Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

=a: Od tO es eee Se “ there was good depth of hull and heavy ballast near the keel. The crew numbered four-score, and were a reckless, determined-looking set of men, dressed in white pants, blue and black striped shirts and red skull-caps. It was a crew that needed a master, and they had one in Caspar the Corsair. | Duluth had wonderful recuperative powers, ae i tea tes ee —_— ° Lo he and in a day or two he was as good as ever, ae so expressed himself to the pirate, who said: ‘** Well, we can now have a talk, for Iam as anxious to learn why you escaped from prison, ' when you were on a life sentence, as you doubt- y less are to know how I cheated the hangman.” At ‘* 1 confess to a curiosity on that point,” said Mh? Duluth. . ** And a regret that it is so; but never mind, Aid just tell me about your escape, and my finding / nt you in an open boat at sea.” ue ‘* I was sentenced, as you know, for life; and ' > through your treachery.” a ——— A ** My dear fellow I was hateful, for in chas- an ing your barque, I got into a scrape with that : at young officer with his schooner, and so I laid all | to you, and therefore was anxious to have you er with me. . s ae ‘*Had I had any conscience I would have 1 ‘hel you out of the scrape; but 1 had not ; ry and you, upon the idea of being caught in bad company, suffered also. > ‘*Now I am very glad that you are not in prison, and to prove it, will say that I intended _to get you out,” 4 , hss ' 2 tas iS “You did intend to get me out?” fat bl 5° Yog.” ae ae Why?” i -_. * Upon purely selfish motives, for I needed / —- just such a man as you for my first luff, and I felt confident you would prefer a pirate deck to by eg a convict’s cell.” 7 ‘¢ Under existing circumstances I would,” was Be the reply, in a low tone. _ Now to your story.” - -—s ** TT gerved three years, living in Hades the . mh. while, for you know not all that my incarcera- tion cost me, as it was not the loss of liberty ie oe sitine I had to contend against. i) ene ‘‘T was so closely watched, so securely con- i fined that escape was hopeless. ny yy c ‘*‘ At last a priest visited me, and he seemed | ___ deeply interested in me, and asked if I was not A vis the one who had been sentenced to life imprison- _ ‘ment because you swore I was a pirate, **T told him the truth, and—” ‘‘ You believed me dead the while?” ‘* Yes, it was reported in the prison that you had been hanged.’ L . EN Pe Pa on aed > {Se ‘*T see; well, who was this priest?” ie ‘* He was known to me only as Father Adol- / pho, and—” aye But the Convict paused as the pirate had suddenly sprung to his feet, his face terribly ex- But almost instantly he regained his com- posure, and said in his calm = . ~ * Rather ny you say his name was?” ae ‘“No, Father Adolpho.” ee Ab! and he aided you to escape?” Mier “Yes, and in a most ingenious way, for he - said he had known me before, and my mother had sent to me her Bible. s**t was a large book, and I took it from him, Wie _ little dreaming how priceless its contents were me. ~—~—--—s * He had cut the entire center of the leaves of the book out, leaving a large space, where were files, a rope, hook, and directions regarding the -- means of escape, and where to go to find clothes . - when I fot out. 3a ‘ee ‘¢ T followed his advice in escaping, but took a __-yessel I saw at anchor as a means to get away. ee ‘¢ Tt was a pleasure-craft, a schooner, and there _-—s-Were six men on board, — —s *~T told them that I had been doomed _ to life _-~——s imprisonment as a pirate, and that I knew | where lay a buried treasure, and would make them rich if they would take me there.” The very story to catch them.” ie. -*** It did doso.” SE oil eae did you know of such treasure?” hai hy “T did.’ “Ah! and how?” n ‘“Tt matters not.” -_ And the men went with you?” | ee “They did.” Vera “ Let me guess the rest, from my knowledge of human nature. | Sag ‘“You went to the spot, dug up the mesg e shared it with the men, naturally keeping the _--‘ Jarger share for yourself, and they, thinkin they should have all, put you in the dory, wit | the little bag of gold that was with you when [ found you dying. foe. |“ Youware.” J understand mankind, you see; but they _ - went their way with your treasure.” "|, ne 6 Yes,” “Have you any idea whither they went?” _.. Not in the least.” is ‘There were six of them, you say?” 1: + Yes.” | toe Ime yacht?” |, av 6 Yes.’ ; - == SS ee ; =) vr, re , P : , The Convict Captain. -_-— ——~ ** And they set you adrift how many days be- fore I found you?” ‘*A week, 1 believe; but I hardly counted time after I began to starve.” ‘* ‘Well, we may as well give up finding them, though a run along the coast, and a messenger sent into each port, say yourself for instance, to seareh for the yacht would not be a bad idea.” ‘* Tt would be a good one, indeed.” ‘*Did they have much booty to dispose of?” “Two and a half millions,” The pirate sprung to his feet, while he cried: ‘** Do you mean it, man?” rT Se ** In what was this fortune?” ‘** Gold, silver, gems and jewelry, with daggers and swords, the hilts set with precious stones.” ‘* They can only get rid of such a treasure by slow process, so would doubtless keep it on board the yacht until they could thoroughly locate themselves.” ‘* Having stolen the yacht, I think they would fear to keep her longer than necessary, and would doubtless hide their treasure as soon as possible.” ! ‘** Well, we will begin at Portland and run the rts down to Baltimore, and then up; but if we nd the treasure, how much is to be my share?” ‘‘ What the six men were to have.” ** How much was that?” ‘*T am forced to have two millions; the bal- ance is for you and your crew.” ‘I do not complain, for it will be a princely ift, and | can give up piracy; but first to get ah ** Yes; yet I have hope.” ‘“AndI— But let me explain my not being manene if youcare to know why I was not?” **] would be glad to.” ‘* Well, there was one who came to see me, took my place, and I walked out. ‘*‘T had some gems concealed about me, ex- changed one for gold, and set out on my travels to start life anew. ‘*T intended to return to my old life, so drew the model for this vessel, and set the builder to work on it. ‘* Then I secured a berth as mate on a clipper- ship a? from New Orleans to Spain; the captain got lost overboard, and I step into his shoes, and one voyage managed to have on board some arms, guns and war munitions for Cuba, witha pretty sum in gold belonging to the Government. ‘My schooner was about ready, and so I con- cluded to act, and captured a small coasting schooner, transferred to her my guns and other things, not forgetting the gold, and then set the crew of the craft on my ship to run her into rt, ‘‘ My own crew from the ship of course went with me, and finding a good hiding-place, I left my prize there; went after my schooner, paid for her, and took her to the rendezvous. ‘*'You see what a craft she is, and what a fine armament she has, so that, although it took me over two years to get afloat again, as I am to- day I do not begrudge the time. ‘Now you are my first luff, for if we do not capture your treasure, and it is necessary for you to have two million dollars, this is the best way for you to get it. ‘* What do you say?” ‘Tf we find my treasure can I go my way?” si Yes.” ‘T accept,” was the calm reply, and Caspa held out his hand, and Bianca Duluth grasped it in token of his good will. CHAPTER XXIV. THE FOUR RIVALS. . Wuen Henry Harvey returned home after his night at Cloudland Castle, he found that there was an official order awaiting him, to report for duty within ten days. This was a surprise to him, and it was a dis- agreeable one, as he had anticipated a month longer at home with his parents, and to enjoy the society of Queen Delorme. But duty called and he was forced to obey. He knew that he loved Queen with his whole soul, and, though he felt that he should not tell her so, on their short acquaintance, he determin- ed to at least ask her father’s consent to ask her to become his wife at some future day. It was with a beating heart that the young officer went to Cloudland Castle, and he showed a nervousness which no peril, however deadly, had caused him to feel, when he met (Jueen, He had never said one word of love to her, and yet he could not but show how deeply he was in- terested in her. He had rejoiced at her friendly manner to- ward him, and yet somehow it came into his — that Preble Bainbridge was a dangerous rival. True, Queen had never given him reason to think that she cared pernomnchy for Captain Bainbridge, but somehow it seemed that the count allowed him to feel that his rival was an accepted suitor. Still, Money Harvey was determined to know his fate, and he sought an interview with the count, That Count Delorme liked the young sailor immensely there could