Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

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The other was Frank Shields, and he was still in irons, while his face was flushed with excitement as he turned it upon the officer who had entered the cell. CHAPTER XX. THE MIDNIGHT RESCUE. ‘‘You do not remember me, I see, Mr. Shields?” said the officer, as he caught the eye of the student fixed upen him. ‘‘1 do, sir; for I never forget a face, no matter how much changed. ‘“ You were once the jailer here,’’ answered Frank. ‘‘T was; but, ’sh! don’t speak aloud, for it may spoil all, and | have come here to save you.” _ “§$o0 your companion told me.” ‘* And why are you not free of your irons, for I expected Ned here to have you all ready by the time I came?” ‘* First, sir, 1 wish to know why you serve me?” ‘‘For the sake of the one who sent me here.” ‘* And that one?” ‘‘T think you should know, sir, who holds your good most at heart,’’ was the significant response of William Walter. ‘‘Ah! I now know, but your companion could give me no clew,” said Frank, quickly. ‘*In serving you, sir, 1 am serving your friend, and I beg you to at once let me free ou, for all is open to us now, as I have the eys to unlock your manacles and the doors of the jail, while here isa disguise that you can throw over you,” and the officer took from beneath his cloak a naval cap and a false beard, with a small short cloak such as was then worn by the officers of the navy. ‘*T have been sentenced to death, sir, and, though | am innocent, I hold no hope in life, and may as well remain here to meet my cruel fate,” said Frank Shields, sadly. ‘Mr. Shields, myself and friend here have run a fearful risk in coming here to rescue you, and the one for whom we act has spared no money to set you free, and 1 cannot be- lieve that you will remain here to die on the gallows, when you can, by being out of this place, perhaps prove that you are indeed in- nocent of the crime you are charged with, ‘‘See, here is a letter to you from your friend, and by reading it you may be the bet- - ter convinced that no silly sentiment or hope- less despair should allow you to remain here to be hanged like a dog when life lies before ou.” a You argue well, sir,” and Frank grasped the letter and broke the seal. His face flushed as a roll of bank-notes were displayed to his gaze, while his eyes became dim as he read: ‘““My Dear FrRANK:—Believing you, when you said that you are innocent, I now do allin my power to save you, where, if 1 thought you guilty, I would allow the taw to take its course without a regret. * This will be handed to you by one whom I believe will be able to rescue you, and you may trust him to find for you a place of safety until you can seek a home elsewhere. ‘Knowing your purse is not a long one, I send within a few hundred dollars, to give you a start in life, and, as you requested, I have taken charge of AS rd effects at feng! quarters in the University, and oft subject to your demand, ‘When you are able to prove yourself innocent it will be a happy day for me, the Se" happiness I ever ect to know again in this world. 7 bless you, Frank. and, no matter what may happen to me through life, never doubt the love of ‘*HELEN Haywarp.” Frank’s hand trembled as he folded the letter and thrust it with the bills into his - pocket. The Sea Desperado. Holding out his hands toward his rescuer, he said, calmly: ‘Unlock my manacles, sir, for | am ready to go with you.”’ “Well said, sir, and lam glad to carry you out of this dismal hole. ‘‘T saw your friend several days ago and made known the plot I had formed to bring my comrade here in as a prisoner, and we took a smack on the coast above and ar- rived just at dark, and thus far affairs work well. ‘* Now, sir, you are free of yourirons, and the next thing will be to leave this jail behind us,” ‘‘ And from here?” “We will take a smack which I have ready, sir, to sail at any moment, and run along the coast to New York, when you can go your way, and I will return with my friend here to my home in Bostun.” **T am ready, sir,”’ said Frank Shields, and the three left the cell together. Noiselessly they passed along the corridor, crossed the hall and out of the jail into the rard, and thence through the massive gate into the street, the pretended naval officer having a key for each lock. ‘You managed to get the jailer’s keys, I see; but you will not take them with you?” said Frank. ‘‘ No, they are mine, for I had the keys duplicated when I was jailer here, and I no- tice the locks have not been changed,” was the answer. Through the deserted streets they wended their way down to the harbor shore, and there lay a trim little craft riding at anchor only a few fathoms away. A hail from Walter brought a man ashore in a bout, the sail was raised, and away sped the little craft seaward with the young stu- dent who had been so boldly rescued from beneath the very shadow of the gallows, CHAPTER XXI. THE REBEL PIRATE. I wILt now return to the disguised vessel of Captain Morte, and her prize, the brig, after the departure of the pirate chief to the town. The buccaneer lieutenant, Duval, headed the two vessels for the rendezvous upon the coast, where Captain Morte had told him he would join him. On the way thither he managed to over- haul and board a prize or two, but found them of little value, and arrived with the two. vessels in safety to the inlet.. Arrangements were at once begun for the transfer of the armament on board the lateen-rigged vessel to the brig, and by night the tt was accomplished, and the new vessel, to be transformed into a pirate cruiser, presented a most warlike appearance. Worn out with his day’s work, Duval left the deck