Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

. ~ <a The lorme, until I know I am beaten, and I did not feel that 1 was. ‘* The skiff held up well, and so I kept on and reached the island.” ‘‘ We saw your boat drawn up on the shore,” said the count. ‘*Indeed! you were watching me, then?” and Henry Harvey cast a quick glance at Queen, who answered: ‘*'Yes, we remained in the Overlook until we Convict Captain. —— tall form, clad in white, walking toward the shore. ‘‘T was amazed, and then alarmed: but I hailed it, and asked: ‘“¢ Who are you? ‘No response came, and I asked: “¢ Are you living or dead?’ ‘‘No response came, but the arms waved me off, and Queen, I would not have cared just then if this tempest had come up to take me away from the vicinity of that island.” saw that you had reached the island in safety; ‘¢ This is a remarkable story, father!” but we did not consider your danger as half over ‘Tt is indeed, my child; but I pledge you my | then, after what we saw from the cliff.” honor it is a true one.” | ‘* What did you see, Miss Delorme?”’ calmly ‘‘T cannot doubt you, father—but see! that | asked the young sailor. flash revealed the surf-skiff running right into | ‘ The strange craft that you started out to the shore of the Haunted Isiand.” aid.” ‘‘He will need all his nerve, bold as he is, ‘* You saw her after the storm struck her?” if he puts foot on that island,” said the count ‘Yes; did not you?” emphatically. ‘*T did; and I saw her drive directly upon the ‘“Heaven preserve him,” fervently rejoined | island; then I was so low down in the waters, Queen. I could only catch sight of her spars when there The tempest had now worn itself out for its , came a flash of lightning.” fury was spent. “Did you note a peculiar light about the The skies were still black with clouds, and the | craft?” thunder roiled incessantly, but it grew further ** No, sir.” and further off each moment. ““ We did; but then The lightning was far less frequent, and its | island between you at t vividness was fading away, while the wind had ** Doubtless, for I saw no light; but she seem- fallen to half a gale. ed to be heading directly for the break in the But the waves of the sea could he heard | reef known as the Purgatory Gate.” ounding away upon the island barriers at a **She passed through it, and then we lost sight Forrific rate and with a tremendous roar, and | of her, and she was dashed to pieces upon the the waters of the bay were tossed about savage- | island.” ly, and fell with heavy force upon the shore be- “So I believed, Count Delorme, and yet I low the cliff. went over to the sea-shore and not asign ofa With the next vivid flash of lightning, both | wreck was visible. ueen and her father, holding their glasses to ‘Had she passed through Purgatory Gate, their eyes, beheld the surf-skiff upon the shore, | she would have been dashed directly upon the drawn far up out of reach of the waters; but | rocks known as Old Nick’s Teeth, and gone to Henry Harvey was not visible, and the count | pieces in an instant. said in an awed kind of a way: ‘* But not a spar, timber, piece of sail or any- ‘‘That daring fellow has landed and gone | thing did I see upon the shore, and I searched it into the island,” well, for the moon came through the clouds, ‘““Yes, he saw the strange craft dashing to- | soon after I reached there.” ward it from the sea, and he is determined to ‘Lieutenant Harvey, are you superstitious?” discover what it meant,” returned Queen. asked the count, in an impressive tone. ‘¢ And his life will be the forfeit,” was the re- ‘*T believe all of us are, sir, to a certain ex- nse of the count. tent.” : ‘“ No, father, I believe he will return in safe- ‘** Do you believe in the supernatural?” ty,” and the two left the arbor and returned to ‘“*T never have done so, since I was a boy, the mansion. Count Delorme, for I have schooled myself into But neither cared for much supper, both were | the belief that such thoughts were utter non- you must have had the uat time.” EE tttttttCtCtCtCHCHrHCrCOCCCRCLP&S SS, s-LTLis ———— impressed with what they had seen, and satin | sense.” , ‘ silent thought listening to the winds skurry ‘** But you seem to have had reason to change around the house, your belief.” Thus they remained in the library for a long ‘*T have had my skepticism staggered to- while, to suddenly start as a loud knock was | night, I