Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ee bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of prostra- tion of mind and body. The summons to breakfast awoke her, and Elizette was by her side to help her dress. Rising, refreshed in body but weary at heart, she glanced out over the lawn. The dead still lay where they had fallen, and here and there the lawn was cut up by the shots from the heavy guns, It was a sickening scene fora young girl to look upon from the window of her own home, ‘Poor fellows! there are thirteen of them,” she said sadly, *“There’s one more, missy, for he was alive, and master had him moved to the little cot- tage,” said Ellizette. ‘*One was alive?” quickly asked Maud. ‘¢ Yes, missy, but he won’t live long.” “Ts he one of the schooner’s crew?” “Yes, missy, he says he is a pirate; but as he is dying they can’t hang him.” ** Ellizette, I must see this man, and at once. ** Quick, arrange my hair in a coil—that will do,” and Maud left the room. She did not wish to meet her father, so left the mansion by the back door and, accom- panied by the quadroon hastened across the grounds to a pretty little cottage of two rooms, which was used as a gun-room, and in fact was aretreat for Irving. Here, upon a cot lay aman with a heavily- bearded face, and the stamp of death already upon bim., The country doctor had been sent. for, but, unable to do anything for him, he was then in tbe library with the colonel, awaiting the com- ines Maud to goin to breakfast, he man turned his eyes upon Mand as she entered, and smiled faintly. Advancing to him, she laid her hand gently upon his forebead and said softly: ¥ My poor man, you are indeed in great ain. ‘Tt will soon be over, lady,” was the low reply. , ‘ Are you sure you are dying?” ‘* Yes, lady, for I gotit in my side hard, and that old Sawbones said it was all up with me, and I guess he knows.” ““ Were you one of the schooner’s crew?” “Yes, lady, I was, and a hard life I have led, too; but it must end now,” ‘‘Is there any message you would like to leave for those you love?” : ** Ah, lady, I dare send no message to those I ove. _“T was a wild, bad boy, and I went from the right path, and here I am. ‘IL am an Englishman, lady, and at bome they long since believed me dead, and it is bet- ter so than to have them know that I dieda pirate. ‘‘ Well, I regret the past, and hope that mercy will be shown me. ** But [ doubt it, lady, I doubt it.” Maud was deeply impressed by the man’s words and manner, and in spite of what he had been, she pitied him and felt a certain respect for his courage. ‘“My man, you say you are dying?” she said softly. “Yes, lady.” : “will you answer me a few questions?” *Willingly, lady; but I am going fast, and you must hasten with them, or Ill slip life’s cable and leave them unanswered.” **'W hat is the schooner that came in here?” ** A pirate, lady.” ‘“‘ Has she been Jong such?” ‘* No, lady; she is new at the business, but her commander is already getting the name of the Ghonl of the Sea.” ‘‘ And who is that commander?” **We call him the Padre Captain, lady.” “Ts he a priest?” f ‘The lads say be was intended for one.” ** Describe him.” k “He is a tall, splendidly-formed man, strong as a lion, and with the nature of a tiger, and he shows his claws often beneath that priestly garb he wears.” 0 you know his name?” ‘No, lady.” “Who was he?” “They say he was the man who was known as the Pirate Priest, and hunted down bucca- neers some time ago,” “Ts that all you know of him?’ ; ‘‘ He was said to be a private tutor in a family on this coast, and engaged to marry an heiress; but he suddenly broke with her and took to the black flag.” ] Maud could bardly control her emotion; but after a great effort she said; ** Describe his face, please.” ‘“‘He don’t show that as a rule, lady; but it’s rs pandeome face for a pirate, what I have seen ‘One question more.” As many as eee ploeas, lady, up to the time my tongue is silenced by death. e re is pleasant to have you near, lady, wicked am. . Is there a woman on his vessel?” ‘There was up to last night, lady, a woman, and a handsome one, too.” ad s ee ‘ 7 , Seo ae e Sa et fe Soweto; ne a 7 rr a ae ad ar 2 i a eee a 4 and Cross. Cutlass “Who is she?” “‘ His wife, the lads say who know.” ** And where is she now?” **He landed her, or ratber put her on board of a lugger to send her home, wherever that is.” Maud gave a deep sigh, and then said: ‘Did you ever notice his hands?” “Yes, lady, and small, shapely ones they are; but merciless to all they are aised against.” ** Does he wear a ring?’ ‘Yes, lady.” ** Please describe it.” ‘A gold band holding a blood-red stone, in the center of which is a diamond of great beauty.” Maud shuddered and drooped her head. Then she arose and turned toward the window until she could command her emotion. At last she said; **T thank you, my man, and may God have merey upon your poor sinful soul.” ‘*He will, lady, if you ask it; but do not leave me for life is fast ebbing away, and I will not tire you long. ‘‘Stay with me, lady, until I die.” The voice was pleading, the look entreating, and it touched Maud’s heart, so she said: ** 1 will stay with you, poor fellow.” Then calling to Ellizette, she continued: ‘* Bid my father not wait breakfast for me, for I will not be there.” Then she turned to soothe the last moments of the pirate, whose dying lips had sent such an- guish into her heart by describing the com- mander of the outlaw schooner, for ihe deserip- tion, even tothe ring he wore, fitted exactly Bradford Carr. CHAPTER XIX. THE RETURN OF THE LADY MAUD. Sorriy, as an infant sinking to sleep, the wounded pirate’s life-strings broke, and his spirit fluttered away. Dark, dismal, remorseful indeed would have been the last hours of that man, had he died there alone with bis thoughts all his own. But, with Maud by him, ber small hand softly touching his forehead, her voice soothing him, as her lips uttered prayers for mercy for the dying outlaw, he seemed to die content. He had once been a gentleman, that was evi- dent from his manner and language. Once be had loved and been loved. But he had fallen and gone lower and lower, until he branded himself with the name of pirate, His past he would not speak of, his name he would not give, even to Maud. ** Let me rest in an unknown grave, let me be utterly forgotten,” he had said, Now and then bis thoughts would wander, and he would speak several names ina tone of en- dearment. At last he said faintly: “Clasp my hand, lady, and ask God to receive my soul and cleanse it of its guilt, for it is about to slip life’s cable now, and sail for the port be- yond the Great River of Death.” Then in trumpet tones he sung out: ** Ho the lighthouse ahoy! , " ** Light your lamp, keeper, that it may guide my spirit safe into port—aba! now it shines forth and I can steer clear of the breakers! ‘Ho, lads, let fall the anchor, for we—are— safe—in—port,” , . The last words were whispered and with their utterance bis spirit fluttered away from the casket of clay in which it had so long been im- prisoned. Maud was deeply impressed, and sat for some moments still grasping the hand of the pirate. Then she arose, called the ne man outside, who had been watching with the dying pirate, and walked slowly toward the mansion. She gained ber room unseen by her father, whom she heard talking with the doctor in the library, and found there a tempting hot break- fast which Ellizette had brought for her. A cup of coffee she forced herself to take, but could touch no food; and pacing to and fro, her thoughts were full of bitterness at what she had heard from the dying lips of the pirate. Finding his patient dead, the easy-going country doctor, being coroner as well, held an inquest over the dead bodies, which were bu- ried back in the forest. ; Hardly had this work been finished, when a sail was sighted running in toward the harbor. *Itis the Lady Maud!” “It is the lugger!” “Massa Irving am coming back!” cried the _The sail came swiftly on, and in an hour’s time ran into the wad ts and dropped anchor. Springing into a boat, Irving came ashore, and was greeted with a cheer by the slaves, and his father met him at the landing. ‘Well, my son, I am glad to see, you safe.” ! ** Thank you, father; but I had a bot run of it, for the pirate sailed like a witch. ‘“*T was coming into the harbor, when he ran out of a bayou and began chase; 80 I had to go to sea, as I feared he would play havoc here. “‘I dropped him, however; made a wide cir- cuit, and here I am. Ys i een ———— CN nen — wae eum 8 eee Sm a ~~ * te - 7 “aa 7 ow » . . : a. ~ " w * ‘ f e “ $7 ~ - ‘ - ’ f ‘ 4 2 cont *« ° a , ' - . ; ‘But what has happened here, for you are white asa ghost?” “Your pirate friend came back here last night, and