Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

/ * —— eee -— **'You married my old lady-love, Hilda Con- | it upon a mansion some league and a half dis- rad, and, though she is dead, I have learned | tant. that you have a beautiful daughter. | “Tt is the home of Count Leon Delorme,” ‘‘Now I never loved but one woman in my | answered Duluth in an absent way, as he stood life, she whom you made your wife, and as | with his eyes upon the mansion, which had been she is dead, all the affection I had for her, I de- | reared in its grandeur since he had, three years ss eae he Convict Captain. sire to bestow upon her daughter. ‘‘T am much her senior, I believe, I am “nown and feared as Caspar the Corsair, but _ desire to enter the list of her suitors. ‘*T do not ask you to give her to me with- out her content; but to allow me to endeavor to win her love. “To her I must be known only as Captain | Caspar Conrad, a Spanish naval officer, and an old friend of yours, and a man of vast wealth, and if I cannot win her heart I will be content, and leave a more successful rival ample sea-room to make her strike her colors. ‘** Ah! there is a lady on horseback now, and it is doubtless the Senorita Delorme, so re- member, introduce me as Captain Conrad of the Spanish Navy, and your old and particular friend,” and the pirate smiled sweetly upon ‘Count Delorme, whose face was livid and whose form was quivering with suppressed emotion, as Queen suddenly dashed up to the arbor, mounted upon her spirited horse, and attended by a groom, yidby CHAPTER XXV. UNDER FALSE COLORS. Havine determined to make his search for the fugitive yacht a eee one, Captain Caspar, the Corsair, set to work in a systematic way. He found out, as nearly as possible, just where | the treacherou screw had cast the Convict Cap- tain adrift, and then the two sat down to consult as to which a the men would most naturally make after their act. ‘They would hardly make the Penobscot River, as they certainly could not dispose of any | large amount of booty in any of the small Maine towns, and to attempt it would bring suspicion upon them,” said Duluth. ‘*True, and we will therefore give the ports the go-by until we reach Portland, and we will run in there.” ‘*Do you mean that you would enter that port?” ‘* Certainly.” Duluth looked surprised at the bold assertion of the man, and Captain Caspar said: before, landed the count and his family there. With his glass to his eye, watching the won- derful change that had come over what was then a wooded hill, Duluth did not see the start of the pirate at the name, and that his face | flushed and taled by turns. | ‘“ What name?” he asked calmly, hiding his face with his glass. ' **Count Leon Delorme.” | Ah! you know this coast, then?” | ts Yes.” ** And the count, too?” ‘*T had just brought him here from England, on the barque, when you captured me.” ‘*T see; but he is not an Englishman?” ‘‘ He is a French exile, it is said.” ‘* Rich, I suppose?” ** Very.” ** Married?’ ‘* His wife was dead when he came over with | me, cmt gel a Children, I sup ? ‘** A daughter.” rede * Ah! Grown up??? . ‘* She is about nineteen now, and as beautiful as an angel; at least, she so promised to be when I knew her as a maiden of fifteen.” ‘* Lost. your heart, 1 guess?’ and the pirate smiled slyly. | But Duluth remained silent, and still contin- ued to gaze at the distant mansion, his heart longing to be where his eyes rested. Ani so the schooner sailed on her way, and boldly entered the harbor of Portland, saluting ' the fort as she went in, and dropping anchor eg all the assurance of a regular cruiser of spain, A thorough search of the harbor however, re- vealed the fact that the fugitive yacht had not certainly put in there, and so the schooner set ' sail for Portsmouth, and with equal effrontery entered that port. | Again were the searchers disappointed, for no _clew could be found to the runaway crew, and the schooner headed for Gloucester, then Salem and next Boston. With the utmost coolness, though he knew he ' Was over a powder magazine as it were that the ee — ——_ = ‘Some six months ago I was in Havana, and | slightest word of one of his crew might explode while there a Spanish officer arrived from | at any minute, Captain Caspar received the at- Spain, with instructions to purchase an Ameri- | tentions forced upon him as the supposed Cap- van schooner, for service on the coast of Africa. | tain Conrado. ‘* He found there a vessel