Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 346 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

‘ = ™- 2 A Sapa ay 4 os S ee — / _— —— Ocean Guerrillas; The Planter Midshipman. A Romance of Southern Shores and Waters inthe High- teenth Century. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, AUTHOR OF ‘‘MERLE, THE MUTINEER,”’ ‘“MONTEZUMA, THE MERCILESS,” CHAPTER I. THE SMUGGLER QUEEN. Ne ema was pacing to and froin the cabin of a small vessel that lay at anchor in the Mississippi river, just above the, then, town of New Orleans, for the. scene of my story goes back nearly a hundred years. It is nearing the sunset hour, and the rosy rays of the descending orb penetrate the small stern ports of the vessel and fall upon the face and form of the woman as she turns in her monotonous walk, casting a halo of light upon her, which reveals distinctly every | outline of her well-turned, graceful figure, and the dark, stern look that rests upon her exquisitely beautiful face, marring its love- liness with a passion that can almost be call- ed fury. The trailing skirts behind her as she walks, cause a rustling sound ‘that mingles with the ripple of the waters under the vessel's stern, and these almost murmurings alone break the stillness, excepting that now and then the tolling of a bell in the distant town chimes in. ‘ : The face of the woman is a study, for it combines the loveliness of a beautiful charac- ter and perfection of feature, commingling with the reckless look that a daring youth might wear, and the sternness that would set wie upon the brow and lips of a man who had met and conquered much bitterness in- life. : Her hair was as black as ebony, and her eyes large, full of burning pathos and pas- sion combined, and fringed with lashes that were long and curving, in a measure toning down the fiery soul that looked through Her lips were full, red as blood, and yet her face, Wawhad by exposure to a warm sun and winds, was’ célorless, the crimson tide having seemingly all surged back to the heart with the depth of some internal emotion. A huge star of diamonds glittered beneath her throat, and upon her wedding finger gleamed a ruby set in a band of solid gold. Now and then she would clasp her tiny hands together as she walked, and she would clutch them so ti me pah it seemed as or. the slender b mes must snap; but no word escaped her lips; only the burning light in her grand eyes grew brighter and the cloud on hér brow became darker, ‘The craft was a lugger yacht, of a class such as were then used by the wealthy plan- ters for pleasure and a means of transporta- tion to and from their plantations, It was fitted up in luxurious style, and leaving the cabin and going on deck, one saw only a negro crew. : But every rope was coiled and in its place, t uns shone like silver, for in those 'g no vessel dared go unarmed, and every- g indicated perfect order and discipline. ‘A cable’s length distant from the craft’s rage was a villa, surrounded by exten- and ornamental’ grounds, while in the se was visible the Crescent City, with fa spacious mansions. 1e sun touched the horizon a youth swiftly down to the shore from the ‘i and spr ng into a light skiff sculled rap out to the little vessel. 6h CC. : essed in a suit of white flannel, e worn by the wealthy classes, such as we and wore a ' . ” =~" ’ ~ as His face was bronzed deeply, every feature was ahi high yh ocae 8 certainly a-dashing, handsome boy, for his years were still among As he reached the yacht.a negro sailor met’ him at the gangway and politely touched his anama hat, encircled by a silver ee —_—_———————————— — . e. while es pr rate Ocean Guerrillas. hat, while the youth asked in that tone of easy familiarity that exists between the mas- ter and his trusted servant: %, ‘Well, Woods, how is our prisoner?” ‘‘As oneasy, massa, as a wolf in a trap, sah, for she do nothing but walk up and down.” The youth made no reply, but descended the companionway into the cabin. The woman halted as she heard his step and faced him, her eyes fairly blazing as she turned them upon him. ‘*Madam, I have cume to say that.as soon as it is dark I will row you ashore, where I have ordered my carriage to meet you and drive you to the city,” and the youth spoke with a courtly grace that was natural to him, while he held his hat in his hand. ‘Why need | wait until dark, sir? ‘Do you not know that your presence is hateful to me, and that, as I cannot now strike at your heart I wish to have you out of my sight?” and her words were uttered with a ring that showed a hatred amounting to venom. **T will tell you, lady, why I do not care to have you ieave the yacht until after dark. ‘It is because, in giving up your smuggler crew to naval authorities, | did not mention that I had their lady captain a prisoner, for I am not one to war against women. ‘‘T reported the death of your father, the Smuggler King—”’ ‘*At your hands, sir!” she said, bitterly. ‘*T saw no necessity for saying that I had slain him, lady.” “ And yet-you did run your sword through his heart, before the very eyes of his daugh- ter.” ‘‘Of that we will not speak, lady, for I simply protected my own life; but, with the smuggler chief dead, his vessels made prizes—-” | ‘Not all of them,’ she said, with sudden earnestness, ‘*'No, I believe there is one that escaped by not being at the rendezvous.” She made no reply, but smiled, a smile that, however, spoke volumes; but, unheed- ing it, the youth continued: : ‘‘ Having broken up the band, I cared not to give you up to the authorities, so bade my negro crew not to speak of