admit.” heard on the outer door, when some one sought ‘Well, lieutenant, Queen may tell you just admission. what she saw on board that strange craft, and if she errs I will correct ber; but, though we have not compared notes, I feel that we both THE SPECTER OF THE ISLE. saw just what happened.” Tur ringing of the heavy brass knocker ‘*] am no believer in Satan prowling about, upon the front door, fairly startled both Queen | and that the supernatural can happen, Lieuten- and her father, and aroused the attendantin | ant Harvey, but Iam at a loss to account for livery from a sound nap, and in alarm. what I saw to-night,” and Queen told about the Collecting his scattered senses as quickly as he | weird light on the strange vessel, and what it could, he went to the door and Henry Harvey | was that had appeared at the helm, while both entered. | she and her father asserted that the vessel drove He wore his storm suit, which he had had in | on, with the speed of the wind, directly into the his surf-skiff, and they were dripping wet; but | Purgatory Gate, and, doing so, with the island- he placed them aside and was met at the library | shore but a couple of cable-lengths away it door by the count, who said earnestly: | could not but be dashed to atoms upon Old ‘Tt is you then, Harvey, and not your ghost.” | Nick’s Teeth. “Tammy naturalself, Count Delorme, though ‘* Now, what did you discover, Harvey?” ask- I assure you I have seen that to night which I | ed the count was a skeptic as to the existence of,” and the The lieutenant seemed really impressed with young sailor entered the handsome library, the story told, and remained silent a moment when Queen came forward and grasping his | before he responded to the question. hand said warmly: Then he said slowly, and thongbtfully: “Thank Heaven, ‘‘T cid not see the wreck, or any sign of it on safety.” Old Nic’s Teeth, or elsewhere upon the island, ‘“‘T was fortunate in doing so, from morethan | and it does seem that the vessel partook of the one cause, l assure you; but I have something | supernatural, not to bave been wrecked, and to tell that may interest you, Miss Delorme, as | with such a helmsman as you describe, and -_-_-oo— CHAPTER XXII. you have returned in 15 ee + > —— was one of the crew of the vessel that had es- caped. ‘*No answer came, and I advanced toward the form; but it kept away from me. ‘*T hastened on, but it still kept the same dis- tance. ‘*T ran, yet could get no nearer. **So I gave it up, and went toward the sea- shore to see about the wreck. ‘* Getting into an open space where the moon- light fell full upon it, the form seemed to wave me back. ‘*But I reached the shore, searched it thor- oughly, and returned to my boat. ‘** The man, specter, ghost, or whatever it was. still kept near me, and, as I rowed away, waved after me in silence. “Such is my experience, Count Delorme, upon the Haunted Island.” Then the count told how he too had seen the specter, and for a long time the three sat trying to solve the mystery; but in vain, for no reason- ing would do it. ‘I will return to-morrow and search that isl- and thoroughly,” said Henry Harvey. The count urged against it, while Queen re- mained silent; but Henry Harvey was deter- mined, and they arose to separate for the night, for the young officer was to remain as the count’s est. Then Queen said: “Will you make me a promise, Lieutenant Harvey?” ‘*Certainly, Miss Delorme.” ** Will you keep it?” **T will, most assuredly.” ‘Then give me — word that you will not visit the Haunted Island.” ‘* Miss Delorme!” said the sailor in surprise. ‘‘T mean what I say, and I have your pro- mise.” ‘‘ Fairly caught, Harvey, and you will have to obey,” said the count. ‘*T will not break my word to you, Miss De- lorme; but I hope to be released from the pro- mise some day,” and with tbis they parted for the night, the young officer glad to seek the rest he so much needed, but annoyed t« feel that he could not carry out bis intention the followin morning and explore the island for its shroud specter. | —— CHAPTER XXITTL. MOST STRANGELY MET. WHEN Bianca Duluth, the Convict Captain, as the reader now knows him to have been, awoke to consciousness in the cabin of an armed vessel and beheld standing over him the man whom he believed dead, hanged on the gallows, he believed that he was possessed of a nightmare, se passed his hands wearily over his fore- ead. **Do