Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

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Bs i, | ge 4 . a Me 4 * - es 7 - shy." 7 * Ls Pe . pe, het eS Sa at ~~ y f Airy bes o* Thi ; , 7 as - . ey - : 10 from t The Phantom Pirate. that the Don lost his vessel and her cargo, ‘though he is well able to sustain the loss. ** But you played me a trick that nearly cost me pat life, for I half intended to board the brig myself, yet thought better of it and sent an “under officer.” “TIT am glad that you did not, sir; but the waptain, looking upon you as a foe, did all he could to thwart you and harm you.” *“*“And succeeded well, I assure you; but where is your captain?” “ He left the brig in the otber boat, sir.” ** How many men has he with him?” ** Half a score, sir.”’ ** And which way did he head?” ** Due north, sir,” and Bono gave the opposite direction from the right one. “You were steering south when I sighted you. ** Yes, sir; we were trying to dodge you, and then put about and sent the other boat at a given point.” “Well, I need some men, as I have nota large crew, and your men can sbip with me, while I will see that you are well taken care of, and if you will give up service under the money-lender, and take a berth with me as an under officer, you shall have it.” “Thank you, sir, I shall be only too glad; but I must report to the Don first.” “That you shall do, forlam going straight to New Orleans now. “So come on deck, bid your men go to work, and then direct the helmsman how to steer to find your other boat, and the brig’s captain shall step into the shoes of my luff, whom he blew to Hades on his vessel.” There was nothing left for the youth to do but obey, and going on deck with the Giant Chief, he told the boat’s crew that their services - ‘would be accepted on board the schooner. He then was about to direct the helmsman which way to steer, so that there would be little chance of their finding the other boat, when suddenly came from the mast-head: ** Boat, ho!’ “Ha! we have found it. ‘**Whereaway, my man?” called out the Sea Monster, in his deep tones. The schooner had just gotten under way once more, and in response the lookout an- swered: t d astern as we head now, sir.” “Ay, ay! I-see her. ' ** Put about, helmsman!” came the order, and slip to the youth, the Giant Chief con- ued: **You doubtless got turned around in your Boeing, my lad, for you were heading us away boat.” So it seems, sir,” coolly answered Bono, while his boat’s crew felt anxious at the dis- covery of the other boat, and wondered if their brave eng pmaks could rescue them from this second threatened danger. The schooner bad now put about, and was ng close into the wind, to reach the boat on that tack, if possible. ' As she sped along Bono saw that half an hour more must result in the picking up of his mese- ma and he wondered how it would end. But be did not lose nerve, and quickly glanced out over the dark waters, while the chief paced to and fro near him. _ As he looked his eyes suddenly fell upon a sail, dimly seen through the gloom, and heading directly for the boat. It was a mile from the schooner, was the strange sail, yet not more than a fourth of that distance from the boat, which held on its way, ulling hard, as though no one in it had yet Sinchyeited the sail off of their starboard quar- ter. _ Raising his glass to his eye; Bono discerned at a glance that the strange sail was the armed yacht of the Planter Midshipman, which bad spoken them the day before, and given them warning of the presence of the Sea Monster in those waters. Knowing the speed of the Sea Owl, he felt hope that she would pick uP the boat, in which were Captain Gray and his men, and escape with them. He saw that the armed yacht was heading irectly for the boat, and going at a slapping ace. =m Those on board had evidently discovered the boat, and also the schooner, and to save the for- mer she was risking very dangerous proximity to her large enemy the pirate. That the lookout on the schooner had not yet discovered the armed yacht, was very evident . by his silence,so, us she must soon be seen, Bono decided to get the credit of sighting her, and so sung out in his clear voice: * Sail bo!” The Giant Captain instantly stopped in his walk, and turned toward the youth, while he ‘said: “Ha! your sharp eyes discovering from the ss deck, what that blind lookout cannot see from =F _ Where is she, my lad?” Bono