Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

The Phantom Pirate. The brig then opened fire upon the schooner, although the distance was yet too great to be effective. Of course all expected to see the pirate sav- agely return the fire; but his hull remained dark, and his guns kept silent. ** Now, Bono, get your crew into your boat and be off, **Pull directly on the course I have given you, and I will follow suit and we will meet at a given point. **Good-by, my lad, for the present, and luck to you.” *T wish I was to go in the last boat, sir; but I will not urge it, and [ thank you for the confi- dence placed in me,” answered the youth, and he grasped the hand of the honest captain, and went forward followed by his crew. The men, seven in number got into the boat, andi then Bono followed them, ‘Stand ready there, coxswain, to let go when I give the order, and you, lads, have our oars ready to let fall at the proper time,” ordered the youth, and in chorus from the men came a respectful: “Ay, ay, sir.” A fe vy moments thus passed, the brig rushing on, but slightly retarded by the towing boat, so that the schooner was gaining rapidly. Then came the flash of one, and then of the other of the two stern howitzers, and in the darkness that followed the glare the command came from Bono: “* Lat go the painted, coxswain!” ‘S Ay, ay, sir!” Instantly the boat was free, and went dancing sternward upon the waves. ‘* Good-by and good luck!” called out the cap- tain, as the boat swept astern. “Thank you, sir! let fall, lads, and give way with a will!” cried Bono, and the blades went deep and sent the boat flying straight off from the brig’s wake out upon the darkness of the rough waters, for the seyen-knot breeze was work:ng up considerable of a sea. CHAPTER XVII. THE TRAP WELL LAID, THE Flying Feather dashed on her way, and a moment of intense suspense followed to those in the boat, and also to those on the brig. Would the pirates discover the boat? If so, would she fire on it, or send a boat in chase, while the schooner held on after the brig? Such were the thoughts of Captain Gray. Mark Bonodel and their respective companions, But there came no sign from on board the pi- rate schooner to show that the boat had been seen, and swiftly, with their muffled oars, and bending low at their task, the crew rowed away to get as far as possible from the course of the buccaneer. Having seen the first boat safely started, Cap- tain Gray lost no time in making his arrange- ments for his own departure, The drag was thrown over to hold the brig on her course, the helm was lashed and the fires kindled in the various spots selected for them, be the boat was launched and towed along- side, Then the stern guns were fired together, and in the darkness that followed the flashes the men scrambled into the boat, seized their oars, and the tow-line was cut. Instantly the boat was dancing upon the waves, but gaintn headway under the power- ful pull at the blades, moved swiftly out of the course between the pursued and pursuing ves- sels. The night was phn te dark, and not ex- ting a trick of the kind, and watcbing the Cale rather than the waters, the second boat appeared to escape unseen, also. ushing on like a race-horse, the schooner now gained rapidly on the brig, the drag re- ding her progress, and forcing her to sail OBS Y- As the pirate drew nearer, a bright flash came oD his bows and a shot went flying after the g. By a strange coincidence the iron messenger struck the drag, cutting it loose, and the brig, catching a wave upon her bows luffed up sharp, while a cheer broke from the pirates at, as they supposed, the quick obedience to their summons to come to. ‘ A few moments after the schooner bore down, as though about to throw her crew on board the brig; but the rough sea evidently made her commander think better of this, and he lay to, apd sent a boat crowded with men on board. The boat reached the side of the brig, and the men were scrambling over the side, when the Sea Monster captain, who was watching the prize attentively, suddenly saw a flame burst out amidships. . Instantly the light revealed to him that the brig was on fire and deserted, and in thunder tones he shouted: ‘*Ho, men! back to your boat and pull for your lives! : ‘* Lively! for there is a trap laid for you!” But the officer in charge had already reached the companionway, and his men, cutlass in hand, were crowding after him, And too late the warning, for the smothered flames forced their way out, the companion- way was burst open, and then the brig’s stern was seen crowded, a volume of smoke and flame rolled from her, followed by a crash that shook the sea, and the gallant craft was shattered to atoms, while riggings, spars, timber and splin- ters were burled upon all sides, A cry here, a groan there, a blow, a jar, and it was shown that the schooner was not so far away but that the brig’s debris was hurled against her, killing and wounding several of her crew. ; The Sea Monster saw that his vessel was not materially harmed, and that he was unhurt, while bis men crouched in momentary terror to the deck. Then he heard the splashes of timbers of the brig falling into the water, and knew that not one of his boat’s crew lived, A moment he stood in silence, and then he thundered forth: ? ** Men, the crew of that craft escaped in their Spe they cannot be far away, and we must find them. **Once in my power, woe be unto them. ** Ho there, lads! get the schooner under way, and, helmsman, our course lies in a circle, gradually widening as we sail. *“On deck there! let every man keep watch, and a thousand dollars to the one who first dis- covers a boat,” The men were revengeful, and the golden bait offered by their chief made them more than anxious to discover their foes, who had placed so clever a trap for them, and also cheated them of their rich prize. At once the schooner began to move through the waters, laying her course as much as possi- ble in a circle, which constantly widened, An hour tbus passed, and then in the deep basso notes ofthe Sea Monster captain came the cry: . ** Boat ho!” A cheer broke from. the crew, though all were disappointed that their chief had been the one to find the boat instead one of their number. ‘“‘There she lies, helmsman! three points off the port bow. ** Head for her!” The schooner was at once headed for the boat, and the crew, now catching sight of the dark object upon the waters, a mile distant, broke forth in another cheer that