Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 CHAPTER XXXITI. THE SEA OWL SETS SAIL, Wate Don Rudolpho, the money-lender, was receiving his last three visitors, Chester Granger was busy making his arrangements for his midnight attack on the Lady Maud, He knew well what her capacity and sail- ing qualities were, for he had been a guest upon her in the days that were forever past for him. Securing a horse, he dashed to the lake- shore at a sweeping gallop, and discovered the yacht lying rather close inshore, and with no other vessel very near her at anchor, she having changed her anchorage since he had come in on the coaster which had brought him from Mobile, Going to a hut, a wretched sailor’s inn, not far away, he hired a couple of boats for use, rowed them toaconvenient point on the coast, and rode back to the city in the same sweep ing gallop. Arriving at the inn, he found that there was a party there to see him, and he reported that a score of men were ready, Waiting to obey his orders. ‘‘Don Rudolpho has been prompt,” he said, and then he went to meet his new crew, procuring vehicles upon the way, and half an hour after they were on the way to the lake. The boats were found where he had left them, the oars were muffled, and the party rowed out to the y yacht. ‘You follow me, my men, when we reach the yacht; but I wish no life taken under any circumstances, for there is only a negro crew on board, ‘‘AsT am known to them, and do not wish to be recognized, I will m: isk my face.” With this Chester Gran ger placed a mask over his face. In perfect silence the two hoats approach- ed the yacht, one on either side. The negro guard on deck was leaning against the mast dozing, and thought not of danger until he was seized. ‘“{ need this craft, my man, so if you value your life, make no outcry, ” sternly said Chester Granger, and the frightened negro made no response, ‘‘Now go down and tell your comrades that if they surrender quietly they shall not be harmed; but if they make an outcry, or resist, I will shut you all up below, set the yacht on fire, and send her out to sea.’ With this fearful threat ringing in his ears, _ the negro went below, and then was heard ‘the hum of voices in carnest conversation, one seeming to urge resistance. ‘‘Come out of there, one at a time, or you shall die. “I shall order you but once!” sternly said Chester Granger, and instantly he was obey- ed, the negro first captured coming first on eck. “Then followed the others until all had came out, and were secured. “Put them in the boats, lads, and pull " them ashore. ‘There leave them until morning, when they will" be found and reieased; but gag By them first, and see that they cannot escape. i - “Oh, but you'll have ter suffer fer dis night's work, gemmans, for my young massa hain’t one ter let dis pass,” cried Woods, the negro mate, as they thrust a gag into his mouth. ‘ But he was quickly silenced, and, with the . / others, was taken ashore. There they were left in one of the boats, all huddled together, while the pirates returned in the yacht’s skiff. | Twisting himself around as well as he . could, Woods saw, with an almost broken heart, the Lady Maud's anchor hauled up, sail set, and then the pretty craft glide away and disappear i in the darkness. Violently he struggled to free himself, but found it a most difficult matter. At last he began to rub the ropes about his wrists upon the boat’s gunwale. Frequently it would tear the flesh, but the brave negro kept up his steady motion, and strand by strand was cut. ' But several turns of the rope had been taken around his wrists, and so tied that each one had to be cut. Thus several hours passed away before he was able to free himself. i. Then he took the gag from his mouth, and could hardly repress a ‘shout of joy. sv ro) he byt i ata iiiccis <3. Giant Buccaneer. In a few minutes more his comrades were free, and at a rapid walk they started for the city. Dawn broke while they were upon the way, and the sun arose above the horizon as they reached the grounds of the Brandt mansion, The negro butler was just opening the house, but quickly he led Woods to the room of the young midshipman. In amazement Irving heard his story, and then said: ** Woods or Mr. Ca r to know of this. ‘Tf father does, he will not wish to return | to the plantation, ‘and I am anxious that he should; so go with your men to the Sea Owl, anchored in the river, and I will make some excuse and take the family over to the plan- tation in her.’ Woods departed, and at the breakfast-table Irving appeared as though nothing had hap- pened, but made an excuse about taking the Sea Owl instead of the Lady Maud, and being governed by the youth, it was so decided, That night the news came of the escape of the Smugeler Queen from the carcel, and to Commandant Nazro Irving made known the fact of the Ladv Maud’s having been cut out from her anchorage, The commandant was amazed, and told him that as soon as he could send Midship- man Nat Manly, with a crew, over to the plantation he would do so, that Irving might man the Sea Owl and make it his first busi- ness to hunt down and recapture the Lady Maud. The morning after the escape of the Smug- gler Queen, Colonel Brandt and his family, of whom Myrtle was now considered one, went on board the Sea Owl, to set sail for their plantation home, Woods and his crew were on board, and , I do not wish my father, sister | Ss ‘‘ Let her fall off before the wind, Woods, for I will run close in, anchor, and make a landing.” ‘*And I will go with you, Irving.” ‘No, Mr. Carr, for if there was any trou- there, Sis Maud would never forgive me if [ got you hurt. “Vl go with Woods and four of the bovs, and if I find there is danger, I will retrc: and leave the search until I get my navy crew.” Half an hour after, the Sea Owl ran cli se in toward the breakers, and Irving Brandt sprung into the lugger’s boat, with Woods and four of the negro crew, all thoroughly armed, and rowed slowly shoreward, the midshipman acting as a pilot through the breaks in the reefs that encircled the Death Island. CHAPTER XXXIV. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. Stow1y along the channel, leading through the reefs, Irving Brandt piloted his boat, the four negro oarsmen pulling with a steady stroke, and ready to ‘‘ back water” in an in- stant at any threatening danger ahead, But the channel was deep, and in scme places quite wide, so that the youth’s quick eye readily picked out a course through the dangers, The hour was not far from sunset, and upon the deck of the yacht, which had let fall one anchor, stood Colonel Brandt, Bradford Carr, Maud ‘and Myrtle, all attentively watching the boat alternately with the island. The tutor had wished to accompany the youth, as also had the colonel; but Irving was firm in his determination not to allow them to do so, for he knew not what danger he had to face, and saw no necessity for his father and brother-in-law risking themselves. the colonel asked, as he saw them all present: ‘* Who have you left in charge of the Lady | Maud, my son?” ‘‘She is in hands that will take the best | care of her, father,” was Irving’s evasive an- swer. ‘* Oh, yes; I do not doubt that,” responded the colonel, and then farewells were said to Commandant Nazro, Captain Palafox and other friends who had come to see them off, and the lugger-yacht set sail and he aded | down tie river, Irving himself taking the helm, As he thought of the capture of the Lady | Maud, and the escape of the Smuggler Queen he could not but feel that the two had some connection, and wondered if it was reall best that his father, sister, Myrtle and Brad- ford Carr should return to the plantation. But Maud was married then, and he in- | tended to tell Bradford Oarr before he left, just what threats the Smuggler Queen had made, and also about the capture of the Lady Maud. He knew that, put thus on his guard, Bradford Carr would keep a close watch for any danger that might threaten, while he, with the Sea Owl and a good crew, would take good care to find and capture the Lady Maud, if it could be done, Not for himself did Irving feel blue, but for others, against whom he feared the Lady pepe might strike to avenge herself upon : 1im Without incident the run down the river | was made, and the Sea Ow] went flying along | down the coast on the waters of the Gulf. Once in the open Gulf, and Irving felt more at ease, for he knew the speed of the little vessel, and had no fear of any pursuer overtaking him. The followi ing day he came in sight of the ed a cove was & ‘T’ve been used to danger all my life,” said Myrtle, ‘‘T think you might let me go.” But Irving was firm, and arming himself _ thoroughly, and bidding the boat’s crew to do the same, he set out on his trip to the island. Finding a spot to land, he rowed toward it, to suddenly discover that what he had dcem- » bayou, or lagoon, penetratir e into the interior of the island, Up this he rowed for some little distance, and then landed. The boat had now disappeared from the sight of those watching upon the yacht’s deck, and they anxiously awaited its reap- pearance, ‘‘ Woods, I want you to remain in the boat, while two of the boys walk around the island this way, and two others that. way + Keep along the beach, search the shores. as you go along for anything that looks sus- picious, and when you meet on the other side come back through the center, all together to the boat. ‘“Do you understand?” The negroes gave areply in the affirmative, while Woods asked: ‘‘And which way does you go, massa? ‘“T will climb this hill and go at once into the interior of the island.” ws “Tf you want us, massa, jist shout, or shoot a weepon, an ’ we'll come thar, sah.” ‘‘T know that, Woods, and I will give the signal if I need you. “Now, boys, you start on your way, for Woods. will put two of you across the bayou, and V’ll take an inland hunt.” Bo saying Irving left the shore and wend- ed his way into the interior at a quick step, climbing the hill before him, and passing on through the thicket of stunted pines that hid Death Island, as the desolate spot was then known to seamen, and was giving it a wide berth, when, looking searchingly at it through his glass, he said suddenly: ‘‘Mr. Carr, there is some one on that is- | land.” ‘‘It does not have the name of being in- | habited, Irving, except it is peopled by the | ghosts of the poor Junfortunates who have > been wrecked there,” answered the tutor. “Well, 1 distinctly saw a human form glide out of sight very quickly, as though | fearful of being seen. “It may be a wrecker or two dwells there.” ‘‘T will see, and if a wrecker, I shall see that he sets no false beacons there to lure vessels to destruction, , the center of the island wholly from view. e Some one has been here lately, for I see tracks,” he muttered, as he passed across @ little rise, and entered a water-wash, or 1a- vine. He had not gone far before he came to & sudden halt, for a deep growl saluted him, and before him he beheld the way blocked. and with as deadly looking foes as he cared to meet. There, across the ravine, in a row, stood a dozen huge bloodhounds, while in the center | of them, keeping them in check, was Zulah, the Witch, dressed in deep black, wearing: | a crown of small infant skulls upon her head, and looking like a very fiend of the in- fernal regions, ae eyes glowed like coals of fire as she m icboo