pointed to the strange sail, and discov- ering her close proximity, the huge chief seem- ? _ ed wild with rage, while he shouted: . **Ha! almost upon us, and yonder lookout not discover her? “She is but a little fellow that we need not | fear; but had it been a line-of-battle ship we | would have been lost. ** Ho, lad! Dll try the mettle of your men, | so get them together, arm them with muskets, and bring them aft.” Bono was a little surprised at this order, for he could not make out just what the Sea Mon- ster meant. | Did he mean to board the yacht, if he could | overhaul! her, and throw him and his boat’s crew | on board to capture her? If so, he certainly was preparing a long ways ahead, considering that little craft was such a nimble sailer. Anyhow he did not hesitate about obeying | the orders given him, and going forward soon returned with his men all armed with muskets. Saluting in silence the youth stood before the huge captain, who said sternly: ‘“My lad, I make it a rule on board my ves- sel never to allow neglect of duty to go un- punished, and I shall not in this case make an exception. “Yonder lookout at the mast-head might have lost me my schooner, and all of us our lives at the yard-arm, bad that craft proven to | be a large vessel-of-war, so he shall meet death | as punishment for not keeping his eyes open.” no was amazed, as were bis men at this prompt and summary determination of the irate chief to punish the neglectful lookout, | but he said nothing, and the giant continued: ‘*As you know my intentions, and you are the executioner, order your men to fire upon bim!” ‘In his place there, sir?” asked Bonoin sur- prise. es Yes,” ‘Without a warning of his fate?” cc Yes,” **Or time for a prayer?” « Yes.” “You know best, sir,” coolly returned the youth, and turning to bis men he continued: : “ Ready, men! aim at yonder lookout in the maintop!” ; The men obeyed in silence, for they dared not disobey, and then came the stern command from the lips of the boy: ce Fire!” A volley of musketry followed, and the un- fortunate lookout came tumbling to the deck with a wild shriek ringing from his lips. | CHAPTER XX. A HOT CHASE. WirH a dull thud, that was sickening to all who heard it, the lookout fell to the deck, amid his shipmates, who, all used as they were to scenes of carnage and crime stood aghast at the act of their chief. ‘* Your men are not the best of shots, my lad, or they would have done better work, for the bullets merely made him let go his hold and the fall to the deck killed him,” said the pirate chief with the utmost coolness after the deadly pun- ishment he had visited upon the unfortunate lookout who bad neglected his duty. Then raising his voice, he continued: ‘Throw that body overboard, and send an- other lookout aloft, and one who can keep awake!” The. two orders were quickly obeyed, and seemed to break the spell that had fallen upon the crew. : A plunge into the waves and the body had its burial, while a nimble seaman rat up the rat- lines and took his place in the cross-trees, almost instantly hailing the deck with: “* Ho the deck!” : “ Ay, ay, sir!” shouted back the chief. ‘¢Yonder vessel, sir, is the armed yacht, Sea Owl, which we have twice before chased.” ‘* Ay, ay, my man, so I see.” rite be ** And she is sim 3 the boat, sir, which just now seemed to sight her.” “ Ay, ay,” shouted the Sea Monster, and then his voice rung out with: ‘‘Forward there at the guns! ‘Fire on the boat, and upon the cruiser too, and man your guns lively, forif we can not wound yonder craft, we will have a bad fellow to catch!” * Ay, ay, sir!” came from the officer in com- mand of the bow-guns. But, nimbly as the men worked, before a gun was fired, there came three flashes from the broadside of the yacht, and simultaneously three solid shot were flying toward the schooner. “Ha! he hits first! and well aimed too,” cried the Sea Monster, as the shot cut through his rigging, and killed one of his crew. “Fire!” he yelled, and -the bow guns flashed and their discharge shook the schooner. But the bows rose on a wave as the guns were discharged, and the iron flew far above the yacht, doing no barm. The boat, which had before been pulling a Sy course, seemingly not having discover- ed eitber the pirate or the little cruiser, was now rowing with all d toward the latter. “ Let them both have it!’ yelled the Sea Monster, and and when thé of the yacht. A crash