Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

- ee A 20 — pone ie ee The Phantom Pirate. —— ee ee —_ So = = — . -_ ‘‘Ha! this is a bold charge to make.” **It is a true one, sir.” ‘In these troublous times it seems plausi- dle, certainly; but how know you this?” ‘‘From what I know of the man.” “ You know him well then?” “Yes,” ‘He is your friend, or—” ‘* He was my friend, sir, but now he ismy foe.” * Ah!” ‘He professed to Jove me, and winning my love, has cast me aside. You see I am frank with you, sir.” ‘And I appreciate your frankness, lady, and thank you for it. But cannot you tell me more?” “J can only tell you, sir, that, knowing that he was treacherous to me, I determine to avenge myself upon him; and I learned his plans, and now tell you to thwart him,” and the woman’s husky, trembling voice showed that she was deeply moved. “ But what motive has he?” ‘He casts me off because he has met an- other face fairer than mine.” _“*T meant what motive had he for seizing my vessel?” “Ah, yes, | had forgotten that my trou- bles only interest myself,” she said, sadly; and then she added: ‘‘ His motive is to turn pirate.” ‘* Indeed!” ‘* Yes; and he has some friend who is his ally, and who is stopping at the Good Cheer Inn, and they have been plotting together for days to get a vessel. ‘“ They already have a crew, I believe, and when — leave your vessel to-night they will board her and cut her out.” ‘A well-laid scheme, lady, and I thank you most sincerely, and, if there is aught I can do to prove my appreciation of your kindness, command me.” “There is but one thing, sir.”’ “Tf you are in need, say so frankly.” “Tl am not in need, for my parents are «comfortably off, and [ live with them. **But my love has turned to hate, and all I ask you is to capture and hang the man who has thus deceived you,” and her voice ~was hoarse with passion as she spoke. ‘‘T think you will be fully avenged if he falls into my hands, lady.” “Thank you, and heed my warning, and do not leave your vessel.” With this the woman glided away, and the two young officers looked at each other in amazement. ‘“What do you think of that, Herbert?’ asked Brandt. ‘*T believe her. ‘* And so do I, for you know the old say- ing about a woman scorned. ‘Well, I shall play a trick upon that fine fellow.” ‘‘ How can you, captain?” '» “J will go on board the yacht and then row over to the packet, and borrow from the captain his crew. ‘‘These men I will have on board the . yacht when that fellow comes, to go in the ley while my crew will be in hiding be- w. “ Thinking the Sea Owl is nearly deserted, the pirates will attack, and we can let them come into our trap, while I will order the men going with this traitor to seize him, as goon as they are some distance away, and when the fight begins, to return in all haste, so that none of the outlaws can get away.”’ “It isa glorious plan, and just like you, Irving,” cried Harry Herbert, who, when alone with his captain was always on most friendly and familiar terms with him. The boat, which had been called from the yacht lying two cables’ length off-shore, now touched the beach, and the midshipmen sprung into it. _ After Jetting Herbert get on board to begin to get things ready for a reception for the boarders, Irving Brandt rowed to the packet- ship, anchored a quarter of a mile distant, and told his story to the captain, who at once enlisted in the cause with all of his crew excepting two men left to guard the vessel. Half an hour after, dressed in the uniforms wf the yacht’s crew, the packet’s seamen held the yacht’s deck, her men being below, armed So the teeth. Just then a hail came from the shore, and I a boat was sent thither after the man who | had so cleverly arranged to capture the | yacht. It was not Benedict himself, as the reader | already knows, but the messenger whom he had sent in his stead. Midshipman Brandt took the letter and read it carefully. | Then he said: ‘‘[ am sorry, my man, the one who sent | this is not to be our pilot; but you will | doubtless serve as well, and I will send an officer and twenty-five men with you.” | ‘* Better send all you cay spare, sir,” sug- gested the messenger. ‘‘T have to leave several men on board to look after the yacht,” ‘‘She’s all right, lying in this port, and one man could take charge of her, while you may need all in the fight, for them Reef Pirates is bad fellows,”’ The man’s urging the yacht to be stripped | of her crew was just reason for Midshipman Brandt to feel that the woman had told him the truth, as was also the fact that the young sailor himself did not put in an appearance on board, but sent a letter by a messenger. ‘‘T can spare but twenty-four men and an officer, my man.” ‘*Hain’t you going?” €é No ” “That will leave you, another officer and four men on the yacht,” said the messenger, in a way that showed he was counting those left behind. ‘“Yes; but now be off, for it is not very far to midnight.” The messenger went over the side into the boat, whither the men had already preceded him, and the party pulled swiftly away with mufiled oars. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE ATTACK, BENEpDIcT and the Sea Monster laid their plans well. The lieutenant of the pirate chief had been untiring in his efforts to secure a crew, and, as far as villainy went, he had made a suc- cess of it, for a harder set of cut-throats were not to be picked up, along the Gulf shores, than those he had gotten together. The Sea Monster, upon going to the inn where they were in waiting, looked them over and pronounced them to be ‘‘ prime fellows,”’ With such a recommendation from such a source, the reader can readily imagine that they were a hard lot. After the messenger had been sent with the letter to Irving Brandt, the pirate crew were gotten together, and ordered into two boats, which Benedict had secured through the landlord of the low tavern, They were all well armed with cutlasses and pistols, and were anxious and ready for any, undertaking. hey had been given just enough bad grog to make them reckless of consequences, and, that their fever might not ie out, should they have to wait, Benedict had brought along two jugs of grog and pewter mugs, which were respectively placed in the boats commanded by himself and the Sea, Monster. Drawing off shore out of sight, the men lay on their oars, which were mufiled, Bene- dict remaining at the inn to see when the boats went by from the yacht. Impatiently he waited for some time, and then beheld two dark objects pull away from the yacht’s side and go in the direction where he had said they could ambush. the Reef Pirates. , , After they had been gone by for some minutes he sprung into a light skiff, the landlord, who was himself no better than a pirate taking the oars, and went out to the waiting boats. ‘‘ Well?” simply asked. the Sea Monster, as Benedict sprung into the stern sheets of his own boat. ‘*They have gone down the coast.” “Good! how many?” ‘“* Two boat-loads.” ‘Then they doubtless took most of their crew?” | ‘* Yes; sir.” , ‘‘ We shall soon know’ but shall we make the move?” . ) a sSssS9S939HSaisaSao eae NOR oe” Dale A Be 8S ace 2k ae © SEN A . ‘ gta : tribe ‘ ~~ * ee - be Xm ~ sc ay ‘*Tt would be better to wait a little while longer, so that they may think the boats went to the place and not finding the pirates, - returned.” ‘You are right,’ and the Sea Monster and his crew sat in deep silence, while the land- lord returned in his skiff to his tavern. ‘‘Come, men, have a cup of grog around,” | said Benedict, as the time drew near fur the move. A general grunt of assent answered this invitation, showing that the pirate lieutenant had struck a chord that vibrated pleasantly in their hearts. A few moments more and the Sea Mon- ster said sternly: ‘*Give way, men!” The oars dropped simultaneously into the water, which showed that Benedict had at least not gotten any land-lubbers. In silence the boats moved on, for the oars had been muffled, and getting into the course, by which those from the yacht would be expected to return, they held on their way. They drew quite near the yacht, as she lay dark and silent upon the waters, before the lookout caught sight of them. Then he hailed: ** Boats ahoy!”’ ‘‘Ahoy the Sea Owl!’ answered Bene- | dict. ‘‘ What boats are those?” “The Sea Owl’s boats returning,” an- swered Benedict aloud, and then in a low tone he ordered: ‘Give way hard!” The next instant the two boats were along- side of the yacht, one on the starboard and the other on the port. Over the bulwarks they sprung and half a hundred desperate men held possession of the deck. Not a man was visible of the yacht’s crew. But suddenly the decks were illumined from aloft, ringing shots followed, and half a dozen pirates fell their length. Again came the volley from above, and while others sunk in their tracks, a clear voice rung out like a trumpet: ** At them, lads, with a will!” Out of the companionway then bounded Irving Brandt, a dozen men at his back, while from the forecastle came Midshipman Henry Herbert with as many more, and, to protect their advance from the rigging the other middy and his half-score of men sent rattling shots down upon the amazed pi- rates. Attacked from above, hemmed in and charged upon both front and rear, surprised when they meant to surprise, killed when they meant to kill, and caught in their own trap as they fully realized, it was no wonder that the buccaneers became demoralized, and their enemies were upon them before a shot could be fired by their side. Then the hoarse tones of the Sea Monster were heard: ‘“Men! seize this craft or you will all be hanged. ‘‘Cut down these dogs, and hurl them overboard!” ' Instantly a cheer answered the stirring words of their leader, and the pirates sprung to meet their foes. But Midshipman Brandt had so well planned his defense and attack, that his men met the buccaneers with a bold front and deadly aim on one side, and with keen cut- lasses on the others, while those in the rig- ging, hastening to the deck, joined in the combat. The pirates had come on board outnumber- ing the yacht’s crew; but death had quickly thinned their ranks, and as they saw that they had all they could do to defend them- selves, and could not seize the schooner until their foes were subdued, they became de- moralized in spite of the bravery of their giant chief and of Benedict. Seeing this, the Sea Monster called them together for arush over those who were op- posing them aft, and as he started, he slipped and fell heavily. Ere he could rise his sward had been struck from his hand by Irving Brandt, and the cutlass of the midshipman was pressed hard against his throat, while in stern tones came the words: ‘Surrender, Sir Pirate, or you shall die this instant!” » Se ee ee ae I yf OF 4g Sew mF > aoers @ ; Ww ee Po