Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

| | . 4 Tez Se Se The Phantom Pirate. — was sent dying toward the craft, and buried it- self in the hul Then the little vessel ran up into the wind and lay to, while the schooner came dashing down toward her with a look of mischief about her, that it was by no means pleasant to ob- serve. A few moments after the schooner luffed up, and a boat put off from her side and rowed swiftly toward the prize. In the boat were half a dozen oarsmen, a cox- swain, and a huge form in uniform sat in the stern sheets. The latter was a man whose like is not often met with, for his face gave indication of strength of character, as much as did his body of physical power and endurance, He was dressed ina black uniform, trimmed with gold lace, and wore a chapeau encircled by a coil of rove, which bad the appearance of a hangman’s knot, or gallows hemp. He was armed with a huge pair of pistols, stuck in a red silk sash, and a cutlass swung at his side, which few men could have wielded, so heavy was it. Springing on board he suddenly confronted the skipper, and then his eyes falling upon the monk and nuns, he bowed low, removed his bat and crossed himself devoutly, while he said in a deep voice: **T recognized not that you carry holy pas- sengers, skipper: but discovering the fact, re re- lease your craft unharmed, for though known as the Sea Monster and a pirate, 1 am a pious man. With this he was about to retreat, when the monk ste forward and said: “A word with you, my son, in the cabin,” CHAPTER XIIt. THE INTERVIEW IN THE CABIN, Tue pirate, who had announced himself as the Sea Monster, a name that suited his deeds as well as bis size, followed the monk into the cabin of the little vessel without a word, Motioning the pirate to a seat, the monk took one opposite to him, and said: “‘Senor, you are known to me.” **I made myself known, padre, when I told you that I was the Sea Monster.” ‘Yes, but we have met before.” ‘*T do not recall wben or where.” ** Allow me to refresh your memory.” “Certainly.” ‘You are an Englishman.” ‘‘T cannot deny that,” ‘* Born of noble parents, and you were forced to leave—” “Senor Padre, we will not discuss the past, if it please you,” said the pirate, in his deep, stern tones, ‘‘Then let me say that you were wrecked upon an island in the Gulf, upon which dwelt a witch, and you became her slave for years. ‘‘ Breaking her bonds at last, you went to New Orleans, and through the aid of a money- lender there secured a vessel and became the pirate you now are.” *“You do, indeed, know me, Senor Padre; but tell me how it is that you are aware of all this ng me?’ “It matters not; but I wish to know of you the truth when I ask you certain questions. ” ‘* T will tell you the truth, Senor Padre.” ‘What know you of that Witch of the Isle and ber past life?’ ‘* Next to nothing.” ‘‘She dwelt there alone, then, until you went ashore there on a geno - ** Yes, excepting aving or com birds of ill-omen and a pack of loodthounds.”” “ And that was all?” “« After awhile, in another wreck that came ashore, she recognized in one whom she would have slain, for she killed all who escaped death by the sea, one who was her son.” ‘‘ Her son?’ and the padre started. “Yes, she beheld a secret mark upon him that told her that he was her son, for she had tattooed it there herself. ** Thus she spared him.” . “And where are they now?” ‘** I believe on another island, in fact they are there.” ‘* They are not.” “* Indeed!” ‘* Yes, they are in New Orleans,” ri You know this, Senor Padre?’ ‘“‘I believed them on an island in the Gulf, where they were luring vessels to ion by false beacons.” **Yuu are mistaken, for they are in New ‘“We care n for them,” “You, padre?” ‘‘ What are they to you?” “It matters not; but I wish you to serve me. “T always am ready to serve a holy man.” You will be more so when I tell you that you shall have gold by the thousands if you do as I ask?” . a eae able to pay so well for work?’ asked the pirate, in surprise. ** Yes, J am able and willing to pay.” ‘You have but to command me, Senor Padre.” “Where are you bound now?” ‘Where the winds carry me.” ‘* After prizes?” ia) Yes,” ‘*T will send you ona given course.” ‘“*T am ready.” ‘It is that * by go to New Orleans and ferret out the abiding-place of that witch and her son.” ** Yes, padre.” ‘*Kidnap them both, carry them to your ves- sel, and land them on one of the Bahama ‘*' Yes, padre,” ‘Tell them that you leave them there to die, without food, without a plank to aid them to escape their fate, by order of one whom they deemed dead, and that they have killed.” ‘Shall I tell them who thi ““ Yes.” “And who, padre?” ‘Tell them that it is Don Rudolpho, the money-lender of New Orleans.” “Ah! it is for that man then that you seek redress, Senor Padre.” “ ; - a cen pays for it?” ‘‘Then he should pay well, for he has the riches of a king.” ‘He will pay well.” “How much?” “What is it worth to you?” “Say ten thousand dollars for the woman, and half as much for the son,” “You shall bave the price.” ‘When?’ **T will pay you five thousand now, and ten thousand when you bring me proof that you have carried out my plan.” ‘* Where will I find your” “ At St. Augustine. ‘*T will come there, and who shall I ask for?” ‘¢ Ask for Radolph Ramon.” “ He is known there?” “‘T will be there.” ‘* You will be?’ 4 ag for I am not the priest you deem me.” ‘Ha! “No, I am one whom you will recognize, when you bring me word that you have left that witch and her son to die upon an island in the Bahamas. ‘*Now go on your way, and I will sail for Pensacola, and thence to Augustine. F Tapes is your gold’as a pledge of niy good aith. ‘* Adios, Senor Sea Monster.” The monk bowed and the pirate arose and left the cabin, He glanced fixedly at the nuns as he passed them, raised his hat in silence, and getting into his boat pulled rapidly back to his schooner, which at once stood away on its course for New Orleans, while the little craft, which had es- caped