Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

4 i ——————— Se ee — = = ee ‘““ You offer to do all this? how?” ‘*T intend to seize yonder schooner,” * You cannot.” **{ will, and Ll expect your aid.” ** Never.” ‘*T say, yes.” ** And I say never will I aid you!” cried the Witch, and her son stepped quickly to her side, as though fearing trouble, though he dared not face the Giant Slave in his anger, and when he had cast off the shackles that had held him in bondage for five long years. Will you explain CHAPTER XV. Bot let us return to the chase of the Lady Maud by the Sea Owl. The yacht, held back Ly her drags, was yet mnaking fair time, so that the smuggled craft did not overhaul her very rapidly; but at last com- ing near opened fire. n spite of her father’s command, and her lov- -er’s entreaties, Maud Brant refused to leave the deck, declaring that she would share the danger that they did. As the shots flew over and about the yacht she -did not flinch, but coolly watched for the result, while her eyes flashed as Bradford Carr ordered the stern guns of the Lady Maud to be cleared for action and manned. He did not wish to harm the smuggler and thus be enabled to run away from him, for he wished to give him a surprise by allowing him to board the yacht. For this reason he did not allow the negro gun- ner to sight the gun, but did so himself. His shots, of course, flew wild, while the pirate, having recognized on the deck his successfulrival, Bradford Carr and Maud and her father, while he held in irons on board Irving Brant, was deter- mined to visit his vengeance upon all at once, as soon as he captured the yacht. For this reason he ordered his gunner to fire high, and under no circumstances to allow a shot to touch the hull of the yacht. Nearer and nearer the smuggler crept until, with a wild cry of alarm, Maud, who was look- ing at those on her deck through her glass, recog- nized her brother. ‘Oh, father! Irving is on that vessel a pris- oner. ‘* See! he stands there in irons.” The colonel seized the glass and said quickly: ** Alas! it is too true, my child.” Then Bradford Carr turned from the guns and took the glass. After a moment he said: ‘* Yes, itis Irving, and more, Colonel Brant, we shall take the Sea Ghoul prisoner, and Ches- ter Granger too, for they both stand by the side of the Smuggler Queen,” Again the father and daughter looked through the glass and in turn recognized those of whom Bradford Carr had spoken. | ‘‘ But do you think there can be any mishap, Carr?” asked the colonel, anxiously, glancing at Maud, as he felt what it would be for her to fall into the power of Barton Keys. ‘* No, sir, we will capture yonder craft, and if I find we cannot, I shall throw a torch in the magazine and blow us all up together,” was the determined remark of Bradford Carr. ‘‘ Tt were better so,” muttered the brave old gambler planter. The vessels were now near together, and soon after Bartou Keys hailed: ‘* Ho, the Lady Maud!” “ Ahoy the pirate Sea Ghoul!” answered Brad- ford Carr. : ‘‘Surrender that craft, or I board and cut your crew down!” ‘‘ Ay, ay, sir!” answered the young tutor, and he luffed up, while the Sea Owl was laid ang: side, and over her sides came Barton Keys, fol- lowed by the smuggler crew. But just then, out of the cabin companionway of the yacht burst a line of smoke, and a dozen muskets sounded a death-knell to the boarders, while, before he could recover from bis surprise, the Sea Ghou! was disarmed by Bradford Carr and quickly made prisoner, Believing victory theirs, both the Lady Cap- tain and Chester Granger seemed dazed, and they too were seized by the middy and his sea- men, and the smuggler lieutenant was placed in irons, while Irving Brandt was released from the manacles and chains that weighed him down. As the rescued midshipman sprung on the deck of his gallant yacht and was greeted by his sister, father and the tutor, the latter cried: ‘* Now, Irving, the two vessels and the pris- oners are in your hands, for you are a naval officer.” ‘*Thank you, Mr. Carr; and I accept the com- mand, for 1 bave a duty to perform. ‘‘ Ho, lads! rig a rope on that smuggler craft, to hang that man upon,” and he pointed toward Barton Keys, who stood near, in irons, and with his livid face writhing with passion. ‘‘ Hal you dare not hang me without a trial,” he hissed through his teeth. **T command here, Barton