Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 346 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 ‘bloodhounds, who at once lay down in the : «entrance to the cavern. I “You will find some skins and coverings | ‘there, young man, and make yourself com- vfortable, I beg of you.” :! With this the strange man left the cavern, } end Irving Brandt was alone, excepting his 4 bloodhound keepers, whom the flickering it light from the fire in the ravine showed to be i on the alert, sleeping with one eye upon him, and seemingly anxious that he should make an effort to escape and thus give them i a feast. | CHAPTER XXIV. i THE WITCH OF THE ISLE. MornrinG broke bleak and cloudy on the Witches’ Isle. After a slumber, deep and refreshing, for he was sadly fatigued, Irving awoke. Glancing about his cave prison, the look was by no means cheering. | Then his eyes fell upon the bloodhound Leepers, who were squatted upon their | haunches without the entrance. HY His moving about the cave hardly at- tracted their attention; but when he started toward the entrance they growled savagely in chorus and showed their fangs. This told the midshipman the utter use- lessness of his attempting to escape, and he returned and sat down upon the cot, and 3 took in the different ghastly objects in view. Hi: An hour thus passed, and then a step was heard in the ravine. The. bloodhounds wagged their tails joy- ously, and presently the strange being of the coffin craft put in an appearance. by He was dressed now in a long black gown, | with a white skull and cross-bones upon the heart, and his face was unmasked, Ho It was a strong face, beardless, full of a strength, and yet cunning. my His air and conversation showed that he By had been reared in some refinement, and his et voice, though deep, was by no means un- mn pleasant. ‘ae ‘‘T have brought you food, young sir,” he q said, rather pleasantly, and he set a tray of om victuals down before the youth. ne There were fish nicely browned, bread and coffee, all of which Irving ate with a relish, throwing the remnant of his breakfast to the dogs, in hopes of gaining their good will. he man stood by while he ate, and the youth asked: ‘What is to be done with me?” , ‘‘That, the Witch of the Isle will decide,” _= (6 alt gh ‘*To-day, perhaps.” | * Where is she?” eee **In her cavern.” ‘And Perdido, the mutineer?” «‘ He is in a cavern similar to this.” “And have you decided upon his fate t?” ‘am ‘‘T decide nothing; all is in the hands of | ae the Witch.” vi) ‘What are your duties?” ‘‘ Guard and attendant.” ‘‘Guard of the island, and attendant on the old Witch?” mW + "Fee. Di ** Who are you?” ‘‘An Englishman.” ee *‘ And you like this life, when you seem so - —ss-well fitted for one of honor among your fellow-men?”’ — ‘* No, I do not like the life; but as we have oe talked together, and you seem interested in me, as I in you, | will tell you frankly that _-—__- cireumstances prevent me from returning to , » ny home. , | Me ‘‘] was wrecked on this island, my life * ss. was saved, and I sold myself, body and soul, . __ for a certain lapse of time.”’ «A strange tale and a strange life.” } ——s«#** Yes; but I must say no more,” and the -——s man departed, calling off the two hounds, Fang and Terror, and leaving Death and ie Dismal, two others, in their stead. a ‘I verily believe he did that because I >. fed them. ae ‘* Well, I’ll feed the whole pack if I starve _ myself,” muttered Irving, and he stooped ‘ - quickly as with a loud shriek a huge owl a y een into the cavern and perched itself ss upon a skull, blinking at him in wonder. ‘hg ‘Well, I have company, at least, but I do iz rot enjoy the society |am forced to keep,” and the midshipman glanced at the owl and then at the hounds, J Ocean Guerrillas. Pacing his cell to and fro for a long time, he was again visited by the island-keeper, **Come; the Mother Witch wishes to see ou.” Silently and wonderingly the midshipman followed his guide down the ravine, and halted in front of the large cavern before re- ferred to, There, in the entrance, in a chair made of human bones, sat a woman. And oh! such a woman. Weird, wild- faced, a mouth seemingly cut out of marble, and her face tattooed with hideous emblems. Her arms, bare to the shoulder, were also tattooed in the same way, with blue, red and green snakes coiling about them. She was dressed in red velvet. About her neck, disfigured as her face and arms, were massive necklaces of precious gems, and up-_ | * How else could I be his wife?’ was the haughty response. ‘*| feared, I thought—” ‘‘ No, sir; 1 understand you; but Iam not that low, be my crimes of outlawry what they may. ‘‘T was married to Barton Keys upon my father’s lugger, by Father Homer, a priest whom you know well, and I followed his fortunes under the black flag until 1 was sent with booty to this port. ‘Your son captured me, as you also know, and released me, and I went back to my fa- ther, who was Captain Restel, the Smuggler King. ‘‘ While waiting there to rejoin my hus- band, who, pirate though he be, I love with my whole heart, Midshipman Brandt attack- ed my father’s vessels in his retreat, and you on her wrists were bracelets also worth a for- | know the result. tune, while her fingers were each one cover- ed with rings. Her hair was dyed erimson, and was in strange contrast to her black eyes. The arms of her chair