Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee re: Or ee ee ee ee TT me sowl, but won't dhere be a circus whin dhe eap’n toinds it out! In me drames I kin hear his curses rolling sw’ately over the say.’ “Better that way than in reality,” replied Long-Haired Max, with his usual coolness, ‘I don’t hold Jabez Peters in awe, but a man with a blind eye can see that heis bad. With that precione crew of his, the battle would have en warm for me if you hadn’t given me a, lift. I owe you one, and I’m a liar if I don’t rep eh it to your ara 7 ** Phat was an even thing, messmate, for whin I help ed yez I helped mesilf; but if ye want a man like me to fol tin aan 7} ‘ade, just say dhe worrud, an’ it’s on deck ‘We will cruise together for a while, but we don’t want to drift south.” Tim took the hint and the oars at one and the same time, and swinging the boat’s nose due northeast, he began pulling a fine stroke. “Excellent!” commented » ae «at rate we will reach Nuevo Madrid before day- light, and concealing our boat under the coast bluffs, we will saunter into the quiet old Mex- _ican town and no one will. know whence we came. I don’t care to have every man know my business,” “‘Tt’s mesilf is now sailing onan untried say,” observed Tim. ‘I was niver in California, ex- cept wan day in’Frisco, Phat sortava place is dis Nuevo Madrid?” ‘¢ Like all the settlements of the region, Ori- ginally owned by Mexico, a mixed population bas sprung up since the Pacific territory passed into the hands of the United States. American thrift labors and perspires, and Mexican sloth- fulness pays for it.” ‘‘Phat chance is dhere fora datent b’ye to make his living?” ‘“You shall not want, Tim, if you stick close tome. I’m going to Nuevo Madrid on a work of danger, and I shall call down on my devoted head a spirit of destruction which may take me off my pins. Just you anchor near me and we will pull together” : = at yez mane it?” os Thin, by dhe powers, we are messmates from dhis out!” Tim put out one hand and Max promptly re- ciprocated; but a sudden thought came to the Irishman. ‘““Begorra, I’ve lost me wits, I’m thinking,” he said. , “1 hope ye’ll excuse mo wurruds. It’s not for dhe loikes ave ,me to be your messmate; but though a fr oy an’ aquil American citizen, it’s not ashamed I am to be your servant.” ‘* Rest easy there, old man; we pull together, and that’s enough. Call the union what you will—it’s all one in the long run.” And so Tim Foley pulled on toward the shore and Long Haired Max sat at his ease, both far more comfortable than they would have been had they been forced to make the distance by swimming. Once, the younger man offered to take his turn at the oars, but Tim would not allow it. | Twenty years of water life had made bim pro- ficient, and his muscles like iron, and to row tna no more than a machine-like motion to The Water Witch had long since disappeared in the darkness, but the barren shore was at all times dimly visible at she starboard, so the lone boatmen had no feeling of uneasiness, A short pull would at any time take them ashore. ' Two hours passed. Max, wrapped in his cloak, had fallen into deep ‘thought and was oblivious of all around him, but the sailor, al- ways practical, did not fail to use his eyesight, ‘“Bedad!” he finally said, abruptly, “Tra thinking dhere’s dhe town already.” . The cavalier aroused. ‘“‘ Tmpossible!” he said. ‘‘ You have half an hour’s pull ahead of yeu. Thin phat is that loight?” “ Sr light! Where isit? Ah! I see.” -Haired Max did see, and the sight was ee = ich filled him with surprise. Off toward the coast a light was plainly visible, but if was not such a one as he expected to see. A bonfire at that point would have aroused. a sort of languid surprise; but this light was small and red, scarcely larger than that the Water Witch carried at her binnacle at nigbt, The close resemblance caused him to think for a moment that they were near a vessel, but a closer survey showed him that not only was the object stationary, but that it was at leasta bun- dred feet above the water level. ‘‘Begorra,” continued Tim, ‘it looks loike dhe rid loight they used whin I worruked on dhe railroad.” “Stop rowing and let the boat drift,” said Max. ‘I want a further look at that thing.” Tim obeyed, and in utter silence they watehed for two or three minutes. The mysterious light remained stationary, burning steadily, and the Irishman began to show some uneasiness, at Wull you till me ef it is spirits?” he finally asked “Not a single ghost, my good man. [ tell you the light is as earthly as you and I, and its makers are no more, but if is a suspicious affair. Now, it is evident that it is elevated on top ofa Lone- “Haired Ma ——— . es cliff, and, as you sue sant