your presence on the lugger, and as I made no mention of you to either of the two midshipmen who aided me in the attack, | determined to set you freé, and have now come to do so.” ‘Boy, I thank you for your kindness, for your act will enable me to keep my vow,” and she spoke with an earnestness that was vicious. ‘*T understand you, Lady Captain, for you vowed to avenge your father’s death; I do not fear you, though | know well that you are dangerous; but the Smugglers of the Ri - oletts are broken up, and your pirate husband, the Sea Ghoul, isa fugitive on land, his vessel being now a prize to the Government,” Great God! do you mean this?” cried the woman, her voice quivering. ‘Yes, lady, the pirate schooner was cap- tured by Captain Palafox, but the Sea Ghoul was not on her, and is now said to be hiding in this city; but he will be run down as sure- ly as you have been, and you will yet witness your pirate husband strung up to the yard- arm. “Ha! you threaten!” ‘‘No, lady, I make no threats; I simply assert the inevitable, and ange peu to give up the lawless life you have Jed and to seek some sanctuary where you can hide from the world and atone for the past,” ‘Boy, dare not to utter such words to me, for with my father dead, and you, as I be- lieve, a bloodhound upon my husband’s track, do you think I can live and not hate you, and hating, not avenge? ‘‘No! no! no! my vow is registered, to some pat see you dead at my feet.” he youth’s face did not change a muscle ‘at her fearful words, but he answered calmly : “Tt is twilight now, lady, and by the time you are ready it will be dark enough to row you ashore and not have you seen by some curious eye that may be watching my vessel. ““T will await you on deck.” - With this he bowed and left the cabin, ul woman, her face tortured into that of a fiend, thrust her hand into her bosom and half drew out jewel-hilted dirk, ——-- -- -—-— ___ a oe as though with the intent of springing upon him and driving it into his back. But with a smile she shook her head and thrust the blade back again into its hiding. place, while she said, hoarsely: ** Not now, not now / 1 must bide my time, and one day it will come.” CHAPTER II. THE FATAL RUNAWAY. HAF an hour after the strange scene in the cabin of the little yacht, between the beautiful woman and the Boy Planter, for such in reality he was, a carriage was rolling along the levee road leading into the city of New Orleans. The horses were spirited, and the driver was allowing them to take their own gait, though he held them well in hand. They had not gone very far, from the starting-point, ste the anchorage of the yacht, when a tall form dashed out from be- neath the shadow of the china trees that bordered the drive, and gave a sudden cry. The way was lonely, and rendered disker by the overhanging trees, the negro coach- man was alarmed by the sudden appearance of the man, springing from the wayside, and urged his already frightened animals along at a quicker pace. With snorts of terror they darted forward at a mad pace, while the negro, with super- stitious fears, glanced over his shoulder to behold the same tall, wiry form darting along in pursuit like a bloodhound upon the trail, ‘Oh, Lordy, sabe me! it am de debbil!” cried the driver, his nerveless hands no Icn- ger possessing the power to hold the horses in check, and they fairly flew over the de- serted road. Suddenly they came to a bend, and as they swept around it at the same terrific speed, a voice from within the vehicle, and a voice that was strangely musical in its ut- terance, called out: ‘*Ho, driver! do you intend to enter the city at this mad pace? ‘‘Draw rein, for I care not to be dashed to pieces!” But on the animals swept, while the negro muttered some unintelligible words about the devil or a ghost being in pursuit. “Draw rein, sir! I command -you!” then came in a stern voice from the vehicle. But still on swept the flying team, the car- riage swaying and cracking at their every bound. ; ‘Good God! he has forced a madman to drive me, that I may be killed. ‘‘But I will not die!” cried the occupant of the vehicle, tugging hard at the tightly- closed door, and not observing the dark form running silently and like a hound in the rear of the vehicle. Then came another bend, and as the runa- ways dashed around it, the impetus sent them and the vehicle with a terrible crash against a brick wall, and then came an utter wreck, followed by silence, as all went down in a heap. | In silence the horses lay where they had fallen, but upon them lay the driver, a groan issuing from his lips. Then up to the spot dashed the form that had so swiftly followed, the shattered door was torn open, and out stepped the occu- pant, while the pursuer asked, in broken tones: ‘Lady no kill?” ** Ha! Chincopin, is that you?” *“ Yes, me Indian.” “No, I am not even hurt, and this proves that it was not intended that I should die un- avenged, for see, there lie those mad ani- mals and their still madder driver, and aa are dead, for the negro’s groans have ceased. “But I live! I live!” and the woman, the same young, beautiful creature; last seen in the yacht’s cabin, clasped her hands togeth- er, and raising them above her head, cried, in an earnest, quivering voice: ‘‘ Holy Mother, I thank thee for thy mer- cy, for thou hast let me live that I may bring misery upon those I hate.” With this prayer and vindictive threat commingled in their utterance, the woman turned once more to the Indian, who was bending over the driver, | zk ‘He is dead?” she asked. ! ‘Yes, black-face man dead.” (EON MIICE JOO ‘S.C