Beadle's Dime Library No. 230 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

Th 12 eannot but take a great interest. to remain here long, monsieur?” ae cord this to grandpa who answered him re - “We are waiting to find a steamer going to Batavia, sir. My little lassie here, is frightened at the thought of going in a sailing vessel and I fear will have to wait a long time before we are able to go.” ** Indeed?’ was all Vanderdecken would say. ** Yes, indeed,” said grandpa with a shrug. *‘ It’s unco inconvenient to me, sir, for I have business in Batavia that must be done, but I fear that if I goin a sailing ship, Mamie here would die of fear ere sbe crossed the line. We'll have to wait till a steamer comes along, if one ever comes.” “And you say it is ial for you to bein tavia soon,” said Mr. Vanderdecken in a slow thou -htful way. “Very important, sir. In fact I may say if I don't, tt may cost me in the neighbor doa of friend million of dollars. If I could find but a iend who had a steamer I'd be willing to char- r it for the voyage.” Mr. Vanderdecken looked pone SOrTy. _** Tm sure I wish I could do anything to assist you in your trouble, sir. If you were alone I would «ffer you a passage in my yacht; but I ama elor, as you know, and I could not peneens much that would tenpt a young lady my poor habitation.” Grandpa hastened to say: ** Diona heed it, sir—dinna heed heed it. Ma- mie’s joost a bit bairn, and she and her maid will be satisfied anywhere. I’m unco thankful for your kind offer, sir, and accept it wi’ than se And so it was arranged, quick enough to take one’s breath away, that we were to go to Ba- tavia in the yacht of a man we'd never seen till that evening, and be on board in half an bour after sunrise. ._ I don’t think we could have arranged it so easily but for Mr, Gilbert, who had more as- eesnrce than any man I ever saw, and who kept up such a talking and planning and ex- , a8 gave no one else any time to talk. Mr. Vanderdecken at last turned away with ® coldly te bow, as if he could no longer ure bim, and left us to our own devices in the crowd at the levee, _ Then for we first Sime Lheeap $0 re hilo we were g to do, and to feel [Ir n when = Gilbert took us to one side, and said eo by.the-by, Mr. Bruce, I must tell you one or two things about your new host, to put you on your guard against offending him.” wT Gade, sir—gude,” said grandpa. “I wadna offend the gentleman that’s been sae kind till ei Well, then, in the first. place, you know he 6 aD. an—that is, a mix ° . is an that is, a mixed ‘blood of Eu rope and Asia, and you know these English- men class ians much as we do mulattoes, or todo. They hate and despise them all.” _ “But the Governor was véry civil to him,” I __ “Yes; he hasa reason for it—for Mr. Van- derdecken is exceedingly rich, and bas lent bim money, Lbear. But remember that he is very proud of the Dutch part of his lineage, and care not to speak slightingly of the native races, either. . “Td no think of it under any circumstances, sir,” said grandpa, looking shooked, “Then Mr. Gilbert Haaacndd and hawed a little he went on to grandpa: -“ Another thing—ah—you must not be sur- rised at anything you see on board the yacht, for in this part of the world men have different uotions to what we have in America.” | To d’ye mean, sir?’ asked grandpa, look- ™% nothing wrong, I assure you, but Van- _derd they tell me, keeps up a good deal of al state on his vessel, and has quite a nee of slaves of all kinds, That's all. Well, must leave you now. I'll come and help you off jos ig morning. Good-night.” he bustled away, leaving me feeling ‘ve uncomfortable. hardly knew why, bad turned tful and ? en _ preoante through th di We were promenading through the crowd in is way, ween we suddenly came on and y Teviot, who immediately began to talk ‘us both, aod Lady Teviot asked anxiously: ‘Is it true, Mr. Bruce, what I hear in gossip that this Eurasian, Vanderdecken, has offered 8 to Java on his mysterious ship?” * wm Up Sales Ses ‘ “Ies my leddy, that Maister Vander- decken has been kind enough to offer us his “And are you going?’ asked Lord Teviot, ly. And why not, my lord?” asked still more stiffly. * Why not, why not _. His lordship seemed to hesitate as if he wanted ‘to speak and could not before me, when I heard the soft, deep tones of Mr. Vanderdecken him- self behind us, saying: ‘* Ah, Monsieur Bruce, I was just looking for ou.” ’ —--.