Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

‘The Phantom Pirate. 17 going on board a small vessel at night, accom- nied by a number of men. It may rightly be inferred from this, that the innkeeper, Miguel. kept his faith with Bono, and had the crew the youth had ordered him to ship, ready at the appointed time. As the Sea Monster had surmised, Bono had gone down to capture the private schooner, The idea had occurred to him, that, where chance had placed such an opportunity before bim, he woe take advantage of it. He would not put the bounds of the law upon the pirate chief himself; but be determined to capture his schooner and use it for his own pur- oses, ~ The Sea Monster bad refused to allow the men, who had been in the boat with him, to leaye, and he knew that the outlaw would be merciless to him, did the opportunity so occur; | hence he was anxious to get the boat’s crew out of their scrape, and also to seize the means at hand to aid bim in the search for his sister. He well knew that be was taking a noted pirate craft, and would be sailing without com- mission; but as he would not raise the black flag, or commit an act of piracy, he did not fear the results. He expected to find booty enough on the schooner, belonging to the Sea Monster, to pay his crew for their services, and, as the said booty had been taken at the pistol’s muzzle and cutlass’s point on the high seas, he did not scruple in using it, As for the Sea Monster, leaying him ashore would be a fitting punishment for him, while he would serve the Government in depriving the red-handed wretch of his vessel. So argued Bono, before be determined to act in the matter; but having made up his mind to his course, he acted with promptness and dar- ing. Planning and plotting were not accomplish- ment and success; but he was not one to falter. The schooner lay hidden in a lagoon on the Gulf shore, and there were not two-score men on board, counting his boat’s crew. Seeing him leading, if it came to an attack to seize the schooner, the boat’s crew would aid him, while the surprise would be half the battle, not to speak of his having superior numbers to start with. But Bono wished to avoid bloodshed if possi- ble; but if necessary, he would not shrink from making it flow freely. So he decided upon strategy to aid him. Returning in the same coaster in which he had left the schooner with the pirate chief was in bis favor, and it would naturally be believed that any story he might tell would not be doubted. Running down the river without adventure, he held along the coast until he came in the vi- cinity of the schooner’s hiding-place. Here be ran into a bayou, and put all but four ot the men in three extra boats which he had brought with him, giving them certain or- ders to carry out until his return, These four men he had won over from the crew who had gone up with the chief, and he felt convinced of their faithfulness to him. Then the little craft was headed for the bayou, and under a light breeze ran into the retreat, ; The schooner was anchored fore and aft across the bayou, her broadside commanding the advance, and a boat was kept half a mile seaward on the lookout, This boat had two men in it, who, recogniz- ing the coaster, awaited its approach and were taken in tow. Bono then ran into the lagoon and laid along- side of the schooner, being met as he jumped on board by the pirate lieutenant. “ Where is the chief, lad?” “Tn the city, senor, and he sent me down to tell you oe there is a richly-freighted vessel to sail for the Indies, and he wishes to seize her.”’ ; j “‘ Ah! I shall gladly do that,” said the officer, delightedly. “He says, senor, that a shipper has orders to get a crew of thirty men for her, and that he wishes to put his men on board, and will bim- self take passage, ‘When out of the Balize he will seizs the ves- sel, and you are to be on the watch, ten days from to-day, and meet him.” ‘Pil be there, lad; but does he expect me to send the men from the schooner?” “Yes, sir; for he says you will have no need of them, and that as soon as I carry the men to the Balize, I will return with the extra hands he has shipped, and who are coming down to meet me in a fishing-smack, which will take these men up to the ps " “Good! d don’t delay about it, for I don’t like leaving the schooner with less than a dozen men on board; but the chief must be obeyed.” With this the lieutenant called to the men to get ready to go in the coaster, while Bono man- to have a few minutes’ conversation with the coxswain who had been picked up in