Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

4 | hh oe te ; {a \ a re % {i eg / ai : u ie - f . a4 4 ; 4), af ay: i 7 } 4 2 ~ : * ‘ 18 The Convict Captain Je 5 EH YO Gs Fees : * "ae - : vd i. - @ 4 ¢ hs * : and Q@ueen’s face flushed, as in answer to her parting wave, she saw Henry Harvey step to _ the old skipper’s side, and then going aft, seize the halyards and dip the flag three times. But Queen did not know that her lover was slyly, so to speak, ‘‘ killing two birds with one stone,” as, not wishing to attract attention to the maiden, whom his keen eye had at once seen, when she rode out upon the cliff, he had asked the skipper’s permission to dip the flag as a fare- well salute to his parents. Of course he meant it for his mother, watch- ing him on the lawn at home, the father, rowing back in his skiff; but he also meant it for that beautiful girl, seated in her saddle, and both horse and rider looking like a piece of statuary. For a long time did Queen watch the receding sloop, as it sped along at a lively pace on its way, and then, while her beautiful eves dimmed with tears, and a sigh broke from her lips, she threw a kiss off over the waters, and, blushing at her act, turned her horse and dashed home- ward, Her way lay inland for miles, until she drew near Castle Cloudland, where the highway ap- proached the coast, and ran along on top of the iidge upon which was the mansion, surrounded by its fine grounds, As she caught sight of the sea once more, she cast her eyes away over the deep blue waters, and beheld the sloop hull down beyond the horizon. Then she started, as her eyes fell upon a schooner at anchor in the offing. “It is a vessel-of-war; doubtless Captain Bainbridge come to pay usa visit and show us his new vessel. ‘* But he would have signaled for a pilot and run into the bay. ‘*T guess he will not remain long, and Ill be glad, or I prefer to be alone with my thoughts n se ight. Scie my naughty eavesdropping maid, said she heard Lieutenant Harvey ask my fa- ther for my hand at some future day, and the count said my fortune of two millions must be matched by the man who claims my hand. ‘*T only wish I had the two millions to give him, or was less of an heiress. “Yet I do not despair, for I have confidence in Henry Harvey’s accomplishing what he un- dertakes.” With this expression of her opinions and hopes, Queen rode on to the marine-stone en- trance to the grounds about the mansion. As the drive wound near the Overlook Arbor, she saw her father standing there, and with him an Officer in uniform. “That is not Captain Bainbridge, and it is not the American uniform; but he is astriking look- ing man. ‘I wonder who he is?” The curiosity of the maiden was satisfied a moment after, as she drew rein and her father said: ~~ * Queen, my daughter, this is Captain Con- wae trado, of the Spanisn Navy, an old friend of ea by re igs > ‘ * U i co a -- ay W ‘ Pd Pts - - bad - ee ; oe le “ie okt mine, one whom I have not seen for years, and whose coming has quite startled me.” Count Delorme felt that he was white-faced and unnerved, and so made the excuse for it that he did. Queen bent her head in salutation, and Cap- tain Conrado, as she beheld him, made a low bow as she said: “As an old friend of my father, Captain Conrado, you are most welcome to Castle Cloud- ‘*T thank you, Senorita Delorme; permit me to aid you to dismount,” and the pirate assumed an accent that was quite attractive. Accepting his proffered assistance, Queen dis- mounted and walked with her father and his unwelcome guest to the mansion, she having turned her horse over to the care of a servant, 6 Sut » = “a , Th es, , “* a> a gy +? ao -, : = ee ¢ : A 4 . ’ j mee a ¥ a * who had seen her arrival. Without a moment for explanation with the pirate, at heart furious with him, yet held in check by some strange secret which Captain r knew, Count Delorme was forced to ap- tome’ a cordial host, and Queen did not suspect that there was other than hearty welcome in his manner, for her father assumed a very pleasant Bows after the first stiffness of his position wore oO ~ During bis visit, which terminated about nine _ o'clock in the evening, Captain Caspar proved eee —————e boat, Captain Conrado,” said the count, and the two left the mansion together. As they reached the Overlook Arbor the count paused and said angrily: ‘* Now, sir, what does all this mean, for we are alone now and you can explain?” ‘* Just what 1 told you when we met, senor; I am here to enter the lists as one of your daugh- ter’s suitors,” was the cool reply. ‘* ‘You are a pirate.” ‘** True, am I worse than—no, no, [ll not draw | comparisons, Count Delorme, but admit frank- ly that I am a pirate. ‘* As such, as one who loved your daughter’s mother, as one who could bestow all that love upon her child, as one who has ever hated you, | but will now be your friend, I ask you to give ' your consent for me to be the suitor of Queen | Delorme. ‘*T will use no unfair means to win her, I will not let her dream I am other than I seem, and 1 will devote my life to her happiness, ‘* What do you say?” ** You can enter the lists, but it will be against formidable rivals, and on certain conditions.” ‘* Admitted