Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 346 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

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' a ao ; gt? « > nee St ag! - : ~ ey ai = - ae — “Stas = .~ . = one = = SJ . ‘ “ 7 4 5 . + — — * — aon ~ aad 4, on _ a 4 : Ocean Guerrillas. of her husband, say that his guards killed him when you fired on them; but under no circumstances allow her to leave the schooner. ‘‘If she becomes frantic, then seek me out * jn the state-room, and leave her to me. ‘Then, when you are at sea, I wish you to land us at a certain island I will direct - you to, and your duty is done, senors.”’ ‘We will gladly do as you wish, senor, and with a thousand thanks to you for your goodness, too,” said the elder of the two pirates. ‘*See that you do all, and I ask no more; but there must be no mistake.”’ ‘There shall not be, senor.”’ ‘‘Then, senors, 1 bid you aw revoir, for we shall meet upon the Sea Fox to-morrow night.” ‘* Yes, and once more Buccaneer Mendez will be afloat again,” said the old pirate, with a chuckle, as he took a deep drink of the liquor, and, accompanied by his equally wicked son, left the sanctum of the money- lender. CHAPTER XXXII. THE TRAITOR BOATSWAIN. AutTHoven the sun arose in brilliancy the morning that was to usher in a most event- ful day for many of the characters of my romance, in the afternoon it grew cloudy and threatened a storm. But this dark aspect of the clouds did not deter a young sailor from springing into a skiff and pulling out upon the river. He seemed to have no well-defined object in view, other than to amuse himself, and rowed here and there, looking at the differ- ent vessels at anchor in the stream. At last he drew near a beautiful armed schooner, anchored off toward the other shore, and with few men upon her decks. The craft was certainly as graceful in out- line as a swan, and lay upon the waters in a saucy way that would greatly please a sailor's eye. Ver masts were tall, needle-pointed, rak- ing, and evidently carried plenty of sail. She shone like a sailor in inspection rig, and her guns looked dangerous. ‘* You have a pretty craft, sir,” called out the young sailor, who was in the undress uniform of a middy. He addressed a seaman leaning over the taffrail and watching him. ‘*Yes, sir, and she’s as good as _ she’s pretty,” was the answer, and then he added: . There's no officer on board to invite ou, sir, and I’m in charge, that’s only o'sen, but you are welcome, sir, to take a closer look.” ‘“‘Tll accept your kind invitation, my lad,” was the cheery answer, and the middy went over the side, and was met by the boat- swain, who saluted politely. ‘‘ What craft is this, my man?” ‘“‘The Sea Fox, sir.”’ ‘* What, the schooner of the reformed pi- rate, Captain Palafox?” ‘*The same, sir,” ‘And where is her remarkable com- mander?”’ ‘* He took a run over to Mobile, sir, to get a few more men.” ‘‘ Ah, yes; but were you one of his crew when he was a rover?” ‘*’Yes, sir.” ** And all the men here?” ‘Yea, air.” “You have not many on board?” ‘Only nine of us, sir.” ‘‘And how do you like the quiet life you lead?” ‘‘Well, sir, it’s safer for the neck than pi- racy, seeing as we carry our pardons in our pocket.”’ “But piracy was better for the pocket, eh?” ‘Ah, yes, sir.” ‘‘And I suppose you all got rich off of booty?” ‘* Not we, sir, for I don’t believe that there is one of us who could raise a hundred pesos this blessed day.” ‘* Yet you love money?” ‘Oh, yes, sir; the man as don’t love the glitter of gold is i a bad way.” ‘‘ Well, my man, I have it in my power to make you rich.” ‘Indeed, sir?” ** How is that, sir?” ‘‘Well, for a certain service you can but if run through by Perdido’s sword, then render me if you enlist under my com- mand.”’ ‘‘Ah, sir; I fear we would have to wait for our riches.” ‘* You need not wait one hour, if you say you will serve me.” The seaman looked at the handsome young | Midshipman that the mutineer was a goo swordsman, or at least believed that he was, middy in amazement, and then asked: ‘* What to do, sir?” ‘*Go to sea.” **On what, sir?” ‘* A sehooner.”’ ‘* Under the Government flag?” ‘“ No, my man,” “Ah, sir; you are deceiving me.” ‘‘No; for this looks like gold, does it not?” and he revealed a bag of precious metal. : ‘It ¢ gold, sir.” ‘“And there are crisp bank-notes, you see?” ‘‘ Yes, sir; [ see them, and there are plenty of ’em,” ‘‘ Now, my man, I wish to buy a schoon- er,”’ _“*T don’t know where you can get one, sir.”’ ‘Si do.” ** Where?” “This one.” ‘Oh, no, sir; she’s not for sale.” ‘* Any craft is for sale if you give her price for her.” ‘‘The captain would not part with the Sea Fox, sir.” ‘*He might not; but you would.” “« Me?” ‘* Yes, you.” ‘* But she does not belong to me, sir.” ‘* Now, leok here, my man; you have a pardon in your pocket?’ ‘¢ Yee.. aie," ‘‘Keep it there, and you just take a cruise with me, and when you wish to land I'll put you in a port, and you'll have a snug sum to take care of you with. “This vessel suits me, and you say there are nine of you on board, and i will pay you well.” ‘€Oh, sir!” “T will pay you five thousand dollars, cash, and I will give half of that sum to each of your comrades, “If you do not wish to remain with me after I get into blue water, I will land you, and you can return and state that the schoon- er was seized while the watch were below, and you all were put in irons. ‘If you wish to go with me Ill make you third officer, and you and your men shall share liberally in booty money.” Then, without waiting for a refusal, the rane middy counted out the money for the oatswain, who said, in husky tones: ‘But, sir, some of the men may not con- sent.” ‘*Then pick out those you are in doubt of and let them go ashore on leave; but here is i | the money for all,” and he counted over the | amount needed. ‘‘Now, my man, boats will be aboard here just after dark, and you do your duty.” ‘1 will, sir, for you have given me too much money for me to keep honest. ‘*T’ll do all you tell me, sir.” ‘‘Good! now I must get on shore, but | will be out in plenty of time, and you have the schooner all ready to run out.” With this the hay left the side of the schooner and rowed leisurely shoreward, watching the clouds as they rolled upward over the heavens, threatening to break in a storm by nightfall. ‘That is settled; but for fear there may be some failure, some treachery, I will drive out to the lake and have Granger ready with the lugger.”’ So said the young sailor, and the words betrayed her as the Smuggler Queen, as the reader has already doubtless discovered. CHAPTER XXXIII. IN MORTAL COMBAT. Wuen Irving Brandt was confronted with his enemy, the man he was to meet in mor- tal combat, he made up his mind that he would do all in his power to strive for the honor of becoming the slave of the old Witch, especially as not to be a slave meant death to him. If in slavery he had some chance to escape; ——_— mmr the end came right there. He had confidence in his own prowess as a swordsman; but then he discovered, as the ' mutineer saw what his life depended on, the color had come back to his cheek, and his nerve came with it. This proved conclusively to the observin or again, had a poor opinion of the prowess of his adversary. Thus the two faced each other, the giant guard standing upon one side, the old Witch seated upon the other, and the blood- hounds squatted around with that hungry look that told how thoroughly they were convinced that they were interested in the remains’ of one or the other of the combatants, for, to speak the truth, the bones of human beings which the Witch had, held a certain polish, as though they had been well picked by the fangs of the raven- ous brutes. In fact, everybody that came ashore, every wreck that had cast its dead there, had. fur- nished food for the bloodbounds, and they had begun to look upon mankind as a delica- cy for them alone. When the swords crossed, Perdido at once set to work to kill the Planter Midshipman, and made several quick and vicious passes, But, to his surprise, he did not either dis- arm him or find a weak spot in his guard. This made the mutineer more cautious, for he was not so confident as he had been. But, nerving himself again, he pressed the attack with savage vigor, and again was met at every point with a skill and coolness that surprised him. ‘* You are superb swordsmen, senors; both of you,’ said the Witch, serenely, while the giant guard remarked, with enthusiasm: ‘* Yes, better men with blades I never saw; re go on, senors, for one or the other must “a : ? Again the mutineer opened the fight, and once more he was foiled, for every pass, every thrust, cut, or slash—and Perdido tried all—was met by the midshipman with perfect coolness, A third time the blades were lowered to rest, and the mutineer led off in the act, while Irving seemed willing to keep the com- bat pushing to the bitter end. Once more the mutineer sprung to the at- tack, and this time with a ferocity which his face expressed, He knew that he had to break into that impenetrable guard, or lose, and he devoted his whole soul to the work. With a fury that was terrible he pressed on, and yet not one step would the youth give to him, Then he seemed to again wish a rest; but Irving would not allow it. Here the hardened sinews of the boy began to tell against those of the man, who had been confined for so long a period with in- door work. Once his strength began to fail Perdido, Irving pressed him in his turn, and step by step drove him back. He knew that he had the mutineer at his mercy, and that he could kill him at any moment; but he abhorred the taking of life, and cared not to kill one so wholly in his ower, so he struck up his weapon, and then y a skillful twist, disarmed him. The mutineer was as white as death, which he certainly expected. But Irving said, quickly: ‘*T have no desire to Kill you, so give you your life,” and he turned away. ‘* No, no, no! this will not do! kill him!” shrieked the old Witch. ‘‘ Yes, you will have to kill him,” said the giant guard, and the bloodhounds howled their disapprobation of the proceedings, ‘7 will not kill a man who is at my mer- cy,” firmly said the midshipman. ‘Then he must fight you again,” said the Witch. ‘It is useless, for I could have run him through the first pass had I desired,” answer- ed Irving. ‘‘ Then, as he is not rons equal with the blade, you shall fight with pistols, for I have said it, one of you must die |” Irving Knew that the old Witch meant what she said, and answered: ‘“ As you please, madam, You must Gomicnoeo gs) , (Ele) ‘ r FF = . « . oy »* _aq a *| ee