terminated in skulls, and upon one of these her hand rested, while one foot rested upon a footstool of a like character, it being a pyramid of bones. In her right hand she held a staff, or wand, it being a long cane painted black. A black cat sat on one side of her feet, a white one on the other, and upon the back of her chair were perched an owl and a raven, while in her cap was coiled a large rattle- snake. It was no wonder that Irving started at sight of this marvelous being. Ile had never dreampt of the like before, or heard of such in all the steries told of witches by the negroes and the sailors. ‘‘T am the Witch of the Isle, boy; what have you to say for yourself?” she said, in a hard voice, as Irving halted before her. ‘* | suppose that this man has told you all about me, madam,” and the midshipman forced himself to speak with courtesy. ‘* He has told me that he picked you up at sea last night, and that you had been thrown from a lugger.”’ sé Yes. ” ‘‘ Also that you were wrecked upon this island some time ago, and escaped in one of my boats.” “1 did.” ‘‘And you see fate brought you back to the Witches’ Island for none can escape me,” ‘* Fate would not bring me here again, once Ican get away this time,” bluntly said the middy. ‘But it is to get away,” she said, with a stern look. ‘* Yes, that is the idea; but are you open to ransom?” ‘** Do you see these jewels?” “1 do.” “If you can match their value with gold you can be ransomed,” ‘* What is their value?” ** Half a million.” ‘‘Then I guess I remain here,” ‘*It may be not, for you shall have a chance for life.” ‘* What chance is that?” ‘* You were wrecked on my island, as was also the other. ‘‘T love to destroy, but I dare not destroy you and that other. ‘*One of you can remain and be my slave, the other must die.” Irving looked as though he thought it would be preferable to die rather than re- main as the slave of the old Witch; but he Mires? did not say so, and she continued: ‘* That other shall be brought here, rapiers shall be placed in the hands of you both, and before me you shall fight to the death, and the survivor shall live as my slave. ‘* Bring the other prisoner here, Bravo,” and the Witch turned tothe giant guard, who at once departed to obey her bidding. CHAPTER XXV. BROUGHT TO TERMS. WHEN the supposed young sailor uttered the two words to Colonel Brandt, that told him just who it was that he had been dealing with, the gambler planter was utterly as- tounded, and said huskily: ‘* You say that you are Barton Keys’s wife?” ce Yes.” ‘** You are married to him?’ oo EE oe ‘‘T was allowed to go by your son, and I now devote my energies and my gold to set- ting my husband free, and with your aid I can do it readily. ‘‘ Without your aid I must seek some other plan.” : The woman had spoken in a low, but earn- est voice, and every word she uttered Colonel Brandt had distinctly heard and analyzed. He knew that her plot was a perfect one, by which she could get the pirate chief out of prison. But what if, once out, he waged war upon him and his family again? Naturally they would feel revengeful to- ward his son Irving. Then, on the other hand, if he did not aid her he knew that she could ruin him. He was well aware of the fact now that she knew the story of Maud’s stolen jewels, and that he had been the one to take them. With the proof of the money-lender, to whom he had taken them, there would be no doubt of his guilt. Then again, in spite of his being able to save himself, by confessing all to Maud, out- side of the stolen jewels, he did not wish to have her sacrifice the large sum which he had gambled away. He could then and there expose the wom- an: but his ruin followed. If he lent her the aid she asked, no one would dream that he was the one to aid the pirate’s escape. knowing that he had more to fear from him than any one else. All these thoughts passed through the mind of the wretched man as he stood before the disguised woman, she the while calmly waiting for him to speak. As he kept silent so long she at last said: ‘* Well, senor, must I seek another plan of rescuing the Sea Ghoul?” 4 An ask my aid as you stated?” ee es,” “ And will give tome the notes of mine which you hold?” sé YVes.”’ ‘* When?” ‘As soon as the Sea Ghout is safe,” ‘But the plot may miscarry,”’ ‘Tt cannot.” ‘‘Do not be too sure,” ‘‘T say it cannot, if you will get the per- mit, take it to the prison, and state to the keeper that you will send Fe carriage at night for the prisoner; and four guards, if necessary, can go with him. ‘‘Tell them to keep him in double irons, and send good men, and the vehicle will drive into the jail-yard for them,” ‘‘And when will you consider the pirate safe?” . ‘‘When he is in the possession of his friends.”’ ‘* When will that be?” “The carriage will be halted on the river avenue after Teaving the city, and before reaching your home.’ ‘The guards will defend their prisoner with their lives.” ‘So be it, he will be taken from them.” ‘‘Oan it not be arranged to avoid blood- shed?” ‘“ What care I for the blood of any man who stands between me and the life of my husband?” said the pretended sailor, sternly. ‘‘ Well, I know not what to say.” ‘Then I shall act, and with the sunrise . expose you.” ‘*No, no, do not do that; but tell me when. I am to be given my papers?” ‘‘When the ehief is free he will be taken COME 00 ee — rE Pr .