paid us a visit.” ‘* What do you mean, father?” In a few words, Colonel Brandt told his son all that had happened. ** And the Sea Fox came to your aid?” “He did, most nobly.” ** Well, he is a splendid fellow; and it must have been his vessel I saw flying along under all canvas just at dawn, aud some of the men said that he was in chase of a craft ahead.” ‘**T trust he may catch the rascal. ** But come, Irving; we have no time to lose, as I have determined to start for New Or- leans.” ** When do you leave, sir?” ‘* Within the hour, and we shall live there for. the present, for I shall take what house-servants we need with us, and get a furnished house + oe there; as to live here is certainly unsafe, in the present unsettled state of affairs. ion. ‘* But, my son, do yeu know who, commands the pirate schooner?” : ‘1 saw a man in priest’s robes on board, sir. ‘* Did you recognize him?’ “J understand what you mean, you think he was Mr, Carr, ‘* He was about his size, but I could not see his face. * Still, I know that Bradford Carr is not the man you take him to be, and L will yet prove that to you; but this affair last night must bave been a great shock to sister?” ‘*Tt was; and you had better see her at. once, — while I get the luggage on board—tfor we must sail just after dinner.” Irving ran on up to the mansion, and bis sis- ter sprung to greet him as he entered her room. — **Ob, brother, brother! have youstillfaithin Bradford Carr?” she cried. M, ‘* Every time, sis, and | hope you are not Jos ing faith.” ~- ‘Irving, I have seen one who tellsme that — Bradford Carr is the commander of the pirate schooner.” “I would not believe him if he said so when he was dying.” warden ‘He was dying, Irving, for it wasa wounded ~~ pirate left here by his comrades last night. = ‘He told me that his captain dressedasa priest, and was said to have beena tutorina | — planter’s family on this coast, while he was en- gaged to a young lady, an heiress, “That be gave up all and went to piracy, and more, had a wife on board his vessel,” a, “T saw a woman on board, standing, by his a bis ‘ & J os side, sis, and for that reason fired hig rigging.” ; ‘ SF “The man also said that his captain was tall, well formed, strong as a lion, and what he had FY o FS a : . ia < 2 errs tan) im TN ~ ne 224 ~ father, for S » *® ae 4 a é scription of Bradford Carr.” 5 ghee “This looks bad, sis, but I don’t believe yet “More, Irving, he told me that his captain 3 had very small and shapely bands, and that be which was set a diamond,” et ‘‘ Whew! the very ring you gave Carr.” ey y “ % - + ‘This looks black; but [have got tosee the — believe that it is Bradford Carr,” was the plucky = response. and faith bids me hope.” — ‘*Hope by all means, sis, for I don’t give up the ship you can swear, if you did swear, until I know it bas sunk. + ae = turned against him, and I intend to trust him 4%. until I know he is guilty, and I'll take no sus-_ ‘Bravo, brother, for you are a friend indeed,, _ and you je joy to my beart. a seen of his face, and described, answers the de- — Carr is the pirate.” wore a plain gold ring, with a blood-red seal,in | ‘Yes, Irving.” man, not his priestly robes, hands and ring, to ‘**God bless you, brother, for your courage : | “TI trust Bradford Carr, no matter what. has picions and beliefs, but must see for myself.” 3) ‘* Yes, I will trust him too,” and Maud’s face ‘3 lighted up as she set about preparations for her _ departure in the yacht. “ pre, be WG CHAPTER XX, ‘eS THE, TWO YACHTS.” SP ae For the first time since it had beenahome, _ Brandt Villa looked desolate and dreary, as those who dwelt beneath its sheltering roof as- — sembled upon the dock to depart for New Or-| eans. - “ pte! The sun was near its setting, but itsrays fell upon closed doors and windows, and an airof B oom seemed even before nightfall to be creep- ng over the scene. :. tae Upon the dock stood four white persons amid _ a hundred blacks, ), aa Those four were Colonel Brandt, Maud,Irving __ and the overseer of the plantation, who dwalhal er back among the negro-quarters, and was tobe left in charge. y-haired, sturdy man, with (oot SA] af He was a gra kindly face, and said honestly: “It hurts me to see you g0; but me and the blacks will take keer o’ ther place, colonel, __ and fight ther pirits if they attempts toburm the mansion. St Mmicvdooks . cr ; . é r A ie . aie are ie ‘ Fe