Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ous manner, and went away in my brother’s yacht, ‘¢ Since then my father has received a letter, purporting to come from him, saying that he intends to turn buccaveer, and once more cruise the seas.” ‘*Do you believe that he will do so?” ‘‘] do not, and I believe the letter is a forgery; but you can discover for me whether it is true that he is indeed false to himself and all else.”’ *“T will do this for you, Miss Brandt; but does any one know of your coming here?” ‘No one but my maid, and I can fully trust her. ‘‘T did think of making known to my brother of our former meetings, and how you bad tr ated me; but I remembered your request and did not do so, but came myself to see you.” “You area brave woman, Miss Brandt, and ITappreciate the trust you place in me, and will escort you back some distance on your way, for you must arrive home before dawn,” ‘“‘T am avxious to do so, though we left in daylight, und changed our clothes at an old cabin on the shore; but I bave your promise, and re’ irn happy with hope, for Lamco fident you i find that Mr. Carr is not what that letter vould lead us to believe,” After a few moments’ longer conversation witb his fair visitor, Captain Palafox escorted her to her skiff, and then calling out a boat’s crew, oe took the tiller and turned the little craft out of the bayou and started it well on its wav homeward, his men wondering who it could be that their chief was so attentive to. Returning to the schooner, the pirate chief gave orders to bis men to all geton board, and just as the sun rose the saucy vessel glided out of the sluggish waters of the bayou into the Gulf, and spreading her huge sails went bowl- ing merrily along, her commander determined to leep his pledges made to Irving and Maud Brandt, and solve the mystery that, hung about Bradford Carr’s strange flight from a happy home and those who loved him. CHAPTER XIV. CUTLASS AND CROSS. Somer weeks alter the visits of Irving Brandt and his sister to the Sea Fox, in his retreat in the bayou, rumors began to float along the shores of the depredations of a strange bucca- neer craft. It was reported to be a large schooner, built as trim as a race-horse, and carrying clouds of canvas, with a heavy armament and crew of desperate men, Some had it that her captain was dressed in female garb, as they had seen a woman upon his decks, and others reported that he wore priestly robes. The fleg of this strange cruiser was said to be a black field, with a white cross, crossed by a yair of red cutlasses, and when it became nown that Bradford Carr had mysteriously disappeared from Brandt Plantation, it was said that he was the commander, and had in reality turned Pirate Priest. At Brandt Mansion all seemed to be under a cloud, for Maud went about sad, pale and si- Jent, and her humor was reflected upon her father, while Irving, unable to stand the solemn atmosphere of the place, had gone on a cruise in his yacht, the lugger, accompanied by a crew of a score of slaves, all of whom wero good sailors. One afternoon as Maud sat alone in the sea arbor, looking out over the blue waters, and hoping for the return of Irving, or some mes- sage from Captain Palafox, her father came rapidly toward her, dressed in a riding-suit and top-boots, as though he had just dismounted from his horse. ‘*Maud,” he said, as he approached: “I have just re urned from the village, and I learn that this strange pirate, with his cross end cutlass flag has been committing some de- rcdations along the coast above, such as rob- ing plan'ation houses.” “ Indeed, sir! the pirate is becoming bold.” ** Yes, and will doubtless pay usa visit next, “But, Maud, all now unite in saying that this ruvhless sea rover is none other than Bradford Carr in his old garb of the Pirate Priest.” _ “Father, you know that I do not, cannot be- lieve this, so why do you try to force such belief upon me?” “My child, your love for that man causes you to be blind to his guilt, forin my mind he— Ha! ther? went a heavy gun!” The colonel stopped shert in His sentence, as the deep boom of a camnon “ame rolling over the waters. An instant of su«vense and waiting, and then again came the 2eep boom, while out from be- JOnd a point of land down the coast, suddenly ehot a vessel into sight. 