in charge of Riaz, the Spanish lieu- tenant, and ohly awoke when the sun was streaming into the cabin the following morn- ing through the stern-ports. ot a sound reached his ears from the deck, and dressing hastily he was about to leave the cabin to see what the deathlike si- lence meant, when his eyes fell upon a note addressed to him and lying upon the table, Quickly he seized the note, and in dumb amazement read the following: ‘“*On BoarpD PrraTE Eria. t ** MIDNIGHT, “LIEUTENANT DuVAL, COMMANDING :— ‘“* Senor:—I have just successfully carried out a ee that has long been in my mind, and which a ortunate circumstance has enabled me to do. ‘**My plan was to seize the lugger and become her commander, for Iam not one to serve as an inferior on a deck where I should be chief, ‘Your captain has been kind to me, and so have ou; hence | do not take your brig, all armed asshe s, but the lugger, all unarmed as she is, intending soon to place guns upon her deck, and add to her crew, when I will flaunt my own flag to the breeze. “Three-fourths of your crew were secretly won over to me; but those whom I dared not trust you will find in irons in the hold. “As for yourself. knowing that you would resist against all odds, I drugged your wine last night, and feel tuat when you get over its effects I will be far at sea with my prize. ‘ ‘Captain Morte intended giving up the lugger, so he will not lose much, and I trust that he will not begrudge her to me. ‘““There is room enough upon the seas for all sea rovers that dare to fly their flags, and I hope, if Captain Morte should cross my pom that he will not be antagonistic toward me, for I shall defend myself and my crew which I have obtained to-night, ‘Wishing you all, in are new cruiser, every suc- cess, and a peaceful end, I am, senor, ‘Your brother rover, Riaz,” VX = — — Neen LLL LLL LL LLL LLL ett i Hastening upon deck, as soon as he had read this remarkable epistle, Duval saw not a seaman in sight, but descending into the steerage found them there in irons. There were something over a score of them, Americans, English and negroes who had not been trusted by the rebel pirate, and they were hastily freed by the officer, and ordered on deck, when the letter of Riaz, the rebel, was read to them. Thus crippled by the loss of three-fourths of his crew, the pirate lieutenant felt it his duty to be most wary, and a watch was set on a high cliff ashore to report any incoming vessel. Anxious to regain his prestige with his commander, though he felt that it had not been his fault that Riaz had run off with the lugger, for he had not looked for a foe among the crew, he took asmall boat and rowed to the fishing-hamlet which he knew to be further up the river, and which rumor had it was the haunt of smugglers. He found a bold, hardy set of men, who eyed him sharply upon his approach, and upon asking to see their leader a man ad- vanced who quietly asked how he could serve the stranger. ‘‘T am from the vessel anchored in what is Ht ge as Smuggler’s Inlet,” answered Du- val. ‘| know that, sir,” was the reply. ‘‘T need men to serve on my vessel, and have come here to seek them.” ‘You had a large crew on board when you came to anchor night before last,” said the fisherman, to the surprise of Duval, who had not believed his presence on the coast known. “True, and I had two vessels,” he an- swered. ‘* And now, sir?” ‘*T have but one, the brig.” ‘May I ask what has become of the other?” ‘*A lieutenant mutinied with three-fourths of the crew, drugged me, put my faithful men in irons, and then ran off with the lug- er.” ‘‘Ah! this has left you in a bad plight in- deed,” said the leader of the fishermen, who seemed to be a man above those about him in intellect. ‘‘Somewhat; but I have a fleet vessel, and a few gallant seamen to man her.” ‘* Your vessel is a cruiser?” lp Se “Under what flag?” ‘‘A flag that will enrich those who serve under it, though they gain their riches by hard knocks,” was the bold reply. The fisherman looked Duval squarely in the eyes for an instant, and then said bluntly: ‘‘] like your candor, sir, and you have been honest with me, for I have spies on the wooded point of land above you, who have reported all that has transpired on board your vessel, ‘Knowing how weak you were in men, I had formed the idea of seizing your vessel to-night with my lads, and turning her intoa free rover, for smuggling here is about end- ed, so closely are we watched. ‘*As you have come boldly to us, and I like your looks, I will frankly tell you that I will ship with three-score gallant fellows of my band, and only ask fair play and aman who is no coward to command us.” rE ye Duval was charmed at this speech of the 4 smuggler, and answered quickly: : ‘““Tassure youl am delighted to hear you ree thus, and I will not only promise you all fair play, but you, sir, will be next to my- selfin rank, I being the senior lieutenant, in command now while my captain is absent,” ‘Ah! you are not then the chief?” ‘‘T am not, sir, for my commander is Cap- tain Morte.” ‘Indeed! I have heard of him as a suc- cessful rover; but I thank you for the cffer you make me and will come on board with my men to-night.” Duval held a still longer conversation with the smuggler, and having informed him that the brig was a remarkably swift vessel, as stanch as a line-of-battle ship, and only need- ed larger spars and more canvas to make her speed phenomenal, the newly-appointed | pirate officer told him that among their stores were spars and sails enough to rig a frigate, ‘and that he would bring with him a liberal | supply when he boarded the vessel that night. GOmiie gs) JOO * - | Fal (E(@)] | = . 4 7 4 ; | i \ | | ee ee -— : * et ee I nn SS eS ee