Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

“y / Fd 8 on. As he approached the cabina man stepped forth and advanced to meet bim. He was a man with a dark, strong face, well- kuit form, and the air of one born to com- mand, He was dressed in a kind of undress officers’ | uniform, As he met the youth, he called out in a cheery voice: " Well, Master Irving, I am glad to see ou,’ ** And I to meet you again, Captai> but I came to see you upon an ii.portant mat- ter I wish your aid in once more.” “ You would hardly give a friendly call toa pirate, Master Irving; bat L knew of your coming, and am not only glad to see you, buc , anxious to serve you in any way in my _ power.” ** You knew of my coming?” said the youth, in surprise. ** Yes; my lookout on the coast reported you an hour on ab * Ah! see that you are not to be sur- prised.” ‘* No; for my neck has oo desire to make the acquaintance of the hangman, Master Irving. * But you must bave supper with me, and we can talk business after; but lam sorry my little Myrtle is not’ here to give us one of her 00d meals.” ** She is still in New Orleans then?” * Yes; at school, and growing into a splen- did girl, if I say so myself, Master Irving. ¥: But come, for my servant has supper ready and you must be hungry.” **T am,” laughed Irving, and he followed Captain Palafox into the cabin, where a table was set for two and a negro was serving up a tempting repast. The two ate with a relish, and when the table was cleared and a lamp bad been brought, Cap- _ tain Palafox said: ‘Now, Master Irving, tell me how I can serve you, and see if, pirate though I am, I ave forgotten that you saved my life once.” “Yes, and you have returned the favor, for you vook my tutor, Bradford Carr, out of jail when I came and asked it of bim from the gallows,” answered Irving. ‘* Ah, I should have done that anyhow, for I did not believe him guilty of the murder they ~ would bave hanged him for. ‘But what a name he made as the Pirate Priest,” ‘* Yes, he won renown and honor, too, when it was found out that be was not really a pirate, but one who was hunting down outlaws upon the seas,” ‘‘ He never disturbed me,” Master Irving. ‘‘Nor should he, after he had saved your life. ** And besides, he looked upon you as I do.” ** And how is that, may I ask?’ and the pirate smiled. _ ‘* Well, as a kind of ocean free lance, who has credit for many evil deeds he does not do, and seeks his booty from other vessels than those of Palafox, for Myrtle’s sake as wellas for your own, and I trust soon that Palafox, the pirate, will be known no longer upon the seas. * But now let me tell you why I have come _ to see you.” “T am all attention, Master Irving,” and + > oe " —~ se _ gp eee Lr) eee a em Pe ee 7 % “ ? . ¥ 1 « os J s ‘ - Palafox; | ou, and saved | --—-—- Cutlass and Cross. “Thank you, my man,” and the youth passed | was from some of his old crew who had served | him as the Pirate Priest. | ** Well, some time ago my sister was seated at Se ea ee ~ a < a ee + w ree —s — ——- — - -—- —— A row of half a mile and they caught sight of the flickering firelight. The crew bad either gone on board the schooner | the window one night and saw a strange lugger | to turn in, or had rolled themselves up in their ' run iato our harbor. _ blankets and were sleeping under the trees near ‘“She also saw Mr, Carr meet the crew on the | tbe fire, so that not a sound broke the stillness _ dock, and soon after my yacht, the Lady Maud, | the lugger at anchor. was boarded and set sail for the Gulf, leaving | of the night. Landing, the one in the stern of the skiff | stepped on shore, and after a low word to the “Mr, Carr went with the yacht, and the cry | one at the oars, walked toward the cabin, in my sister gave as she saw him leave with the | which a light was still visible. _ pirates alarmed the house. The otber occupant of the skiff wrapped a ‘*T boarded the lugger and found it to be the | heavy cloak about him and laid down for a nap smugecler craft known as the Sea Owl. * No one was on board and it was clear that | | she had been left in place of the Lady Maud, ‘* Knowing the craft to be a good one, I took her to Mobile and had her thoroughly over- | Harbor.” ‘* And Mr, Carr?” quietly asked the pirate. | ** Well, my father received a letter from him, bauled aud armed, and she is now at Brandt | in the bottom of bis boat. Meeting no one to challenge bim, his comrade | went directly up to the door of the cabin and | gave a timid knock, | Instantly came the answer in deep tones; ‘* Ay, ay; come in!” “be stranger raised the latch and stepped within, but with an air of hesitation. At a table sat Captain Palafox, the pirate, a dated off the Balize and here it is,” and Irving | chart before him, upon which the light of a handed the letter to the Sea Fox to read. ** Well, this looks as though he had turned pirate.” ‘* Tt looks so, yes.” ‘** But you do not believe it?” ‘** I do not,” ** What then?” ** I think the letter is a forgery.” “ Ab! and—” ‘And fee] that Mr. Carr has been kidnapped by some enemy.” | ** You kuvow his writing?” ‘* Perfectly.” ** And this letter?” ‘‘ Certainly seems to be his writing, for, were it upon another subject, than admission of his guilt, I would swear that be wrole it.” ‘* But now vou do not think so?” **T certainly do not, and it is having this be- lief, which is sharedin by my sister, that I have ——————— | come to you,” **Does your sister know that you came here?” “No indeed, Captain Palafox, no one knows that I am your friend, for such I am, and I would not wish any one to know it, ** Chance caused me to serve you and because you were helpless in my bands I saved your life and brought you to your lair, “You have returned that kindness and we are quits; but I know you and that you have a noble heart, and I have come again to you,” ** You have done right, for I am your friend, so tell me how I can serve you.” ** Go in search of the Lady Maud and find out who ran off with her, and try and find out for me if Bradford Carr is the guilty one this letter makes him out,” “ IT will doso, though I was just about to give up piracy, Master Irving.” ** Indeed?” ‘*Yes, for I wish to drop the past, and live for my child now.” ‘‘T am so glad to bear you say this.” ** And Tam glad to ey it. ‘*T had called my band together, and intended vous, I will give you an address in both New Orleans and Mobile where word can be left for me, and I will communicate with you, as soon as I have discovered something definite, regard- ing the mysterious movements of Mr. Carr, ** Now, it is getting Jate, and I will give you I lamp fell lightly. Looking up, he started, for he beheld a stran- ger before him, A meré youth he seemed, with a slonch hat drawn down over his eyes, and a heat clouk enveloping bis form, ~— Quickly Captain Palafox arose, and asked sternly: . ‘* Well, sir, who and what are you?” *: “Tarn no foe, Captein Palafox, but one who seeks you in this disguise to ask of you & favor. ‘‘ Are we alone?” and the voice of the speaker was soft and low. ‘* We are, and—” Ere he could say more the hat and cloak wers thrown off and a face was revealed that feirly startled the pirate, for he cried excitedly: “Great God! you here, Miss Brandt, in the lair ofa + og aa ‘‘ Yes, Captain Palafox, I have so far forgot- ten my dignity as to come by night to tbe home of outlaws,” ‘* Be seated, Miss Brandt, and feel that I am wholly at your service,” said the pirate cap- tain in a courtly way. Maud sunk into a chair, and after an instant of thought said: “Do not consider me unmaidenly, in assum- ing this clothing of my brotber, and coming here, for the necessity was great.” “You can never lower your dignity in my eyes, Miss Brandt; but are you alone?” “My qiadroon maid, Ellizette, waits for me in my skiff and she is disguised as a negro lad.” ‘**Bat why was not your coming reported to me by my look-out at the mouth of the bayou?” “That I cannot tell you, sir; but I suppose we were not discovered, as I crept along the coast under the shadow for a league, before reaching the bayou,” ** Ab! and he patrols seaward, and so missed you. But let me coffer you some refreshments and a glass of wine, for you need them,” and the pirate placed before the maiden a bottle of rare old wine, with some fruit and biscuit, of which she partook for she felt the need of some- Me our own nation.” to let them go their way in a few days, and | thing to maintain her. a “You are right, Master Irving, and I am in- | retire from the seas. After awhile she said: “he . tending to give up the sea altogether, and now ‘But my schooner is here, and I shall do ‘* Now, Captain Palafox, my coming to you he that my daughter will soon be a young lady, to | what you ask and look up this mystery, devot- | as I do, proves that [have not forgotten your ie . drop the past, and in some spot far away from | ing myself to that, and no longer sailing under | noble conduct in setting me free, when I was _* here live an honest life.” the black flag. captured in the Lady Maud and brought to you < “T am glad to hear you say this, Captain ‘‘As I will no longer make this my rendez- | by your lieutenant.’ “‘T never war on wemen, Miss Brandt.” **So Tam well aware; but I must thank you for so nobly rescuing me, in releasing Mr, Carr from prison as you did.” ‘*Ah, Miss Brandt, what little I Gid for you, you more than repaid, when you told me to lighting his pipe Captain Palafox settled him- gelf comfortably in bis easy-chair to listen to | night,” ee what his young visitor had to say. ** No, thank you, for [ must return home at ag once, as I have a fair breeze,” and ten minutes ye 7 afterward Irving Brandt was rowing down tLe | 1m : bayou toward the gulf. | even though they come from a pirate’s lips.” Ps, t IRVING S REQUEST. Suddenly he heard the splash of oars, and| ‘I thought 1 understood you to say, Captain i : * CapTaIn PALAFOX, I am in trouble,” said | quickly turned. ' Palafox, that you intended to give up this law- quarters here or on board my schooner for the | Send my little Myrtle away from these scenes and make a lady of her. iy “Through your kindness she is now honored and loved in the school where you bade me place her, and you have my heartfelt thanks, be . 2D CHAPTER XII. Irving Brandt, after a moment of silence, and But all was silent and dark, and he rowed on, | less life you lead.” om ae os opens the reasons for his visit to the | though confident that some boat bad been near ; ms said so, Miss pied hs I have ine SO, ty a oon Lair. im, or I am here now to disband my crew; but a fl Well, my young friend, what can I do to | ‘It is doubtless a lookout,” he muttered, as | circumstance occurring of late will dated me to help you out?” | he stepped his little mast upon reaching open | still keep the seas, though perhaps not for long; “You are aware that my tutor, Bradford | water, and went skimming along over the | but I pledge you I will not sail as a pirate.” 1 _ Carr, returned bome in honor?” moonlit waters toward Brandt Plantation. “T am glad to bear this, and more, [ am iF ef, Soh Sia once more resumed his tutorship Ce at happy to ee gepen You aed not yet Heband-. at nour bouse. i : : ed your crew, ave to beg you render ** True, while Barton Keys, the murderer and THE PIRATE'S MIDNIGHT VISITOR. me a great, a very great service.” _ | villain wko would have sacrificed him fora IRVING BRANDT had not been mistaken in ‘“* Myself, vessel and crew are at yqur service, deed of which he himself was guilty, was tried | feeling that a boat was near bim, hidden under | Miss Brandt,” was the courteous repiy. and sentenced, but escaped from prison.” the shadow of the moss-hung trees that bordered ** ‘You remember,” began Maud, after a mo- a oa - “To die in the sea, I have heard?” the banks on either side. ment of hesitation, “the gentleman you saved ‘e f \ ** Ves, it is so believed, for his horse was There was a skiff, strangely like his own, | trom the gallows? % found where he had attempted to cross to | coming up the bayou, and as he was in the | “ Mr. Carr?” moonlight one in the stern had caught sight of “* Yes, sir.” ta $Smuegler Forest. a “Butitis not of that wretch that I wish to F speak, but of Bradford Carr, ‘i “He was living happily at our house, and I may as well tell you frankly was engaged to mv sister, when one day he received a letter which made a different man of him. him, ‘‘ He afterward became known as the Pirate A word to the person at the oars, and the | Priest.” skiff had darted under the shadow of the trees, ‘He did, but proved that he was nc ia pirate, Ls and the quick splash given by the oarsman had | but a pirate bunter, and giving up the sea, after . been the souna heard by the youth. clearing his name of the stain of being a mur- Clinging to a branch of a tree, those in the | derer, by proving Barton Keys guilty, he set- = ; tled down at our house once more as the tator a4 8 ‘* What that letter was we. could only surmise, | strange skiff had waited until Irving Brandt sR _ but it seemed to deéply worry bim, and father, | had passed, and then continued on up the | of my brother, Bath Me |, gis and myself came to the conclusion that it ' bayou. “Some weeks ago he left in a most mysteri- Se Po ¥ ea comicbooks.con