it ey from a = tiie confessed, red-glass lantern, Now, why is it burned?” ‘Asa signal.” “Exactly, but, by whom and for whom?” Tim scratched his Lead. “‘ Divil a bit can I tell,” he acknowledged, “Nor I, I know this coast well, and that is why I am so puzzled. Old man, suppose you will: for it, soft and slow.” Foley promptly assented. His momentary fears bad vanished, and, as he was as brave asa lion when confronting’ human fces, he was actually eager to solve the mystery. He began to pull as Max had directed, show- ing admirable skill and causing scarcely a rip- ple, and in this way they approached the shore, ‘Meanwhile, the red light tte, as before. Once, the cavalier had looked out over the water for a responsive light, but in vain; but as that on the cliff beg>n to swing from "aide to side like the Se pre oe of a clock, he again looked s2aw This time he was not disappointed, for, though at first nothing was visible, two lights suddenly appeared side by side, one red, the other green. he cavalier’s face prighte tened. Now, he knew beyond question that the first’ one shown was a signal, and that the others were aboard a vessel, and the only point unsettled was why all this was done, and who was concerned in it: Max was wholly at fault. Inthe name of the wonderful, what was there on that barren shore to call for secrecy and mystery? ‘*Bedad, I’m thinking dhat. is dhe Water Witch,” remarked Tim, pointing seaward, Sure enough, what was more likely than that the vessel was the schooner? Tim had learned that she bad a business not visible to the chance observer, a business for which her ostensible traffic was but a blind, and, consequently, an illegitimate business, Leu: -Haired Max did not doubt the correct- ness of his companion’s reasoning; he believed that the Water Witch had anchored’ off the Nuevo Madrid bar. **T have a notion for looking into this matter,” he said. ‘Pull on, as cautiously as possible and I will watch the way. Perhaps we will meet some one on the way, but, if not, we will try to learn what the light’ on the cl'ff means.” Once more, the Irishman promptly obeyed, and they soon passed the inner bar, floated be- tween two miniature capes and were ina small harbor below the main one of Nuevo Madrid. As Long-Haired Max well knew, only the bleakest kind of coast framed in that bit of water, and as the country beyond was barren and unproductive, there was positive proof that whoever frequented the place by night, and in such a fashion, must have a secret to hide: and a vast majority of secrets have marks of the clovea hoof somewhere about them. Not far had they proceeded across the bar, however, before the cavalier suddenly beld up his hand and Tim raised his oars quickly. Both men plainly heard the sound of rowing between them and tbe cliff, and it needed only ik moment’s attention to show them that the strange craft was a prea eae eg: At a word from Max, the Irishman noiselessly sent their own boat well to one side, and then they awaited the result. The strangers approached, and, though they pulled with the ease of old seamen, it was plain that they feared no discovery, otherwise greater caution would have been observed. Nearer yet, and then Max saw a boat pulling four oars and containing a dozen men. They were heading straight for the open water, and proceeding like those who know their way, The watchers looked: most earnestly, but there was little to be seen in the darkness. If ere was a cargo of any kind aboard it was in- visi Pulling easily, the boat went on and disap- peared over the inner bar. ‘* Shall we foller?” Tim eagerly asked. “‘No,” said Max, with sudden energy. ‘Our work is with the men on shore. Pull for the light on the cliff as fast as you can and not make too much noise.” Foley obeyed, and impelled by his powerful strokes the boat shot rapidly forward. Max had seen the red light when they started, but it soon disappeared, owing to their own osition, he thought; and he did not suspect that they were too late until, after landing and cent te hard scramble up the rocks, they reached the top and found the cliff dark, barren and, to all appearance, deserted, ‘“Begorra, an’ it’s b’aten we be,” muttered im, “Sure as shooting, old man. I’m sorry, but we may as well take it coolly, and in the mean- while, watch the lights from the vessel.” Out on the surface of the water the twin lights, red and green, still burned, and it was not until five minutes later that they, too, were removed. They were not extinguished, but, as their movements betrayed, carried below. Then followed a faint sound which was like the saleing of a boat, and the night drama was over we Bedad! an’ ’'m thinking we've got into a nist ov fraybooters,” observed Foley. ‘“T neyer was