- Are you going | — o-- — _—- a —_—_——_—-— -—_— And he ran his arm into that of grandpa, with a cold stare at Lord Teviot 1 could not quite understand—it looked so like a defiance— as he said: “I wish to say, morsieur, that I will send up some of mg lascars to your hotelif you will indicate the hour at which you will be ready. hey, can bring down your baggage at one trip. ‘We have no muckle, sir,” said grandpa, simply. ‘ We lost it in the puir Spindrift!’ CHAPTER V. LORD TEVIOT’S WARNING. Mr. VANDERDECKEN looked at us in a strange way as be repeated: ‘The Spindrift? Ob, yes. I’ve heard there is another Spindrift in the harbor, an Aber- deen clipper, just in from Calcutta. They say are brought Lord Teviot here. Have you seen rm ‘Eh, sir, dinna ye ken his lordship?” asked randpa, in hisinnocent way. ‘‘ Let me do the onors, sir. Lord and Lady Teviot, Mr. Van- derdecken.” I don’t know what it was made me tremble so as I looked at these two men, being intro- duced to each other, but they acted so strangely. Lord Teviot drew himself up to his full bight, and he was a tall man) while Mr. Vander- ecken eyed him steadily for several seconds before either of them bowed. When they did, it was with their dark eyes fixed on each otber in an intent, watchful way, as if trying to find something in each other, without the shadow of a smile. I can't describe it better than by saying it was the same look I once saw ina picture of two pode fighting a duel with sword—a murderous ook. I glanced at Lady Teviot, and she was as pale as death, her blue eyes glowing with the same ligt [had seen in them when Vanderdecken was first announced. She, too, bowed, but s0 mgouy. it was almost imperceptible. en Mr. Vanderdecken smiled (and he had a very sweet smile) as he said, politely: ‘“‘T am very happy to see milord, heard very much of him in India.” Lord Teviot muttered something under his breath to his wife, and then answered. ‘*Indeed? Have you been in India? I should hardly think you would go there, with the resemblance you bear to a man we have been looking for, for twenty odd years.” Mr. Vanderdecken smiled again, in rather a mocking way, I Poongh and replied placidly: “Oh, rs I am well known all over tbe East, and if | have earned the name of the Flying Dutchman, it is not without seeing much of the world, Your ship escaped the typhoon, I see, milord.” Yes,” returned Teviot indifferently. “I believe so. We intended to take tbe southern passage, by Batavia, but the captain concluded to touch at Caleutta first, wrere L had some business, and we came bere thence.” Mr. Vanderdecken favored him with a singu- lar look, ‘*'You have wonderful Juck, milord,” he said. “TI generally do, sir. I remember once «s- caping from death, when one of the greatest villains on the face of the earth thought he had me bafe, bat I lived to hunt him from India.” Mr. Vanderdecken’s dark eyes glowed like red-hot coals, as he answered in his deep, rich tones: ‘*] have heard of that, And I have heard more, too. We Hollanders have our own ideas of politics, you know; and boast that our em- eh in the Indies has not cost us a drop of lood, save in self-defense.” Lord Teviot smiled sarcastically: ‘Yes, I’ve heard that your embassadors used to kiss the floor at the Mikado’s feet for the privilege of eg two ships a year. We English opened Yokohama to the world with ak ea ” interposed dpa he ‘““Nay, nay,” in andpa here; ‘‘ye forget, sir, ye forget Perry | and the pe Ye can run down the Dutchman all ye like, my lord; but Dll no have ye fleer at the stars and stripes, ye ker.” Aod as grandpa was testy, they all smiled and our little party broke ap. . Vander- decken strolling away, while Lord and Lady Teviot conversed in low, eager tones, and then Lord Teviot addressed us. ‘*Mr. Bruce, you'll on the liberty I take; but I would rather telegraph to Calcutta for a steamer at my own expense, than have you fe , that accursed vessel. For heaven's sake, " on’t. iandpe. was very much amazed. ‘*My .” he said beriously. ‘‘D’ye ken joost what ye’re saying to me, when a gentle man has offered me his hospitality sae freely?” . “I do,” said Teviot earnestly. ‘‘I tell you, if ou once venture on that ship, you will t t. You don’t know these Eurasians. y have all the vices of the Hindoo and Englis races combined, and when they are rich, like ect demons of this man, are sometimes perf sensuality and selfish tyranny.” I have a Flying Dutchman of 1880. — ee ee _—_ I could not help feeling ind nt at the wa in which he treated this distinguished, hand- some Vanderdecken, just because of