mark Mortimer, I have led one long life of sin; but your sweet sister won my crime-stained heart, and I will have revenge on you for ber death.” ‘‘ What mean you?” cried the now unnerved man, *“T will tell you. | ““T saved your worthless life once—” “Never!” “Tsay I did.” “Name the day.” “Tt was not by day.” o7 — ee eee. “ Name the time, Sir Pirate.” **T will do so.” “T defy you.” ‘Have you forgotten your duel with Cap- tain Wyndham?’ “No ‘It was then that I saved your life.” “In what way?’ **T will tell you.” “You acted as my second, and as his also,” “‘T acted as your friend and as Lis foe, fcr I knew of his deadly aim, and that ho had « nerve of iron, and would kill you.” ‘* Bah!” ‘*No, I acted dishonorably toward bim, when he trusted in my honor, and in his pistol put no bullet !” ‘*Goud God!” **Oh, well you may exclaim.” ‘Did you do this accursed wrong?” ‘I dd, and thereby I saved your life.” Mark Mortimer seemed utterly unnerved by what he bad heard, and Forrester, the Free- booter, continued: ‘Now, sir, I shall have my revenge upor you, and you may have your vengeance upon Percy Wyndhan, for it is my intention to rob his house, and you can kill him.” ‘*What! do you mean for me to go with you?” a“ I do.” ‘* Never!” *‘Look here, Mark Mortimer, there is no need of mincing matters, so listen to me, ‘You murdered your sister, and not one doller of her fortune shal] you have, ‘‘T am a pirate; I have as fleet a craft as. ever floated, and as good a crew, ‘‘The seas are full of richly-laden thips, and you can amass a large fortune in a short time, ‘*] offer you the berth of my first lieuten- ant, and—” ‘“*How dare you insult me thus?’ shrieked Mortimer, springing to his feet, livid with rage. “Very well; you either accept my terms, or I go to New Orleans, report that you bribed me, the pirate, to load your pistol and not ; Captain Wyndam’s, and—”’ ““ Hold!” ‘‘ Hear me, sir! “T will fiud the man that was picked up by your yacht, bribe him to say you bired him to murder your sister, and let tte authorities know that you killed Juan Gito to bury with him the secret of your former attacks upon your sister. ‘“‘Come, you are a ruined and desperate man, j ‘You will run through with this estate withiu a year, if I kept silent and let you have it, so go with me as my officer, or take the chances as the murderer of your sister, the assassin of Gito, the murderer of Captain Wyndham, and—” ‘ ‘‘ For God’s sake, silence, for I yield! **I go with you to become, like yourself, a red-handed pirate!” cried the wretched man. Forrester, the Freebooter, gave a light laugh of triumpb, and said: “‘T have avenged your sister's death at your hands, Mark Mortimer, by making you a pirate when I could make you a rich man, the master of The Everglades, and Jet the world believe you honorable, ‘*So be it; I am content, and now we will be friend.” “ Friends !” He sneered forth the word with his white face buried in bis hands. ; ‘¢ Yes, and you are my host, so let us go up. to the mansion and have ono of your sumptu- ous dinners, and then we will go ‘to the schooner, your vessel and mine, and together win names that will go down to posterity written in letters of crimson.” —_—_—_—_———— CHAPTER XLIX. THE SKELETON CREW. PLANTERS 2nd fishermen living aleng the coast within baif a day’s sail of Cliff Cottage, were attracted to the peculiar movements of a schooner of Jarge size, and whcse decks held a heavy armament and were crowded with men. At any time the beauty of the vessel would attract attention, for she was a perfect model from her sharp bow, narrow waist, and rounded stern, to the trunk of her slender,, raking masts, GoOmichoo SS GO) an x ‘ * Mat ae i ead!