Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

— 2 Se ee eS a — ‘Yes, you can load the craft with a cargo of some kind, to avoid suspicion, and you can have the thirty men you ship for me on board in the hold.” ‘‘T'll be on the alert, captain, and do as you wish. ‘‘Now, as there is nothing more to talk over, I’ll get back for I am always nervous away from home,” and a few moments after Captain Tom was on his way back to his home, to carry out his schemes of deviltry concocted with the Sea Desperado. How his plottings terminated, and what came of all the fiendish schemes of Rupert Mortimer, the Desperado of the Ocean, will soon be fully developed. CHAPTER XLIYV. THE DEATH-CHAMBER. A MAN sat in the tap-room of the Mess- mates’ Anchorage one evening some time af- ter the visit of Captain Tom to the Captain of the Winged Witch. He was a man of superb stature, which was set off by the sailor suit he wore, and his ‘face was one to attract attention any- where, for it was beardless, and every feature was plainly marked. He had ordered a glass of grog, such as was drank by the sailors who frequented the tap-room of the Messmates’ Anchorage, but he had not touched his lips to the vile liquor, though he had pretended to do so. Captain Tom had noticed him when he came in, and his small eyes had twitched viciously as though he recognized the sea- man. After awhile he went over to the table by the stranger and said: ‘You haven't tasted your rum, shipmate.” ‘“No, somehow I don't feel like drinking.” ‘*Tt isn’t as good as the bottle we had to- gether, when last we met in my den.” The stranger slightly started, but said with a smile: ‘‘] see that you recognize me.” ‘*] do, although as you have cut off your beard your looks are changed; but come in- to my room and tell me about the captain.”’ ‘« You have not seen him then since I was here?” ‘* No, indéed; has he been to the city?” ‘‘He left the vessel for a day or so, but I did not know where he went.” ‘He did not come here; but when did you leave the ship?” ‘“T left my vessel two days ago.” ‘“And didn’t the captain send me any word?” . ‘Oh, yes; but I did not wish to be noticed going into your room with you by those present.” ‘‘T’ll arrange that, sir, very soon. Just wait here and when you see me nod my head, get up and fo into yonder door.” Captain Tom then left the tap-room, and soon the sailor got the nod and walked into the room. The landlord followed him and said: “ Take that chair, sir, for you will find it comfortable.” ‘* But I deprive you.” ‘* Oh, not in the least, ‘‘ Just throw yourself back in it and see how comfortable it is.” The seaman did as he was told, and, with a sudden click the arms of the chair flew up and he found himself in an embrace which he could not shake off. “Tye got you, Lieutenant Duval, the traitor,” chuckled Captain Tom. Duval saw that he was entrapped, but took it coolly. He was a man of great physical power, but could not move in the chair, and Captain Tom took a rope and came toward him. ‘What does this mean, sir?” demanded the officer, sternly. ‘Tt means, sir, that I have seen Captain Morte.” *“* Well?” ‘‘ And he told me that you returned to his vessel, having made arrangements while here to sell him out.” ‘He lies, for I would not have been treacherous to him while an officer upon this vessel; but now it is different.” ‘« Yes, it is so different that you will never harm mortal man again.” “ What do your words mean?” 1 fe The Sea Desperado. ‘That he who sits in that chair leaves hope behind.” ‘*You dare not murder me.”’ ‘Oh, no, I will let you kill yourself. ‘*Come, I'll take your weapons and then tie you.” Having disarmed his prisoner, Captain Tom bound him securely, gagged him with a bandage about his mouth, and then said: ‘* Will you go quietly with me, or shall I send for my aid and drag you?” ‘* Where do you take me?” ‘““To a secret chamber I have in the house.”’ **T will go.” Duval was then led by Captain Tom out of the room, up a secret flight of stairs, the door opening to them having been opened by a spring. Up, up, they went, until at last a ceiling was above their heads. ‘Folks might think that this leads to the garret, but it don’t.” ** Where does it lead?” ‘To my secret chamber.” Touching a spring, Captain Tom raised the heavy trap overhead, and led his victim into a room some twelve feet square. In spite of his nerve, Duval started at what he beheld there, for two skeletons lay upon the floor in one corner. The ceiling of the room was some fifteen feet in hight, the walls were of brick, the floor of solid masonry, excepting the trap, which was iron, and there was no window or door in it, which gave it the appearance of a shaft, or well. Overhead was a skylight of four small panes of glass that gave light, and this being raised a few inches, and open in the sides, furnished the only air for a prisoner to breathe. The place was sickening to Duval, as he was pushed across the room, while Captain Tom sprung back to the trap, which he near- ly closed after him. ‘““You are to die here, lieutenant, and when you are dead I will bring Captain Morte to see you. ‘‘T must leave you now alone with those two piles of bones, that were once flesh and blood like you; but