Beadle's Dime Library No. 316 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

meee ee ee - I « e _— —s ew - ——- +s - - ~ ome ow ee ee * — a we 7 Lafitte’s Lieutenant. the order in a low, energetic tone, ‘‘ make the boat fly through the water!” ‘* There is no fear now,” said Theodore. ‘*It is best to be safe! Once ashore and in the carriage you are beyond pursuit, as they can only chase in boats. Thank God! weare clear of the brig without any discovery being made on board!” ‘*‘ And do you think they would have detained him and taken him from your protection?’ ask- ed the countess impassionately, ‘My influence I fear would have been little. I am no longer holding an influential command; and besides I am a French-American, a national combination sufficiently distasteful to English- men. Such is the hostility of the British to La- fitte nue his scattered adherents, that Theodore would not have any hearing.” ‘* But you would have told them his story.” ‘* And there would have been no plea in bis behalf. They would answer that every man might make it. The fact that he had been with Lafitte would have been in their eyes sufficient $e condemn him, and justify them in arresting im. ‘*On American soil?” ‘An ‘outlaw,’ as they dore, has no privilege of country, taken any where.” ‘‘ What bave we not escaped!” exclaimed the countess, almost overcome, ‘‘ But General McDonald wou!d not have eonsented to such a breach of hospitality! we went on board as guests! He would have interfered to prevent such fearful outrage!” ‘He could onky protest, if inclined to do so! He could have no power, if the two captains chose to act.” ‘Theodore, I’m glad you are so calm,” said the countess, taking his band. He smiled and kissed it, and replied: ‘*] have surveyed my position in every light, dear countess, and know allits danger! I have suffered all I can suffer in connection with my eculiar situation! Be assured, that, for the uture, conscious of innocence, I shall not be- tray myself, as if I am in truth guilty, My safety, my bappiness, my bonor depend on my calmness.” ‘‘ How were you pleased with Mise MeDon- ald?’ asked the count. Theodore made one or two attempts to say something in warm and glowing terms; but, as if finding words wholly inadequate to express what came from his heart to his lips he blushed deeply and said with a very embarrassed air: ‘What did you ask, sir?” ‘‘ How beautiful is it to be on the water by moonlight,” said the countess, interposing in Theodore’s bebalf, whose embarrassment she understood. ‘See how firmly the dark lines of forest trees border tbe shining river—like a frame of ebony to a gigantic mirror, And there stands the carriage. Now, Theodore, you are safe. I have been nervously watching the brig to see if a boat did not come from her this way. But now you are in security.” The next moment the barge shot into the dark, almost black, shadows of the river-bank, and the party alighted. Theodore would baye remained in the boat till it was pulled up to its usual ground nearly opposite tbe villa, but to this they both objected; and, getting into the phaeton with them, they rode to the house along the river-bank, while tte slaves pulled up by the shore. As they reached their dwelling and ascended the veranda, they had a fine view of the gun-brig a mile below in mid-river, floating down with the current. Her topgallantsails, jib and trisails were set and sharp-braced to steady her, though no wind was stirring. The boats were alongside, and Theodore could see with bis glass, which a slave brought to him, that twoof them were hoisted up. They watched the brig until a bend of the river took her from their sight, when the count retired to the draw- ing-room, desiring them also to come in, as it was then past eleven, ‘In one minute, Alphonse,” said Constanza, “ Theodore,” she added, taking him by the band, ‘‘let not eitber cf us forget devoutly to thank God for your escape to-night. Strive to be un- coneerned ever after this, when Lafitte’s dread- ed name is mentioned.” ‘‘Be under. no apprehension of me, dearest countess, I shall not betray myself. I should would regard Theo- He may be ‘not have done so to-night but for—” ‘‘T understand you. You were thinking of Miss McDonald with tenderness at the time, and he consciousness that your connection with La- tte might bar forever the bopes of happiness of which she was the center overwhelmed you with grief.” ‘‘ And do you read thoughts?” he asked, with surprise. ** When they are written on the face of those in whom I am interested.” “Then you know all I would have con- cealed?” ‘* And why conceal it from me, Theodore?’ ‘* [ hardly dure confess it to myself.” ‘She is a noble, disinterested girl, 1 read all ber heart in ber fine expression.” “And that heart read how, dearest coun- tess; asked Theodore, with trembling eager- ness, eee cm aaa ‘* With language of the most glowing tender- ness and womanly interest in you,” “Oh, could I believe it!” “Do you not?’ said the countess, smiling archly. He pressed her hand and blushingly returned the smile. ‘And yet this consciousness,” he said, sadly, ‘‘ renders me miserable, at the same time that it renders me happy. I feel that I never shall be to her dearer than I have been this night,” ‘‘Do not despair, She returns to England after a brief delayin Havana. Ina few months we sball be in England, I have promised General McDonald to visit him, You will then see her,” ‘*‘ And I have learned a circumstance to-night, that will, perbaps, induce thecount to go abroad sooner than the spring,” ‘‘ And this circumstance, what is it, Theo- dore?” hastily demanded the count, who bad re- turned to the veranda to call them in from the night air. ‘It is something evil,” said the countess, in an alarmed voice, struck by the manner in which Tneodore had spoken, ‘‘T thought I would defer meationing if at resent; but [ will do so now!” answered Theadore. ‘‘ There came in this brig a man who was furmerly on board the Gertrude. He was at the grave during the exhumation of the body of the Earl of Clarence, and there recognized me as I had previously done him. After the procession left, as 1 was about to follow you, he detained me by the arm, It was in vain for me to profess ignorance of him. 1 had to acknowl- edge that I knew him. He then told me that a band was organized af Havana under Ricardo, whom you will remember, countess, was Lafitte’s lieutenant; that they wanted a vessel, and hear- ing from the slave Antonio, who it seems knew me here, and who found bis way to Havana, that I was with you and apparently rich, this fellow, whose name is Elliot, was dispatched in this vessel in which he shipped as a seaman to visit me and to propose to me to either join with money, or send them money on pain of ex- posure,” ‘This is dreadful,” exclaimed the countess, turning pale. ‘‘ Infamous,” cried the count, with indignant surprise, “It is very extraordinary! This man detained you then at the grave?” ‘Yes ‘And what did you do with him? You did not let him depart unpunished! You should have exposed him to the officers of the brig,” ‘‘T threatened to do so, but be menaced me with the same, and I felt that I was, so far, in his power. He knew it; for he was sufficiently impudent,” ‘* Better have given him the money he want- ed,” cried the countess, ‘‘ And so encourage piracy. You forget, my dear Constanza,” said the count. ‘After a warm conversation, hard words were interchanged. On my positive refusal, ba drew his knife on me and 1 threw him into the open grave. This tamed him and | took bim prisoner.” ‘* Admirable! what did you do with him?” asked the count, with animation. ‘*T should not have troubled you with this history at all, but the villain sal of refugal, my life should not only be sought by the gang, but that they hac bound themselves that in case | taken by Theodore and myself as will prevent any ill consequences arising from this perilous visit, Tbe countess with a heavy heart and a mind filled with fear and forebodings, returned with- in the villa, while the count taking a sword be- neath his arm, accompanied by Theodore, de- scended the steps of the veranda, and proceeded in the direction of the lock-up. The count’s features were stern and deterininied. Their ex- pression was almost fierce—those of Theodore calm but resolute, ‘‘Have you the key?’ asked the count in a ro that Theodore thought could not belong to him. ‘Yes, it is here, Have you decided what is best to do with bim, consistent with our safety?” “Yes,” answered the count in a deep voice, *T will not slay him, for I do not desire his blood on my bands,” ‘What would youdo, We may detain him here in prison as long as we please!” ‘Nor that! He shall live and he shall go free. But he shall never have the power of in- juring you!” answered the count fiercely, ‘I shall cut off the fingers of both his hands! I shall cut out his tongue!” ‘Can it be possible such is your purpose?” “Yes, He shall never utter with hie tongue —he shall never write with a pen, words to de- grade you!” The count unlocked the door, when the pirate sprung clear forth into the moonlight and fled like a deer. Theodore sprung after bim. With an exertion the count recovered bim- self and grasping hissword followed after Theo- dore who instantly pursued the fugitive. But when he bad gone a few steps the count stopped suddenly and turned aside to the door of the negro hut opposite the lock-up, letting Theodore continue op alone. With a stroke of his hee) he dashed the door in, calling ‘“‘ Paul!” <A tal) ne- Bro sprung from a low couch and stood before m “Your dogs Fang and Wolf! Loose them! Are they in the kennel?’ he demanded quickly. ‘Yes, master!” answered the surprised and submissive slave. At the same moment a young African stripling of eighteen years made bis ap- pearance from the inner cabin. ‘* Louis,” he cried to the young slave, “ tothe stables and saddle my bunter! Fly for your life.” The lad bounded from the but. ‘ Are the dogs coupled and muzzled?” he demanded, following Paul to the kennel in the rear of the cabin. ‘* Yes, master,” answered the negro. “Have you fed them to-night?” ‘*They baba bone apiece for supper.” “They are bungry then. So much the bet- ter! They howl savagely enough! Give light here!” The negro threw open a door through which the moonlight streamed into a bamboo shed, on one side of which was a portico in which two dogs were chained. On their entrance the dogs bowled in a low fierce note, which was hushed oy a word from the negro as he threw open the oor. ‘* Bring them outside through the cabin,” said the count. The slave unlocked the chain which held them to a bolt and followed the count to the front of the cabin. The dogs came in si- Jence and submissive, their ferocity for the mo- ment quelled by the influence held over them by oath to burn your villa and devastate your > plantation. This word I know they will keep. y wish is, therefore, dear count, that you. would dispose of your estate without delay, and | in the meanwhile, reside in New Orleans with the countess,” ‘¢ This shall be done. I can close the bargain with M. Moret in two days. We will then pass the winter in the city, and early in the spring proceed north, and take passage for Europe from one of the Atlantic ports. In this manner we shall defeat them wholly! Theodore, no end to your destiny as touching your unfortunate connection with my poor brother,” added Count D’Oyley, with emo’ion, ‘* Let us leave to-morrow,” said the countess, comartiy ‘In three days at the furthest. There can be no danger until this Elliot returns to report to his comrades at Havana! And this you did not let him do, Tbeodore?’ said the count, very popntecay. ; ‘* No, I made him preeede me down the levee road uutil I reached the grounds, through which I condueted him by the arm, with his own kvife drawn, in my band, pointed at his heart. I Jed him to the lock-up, and there fastened him securelyin. I then taok the barge and followed you on board the brig.” ‘*And he bas been there confined all the while!” cried the count. ‘‘He then is in our wer, and you are safe!” “If vou should give bim up to the authorities, his arrest would surely bring upon us the ven- geance of his comrades,” said the countess; **and besides he would denounce Theodore,” “This is true. For him to be suspected even, will never answer,” said the ecunt gravely. ‘*My dear Constanza, it is time you should There seems, | —_— — by their keeper. As they were brought into the full moonlight their true character and proportions were seen, They were gigantic bloodbounds of the most ferocious and sanguinary species. Their color was a dark or sallow yellow, and their limbs heavy but remarkable for their tiger-like pliancy. Their aspect was fierce and brutalin a degree seldom remarked in beasts, that are by nature wild and ferocious. As they stood cou- pled in a heavy chain by the side of the tall muscular African, they began to open their huge mouths and savagely to yawn, snuffing the air and displaying their glittering fangs: and then whining tbey would scent the earth about them and pull at their chain impatiently, ‘Will they be true, Paul?’ asked the count. 66 Thev neber say die, master!” ‘“Well, Leod them to the door of the lock-up! That is well! Now take them in and give them their scent. Have they got it? Do they know what is wanted of them?” demanded the count impatiently. * Do you bear dem low howls, master?’ “Yes,” ‘*Dat is how dey say dey know what is want- ed ob’em! Dey got de scentnow! Dey neber yell dat way for nothing!” e Then uncougle them and let them follow ‘* Master, please come inside here first so dey won't cross your scent!” Tne count, well knowing the nature of the dogs, entered the lock-up and instantly the negro uncoupled them, Previeusly baving fastened upon the scent of the Jast occupant tuey no sooner were released than they rusbe together ont of the door and wentoff upon the track of the fugitive like the wind without giv- ing mouth, There was something fearful in the retire, Be assured that such messurcs will be fleetness and perfect silénce with which they Goim Ebooks