Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

—_ h The Giant Buccaneer. *¢ A noble one indeed.” ** And the result, senor?” ‘‘He set me free, even offering me gold, in Mobile, and tried to give the Smuggler Queen her pardon.” “Tried to?” ** Yes, for she would not accept it.” **Do you mean it?” ‘* Yes, she refused to leave the vessel, and forced him to bring her here.” ‘*And why was this?” asked Don Rudolpho, in surprise. ‘*She had seen him kill her father, though it was in a combat, and hang her husband, and she would accept no favor at his hands.” “This is strange.” *¢ You know her, and that she is as firm as iron, so I left, and she came on here.” ‘* Ha! is she here now?” ** She is” ** And where?” ** In the city carcel.” **My God!” ‘- T took a lake craft over, and arrived sooner than did the yacht, which got in to-night.” ** And you saw her land?” **T did, and drive to the carcel.” “This is fearful, for the poor girl must suffer eatly.” ** She certainly does, yet will not show it. ‘* Her father and her husband are both dead and she loved the one with all her heart, and idolized the other. ‘Now she is herself in prison, and a life-sen- tence will be her fate if—” ‘Tf what, Senor Granger?” ‘Tf we do not rescue her.” ‘* We will do it,” said the money-lender, ear- nestly. CHAPTER XXVILI. THE RIVALS. Wuat he said to Chester Granger regarding the rescue of the Smuggler Queen, the money- lender meant. He was glad to be able to make a strong point in his favor with Rita by being her rescuer. Of course he expected the smuggler lieutenant to serve under him in the matter. He was in love with the strange and beauti- ful woman, as I have said, and could he save her from a life-long imprisonment, he would do all in his power to win her by kindness after- ward. He had sought the removal of her husband from his path more than once; but she did not know that, and alone in the world she must cling to the one who served her best. So he thought, as he sat in silence after his words that he intended to save her. But the brain of Chester Granger was busy, He also loved the Lady Captain, and with a assion little less than what she had felt for her usband. Barton Keys had been his professed friend, and yet he it was who had ruined him. True, he had had his revenge in betraying Barton Keys to Bradford Carr: but the luck of the pirate had so well served him that he had escaped, and when the two had again met, the one was on the deck of his pirate schooner, the other a lieutenant on the fleet lugger of the Lady Captain. Then and there the Sea Ghoul, having the power, would have avenged himself upon the man who had betrayed him, but his wife pro- tected her lieutenant, and a nominal friendship had been patched up between them. Loving Rita, Chester Granger had yet helped her to rescue her husband from prison. He had told her of his love, too, and she had promised him, if the Sea Ghoul died, and he aided her more, that she would become his wife. ‘Thus matters stood at the time of the capture of the Smuggler Queen. _ Neither the money-lender or the smuggler lieutenant could fathom the thoughts of each each and little did either dream that they were rivals, ‘“‘Tt was my firm determination to rescre her, and that is why I came to New Orleans, for she has been too kind to me for me to allow her to be sent for life behind iron bars,” remarked the smuggler lieutenant, after the two had sat in silence for some time. ‘‘Have you thought of a plan?’ asked Don Rudolpho. Be a hundred, yet hardly one that is fea- e “Tet me hear of one, for instance?” “‘ Well, while a prisoner on the yacht, I came across a piece of blank parchment, with the stamp and seal of the navy commandant upon it, and this I took off of the table, from a num- ber of papers which Midshipman Brandt had taken from an oilskin wallet and placed there, while he went on deck to get a look at some sail in sight.” “That blank may be of use.” ‘a ““ So I thought, though I hated to take it from _ one who was treating me so well.” “Bah! a man in your calling. Lieutenant Granger, should never have a conscience.” “Tt is that which troubles me, for I cannot get rat rid of certain scruples.” ** Well, to the paper?” ‘*T have it here.” ‘* And your idea of using it?” ‘* That it might be made useful in getting the Smuggler Queen out of the carcel, if she was | placed there.” ‘* Tt can be.” ‘* You see how?” “Not exactly, but I will think up a plan of using it.” ‘* f had thought,” continued Chester Granger, slowly, ‘‘ that it might be used in this way.” ‘* 1 am listening, senor.” ** A number of marines, under an officer, bear- ing this blank, filled up with an order for the Smuggler Queen to be sent immediately to the guard ship, might serve well.” ‘* But the officer and marines would have to be bribed heavily.” ‘Oh, no, for | mean your men to represent them.” A Ah! that is a grand idea, and I will carry it out. ‘* The sooner the better.” ‘**Of course, Senor Granger.” ‘* And some arrangement must be made to get the Smuggler Queen off after her escape.” ‘* Certainly; have you thought of how?” ** You know her old craft the Sea Owl is in port, and the Lady Maud yacht lies in the lake | at anchor.” %*. Feu. ‘*Tt would be easier to board the yacht and run her off, where all is open sailing, than the , Sea Owl here in the river.” ac True.” ‘* Well, I will see to that; but I must have | men.” ' *T can get those for you, I think; but just now I bave a large crew off under a captain, who went on a special duty for me; but the news you bring me of the death of the Sea Ghoul and capture of his wife, proves that my plans miscarried— Well, Bono, what is it?” and the money-lender turned to the boy who just then entered. ‘*The Senor Monte to see you, senor.” ‘“*Ha! he back again? ‘* Say to him I willsee him soon; but you were