Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 255 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

— armed, out_of sight, and then going to his boat and | Jail, | The Pirate Priest. ‘The storm did not keep you back?” **Oh, no, sir, but I was afraid that it would | be the forfeit.” you.” **So be it; I would rather die in the dis- “You don’t know me to say that; but have | charge of my duty, than live from having youa boat here?” cowardly deserted my post.” ‘Yes, she lies in the cove there.” “Those are good sentiments, Dick, and you | ““ Well, you bad better get her and run out | are a brave man; but we have come here for a to the lugger in her, for you will find Myrtle , purpose to-night, "and we intend to execute it.” >n board.” ‘* Who are you?" “Did she come with you in all this storm?” “That does not concern you.” **Oh, yes; she’s a child of the sea, you ‘* You intend to release that man under sen- know, and storms do not frighten her.” tence of death?” “You do not wish me to go with you?” ‘We do, if you mean Bradford Carr.” *““T cannot permit it, Master Irving.” “‘T do mean him, and I warn you that pun- ‘‘How will you get in the—” ishment will follow for this,” “Sb! woods have ears as well as walls, ‘¢ Who will punish us?’ but trust me to accomplish what I have laid ‘‘ The law.” put to do. ‘Fah! what do we care for the law?” _ “Now, go on board the lugger and enter- “You will care, for I tell you that this out- tain Myrtle, and when I return I will take | rage will cause you to be hunted down and your boat in tow and run you into the inlet | punished.” below the Blue Anchor.” ‘‘ Where will you find us?’ ‘Thank you, sir, and it will give me a ‘*'You are dwellers about here, who, filled chance to see Myrtle and have a talk with Mr. | with sentiment for the prisoner, wish to save ** Don’t be stubborn, man, for your life may a Carr also.” his neck.” “There you are again, speaking names “Don’t talk any more, Dick, but give me aloud; but I must be off. the keys.” ““T will not,” ** Very well, I shall find them,” A short search revealed the bunch of keys, and then the pirate leader called out in a loud | tone; ‘* Ho, Bradford Carr!” ‘Come, lads, we have a rough march ahead of us, but a short one,” and Captain Palafox turned to the half-score of men that had landed with him, aud all of whom were heavily The captain limped slightly, but had cast aside his cruicb, and moved off at a brisk pace, Irving watcbing them until they were _ second story. Following the sound, the pirate chief ascend- pulling out to the lugger, As though thoroughly acquainted with the patb, Palafox led the way through the somber, moss-hung forest, and after half an hour’s | walk came in sight of the village lights, “There are but two bouses this side of the lads, so we need fear no trouble; but, mind you, I want no shot fired without my orders, ** Now, put on your masks and follow me,” The men covered their faces with black masks and moved on once more. lt had now begun to pour rain, but the hardy tars did not care for that and not a murmur was heard. At last the gate in the jail wall was reached, and ranging his men upon each side, Captain Palafox knocked loudly with the huge iron knocker. Three times he did so before, in the noise of ithe storm, the sound was heard, Then a stern voice said: ** Well, who is there!” called: ‘Bradford Carr!” ‘* Here,” ‘‘ All right, sir, and your friends are here,” and Captain Palafox began to fit different keys in the iock, while Bradford Carr gazed in amazement ab the group of men in the corri- _ dor, and whose faces were masked and forms enveloped in storm-cloaks, from which the water ran in rivulets, forming pools upon the | floor. “ Whoare you?” asked Bradford Carr, facing the pirates as the grated door was flung open. * Your friends,” *‘ What is your name, sir?” ** What care you for the nameof a man who _ has come here to serve you?” ‘Why are you here?” ‘*'To save you from the gallows,” ** Ah! by what authority?’ ‘That of justice, to enable you to save your neck, and living, be able to prove what you “*Tt’s me, Dick.” | cannot being dead, your innocence.” **T don’t know your voice,” “T fear you will only get yourselves into “IT am Constable Hines, and Ihave a prisoner , trouble, my friends.” ‘to lock up ** Don’t think of us, but of yourself,” “ Quick ‘and open the gate, Dick, forthisrain | ‘You wish to take me with you?” is drowning us.” CT er ** All right, Hines, V’ll bethere ina minute,” | ‘‘Are you sure evil will not follow to your- returned the jailer. selves?” ‘We'll take all chances,” **Tben I will go,” “‘ Where are the keys to those irons that hold you?” ‘On the bunch with the cell key.” The pirate at once sought for and found the key, and in an instant Bradford Carr was free. The key was placed in the gate, it turned in ‘‘ Now come, for we have no time to lose.” the lock, and as Dick Dresden threw it open he All obeyed the order, but seeing that the pris- was seized by strong arms and inan instant he | oner walked with difficulty, Captain Palafox was a prisoner, bound hand and foot and called out: gagged. ““Twoof you men aid Mr. Carr there, for ‘“‘ Bring him in out of the rain,” ordered the his long confinement has told on him.” pirate leader, and the party moved toward the Two of the pirates at once placed themselves jail door, which was open. beside Bradford Carr ana aided him down the stairs, CHAPTER XXXVI. “ Well, sir, it seems that you are not friend- THE SURPRISE. . . _| less,” said Dick Dresden, the jailer, as