not unlike this one | Those were days when no electric wire flashed in appearance, and bearing the appropriate , the news over the entire world within twenty- name, for a Spanish vessel-of-war, of the Iron | four hours, when steamers ran swiftly across ‘Don. the ocean, and the names of the war-vessels of ‘“He purchased the vessel from her owner, a | ull nations were upon the tongues of naval Southern planter, and sailed with her to Spain | officers as to-day, so that no one dcubted the to fit her out. ‘Now this schooner is new in these waters, I | Spanish vessel in port there was no dread of de- | panied her, but after riding a few miles toward having been stirring up the Peruvians and the razilians since I began piratical work again, and then cruising in the lower Caribbean, so that I have been so fortunate as not to run across an American man-of-war. ‘* So, as I have the uniforms on board, we will just fit the craft out as a Spanish cruiser, her name shall be the Lron Don, the flag of Spain shall float above her; I will be Captain Conrado, and you shall be Lieutenant Don Bianca.: ‘* Now, could we be better fixed?” ‘‘Captain Caspar, you are a bold man,” said Duluth, who could not but admire the man’s | nerve. ‘Yes, and a bad one,” and turning to the crew, Captain Caspar ordered in bis clear, ring- ing voice: ‘* All hands ahoy, to change ship into Spanish cruiser ‘* Lads, this craft is the Iron Don, schooner-of- war, of the Royal Spanish Navy; I am El Capitan Conrado, and this gentleman is Lieu- tenant Don Bianca, while you are all Spaniards, aud those who cannot talk Spanish will have to be dumb. ‘Senor Bueno, set the ensign of Spain above us until further orders, and put all the crew in the Spanish uniform.” And Captain Caspar turned to a young officer, who answered to the name of Goode, very a ropriate for the name of Bueno, which his chief had given him. ‘‘ Senor, I have uniforms aboard to fit you, so come.” . And, followed by Duluth, Captain Caspar en- tered the cabin. An hour after they stood together upon the schooner’s quarter-deck, and both were clad in the uniform of their rank as pretended Spanish officers, while the vessel had been metamorph- osed into a cruiser of Spain, from ensign to crew. “Senor Bueno, put the Iron Don on her course for Portland, please,” said Caspar, very coolly; and turning to Duluth, he continued in the same easy way: ‘‘Senor Bianca. yonder is one of the finest houses I have ever seep upon the American And he raised his glass to his eyes, and turned \ Al * > pirate’s representations, and, there being no tection from that source. So the schooner passed muster in Boston Har- bor as a Spaniard, and then went on her cruise | in search of the yacht. Newport, New Haven, and then New York came next, and, as before in Boston, Captain | Caspar took good care to enter the East River | at ooo and discover if any Spanish vessel was in port. Still finding no clew to the lost yacit, Captain Caspar was meditating upon visiting Philadel- _phia, Wilmington and Baltimore, though he said that he felt convinced that the yacht had run | into some smaller port, to the northward, and | he deemed it wise that they should retrace their way, though he did not wish the ports of Phila- delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore left unvisi- | ted. Now Duluth had an idea in his mind, and he was anxious to carry it out, so he jumped at this as a chance, and said: ‘*Captain Caspar, do you feel that you can trust me?” that I would trust wholly.” ** And that is—” ** Myself.” ‘* Ah! then you will not trust me?” ‘*In what respect?” ‘** You think it best to retrace our way north- ward?” se Yes.” ‘** And yet you do not wish to leave the impor- tant ports to the south of us unvisited?” ‘*T do not,” “Then I would suggest that you let me ashore herein New York, take with me half a score of men, purchase some pleasure craft of thirty tons, and run to Philadelphia, Wil- mington, Baltimore and Norfolk, and search | those harbors. _ ** Then I could come back up the coast, puttin into small ports that yow can leave for me, an join you at any designated place you may desire.” Captain Caspar looked fixedly into the face of the man before him, and then said: : ** You have told me, Duluth, that it is neces- sary for you to have two million dollars within a year?” . ‘‘There is but one man in the world, Duluth, © 17 - 6 win = , “# ** It is.” “If you find the yacht and treasure, what then?” ‘* 1 will look you up and give you your share.” ‘** Faithfully?” “*T will.” **Tf you do not find it?” ‘*T will meet you at a rendezvous appointed.” **On honor?” ‘* Yes, only I wish ample time to make up for any delays that might be necessary.” ‘* Certainly; let me see, say two months from to-day, meet me in Isle Haut Bay, on the Maine Coast, and if I donot put in an appearance within fifteen days after your arrival, set me down as captured and hanged.” ‘There is another alternative that might oc- cur to prevent you being there?” . ‘Ah! what is that?’ ‘* Your finding the treasure.” | “True, and well thought of; but I'll be square with you about that.” ‘*If you do not find it, you'll have to come back to me to make your two million, so I feel safe of you, and we are quits,” ‘G ‘* Now, I will go ashore at once and look up my men.” ** And I will pick a crew for you.” ** Thank you.” **My boatswain is a good pia ord and you may have him for an acting first luff. ie” ‘*Then I will give you ten good men besides, —_ so there will be twelve of you. : ie ‘** Now to the money?” ‘*T have what you found in the boat with me, and which those traitors generously gave me.” ‘*True, and you can use it, as it is gold, and I will give you a few gems for contingencies.” So it was arranged, and while the schooner sailed that night on her course back tothe north- ward, Duluth set sail for the south, upon the deck of a fleet little schooner which he had pur- © chased from her builder, who had intended her for a coasting packet, but did not let the oppor- tunity slip to get a bargain in selling her. 3! As he gazed astern at the Highlands of Nave- | Sink, Duluth said: a | ‘* Now to continue the search for my lost treas- ure; but if I do not find the yacht inthefour ports to the south, I shall carry out my plan | and visit Count Delorme, for after all een ». ; may be married by this time and I wouldknow my destiny now.” is CHAPTER XXVI. ae. HELD BY A SECRET. 3, Oa WHETHER Queen Delorme had learned tolove Henry Harvey or not, she had not allowed her | father to discover it; but the day that the young officer had sailed in the little packet to join his _shipat Boston, she had gone out on horseback, — telling the count that she would take a long ride and bring the mail from the village, for it was f mail day. Be Her attendant, a groom in livery, SSS _* < s bad acecom- $ —_— ' ; the village, Queen had said: ‘ | ‘Reuben, I will not go on to the village; but — _you do so and get the mail.” c.* |" * Yes,miss,” and Reuben went on his way mut- tering: ae | & Pm poor company for the young lady, after the pleasant rides she has had with that elegant a young gentleman, Lieutenant Harvey. ae help, and ‘** It’s myself agrees with the other hopes she’ll marry him, instead of that a a Captain Bainbridge, who, rich asheis,and often __ _as be visits the Castle never has given in all Al . fee that Lieutenant Harvey did one time, luck — - attend him, and it’s that same young gentleman — is never above a kind word and a smile for humble folks.” , | So Reuben rode on his way to the vi 9 - ssc while Queen turned into a bridle-path 1 = a the pine forest, and darted away at a g i Her way led her, after half an hour's ride, out upon the brow of a lofty point, jutting out from Po the sea-coast ridge. poe It commanded a superb view of the coast, the _ islands and the sea. rs rr After searching the expanse carefully, Queen’s” of eyes fell upon a large sloop that was just putting out of acove indenting the main land, ena. | A glass was strapped to her saddle, and she hastily unbuckled it and leveled it at the little | vessel, 2 o/ > ee | ‘“T see him, and be has just left home,the sloop having run into the cove, and hisfatherhas rowed him off in bis skiff. fe **J wonder if he will look toward this point I told him to do?” ae. As che spoke she waved her handkerchief, and _ rede out upon the point until the borse and bis _ fair rider stood boldly revealed against the sky. The sloop was a coast packet, large, roomie oy | and comfortable for passengers, and upon her af. broad decks half a dozen persons were visible, half of whom were the crew, the remainder be- _ ing passengers from the villages along the coast —| on their way to Portland, Portsmouth or ny, for the vessel touched at the two ely ag ports, Boston and Bangor being th us of the voyage. wae a About a mile distant from the cliff, the sloop was drawn much nearer by the aid ofa glass, y< Comicbooks.com * r a ‘pe a hy 7 sae se ——