2 4 Irving!” “che Lady Maud!” cried both father and daughter in a breath, as they recoguized the lit- tle craf®, for it was but a league away. utner, she is flying from some foe, for see the sail Irving carries in this breeze—see! he is firing.” » 4.3 Maud spoke there came a puff of smoke Cutlass and Cross. from the stern gun of the Lady Maud, and the | report soon followed, but was broken by the deeper, heavier boom of a large cannon, fired by some vessel around the point of land, and not yet visible to those watching on the shore, It was certain that the Jugger was flying for safety along the coast, for she had-every stitch of | canvas set that would draw, and her crew were busv doing all they could to add to her +peed. With a glass, taken from a bracket in the | arbor, Colouel Braudt had a better view, and said: “Irving is now aiming that stern gun, to fire upon his foe, whoever it is,” and, as the colonel spoke there came a white puff of smoke, followed by the roar of the gun, Almost immediately came the roar of a heav- ier piece of ordnance, and asbot was seen to ylow up the waters near the stern of the flying ugger, The Lady Maud had at first seemed to head for the harbor, but, as though feeling that he would not find safety there, Irving bad changed her course so as to stand seaward, an! also per- haps todraw the enemy after him and away from his home. As he did this, both Colonel Brandt and Maud uttered an exclamation, for the foe suddenly | shot into view. It was a !ong-hulled schooner, with raking masts, which bent under the pressure of canvas upon them, She was armed, bad alarge crew upon her decks, and was dr.ving fiercely along ia chase of the lugger, which hada lead of something over a mile, ‘Tt is that strange buccaneer! ‘See his flag, Maud,” cried the colonel excit- l y. Maud seized the glass and bent it upon the schooner, After an instant she said slowly: ‘Father, be carries a black flag with a white cross in the center—” “Ha! I told youso! It is the Pirate Priest, and he is none other than Bradford Carr.” Unheeding her father’s words, Maud con- tinued slowly: “The flag has a black field, a white cross in the center, and in the corners are a skull, a pair of crossed bones, an anchor and a pair of crossed cutlasses respectively. “Toe skull and cross-bones are white, and the anchor and crossed cutlasses are red. ‘It is certainly a pirate’s flag, and a strange one to mingle the cross with the Death’s head and bones, the red cutlasses and the Auchor of Hope.” “It is the flag of Bradford Carr, Ill war- rant.” ‘** Father, why are you so vicious toward Mr, Carr?” “I feel that he has deceived us all, and been a pirate at heart all the time.” ‘You wrong him, sir; but see, the pirate again fires at the lugger, and brave brother Irving is leading him to sea after him, to keep him away from here,” “Yes, and is gaining on him, too, for that lugger sails like the wind, “Ah! that shot barely missed the lugger,” and Colonel Brandt gazed upon the chase with the greatest anxiety, until he saw that the lugger was showing the schooner a clean pair of heels, and running out of range of her fire, —- CHAPTER XV. THE WARNING. UNTIL the two vessels grew dim in the dis- tance, the father and daughter watched them, surrounded by a group of slaves, who had been drawn to the scene by the firing, and stood in amazement gazing upon the chase, while many a fervent prayer was offered up by them for the safety of ‘* young massa,” As Colonel Brandt and Maud were about to return to the mansion for supper, a small sail- boat was seen coming close in along the coast. It had but one apne and was making directly for the Brandt Harbor. pe siCning it, they saw it run in and land alongside the dock, when a man in sailor’s garb sprung out and advanced toward the arbor, having evidently seen the colonel and _ his daughter standing there, The man came on ata quick, firm tread, and ees, doffed his tarpaulin to Maud, while he said: ‘Pardon, lady; but are you Miss Brandt?” ‘I am, sir,” answered Maud, in surprise. ‘‘T have a letter for you then, lady,” and the man took from his pocket a letter, and was handing it to Mand, when her father attempted to take it. Instantly he drew it back, with the remark: “Tt is for Miss Brandt, not yourself, sir.” “Tam this lady’s father, sir, und have a right to—” ‘What right your daughter may give you, sir, I have nothing to do with; but my orders are to give this letter into the hands of Miss | Brandt only, and I shal! obey them.” **Insclent fellow! taken from