Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee eee Alongside of this craft the boat made a stop and was made fast, when the one who had dragged Barton Keys from the water bent over him an insiant, ber band upon his pulse. ‘‘ He is not dead, for his pulse still beats, and he will soon revive. ‘‘] will tell father;” and she sprung over the side of the bulwarks, and advanced toward the . cabin of the lugger, from the companionway of \ which shone a brigbt light. Hearing her step upon the deck, a man met her in the companionway, a gun in his hand— but upon seeing her, eried out: “ltis you, Rita! But why did you not givo me the signal, for you startled met” _ ‘‘T forgot it, father, for 1 was lost in deep thought, But come; I have a guest for you, and he lies unconscious in my bont alongside ;” and she led the way back to the little craft, the man following her in a cautious manner that | ingly. hinted of one ever suspicious of danger to him- self, CHAPTER VI. THE SEA OWL. ‘“‘ Wao is this guest, Rita?’ asked the man, as he besitated before looking over into the boat. ‘*] do not know, father,” answered the gir). “Then, in hades’s name, why brought you ‘aim here?’ was the angry response, ‘*I went, father, as you told me, to the mouth | af the inlet, to see if there was any signal from the brig, end, find ng none, L was returning, when | cuvght sicht of a man struggling in the water, and beard his cry that he was lost, “ T drew him into the boat, and—” “ Better have Jet bim drown, girl.” “I thought otherwise, father, and saved him, though he has been unconscious ever since.” “I will see him; but [ wish no strangers here, Rita.” : : Well, father, he is in distress, and needs our vaid. ‘‘ He shall get his deserts at my hands, Rita,” and with this, the man sprung over into the Doat. The girl watched him as he bent over and placed his hand upon tbe form of Barton Keys, ‘* Ah! he bas a watch; and here is something that will pay for bis picking up;” and the man took the roll of bank-notes from the pocket of the still unconscious fugitive. ‘‘ He is not of our stripe, girl; so, as he is still unconscious, I will just let bim go overboard,” continued the brutal man; and, as he spoke, he raised the limp form and dropped it into the water, ‘*Oh, father! what have you done? “You shall not murder that unconscious man, for I will again save bim!” and the girl sprung from the lugger’s deck into the water, and grasped the clothing of Barton Keys just as he was disappearing from sight. ‘Girl, let him drown, I say!” yelled the in- furiated man. ‘* [ will not, father, so drag us out together, er | sink with him,” was the bold response, ‘‘ Curses! how dare you do what I forbid?’ ‘+ | will not be a hand to aid you in commit- ting murder, father.” ‘* Well, Rita, I guess you are right, so I'll give him a chance, and it will be time enough to kiil him when J {ind him dangerous, ‘‘ Here, give me hold cf him and Ill drag bim in.” Seizing Barton Keys, the man quickly drew him into the boat, and almost. unaided, the girl followed, Then the two raised him to the deck of the lugger and bore him to the cabin. There the light fell full upon the handsome face of the fugitive, and the father and daugh- ter gazed upon him witb surprise, The girl was dripping from her spring into the water, but she was neatly clad, and her clinging dress displayed a form of grace and elegance, She was apparently twenty years of age, with a face that was more attractive than beautiful, and with a voice and manner strangely fasci- nating, while she seemed out of place in that Jone spot, Her father was a thick-set, muscular man, dressed asa seaman, and wearing the look in his bearded face of a thorough villain. He had a belt of arms about his waist and looked the one to use them. Tue cabin of the lugger was large, and fur- nished with an air to comfort not seen in vessels of her class, though the furniture did not accord as though gotten expressly for the use it was then put to. . A guitar hung on_one side, here and there were sketchings and paintings of the coast Seillfuy and marine views, ex cuted by no un- skillful hand with pencil and brush, while over all was an air evincing that a