a difference of race; 80 I said: “T think you might have said these things to his face, my lord. You seemed to me as if you had known bim at some time or other.” He turned to his wife in an imploring sort of way, and she understood his gesture, for she said: ‘* Miss Bruce, we have seen him before, or at - least a man so like him that they might te . the same; though that cannot be, for this one is at least twenty years too young to be the man we mean. He was a Hindoo, and con- nected with that terrible night that whitened both ourp heads in youth. not trust your- selves in the power of this man, I implore you, Mr. malt ean vil Aad come a sy 4 ‘Tut, tut, my y, sa ndpa, testily “ve have too mony prejudices for me. Maister Vanderdecken is a fair-spoken gentleman, in- troduced by our ain consul; and be daurna harm us on the high seas, ina place swarmin wi’ cruisers, I'll troost him, and be unco gl of the chance to prove ye that Eurasians, as ye call them, are nae sae bad as they’re painted. I bid ye gpde night, my lord.” And with that Pentre turned away, and took me with hi, both of us feeling angry. I Jooked back, and saw Lotd and Lady Teviot talking earnestly together; but they did not come near us oer feces, and pretty soon we ee Oey Guibert, whom we told what we’d eard. Our consul laughed in his sarcastic way, say- ‘Oh, well, those Britishers are full of their a You know Teviot's name in India, don’t you “No; what was it!” [ asked curiously. ‘They used to call him ‘ Butcher Teviot’ after the mutiny. It is stated that he used to blow a dozen or twenty men from the month of the cannon every day he was in the field after the Cawnpore massacre and the siege of Delbi. He’s never bad a good word for a Hindoo since; and he hates the Eurasians worse still. Vanaer- decken’s a lion here, and Teviot’s nose is out of joint; that’s all. Teviot’s not rich, end it’s gall and wormwood to him and his handsome wife that ag Sige do as they used to doin the times before mutiny, when the youngest sub, fresh from England, could make a rajah get off bis horse to salute bim.” And do they do that?” Iasked, hardly. believ- ing him. ? ‘Yes, Miss Bruce. You've no conception how the English used to treat the Hindoog, and would still, but for the strong arm of the Home Govern- ment. They behave like the old Romans, ip their pride and brutality. But as far as Van- derdecken goes, he is beyond their malice. The Dutch Government may not be very warlike, but the Englieh are afraid to touch a Dutchmen, foralltbat. They know that the Hoillanders will fight to the Jast, if once they are fully roused up. You will notice, when you get to Jaya, how different the Dutch are in ther in- tercourse with the natives. At what hour will you go to the yacht?” “We'll be ready at daylight,” said grandpa. ‘“‘Then I'll come and see you off. Pleasant voyage. d Mr. Gilbert edged off into the crowd while grandpa became thoughtful and silent min or and finally said tome, as we moved aiong: ‘* My bairn, let’s go find Mrs, Peters. I want: to havea bit talk wi’ the Governor, and I’)) leave ye wi’ her till I come back.” ‘* Yonder she is,” said I, for I saw that odious woman a little way off, as usual, not with her husband, but this time with that gawky ory Mr. Hyatt, junior, with whom ehe was flirting, ust as bard as she used to do with Doctor m. I do like to show these married flirts they can’t have everytbing their own wey; and I was delighted with the opportunity of cutting ber out with another man, theugh one could hardly Mie T helped avendee get throndhh @ a e@ grandpa ge @ crow and you would have t cage’, 00 see the way I Mrs. Peters, she was dearest friend had in the world; She knew what I came for; but put the best face on it, when grandpa asked ber to take care of me for afew minutes, and added in his inno- cent way: “These bairns canna be trusted alone, Mrs. Peters, without a lady of suitable age and dis. cretion to take care of them. t the Meow J folks claver together, and see they dinna too much nonsense.” ‘*Ob yes,” said I, ‘Mrs, Peters can imagine she’s my annt, and Mr. Hyatt here is a_basbful lover that needs to be encouraged. Good-by, grandpa. We won’t make any runaway match while Mrs, Peters is watching us.” Then he went off, and I began to be as charm- ing as it was ble to be to young Hyatt, who wag only nineteen, and so taken up wits his new clothes that he hardly knew what te my except ‘‘ yes” and “‘ no.” bad really no. hard work with him, for I bad eKoye, (EO) NALCE S (E()