you, and punish you for—” . , = 7 ; Me | 9 _ one in the city. 1 will bave the letter | ‘‘ Father! be calm, please, for I consider my- self fully able to look after my own affairs. **Hand me the letter, sir, if you please,” and Maud spoke in a way that checked her father’s gathering temper at being sighted, as he believed, by the bearer of the letter. The seaman promptly placed the letter in Maud’s hand, and she gazed at it an instant before opening it. : lt was addressed in a bold hand to: ‘*‘MISS MAUD BRANDT, Brandt Plantation,” Then there was a seal upon it with the device of a fox in a boat floating at sea. ‘te At sight of this Mand’s face colored, and then turned pale, and she broke the seal in such a way as to wholly destroy the device, Opening the letter her eyes fell upon the fol- lowing: . “Permit one who has the interest of Miss Brandt, and those she loves at heart, to urge that she at once give up her house at Brandt Plantation for ‘* Let her remove, or secrete. all that is valuable in her plantation home, for nothing will be safe there, now that the sea is cursed by one who cills himscif the Pirate Priest, “As delays are often fatal, the writer of this urges that she lose no time in taking the advice thus given her, for the Cross and Cutlass flag of the pirate is now off this coast, ’ Maud knew well who it was that bad written ber the warning, and she felt that it was not to go unheeded. His referring to the ‘tone who calls himself the Pirate Priest,” led her at first to believe that the Sea Fox had discovered in the bue- caneer none other than Bradford Carr, — : But a moment of thought caused her to look et the words, ‘‘one who calls bimself,” with hope that it was other than her lover, and she Lad hope again. After an instant, seeing that her father was losing bis patience, she banded him the note and asked: ‘* What do you think of this, sir?” , The colonel read it, aud his face paled, while he asked; ‘* Who wrote you this, Maud?” “There is no signature, sir, by which I can find out,” was the evasive reply. Wheelin upon the bearer of the letter the colonel anids iam ho bade you give this to my daughter, sir ‘* My captain, sir.” * And who is your captain?” “That, sir, you must excuse me from an- swering,” was the firm but polite reply, ‘But you sball, sir!” Without heeding the colonel’s words and ° manner, the seaman turned to Maud, and calm- — lv asked: ‘Have you any answer, lady?” ‘Yes, say to the one who wrote the letter, whoever be may be, that I thank bim most sin- cerely, and shall assuredly heed his warning.” ‘** And at once, lady!” “Yes, I shall not delay.” “Tt is better so; farewell,” and the man wheeled upon his hee) to depart, when Colonel Brandt sprung before him, crying savagely: __ * Fellow, if you do not at once tell me who wrote that letter, I will have my slaves seize you and force it from you.” . The seamen smiled and answered calmly; —, | “Colonel Brandt, 1 came here with a letter of warning to your daughter, ‘**] have done my duty, and I warn you now that Iam not one you can in the slightest de- gree alarm, +3 “T am armed, sir, and I am going tomy | boat, so do not press me, I beg of you.’ re There wasa calm dignity in thé man’s man- ner, and a certain fearlessness that awed the % colonel; but be saw but one against himself and a score of slaves, and he was determined to bave bis way, so called out: ’ “te ‘‘ Here, boys, surround this fellow and we v i se ps oe ee + eM ut quickly Maud stepped forward and cried: | ‘ se Do not one of you obey, forI or fetfhes? ere! p : hae tn The slaves stood like statues, while Maud turned to her father and said: EP ><> “Father, this gentleman must go hisway wn- molested.” Yes, fae Colonel Brandt knew his daughter’s spirit when aroused, and, with a muttered oath, ~ — turned on bis heel and walked toward the man- — sion, while the seaman went on his way, after again raising his tarpaulin politely to Maud, who said to herself: a ‘* His bold air betrayed him. a “That © an is none other than Captain Pala- fox in disguise, we bd ‘**But I dare not now speak to him and ask S all that he has discovered about Bradford Carr, 7 No, I must bide my time in patience, but t ae nf will at once heed his warning and go toNew Orleans to dwell,” and, having seen the bearer of the letter depart the way he had come, _— Maud went on toward the villa, expecting, a pt. ’ scene with her father. * Gomicboo (C SS ) an com