Beadle's Dime Library No. 247 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

— | 20 eee. Alligator Ike. severe, had vanished, and he felt sensible and in his right mind, ‘‘Much better, Alice,” be replied. ‘‘ How did I come bere and who brought me?’ Alice flushed slightly. ‘‘A very singular young man, I think he must be crazy, and it’s a great pity, for he’s handsome and very gentlemanly. But he must be crazy.” ‘* Why, Alice?’ “Oh, he talks in the queerest way, and no one seems to understand what he means ex- cept papa, who bumors bim, I think.” ‘* What is his name?’ “Oh, a very good name. Papasays it’s from Virginia. Captain Edward Peyton.” ‘“‘ But what makes you think he’s crazy?” ‘€Oh, the way he talks. He seems to think that there is a war going on here, I don’t know what he means.” ‘But tell me, how did you come here, Alice, in the Lily?” “Why, don’t you know? Captain Brown had quite a time to bring her round from the river, but he managed to get to Mosquito Inlet at last and came the rest of the way all right. And we thought it would be nice to come after you and bring you back. But, oh, how frightened we were when we found you here wounded.” * And where is Peyton?” asked Julian. Alice shrugged her shoulders, looking puz- zled and vexed. ‘*On deck arguing with papa about slavery,” she answered. ‘It seems so funny to hear him, just as if we bad any slaves. That’s why I think he must be crazy.” Julian felt his tandaged shoulder, and the pain seemed to have gone out of it, save when roughly touched. “ Who fixed me up so Bicely?” he asked. “Doctor Williams,” she answered. ** Who's Doctor Williams?’ “Oh, I forgot, you didn’t know him. He’s @ very nice person we met at Indian river, a settler down here. Papa says he used to be a surgeon in the rebel army before I was born, but I’m sure he does not look so old as that. Tnez is very much taken with him. They’re on deck now, and I beard the doctor lauglang at this Captain Peyton.” Julian stirred and tried to raise himself in ‘the bed, which he did with some difficulty, and 6aid to Alice: **Tell the doctor I’d like to see him.” Alice turned pale immediately. “Oh, are you worse?” “No, dear, nothing of the sort. [I feel so much better that I want to ask the doctor if [ can’t get up.” ; Alice turned away delighted and soon re- turned with a grave, handsome gentleman of about forty years, who bad the peculiar look of a Southern gentleman, so different from the Northern air, partly consisting in the expres- sion and partly in the long hair and way of trimming the beard. He was very quiet and placid in his demean- or, came in and took his patient's wrist, felt the pulse and remarked cheerfully: ‘* Well, ’m right glad to find you so well. You bad a narrow escape from a bad wound, sir.” ** Where was I hit, doctor?” The doctor smiled good-naturedly, ‘‘In a very singular place, and it is almost a miracle that the ball did not swerve and cut an artery or smash a bone. You must have had your arm up when you were struck, for the bullet went through close to the arm-pit . and cut neitber artery, bone or sinew, though you lost a good deal of blood from the veins. You ought to have it healed in a month or six _ weeks,” “Can I get up to-day? I feel quite strong.” ‘Tf you keep still fora while and not talk much, you can sit on deck this evening.” “‘ Doctor, is young Peyton out there?” The doctor’s face changed. ** Yes,” be said, shortly. ** Has he told you how I was hurt?” “ Yes.” The doctor seemed to deal in monosyllables and to feel angry at something. ** Does my father know it?’ pursued Julian. Yes,” answered Dr, Williams, more affably, * and I must say, sir, he’s a right nice gentle- man. Ifa man had shot my son in the same way you were shot, I believe I should have had him in irons before this if I were able to “me i my will as your father undoubtedly ” ** Doctor?” “Well, sir?” ‘Do you know anything of this young Pey- ton, and the people to whom he belongs?” The doctor seemed to be uneasy at the ques- tion, for he hesitated before replying. ‘*Well, sir, it’s hard tosay. I know some- thing of them, but only by rumor. I hear that you, on the other hand, have been in their do- mairs and been roughly handled. I hope, sir, in that case that you will set yourself right for the honor of the Soutb, We don’t want to be represented by a mob of non-responsible ban- ditti pretending to represent a Government that is defunct eighteen years.” ‘‘ You were in the Confederate army, I be- lieve?” sald Julian, inquiringly. “T was, sir, and ’'m not ashamed of it,” re- plied the doctor, proudly. ‘‘I saved many a life on both slides by my services, and never knew what it was.to discriminate in dealing with your men or ours. But when the war ended I was in the surrender, and [I’ve never broken my parole since that day.” ‘‘Did you ever know General Peyton, father of this young man?’ “Yes, well, I knew that he went off through the country with a band of borse that he called the Invincibles, and got away down into these swamps of the Everglades, and that he never surrendered. But I never knew till to-day that he claimed in this desolate corner to represent the Confederacy.” ‘“ Have you seen him since the war?’ The doctor hesitated. ‘““[ beg your pardon. I musf ask you to ex- cuse me answering the question, Id rather not. It isno affair of mine to tell about other men who think differently from me. You asked me if you couid get up. Certainly, Pll help you.” Julian took the hint and ceased to question the doctor, who evidently knew more than he cared to tell about the secret of the Everglade. He rose from his bed with a little stiffness and pain, threw on some loose trowsers and slippers, with a long dressing robe and a smok- ing-cap, and was conducted by the doctor to the upper deck of the yacht, where he found the whole party assembled, and realized that they bad left the vicinity of Jupiter Inlet Light-bouse and were lying in the middle of another stretch of water at anchor in the sun- set. Young Peyton, still in that ridiculous uniform, was engaged in aclose conversation with Alice Grey and Inez Zuniga, who seemed to be won- derfully fascinated with his handsome face and winning manters, while Colonel Grey and Ju- lian’s mother were watcbing them from under an awning a lit:le way off, apparently well pleased at what was goiug on. Julian’s appearance was the signal for a gen- eral outcry of wonder and expostulation at his rasbness, while the girls set out an arm chair for him, and his father aud mother hung round him as if he were a baby. When he was fairly esiablished at lest, be looked round for Peyton, and saw the young man, with a strange look on bis face, balf-puz- zled, half-pleased, surveying him, and appa- rently hesitating whether to advance or not. Julian smiled and held out his hand. **T bear no malice,” he said. ‘ You thought you were right, Mr. Peyton.” Peyton took the proffered band and replied, with a smile that was quite cordial: ‘I’m right glad I didn’t burt you any more, sir; and now tbat I see you’re on the fair way to recovery, I must tear myself away. You know we have our duties to attend to, and though they are painful, they must be attended to at any hazard. Young ladies, I bid you good- day.” He raised his hat, and was going off to the side of the boat, when Colonel Grey rose and called out to him, in tones of some agitation: ‘‘Young man, Mr. Peyton, one moment, if you please.” Peyton turned rather stiffly. ‘Sir? Be expeditious, if you please, for my orders are positive to return, and I have been absent from my post already too long.” Colonel Grey went up to him and laid his hand on bis arm. ‘‘ Why do you persist in not believing me?” be asked. ‘‘ You are willfully blind.” Peyton drew himself up haughtily. * Because, sir, to believe you is to disbelieve my own father. I prefer to trust bim to one who is a stranger and an enemy,” ** Then will you believe Dr Williams?’ asked the colonel eagerly, ‘‘He was in your army when it existed, and can corroborate what I say in every respect.” Ned shook his head impatiently. “My dear sir, you are wasting breath. I have my orders, aud till they are counter- manded by General Peyton, my commanding officer, they must stand. When he tells me to lay down my arms [’ll do if, and not before.” ‘*No ore wants you to lay down your arms,” said Colonel Grey earnestly. ‘‘ There’s no war, no need of arms. All I ask of you is to be- lieve what I say, and induce your father to remove his family out of that barbarous region into civilization. You have told me of your sister. Why should she be penned up in the midst of pestilential swamps when she might be on the same footing as my daughter and Miss Zuniga?’ Peyton seemed to be impressed w-th his words, for he uttered a sigh as he answered: ““T know that, sir, and I thank you for speaking of it. Weof the Sopth have many bardsbips to undergo before we conquer our independence, but we are resolved on enduring them a)l rather than bend.” ‘At least,” said Colonel Grey earnestly, ‘let me exact of you one pledge. If the worst comes to the worst and your men will not dis- perse unless force is brought against them, I ask you to send your sister and the non-combat- ont women and children to some safe place, If you will intrust them to my care, I will an- swer for their safety.” Peyton bowed politely. “T am very grateful for your offer, and will very gladly accept it for my sister, colo- nel. From what you have told me, I gather that the general may have been deceived by false news as to our successes in the North, and it is just possible he may be wrong. [f I find he is, I will bring my sister myself to your care, since you say we are relatives in some way or other.” Julian pricked up his ears. ‘* Relatives?” he muttered. ‘‘ How?” He had no time to ask more when Peyton, with a last wave of the hat, went over the side of the Water Lily and a few moment afters he saw him shooting away over the waters of the inlet in his low black canoe toward a darkly wooded shore he hed never seen before. ‘‘ Where are we?’ he asked bis father as the colonel came back to him, ‘6 In Lake Worth, some distance from Jupi- ter. You bave slept a long time since the doc- tor gave you the opiate, Julian.” ‘* How long, father?” ‘Two whole days and part of a third?’ ‘‘And Jupiter Light-House? Did you see Stevens?” ‘“ Who is Stevens?” “The keeper, sir?” “ No, we had no time after you were taken on board. Do you know, Julian, we came in the very nick of time to save you from death.” ‘“*T realize it, sir.” ‘<T don’t mean merely for your wound but from something else. There’sa mystery here and this Dr. Williams will not unravel it though I am well satisfied that he knows what it is.” Julian looked up at his father. “Tecan tell you,” he said. ‘‘I have been there and all through their kingdom of the smoke.” The colonel looked very much surprised. “You have been there in the interior. Good heavens, boy, do you know the risk you’ve run? I fear it is going to take the whole power of the Government to crush these people,”’ Julian smiled, “Why, how many do you think there are?” ‘*T don’t know, but young Peyton tells me they have a regular army corps of three divi- sions with a numerous artillery and that they ere ready to defy fifty thousand men if need be.” ‘‘ My dear father, he was only boasting. I don’t know but what be believes his own boasts; but I don’t believe there are a hundred men in the whole Everglade and their arms are old and rusty. I’ve seen them all” CHAPTER XXV. HUNTING THE MYSTERY. JULIAN’S avowal was followed by a long and interesting interview between him and his father and mother, at which he learned much that he had never known before, as to the re- lations that had once subsisted between his (e(0) 100 m (E