Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| ‘You are right, Senor Perdido, she is gain- ing, and I'll see what the guns will do. ‘‘ Clear those bow-guns there for action!” The deep tones of their huge captain, caused the crew to spring to their work, and the bow- guns were soon ready, ‘* All ready, sir!” called out the gunner. “ Wire a solid shot over her, as a hint to come to!” This was done, but it had no effect upon the chase other than to dash the spray upon her decks, for the shot struck right astern of her, andl, with a ricochet, went above her decks. ‘. He pays no attention to us. “Give it to him again, sir,” called out the yhoo Buccaneer, and once again the gun was rea, This time the shot cut through the sails, yet: still the little craft held on. “ As I live, she is dropping us; so fire with both guns, and keep it bs until she obeys our iron orders,” shouted the Giant Buccaneer. Both bew-guns now opened lively, and they were well-aimed, for the shots cut through the sails of the flying craft, and were also seen to splinter the bulwarks, decks and spars, But the little vessel held on its way, and Ir- ving Brandt could be plainly seen standing at the helm. ; But he did not flinch at the hot fire of the schooner, and after awhile his black crew were seen to man his stern-guns and he began to hit ack, And thus the chase went on, the little vessel steadily gaining, and yet suffering from the fire of the schooner, Finding that the yacht would not come to, even under the iron hail poured upon her, the Giant Buccaneer cried: ** Stand by those port guns, and, helmsman, luff sharp, and I'll give her a broadside!” Then the schooner luffed sharp, and while her sails were fluttering, her whole broadside was poured upon the flying craft. A yell broke from the pirate crew as they saw her stagger under the broadside, and then come to, while her flag fluttered down to the deck. ‘By Heaven! Giant Buccaneer. ‘Yes, and I shall have my revenge upon that accursed boy,” hissed Perdido through his shut teeth, while his eyes lighted up with a baleful glare at his anticipated vengeance upon tie dar- ing midshipman who bad so thwarted him in On plot to get riches by robbing the Smuggler ueen, but she is ours,” cried the CHAPTER XXV. THE GIANT BUCCANEER BEGINS WORK. THERE was one person on the Skeleton Flag, as the buccaneer schooner was called, which the iant had so cleverly taken possession of, who fad been watching the flying yacht most atten- tively, and had his glass to his eye at the time that the broadside was poured upon her. When, therefore, the Owl was seen to luff up suddenly, after receiving the broadside of the schooner, and the Giant Buccaneer believed she had surrendered, and Perdido was congratu- le himself upon } yetotng his revenze, the pi- rate lieutenant called out: ** She is off again!” * What do you mean?” cried the Giant Bucca- neer, turning his Peay upon the yacht. ‘* Your broadside killed the negro at the helm, and he luffed before it could be helped. ‘‘Then a young man in uniform rushed to the tiller, and see, she is again flying.” ‘‘ By the saints! but it is true, ‘¢ (tive her the other broadside there—let her es off, helmsman—steady! now let her have it! re!” The schooner’s side seemed like a flame of fire, but her shots flew wide, and the yacht rushed on unhurt. As thé buccaneer had now lost considerable time in delivering his broadsides, and the Sea Owl had not been delayed half a minute, the capture of the little craft must depend upon her oe crippled by the bow-guns of the Skele- ton Flag. But, with another negro at the helm, Irving was manning and aiming his stern-guns him- self, and with such accuracy that he cut away a foretopmast of the schooner, and then her bowsprit. ‘ ‘‘Curse that fellow! he handles his craft as well as a commodore ever did a line-of-battie ship,” cried the Giant Buccaneer. «© And will escape us,” said Perdido, ‘Will? He has escaped, for we can do him no harm now. ; : ‘‘ Well. another time I hope to meet him; but he is a plucky fellow, and I am glad he got off, for if I catch him, ll let him go free, after rob- bing him.” , ‘You may, Senor Captain; but I have a debt to settle with him,” hissed Perdido. * Then you will have to ‘pay it elsewhere than on this