Beadle's Dime Library No. 316 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

a ae ng ee - : « —— —— 2 oe = . -_ ~~ = oo ee —_ a ee down the narrow lawn of India trees toward the river, Elliot walking doggedly on before, followed about three yards bebind by Theodore, with a step as determined as his purpose, On reaching the river-road, he saw the count’s car- riage was gone; but voices were heard by the water-side. He ascended the levee embank- ment, commanding Elliot to go up in advance, aud saw the cutter just putting off with the body on board and the tall form of General McDon- ald standing at its head in the stern. Captain Stewart not finding room in it bad gone with the count, who after looking round for Theo- dore and waiting for him a few moments, had driven on. The two now kept on their way in the open moonlight down the levee-road, with shady trees on the one hand and the broad shining river stretching away on the other, Elliot felt vexed as he walked on before his captor; to find himself in the power of one whom be had been in the babit of regarding as a mere stripling. His dark, ferocious, yet cow- ardiy spirit was full of bitterness and rage, He ground his teeth and swore vengeance against him if he ever had an opportunity of avenging himself. After a walk of a mile and a half, during which not a word had been exchanged between them, they came to the gate of the lawn leading to the dwelling. There Theodore commanded him to stop. “We are now near the house, Elliot; and I wish you to walk by my side as we approaeh it along these paths of the garden. Be assured that any attempt to leave my side will be the signal for your death,” “You are very severe on an old comrade,” answered Elliot deprecatingly. ‘*No words! Accompany me! Walk nigher to me!” They passed the tall, arched gateway and en- tered a winding graveled avenue that traversed the shrubbery ground. A portion of the way the close-set and overhanging trees, cast a dark- ness almost impenetrable. Through _ these gloomy passages Theodore grasped Elliot's arm with his left band as they walked and held his own long curved knife within an inch of bis breast. Thus in silence they traversed the grounds and emerged before the villa within a few paces of it. Guiding him around it to the rear, Theodore came to. a low brick outhouse with a grated window and its door barred with iron. ‘This is the lock-up for refractory slaves, Elliot,” said Theodore to him in a quiet tone of voice. ‘‘The key I see is in the padlock, Remove the end of the bar on the bolt aud en- ward the house ascended to the veranda, From it the boat containing the coffin of Lord Clar- ence was visible descending the river, being some distance lower down than the villa. The brig-of-war was also distinctively visible in the almost noonday brilliancy of a southern moonlight, every spar delineated with accuracy to the eye. ‘¢ Where is the count?” he demanded of a ser- vant who mat bim. _ **He bas driven down the river road, Master Theodore, to get opposite the brig.” ‘* And the countess?’ ‘‘ He took mistress in for a ride as he passed down.” ‘“'Then I will follow them in the boat.” he said. ‘* Where are the slaves—my crew? Sum- mon them at once.” In a few minutes afterward Theodore was borne rapidly down the river is the direction of the armed vessel, seated in the stern of a beau- tiful six-oared catter, pulled by six slaves in white turbans and trowsers, CHAPTER XII. BETRAYED. ‘ne gun-brig’s boat had already reached the side of the vessel, When Theodore got into his Lafitte’s Lieutenant. own to descend the river. Captain Lennox stood in the gangway as the boat containing the body of Lord Clarence came alongside, with General McDonald standing bare-headed at the head of the coffin, At the same moment the count’s carriage was seen to draw up opposite on the bank, and a boat was dispatched for Captain Stewart. By his invitation the count and countess also took a place in the boat, as he informed her that General MeDonald’s daughter was on board and would be happy to receive her, General. McDonald ascended t the deck and looking round, said, with emotion: ‘Is all prepared for the reception of the body, Captain Lennox?” ‘* Yes, sir,” answered Captain Lennox, a bluff, frank-looking, English sailor, with a well- bred air, but showing far more of the seaman than the courtier. ‘* And for the salute?’ ‘* All ready, sir,”’ General McDonald cast his eyes round a mo- ment upun the preparations within decks witha sad air. The moonlight poured down like a flood of silver, crossing the black-penciled sha- dows of the ropes, and displaying every object clearly tothe eye. Beneath a canopy, formed of British colors, gracefully intertwined, and covering that portion of the deck immediate) abaft the polished eapstan, stood a spacious cof- fin partly concealed by a pall. It was of polish- ed oak, and capable of containing the coffila which had been taken from the grave. Upon it was a silver plateengraved as follows; EDWARD McDONALD, EARL OF CLARENCE. Born, January 8th, 1790. Died, January 8th, 1815. Arouod the capstan, and thé mainmast, with its crescents of pikes and pistols, black crape was entwined. All was solemn and funereal. Fore and aft on each side of the deck the crew, dressed in white with crape on their arms, ar- ranged themselves, and on the verge of the quarter, at the head of the coffin, stood a young lady, her features partly concealed by & mourning vail, and near ber a group of offi- cers, their heads bare, with one of whom she was in low conversation, touching the rites going forward. General McDonald now stood by the gan - way and gave a slight gesture with his hea Instantly rose upon the air the deep roll of the muffled tenor-drum, mingled at intervals with very vessel on board a pirate’s craft, Witha feeling balf-guilty and unassured, be experi- enced a sensation as if be was openly deceiving those who put confidence in bim, and ought at once to retire from a vessel he was unworthy to enter. But the reflection that be was not. ac- countable for his companionship with the out- laws, who had been at a former period bis asso- ciates, he regained an honest and worthy confl- dence in his innocence, and firmly stepped upon the ceck. Captain Stewart, who had not gone below with the rest, at once recognized him and advanced toward him with bis hand ex- tended. “Ab. my dear sir, [am glad you have come on board, I regret sincerely you did not reach the brig in time to be present at the reception of the body,” ‘I came near as the ceremony commenced, and not wishing to interrupt it, lay on my oars until if was over,” ‘*T am glad to see you. Your uncle, or father, is it? though he seems too young for THAT, was quite anxious about you, not seeing anything of vou since we left the grave. Come and join us in the cabin.” On his entering the eabin, the countess and ber busband both uttered an exclamation of ee pleasure at seeing him, which, though a simple matter in itself, was a proof of their interest and affection. ‘“We thought we had lost you, Theodore,” said the countess, smiling, ‘* What became of you at the grave, my son?” asked the count. ‘i thought you were follow- ing until we reached the water-side,” _ “*Y was detained,” answered Theodore, blush- ing deeply as he spoke, and dropping his eyes before those of Emma McDonald, who, on bis entrance into the cabin bad started with an ex- clamation of surprise and womanly admiration, and under the spell of his presence, let her gaze rest unconsciously upon’his face until the de- pression of his own eyes beneath her glance re- minded him of the boldness of her regards, He instantly recovered himself from the confusion be had been thrown into by being so intensely regarded by a pair of the most brilliant eyes he had ever encountered, and added, taking the diamond brooch from his bosom: “TI found there this diamond, which was possibly dropped by either General McDonald or Captain Svew- art, As he spoke be displayed the diamond to the sight of each of the gentlemen. “It is not mine,” said Captain Stewart. ‘* Nor bave I lost a diamond,” answered Gen- eral McDonald; his gaze, however, instead of resting upon the gem held in the fingers of the young man, was fixed attentively and with the Same earnest, half-recalling look, with which, it will be remembered, he regarded him when he first saw him. _ “Tt is very strange,” said the countess, “It is not the count’s, Let me see it, Theodore.” ‘TI found it in the loam which was thrown up from the grave. Ita sparkling rays in the moon- light drew my attention.” 6 was about to hand it to the countess when a McDonald’s eye was arrested and fixed y it. “Pardon me, countess,” he spoke, with great agitation; “but with your permission I will examine it more closely,” He took it from Theodore’s hand, and after looking at it a moment, turned and curveyed the back of it. His countenance was instantly animated with an expression of recognition both pleasing and painful. ‘Tt was my brother’s! Behole the initials, ‘M. McD.’, and the crest of our house, a deer’s antlers, abouf it!” he said, with sad emotion. ‘*T recognized the setting. It was my poor brother’s! I have often seen him wearit, ow love, The nearest approach to this tender sentiment was his youthful attachment to the beautiful Constanza when a prisoner, now become his benefactress as the Countess D’Oy- ley. This regard bad given a chivalrous eleva- tion to bis feelings even at that early age. But love had never taken session of. bis bosom. In the retirement in which he dwelt he saw few females, and rather avoided their society than, like other youths, soughtit. No face—no gaze of a maiden had, till that moment, moved his pulse and sent the blood into his handsome brown cheek. He stood before