Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 346 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

' ~ de « a — aa | . ‘ ~) —_—— -— a ee eS a ee IE NT IE Ocean Guerrillas. 23 p.azza, leaving his guest, the naval comman- dant, to be entertained by Maud and Brad- | dark forms sprung toward the vehicle. ford Carr, both of whom were a trifle nerv- ous regarding the expected meeting with the pirate chief, the man who had so wronged them both. In his room in the inn, Captain Palafox was anxiously hoping for a visit from the one he supposed to be an old sailor, and lit- tle dreaming that the small crew, left on his beautiful schooner Sea Fox, had accept- ed a. bribe to betray the vessel, and were | bush, and then all was silent. then nervously watching for the coming of those 10 whom they had sold themselves. In a state-room of the Sea Fox sat Ru- dolpho, the money-lender, certainly on ‘the | heap. ** anxious bench.” There, in their boats were Captain Mendez | you did well. and his crew, well realizing their danger, | while ashore, hiding away in the grove of live-oaks were the young pirate and his men, waiting, watchful and determined. In her room at the inn, Rita, the Smug- gler Queen was waiting for the appointed time, and in his cell, unacquainted with what was transpiring for and against him, was Barton Keys, the pirate, hoping, de- Spairing, praying and cursing in one breath, as he felt what a fate had overtaken him. True as steel to the woman he loved, Chester Granger, the smuggler lieutenant, had his carriage and, men in readiness for whatever duty might devolve upon him. Thus the darkness hid many an anxious heart. The night had come in bleak and uncom- fortable, the severe storm that threatened having swept around to the southward, and not broken in violence as many had feared and some had hoped. Into the streets then rolled the Brandt car- riage, and driving through the arched portal of the carcel, drew rein by one of the vaulted passageways where the keeper bade the coachman halt. Soon, out of the dismal abode came four men, one of them heavily ironed. But his tall form towered above the others as he walked along with difficulty, ‘‘Where are you taking me, senor?” he asked the keeper, who just then came for- TENS accompanied by another person. ‘* Your presence is desired at Brandt Manor for some purpose, Sir Pirate, and I am send- ing you there under orders, though, if I had my Way, you would not leave this prison un- til you went to the gallows,” was the response of the keeper. The pirate chief made no reply, but got into the vehicle as he was directed. Then the three men who had led him out followed, and the keeper said: “Get on the box with the black, Hutch- ins, and see that you drive straight out and back.” The man who had come up with the keep- er then sprung upon the box with the negro coachman, who asked: ‘* All ready, massa?” ‘“* Yes.” 4 a I drives straight home, sah?” sc es,”’ Away started the vehicle, out into the streets, and along one that carried them to the avenue that ran along the river-bank, af- ter the levee terminated. For a short distance there were a few coun- try homes along the river-bank, and then no more until the villa of Colonel Brandt, which was in reality a plantation, or had been, un- til encroached upon by the growth of the city. Boon one side of the road were orange- trees, growing in a row in front of a Cher- okee hedge, and upon the other only the levee, protecting the land and town from the river's overflow. Ahead of them loomed up the point upon which stood half a hundred live-oak trees, and where there were seats for those who cared to stroll thither and sit on the river- bank. As the road ran through these trees, they darkened the way greatly, and, with the ave falling, it was a dismal spot on that night. he driver had a heavy load, and he was going at a slow pace, picking his way and, on account of the increased darkness in the trees’ shadows, he drew his horses down to a walk. Then suddenly there flashed out from the “‘ Ay, ay, Captain Mendez,” came the an- swer in the voice of Carlos Mendez. At the flashes of the weapons the horses ‘Bravo! now all is ready. bounded forward, to fall struggling in their ‘Raise that hook now, and we'll be off,” tracks, for they had been riddled with bul- | and a moment after, as the two boats touched lets, _the side, the light anchor left the bottom, At the same time, without cry or moan, | and the Sea Fox swung around and darted the negro driver and the one by his side fell down the river, while upon the city shore headlong from the box. _was heard by those on her decks the rapid Then out of the carsiage-window poured a | rumble of carriage-wheels. fire, when it was returned by those in am- In the mean time, during these successful movements of the pirates, in the ambush of the Brandt carriage, and the cutting out of darkness a score of shots, and a number of Out of the vehicle the forms were dragged, } | the chains of the pirate chief clanking as he | the schooner, the Smuggler Queen had not fell heavily upon the ground and lay in a | been idle. As soon as it grew dark she went down to ‘‘Come, lads, they are all done for, and | the vehicle, in which waited Chester Gran- | ger and his men, and entering it, bade the ‘To our boats, for we must be off!’ cried driver go slowly along the street leading to a voice, and the party started rapidly over | the jail. the levee, several of them delaying to search | As the vehicle got near that dismal abode | the bodies for what valuables they had on | of sin, those within saw a carriage enter the | them. portal, and Chester Granger said: ‘‘ It is the Brandt carriage, for I recognize it by the swinging lamp in the arch.” _ ** Then order our men to drive us down to ‘“Come, I say! do you expect to get gold | off a turnkey?’ sternly cried the one who had before spoken, and then he added: “We have no time to lose, if we wish to , the levee avenue and wait.”’ save our necks,”’ The vehicle again rolled on, and soon halt- Entering the two boats lying against the | ed in an out-of-the-way spot, but where a from view. CHAPTER XXXVIII. RITA'S COUNTERPLOT. WHEN the darkness of night began to set- tle down upon the city and the river, Ru- dolpho, the money-lender, sought a secluded spot, enveloped in a heavy cloak, and spring- ing into a small boat, which he had before ordered to be placed there for his conveni- ence, rowed out upon the stream. The money-lender was no mean oarsman, and he sent the boat at a quick pace toward the other shore, and aiming for a single light that was burning in that direction. Soon he ran alongside of the schooner, Sea Fox, answering the hail of the one on deck in a satisfactory manner. ‘* Well, my man, I was bidden to tell you to show me quarters in a state-room where I could remain unseen,’’ he said. ‘*T understand you, sir, if you are a friend of the young gentleman who came this after- noon.” **T am.” ‘“* Then this way, sir; but what about your boat?” ‘“* Cast it adrift.” ‘‘ All right, sir, you know best,” and the traitor boatswain led the money-lender into a state-room forward of the schooner’s large and comfortable cabin. Returning to the deck the boatswain was met by a seaman who reported that some boats were coming down the stream. Going rapidly forward the boatswain hail- ed, in a voice just loud enough to reach the ears of those whom he addressed: ‘‘ Boats ahoy!” ** Ahoy the Fox!” came the griff answer. “Who and what are you?” “‘Sea Foxes,” was the response. ‘“‘ Ay, ay, sir, come alongside!”’ A moment after four boats filled with men ran alongside of the schooner, and quickly the craft had a crew. Captain Mendez was at the head of the party, and walked aft with the boatswain, to whom he said: et firing heard over on the city shore, sir ** No, sir.” ‘‘ All ready to sail?” ‘“The schooner is all stored and ammuni- tioned, sir, and hangs by a light mud-hook only, while sail can be set in a few minutes.” “ All right; have her ready to fly at.a sec- ond’s notice, for we have a stiff breeze, and the night is black mene’ to avoid being seen— Ha! see those those shots! ‘‘My boy is at work yonder, and will be aboard immediately. “Come, get sail on the craft at once!” The order was guiokiy obeyed, and soon ' ashing across the | on after in another carriage, for I intend to after two boats came river in the darkness and the storm ‘It is my boy and his men,” said Captain | traitors.” Mendez, and then aloud he hailed: ‘Ho, those boats!’ | shore the men, who had just enacted a scene | view of the avenue leading to the Brandt 'so deadly, seized the oars and pulled out | villa could be seen, rapidly into the stream, soon disappearing | In half an hour after Chester Granger, who had sprung out and was watching the drive, returned and reported that the Brandt carriage had passed. ‘Then follow quickly,” said the Smug- gler Queen, and then she added: ‘** All may be well; but if there is any foul play intended by any one, we will be on hand to thwart it— Ha! what is that?” Chester Granger sprung out of the vehicle, to find that in backing out of the place into which he had driven, the driver had broken one of the breast-straps, for the mud was deep. It took some minutes to repair this dam- age, and the Smuggler Queen was nearly wild with impatience. But, the damage repaired, the driver drove rapidly on. ut he had not gone a dozen lengths of the vehicle, when the rattle of shots was heard. ‘* Drive! for your life, drive!” shouted the Smuggler Queen. . But just there the road was rough, the mud deep, and it was some minutes before the driver drew rein in the live-oak grove, ‘* Then, what a scene met the eyes of those who sprung from the vehicle! There lay the horses, dead, and hitehed to the carriage. Upon them had fallen the negro guide and guard, and upon either side of the open door were two prostrate forms. ‘* Dead! dead!” shrieked Rita, the Lady Captain, and she threw herself upon the body of the chained pirate. ‘‘ No! he is not dead! he lives! | ‘*Quick! place him in the carriage, an we'll drive back to the city, for those devils have gone, and there has been vile treachery here!” and the voice of the Smuggler Queen was hoarse with passion. ‘“‘No; Lam not dead! the bullet glanced on my head here, and stunned me.” It was Barton Keys, the pirate, who spoke, ‘and Rita threw her arms about him, while she cried: ‘* Saved! thee!” ‘* Yes, I am saved; but there was treach- ery, Rita, for we were fired upon with- out mercy, and your friends betrayed you, or tried to by killing me, if, as 1 believe, you laid this plot for my escape,” said Bar- — ton Keys. did, and, in spite of those I bribed to aid me, you are free. ‘‘But we must away. saved! Holy Virgin, I thank Quick, my man, ashes! and hear | drive back to the city, and do you know the Red Anchor Inn?” ‘*] do,” answered the amazed coachman. ‘‘ Stop there and—”’ “But why, Rita?” urged the chief. ‘*] will leave you there, and come rapidly put the Sea Fox on the track of yonder ‘*Palafox?”’ ‘Yes, for he stops at the Red Anchor. Eomicbooks (E()