they As Captain Palafox stepped into the jail passed along the corridor and he caught sight door, he held a cutlass in bis hand, not seem- | of the prisoner. ingly knowing what opposition he might meet. | “So it seems, sir.” But no one confronted him, and as his men “I fear you will baye to do the same for filed in behind him, four of them bearing the | your friends that they do for you to-night, for prisoner, Captain Palafox said: the law will hunt them bard.” “ Place him there.” “I sincerely hope that they may not fall The men laid Dick Dresden upon the floor. into its clutches ‘and be treated as mercilessly “Now remove the gag from his mouth.” as I have been,” said Bradford Carr, sharply. This was also done. “*T believe m self, sir, that you are innocent “Dick Dresden, in what cell is the prisoner, | of the crime; but the law found you otherwise, Bradford Carr?’ | and hence your sentence,” / ‘*T will not tell you,” | “ Well, Mr, Dresden, I have only to thank ‘The jail is not so large but that a short | you for your kindness to me, and say good-by, search will soon discover, but I want the key | for I must not detain my friends, who have of tis cell.” risked so much to save me,” * You will never get it from me.” With this the pirates moved on with Brad- ‘veloped in his great-coat, and bearing a bunch of keys in one hand and a lantern in the other. “Hurry up, Dick, or we'll float away,” said ‘the captain, mimicking the voice of the village | constable, Hines, who was a large man, but had | a squeaking tone when talking. | In a short while he came out of the jail en- | | : ed the stairs, turned along a corridor, and again | | Seis Ne. ford Carr in their midst, and once more elk Caer tatahcaiiak teat ses aceee Abie faced the pitiless storm. But as they passed through the gate the sound of tramping feet and voices was heard, | and, seen by the flashing of lanterns which | they carried, were a number of men hastening toward the jail. ‘* Ha! some one has given the alarm, ‘On, men!” cried Palafox, the Pirate. rs Ha! ha! your punishment may come sooner than I thought, for my negro assistant you failed to capture, and be bas brought the vil- lagers down upon you,’ shouted Dick Dresden, Then, raising his voice, he cried: as Ho, friends! to the rescue! There go the jail breakers toward the Pines, **'To the rescue! to the rescue!” His ringing voice was heard by the rescuing party, and shouts were heard and stern orders as the party of villugers rushed toward the pi- rates, who were now seen by them hastening toward the pine forests. CHAPTER XXXVII. THE FLIGHT. HARDLY had the pursuing villagers caught sight of the moving mass, which they knew to be a body of man retreating from the jail, when some one called out: “There they go! fire!’’ Several shots were fired, but without avy effect, and it at once became a fligbt for the * Ay, ay, who calls?” came faintly from the | pirates and pursuit for the villagers. Unfortunately for Captain Palafox, when he captured Dick Dresden the jailer he forgot about his negro assistant, That wortby, with pluck and cunning, had beaten a hasty retreat, crept alung the wall to the gate, and running like a deer, had: burst into the tap-room of the Magnulia Inn with: ‘‘Lordy, gemmans! de jail am bein’ bu’sted wide open, Massa Dick am bein’ killed dead an’ de priz'ners is bein’ let loose a-howlin’, so come fer de love of cde Lurd an’ sabe us,” As it was a stormy night the tap-room was crowded with men, fully half a hundred being present, and each and all of them were on their feet in an instant, ‘* What is it, Moke?’ yelled the landlord. Again was the negro story told, and voices shouted: * To the rescue!” ** Kill the jail-breakers!” “*Come all to the jail!” ‘* Arm yourselves, men, and follow me!” ‘* Lead the way, Moke!” Fora minute it was a perfect Babel of voices and Pandemonium of excitement, Then order was brought out of chaos by a leading spirit commanding silence and calling upon ill good and true men to follow him to the rescue. Then, armed with what weapons they could bastily gather, and some with axes, rakes and clubs, the party started, some twenty in num- ber, while others promised to run home for their rifles and reinforce them at the jail. Such was the party that were now in chase of the pirates, and they kept their courage up by sbouting and firing a shot now and then, Upon reaching the Pines, Palafox halted his | men for a minute und then called out in his voice, that rung like a trumpet: ‘* Ho, you noisy hounds! ‘“* Back to your kennels, or we will fire upon you!” Without waiting to see the effect of bis words, the chief urged his party along the path through the Pines, and, gaining strength with exe:cise Bradford Carr no longer re- tarded their flight. But the villagers, although halting at the command of the pirate captain, and consider- ably demoralized for fear of a volley being poured upon them, were suddenly headed by Dick Dresden, who bad been quickly released by the faithful Moke. Seizing his rifle and pistols, and leaving the negro in charge at the jail, he rushed to the head of the party of villagers and cried: ‘*Come men, don’t tarry here, for there is work to be done.” A cheer greeted his words and a voice called ‘ out: “You lead us, Dick Dresden.” **T cannot lead cowards that will not come— Ha! there come others from the village and they will go. ““On, men, and we will capture those daring fellows, aud retake the prisoner they have :es- cued; for though he may not be guilty, the nNiGboo (E(@) Cc SS (ECO)