from a buccaneer’s red clutches, held on for Pensacola, where had been its original des- nation. one is?” CHAPTER XIV. THE RACE AT SEA. I MusT now return to the youth, who, the pe al = a, Oa believed that he had = com a rev against one whom 2 ad w bin Aceves. and himself be- yond repair. It will be remembered that the boy had the sachel of money, which he had been sent to the bank for, and closing the trap upon the oe og lender when he was down in his gold vault, he believed that he must die there, and thus would he be avenged. With the money in his possession, he deter- mined to seek his little sister far and wide; for he could not believe that the money-lender had put her to death. Something in his heart told him that op lived, and as the money-lender had robbed father of bis fortune and driven his mother to despair and death, he did not feel that he was yr aa, in using the money he had thus obtained. His little sister had been kidnapped and car- ried off, and from that time he bad heard noth- ing of her. ithout money he had searched for her as best be could; but with the gold he had come in on of, and which was a goodly for- pawns him, he could work with hope of good resu His service with the money-lender had shown him that that personage never carried a sums of gold or bank-notes about him, but in- stead, kept his riches in jewels, which could be readily secreted about his clothing. . This he determined to do, and at once; so he sought a dealer in precious stones. and pretend- ing to make the pu for Don Rudolpho, the money-lender, in whose employ he was ag to be, he bought those that would serve Leaving out a few bills for immediate use, the yee determined to lose no time in beginning work. In his former search he had discovered that bis little sister had been taken to Mobile, and there bad been given into the bands of some oe and from thence all trace was lost of er. Now, his first duty was to go to Mobile, and he took passage on a vessel bound there as soon as he could lay all bis plans of action to his own satisfaction. The vessel he sailed on was a brig, a fast sailer, and carried a rich cargo, a few guns and asmall crew, for she depended more upon her speed than her means of defense for protection from rovers. Leaving New Orleans with the belief that he had killed the money-lender, afd thus avenged the wrongs he bad done bis parents, he was full of hope that he would be able to trace his sister, hard as the task seemed, insurmountable as ap- peared the obstacles in bis way. The brig sailed merrily out upon the waters of the Gulf, ber captain and crew little dread- ing capture from any foe, with their gallant craft so often tried in death-chases, always to But adverse winds met hber,a gale blew her off her coursce for many leagues, and when at last she was able to point her bows for her des- tination with a fair breeze, and in her favor, she was days behind her usual run. The youth, Bono, bad proven himself through all a thorough sailor, and ever ready to lend a helping band, he bad become a favorite with officers and crew alike. He had distinguished himself by going aloft to splice some broken rigging, at a time w no seaman cared to leave the deck, so fearful na tbe storm, and the captain had then said to m: “My young friend, you bave it in y Fo to tread a quarter-deck, as commander, fore very long.” “TI hope, sir, some day to be a captain,” was the modest reply. ‘Better ship with me, and work your way up. Pi My word for it you will soon be my first mate, and stand ready to step into my shoes,” remarked the kind-hearted captain, ‘‘T wish that I could do so, sir; but [have at present an important duty to perform, and I[ can only look for work when that is done,” sad- ly responded the boy. “You are very young to talk of important duties to perform, as though your life depended upon its accomplishment. ‘*'Yes, sir, lam young in years, but old in ex- perience, for I have seen much, very much of the world.” The captain was more and more interested in his young passenger, and stood regarding him attentively, when Bono suddenly sung out in clear tones: ‘* Sail ho!” “You have keen eyes, my young friend, to see a sail that the lookout has not discovered, and which I cannot make out.” ‘There, sir, just rising on that wave, and square off the weather quarter.” “Ab! I eatch it now—ho aloft there; don’t you see that sail, or are you asleep?” | “ Ay, ay, sir, just sighted ber,” answered the lookout from the mast head, {4 oo “What do you make her out from aloft there?” se ‘A craft I have seen in the lake and river, sir, at New Orleans. ‘She is a yacht, and owned upon the Sound shores a rich young planter that ie now a middy in the navy,” said the lookou renee very slowly, as be beld his glass to his eye kept it upon the craft in sight. ‘Ah! Il remember now; bis name is Brand and he rendered the Government such g service that he was given a commission. ‘If it is bis craft, she’s fast as the wind; but we will show him what the Flying Feather can do with him,” and the captain seemed to feel just pride in his vessel. In the mean time the strange eail arose rapid- ly, and had changed its course so as to head toward a given point, which made her run almost parallel with the brig, though verging toward her all the time, ; *“‘She is more than holding her own, si tain,” said the youth, as he saw the stranger’s splendid pace over the waters. ‘*Egad! but you are right! ‘‘ Ho, lads! set more cloth on the Feather, wee we'll show that fellow how we can drop im! This order was obeyed; but notwithstanding, the stranger still ge ned, and at the same time drew nearer the brig broadside. os In a little while it became very evident that the stranger was outsailing the fleet brig, and the captain asked nervously of the lookout: “* Are you sure, Lemon, that she is the armed yacht you said she was?” Ve Yes, sir, I am sure, and her name is the Sea “T see a small at her fore, sir, a white owl upon a bine field. said Bon. Gomichoo ‘S €om