Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

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The Sea Desperado. this coast now is alive with cruisers of all nations hunting frem the seas this vessel and | the brig commanded by Captain Morte. ‘‘Escape for you will be impossible, ex- cept in one way, and that way I will show you if you will follow my lead. “What say you, lads?” Duval had spoken in Spanish, the tongue ‘* And now?” ‘“‘] am well again, though not very strong.” ‘‘You must be strong enough to go to your duties.” | “My duties?” asked Frank Shields, in surprise. sé Yes.” ‘What is there for me to do, sir?” ‘You told me you was a sailor?” ‘*Yes, my boyhood home was on the sea, and I became un amateur sailor.”’ “Then you shall be my third lieutenant.” ‘*Pardon me, sir, but while | am thankful | with, and when he ceased speaking, a ring- ing cheer broke forth, while York shouted: ‘*Captain Duval, 1 follow your lead to the death.” Duval’s face flushed with triumph, and honor myself by serving under the flag that flaunts at your peak.” crew by going into the cabin. ‘Ta! what is the matter with the flag, sir, Soon after he returned to the deck and in- vited the officers of all grades, down to a coxswain, to come into the cabin and hold a consultation with him. in the devil's name?” ‘* Tt is a pirate’s flag.” ‘““And I am a pirate, yes, a pirate cap- tain, monarch of all I survey, and the one who can let you live or die as suits my hu- | mor.” ‘‘T am in your power, I know; but I would rather die than become a pirate,” was the bold response. ‘Then die you shall. ‘‘Ho, York, rig a rope to the main-yard to | string up this fellow with.” | All on board had seen the humor of their chief and knew that a storm was brewing, and they regretted that it was to fall upon the poor student, at least all those who had compassion in their hearts. | | | was that the Flying Wizard was crowded with sail and headed landward as though bound upon a special mission. CHAPTER XLIII. A PAIR OF PLOTTERS. Some weeks after the daring assumption —— i — headed down the coast. an But they dared not say a word against it, | to indicate that she was not an ordinary knowing that the lightning of their captain’s | coaster, though her sailing along like an wrath would strike them as well. arruw might have attracted a sailor’s eye to York hesitated, glanced at the student, and her as a remarkably fleet craft for one of her build and rig. Once his eye had been drawn to her he would observe that she was sharp as an ar- ** Did pS hear, sir?” yelled Riaz. York ad: ured not disobey, and he gave the ————s © — The result of that talk in the pirate’s cabin | that most of the crew were more familiar | give her greater speed, and increased his crew to one hundred men, all being done just for you, and he will set sail just as soon as his surgeon says he is able to go on board his ship, which will be in about two weeks.” ‘*Ah! I must avoid him, then, until I add to my crew and mount two heavy pivot-guns I have in view. ‘“‘As for the brig’s going, she is fleet enough to show a clean pair of heels to any- thing; but when I am ready for the English- asking Frank Shields to act as an officer for | the present, he showed his confidence in his | flag. -—— a of command over the Flying Wizard and her | crew, by Duval, a small sloop stood out of | ' the port, which has been the scene of many | incidents in this story, and gaining an offing, | man, he will find me; but you must get me about thirty good men.” ‘‘T'll try it, but the cruisers are as thick as thieves in these parts now, and the lads will be backward in shipping under the black 7) ‘‘T must have them, so offer them what bounty you please. ‘Now what about that rebel Riaz, who ran off with my old vessel?” ‘Oh, he’s heard from now and then, rob- bing everything he comes up with, from a fishing-smack to a packet.” ‘* Just like him; but I'll end his career when I can lay my eyes upon him; but what about anything rich in the way of a mer- chantman about to sail or coming in?” ‘** Here is a list | got up for you of vessels worthy of your trouble to catch them,” and Captain Tom handed the pirate chief a slip of paper. ‘You are a treasure, Tom, and will not be forgotten in the division of booty. There was nothing about the little vessel | order for the rope to be rigged for hanging row forward, had a good beam, and carried | | a very tall mast and long spars for a sloop of her tonnage. the student. It was soon done, and the seamen ap- pointed to do the work were advancing to- ward Frank Shields, who stood in silence, perfectly calm, ready to meet his doom, as though Fate had wholly turned against him, when suddenly Duval stepped forward and said, in his quiet, but clear tones: ‘‘ Hold, lads, what does this mean?” ‘*Tt means, sir, that I have given orders to string that man up, for he refuses to join my crew, and if you interfere I shall have the fore-yard ornamented with you, as I half-be- lieve you boarded this vessel to betray us to for any ordinary sailing vessel, she was get- ting ten out of it, and gliding along so quiet- ly that one would not suspect her speed with- out watching her for some little time. After she was well out of the harbor, a figure appeared upon her deck that is known to the reader, while the four men who com- prised her crew were not. The figure was Captain Tom of the Mess- mates’ Anchorage, and it was evident