Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 346 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

_ board the vessel Ocean Guerrillas. ‘‘T am at the senor’s service.” Perdido had not moved from the spot where he stood when disarmed, but had stood gazing upon the scene with a piteous expression in his eyes. He felt thankful to the midshipman for sparing his life, and yet feared that he would yet take it at the command of the Witch. He turned quickly at the words of the old hag, to use pistols, and his face again lighted up. THe knew his power as a shot was, if any- thing, superior to his skill as a swordsman. Of late he had practiced more with a pis- tol than with a blade. The former required no strength, when to handle a sword well one needed both strength and endurance. In his then tired state he could not hope to send a bullet true; but with rest he might, so he said: “It is hardly fair, good Mother Witch, to ask me to fight now with pistols, when my sinews are throbbing with the strain upon them.” ‘*You shall have half an hour to rest. ‘“‘And you, English, get the weapons— those dueling pistols that we took from on ou were on.” ‘Yes, and which were mine,” said the giant guard, sadly, and then added: ‘They have each killed their man, young sir,” and he addressed Irving. Going into the cavern, he soon returned bearing two handsome gold-mounted dueling pistols of a style greatly sought after by duelists of a hundred years ago. These he carefully looked over, cleaned, oiled and loaded. As he was doing the latter, Perdido step- ped up to his side and said in a low tone: “T will give you a thousand in gold, if you will put no bullet in that youth’s wea- yon,” ‘Villain! how dare you attempt to bribe me to such an act?” sternly said the giant, half-raising his arm as though to strike the mutineer. But instantly he checked his anger and said calmly: : “The weapons are ready, Mother Witch.” ‘* And you have regained your nerve, sir?” she asked, turning to the mutineer. ‘«’Yes; I am ready,” he said, in a low tone. ‘And you?” ‘‘[ am ready, too,” was the midshipman’s indifferent reply. ‘Then place them ten paces apart, Eng- lish, and give them their weapons. ‘‘T will give the word to fire, and the one who touches the trigger before it, you, Eng- lish, shoot down in his tracks,” sternly said the old Witch of the Isle. CHAPTER XXXIV. RITA’S COUNTERPLOT. — WHEN the Smuggler Queen, in her disguise of a young sailor, reached the shore, she paid the boatman for the use of his skiff, and seeking a stable hired a vehicle in which to drive out to the lake-shore. Arriving there she bade the driver await her, and taking a shore boat she rowed out to the Sea Owl, which, under its disguise of an honest coaster, was lying as complacently at anchor as any of those vessels about it that had a just claim to honesty. Chester Granger met her at the side, and instantly recoguized her. His face wore an anxious look, which his words explained, for he said: “T was becoming anxious for your safety, Lady Captain, from your long stay.” ey have been detained, Granger; but all goes well.” ‘**T am glad of that, Lady Captain.” *‘T have plotted and planned, and at last hit upon a scheme that is to work out salva- tion or ruin to-night.” ‘*] trust not the latter.”’ ‘*It shall not be if I can prevent it; but let me tell you of my plan,” and the Smuggler Queen told the story of how the pirate chief was to be taken out of prison to the home of Colonel Brandt, but was to be met upon the river avenue and rescued. She also told of her visit to the Sea Fox, and the arrangements she had made with the boatswain. | ‘‘This looks cheerful,” said Granger, but he did not by = means feel cheerful at the prospect, for if the Sea Ghoul was hanged, he hoped to step into his place in the heart of the Smuggler Queen, with whom he was perfectly infatuated. ““ Now, how can I serve you, Lady Cap- tain?” he said, pleasantly. **T will tell you.” ‘* And I am wholly at your service, lady.” ‘‘T know that, Granger, but let me tell you that I intend to counterplot.” ‘‘Counterplot, lady?” ‘Yes, for I leave to strangezs the carrying out of my plans.” ‘* I see.” ‘Should the would be lost.’ ee fail me, then my husband ‘‘ Should those who are to attack the car- — fail to be there, then all will be ruin- e tay ‘‘As a matter of course.” ‘‘And should they be all right, and the crew of the Sea Fox prove treacherous, then we would lose all.” ‘* Most certainly.” — ‘‘So I wish you to come to the city with three of your best men.” ‘“Yes, lady.” ‘‘] desire you all to be most thoroughly armed.” “é Vea” , ‘‘The man who keeps that sailor tavern on the shore will send you in, as he has a wag- on, and you can come to my inn.” “Yes, lady.” ‘‘ There I will meet you, and we will take au be ree and follow the Brandt carriage.” ce h!” ‘‘Tf it passes the Live Oak Point without being halted, then we will drive alJongside, shoot those on the box, and the horses, and ae my husband ourselves, and then come ere,” ‘“‘A good plan, lady.” ‘You must have the lugger all ready to sail, and, with the storm threatening, and which I thought would break long ago, we will not be apt to have many abroad to trouble us.” . ‘* But the Sea Fox, lady?” ‘‘Oh, if the men fail me at the Live Oak Point, those that are to board the Sea Fox and take her will also fail, so it would be risking too much to go to her, and perhaps be beaten off.” ‘Very true.” | ‘*Even if her crew were true, we would not dare put to sea with so few men on board, so shall have to take her another time— Ha! I have it.” ‘* Well, lady?” ‘Tf my first plot miscarries, you can come on here with my husband, and [ will remain in the city to cut out the Sea Fox at the first m7 Meee for | do not wish to lose that craft.” “You take big risks, Lady Captain.” ‘*We all do, Granger; but you can run the lugger to the old retreat, and I will come there with the Sea Fox as soon as I can cut her out.” ‘“‘T trust the first plan will succeed, lady, for | dislike to have you take such risks.” ——S ———— emacs aaa taamaaacaacaaaaaaaasacaaaaaiaccacaaaa = | = See —— a =a) . 