they were suspected of treachery, and there they are. ‘You can yell for aid if you wish to, but your voice only goes upward through that breathing space, and no one will hear you. ‘* Now, farewell.” Without another word Captain Tom de- parted, and Duval was left alone in the death chamber of the Messmates’ Anchorage. CHABTER XLY. WHAT AN ENEMY OVERHEARD. DUVAL was no man to despair, and yet it did seem as though no possible act of his own could save him from death there in that hideous room. His first thought was to free himself from his bonds, and he set about it with a will. Perhaps it was that the secret chair had prevented Captain Tom from doing the work well, or it may be that he did not care whether the bonds were very secure or not, relying as he did wholly upon the secret chamber to hold any one that he chose to put in it; but, whatever it was, Duval certainly: freed his arms with remarkable celerity from the ropes wrapped around and around his body, pinioning them to his sides, and then extending to his feet, hoppling them so that rapid movement was impossible. Once free of the ropes, Duval set about studying the position. Not a bed, chair, or object of any kind did the room contain other than the two skeleton forms. To scale the walls was impossible he knew. But suddenly his face lighted up, as his eyes were fixed upon the skylight. Then they fell upon the bones, and it was but the work of an instant for him to tie the skull of one of the victims to the end of the rope. _ Tossing it up into the air, he sent it shiver- ing through one of the panes of glass, and it fell beyond upon the roof. Pulling upon it, it came back into the room and was caught in his hand. Again it was thrown, and more skillfully, for it came back through another pane of glass and hung swinging within reach of his . ~ 25 ———— hand, the rope having caught aver the iron frame that held the glass as he intended it should. Drawing upon the rope he found it firm and that it would hold his weight. Hand over hand he went up to the sky- light, and discovered that, by clinging with one hand to the edge, he could raise the iron frame off with the other, and thus gain access to the roof. Glancing out, he saw only the roofs of houses below him. But he marked his distance. took notes that would serve him when darkness came, and then returned to the floor, standing by the trap with the intention of killing Captain Tom, should the notion enter the head of that worthy to return. But darkness came at last to the watching man, and Captain Tom, wisely for himself, did not put in an appearance. ‘* What possessed the fellow not to rob me, I cannot tell; but it left me in luck,” mut- tered Duval, as he made his arrangements to leave his hateful prison. Up the rope he went, as soon as it was dark, and removing the iron frame, slipped out upon the roof. His rope then aided him to descend to the roof of a wing of the house, and drawing it after him, he fastened it to a chimney and went hand over hand into a back yard. To one side of him was a window, and he heard voices within, so stepped cautiously forward and glanced inside. To his surprise he beheld Captain Tom and one other. The night was warm and the window was open a few inches, and he leaned down to listen to what was being said. The yard was small, a high fence was about it, and only the window and door lead- ing from Captain Tom’s den led into it, so that the landlord of the Messmates’ Anchor- age little dreamed of being overheard in what he said. ‘‘If I pay you well you'll undertake the job?” Duval heard Captain Tom ask, ‘Tell me of the work I have to do,” was the response of the stranger, who was in citizen’s dress and had the look of a villain. ‘*]’ll not tell you unless you agree to do it.” ‘¢ What will you pay?” ‘‘One thousand dollars.” ‘ How long will it take me?” ‘* Perhaps a week.” ‘And youll pay expenses besides my thousand?” ‘* Yes.” ‘‘ Any killing to be done?” ce No.”’ “Tl do it.” ‘‘ Enough, now to tell you what it is.” ‘*T am ready to hear.” + 72 know the Hayward mansion?” cc sibs ‘And Miss Helen Hayward?” ‘*‘] have seen her.” ‘‘ Well, you are to see her, give her this letter, have her pledge herself to meet you at a certain time and place that I will make known to you, and I will have a vessel awaiting you.” ‘*That is not hard to do.” | ‘No, you will earn your money easily.” © ‘“ Where am I to take her?” “To Captain Morte, of the Winged Witch.” ‘* Ah! I heard that she had pledged herself to marry the Sea Desperado; she offered her- self as a sacrifice for a craft and crew, they say. ‘‘ Yes, so they say, but the sacrifice was not great, as the girl loves Captain Morte and wishes to marry him, and only puts on airs when she pretends that she does not.” ‘ Ah, that’s it, is it?” pe fy ‘* Well, I'll see her and give her the letter. ‘‘Now give me one hundred as a bonus.” The money was counted out by Captain Tom, who then closed his window and the two left the den, little dreaming that an eavesdropper had heard their precious plot against Helen Hayward. CHAPTER XLVI. DUVAL’S PLOT. WuHen Duval, the outlaw captain of the Flying Wizard, left the little yard by scaling the fence, he found himself in a back alley Eomichbooks - cor