vessel, Senor Perdido, for I command here, and I admire the young midshipman, from all I have seen of him, too much to see him come to bodily barm, **But I shall head now for Lake Borgne, and run Into 4 safe hiding-place.” ~~? The Giant Buccaneer. ** And then, captain, may I ask?” “*T shall visit the city, for 1 need more men, some equipments and to attend to a little pri- vate business, not to speak of the booty your mother wishes me to dispose of. ‘* By the way, do you know the city well?” ‘*T do, captain.” ‘* Well, you can aid me, and perhaps take me to some one who will be a good man to make my agent for the disposal of booty?” ‘*T know just the man, Captain English.” ‘*Then we will seek him.” ‘** Pardon me, if I cannot accompany you, for there are circumstances that will render it un- safe for me to do so. “To be frank with you, I once was in his em- ploy.” ‘** Ah! and set sail with his gold, leaving him the experience gained by your act.” ‘**Oh, no! [ took nothing from him; but there was a woman in the case, and I used my know- ledge, gained in his service to further my ends, so would prefer not to meet him.” ‘* As you please; but who is he?” **One Don Rudolpho, known as a money- lender, and purchaser of gems.” “Where is he located?” ‘*On Bienville street.” ‘** And a good inn, not too public, can you tell me of, where I can put up?” ‘““The Date Tree Inn,* on the corner of Tou- louse and Dauphin street.” ““T thank you,” and the Giant Buccaneer wrote the address of the money-lender and the inn down. Arriving in a secure hiding-place on the lake- shore, Captain English took a small boat and rowed to a fisherman’s hamlet not far distant, and from thence went to the city. Before leaving the vessel he had dressed him- self neatly in the garb of a coast planter, for he well knew that he attracted attention from his great size. Making his way to the city, he put up at the Date Tree Inn, securing most comfortable rooms, for his tastes were luxurious, and it had been long since he had known what luxury was. Having become settled, as it were, in his new quarters, he sallied forth to seek Chartres street, on Phage dwelt Don Rudolpho, the money- ender. CHAPTER XXVI. THE MONEY-LENDER AND THE SMUGGLER. THE news brought by the messenger to Coin- mandant Nazro, when he was at the Brandt villa, to the effect that Rita, the Smuggler Queen had escaped, wag certainly of a most startling character. It sent the naval commandant, Captain Pala- fox, and Irving Brandt to the city in haste, for if the Smuggler Queen was free it meant mischief. Some hours after, Irving Brandt returned. The family were waiting up for him. “Well, Irving, my son, what news do you bring?” asked Colonel Brandt. ‘“The keeper of the carcel, sir, could tell us little of anything more than that the woman a escaped. ‘*He was not at the jail at the time, and was too excited to speak rationally, for he knew that he would lose his place, ‘* But, father, I think we better sail for the plantation to-morrow,” ‘* As you deem best my son.” And so it was decided, and Irving retired to his room, happy in the thought that he would have those he loved beyond the woman’s re- vengful reach, for he did not believe that she would follow them there, and be contented with striking a revengeful blow only at him, as she had threatened. But to explain the escape of the Lady Ca tain, so soon’after incarceration, I must ask the reader to accompany me to the levee, upon the evening of the arrival of the yacht on board of which the Smuggler Queen was brought a pris- oner to the city. Standing under the shadow of a large live-oak tree, watching the approaching vessel, was a man apparently bent with years, although there seemed about him a certain military air, for he wore a cloak, carried a gold-headed cane, and his eyes had a flash in them that seemed to belie his gray hair and beard. ‘‘ There comes the’yacht,” he muttered, as the Sea Owl hove in sight, coming up the river in the early twilight. Waiting until he saw her drop anchor, he be- held a negro depart in haste, evidently bearing some important message. Without the slightest sign of impatience, he kept his stand, now shielded by the darkness, and saw a vehicle drive up to the landing, and = boat put off with several men