the boat with bim by the pirate. - As soon as all was in readiness, the little craft was cast loose and started upon her way. Bono felt that he was Blagine a Aart ot | | | most desperate game, for, if he was suspected of treachery, his life would be the immediate forfeit. His story, told the pirate lieutenant, seemed lausible if not dissected; but, if questioned, he new flaws could be readily found in it, for it seemed hardly probable that the Sea Monster would send a shipment of men down in a fisbing- smack, when the coaster was going directly to the schooner. There seemed no reason why the alleged change should be made from the fishing-smack to the coaster; but Bono did not know how else he could plausibly get possession of the pirate craft, Also, he wished to return the coaster to the overseer and his negro crew, after she had served his purpose. Therefore he told the story he did, and was delighted to see that the pirate officer believed it. Having run up the coast, to a point near the Balize, and near a fishing-hamlet, Bono ordered the helmsman to head insbore, ‘‘The smack is not in sight, so we will await her here, and you lads ean go ashore and treat yourselves to grog,” he said to the subaltern in charge, and he handed out a purse well filled with gold. The crew were delighted at this generosity and privilege, and, quickly availing themselves of it, they were soon asbore, heading for the only little store in the hamlet, and where the knew they could obtain the grog they so loved, Hardly bad they disappeared in the distance, when Bono called to the crew of four men to get the anchor up and set sail. This was quickly done, and the craft glided away, and was half a league distant when the astonished seamen emerged from the grog-shop and discerned ber, They stood dumfounded for a moment, and then it gradually dawned upon them that they had been duped, There was a brisk breezs blowing, and the coaster was heading rapidly back toward the retreat of the schooner. In dismay they looked about them, A fow boats and fisbing-skiffs were a quarter of a mile distant on the cove beach; but the fishing-smacks belonging to the hamlet were far off there fishing. ‘To capture the coaster would be impossible, and they knew that they had been thoroughly tricked, and did not doubt that the design of the youth was against the schooner, while they could only make their way to the city as best they could, and seek other vessels in which to sail the blue seas. CHAPTER XXXIV. A FLAGLESS CRUISER. HAVING so cleverly gotten rid of the pirate crew, Bono at once headed in tbe coaster to- ward the bayou where he bad left the boats early that morning. If they bad not proven treacherous and de- serted him, he knew that half of the battle was won, for the pirate schooner lay at anchor three leagues distant with but a dozon men on board, and bis own boat’s crew formed one-third of tbat number. Tabor, the pirate lieutenant was no man to tamely submit if he suspected treachery, and he would be the difficult one to handle, But if he held no suspicion against him, Bono knew that all would go well. After a rapid run he glided into the inlet where he had parted from the boats, and beheld the men on shore, getting ready to embark and come out to him. The smoke of camp-fires was visible, and the odors of roasting meats came off to the coaster on the land breeze, showing that they had killed some game and cooked it. Having gotten the men on board, with quan- tities of game which they bad slain during their day’s sport, the crew hauled their boats on deck and the coaster sped away to further carry out her perilous duty. It was sunset when the moss-hung cypress trees came in sight, which hid the pirate schooner from view, and darkness was settling down as the little vessel entered the lagoon. The lookouts in the boats hailed her, and were taken in tow, and the craft swept on slowly up toward the schooner, for the tall trees draped with moss, shut off the breeze almost altogether in that sheltered nook. “Ho, the coaster!” hailed Lieutenant Tabor from the pirate’s deck, ‘** Ay, ay, sir, we have come back with the new crew,” answered Bonv. ** All right, run alongside and we'll bave a look at them; but if the chief shipped them I’ll guarantee that they are a precious lot of sin- eat: answered the officer, inclined to be face- tious. : A moment after the coaster glided alongside of the schooner and Bono sprung on board, Appreseting the officer, while the seamen also rded the schooner, the youth suddenly lapeled a pistol full at bis head