more puzzled,” Long Haired “Though never a_resi- dent of ‘Nuevo Madrid, l have lived enough on this coast to render’ my perplexity all the greater. I tell ou I can not conceive of an object for all this secrecy. Nue- vo-Madrid would not use enough of silks and Hees to keep a smuggler alive over night. ew people there dress expensively, and such as do are old Spanish families who would buy only of those of their own nationality, while to deal with smugglers would be very unlike them. Such men as Don Ramon Victoria are above suspicion.” he last words were musingly spoken. Tim offered some theories, but as none were reasonable enough for him to believe in them himself, we need not say that Max was not helped thereby. close search of the vicinity failed to reveal any sign of the red light or of its makers; and as the top of the cliff was bare rock, there was no chance to come by day and track the stran- ene We'll niver know who dhey was,” lamented Tim, when they finally descended to their boat and pulled away toward Nuevo Madrid, “Ym not so sure of that. I've sought this coast on a mission of war and epgenpract and I may have time to look into this red light mys- tery. Just hang on to the tail of the kite, Tim, and you may see stars before we cast off” grap- pling-irons. Yonder sleepy town has the e ments fora big bubbling when once the fire is set in motion. ** Begorra, an’ I’m wid wid you !" Tim declared, CHAPTER II. BEARDING THE LION IN HIS DEN, + Tat night, Long- Haired Max and his ally slept in the shadow of a cliff, near Nuevo Made rid, and when they sauntered into the town the following morning, no one suspected that fae were comers from the sea. The little coast town was one of those ee mixtures of two nationalities so comme the line between the United States and en and Arserican enterprise and tropical Jnngnog! stood out in marked contrast. A Of the Mexicans, the majority were ot the poorer classes, and afflicted with numerous little; ailties such as a disposition to steal, lie, cheat, and use their cuchillos on an enemy's spinal col~ umn; but there were a few of those grand old gentlemen of pure Spanish blood who carry their inborn nobility through all. | The business of the place was chiefly done by Americans, however; and it may as well go on record that many of these sharp dealers were not so veracious as the Divine commandment re- quires, The chief ruler was Mayor Napoleon Jones, a peculiar genius who was ull American, and yet, every one ignored his English title and he wim universally calied Alcalde Jones. Of bim, more anon. Long-Haired Max led the way to the Catskill Hote} tats institution conducted by a_native of. New York, and there be and. Tim Foley were, soon lodged. While eating breakfast, the cava} lier asked for all the news, but the host declared there was none; and Max was soon satisfied that, whatever might be the mystery of the. Water Witch, she had not aroused the curiosity, or even the notice, of the towns pe It was not until after the heat’ of the day was past that the cavalier said to Tim: “T told you that I had come to Nuevé Madrid on business, and that business now calls me away. I may be gone several ho so you need not lcok for me until I return,” “ Bedad, it’s mesilf kin kill dhe toime,” the Irishman declared. ‘* Have yez moinded dhe pretty waiter gurrul dhey have bere? Sure an’ 1 think I have made an impression , an’ t semen manage to pass dhe toime pacefully an’ we Max laughed and went away, soop leavin the village and passing to the country whic lay back of it. Not very fertile was this Jand. as a rule, but there were notable exceptions. Side by side lay two ranches, where the fieldg were waving with indigenous. rain, where the orange was successfully cultivated and che honey-gathering bee well looked after, These industries are common to the region at the present time, but at that of which we write, few men had had the boldness to strike out so extensively and so successfully. Long-Haired Max had seen both of these ranch-owners, though he never spoken. with either. One was a Spaniard, the Don Ramon Victoria © before mentioned; the other, an American named Barstow, an ex-colonel. Of the army which followed Scott to the city of Mexico in the, then, late war. No fence separated the two ranches, but the line was well staked and neither owner had ever complained to the other, Following the main road, Max looked thought- fully at the two forms ashe walked, and, among other things, be saw an old ruin on. the side which ran north and south, This re as he well knew, was all that remained o ones prosperous mission. The place had fa my into decay, and, lacking means to rebuild, the priests had for some time disappeared: and ¢ only, Eomicbdooks (0)