Keys; and, know- ing you as you are, I shall save all trouble and The Giant Brecaneer. dread of your again escaping by hanging you now,” was the stern reply of the midshipman. Colonel Brandt and Bradford Carr uttered no word against it, and Maud. after a glance at the Smuggler Queen, had gone into the cabin of the yacht. ‘**Take that woman into her cabin!” ordered Irving, pointing to the Lady Captain. At his command, a cry escaped her lips like that of a wounded tigress, and glaring hatred upon him, she started toward him, to stagger and fall her length upon the deck. ‘She has fainted; it is better so; and now, lads, up with this Sea Ghoul and rid the earth of his presence!” cried the midshipman, and the seamen advanced and threw a noose about the neck of the captured pirate chief. CHAPTER XVI. THE WITCH AND THE GIANT. THE scene between the Witch of the Haunted | Isle and the man who bad been her slave for long years was a strange cne. She had always known him to be a strange being. and never, during the five years of his slavery under her, bad she been able to discover anything regarding his antecedents. lis manners were refined, yes elegant, he had an education superior to most men of his time, when an education was something to be prized for its rarity. What he had been she did not know, and, though be seemed almost free from supersti- tion, yet he obeyed her os the hound would a master, Suddenly he had broken out, and with that Le oan had shone a desire to lead, not to be ea. ‘*In amazement she gazed upon him, not un- mixed with awe, as he stood before her, while | her son, close to her side, also wondered and was awed, ‘*T say you will help me, woman,” he repeated, in his deep tones, ‘* And to do what?” ‘*T will no longer live the life I have. **T have saiaretl my time, and I have broken a rk was cast upon me from the day of my | irth. ‘* Now I am free, and I am poor. La Gold is my god, and I have none to wor- ship. Pyon are rich, and I tel] you frankly, wo- man, after I had satisfied my own conscience in serving you I intended to revenge myself b taking your riches and departing from this island, leaving you to gather more from the | dead your arts brought ashore, as you would have done. ‘* But to-night, the last night of my bondage, opens up to me a new future. ‘‘T am a seaman, and a thorough one, and — yonder lies at anchor a schooner which I intend | to command. | ‘*- Your son can be my first luff, and you and | your witchcraft paraphernalia I will bear to | the Death Island, and you can there live. ‘You can lure vessels ashore and get their | booty, and I willdispose of it for you, while I shall plow the seas as the Giant Buccaneer.” The giant spoke earnestly, and the woman listened in silence; but at last she said, firmly: ‘* No, you are useful to me, and you shall not | break your fetters, ‘“You can move with me in the smack to ' Death Island, and there continue to serve me.” | ‘‘ Never! and for you to speak thus proves that | you do not’ know me, woman, | ‘* See here, and I mean every word I utter. ‘*Tf you do not help me to seize yonder vessel, 1 swear to you, by Heaven! I will drag the life out of your old tattooed body and bur! it into | : found quarters in another of the dismal holes, the sea! ‘“* Ay! I will throw your son after you, and then join yonder pirates, giving them your booty.” ** Which shall it be?” The woman was mastered, and she said, in a low tone: ‘*T will do as you say, slave.” ** Hold! slave no longer, after this night’s mummeries are over. ** English is my name.” “I obey,” she said. ‘“And you, sir?’ and the giant turned upon Perdido, ‘* As my mother says, I do,” was the response of that worthy. pompeusly, but a coward when the chances were not wholly witb him, had tis mother said fight the giant, he would have fied with the alacrity cf cne of the bloodhounds, that with its mates kept up such a dismal kowl- ing up the ravine. ‘ Then come, Witch, and let there be no mis- take,” and the giant led the way back to the cavern. CHAPTER XVII. THE GIANT BUCCANEER, Uron returning to tle space before the cav- ern, the giant and his. companions found the bleodhounds howling most plaintively, the birds creaking dismally, and the pirates still stand- ing around the fire in a circle, their hends Pe their lips pressed together and eycs shut tight. Gliding to her chair once more, the Witch took her