woman of refine- ment was mistress there. Arms were spread about in quantity, and there was other evidence that the vessel held no iegal papers to cruise in those waters; yet some- how the presence of the young woman there seemed to take away the idea that she was a lawless craft, ‘| have seen that man’s face before, Rita.” ‘“ Where, father?” asked the girl, as the two OO senses Cutlass and Cross. stood bending over the prostrate form of the fugitive. **In Orleans, one night, when I was playing in the Chance Palace, I saw him there gam- bling. “f was losing, for I am not smart at cards, and was being cheated by a young sharp, and had lost all I had nearly, so was getting des- perate, when this gentleman came up, said I was being cheated, forced my man to give up his stealings, and walked off as cool as you lease, the Fellow obeying him same as though 8 was his master. “I got my money and left, and I am right glad I did not drown him now. ‘* But let us see what we can do for him.” The two now set to work and after a long time Barton Keys opened bis eyes. “T thought [ was dead,” he said, wonder- ‘* No, sir; you came pretty near it, though,” answered the man. ‘* Ah! who saved me from drowning, for I felt myself seized as I was going down?” ‘* My daughter saved you, sir.” ** Is that your daughter?” and Barton Keys sat up with an effort and turned his eyes ad- miringly upou the maiden, who blushed under his £nZe. ‘* She is,” was the curt reply. ‘* Well, I would never believe it,” said Keys. ‘ec Why?’ 7 Because she looks the angel she doubtless ‘* Ah! that means that I look the devil I am? “Well, you are not far wrong as regards us both, shipmate, but you did me a good turn once, aa now I have done what I can for you.” ‘** What cid I do for you?” “Saved my money, one night in Orleans at the Chance Palace, when I was being cheated by a sharp.” “Yes; I recall your face now, and I believed you then to be another person, so made the fel- low give you back your money, for he was.a useful tool of mine. ‘“* But who are you?” ‘* lam Captain Restel.” ‘*Ab! I have heard of a smuggler of that name, who is also known as the Sea Owl.” ‘* Tl am the man, sir,” ** A smuggler?” ‘¢ ‘Yes, sir,” ‘* And that is your daughter?” ** She is.” ‘* This is strange,” ** She is a woman, sir, and loving her father has followed him through good and evil. ‘a But enough of myself, tell me who you is are? ** First tell me where I am?” **{n my vessel, which is anchored in my re- treat,” Barton Keys looked around the cabin, and then, as his eyes fell again upon the smuggler’s daughter, Rita Restel, he said: ‘** And you saved my life?” ** Yes, sir.” ‘*‘ Thanks will never repay you.” ** T wish no thanks, sir. ‘“I was coming from the coast in my boat, heard you cry, saw you sinking, and drew you on board, ‘Father brought you to the cabin, when I arrived, and I am glad to see you well again.” “Thank you,” and the fugitive sat musing, pda Captain Restel recalled him to himself with: ‘* Ycu have not told me who you are, sir.” “ Ab! yes.” *‘ And how it is that. you were drowning in the inlet.” “ I do not fear to tell you now.” ‘Why not?” ‘* Because you are a self-confessed ortlaw.” ** What has that to do with it?” ‘¢T am also an outlaw.” ae Ha 1? ** Yes, a fugitive from justice.” SN, ” “It is the truth, for I was tlying to save my lifa when my horse sunk under me, while swim- ming the inlet.” ** Why did you come here?” “T had heard that smugglers dwelt here, and hoped to cast my fortunes with theirs.” *“'Is this true? “*Tt is. . What crime had you committed?” I had shot an enemy, and as if was notin a duel, I was tried and sentenced to die upon the gallows, _“* To escape that death I killed my jailer and his assistant and fled,” ‘You are a bold man.” ¥. Thank you; but I hope to become a bolder one. “You doubtless will; but do you wish to.ally yourself with me?” a T do.” ‘Well, I shall find out if your story is true, and then you shall be welcome.” “* have ample money with me, which I am willing toplace in your daughter’s hands as a forfeit, if my story is not true.” ‘*I have your money here, and needs must —— 5 believe you, after your offer; besides you look as though you were telling