not be alarmed, Duluth, for you are in pore hands, and I am no ghost, I can assure, not aving been hanged as many believed,” said Captain Caspar mate Removing his hand from his forehead, and looking straight into the face of the pirate, Cap- tain Duluth said slowly: oe are Caspar the Corsair and no mis- take. ‘*T did believe you dead, and am sorry you © were not hanged.” “Don’t be severe, Duluth, for had I been you would not now be alive; as your life was flicker- ing out fast when I picked you out of the boat; but I have forced stimulants between your lips and my surgeon has said you will come roun all right ” ‘** It was your vessel then that I saw?” ~ > 6.” a must have swooned before you reached me.’ ‘** You did, and it wes a swoon akin to death; but you are all right now; I will send the sur- | geon to you, and when you areable we will have a talk together.” } well as your father.” ‘‘You are in need of refreshments first, so come into the dining-room and have something to eat,” said Queen. ‘You need something todrink more, Harvey, for I can see that you have had a rouch time of it,” and the count Slaced a decanter of brandy before the young man, who, being a sailor, and Maine not being a prohibition State at that time, took a generous drink of it. Having partaken of some hot coffee, faery Harvey began the story of his adventures, for they had returned to the library. “This was the wildest storm I ever saw on this coast, though it lasted hardly an hour,” he said. “T found that out before my skiff bad gone far, and was forced to take in even my ‘hand- kerchief sail,’ as I call the little bit of canvas I thought the surf-skiff would carry under any circumstances. ‘“Tf I had been outside, where the reefs did | name of being haunted. not break the waves, and the island check the | wind, I would have been swamped. ‘* But I took to my oars, held the bow into the teeth of the burricane, and, in lulls, forced the | til to-night. skiff on, though it was the hardest pull of my 1 e ” ‘“‘T never give up an undertaking, Miss De- “Why did you not put back?” asked Queen. ° | the Haunted Island, and, as far back as my food and a cup of | | ‘** One question?” Yes.” ‘“ This is your vessel?” ‘“‘Tt is, so make ycurself at home perfectly.” ‘**One word more?” , ‘* Certainly.” “You are a pirate still.” ‘“« Assuredly; but now just be careful not to talk end get well as fast you can.” ‘That you mey hang me?” * Oh no, handsome for you. ‘* Here is the surgeon.” and as the pirate doc- tor entered the cabin Captain Caspar went on deck. The vessel was a schooner, and a good one when I tell you what I saw, you will be also im- pressed and bewildered to account for it. ‘*Of course, 1 have heard of the rumors about father remembers, it has been a death-trap for vessels. ‘‘My father says that fully a score of vessels have gone to pieces upon it, ranging from a fishing-smack to an English vessel-of-war, and in no case have the crew been saved, ** A Spanish vessel-of-war once had the plague break out among its crew, and the commander put a number ashore there, who had the dread disease, ‘“Some were dying, some quite sick, and others threatened with it: but all were put there, those who were able taking care of the ones who were most ill, and then the cruel commander sailed away and left them to die. ‘All of them perished, and this, with the bull, sharp as a wedge forward, had an ex- wrecks occurring there, gives the island the projecting far out over the rudder port. : Her bulwarks were high. very solid, and were pierced for four guns to a side, and the latter were in place. “There have been those who tell that they have seen spirits walking about the island, even in the daylight; but I have not believed this un- ‘Now [ can vouch for it that the report is ; long, the main-boom exceedingly so, and that true, for as I went up into the pines on the isl- and I saw a white form ahead of me. dent, while, the manner in which she stood up _“T was amazed, but called out, thinking it ‘ under it, in the fair breeze blowing, showed that (E(@) IOO e€om “S (E [like you, and I may do something 00. | Her hull would have charmed the eye of any seaman, and she was geunt as a hound,inher tremely narrow stern, swallow-tail like, and | Her masts were very lofty and her spars very © | she could spread a vast amount of sail was evi- ‘ —_ a. 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