that he was off on a voyage of importance, as it was a most uncommon thing for him to leave the | shadow of his sheltering roof. After running down the coast for some time, the little sloop put in toward the shore, and, under a skillful pilot, wound among the islands until she came to anchor in a small cove. Here the boat was let. fall from the davits, and while the pilot of the sloop took the oars, Captain Tom placed himself in the stern and was rowed furthe: inland. A. pull of half an hour up a bay, or inlet, and the pilot ran into a basin where was visible at anchor the Winged Witch. The coming of the boat seemed to be ex- pected, and those in it recognized, for it was not hailed, but ran alongside. ‘The captain will see you now, sir,” said Buck, who was the officer in charge of the you command this vessel, base muti- | deck, and led the way into the cabin. Captain Morte was recovering rapidly, that was certain, for he lay upon a lounge, and had gotten over the look of sufferin he had worn for days after he was wounded. He greeted Captain Tom with a smile and grasp of the hand, and said pleasantly: ‘*Be seated, Tom, and try that liquor and a cigar, on the table there. ‘*l am glad you cate.” ‘It is risky for me to go out, captain, but I couldn’t neglect you in yoar distress, and was only too glad to hear that you had not been killed.” ll stood aghast at this bold charge, and paused while Duval responded: ‘*Oaptain Riaz, you are drunk, and hence not accountable for your words or acts, so I will command this vessel until you become sober.”’ A murmur ran around among the crew at these bold wordg, and they pressed still closer to see the end. As for York, he stood like a man in a trance, and Frank Shields gathered hope as he gazed upon the splendid-looking man who had so daringly stepped between him and death, ‘You will command this vessel, will om , as he did so: ust it will be after you have slain me.” ‘Tt will be then, Riaz,” was the answer of | Duval, as he whipped out his sword, and the two blades crossed. _ A few passes, and Riaz, the rebel pirate, was run through the Boy by Duval, who, | is ody ere it fell, ee - So sudden had been the fatal termination of this scene, that the pirates, daily used to deeds of crime and death, could not realize what had happened until the trumpet tones of the new lieutenant rung out: | ‘Care pretty near it, Tom, but am all ‘‘Lads ahoy! as your late chief has gone | right now, and old Sawbones says I can be overboard I am captain of this vessel, and out of here in a couple of weeks.” “That is good news; but you caught a tough one in that British officer.” ‘**Do I hear a voice against my being your again and pay him up for this. Not a sound came in response, and Duval continued : “The fool who just ran upon his own death would have he is an English nobleman.” 7 ; ' | | ed your necks into the ‘him alone, for he has gotten on board nine | - moose in a very short while, for the whole of heavier guns, changed the rig of his vessel to schooner here?” ‘“Now let me ask you if you have seen or heard aught of the Englishman who was my first luff, and whom I sent to see you?” ‘‘No, L have not, and I hoped to see him aboard here, for he’s a noble fellow, and I took a fancy to him.” ‘“*So did I; but he tried to sell me out, when he was up at your town, or at least I think he did, and—” ‘« Then he is not here?” ‘*No, he took to sea in an open boat to es- With a breeze that was blowing six knots cape my polite attentions, and though he was hotly pressed he was not taken. ‘* However, he jumped into the sea, after he had killed two of my men, and the men say he was drowned. ‘*But he was a bold swimmer, and some- ie I have an idea that he did no go un- er,” ‘* How far was he from the land?” ‘Something over two leagues, and the sea was running high.” ‘*Guess he went down.” ‘* Maybe; but keep your eyes open for him, and if he runs across your path put him in your secret chamber and starve him to death.” ‘I'll do it, for I hate a traitor, though I did not suspect it of him.” ‘Nor I; but if you want a cool thousand show me his body or bones when I next visit your town. ‘* Now about Helen?” ‘* She’s there.” ‘What of her?” ‘‘She’s got awful sad-looking of late, and they say it is because she intends to sacrifice herself to you; but she seems prettier than ever.” “The English captain is at her home, you wrote me?” ‘* Yes, and is in love with her, I guess, and ‘tame better let him have her, for you'll only ring sorrow to her, captain.” “Don't talk that way, Tom, or you'll make me your foe,” said Captain Morte, in angry tones. ‘1 don’t wish that, captain, but I feel sorry for the girl.” ‘She shall be mine, and I wish you to arrange it for me.” ‘If you are set on it, I’ do what I can.” “Tam set on it, and you must arrange to bring her to me one month from to-day.” ‘* How can 1?” ‘*Get a man you can trust to see her, or see her yourself in disguise. ‘Give her this letter I have written, and let her leave her home on a certain night and you meet her. ‘‘Have a coasting schooner, one that will ‘“Indeed I did, and I hope to meet him | not attract attention, anchored off her home and take her on board of it and bring her ‘‘His brig was the Playful, I believe, and _ here. ‘‘Do this for me, and I have five thousand ‘Yes, that is it; but you had better let dollars to place in your hand,” “Pll do it, captain, but must 1 bring the (E com S IOO