21 hitch up a pair of animals that have go in them if you need to have them.” ‘*T will, sir,” and the delighted coche drove off, while tle Smuggler Queen sought the shop of the money-lender. | ‘* Well, Don Rudolpho, what tidings have you?” ‘‘T have an officer and men ready to board the Sea Fox, lady, and another party to be on hand at Live Oak Point.” ‘* How many in all?” ** About ninety.” ** And there are nine on board the schoon- er?” *““You have been there, then?”’ “Yes, and bought her crew; but will it storm or not?” ‘‘It has been threatening since noon, and for your sake | hope it will.” ‘* Yes, it will keep curious people indoors, and make watchmen hunt the lee side of sheltering places. ‘*T am glad all works well, Don Rudolpho, and you shall not be forgotten.” ‘‘] thank you, lady; but is there anything else I can serve you in?” ‘‘Nothing; but farewell wntil we meet again,’ and the Smuggler Queen hastened away, for it was now near the sunset hour, and in a short while more the success or ruin of her plot and counterplot would be known. CHAPTER XXX\V. THE SEA FOX AND THE MONEY-LENDER. Don Rupo.pnHo, ‘the money-lender, was full of business. He had a desperate plot on hand to carry out his own ends. He loved gold more than all else in the world, but had gotten a strange idea into his head—for he had no heart—that he loved Rita, the Lady Captain. His intentions toward her he deemed hon- orable, for he intended to make her his wife, though he had to marry her by force. But to do this he must first get rid of her husband, the pirate chief. By waiting, he might see Barton Keys hanged and thus Rita be made a widow. But he knew the indomitable pluck of the woman, he knew that she would not allow the Sea Ghoul to die at the yard-arm, and hence he dared not. wait. He had it in his power then to seem to help her, and yet to kill her husband. He had drilled young Mendez, the pirate lieutenant, well in his duties, and as Rita would be on board the schooner, hiding in a state-room, all would go well. Once she was at sea he had it all his own way, for Mendez, the buccaneer, was under pay from him. such were the thoughts of the money- lender, when a visitor was announced. ‘‘ Who is he, Bono?” , ‘*] have seen him before, senor, but some time ago; he is one you admit to your private office.” ‘‘] do not know who he can be; but show him in.”’ And in walked a man, about the middle hight of men, quick in his movements, ‘‘Life is not worth the living, Granger, ; strong-faced and with the manners of a gen- without the man I love with me.” Granger sighed, and the Smuggler Queen continued: ‘‘Now I must return to the city, for the day is getting old apace, and I am deter- mined that all shall go well. ‘‘Remember what I have told you, and be at the inn where I put up just about dark.” ‘‘T will not fail you, lady.” Then the Smuggler Queen returned to the shore, and bade the driver go rapidly back to the city. Arriving at her inn, she paid him well, and told him to have a pair of fresh horses hitched up and come for her at sunset. ‘‘T will not forget, sir,” said the driver, delighted with his generous fee. ‘Are you afraid to drive hard, my man?” ‘‘No, monsieur.” ‘‘Not afraid of a little night work?” **Oh, no, sir.” ‘‘And can keep your mouth shut, if you have a few of these in it?” and the diguis- pret rg placed in his hand a few pieces of gold. ‘“‘T can keep a secret, monsieur.” ‘Then you can make money by it. ‘‘ Be ere at sunset and wait for me, and emer tleman. He was dressed in an undress uniform, and | was evidently a sailor. ‘‘Don Rudolpho, how are you?” he said as he entered. ‘‘Why, Captain Palafox, is this indeed you?” cried the money-lender. ‘‘It is indeed,’ and the seaman took the hand co!dly which the money-lender warmly extended to him. ‘‘ Why, I did not expect to see you again, captain, since—” ‘“‘T have turned honest, you mean? “Well, Rudolpho, I tell you the truth when I say my heart was never in the red work. ‘*T was a wild fellow, my father sent me to sea, and had the screws put on me, tear- ing me away from a loved wife, a mere girl, at was a mere boy, and I went to the bad, for 1 was led into a mutiny on board a Spanish craft, and raised the sable colors upon her. ‘‘But I never attacked a home vessel, and I always spared life, and never harmed or robbed a woman. ‘““My wife I went back to, she accompa- nied me to sea, and died, leaving me an ocean born daughter. <eom JOO cS Cc con * , . “ . " ; 2 see SH ee lll A ae em ‘ ¥ : 7 5 F ¢ * e* - 4 eo wee SE I ee Ee - a et age | ame ee . ee 7 .