followed, and Bono, who was watch- ing through his glass, cried: ‘**That shot hit the boat, sir, and her crew are in the water. “See! the yacht luffs right in the midst of the swimmers, and is picking them up!” It-was true, for ropes had been thrown to the crew of the boat, and it could be seen that those on the yacht were drawing them on board. “Fire!” yelled the Sea Monster again, and the bow-guns kept up a constant discharge, though they seemed to be badly aimed, for their iron flew wild. In the mean time the Sea Owl had put about, after rescuing all she could of the boat’s crew, and, as she darted away in flight, began a hot fire from her stern pivot-gun upon the schooner, The pivot-pieces mounted fore and aft on the yacht were large guns for a vessel so small, and they certainly were well manned, for the gun- ners did not throw away their ammunition, but threw the iron pretty much where they wanted it to go. The result was the dismounting of the star- board bow-gun on the schooner, and the ee and wounding of several of the crew, followe immediately by the cutting away of the fore- topmast. or a moment the schooner’s crew were de- moralized; but, rushing forward, the giant chief waved his cutlass, and his stentorian voice calmed the turmoil and repaired damages in very short order, But the yacht had not been idle, and, under a pressure of canvas was flying away in a style that threatened to drop the pirate far astern, Infuriated by the mishaps that had befallen him, and his courage rising in misfortune, the Sea Monster handled his vessel with a determi- nation to redeem his ill fortune by capturing the yacht, and his crew sprung at his slightest order, well knowing that the demon was within him, As for Bono and his men, they knew but too well the danger of doing aught to bring his dis- pleasure pe them, and they attended to their duties with an alacrity that was equal to that of the pirate crew. ** Boy, pooere you can pitch a shot on board that yacht that will fetch her to,” suddenly cried the Sea Monster, turning to Bono. **T can try, sir,” was the sendy reply, and the youth sprung to the gun, sighted it and fired. The shot was a close one. ‘** A little too far to starboard, boy. “Try again,” cried the Sea Monster. “* Ay, ay, sir,” and a second time Bono sight- ed the piece and fired. ‘*Now you are as much the other way. ‘‘ Aim between your two shots and you rake her from stern to bow.” ‘“‘Ay, ay, captain,” answered Bono, cheerily, and a third time the gun was aimed, the yout as before, taking a long time to fire, for he saw that the yacht was gaining steadily. “Fire!” yelled the Sea Monster, and the third shot went flying after the yacht, It was seen to strike directly in the wake of ae little vessel and then ricochet clean over e ain the bow-guns were fired, oat was within a few fathoms r. ‘You make the closest misses I ever saw, boy. z I will try a shot,” cried the Sea Monster, and be walked forward, just as there camea flash from the yacht’s stern, and with a crash the bow-gun of the pirate was dismounted, crushing an unfortunate seaman beneath its weight, and wounding two others. The wild shrieks of the man, thus pinned to the deck appalled even the pirates for a mo- ment, and they stood aghast, until Bono called to those about him toaid in raising the gun from off his legs. . It was no easy task to accomplish, and the prayers and cries of the sufferer seemed to un- nerve the men in their work, and they were bearing the a. wretch away, when the Sea Monster cried: ‘His legs are crushed to atoms and he will never be of service more, so into the sea with him!’ The men bearing the dying pirate hesitated, while Bono cried earnestly: : ** Oh, sir, you will not be so cruel.” ‘Yes, I will be so cruel; for he is dying, any- how, and I do not wish my craft lumbered up with useless human timber. ‘** Into the sea with him, I say!” ‘* But, captain, I—” : ** Silence, boy, or you shall follow him,” shout- ed the maddened pirate, and the men, seeing that their chief was in no humor to trifle, and looking to their own safety, rolled the dyin man over the bulwarks, when with a wil shriek, drowned by a heavy splash, he sunk beneath the waters. : ‘* Luff there, helmsman! luff sharp! and star- board guns, there; give broadside :” shrieked the Sea Monster, breaking the spell that appalled his crew at his inhuman act totheircomrade. 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