to the Sea wil, Then he beheld the boat leave the craft to come shoreward; he walked slowly along, arriving opposited the vehicle just as three men and a woman landed. “It is Rita,” muttered the old man, and he * § ill standing, though under another name. —THE AUTHOR, } _ wee TT o re a ES ER FE Be OEE Se re pT “TE. x ’ 7 - ~ 13 walked briskly away until he caught a passing carriage that was empty, and he called to the Srey slipped a piece of gold into his hand and said: - ror that vehicle in sight.” This the coachman did, and when the party were set down in the city carcel, the old man dismissed his driver, and wended his way in tho direction of Chartres street. Arriving at a door over which hung a sign, with the name thereon of ‘“RUDOLPHO, MONEY-LENDER,” he entered. A bright-looking yous greeted him, and asked how he could serve him, *‘ I wish to see Don Rudolpho, please.” The youth disappeared in an inner room, and soon returned with the information that the Don would see him, Entering the private room of the money- mag the old man saw that personage before m. ‘* Well, senor, in what can I serve you, for I see that we are strangers, though m ee Bono mistook you for one of my old frien ?” said the Don, riot unpleasantly, “T am an old friend, Don Rudolpho, for Iam Chester Granger,” was the reply. ‘** By Jupiter! you are well made up, Gran- ger. ‘*Give me your hand in greeting, for it has been some time since we last met.” ‘* Not since you recommended me as an officer to the Smuggler Queen, for which I thank you, Don Rudolpho, and I bave tried to do my duty.” ‘* No doubt of that, Granger, for you are such a deuced good fellow, I am always sorry when I think you have gone crooked.” ‘“Thank you, and it is the regret of my life that 1 did so; but, having dishonored my name, I can but remain as I am,” ‘*But the Lady Rita?” ** Alas! she is in trouble.” ‘Ah! again, when I believed all well with her, after her successful flight with her hus- band,” ‘* She escaped all right with him; but he has come to grief.” ‘*The Sea Ghoul again a prisoner?” cried the money-lender. “cc Vy orse,” ‘Great God! can it be that—” ‘* He is dead.” It was upon the lips of the money-lender to fervently say: “Thank God!” But he restrained himself just in time, and said instead: ‘*Can this be possible?” oe ae” ts ‘**'You know this?” **T saw him die.” ‘* Killed in a sea-chase, I suppose?” “No, Don Rudolpho, Captain Keys died with a rope around his neck,” . The money-lender was on his feet, while he cried: ‘** Hanged?” “ec Yes.” * By whom?” ‘‘Irving Brandt, the midshipman.” “This is startling news you tell me, Senor Granger; but his beautiful widow, the Lady Captain” ‘** Went to the carcel a few minutes ago.” Don Rudolpho shuddered, and he was visibly. affected. He loved Rita, the Smuggler Queen, in bis way, with all his heart, and though he was glad to hear that ber busband was dead, no matter how, he was deeply pained to feel that she was a sufferer. In his keeping he had a small bag of precious stones belonging to the dead pirate. . Had this secret died with Barton Keys so that they would be his, or was it known to others? hese thoughts of gain crowded through his brain in spite of his distress for Rita. , Then he said calmly: ** Tell me of all this, Granger.” In a few words Chester Granger made known to him how bitterly cruel the Smuggler Queen been to the midshipman, her leaving him. in the sea to swim to the Witch’s Island as his only safety, and then the finding him adrift on the Gulf in his coffin craft. The sighting, chase, and the ‘ catching of a Tartar,” in the Brandt yacht, he made known, with the speedy hanging of the Sea Ghoul by the midshipman. ‘** But how did you escape, senor?” almost sus- piciously asked the money-lender. ‘** Midshipman Brandt took his craft and ne- gro crew, with Lady Rita and myself as prison- ers, to go to Mobile on some business that called him there. ; ‘‘ The other prisoners were sent to the city with Mr. Carr, and I then knew why he had thus taken the Queen and myself.” ** And why was it?” ‘He did not wish to see me hanged, for the cake of the olden times, and he did not wish to — deliver a woman over to the law for punish- ment. **The boy has a heart.” a JOO CeConaliice m cS (Elo) Se | ——_——_-—- | |