Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 255 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 —- ** Ho, the boat!” called out a voice from the stranger. ‘Ho, Sandy, is that you?” answered sEvanG “Yes, Master Irving, but what are you do- fing out bere so late at night?’ and the two boats were now luffed up near each other. * Cruising round, Sandy.” *‘ Better not go further down toward the Dis- aster Irving, for you may get ** Bab! do you believe there are any pirates there, Sandy?” ‘*T do, Master Irving.” ‘“* What makes you think so?” ‘‘ Well, sir, I fish about here often of. nights, you know, and I see craft heading in and out now and then that don’t look honest.” ** Boats going up the coast, Sandy?” “No, sir, for they wouldo’t stand in to the Dismal to do that.” “Well, Pll be careful, Sandy; but what luck have you had?” A, wing! good, sir, and I was doing well when 1 saw a light in the cabin, and knowing that Captain Joe was not there I thought ’'d run in and see about it.” ‘*T was there, Sandy, and I have borrowed one of your boats.” “You have the right to, sir, Iam sure, for Captain Joe would do anything for you, Master Irving.” ** As I would for Captain Joe, Sandy, or you; but do you go with your fish to the Blue Anchor?” ‘* Yes, sir, as soon as it is dawn.” **Do not speak of seeing me, Sandy.” "No, sir.” **Good-night,” and Irving sailed on his way, while Sandy, the overgrown youth, who was Old Joe Jibboom’s assistant, called out: “Don’t go too near the Dismal, Master Sandy.” “AT right, Sandy,” the boy called out, and he headed out into the sound; but once out of sight of the other boat he again changed his course and pointed directly for the Dismal Forest. CHAPTER XX. A PIRATE’S PROMISE, THE single occupant of the boat seen by Myrtle Palafox was indeed Irving Brandt. e had reached the lagoons shortly after sun- _ rise, and stood boldly into the larger one, lower- ing his sail and taking to his oars when the moss clad trees shut off wholly the wind. With his face to the bow, and rowing as he sat thus, the better to find his way, he moved slowly along, evidently not perfectly familiar with his surroundings, and trusting to memory, for now and then he would come to a stop at some branching lagoon, as though to refresh remem- brance as to bis course. ‘ In this way be continued until at last he came in sight of the higher land, with the cabin upon it, “T am right,” he said eagerly, and a few - vigorous strokes of the oar sent the boat ashore, he landed he was met by Myrtle, who stretched forth her hand and said warmly: “Tt am so glad to see you, Master Irving, and father will be too, for this is an unexpected pleasure, your visiting us,” She spoke with the easy grace of a woman of the world, and little like what might have been ted of one who dwelt in such somber iso- lation and solitude. ‘‘And I am glad to see you again, Myrtle; but I bave come on a visit to your father, and am glad to find him at home,” and Irving walked along with the girl toward the cabin, “Ho, Master Irving! you’ve got a good head to vont yourself up to my cabin; but you are welcome, I assure you, and how are you?” called out the man, extending his band and rising on one foot, ‘“*T am well, Captain Palafox, but sorry to see you crippled. What is the matter?’ and Irving a seat which Myrtle brought from the eabinforbim. | oe beet 2 l-shot wound only, sir;” but it’s about well, am glad to say, for I do not like being ) up. **T am lucky to find you at home, captain, for LTheard you would not be.” _ ~™ “] would bave been off in the lugger with the , ~ 4 _flads, Master Irving, had it not been for this ‘wounded foot; but this is an unexpected honor, your coming fo see me.” _ “T came to ask a favor of you, captain.” ‘Tt is granted, of course; but how ean the Sea Fox serve Master Irving Brandt?’ and there bres just a tinge of sarcasm in the tone of the ?P This Irving detected, and ho said quicklv: “It is in your power to serve me well, and it is in my power to pay you well for the work.” Master Irving, don’t talk of pay to me, for already do I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay.” : oi: ss Do not speak of that, captain, for it is past, » and— . ** It is past, yes, but it is not forgotten. ** No, ges not forgotten how you picked up, The Pirate Priest. one moonlight night, an open boat, in which were that girl and myself. **] was in irons, hand and foot, and both of us were half starved—for we had had nothing to eat since Myrtle had bribed the two sailors who were guarding me to let our boat go adrift in the night. “She gave these men jewels worth a king’s ransom, let alone the life of a pirate, and then she tried hard to bring the boat to the lagoon. ‘But, as ill-fortune had it— Hold, Master Brandt, let me draw the picture again for you, to show you that the Sea Fox has a memory that extends to his heart, “Yes, as I was saying, the boat had but one oar and no sail; but Myrtle there sculled it all through the night until her hands were blis- tered and bleeding. ‘‘Then dawn came to find no land in sight, and thank Heaven, no vessel near. ** All that day we drifted, with nothing to eat or drink, and I in irons, unable to do one thing. ‘*Night came on, Master Irving, and just at sunset we had sighted land. ‘Some bours after, In the moonlight, we descried a sailboat. ‘*Tt bore down toward us, and you were its occupant, and alone. ‘You were heading in toward the grand old home where you lived; but your eyes sighted the drifting boat, and you came down to us, ‘““You saw us as we were, half-starved and suffering, and Myrtle begged you not to take her father ashore to be hanged. ‘You had a heart, Master Irving, and though I told you I was Palafox the Sea Fox, on whose head was set a price as smuggler and pirate, you said right out, that you sought no empty onor of capturing a man in irons, and that you would take me to my home, ‘**More, you said that the secret you then found out you would not betray. **You anchored out our little boat, went to your bome and made an excuse to be absent for some time, returned, and brought us to this very spot. ‘“‘But my wounds and my sufferings had brought on a fever, and 1 nearly died, as you know; but you cared for me most kindly, and then, with the respect and love of my band, you departed for your bome, and well we know, that though a year has passed since then, not one word have you uttered to betray us, though rour coming now shows you know well our aunts, ‘Then, Master Irving, I made you a promise, and I still remember it, for I said that if ever the world went wrong with you, if ever you needed the service of a friend upon whom you could depend, pirate though he may be, you should come to Palafox the Sea Fox, and find one who would shed bis blood for you. ‘*Now, Master Irving, as you see that my promise is remembered, tell me how I can serve you,” CHAPTER XXI. THE CHASE OF THE LADY MAUD. It bad been the intention of Old Joe Jibboom to take Sandy along with him as an assistant in working the Lady Maud, but, after thinking the the matter over, he said to himself: ‘“‘The boy is such a sticker for truth and honesty that if bo was questioned on the matter he’d let out the fact that Miss Maud had gone to New Orleans, and that, Master Irving says, she don’t wish known. ** No, the yacht handles like a cat-rig, and I can work her alone; if not, Miss Maud can give me a hand, for she’s better than half the men sailors on the coast, “Yes, ’llleave Sandy alone to do the fishing for the Blue Anchor, so that my going won’t at- tract attention.” In the mean time Maud was laying her plans to get away unobserved, and in this her faithful maid, Ellizette, was aiding ber. Tbe quadroon girl had surreptitiously taken to the woods and hidden a small hand-sack for ber mistress, and then let her know just when all the guests went in to tea. Then Maud quietly slipped out of the house and reached the pines unseen, while Ellizette re- mained to stand guard at the door of ber mis- tress’s roonts to ward off all inquiries, a duty which the bright quedroon was well suited for. A walk through the gathering gloom of the forest brought Maud tothe spot where Irvin bad told her Captain Joe would await her, an there she found him on hand promptly. ** Well, Captain Joe, we are to have a voyage together, I believe?” said Maud, who had often met the old fisherman and sailed with him. ‘* Yes, Lady Maud, so Master Irving told me, and we'll get off at once, for it is dark now; but I didn’t get any one to help me. as the ai master said this was to be a secret run, and wasn’t sure I could trust my boy, Sandy, or anybody else, so if it comes to it, you won’t mind giving me a helping hand, I gone ‘‘No, indeed, Captain Joe, I will be only %o =a to play captain, mate or crew, just as you ire esire, “Thankee, Lady Maud, and we'll be off at once,” The yackt was soon reached, securely hidden away in a basin, and the old fisherman soon bad her dropping down the creek nto the Sound. Once free of the land-locked waters, and the Lady Maud went swiftly along under pressure of a fair breeze, laying her course for New Or- leans by the way of the lake A yroig of entry. A rapid run brought Maud to the city early on the following morning, and ber first duty was to seek the school which she had so long at- tended and ask Madam Chotard for the sum of money which she needed for the use of Lrving in freeing Bradford Carr from prison, She met with a warm welcome from the madam, who had always regarded Maud as her favorite pupil, and without hesitancy she loaned her the required sum, without asking why she bad sought ber instead of her father to get it, for she accepted the maiden’s word that it was for a good purpose, which she cared not to have known. Thus successful, Maud hastened by carrisze to the lake shore, and found Captain Joe pa- tiently awaiting her. It was yet some time to sunset, but anxious to reach the Blue Anchor under cover of the night, if possible, or early in the morning, so that if seen she would appear to bave been out for a walk only, Maud at once detern ined to be off, and it was but a few moments before the pretty craft was sailing merrily along over the waters of the lake. Darkness found her well on her way; but then the breeze dropped to very light, and Cap. tain Joe cast anxious glances up windward when he had caught sight of a strange sail, “This is provoking, Captain Joe,” said Maud, alluding to the dying out of the wind. * We'll get it stiff from another quarter afore long, Lady Maud,” answered Joe, who ‘always gave the maiden the title which Irving bad be- stowed upon bis yacht. ‘“*Tt will come in from the southward,” said Mand, glancing in that direction. ‘*Yes, miss, and be in our favor, so that we can make a rapid run.” “Is not that a sail off there, Captain Joe?” asked Maud, who, in fhe in the direction of the expected wind, bad caught sight of the strange sail. ‘Tt does look like a vessel,” answered Captain Joe innocently, “Tt is coming down toward us, too, so she must have a breeze.” ‘Yes, miss, we’ll get it soon.” “No, Captain Joe, yonder craft is coming under pressure of her sweeps and not her sails,” cried Maud. ‘*Ts she, miss?’ and Old Joe tried to look as though he had not known this fact for the past twenty minutes. “* Yes, she is,” ** So she is, Lady Maud.” ** What is she?” “A lugger, miss.” te can see that, but what do you make her out! ** A coaster, doubtless, Lady Maud.” “*T hope she is no worse,” ““T hope so, too, Lady Maud.” ‘** You know there are pirates in these waters, Captain Joe.” “Yes, miss, so they say.” ““T hope she may be an honest craft.” “‘T pray so, too, miss.” ‘¢ But she looks suspicious coming down to us under sweeps— There! is not that a puff of wind?” “Yes, miss; we'll get it soon.” “The Lady Maud is moving now.” ** Yes, miss.” ** But the lugger gains.” ** It does look a little that way.” ** She gains rapidly; so fall off as well as you can, and see if she still heads for us, and then we shall know whether she is on her course or in chase of us.” Captain Joa did as directed, and both watched tbe result anxiously. The Lady Maud was going along at about two knots to the hour only, and the lugger, under pressure of ber buge sweeps, which were worked with great regularity, was making, perbaps, three knots, so that she was gaining well when the yacht changed ber course, But hardly had the yacht taken another course when the lugger’s bow was seen to change, too, and point for her. ‘“They are in chase of us, Captain Joe,” said Mand calmly. ‘* Yes, miss, it does seem as though the Lady Maud is the game they are after,” responded the old fisherman, in a voice that plainly showed now his anxiety. CHAPTER XXII. THE PREY OF THE DEVIL-FISH, It was but a few moments, after the cotirse of the Lady Maud was changed, before both of those on her decks saw that the lugger was rapid! overhauling her. _ ‘ What can we do, Captain Joe, for that lug- ger has the look of a pirate?” said Maud calmly, al b her brain was in a whirland her heart throbbing with excitement, “We can’t do anything, Lady Maud, seéing / JOO C S "com ‘ |