Beadle's Dime Library No. 316 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

«a z Seana . Lafitte’s Lieutenant. 15 Icindness to me I shall ever revere his memory. After his death, he committed me to the charge of the Count DOyley.” “To his own slayer!” “-Yes—for the count and Lafitte bad recog- nized each other before the latter expired as—” Here Theodore interrupted bimself, and then added, ‘as former acquaintances. As the countess had received from me some services he received me into his family.” “ That countess—that Spanish girl Constanza is then there, is she?” said Red Knife, nodding his head and pointing with his thumb in the di- rection of the villa. ‘She wasa beauty! I'd like to see ber again!” ‘* Villain,” cried Theodore, seizing the man by the breast with a grasp of iron, ‘*dare to speak of that lady again, and | will tear your foul tongue from your throat!” ‘‘Stand back, Master Theodore! Release me, I say!” cried the man, struggling to get out his knife. With a strong sign of detestation, the young man threw him backward, so that be reeled for several steps before he could recover his foot- ing, with such good will had he hurled him from bim. Instantly Elliot drew his knife, and with a savage exultation leaped eg bim like a tiger. Theodore stepped quickly aside, and avoiding the vengeful blow, caught bis arm and wrested the weapon from bim., “You are in my power, ruffian!” he said, elevating the knife for a moment above the man’s bosom, and then casting it to the ground; ‘‘but it is not my wish to slay you. I would learn further of your purpose in coming hither. Go, pick Ap your knife, and be less ready with using it. ou see [am your master!” Tne man lowered bis head, and muttering, icked up the knife and replaced it in his bosom. He had, forgotten the great difference between the slender youth of seventeen, whom he once surpassed in physical strength, and the young man full grown; hence was to be attributed his ondaecious bearing at first, and his manner of addressing him as ‘ Master,’ as if be was still a mere stripling. The strength and skill, as well as the cool courage exhibited by Theodore, came upon him wholly unexpected. He was surprised and confounded. Fear took the place of anuda- city, and respect and a sense of inferiority of impertinence. He respected Theodore because he felt that he bad contempt for bim; and men like him always feel a species of vile reverence for the superior who despises them, They may hate him, but they feel respect forbim. Elliot’s tone and bearing were at onee changed, though the change was wholly external. lt was the eubdued ferocity of the bear, who, intimidated by repeated blows, fears to manifest longer an sigrsof rage. So that be treated bim outward- ly With civility, the young man did not care from what motive the difference proceeded. ‘You have a ready hand, sir,” said Elliot, speaking in a quiet, respectful manner, and fore- ingalaugh. “‘I thank you for not giving me the knife, when you could have done it. Your hand is quicker as well as stronger than it uxed to be, Master Theodore—I mean, Sirk. You are the very man for our captain—I wish I had your back before me, arm’s length off, in a dark night, and Red Knife in my grasp!” be added to himself. “You need not thank me for your life, I spared it to learn from you what your purpose is,” said Theodore, haughbtily, and in a very impa- tient tone, ‘* Well,” answered Elliot, doggedly, ‘‘ here it is, sir: I was sent by Ricardo and the rest, to visit you, as there was an English brig-of-war, the Sieuth Hound, in port, which had lost half a dozen of her men by the yellow fever, bound to the river, and which { could easily ship on board of, being an Englishman. I found no difficulty in getting_a berth as you may know by seeing me here. My instructions were to see you, privately, and dog you till I could, and make you the three following propositions: “First, to loan us, to purchase and erm a vessel, fifty thousand dollars, and vourself to remain forever after unmolested, Good sight drafts on New Orleans. ‘Second, to return with me to Havana in the first merchantman going down the river, bringing twenty thousand dollars in specie, to buy a small craft, now lying for salein Havana, and becoming our captain, with Ricardo first lieutenant, “Third, in case of the refusal of either of these propositions, to be denounced by me to the cap- tain of the brig as one of Lafitte’s gang; to have the mansion of the count robbed and burned, and the countess carried off by the party that have sworn to doit if you refuse, if they wait a year for an opportunity to fulfill their vow.” ‘‘ Have you ended, sir?” ‘‘ That is all,” replied Elliot. ‘-Seanor Ricardo and his friends are very modest; very. Now, whether to send them back with a specific refusal to each proposition, or to arrest you on the spot and hand you over to your captain asa pirate, I am wholly at a loss, What is your opinion, good Master El. liot?”’ he