saying, Senor Granger—” ‘* We were speaking of procuring a crew for | the yacht.” ** Ah, yes; that I will do, and I am sure it can be done; but no time must be lost.” ‘*No; what we do, we must do promptly, Senor Rudolpho.” ‘* And how many men will you need?” ‘* A score of men.” ** So many?” ‘¢Tt will be well to have enough to defend the craft.” ‘Certainly; but what will you do after the Lady Captain escapes?” ‘‘She will be the judge as to that; but I hope she will be content to relinquish the wild and perilous life she leads.” ** And you, senor?” ‘‘ T will also gladly give it up and try to live more honestly.” ‘*Perhaps also try to win the heart of the irate’s lovely widow for your own bride?” and on Rudolpho smiled blandly. ‘‘ Would to God I could,” was the energetic rejoinder of the young smuggler. ‘Aha! Isee something to keep my eye on, for he is my rival, and a dangerous one, for he is a score of years younger, though he does not look it, and he’s handsome as a painting,” mut- tered the money-lender. But aloud he said: ‘Tt would be a good thing, senor, if you could win ber love, and thus take her from the wild life she leads.” ‘* Tt would, indeed. ‘* My interest in her is on account of the deep friendship I have held for her husband since first knowing him and I will spend my gold freely to rescue her.” ‘Then we will adopt my plan, you think?” **T certainly can see none better.” * And I will go and look over the Lady Maud at her anchorage, and then arrange to be meade for to-morrow night.” ‘* Yes; do so.” ‘* And where will I meet your men?” ‘* The crew?” ‘*No, the pretended officer and marines who are to carry out my plan of rescue?” Don Rudolpho was thoughtful a moment and then said: ‘¢ Tl tell you how I'll fix that. ‘¢ You will meet the crew at any given point on the lake-shore you think best and make known to me, so that I can have them report to you. ‘‘ With them you are to seize the yacht and sail through the Rigoletts to another anchorage along the coast where it is the shortest cut across to the river, and I will have the rescue party ready, with vehicles, awaiting them, and a large boat on the river. ** As soon as she is free, they will drive to the river, take the boat and row up to the point nearest where they can meet you.” ‘* This isa good plan; but tomake that distance in the yacht, I should seize her to-night.” nn i A a ** Yes.” ** But can I do so?” ‘Tf you get the crew.” ** And can they be secured?” ** Yes, I think so; but where are you stopping?” ‘** At the Date Tree Inn.” “Ah, yes, and as—” ** George Chester, Alabama planter.” | ‘**T see, and I will communicate with you there | in acouple of hours, so you had better at once take horse and ride out to the Jake and get the locality of the yacht’s anchorage, and—” ‘** That I know, for I came from Mobile here in a coaster that anchored near her.” ‘* The very thing, so you can go out with your men, and soon seize the yacht and run her off. “T will call for you, as soon as I have secured your crew, Senor Granger.” '* The smuggler lieutenant took thisas an adios, and rising, departed, while Don Rudolpho mut- | tered as the door closed upon him: ** Aha! you would athe, from me my bride, would you, Chester Granger? **Oh, no! I have sworn to make that womam my wife, and by Heaven I will notallow any life to stand between the accomplishemeut of my | ends—no, not a seore of lives!” CHAPTER XXVIII. DON RUDOLPHO’S VISITORS. | AFTER Chester Granger, the smugelez lieu- tenant, had left the sanetum of the money- lender, the visitor whom Bono had announc- ed as waiting to see the Don was ushered into the private room. It was a man of fine presence, once a navak | Officer, but fallen from grace beeause a gam- bler, and had been the one selected by the money-lender to carry out his sehemes against the Smuggler Queen. But the handsome gambler had a haggard look not usual upon his face, in spite of his late losses and ups and downs of luck. “Well, Monte, I am glad to see you | back. “You are welcome,” said the money- lender, with the suggestion of a sneer in his tone. ‘* Whether I am welcome or not I eare Iit- tle, Rudolpho; but | am glad to get back,” was the reply, as the gambler threw himself into a chair. ‘You cut the schooner out all right?” ‘* Oh, yes.” ‘* And escaped to sea in her?” ‘* Certainly.” ‘‘And captured the lugger I sent you after?” ‘No. ‘You did not capture the Queen Smug- gler’s craft?” ‘‘T did not.” ‘** Nor the Queen herself?” sé No ” ‘‘And then could not have hanged the Sea Ghoul, her husband, as I paid you to do?” ‘*No, but [ came most infernally near be- ing hanged myself.” ‘* You don’t mean it?” ‘*Fact; and you'll not catch me making a fool of myself going to sea under dark flags: any more. ‘‘T was a fool to doit this time; but my luck had been a little off of late, and 1 con- cluded to take your offer, which was a liberal one. “T got out all right, but before I found the lugger of the Smuggler Queen I was found by the Sea Fox, who it seems gave immediate chase, and the infernal crew I had were too cowardly to fight, soI ran the craft in-shore, took to the boats, and was nearly drowned trying to find dry land sam in the swamps to get back to the cit Se, 2 You had a hard time,” ‘‘T certainly did.” ** And the crew?” ‘Some were killed, others wounded by the Sea Fox, and the balance swam, waded and walked, and came in Indian canoes through the bayous, and here I am.” “You look pale.” ‘*1 feel pale.” The money-lender laughed slightly, and then said: : ‘Well, [am sorry your affair turned out so badly, Monte; but the girl is here whom I wished you to capture and take charge of for me.” Nal” “Fact; so it comes round all right, and I might as well pay you what I owe you. “ But tell me, would you like another voy- age, if I found the chance for you?’ peeks mie 1€O oo