be no doubt, and he show- . + - ed deep regret when Harvey told him that his orders called him away withina day orso. | ** IT know not how long I may be absent, Count Delorme,” began Henry Harvey, nerving him- self for the ordeal. ‘* And for this reason have sought this inter- view with you. ‘** Perhaps it would be more becoming for me to wait yet awhile, as you know so little of me, and what I have to ask of you is of so much moment; but my family are well connected, though we have been quite poor, though com- fortable. ‘*] hold the rank, as you know, of a senior lieutenant, and 1 hope for promotion in time, and will win it if I can do so. ‘‘T love your daughter, and I ask of you your kind permission to seek to win her love in re- turn, though I assure you I have never spoken to her upon the subject.” Henry Harvey had spoken in a manly way, in a deep, earnest manner that showed he meant all that he said, and the count seemed impress- ed by his words. | But after a moment of silence he said: ‘** Lieutenant Harvey, I will be perfectly frank with you, as you have been with me. ‘*T know that you come of good family, as good as the Bainbridges, with all their boasted pride of birth and riches, ‘Your family are poor, and your father has worked hard for a comfortable home and to leave you something when he died. **'You would be my choice for a husband for my daughter, if I had to choose; but there are barriers in the way. ‘You have won fame, and deserve it, and you will work your way up rapidly against all s. ‘** But you are not the only suitor for my daughter’s hand. ‘‘There are two others; and I will explain just how matters stand, “To one—a sailor, too, by the way—I prom- ised my sey cated hand when he should match her fortune from me with one of equal size. ‘* He has yet a year nearly to earn it all, for he was a poor man, and that was three years ago. ‘To Captain Preble Bainbridge I promised my daughter’s hand if he could match her for- tune with his own, at the time the decision was to be made. ‘*To you I make the same promise, and you, like the first suitor, have your fortune to make, while Bainbridge already has vast wealth. . ‘‘ At the expiration of the time set for the first suitor to claim Queen’s band, when he brin proof of his possessing the requisite riches to do so, I will then leave it to her to decide between you, and take the one she loves, though 1 must ask you not to speak one word of love to her in the mean time.” ‘‘ Gladly I make that promise, sir; but may I ask the amount of fortune required to match the riches you will give Miss Delorme?” ‘““Two million dollars.” He Harvey turned pale, his heart sunk within him, and he fairly groaned: ‘‘T can never claim her then!” ‘Do not despair, for you know not what may transpire. ‘* Suppose, for instance, that you should have orders to cruise in your vessel solely against the coast and gulf pirates, it certainly would not take many piratical prizes to make up the sum. ‘* No, no, do not despair, Harvey.” **1 will not despair, sir; I will hope,” was the carnest reply, and the interview ended. Two days after Henry Harvey bade fare- well to Queen and the count, parted from bis parents, and set out to make a fortune as well as fame. Hardly had the little coaster that bore him away faded in the distance, when an armed schooner hove in sight. She headed toward the bay, but anchoring in the offing sent in a boat. Count Delorme was seated in Overlook Arbor watching the approaching schooner and admir- ing her beauty, while Queen had gone for a ride on horseback, ‘That is as pretty a cruiser as I ever saw, and she carries the American flag. ‘Perhaps it is Bainbridge in his new vessel,” said the count, as he watched the boat come seer, and an officer spring out upon the er. us No, it is not Bainbridge; who can it be?” and the count arose as an Officer in uniform ascended the cliff stairs and approached the arbor. , p “Count Delorme, I believe,” he said, raising his hat. But Count Delorme had turned deadly pale as he looked into the strangers’ face, ait in r nse said: ‘* Yes, sir; may I ask whom I have the honor of welcoming?” ‘In spite of more than twenty years havin , Count Delorme, since last we met, I fee hat you have not forgotten Caspar Conrad.” ** Great God! I feared it!” “You have cause, my dear count, to fear me, if you do not do as I request, for I hava come here tc make a demand upon you.” “Well, sir?” Eomicbooks.con