Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

a SS ea Fe -<* The Sea Desperado. 23 “Don’t get excited, Senor Vandura, be- cause you did not shiver his blade or pierce his heart at the outset,” cried Captain Riaz, almost wild with delight. For some time Duval acted almost wholly upon the defensive, seemingly content with simply parrying the vicious thrusts of his ad- versary, which only irritated him the more and got Vandura into a frenzy of rage. ‘‘You are too wild, Vandura,” yelled the captain, as the Spaniard pushed his foe with lightning-like movements of his sword. ‘* Por Dios! 1 will have your life, dog,” cried Vandura, savagely. But, as he spoke, Duval suddenly changed from the defensive to the offensive, and be- gan to force the fighting. This was a fearful blow for the Spaniard, who believed that his adversary could only defend himself, and that in the end he could tire him out. But now he was forced to act himself on the defensive, and the skill of the English- man was such that he drove him across the cabin, and still holding him well, asked: ‘‘ Will the Senor Vandura yield his rank to me?” « Never, dog of an Englishman!” “Then I shall make the berth vacant and step into your shoes,” was the quiet reply of Duval, and striking up the weapon of the Spaniard he thrust his own blade deep into his heart. A wild curse broke from the Spaniard’s lips, as he dropped dead upon the cabin floor, while Captain Riaz cried in a ringing voice: ‘‘Bravo, Duval, you have won the berth, and are next to me in command of this vessel,” CHAPTER XLI. OUT OF THE SEA DEPTHS. Wuen Duval had discerned the nature of the vessel that had appeared so suddenly al- most upon him, he had naturally supposed that his welcome on board would not be a very cordial one. But York, as well as Riaz, had both ad- mired the Englishman greatly, and would have been glad to have him join them in their separate cruise, only they knew his nature too well to make the proposition to him. Once on board, and asserting that he had left Captain Morte, Captain Riaz was de- lighted at the chance of having him with him, and more so at the opportunity of see- ing him assert his right to Vandura’s place by defeating that officer in a duel. “This is glorious! you are the best man with a blade that I ever saw, Senor Duvyal,”’ cried Captain Riaz. ' Then, as if feeling that something else de- volved upon him, he continued: ‘‘Senor York, serve out a double allow- ance of grog all around to the crew, in honor of this splendid work, and you then return and get a glass or two with me, when you can hold the deck while 1 have a social chat with my new officer. ‘* Lads, throw the body of Vandura over- board, but, mind you, first search him for any loose change or valuables he may have about him.” The search was promptly made, and then the body was tossed into the sea, while York, having had several bumpers in the cabin, and served out a liberal allowance of grog all around, took charge of the ship, leaving Duval below with the captain. ‘Well, Duval, with you as my first luff, I have nothing to fear even up here in Ameri- can waters, and we can rob ourselves rich in a year and rctire to a sugar estate in Cuba and become planters, for I do not think this craft will last us longer than that time,” said Captain Riaz, by way of opening the con- versation between himself and his new offi- cer. ‘TI think the Winged Witch is—” ‘‘ Pardon me, Senor Duval, she is no longer the Winged Witch, but the Flying Wizard, for so I have named her.” “The vessel certainly looks well, Senor Captain, and I observed tha: you had a large battery as I came on board.”’ ‘* You did, eh?” ‘* Yes, senor.” ‘‘Well, when I ran off with the craft, I generously left you the guns.” “You certainly did, sir.” glass,” This Duval did without urging, for the wine was excellent, and then Captain Riaz went on: “You see I had long wanted to be the commander of a good vessel; but happening to learn that there was a schooner going out of Buston at a certain date, with a cargo of arms for a Spanish coasting cruiser that was being built in the Carolinas, I determined, as Captain Morte had the brig, to steal this vessel. ‘“‘T set my men to working among the crew to sound them, and soon had all I wanted on my side. ‘‘Running off with the craft, my next duty was to lay in wait for the schooner with arms and catch her. ‘‘This I did, and from her cargo I got my guns, a full armament in small weapons, and all I needed to put my craft in perfect trim. ‘‘T ran for a secluded spot on the coast and thoroughly overhauled and fitted up the craft, named her the Flying Wizard, and have had nothing but good fortune since I started out; a good fortune which was added to to-night by securing you as my friend and adviser, ‘But your glass is empty.” Duval refilled it, and, while he sat musing, Captain Riaz, whose tongue was now run- ning wild, said: ‘‘ By the way, senor, what caused Captain Morte to execute that poor fellow as he did?” ‘Who do you mean, senor?” “The one he made walk the plank.” “It has been such a habit of Captain Morte’s to make unfortunate men walk the plank, that I fail to know which one in par- **Did he capture a student while you were with him on the brig?” ‘‘ He did, or rather