Beadle's Dime Library No. 316 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

24 _- - ———_—_—- board here to-night, was the very youth I saw on the quarter-deck of Lafitte’s schooner. I knew we had met before. I wish I had known this sooner. Elliot, you have told the truth!” ‘But it cannot be possible!” exclaimed General McDonald, with emotion. ‘‘It is ineredible,” responded Captain Stewart. ‘“Yet my own testimony will corroborate Elliot’s words,” answered Captain Lennox, positively. ‘And this you swear to? that this young man was Lafitte’s lieutenant?” demanded General McDonald, addressing the pirate. ‘Yes, sir; I'll take my oath of it.” ‘And that he is now planning a piratical sd i ea asked Captain Stewart. es. 9 “Go on! Let us hear the remainder!” said Captain Lennox. ‘At the grave, after you passed with the body, he detained me.” ‘*T remember that he did not come with us,” said Captain Lennox, who now, like the others, was deeply interested in Elliot’s account, ‘I told him there what had been done in Havana, and what was now wanted. He promised to get the money—” RD A amount?’ asked General MeDon- ald. ‘‘Twenty thousand dollars. He promised to bring it with him next week, taking the first vessel that passes, after he should go up to Nev Orleans to get it.” ‘* And was he so rich?” “‘It was the Count DeOyley’s.” ‘‘Then he is not the count’s son?” ‘‘No—the count after capturing Lafitte and killing him, adopted him, as he was young.” “And now he repays his benefactor by robbing him,” responded Captain Stewart, indignantly. ‘I am surprised he should have taken a youth so nurtured!” ‘« Well—and how happens it you came on board, sir, in the condition you did? Why did you desert your young chief?” ** After it was settled that he was to come with money I proposed to return to the brig to report to Ricardo. But he refused to let me come on board lest I might betray him, for he had made me vexed by telling me he should not let me act as second lieutenant in the schooner. So, finding I was resolved to go on board, he took advantage of me at a moment I didn’t suspect—disarmed me and made me go before him to the villa, and in a Jock-up where they keep their refractory slaves, he boited me in, as he said, till the brig should sail.” ‘*But this was hardly offense enough for you to betray him, seeing he did it in self- preservation.’ “] might have overlooked it, Captain Stewart, but that wasn’t all. After the brig got under way he came to speak to me, partly opening the door, when some high words passed and I broke past him and swore I bah not be caged forany man. Well, the first thing I knew as [ was making for the shore to hail the brig was that he had set a brace of bloodhounds after me.” Elliot's face here turned pale and his voice trembled. ‘« After a terrible flight I was so fortunate as to find a skiff, which I threw myself into, leaving the bloody hounds on the bank. I then made the best of my way to the brig, re- solved I'd inform against him if I had to swing for it.” | Filiot pronounced the last words with a sort of impudent defiance. The three gentle- men looked at one another in silence, The recital of the buccaneer had produced upon them all a deep impression. ‘Their first feel- ings were of disgust and resentment against Elliot for introducing himsclf into a vessel- of-war, and also vexation at being unable to punish him for his confessed participation in piracy, then turned toward Theodore, the victim of the malice and falsehood of the re- vengeful pirate. Elliot, you must content yourself to re- main awhile in irons,” said Captain Stewart, ‘* You will be wanted as a witness and pos- sibly may not be found when needed.” ‘‘Gentlemen, you promised not to harm me!” he added with mingled fear and defiance. ‘‘Nor do we intend to! We detain you only as a witness, and for safer security iron you!” answered Captain Lennox, coolly. Lafitte’s Lieutenant. i ee ee ‘‘Well, Iam willing, if it must be so. But you areaware there is a reward of a hundred pounds for any one of Lafitte’s men, gentle- men. I think I ought to have it.” ‘You shall have it, if we succeed in tak- ing the person you have informed against,” said Captain Lennox, dryly. Elliot was then led, muttering and not perfectly satisfied with his own safety, into the gun-room, and there had irons put on him anda sentinel placed over him, His only consolation was that Theodore proba- bly would soon be his companion. The three officers, left alone in the cabin, now earnestly conversed together upon the information that had been obtained, ‘What is your opinion, General McDon- ald?” ‘That the young manought to be arrest- ed. I never have been so shocked at any- thing as at this. Sonoble, frank, ingenuous and withal modest in his bearing. It will be an outrage upon Count D’Oyley’s feelings to arrest a youth under his ciarge, but we have evidence of his intention to rob him— therefore it is due the count for his own se- grt from the ingratitude of his protege.” “The only drawback is Count D’Oy- ley’s feelings. But as you say, he must be protected. Do you know how to account for this youth’s sudden indisposition?”’ ‘“Yes,” answered Captain Lennox. ‘‘I recollect it, when you were speaking of La- fitte and the Government reward.” ‘‘Could this be fear?” asked General Mc- Donald, ‘‘No; perhaps surprise and sudden emo- tion. How near he came betraying him- self. It seems the count and countess knew the cause of his illness,” returned Captain Stewart. ‘‘They could not otherwise,” observed the general. ‘‘ They, however, can have no sus- picion that he is so corrupt as to go back to the vicious course from which they have re- deemed him.” ‘* Well, Lennox, what is to be done? This nest of pirates must be broken up ere they ha'ch out.” ‘*My plan is to egies the brig to anchor, and take the gig and first cutter, and pull back and arrest him. We will take men enough to overawe the slaves, in case they attempt to defend kim. Then, making this Elliet show us the rendezvous of Ricardo and his crew at the Havana, give them over to the Spanish authorities, letting him then go free, as we are bound to do. Their young leader had better be sent to England, for trial, in the Minerva. Taking Elliot’s testimony under oath, in Havana, we sha’n’t want him more.” ‘“‘That is a good plan, Lennox. Let us proceed to act upon it. I will go in the gi with you, and General McDonald, also, i he will honor us with his company, By sunrise, we should be back to the brig again.” This proposed arrangement was carried out. The brig was brought to her anchor, and the boats started off on a pull of over six miles to the villa. Every word of the fore ery? conversation had been overheard Miss eDonald in her state-room, and ex- ew to her the mystery about the andsome young stranger—but alas! at what an expense of weeping—at what trial of the heart! After they had left the brig, she knelt—she wept—she prayed! she wrung her hands! She believed—she disbelieved! She honored—she feared! In a word her bosom was in a chaos of the wildest and most pain- ful agitation. The only one she had ever loved, was perhaps to prove utterly unwor- thy. f No—no! He cannot be guilty! He is too noble,generous! Crime never stained that brow! He having been a protege of the ter- rible Lafitte, if he had been depraved, would the captor of Lafitte have adopted him into his family? This pirate—with his evil gleaming eye and hard deep voice, He has spoken falsely? His words sound untruth- ful! He has, perhaps, made the young man a proposition from pirates! He may have been sent to offer him a command! This may have been done. But because the noble youth refused that, this man has betrayed him. Falsehood can never so perfectly hide itself that the heart will not detect the impos- ture. I know he hath not spoken truth! And they have gone for him! He will be taken and brought on board a prisoner! He will be taken to England in chains. Who will stand up for him? who will plead for him? He will perish! No, I will assert his innocence. This Elliot shall be made to confess that he has borne him false witness! I will interest my father in him! I will save him—for I know that he is innocent!”’ Such is the power of true love, when once awakened in the heart of a generous and noble woman, CHAPTER XVI. THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE. UNABLE to repose after the events of the night, Theodore, instead of remaining in his room, threw up the Venetian window and walked out on the veranda. Here he walked for nearly two hours, and planning in his thoughts a bright career for the future. Hearing him up the count at length came out to persuade him to retire, as the hour was advancing toward morning, ‘‘T cannot sleep. My thoughts are too lively and restless, my dear count. Besides I have made up my mind no longer to be de- pendent on ‘you. To-morrow, | leave you and mean to enter the British service as a common seaman, if need be! I shall make my way up!” he added proudly ‘Listen! Is not that the fall of oars!” Both listened a moment and were satisfied that a boat was pulling up along the shore. The next moment an opening in the trees gave them aview of a barge full of men which the same instant pulled in to the land. ‘‘ This is singular,” said the count, ‘‘By no means,” said Theodore, turning very pale, but speaking with calmness. ‘“What is it? who are they?’ demanded the count with surprise. ‘The pirate Elliot escaped to tho gun- brig!’ answered Theodore significantly. “And he has betrayed you! Fly!’ cried the count, the whole truth flashing upon him. ‘‘No! I will meet them like aman! I am not guilty, wherefore then should [| fly?” he said in a tone of calm despair. ‘“Yet you must not be taken. stable; accompany me. Mount the first horse and you are safe. See, they are al- ready approaching the house. Lose not a moment. They will make no distinction be- tween you and the vilest criminal,” ‘‘Theodorei Oh, Theodore! If you re- gard me—if you would not render miserable the life you once saved, fly,” cried the countess, who had overheard enough to learn his danger. The men also were in sight, preceded by Captain Lennox and the other two gentlemen. ‘‘ You will besafein town.” ‘For your sake, countess,” he answered. The count took him and hurried with him through the hall. They had already been seen on the veranda by the approaching party. ‘* He is escaping,” said General McDonald. ‘‘] will take a detachment and cross the Jawn to the river-road, if he should fly that way. Captain Stewart, you will pass round the house, while Captain Lennox enters it in the front,” This disposition of their force was instant- ly effected. The countess met Captain Len- nox in the veranda. With assumed calm- ness she asked his purpose. “Ts arrest a young man, madam, that I saw on this gallery a moment since,”’ he answered bluntly. “Por what crime?” “Piracy! He is the head of a gang of buceaneers.” ‘‘Tt is false! He is innocent.” ‘‘That remains to be proved! Pardon me! But I must enter!” ‘‘Poor Theodore! He is the victim of that pirate’s vengeance!” The search of Captain Lennox was un- successful. Captain Stewart saw at a dis- tance, a man mount a horse in thestable-yard, and spur like the wind. He gave the alarm, A gate was at the end of the stable lane, which Theodore’s horse cleared at .a flying leap. He had not recovered his seat inthe saddle, when Gencral McDonald seized the horse by the head with a strong grasp. ‘You are my prisoner!” Theodore raised his arm, in which he held a cutlass the count had thrust into his hand, to cut him down, when secing that it was Gomicbooks To the, (Eo)