Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

- 18 “Nor touch a card, or in any way gamble.” ** T pledge you my honor—” ‘“‘ Bah! your pledges are not worth the breath _ youuse in making them, I tell’ you what you are and are not to do, and I dare you to do etberwise,” was the threatening remark. Not a word did the colonel utter in response, and the strange man continued: ‘* Now, these are your daughter’s jewels?” Yes.” “‘T will return to her the jewels, to make a point in my favor with her. **T will tell her that you told me of the theft, and, with a love for solving mysteries, and hav- ing ample time on my hands, I set out to track down the thief, and not only did so, but got the jewels. ‘*T will tell her that the thief escaped, after a ' desperate struggle with me, while I was taking him to prison, but that I held on to the jewels. “This will give me a hold upon her friend- ship, you know, and you can bint in the morn- ing to her, that Lam searching for them, from the deep interest I took in her at first sight.” ‘*T can but do as you tell me, sir.” ‘* And, colonel, there are ten thousand due me by you?” “T know it, alas!” ‘That you need not pay, unless our little plan falls through. “Now I will write a few lines here, making an acknowledgment of the moneys I pay you, and for what purpose, the debt you owe me, which was borrowed last night, and the jewels a I hold for your daughter. “ Here, just sign this, please,” and the man | hastily wrote the words that placed Colonel Brandt wholly in his power. Cae Utterly desperate, and seeing help only through the strange man who had entrapped _ him, he signed the paper, and instantly the bs money was counted out to him, with which to s pay Irving on his return, which the colonel was the more anxious to do, as be had acted in the prize-money without the youth’s consent, and was fearful that his forgery of his son’s name ~ ‘would come out. ‘* Now, Colonel Brandt, lef us have a glass of wine together, and then you had better return . directly to your home, and in the morning I z will visit you and return the jewels.” ce ‘“*One minute, sir.” i * Well, colonel?” ** How did you get these jewels?” ‘toa “You simply sold them toa manin my em- ‘ ploy, sir; but ask no more questions, for your | secret is safe with me.” Pb. Then Colonel Brandt dashed off a glass of brandy, and taking his leave walked slowly homeward, his brain full of maddening emo- ' tions. - . Stan CHAPTER XXXII. THE SEA FOX. z Ir was the morning after the capture and re- lease of the Lady Maud, by the Ghouls of the Sea, aud the lugger was sailing quietly along, her crew ergaged in erasing the last signs of the fire she had been under, when a sail was sighted standing so as to head the little vessel off. ! Be ‘The r negro sailor who had been slain, «was lying under a bammock forward, for Ir- Ps ving intended to carry his body to the planta- tion for burial, knowing that his kindred would be glad to have that consolation. he crew wore a saddened look, and Irving ‘was by no means in a cheerful humor, after his b experiences of the past night. na s ut the sighting of a sail running out from ay? behind an island, changed the quietude of the an lugger’s crew to busy action, for they did not | know but that they had another foe to meet, / that might prove less merciful. Instantly Irving leveled his glass at the stran- ger, and a smile of pleasure lighted up his fice a as he muttered: a A is the Sea Fox, and I must speak with Bee + But it will not do to let Wood and the crew ect he isa pirate, or they may think I am in league with them. ; ' Mp r * s “Here, Wood, bring me my signal flags,” S.- he called out, ey ‘Yes, massa: but does you recognize him?” “a _ asked the negro mate, as he placed the flags in 2a the hands of his young master. “Tt is a vessel-of-war, of some kind, Wood; but I will see by signaling.” 7 Then Irving sent up the signal: | **Ts that the Sea Fox?” . ; “Yes. Ho! the Lady Maud!” came back the in, answering signal. 3 * “Run up your Stars and Stripes, and signal af for me to come on board,” returned Irving Ri with his flags. 