seat, while Perdido began to walk around the circle of men, and the giant, throwing a handful of powder into the fire, caused a sudden flash just as he cried: ‘*Bebold, men of the sea, for the Mother Witch commands it!” aye opened their eyes, and were mcmenta- rily blinded by the glare. ‘Then they were ordered to kcep their places, only to turn their backs to the fire. his they did, still clasp ing hancs, while Per- dido kept up bis walk around the circle, ‘* Men of the sea, the Witch cf the Heunted Island has in vain sought an amulet. ‘There is some strange Graw! ack, end it falls upon the heads of three of you.” , “Which are they, almighty Witch of the Isle?” cried the giant, in his deepest tones, She arose frcm her chair and rdvanccd, a red wand in her hand, with cross-Lones njon cne end, a cbild’s skull on the other, end she bLeld it out, She seemed to be guided by seme unseen yow- er, for her eyes were Closed, and the skull end of the wand touched the pirate captain. Then the wand quickly turned and the cross- bones end touched first one, and then tLe otber of the two under cflicers, ‘““The trouble lies with you three,” she said, in her sing-song tones, while they shrunk away from the touch. ‘Great God! can you not avert our doom?” cried the pirate ceptain. ‘“T will try; but you three have evidently been guilty of some crimes that even a buc- caneer would sbudder at. ‘Slave, lead those three men to the Death Cave, and I will try my powerand see if I can charm them. ‘‘You remain here,” and she addressed the seamen, The giant led off the three officers, and a word called to his heels six of the bloodhounds, Blindfolding them, he fi st took them to the cave which had been the prison of Irving Brandt, the midshipman. Eere he placed the captain. Then he walked with the other two to the cav- ern which had been the paces i of Perdido, ere he was known to be the child of the Witch. Here a second one was left, and the third ‘frescocd with buran bones, that bad been du in the si@es of the ravine. ‘ Refore each cave two blocdbounds were The woman started back in horror, for the placed, and to each prisoner the giant said; sreptreces tones of the giant alarmed while Perdido shrunk away out of reach of his her, | assed Jere will cleanse you of “A while : y the Witch’s will, if it can be your crimes, arm, and felt sorry that his curiosity had lured dene. him to the spot. “Tf you aid me, all will be well. ** Now take your choice.” and the man folded his arms upon his broad breast and stood wait- | ing for a reply. ** Tow can I aid you?” she asked tremblingly. ‘*You can, with your infernal ceremonies, get those three officers one side, and send me to place them in the prison caves, ‘“They shall not return, I pledge you, and then you can, with wild forms of witchcraft, appall the seamen and kave them in a condition that you can wholly sway their minds. ‘Next, you can tell them that your secret knowledge tells you that they were dcomed he- yond your power to save them, and that the witches of the air command you to give the command of the vessel to one other, ‘*That other I will be, and we will return on board the schooner, appall the remainder of the crew into subjection, and 1 will be their com- mancer, your son shall be next. and the officer | on board shall be my other lieutenant, ‘*You know my plans now. so take your choice between aiding me to carry them out, dying. ! is Pray for your Own souls’ salvation until my return,’ Then back to the cavern went the giant and found the Witch going through some appalling incantations that certainly bad the effect of completely unnerving the pirate seamen. At last she became silent, and raising her ne and clasping them over her eyes, sbe said: ‘Men of the sea, the dcom cannot be lifted from the lives of those three men, your leaders, “T cannot cleanse them of their crimes, and my power fails. , | UBut it is given to me to behold a chief for you, — one who can Jead you to victory and wealth. ‘1 see a huge man, one of great strength of arm and bold of heart— Ha! great God! it is my own slave! ‘< Pirates! men of the sea, there stands your chief, the Giant Buecaneer |” The men gaved uron her in wonder, and then upon the giant, who stood calm and silent. Then she said, as she stepped toward the one or | who had sheken off his shackles of slavery: ‘Sir Giant, 1 see by my powers of witch- ; com (G 900! , Sn