Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

. Cutlass and Cross. 23 excepting sufficient to man the vessel, and quartered them at a sailors’ inn. Then, in various disguises, he set about the work he had on hand. A natural detective, he ferreted out the fact that a plot was going on against Maud Brandt, while her father was being used as a tool to earry it out, and the reader has seen how he . thwarted the villainy of the gambler Dupont, and afterward prevented Colonel Brandt from taking the life of the man who held him in his power. } After departing from the garden that night, Captain Palafox continued to follow up _ his plans which he had formed to save Maud from a scoundrel, and also to capture the famous Ghoul of the Sea, whom he knew to be still in the city. f The next day he called upon bis daughter Myrtle at her Boarding-echoo!, and soon after Maud Brandt came in, “You wrote for me to come and see you, Myrtle,” said Maud, after she had greeted the young girl and her father. ** Yes, Miss Maud, father wrote me a note asking me to have youcome here this morning,” answered Myrtle, and the three then adjourned to the large garden surrounding the school, and had a long and earnest talk together. Upon taking bis leave of Myrtle and seeing Maud to her carriage, Captain Palafox got a horse and rode out to the lake shore and board- ed the lugger, Irving recognizing him and sending a boat ashore after him. For a long time the two friends—for such they were in spite of the fact that one had been a man branded as an outlaw—chatted together, and then the captain returned to the city and sought quarters at hisagent’s. e found there a seaman awaiting him whose face indicated that he bad something to com- enunicate of importance. ‘‘ Well, Bolt, what is it?’ “The Sea Ghoul sails to-night, sir.” ** Indeed!” “Yes. air.” ‘You are sure of this?” ** Yes, captain, for I enlisted as you told me and orders came on board to be ready to sail to-night.” ‘* Are the men on board?” ‘Only a few, sir, the rest being quartered ashore as your men are,” ‘You told me, I believe, that the schooner was disguised as a lumber craft?” ‘*Yes, sir, she bas lumber on herin such a way that she looks loaded down; but there is a good deal of mischief under her disguise, sir.” **T do not donbt it, Bolt. **But now go down to the inn and tell the amen to be ready to go on board the schooner as soon as it is dark, for I shall follow this pirate to sea and he must not be permitted to dodge us.” ‘*No, sir, we must catch him this time,” and the seaman left, while Captain Palafox sat «lown and wrote several letters, One of them was addressed to:— “CAPTAIN IRVING BRANDT, Yacht Lady Maud.” And this was dispatched by a special messen- er. Another was directed to Myrtle, at Madam Chotard’s academy, and within this he put a jetter that bore the name of Maud Brandt. Having dispatched messengers with these let- ‘ters, Captain Palafox set to work making his preparations to depart that night. soon as it was dark he went down on ‘board his vessel, and the crew at once began to get ready for sailing. ' Soon after a large, heavily-laden schooner passed the disguised Devil Fish going down the river, and Captain Palafox, who stood watch- ing her, muttered: ‘There goes the craft I am after. “Now, as soon as my men come on board, I will follow in his wake, and then it shall bea combat to the death.” . Soon after a boat came alongside filled ‘with men. Silently they boarded the disguised vessel and went to their respective posts. Then a second boat arrived, and a third fol- lowed shortly after. ‘ As the men from the last boat reached the deck, the anchor was raised, the sails were set, and the Devil Fish s down the cng her crew hard at work, changing her peace ul \ .air into one that smacked of a fighting craft. Upon reaching the Gulf, there, not a mile ‘ahead, was sighted the Ghoul of the Sea, and instantly all eyes were turned upon her, while ptain Palafox cried in trumpet tones: **Lads, there is the game we have to run down and worry to death. ‘* Let every man do his duty!” The cheer that his crew gave was heard on board the other yessel, and it told those on her decks that a merciless foe was upon their ck. Instantly sail was