4 “ Ay, ay!’ came the answer; and soon after | the Stars and Stripes went ap to the schooner’s | - peak, and she lay to, while another signal was sent up, and Irving said: a | - ood, that signal means for me to come on * Better be oro ad keerful, massa, for dese % spirits is up ter al > Wood?” “i ete | “ kinds of tricks,” ont think he is a pirate, do you, aal, sah, I don’t wish ter ’sult. a Govern- Cutlass and Oross. ment sloop, if he be one: but he do look to me | most strangely like de Sea Fox pirate, sah.” | ‘Then he will not barm us, Wood, for I never heard of the Sea Fox doing any damage to vessels on our coast.” ** No, sah; but he hab make up for it far out in de Gulf wid other wessels, sab.” ‘“‘Tll risk the danger, Wood, and go alone; but see, he flies the United States flag, and dn- swered all my signals.” *“Yes, sah; dem pirits is posted, I kin tell ou. ‘** Better let some o’ dem no-’count niggers for- ward go, sah, and find out what you wants ter know. “Ef dey grabs him, we kin run for it, sah, for we has a stiff breeze, an’ kin git away afore de wind awful fast.” Irving laughed, but soon gave the order to lay to, and springing into the yacht’s small boat, rowed rapidly toward the schooner, Captain Palafox had understood his signal, and not knowing who was to come with him, and assuming that he was expected to play naval officer, he had his men rigged out in the attire of United States seamen, while he met his young visitor at the gangway in the uni- form of a captain in the navy. ‘‘T am glad to see you, sir. Come with me into my cabin,” he said, politely, and Irving followed him. When out from under the eyes of the crew, Captain Palafox said, pleasantly: ‘*Now sit down, Master Irving, and tell me how I can serve you.” ‘‘T met the Ghoul of the Sea last night, Cap- tain Palafox!” ‘‘ Ab! Would to Heaven I could say as much!” ‘Yes: he ran out from behind one of the Chandeleurs directly upon me.” “ Well?” ‘‘ He hailed and ordered me to come to, or he would knock me out of the water; but I ran for it. ‘That was good.” ‘No; for he fired upon me, and cut my rudder chains, besides doing other damage, killing one of my crew and wounding others—” **That was bad, indeed!” ‘ s It was, so I had nothing to do but surren- er. ‘Well, Irving?’ and it was very evident that the captain was deeply interested. ‘‘ He found out who I was and sent an officer and men on board to repair damages after which he allowed me to go unmolested.” ‘¢ This is remarkable; but you saw this pirate who sails under the Cutlass and Cross flag?’ ** No, sir.” “Then you do not yet know whether he is your old tutor, Bradford Carr?” ‘*T asked the officer the name of his captain, and he said that it was Bradford Carr.” ‘Then you are convinced at last.” ‘By no means, for the woman told me as much. ‘‘No, I must have better proof, and you are the only man who can give it to me.” ‘*T certainly shal) doall in my power todo so; but tell me which way the Ghoul of the Sea headed after a ae “ati! ‘‘The Jast I saw of her she was standing to- ward the Isle on Breton Sound, as though head- ing for the Balize.” ‘‘ And there hé has doubtless gone, and there I will follow him at once; but whither are you bound?” ‘To the plantation to see how matters are there.” ‘* Well, good luck to you; but what time was it that you parted from the schooner?” ** About an hour before daybreak.” ‘Then he has some half dozen hours’? start of me; but I will crowd on sail and hope to find him. Irving then bade Captain Palafox good-by, and returning oa board bis lugger set sail for Brandt Harbor while the schooner, under clouds of canvas pushed on after the Ghoul of the Sea. “ He wasn’t no pirit then, massa?’ said Wood as Irving returned to the lugger. : ‘Do you see the way he is crowding on sail, Wood?” ‘* Yes, massa,” “ Well, he is going in chase of the Ghoul of the Sea.” ‘‘T hopes be will coteh him.” ‘*] hope so too, Wood.” ‘‘ Waal, massa, I is glad if were a Gov’ment cruiser, but de more I looked at him, de more skeert [ got for you, as it am de image of de skunner dey calls de Sea Fox.” ‘Ts might be the Sea Fox, Wood, under a different flag.” ‘Dat is so, sah, and I reckons ’tis, and dat de Gov’ment hab cotched de Sea Fox. ' ‘Yas, sab, dat am de way it am sartin, for my eyes don’t deceve me, sth,” and Wood was glad to get ata solution of how the Sea Fox could look so like a Government vessel. CHAPTER XXXIITI. THE MEETING IN THE FOREST. IRVING BRANDT held on his way after leav- ing the Sea Fox, and in good time arrived in the plantation harbor. a a The slaves had sighted the lugger from their place of work in the fields, and gathered