Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

_— The Phantom Pirate. “T have nothing else to do but surrender,” was the surly answer, while the pirates, dis- mayed by the fall of their leader, rushed to the bulwarks and sprung over. But many fell dead into the sea, and others never gained the bulwarks, though a few bold swimmers succeeded in escaping. ‘‘Spring into those boats and pick those ‘fellows up,” shouted Irving Brandt, after he had firmly secured the dread chief, and a few more of the pirates were captured, though fully a score made their escape aided by the darkness, in spite of the boats coming up, with the packet’s crew in them and join- ing in the search. Of course the short but fierce battle on the yacht’s deck had aroused the town, and all was excitement, the citizens not knowing just what had happened. But Midshipman Brandt ordered a blue- light burned, that all might see the yacht was all right, and a loud cheer greeted him from the shore when it became known that the gallant little craft had beaten off its des- perate foes, and killed and captured nearly two-thirds of its assailants. ‘“Now see if that young sailor who ar- ranged this attack on the Sea Owl is amon the killed, wounded or prisoners,” said Mid- shipman Brandt, when the fight was over. Search was at once made for Benedict, but nowhere was he or his body to be found. He had clearly made his escape, and if not shot in the water after leaving the yacht, was then in some safe place rejoicing over his own good fortune and bewailing the capture of the Sea Monster and disastrous result of his well-planned attempt to seize the Sea Owl. CHAPTER XL. FICKLE AS THE WIND. In a pretty little house of San Augustine, fronting the water, and with flower-gardens surrounding and stately trees sheltering it, sat a young girl the afternoon after the attack on the yacht by the pirates. Her face was beautiful, though pale and sad, and her large eyes were red from weep- ing. She was dressed in pure white, and leaned her elbows upon the window-sill, while her gaze was out upon the waters. Presently her thoughts found vent in her speaking aloud. ‘‘Oh, Manuel! are you dead? Are you forever lost to me? ‘‘ And was it my act that cost you your life? ‘Am I your murderess—I, who loved you so? ‘*But, my poor, dear Manuel, I believed you had cast me aside for another, and I am revengeful—oh, so revengeful! And my heart is now breaking at my act, for I know you are dead—dead, and through my act. Oh, Heaven forgive me!” « Ag I forgive you, Clotilde !” The deep voice of a man fell on her ears, and she sprung to her feet in alarm and leaned out of the window. There, just at one side, stood the speaker. It was an old man, dressed like a coast planter, and leaning upon acane. The maiden started at sight of him, and said quickly: It was Manuel’s voice; but you are not Manuel. Yes, I am Manuel, Clotilde, and I have come here to see you, and your words, which I overheard, made me very happy, for they told mé that you loved me still.” The apparently old man stepped to the window with a nimble gait, and the maiden threw her arms about him and burst Into tears. “Come, sweet Clotilde, walk with me to the arbor, for I wish to talk with you, and it is best that you be not seen with a stranger.” ‘‘A stranger?” ‘*Yes, for my disguise makes me so to others.” ‘‘True, you are disguised, and well hidden beneath it; but why do you wear it, Man- uel?” “Come to the arbor and I will tell you all.” The maiden left the house, and the two walked to a vine-clad arbor, where they would be unobserved. a oo nnn The man was Manuel Benedict, and he had come back to'the woman he had cast off, Was it because his heart smote him? Was it because he feared her? Let the sequel show. Manuel Benedict had escaped death the om before, where so many had died by his side. He was a bold swimmer, and when he saw that all was lost, he felt that he could better serve himself and his chief, by making his escape. This he did by slipping over the side un- seen, and striking out for the shore. He had swum to the Anchor Inn, and the landlord had at once given him shelter, and gotten up the disguise he wore. The next day he had heard all he cared to of the failure of his plan, and that the Sea Monster and half a dozen of his men were prisoners on board the yacht, He at once determined upon their rescue, desperate as the undertaking seemed, To effect this he needed aid, and who could better aid him than a woman. Having concocted a plan, he set to work to carry it out. His first step was to go to the home of his sweetheart. He had to make his peace with her, for a week before they had parted in anger, and he was in the wrong, as man the more often is in lovers’ quarrels. He found Clotilde bewailing his supposed death, and bemoaning that her act had caused it. ‘She was just ‘in the mood for his purpose, and so he led her to the arbor. ‘“*Clotilde,” he said softly, taking her hand: ‘*T was wrong the other day to leave you as I did; but you took it too much in earnest and said severe things that angered me, and then it was I told you that I did not love you, but had given my affection to another. ‘“‘T was wrong, child, to speak falsely to you, for none other than you could I love, for you have been true to me, even when you found out that my life was a lawless one,” ‘‘And I will be, Manuel,” said Clotilde, throwing her arms about her lover. ‘‘But tell me, were you in the attack on the yacht last night?” He hesitated an instant and then said: ‘*T will conceal nothing from you. ‘*T was.” Her face flushed and paled by turns, and then she asked: ‘*How did you escape?” ‘‘T sprung overboard when I saw that all was lost.”’ For a moment or two she seemed lost in painful thought, and then she said: ‘‘Manuel, I, too, have a confession to make, and will conceal nothing from you. ‘* T betrayed you last night.” | ** Great God!” The words broke from the man’s lips, and he turned pallid. Her confession told him that he had a dangerous woman to deal with, and he felt that she was not one to trifle with, and knew that he must act cautiously. ‘‘Forgive me, Manuel; but I am revenge- ful, and when you told me you loved an- other, knowing something of your plans, I determined to thwart them.” ‘‘And Heaven knows that you did; but, Clotilde, are you not willing to atone for your doubt of me and the harm you did?” ** How can I?” ‘* Aid me in saving the life of one towhom T owe my escape from the gallows. “That one, through your act, now lies in irons on board the yacht, and will be carried to New Orleans for trial, when his death at the yard-arm will follow.” ‘You refer to the Sea Monster?” ‘“Yes, to Captain English, my friend.” ‘How can I aid you, Manuel?” ‘“You have it in your power to save him, and I know will do so for my sake.” ‘‘T will do all that I can, Manuel.” “T know that you will, my darling, and we will talk over together some plan’of ac- tion,” and the two sat down together to plot the rescue of the Sea Monster, the fickle girl | having wholly forgiven her lover, and repent- ed her act, now that she had him again, as she believed, all her own, for she could not fathom the heart of Manuel Benedict. CHAPTER XLI. THE PLOT TO RESCUE. Arter “backing and filling,” as he called it, for some time, Manuel Benedict, who had already formed his plan of action, suddenly cried out: ‘Clotilde, I have it,” ‘What is it, Manuel? Tell me quick,” answered the maiden, who had been busying her brain in a vain endeavor to hit upon > eae to secure the Sea Monster. ‘Well, a plan has flashed through my mind, which I think, with your aid will be. successful.” ‘*T will do all I can, Manuel, so tell me your plan.” ‘* There are on board the yacht, besides the Sea Monster, four wounded pirates, and seven who are prisoners and unhurt.” ‘“ Yes, so my father said.”’ ‘*Well, I wanted to rescue the whole of them; but I do not see how it can be done.” ‘‘T thought you said just now you had hit upon a plan,” ‘*T'o rescue the chief, yes, but not all of them.” ‘* Ah!” ‘‘Yes, I think we can save him.” * But how?” ‘Well, my plan is to at once take horse down the coast to the fishing fleet haven, and ' charter one of their vessels in which to re- | turn here with all speed.” Well?” ‘*T will arrive just after dark, and report to the young captain of the Sea Owl that a Reef Pirate has attacked the fishing fleet, and can be captured if he sails at once in pur- suit.” ‘‘Tam still too blind to see a rescue in this, Manuel, as rou certainly would not at- tack the Sea Owl with a fishing-smack.” ‘‘ Not I, Clotilde, for I am no fool; but. now comes your time to act.” ‘“Mine!” “Yes, 5, ‘But, what am 1 to do?” ‘Your father is the constable here?” “Yes, as you know.” ‘‘-You have access to his papers and the town seal, for he is also the magistrate?” ‘‘Yes, Manuel.” ‘You could get an official paper and the seal if you wished?” ““T could.” “Now that is all satisfactorily.’ ‘But how?” ; ‘*T will get the services of three men to act as under officers, or deputies of your fa- ther, and, armed with a written document, bearing the stamp of the town and seal, which you will procure, they must be in readiness to board the yacht when they see my fishing-smack coming up.” ‘‘The three men can do no good.” ** Listen, and see if they cannot. ‘‘T will write an order, or request, that. Captain English, the Sea Monster, be sent on shore with the officers, that the town council may question him ce i a cer- tain prominent individual whom he had cap- tured and was holding for ransom, promis- ing to return him on board the yacht as soon as he has given the information desired.” ‘‘T think I see your plot, Manuel.” ‘‘T shall soon make it as clear as noon- day. ‘‘Now, as the fishing-smack arrives just as Captain Brandt has read this document, begging him to come at once after the Reef Pirates, he cannot of course go on shore with the chief, nor will he care to trust an of his men, feeling that he will need his full force, so the supposed officers will have him to guard themselves. “As soon as they leave the yacht they will pull for the city landing; but, when the Sea Owl has gone, they will row out upon the water and go to a safe retreat, and there j_ leave the chief.” . ‘‘ And you, Manuel, will not risk yourself on the smack?” good, and we can arrange “Now, I think of it, Ihad best not, for the Planter Middy, as they call that boy commander, for he has a ee plantation on the coast, may demand that | go with him, | ‘No, I'll put a crew of several of my men on the smack, and leave it to them to keep from going with the yacht, and, when the — f $ Sea Owl has sailed, they can anchor thelittle (E(6) JOO mie iS 7 %,%, - Pae t > ipa: whi ate