set upon her, the crew went to quarters, and before a fair breeze the two beautiful schooners began to fly over the eaters in a bot chase, NT e———————————————————————— EE ee CHAPTER XLIII. THE FLIGHT AND FIGHT. **T am surprised that the famous Ghoul of the Sea, should fly from me,” said Captain Pala- fox, as he stood upon his vessel’s deck watching Ln schooner ahead, as she crowded on in rapid ight. P You expected him to fight you?’ inquiring- ly remarked one of the officers of the Devil ish. ‘Asa matter of course, for he has borne the reputation of a very brave man.” ‘* And his schooner is larger than the Devil Fish, sir,” said the officer. **Not only larger, Conrad, but she carries heavier metal, and two guns more than we do, while his crew outnumbers mine by a score of men, as [ found out just before we sailed,” ‘* Yet he is flying, Captain Palafox.” “Yes, and I shall fight him, for we are gain- ing upon him.” ** Yes, sir, we have gained steadily,” ** He will open on us soon, to try and disable us, and if he does not do so, then we will over- haul and board him.” ‘It will be a hard fight, for he is a desperate man, they say, and has a wicked crew.” “Then we must fight the harder, Conrad, for this is to be a fight to the death. ** Run up the United States flag, and see if he will set his colors.” This order was obeyed, the Stars and Stripes fluttering up to the peak. But the Ghoul of the Sea paid no attention to it. “Try the Spanish flog, Conrad.” This order was also promptly obeyed, and disregarded by the flying schooner as before, ‘*Haul down that flag, Conrad, and Ill try another, which I had never expected to raise on this vessel again,” ‘** You mean our rover’s flag?” cc Yes.” Out of its hiding-place was brought a roll of black bunting, and when it unfolded at the peak it displayed a sable field, in the center of which was a red fox standing with one foot upon a white skull. The crew of the Devil Fish glanced ominously at the hideous flag, and then bent their eyes upon their foe. Almost immediately up to the peak of the thoul of the Sea went his huge Cutlass and Cross flag. ‘“Down with the fox, Conrad, and up with the Stars and Stripes again, for that tells just who he is, ‘** At the guns there forward!” “Ay, ay, sir.” ** Send a sbot into yonder craft!” ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” and the instant after the pivot-gun on the forecastle roared forth its ee of defiance, the signal for the battle to egin. hose on board the Ghoul of the Sea seemed to be surprised at the action of their pursuer, having evidently expected to find only a rival rover in the Devil Fish, after she hoisted the sable flag and the red fox. But the shot tearing along her decks awoke all on board to busy action, and the fact that they had a foe to meet, Quickly the stern guns of the Ghoul of the Sea replied to her enemy, and then began a running fight, the roar of the cannon being in- cessant. It was a grand, but terrible-sight, to see those two beautiful vessels flying over the waters and erg: upon each other an iron hail, which hit ard and destroyed life. With about equal damage sustained, the two vessels kept up their running combat for half an hour, when the Devil Fish suddenly luffed sharp, and poured a broadside upon her foe, It was a disastrous act for her enemy, as it cut away bis bow-sprit, bis foretopmast, and dismounted a gun, besides killing and wounding half a score of the crew. ‘That was well done, and puts us on a more equal footing,” cried Captain Palafox, and a moment after, as the Devil Fish bore down upon her adversary, came the thrilling cry: ** Boarders, aboy!” Then the Devil Fish swept up alongside of the Ghoul of the Sea, both vessels firing rapidly from their guns the while, and next followed a crash, the throwing of grappling-irons, and yells infernal mingling with the ring of steel and rattle of small-arms, as Captain Palafox led his brave men upon the deck of the craft he had run down, Hot and fierce was the combat for a while; but then the Ghouls of the Sea seemed to be- come demoralized, and cries of quarter came from all sides, “Spare them, lads, when they ask it,” shout- ed Captain Palafox, and at once the conflict ceased, “Where is your captain—the