quickly” at the shore to greet those on hoard. As she glided gently alongside of the dock, a wild shout of welcome went up from a hundred throats, and many were the inquiries made after ‘‘ole massa, Missy Maud, and Ellizette.” But a wail followed when the body of the sluin seaman was brougbt on shore, and a sol- emn procession formed to follow it to the quar- ters where it would be prepared for burial. Dismissing his crew for the day to atiend the funeral, Irving wandered through the mansion, and over the grounds, sadly remembering the many happy days that he bad passed there, and how often he had sat in the arbor studying his. lessons, with Bradford Carr by to aid bim, The flowers now bung unplucked upon the stems, the house was desolate, and the lawn so dreary that the youth took his gun, and mount- ing bis horse started for a ride in the forest in search of game. Suddenly, as he neared the shore of a smali inlet a deer came bounding toward him, and aware that be had not startled him, Irving re- frained from firing, to see who had, for he was confident that the animal had seen a human be- ing, and who else than bimself could be in that lone region. Dismounting, be cautiously approached the shore, and soon came upon a scene that filled him with surprise. There, upon the bank, cooking a bird upon some coals of fire sat a man, while near by was tied a small sailboat. The sail was up, and there were oars anda roll of blankets, with other things in the boat, showing that the man was evidently making & voyage along the coast. _ He sat with his back to Irving, and was very intent upon cooking bis midday meal. He was a muscularly-formed man, with @ great broad back, and the youth knew that he was no match for him in strength, sbould it come toa struggle, so determined to keep the advantage he thus held. « That the man was there for no good, seemed evident, from the fact that he bad run in from the outer coast, as though to avoid being seen, and was doubtless lying in concealment during: the day and sailing by nigbt. Irving knew that the smugglers’ retreat was not.very many leagues away, and he did not doubt but that the man was seeking their haunts, and was bimself a smuggler, or a pi- rate. “Well, my man, you look lonely,” he said, as he stepped forward, his rifle leveled at the heart of the stranger. Instantly the man was upon bis feet, his band grasping a pistol in bis belt, as he turned upon the youth. But as each saw the face of the other there was a mutual recognition, and Irving said: ‘* Ab, it is you, is it, my smuggler friend?” ‘Yes, captain, it is me; butt did not expect to see youin these parts,” answered the man, who was none other than the traitor smuggler, who bad betrayed the pirate’s wife and his booty to Irving. ‘*My home is but a couple of leagues away; but what aro you doing here?” “You know my Calling, captain?” ‘That of smuggling, perhaps worse.” ‘(Tt ig no worse, young caplain; but I wasa smuggler.” ‘And you said you would give up the dis~ honest life you have led in the past.” ‘“‘T have given it up, captain.” “It does not look so, when you are hiding here by day, and sailing by night toward the smugglers’ retreat,” ‘‘True, captain, but I am going there to get money due me, and then I'll give up the life,” “Are you not afraid that you will be sus- ‘ia of being a traitor, and that they will cill you? ** No, captain, no one suspected me, not even the captein’s wife, and you told them that I had escaped.” ‘* ‘Yes, Iso led them to believe; but do you wish to lead an honest life?” “T do, captain.” ‘‘ Then guide me to-night to this smugglers’ retreat.” ‘ They would kill you, captain,” ‘T do not intend to go alone, but with my crew. “ Pilot me there and you shall be well paid, and do your conscience a good turn by breaking up a dastard band of thieves.” or. “ Young captain, let me tell you something,” said the man, after a moment’s thought, ‘ Well?” ‘“T know all about the smugglers on this coast, and just how they are leagued with irates,” ** So I believe.” “ Well, captain, at the retreat now you would not find but two or three persons and no booty; for you captured their metal which they had stolen from you, and you have now their lugger, which they left in your harbor the night they took your yacht,” ‘Well, sir?” ‘* Now they are reduced to a small craft that Eomicbooks ote ae ee . a te cor oo ,