Beadle's Dime Library No. 316 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a ——— — gurgling with hoarse but lively music around her rudder, AMl that night, a night of intense anxiety to the count, a bright watch was kept on every quarter; yet the moruing broke without dis- covering the object of their pursuit, The bori- zon was unbroken even by a cloud; a calm had fallen upon the sea, and not a wave curled to the zepbyrs, which from time to time, scarcely dimpling it, danced over its polished surface, For several days, within sight of the island, the frigate lay beealmed. At length the count, unable to contend with the fever of bis burning thoughts, became delirious. Day and night he rived, and called on the name of Constanza. During this period the frigate cruised along the coast, the officer in command not choosing fo take any step until he knew the mind of his superior. On the twelfth day after the disappearance of Constanza, he was so far recovered as to ascend to the deck. His brow was pale, and bis eye brilliant with an unwonted expression. “Twelve days, Montville—so long? There is no hope—but revenge is left!” and his eves flashed as his voice swelled with emotion. ‘‘ Put about for Barrataria!” he added quickly, rising and walking the deck with much agitation. *‘My only passion, my only purpose now shall be to meet that man—the bane of all my happi- ness, Destiny bid him cross my path, and destiny shall bid him die by my hand!” On the third morning, they arrived at the island of Barrataria, prepared to destroy that stronghold of the pirates; but instead of a for- midable fleet—a strong fortress and an exten- sive camp—they found desolation. The day before their arrival, the buccaneers had been dispersed, their vessels captured, and their fort dismantled. Here and there wandered a strag- rler, ragged and wounded; no boats. were viéi- tle, and the smoke of two or three burning ves- sels, with the ruined camp of the pirates, told low recently and completely the revenge of the count had been anticipated. From a wounded pirate, whom thoy took risoner, he learned that Lafitte had recently Aven at Barratearia, and had now gone to New Orleans to join the American forces in the defense of that city. The count determined to follow him. Piloted by one of his men acquainted with the inlets and bayous, communicating with the Mississippi, he gave orders to bis first lieuten- ant to await his return, and proceeded at once on his way to the city. On bis approach the next morning, the thunder of artillery filled bis ears; and burning with revenge, as the sound of firing grew louder and nearer, he urged his oarsmen to their strength. E itering the Mississippi about two leagues belov the city, on the morning of the eighth «f January, by a different route from that taken on a former occasion by Lofitte, he crossed to the opposite shore, from which caine the roar of cannon, the crash of musketry aud shouts of combatants, while a dense cloud of smoke.enveloped the plain to the extent of half a wile along the river. ‘‘On yonder field, face to face, and steel to steel, I will meet him I seek, or—death!” he exlaimed. Learning from a fisherman the disposition of ibe two armies, and the point defended by the outlaw, te crossed the river, and after pulling up against the current for a third of a mile, he janded amidst a shower of balls and joined in Lue battle, After be had, as he thought, achieved his re- vo2uee, in the fall of Lafitte. whose personal ec mbat with him has already been referred to, tbe eount, himself severely wounded, returned to bis boat. In a few minutes he grew faint from the loss of blood, and was landed by his crew at a negro’s hut on the banks of the river, Llere he remained several days, confined to a wretched couch, until bis wound enabled him to proceed on his way to his ship. As he was about to order bis boatmen to pre- yore for their departure, he beard the name of Lafitte mention’ by the hospitable slave who was bis bost, in conversation with some one out- tile of the hut. _ ** What of him?” exclaimed the count. *‘Dere him schooner, massa—gwine down de riliber!” “What, that light-rigged vessel?’ he said, pointing to a small, but beautifully-armed schooner. ‘* No—no—he is slain.” ‘*He was wounded in the battle of the eight, with two of his lieutenants, Sebastiano and a Dutchman—Getzendanver, | believe they call him,” said a fisherman, coming forward; ‘ but he is now well, and has purchased that vessel, formerly bis own and is going—they say, since he has received bis pardon—to spend Lis days in the West Indies, or in France.’ ‘“‘Ha—say you, monsienr? Was it not him then [T met on the fleld? Yet it must. have heen,” he added mentally, “Know you cer- tulaly that he sails away in that schooner?’ he engerly inquired of the man, turning as he ‘puke, to Jook at the vessel whicb with swift nnd graceful motion, with all her canvas spread, moved down the river, rapidly disap- pcariag ia the distance, ———— ec OUT eee ee eee — A CL LLL LL LL A LLL LL LLL LLL LAD. LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL ALLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL OC Lafitte’s Lieutenant. a - —s ———— ————— TT eee ee we Ce, ‘‘T saw him myself standing upon the deck as she passed,” replied the fisherman, decidedly, ‘‘Then he shall not escape me!” cried the count; and calling to his crew, he bastened to his boat, and ina few minutes was on the way to his frigate, resolved, if possible, to intercept the schooner at the Balize. The following day he reached his ship, and with his heart steeled to the consummation of his revenge, immediately got under way for the mouth of the Mississippi. CHAPTER VII. A SURPRISE, WE will leave the count in pursuit of Lafitte, now no longer “‘ the outlaw.” He had recover- ed his favorite vessel, ‘‘The Gertrude,” which had been captured with the rest of the fleet by the expedition sent against his retreat by the Americans, and with a_ select crew, drawn from his former adherents, set sail for bis ren- dezvous in the Guif of Gonzaves, a few days after we left him in the convent, for the pur- pose of carrying into effect the resolutions he had there made. To tbe fate of Constanza— whom he left at this rendezvous, with tbe faith- ful Juana, on ber way to the boats of her lover’s frigate—we will now draw the attention of our readers, When tbe desolate and unhappy girl found the frigate’s boats had left the rock, ber heart sunk witbin her; and when the ship, shortly after, stood seaward, under full sail, she at once surrendered herself to hopeless wretched- ness, Three weeks she remained in the grotto, | with a kind slave, her only companion, from whom she received every attention that circum- stances permitted. Her mind was daily tortured with fears of the approach of some of the pirate’s squadron, or of Lafitte himself, whom, if again thrown into his power, she feared above all, <As yet sbe was ignorant of the scenes he bad passed through—tbe great charge in his destiny—the horrible career he had commenced, and bis par- don by the executor of the laws he had'so long violated. If she bad known all this, and known too, that love for berself, united with a noble patriotism, influenced him to take these steps, how different would have been her feelings! With what other emotions than of fear, would she have anticipated bis approach! The moon had shove trembling in the west, like the fragment of a broken ring—had dis- played a broad and shining shield—and had nearly faded again into the pale eastern skies, and yet Constanza remained an inmate of the grotto, Late in the afternoon, three days after we took leave of the count, on his way to intercept the Gertrude at the Balize, Constanza nced the cliff, above the terrace, to survey, as sbe had done each long day of her imprisonmert, the horizon spread out before her to the south and west, hoping to discover the sails of the frigate, whieh contained all that bound her to existence. As night gathered over the sea, she descended the cliff, and walked toward the point where stood the hut of the deceased Obeah, The waves broke at her feet as she walked along the sandy sbore. The stars heralded by the even- ing planet, one by one began to appear, sprink- ling a faint light upon ber brow, and the night wind played wantonly with her bair; but un- mindful of every surrounding ol ject she walked thoughtfully forward, unheeding ber footsteps, and unconsciously rambled to the extreme point of the cape. Here seating herself upon a rock, she leaned her head upon her hand, and gazed long upon the sea, while thoughts of her lover and her desolate and unprotected situation, filled her mind, At length sbe insensibly fell asleep, About midnight, a hand laid upon her fore- head, awoke her. A tall figure stood by her side. With a scream of terror she sprung to her feet, and would have fled; but he detained her by her robes. “Stay, Constanza, senora! stay! Tell me why you are here?” ‘It is Lafitte—the outlaw!” she exclaimed, breathless with alarm, “Tt is, lady, Lafitte; but no longer the out- law!” 4} ‘‘ Wretched, miserable, indeed!” she cried with nervous emotion, ‘* Lady,” he replied, moved by her distress. “Lady, there shall no danger approach you while [can protect you. How you came once more in my power, is a mystery to me, I thought you bappy as the bride of—” 7 o-—oh, no! He returned here atiter we gained his frigate, and your slave stole on board into the port, and seizing me, prevented me from giving the alarm, and brought me on shore to the but of an old negress. The frigate, on my being missed, stood out to sea, probably after a schooner, which they thought was yours, and on board of which they no doubt thought I was, or they would have searched the sbore and cavern. Three weeks I bave been here with none but Juana, Even your presence, senor, is a relief to me!” The chief listened with surprise to this rapid account of ber capture. 