Pirate Priest Ghoul of the Sea—or whatever you may call bim?” asked Captain Palafox of an officer. ‘Our chief is not on board, sir; but there is the first luff, and he comntands, though he has got a bad wound,” and the officer pointed to a a ' lying wounded near the cabin companion- . % ‘Why it is you, sir, whom I met the ether night cheating a gentleman at cards, “Your punishment has come quickly,” said Captain Palafox, as he bent over the wounded man, who was none other than Dupent the gambler and tool of Monsieur Erricson. ‘Yes, I am dying, and slain by eme whe sails also as a free rover,” said Dupont faintly. ‘You are mistaken, sir, for what I was ia the past, IT am not now. ** But where is your chief?’ “In the city.” * Ah, then fatik to the city I go,” and witl his well-earned prize Captain Palafox headed back for the Balize, his crew looking after the dead and wounded, and repairing damages as they sailed along, CHAPTER XLIV. IRVING BRANDT AT WORK. THE very day of the combat between the Devil Fish and the Ghoul of the Sea’s schooner, Irving Brandt was surprised m: st agreeably by a visit from the smuggler traitor. The man came out to the yacht in a boat alone, and asked to see the young Ms i ‘He in de cabin, sah, just walk in,” said Wood, Irving arose os the man entered, and said: - “Well, Lam glad to see you, and I hope you bring good news?” ‘“] guess you begun to think I had played you false, not hearing from me, sir?” ‘No, I believed you knew what was best for your own interest. ‘** Well, what have you to communicate?” ‘*The Owls are going to the retreat in a few days.” ** When?” “Three nights from this they will rum in.” ** All of them?’ * Yes, thirteen.” ** And their captain?’ “The Sea Owl?” ee Yes. ”? ** Will be there.” ** Have they the same vessel?” ** Yes, and one more.” “ Ah!” : They cut out a trim little craft from Pensa- cola. * And their cargoes?’ ‘“*They have received the goods from two of the vessels, and the third had to go up first te Mobile and unload.” ** And then?” “The lads will wep 3 the booty down in a fish- ing smack and meet the smuggler lugger three nights hence.” ** And you are to act as my pilot?” ; ‘If you have the force to take the lads, and I get my naomi **'You shall have your money, and I will have men enough to take the band. ‘* When shall [ start?’ **To-night.” “Then I will leave you here, while I go to the city and order aboard a crew I have al- ser shipped, and they are good men too,” ** How many are there?” ‘* Twenty five.” * It is scant.” **No, for 1 bave my slaves on board with me, seven in number, and the surprise we give them will be equally in our favor.” ‘**] guess you are right; but I don’t want a failure, or my neck will be stretched.” ‘You need not fear,my man; but now I must be off to the city.” And to the city Irving went in all haste, and, going to the navy quarters, where he had al- ready asked for the crew, he reported to the commander that he needed the men, and as soon as it was dark they were dispatched to the © yacht with two midshipmen, to be under his orders. Before midnight all were on board, and the Lady Maud spread her sails and glided down the lake. The next night she ran into a secrat harbor. on the coast, under the pilotage of the smug- gler, and was to there lie in wait for the run- ning in of the outlaw craft, A watch was kept by the smuggler upon th banks of the bayou, leading up to the inner basin, or inlet, and at a late bour the mas boarded the yacht with the information that two small vessels had gone up the stream, “ Hynes ‘* Yes, sir, for they are the sloop they cut out and the old lugger.’ i." ‘Then we bad better start at once.” “* Better get the men in the boats and bave all ready, captain; but we don’t wish to hit there ‘* You are sure they are the smugglers?” asked until just about dawn, when all will be sound. palnety for they don’t keep a watch in this wild ace, Irvin which there were three. in his boat. He left the yacht wholly deserted, and took his negro crew and five men The other two boats contained ten men each and were commanded by the two middies, whe’ felt elated at a chance to distinguish them- selves. ordered the men into the boats, of | Ay v > ip ° ony 4 (E MIGDOOKS:G (E(0) (0)