had a ring of re- venge in ik, CHAPTER XVIII. A CLEVER SCHEME. THE boat in which Mark Bonodel had left the brig, held bravely on its way over the ty i waters, and the youth and his crew were glad to see that they had escaped the keen eyes of the pirates. Watching, they saw that the second boat must have also left the Flying Feather, and at the flash of the gun from the schooner’s bow they were greatly surprised that the brig luffe up so sharp, fearing that some accident had occurred to keep the crew yet remaining on board, for they did not know that the shot had cut loose the drag. Still keeping his eye upon the brig throngh his glass the youth saw the schooner run down oor ay to near the prize, and then the boat put re) What followed, all distinctly beheld, and they could hardly repress a cheer at the trap the pirates bad n caught in, and the escape of their comrades. But, what the schooner would do next be- came an anxious question in their minds, as they were yet in dangerous proximity to the pirates. This question the movements of the schooner soon answered, and the youth said: “She is searching for us, comrades, and we are in for it, if we cannot avoid them.” Pulling hard the men became anxious to place as much space as possible between themselves and the schooner, while Bono generously said: “Comrades, we might as well lead her as far as possible from the otber boat, for her course will take us in port, if either is to be discovered. “Put your helm to starboard, coxswain, and we'll see if we cannot get out of the circle the schooner is trying to catch us in.” This order was obeyed, and the boat turned off in an almost obligde direction from her former course, and steadily pushed on her way. But the schooner widened her circle, and a moment after headed directly for the boat, * We are discovered, men,” coolly said Bono. Tbe oars stopped rowing as though by order, while one man groaned: ** We are lost!” “It seems so; but while life lasts there is hope. ‘*Pull hard again, men, and we'll lead the schooner as far from the other boat as possible, so her luck can be better than ours, if we can thus help them,” “What do we care for them, if we have to die?” said a seaman sullenly. ‘* Yes, let them meet the same fate,” added another, “This is unmanly, my men, and not worthy of you. “They took the chances with us, and ill-for-’ tune caught us, and we should help them to es-~ cape all in our power. ‘* Besides, I believe I can work, a little plan to save us.” A query came from the men in chorus, as to what that plan was, for they had faith in the youth, and caught at a straw of hope, like a drowning man, though what he could do to extricate them from their peril they could not imagine. “Yes, I have an idea that I can keep our necks out of the noose,” continued Bono. ** As how, sir?” asked the coxswain. “Well, I worked in New Orleans for a money-lender, who had dealings with pirates, and befriended them. “The Sea Monster, as they now call the man who commands yonder schooner, I bave met at the office of the money-lender, and he saw me there, “He was then known as the Giant Captain, for, I saw him through my glass this afternoon, and am sure he is the same one, ‘Now, I shall tell him that the brig was richly freighted, and belonged to the money- lender, and that we did not know that he would be a friend, so fled from him. “You must pretend to be outlaws, sea-rovers and I will be the money-lender’s clerk still, and we will escape that way, for he will not harm S. “We can also offer to ship with him, and get away as chance allows us to do; but we must try and get as far as possible from the other boat, and not have it taken, and the crew tell a different story, to conflict with ours. ‘*But, should they be captured, then we must say that they were the legitimate crew of the brig, while we were in the Sage of the money- lender, and I will secretly make this known to him. ‘Now, lads, pull witb all speed, as we are now receding, and every stroke puts us further from Captain Gray’s boat.” The crew now felt full reliance upon their young leader, and with the aid of Bono and the coxswain, taking a band at the oars to rest the others, they kept up a steady pace that drew them furtber and further away from the other boat, though the schooner again gained rapidly upon them. In half an hour more the schooner came sweeping up astern, and bh sharp, the deep notes of the Sea Monster were heard; ** Ahoy, that boat!” “Ay, ay, sir!” answered Bono, ‘“*Come alongside on my lee quarter!” “* Ay, ay, sir!” and five minutes after Bono ant his mates stood on the deck of the pirate craft. ** ‘Who commands here?” *“*L do, Captain English,” said Bono, “‘Ha! you call me by name?” and the giant laid his heavy hand upon the youth’s shoulder, ‘Yes, sir, and had I been sure it was you, our brig would not have been lost, and the crew need not have fled.” ** Boy, I have seen you before. Who and what are you?” and the pirate gazed fixedly into the face Bprarned to him, as trbough to read there in the darkness where he had before seen the youth. “We have met before, captain, and when and where, and who I am, I will make known to you, if you will grant mea moment in your cabin,” “* Let the schooner lie as she is, Tabor. “ Follow me, boy!” and the Sea Monster led the way to bis cabin. CHAPTER XIX. A SEVERE PENALTY. “Now, boy, where have we met before?” and the huge poneloe chief turned his fixed gaze upon Bono, as he motioned him to a seat under the glare of the cabin lamp. Bono was perfectly coo], and gazed upon the remarkable looking man before him without the slightest trepidation. He had never before known a human being so large in stature, and a man who seemed to be such a grand specimen of manhood, and the boy could not but wonder tkat one who was so noble looking kad become so vile, Unflinchingly ke gazed the chief in the face, and said quietly: , “You know Don Rudolpho, the money- lender, Senor Captain, I believe?” **Aha! it was at his office I saw you, boy,” quickly cried the Sea Monster. “‘It was, sir, for I am in his service,” **Then why did you not show his colors this afternoon, and—” ; ‘IT did not know, Captain English, that your schooner was commanded by one who was Don Rudolpho’s friend; nor did I recognize in the one the crew said was the Sea Monster the one I had known as the Giant Captain.” ““f am not surprised, young man; but what is your name?” ‘Bono, sir.” ““Yes—I remember. But it is unfortunate —, < # - Eomicbooks a rh as : <€com