her, trembling, and wholly unable to define or understand his feelings. Sey were novel and strange, and were singularly compounded of timidity and jov. Emma McDonald had been all her life also, tillsbe saw Theodore enter the cabin, maiden- free! Till her eyes fell upon bis face she bad never seen a young man who bad drawn from her more than a passing glance, It was his to move her being to its very deptb, and to stir and agitate a bosom hitherto as unruffled as a summer sea. Beautiful exceedingly; higb-born; intelligent; educated; full of imagination end feeling, and but twenty years of age. She had reigned admired in every circle, But she bad Be | ter.” tbe heavy, knell-like beat of the base-drum, and | valuable will this be to his dear child.” ws Elliot obeyed in removing the padlock, but | the subdued wailing of the fife. It was a march ‘“‘It must have fallen from the eccffin into the from the manner he grasped the iron bar with | for the dead sailor, Slowly General McDonald | soil, as the boards are loose and one of them, I ) both harids it was plain be thought it was loose | descended again to the boat, where be was met | saw, was split.” remarked Captain Stewart. | at both extremities and his intention was to fell | by Captain Stewart. The two gentlemen, tak-| General McDonald thanked Theodore for it his captor with it to the ground. But it was | ing up the head of the coffin, assisted by four | with a great deal of feeling, and then, as.if ) firmly clasped by a bolt at the other end and | sailors, they boreit to the gang way. As they | recollecting bimself, be said: releasing it with a deep curse of disappoint- | raised it from the stern of the boat, the roar of ‘Pardon me, young gentleman; I should ment, he opened the door and evtered the cell. | cannon discharging minute guns, mingled with | earlier bave presented you to my daughter ‘* How long do you intend to detain me here, | toe solemn mareh for the dead. The count and | Emmua!” sir?’ he asked with a tone of abject submission, | countess followed the coffin to the deck, along | Theodore bowed with an embarrassed air ‘Until the gun-brig sails,” said Theodore, | which it was borne with solemn step toward the | without lifting his eyes to the lovely face of | closing the thick oaken door and bolting it, and | canopy, and deposited within the outer coffin | Miss McDonald. The maiden acknowledged then passiug the iron bar across it and locking | destined for its reception. his courteous salutation with a graceful motion | the padlock into it. ‘‘ You will finda bunkin | The lid was then closed, and a broadside dis-| of the head, without raising her eyelids. Both . one corner. It was last occupied by yourfriend ; charged by the brig, closed this short but im- | seemed constrained—both conscious and hesi- | the slave, Antonio,” p sing echip ef General McDonald then re- | tating. Theodore could not account for his The auly reply he received as be loft him was | .ired to the cabin, inviting the Count D’Oyley | sensations of balf-fear, balf-bappiness; she could | a growl of de-perate vindictiveness, and his countess, who had already been ‘pré- | not analyze the pleased, trembling emotions of “Louis,” said Theodore, calling at the porch | sented to Hmma McDonald by her father, | her own bosom, Neither had met before, yet of a little cottage half hid in vines, which stood | Theodore, who had not reacbed the gun-brig in | at once, before either had exchanged a word opposite the prison. time to share in the rites paid to the dead, but | there wes awakened in their hearts a mutual | ‘Massa T eodore,” answered a black, appear- | arriving very near as the minute-guns began to | feeling in reference to each other, which no ing at the door. fire, lay on his oars under the counter, not | other person bad ever before cansed. ‘“T have locked up in the detention room a| wishing to interrupt the ceremonies by going | We bave described Theodore as a handsome seaman belonging to the brig below, who is a | on board, After the broadside was fired, at | fine-formed young man of one and twenty, his | bad man, See that none of the slaves approach | which the slaves, unused to such a scene, cast | appearance elegant, striking and commanding. . him, nor do you hold any communication with | themselves with terror into the bottom of the His fine dark countenance was most prepossess- ' him. See that he makes no effort to escape.” boat, be pulled to the gangway and ascended to | ing; and his address winning and inviting | ‘Ves, massa,” answered the African bowing | the deck. : confidence, His eyes were large, black and | low; For an instant he paused, overcome with the | brilliantly expressive, and bis voice, in its low Theodore then left him and preceeding to- | reflection that he hud been in action with that | tones, music itself. Yet he had never known o Ie ee eg — a comicbooks: com ' ~ e . -_ —_ < ’