he picked him up at sea.” ‘“‘ That is the fellow.” ‘And how did you know that he made him walk the plank?” asked Duval, with surprise. ‘** From his own lips.” Duval was on his feet in an instant, and asked in a husky voice: ‘‘ What is that you say, senor?” ‘That I heard from the young man him- self how Captain Morte treated him.” ‘‘ That is impossible, senor, for 1 saw that poor fellow walk boldly into the sea.” ‘So he did.” “Tll tell you a secret; but fill up your | ed us from the sea as coolly as though he ticular you mean,” stood upon the quarter-deck of a frigate, and we picked him up,” ‘‘ This is remarkable, and I rejoice to hear it,” said Duval, who knew the whole story of Captain Morte’s persecution of the poor student, and how he had played a part to have Frank Shields hanged as the murderer of Louis Vale, and thereby get them both out of the way, and have no formidable rival between him and He'en Hayward. en this Mr. Shields is now on this ves- sel?” ‘He is, and, as he says he is a pretty fair sailor, I have been anxious to keep him on board, and think of putting him in York’s place, now that York has stepped up to sec- ond luff.” ‘‘TIt would be a good idea, sir, I think, if he would accept it.”’ ‘“‘He must accept, or overboard he goes into the sea from which I took him,” was the remark of Captain Riaz, who then added: ‘‘T am full master here, to do as I please with life and limb, and I want no man on board, unless he will serve me, or is a pris- oner who will bring good ransom. ‘‘T shall give the fellow a chance, and if he is too honest to turn pirate, then his days are numbered. ‘* Now take the deck, senor, while I turn in,” and Captain Riaz poured out another goblet of wine, dashed it off and rose to seek his state-room, but he was top heavy, reeled and fell, and as he began to snore as though comfortable, Duval left him lying where he had fallen and walked on deck, his Lrain full of conflicting emotions after all he had passed through. CHAPTER XLII. A CHANGE OF MASTERS. CAPTAIN Riaz was a human brute, if I can use such a parodox, and his men knew it. When under the stern eye of Captain Morte he had been a good officer, but once with the reins in his own hands he knew no restraint and let his passions govern him. Whatever the crimes and cruelties to others he committed, Captain Morte was ever kind to his own crew, though severe, for he knew how to manage them; but Riaz, 'the rebel pirate, was a man of a different kind, and determined to govern by brute force. Already had he shot down two of his men upon his own deck for some trivial ‘‘And he was ironed about the wrists, and | offense, and, severe as Vandura had been, carried in his arms, attached to his manacles | the crew infinitely preferred him to their ”” him. ‘So he said.” “Said?” “=e Ohhe “And you maintain that he is alive?” ‘* Of course he is.” ‘* Where is he?” ‘*On this craft, but under the care of the surgeon, for he has been quite ill.” ‘‘How in the name of Heaven did he es- cape?” ‘*] will tell you, senor.” , “And I shall be delighted to listen, cap- ain.” ‘““The young senor is a handsome fellow.” ** He certainly is.” ‘* Brave as a lion.” ‘*T saw that when he died so bravely.” ‘* He did not die.” ‘‘Well, when I thought that he did, senor captain.” ‘*Ah! that is better. ‘‘ Well, he went over into the sea; but he is a very elegant form, senor.” ‘‘ What has that to do with his not dying after walking the plank!” ** Much.” ‘“‘T cannot see how?” ’ “Did you ever observe his hands and feet?” ‘*T never did.” ‘‘Well, they are remarkably small and shapely.” “Yes, senor.” ‘‘And when he sunk beneath the waves, he je t slipped his small hands through the iron wristlets and was free,”’ ‘‘ Free and leagues at sea?” ‘‘ Oh, yes, for he was a boldswimmer, kept afloat for a couple of hours, sighted us, hail- / . by a chain, a thirty-two solid shot to sink | captain. nder the influence of liquor Riaz would say and do things that he would forget when sober, and so it was with him the day follow- ing the picking up at sea of “Duval. | ie awoke from his drunken sleep on the floor in an angry mood, | His head was aching, his temper soured, and his first thought was of Frank Shields, who had been ill after his coming on board, having broken down under his long struggle in the water, and all that he had passed through. ‘*Ts not that student able to come on deck and go to his duties as an officer, or is he studying for the priesthood and hopes to hae Father Confessor to my crew?” he Cal out, when he came on deck, When told that Frank Shields had already been on deck, he yelled out: ‘*Send him to me!” The under-officer hastened to obey, when seeing York as officer of the deck, he shout- ed: ‘“Where is that new man Duval, that | came on board and drank me drunk last night? ¥ He should be attending to his duties.” ‘‘He has been on deck all night, senor, and left to get some rest only half an hour ago,” said York. | ‘*Oh, he has, has he? ‘« Ah, there is the priestly student. ‘‘Come aft, sir!’ Frank Shields, looking pale, thin, and hag- gard, walked aft, and bowed to the pirate captain. “Do you intend to remain sick all the time, sir?” yelled Riaz. ‘‘T do not, sir, but I have been quite ill,” Pious the calm reply. (ECO AMIE IJOOKS (El)