the truth. ‘*But I am an outlaw, sir, the Sea Owl, as men call me, and, with a price upon my head, I must needs be careful.” “You are right; but you certainly have me in your power, helpless on board your vessel as I am, surrounded by your crew.” ‘“My dear sir, this lugger is my home, and here I dwell with my family, ‘*My daugbter, an old negro and negress, and an Indian spy comprise iy househo!d here, “Often I am at sea with a different craft and crew, for [ bave to run cargoes of smuggled goods to the cities, “This vessel anchors here, but she can sail in five minutes, so that it is bard to catch the Sea Owl, as you doubtless know. ‘*Now you shall be my prisoner, but an hon- ored one, until I find out the truth of your story, and then we can come to terms. “Now, Rita, let us have some supper and a bottle of my best smuggled wine to put new life into this gentleman, whom I will rig out in a dry suit,” and the Sea Owl went to overhaul- ing a chest for clothing, while Rita left tho cabin to do as her fatber directed. CHAPTER VII. THE PIRATE'S BAPTISM, THE crew of the lugger, the home of the Sea Owl, consisted, as he Sad said, of his daughter, an Indian, and two old negroes, who had fol- lowed bis fortunes into outlawry, having once been his slaves when a trader on the Gulf shores, an occupation he had given up to turn his attention to smuggling openly, after bavin been caught in the act by a revenue cutter ond had his vessel cou. fiscated, His daughter had also gone with her father, and the Indian bad been one of his trusted spies when he had his trading vessel, and bad rescued him from prison, whither he had been sent by the Government, Chincopin was the name the redskin answered to, and he was one of the Choctaw tribe, who preferred the deviltry and sea-life of the white man to living among his own people and bunt- ing the forest for scalps or game, as the case m at be, ; hincopin spoke English well, and made bis way wherever his master sent him, so that he was but a couple of days in finding out just who Barton Keys was, aod that he was indeed a murderer and fugitive and supposed to have met bis death when his horse went down. This convinced Captain Restel that his pris- oner-guest was a fit companion for him, and so he released bim from his confinement upon the third day, and said: ‘*T fing you are to be trusted, Mr. Keys—” **Ah! you know my name?” Bs ides for I bad a hint of the jail from which you bad escaped, so sent my trusty spy, Chincopin, to ferret out all about you. — ee eo cee ae ‘‘He got you by keart, so we are on equal - terms. and now we can talk business,” ‘Well, sir, now that you know I am an out- law, tell me how 1 can start upon a career as a sea-rover,” was the response of the reckless young man. ‘‘Ah! you intend to sweep the seas boldly, and not crawl along the coasts by night. pick: ing up silks and Jaces that pay no duties?” ee not be content with being a smug- gler.’ : ‘‘A pirate?” “Why not?’ ‘That is right, for smuggling is not the thing when a man can do better. mt have been thinking of piracy myself of ate. ‘* Better stick to smuggling, as you have a daughter.” . * Perbaps you are right.” ‘‘But_you can put me in the way of raising the black flag over a good deck and crew.” * Are yowa sailor? ‘‘ An amateur one.” ‘Can sail a ship?’ ‘Yes, a schooner,” ** Are you not afraid to die?” ‘“T prefer to live, but if death comes I will meet it,” ‘Right! now I see that you have a large sum of money bere?’ and Captein Restel held out the a, notes he bad taken from Barton Keys, ** Yes. “Do you know bow much?’ ‘‘ About thirty thousand dollars,” ** A trifle over, sir.” ec Well?” a “It is sufficient to purchase for you a deot craft.” ** And more?” “Certainly; you can arm her, fit her out thoroughly with it, ship your crew, and have some gold left in your locker as a nest egg to start. piracy on.” ‘**Rut where can J get the vessel?” ‘* 1 will buy one for you.” ‘ At She . ‘In Orleans if I can, if not, V’ll try Mobile and then Pensacola, Churleston, ane thus on up the coast until I find just what you want.” S — — + - CRAeD ee 1 oe ¥. ‘ ——_ 4 ol . . , — a “? - o> **You will do this for me?” (EOMMIE NOC See ‘> E> :. a > ’ . « * S)