9 ‘‘ Ha!” he exclaimed, the conduct of the count on the field of battle, flashing upon his mind. ‘‘Tseeit all. ‘Revenge,’ was his war-cry! He must have suspected my agency in this. and reg. me to avenge his wrongs. Thank God! am herein guiltless. But my slave! Know you whose tool he was, or his purpose, senora?” he quickly inquired. ‘*{ do, senor,” she replied; and then related to hin the deception practiced upon Cudjoe—of which Juana had informed her—and bis instant revenge. “TI knew that Martinez to be a second He- berto Velasquez in villainy,” be said. ‘1 con- gratulate you, lady! Heaven surely watches over you for your good! My slave’s vengeance was like himself. Strange, when he arrived in the Avenger at Barrataria a day or two after- ward, he told me not of all this, But perhaps he feared for his head.” At this moment a voice startled the maiden, and timid as the hunted fawn from the excite- ment she had gone through she prepared to ] —— a Fe oe ~——«--—— fly. ‘Stay, lady, it is onlv my boatmen on the other side of this rock. Passing up the channel to the grotto in the schooner,” continued La- fitte, ““I saw your white robes, even in this faint starlight, as you were sleeping on the rocks. I immedietely let down my boat, and ordering the scboorer to keep on into the basin, ] Janded to ascertain who it wes, not dreaming —although my heart should bave told me”—he added tenderly, ‘‘ that it was yourself, ‘* Now, senora,” he said, addressing ber earn- estly, *‘ will you so far put confidence in me, as voluntarily to place yourself under my or’ tection? I need not assure you that it shall be a most honorable one. This very hour I will sixil with you to your friends—nay, to the Count D’Oyley himself! If you desire it, I will seek him in every port in the Mexican seas. Confide in me, lady, and allow me to show you the strength of my love for you, while I mani- fest its disinterestedness,” In less than half an hour, Constanza and Juana—wbom she ha: left in the cave during her absence—were once more ocecupants of the gorgeously-fornished state-room of the Ger- trude. Before morning, Lafitte having com- pleted the business for which be visited his rendezvous, his swift-winged vessel was many leagues from the grotto, almost flying over the woves before a brisk wind, in the direction of Havana, where he expected to hear of, or fall in witb, the count’s frigate. From the moment bis lovely passenger had entered the cabin, he bad not seen or spoken with her. Her young protector, Theodore, again became her page, and Juana her faithful attendant. From Theodore she learned, with surprise and pleasure, the scenes through which his benefac- tor had passed since se last met him. With inte bese gratitude she listened to the strange istory of the last few weeks he had at Barrataria and in the besieged city, of his ex- ploits upon the battle-field, his pardon by the executive, and his resolution to devote his life for the good of his fellow-men, by retiring to the monastery of heroic and benevolent monks, on the summit of Mont St. Bernard. ** May the Virgin and her Son bless and pros- per him in his purposes!” she said, raising her eyes with devotional gratitude to Heaven, while all the woman beamed in them, as she re- flected how far she had contributed to this change. She sighed, that she could not requite love so noble and pure.as his, With perfect confidence in the sincerity of her captor, she now became more com , and a ray of joy illumined her heart, when she looked forward to the meeting with her lover, “And where will you go, my Theodore, when your friend becomes a recluse?” : ‘‘ Lady, I shall never leave him! Where he goes, | go! He is my only friend on eart?. There is none besides to care for the buccaneer boy,” be added, with a melancholy air. ‘‘ Nay—nay—Theodore. The Count D’Oyley and myself—esteem, and feel a deep interest in you. Will you not be my brother, Theodore? Our hame shall be yours, we will supply your present benefactor. The gloom and solitude of a monastery’s walls will not suit your young spirit. . ‘‘Lady—urge me not—I will never leave him!” he said firmly, while his heart over- flowed with thankfulness for the kind and siesiapaln interest she manifested in his wel- are, At that moment an aged man, bent with the weight of years, with a majestic face, although deeply lined with the furrows of time, came to the state-room door, aud in a feeble voice, called to the youth. ‘‘ Who is that old man, Theodore?” she in- quired with interest, while ber eyes filled with tears as she thought of her own venerable fa- ther. ‘Tt is old Lafon. senora. He was taken pris- oner a few weeks since by one of cur cruisers and having been at timesinsane, was compelled hy the officer—Martinez, I think—who captured him, to perferm such menial duties as were suitable to bis age.” S JOO Comic (E(o)