said with irony. ‘*[ must confess, sir, we didn’t calculate on —_— --- eee tere finding an honest man of you, and hoped you’d be willing to take to the sea again, and help us with a schooner, if we’d give you the com- mand,” answered Elliot, edging away, with his hand on the haft of his knife to defend him- self, ‘Well, you see what you have found me. Go back to Ricardo and his crew, and tell them that [{ treat with scorn and abhorrence their A lige and defy them!” ‘You are rich, sir. Twenty thousand dollars would not be felt by you; and it would place so many of your old comrades in the way of busi- ness. **In the first place, I am not rich. I have nothing. I am dependent for even my clothing on the bounty of Count D’Oyley. I am an orphan anda beggar. This footy Theve receiv- ed till 1 confess Iam ashamed; and this very day was yearning to act for myself and sbake off this yoke of dependencies,” said the young man, for the moment forgetting that he was address- ing so worthless an auditor. ‘“*The count is rich as a Jew, they say. He could let you have any sum you wanted.” ‘*And do you dare to ask me for money for the furtherance of piracy?’ ‘*We are your old comrades, sir.” ‘A malediction upon my old comrades. Speak to me another word in behalf of your in- famous project and I will bave you urrested within the hour.” ‘*T do not fear that, sir! would follow mine! The influence of the rich count could not avail! All be could say would only_make your case worse in the eyes of Gen- eral McDonald and Captain Stewa I should swear you were an Englishman and my com- rade and the Count D’Oyley would have to say he took you from Lafitte’s vessel which he cap- tured and burned; and instead of giving vou up to justice let you remain with him, You dare not denounce me!” ‘*Tt is true I DARE NOT!” said Theodore pain- fully within himself. ‘* These gentlemen would demand me as a British subject, for such I claim myself to be, and I should be tried for piracy. hat excuse, what defense could I offer that the law would admit? Surely if my denunciation of this man would bring him to the gallows, his denunciation of me will bear equall unos myself! And the late piracies in the West Indies have made the British cruisers alert, and as they have never forgiven Lafitte’s participation against them in the battle of New Orleans, they will show little leniency to an of his men that they may fall in with! This Elliot has risked his life to visit me! And on what fatal errand bas he come! Ricardo, the daring, generous, yet deeply criminal Ricardo Jives, and he would have me rejoin him! He knows me not! But why should [ blame him, or even this villain, for their opinion of me? It is natural, think such minds, that 1 should again embrace my former career with a command that would put mein Lafitte’s place. To their guilty minds it is a temptation that a youth would listen to with pleasure. But like them I became not a freebooter from love of crime. Your own arrest An evil destiny linked my fate with theirs; my heart never went withit! Well did the countess say to-night that an evil cloud bung around that brig-of-war! Evil indeed tome! lam in this man’s power, and in thatof his band! A score of Pian besides himself know that [ am here, and if I sbould runrisks to myself atid denounce him, these would still live to molest my patb. “Elliot.” he said, turning to the man who stood silently watching bis countenance as if reading his thoughts, ‘‘ 1 do not wish to arrest you, You are at liberty to go as you came.” ‘* And what reply shall 1 make to Ricardo and my comrades?” asked Elliot, with thet deference which had more recently marked bis intercourse with Theodore. ‘That, having left the sea et Lofitte’s death and entered upon a different life, I have no dis- position to rejoin my former companions, nor embrace a life of crime that I was Jed into only by aaa beyond my individual con- trol: ‘You refuse than, senor, to send the fifty thousand dollars?’ “Tam not worth a dollarin the world. If I had it, even, I should positively refuse to send a maravedi to such men as you represent and for such an object.” ‘You speak firmly, at least. thousand and the command, sir?’ ‘*f am equally firm in my refusal, and I am deeply mortified that circumstances render it necessary for me to make a denial in so man words to propositions so infamous,” he said, with a hightened glow that was plainly visible in the light of the moon that shone full upon the spot where they stood, “‘ And bave you thought of the consequences, sir?’ asked E!liot, with a significant inflection to the tone in which he asked the qnestion. a) Yes,” ‘* Ricardo and kis friends wi!l not let you or yours rest until you have acceded to one or the other of the terms, Money he will have, and it is in your power, senor, to give ittous. The result of denial now will be my denunciation of The twenty you to the English captain, and the destruction erring ieee LE Oe of the count’s house and the captivity of his family!” ‘For myself I fear not. You dare not de- nounce me, but at your own a “I should be safe! I could first get Captain Stewart to give me a promise of protection if I would make known to him where a lieutenant of Lafitte was secreted. who bid himself in the country while he could get a vessel for sea!” ‘* Villain, would you tbus lie?” ‘“‘He would promise me safety, You would | ** But,” he be arrested.” “Too true,” sighed Theodore. said very suddenly, and sternly, ‘how am I to give what I do not possess? And which did I possess, I repeat, [| would not give! I beed not your threats. The count shall be put on his guard against any attempt of your party, and as for me I will thus protect myself!’ As be spoke, and before Elliot could antici- pate the attack, he caught the pirate in his arms and threw him headlong into the dee open grave. As Elliot rose to bis feet with b head just above the surface of the und, Theodore stood over bim with bis drawn dagger. ** Ascassin!’’ be cried in a low, deep tone, that told the man how strongly his feelings were wrought up, ‘fa good Providence bas opened this grave to receive you!” ‘*Mercy, Master Theodore, Spare my life, aud I swear to be silent. I swear not to de- nounce you!” implored the man elevating his hands fearfully above bis head to catch upon his arm any blow aimed at his life by the in- censed and resolute young man. ‘Your oath, Elliot,” repeated Theodore, with incredulous scorn! * But I will swear on the cross! I will kneel to you if you willspare my life. You can kill me here and I cannot resist. I wiil be vour slave. I will be your dog, only let me live.” “ive!” said Theodore stepping back from the grave. ‘‘1 should be degraded to stoop to take the lifeof a wretch so groveling! Come out and stand bere while I talk with you.” The man succeeded with some difficulty in ex- tricating bimself from his horrid situation in the grave, reeking still with the stench of tho corpse that had just been removed from it, and stood near Theodore, cowed and trembling; for his dreadful situation and imminent danger had unnerved bim. “Now listen to me. I do not trust you a bair’s breadth. You fear me, and you will avenge ouateelt upon me when you can safely, My life isin your hands, but you shall not sacri- fice me! Come with metomy house, Ishail there imprison you safely until the brig sails, Then you shall go at liberty where you will. Ac the same time I also shall leave this place forever, so that any future schemes you and your asso- ciates may have with reference to me, will be futile. Ishball make known, also, to the Compte D'‘Oyley as much of the information you have deposited with me in relation to your plans upon his property, as will induce him to dispose of it at a ver early period, he being already in negotiation for its sale, with the intention in the spring of proceeding to Europe, Your re- turn, therefore, to prosecute me and this mis- chief, will be of no aveil, as none of your vic- tims will be found. You see that 1 meet your plans with schemes quite as good as your own. And more, I wish to give your leader Ricardo apd your companions to understand that I always go well armed, and that J shall not besi- tate to kill on the spot any one of my former companions that ay proaches me with any in- tention wbatever, in whatever Jand we may meet. You have now heard what I have to say. Give me that knife, with the handle of which in your bosom your fingers ere playing, and then precede me toward the river.” Elliot besitated to comply. He saw at once that all bis schemes were likely to be defeated by the decision and resolution of the young man, whom he had hoped easily to win over to his views. He and Ricardo had clerished the hope that Thecdore, whcm they believed cor- rupt at heart, like themselves, would be pre- vailed upon to rob the cour t or forge bis name and with the spoils, join them in their career of piracy. But Elliot saw wi'h deep mortification and annoyance how greatly they had been de- ceived, His mission had utterly failed; and in- stead of having Theodore in bis power through fear of exposure, he was himself bis prisoner. Reluctantly he gave up the knife; for a glance at the face and determined bearing of the young man into whose power be had fallen so singularly, told bim it was no moment for de- livers tion, “Now, sir, walk forward. The first attempt —the least motion to escape from me will ES met with instant death.” As they started to leave the vicinity of the rave au obj-ct sparkling with exceeding Inefer n the fresh loam of the reopened grave er- rested his eye; and picking it up be saw, wilh surprise, that it was a diamond brooch of great value. He thought it had been cropped by the pirate in their former struggle, and asked him if he had had a brooch, On his replying in the negative be thought it must have fsllen from the bosom of one of the officers, and put it up to restore to the owner. They kept their way Eomicboo S) (E(o)