and cried stern- ‘Senor, you are my prisoner. Surrender, ee os < and I spare your life, but resist and I shall kill ou, The buccaneer officer was wholly taken aback. What to do he knew not. He saw that it was no joke, for Bono looked in deadly earnest, He glanced over his crew and saw that the men picked up with the yout. bad separated themselves from those of the schooner. These, seven in number were grouped to- gether in evident alarm, Those who had boarded from the coaster were all around, and they stood ready to obey the slightest order of their young leader. mong the crowd he recognized those whom the chief bad taken witb him to serve as a crew for the coaster, and to one of these he appealed. ‘“* Harvey, what does this mean?” he asked. “It means, sir, that the captain bas been tricked by the young skipper there, and we sail under a new chief, sir,” was the answer of the man Harvey. ‘*‘ And the chief?’ queried the lieutenant, be- coming a shade whiter. ‘“May be hanged by this time, sir, for all I know,” | ‘No, your chief is safe, for I was not treacher- ous toward him. ‘I wanted your schooner for myself, and so I have seized her; but had I meant to harm her crew, I could have given the Sea Monster over to the officers of the law, and carried this craft by boarding, when all of you would have suf- fered the penalties of your crimes. ‘“‘ Instead, I have peaceably taken possession of her, and you, senor, and your men can go in your boats along the coast to a fishing-hamlet, where you will find the remainder of your crew, and can readily make your way up to the ity. **The address of your chief, senor, I will give to you, so that you can find him on your ar- rival, ard you can say to bim tbat I have taken his schooner for a cruise on my own hook, and if he wants her, he will have to hunt for her upon tbe high seas. ‘* And also add, senor, that he will not find her under the black flag, or doing piratical work; but, as I have no flag of my own, I shall let her cruise without one. ‘*T suppose you bave the good sense to submit quietly?” and Bono eyed the pirate officer, who seemed to be growing very impatient, ** Not if these men will follow me to a free life upon the seas and plenty of booty,” shouted the officer, ana he turned to the men, Such ap appeal was a dangerous one to wild spirits like theirs, Bono well knew, and he acted promptly. My es ge the muzzle of his pistol hard in the face of the pirate officer, he said sternly and in a loud tone: **One word more, sir, and you will lead them onl Mi to death! ‘Surrender, or die!” There was no mistaking the situation now being wholly against him; but the offlcer was stubborn, and glancing along the line of men, he felt that he detected a feeling among the greater part of them to follow bim to a life of piracy, ratber than the doubtful fortunes of a mere boy. So, striking up the pistol, he shouted: ‘* Men, follow me to fortune, all of you!” The pistol exploded above his bead, but though taken a a sudden disadvantage, Bono was quick in recovering bis lost ground, and though bis cutlass was grasped in his left hand, he swung it round with remarkable quickness, and the pirate officer felt its full weight ere he could draw bis own weapon, i Down to the deck he sunk with a moan, while Bono, without glancing at him, turned to the crew and called out: their leader?” A silence fell upon the crew, and after a mo- ment’s waiting for response, Bono continued: “Toss him overboard, lads, and you who’ pull for the fisbing-hamlet.” Half a dozen men availed themselves of this privilege, and pulled rapidly away, while the new crew of the schooner were set to work, Bono selecting his officers from among them. Then the overseer and his negro crew were their craft and set sail, a permission selves of, and half an hour after both vessels er to seek port and the capers schooner to pa how sea, a flagless cruiser upon the wide waters, © CHAPTER XXXYV. A SECRET OF THE RAMON VILLA. In one wing of the Ramon Villa, and the one that was on the water side, a woman was seated in deep thought. garden, and was in the second story of the villa. ‘‘ Does any man here wish to follow after wish to go to the city get into tbe boatsand — were slowly moving out of the bayou, the coast- _ MIGDOO (E cS ¥ a Nae ~s .- : €o eed | Yo. liga’ O\\~/1t — “ine. on deck, set free and told to go on ‘ = which they were only too glad to avail them- The room overlooked a beautiful flower | “ Strange to say iron gratings barred the — ; is } ey a or ‘ » 4 44; aA. * i 5 = a x . att ¢ y “4, 4a - . ne ~- . 4)