that I have to fight agaimst great odds, my age, for I am double her years, and her other suitors, I would not have a prize that was too easily won; but you are not to influence her against me, for I shall look out for that, and, if I suspect it, I too might bring influence to bear against a traducer.” ‘* Traduce a pirate!” sneered the count. ‘* Yes, a pirate can be worse even than he is. Satan is not, in my mind, quite so black as he is painted.” ‘* But, be careful not to tell too much truth about me to the Senorita Delorme.” ‘*T shall not influence her against you; but I said there was a condition.” ‘* Ah, yes; please name it?” ‘* My daughter is to receive from me two mil- lion dollars, when she marries.” ‘* A princely sum indeed; but I guess you can afford it very readily.” ‘*T can, and more, and if I lose what I have I know where to get other riches; but the con- dition is that you match the Lady Queen’s for- tune with your own.” ‘*What! Two million dollars?” ‘* Yes, that is the sum.” ‘“*But I have met with reverses, I was nearly hanged three years ago and lost all I had, I may say, and I have not more than a tenth of that sum laid by now.” ‘*Then you cannot comply with the condi- tion?” ‘**T do not say I cannot, for I may be able to do much yet, toward getting a fortune. ‘When will you permit Mis: Delorme to marry?” “Tn a ycar’s time.” ‘* Ah! then there is hope; but who made this condition?” ‘Tt is one I am pledged to, and it must be kept.” ‘*Have her other suitors accepted your con- ditions?” ‘They have,” ‘May I ask who my rivals are?” _* One an American naval captain, a second a lieutenant in the same service, while the third is a master in the English merchant marine.” ‘* All sailors?” + ee, ‘‘ Naval officers are proverbially poor, and they would have to go to successful pirate-hunt- ing before they could get such a sum, while the merchant skipper would have to turn buccaneer to earn it.” ‘**One is a rich man who has it now, the second will go to hunting pirates to get it, so you had better look out for your neck, and the third, I know nothing about.” ‘** A captain, a lieutenant, a skipper and a pi- rate, we are. “So be it, my dear count; put me down to complete the Rival Quartette, and expect to see me soon again. Good-night.” ‘**T will see you, for the sake of appearances, to your boat,” and the count escorted his unwel- | come visitor down to the shore, where a coast | pilot had preceded them to lead the boat out to sea through the dangers of the bay. ‘Curse you! I will yet put the noose around your neck,” bissed Count Delorme, as he turned away, and retraced his steps up to the mansion, . himself a most entertaining man, and he fairly | where Queen met him with the remark: m4 oy 4 5 a ; 2 * a f >. % pe ee + J : aT ty. * al ' “ 1, Aaa & charmed Queen with his brilliant conversational powers, | _ Then he played the Spanish guitar exquisitely, a fine baritone voice, and sung love _ songs of other lands with a great deal of ex- on. *“*T am sorry you cannot remain some time as our _- Captain Conrado,” said Queen, as he was leaving. _ “IT must return to my vessel to-night, Senorita Delorme; but, as 1 will be coming in these wa- a Sg A your father has urged me to SMe visit him, and you may rest assured I more than happy to do so.” Count Delorme winced under the falsehood of ® ° 7s ‘the pirate, but could only smile in response. _“ As I have sent for a pilot to lead you out to = sea again in his skiff, I will escort you to your { ? oi | oa ’ ' * Be Rt Ree Fe | ‘Now, father, tell me all about your old | friend, Captain Conrado, whom, strange to say, I never heard you speak of before, and who is such a fascinating gentleman.” ‘*He was an acquaintance of my younger days, Queen, though I am much his superior, and he was a lover of your mother’s: but it is late, so let us retire,” and Count Delorme was glad to escape from his daughter’s questions, while she was equally as willing to seek her pil- | low and dream of Henry Harvey. CHAPTER XXVII. THE BLACK SKIPPER. THF reader will recall the fact that Congo, in his make-up of his Sstanic Majesty, was left | alone u so terribly that they sprung into the sea. —_— _ ND a Then he coolly tock the helm, leaving the mem to their fate, and steered off in search cf the Convict Captain adrift in his boat. From his hiding-place in the vacant cabin, Congo could not tell exactly which course the vessel had come, after the cruel crew had set the boat adrift; but he was a perfect sailor, and he guessed at it as nearly as he could, and so headed. away in search of it. But it had been a long time since the boat had been turned loose, and the black failed to find it, though he cruised steadily about for a long time. If he felt any compunctions of conscience at: his fright of the crew of the yacht, he did not show it, and when the wind died out near dawn he was glad to look up scme food and have a rest. The wind sprung up with the sun, but so light was it that it barely moved the Fat and Congo sat at the tiller with his eyes fixed upon a dis- tant point that marked land in sight. From the conversation he had overheard among the crew, the African knew pretty near- ly the locality of the yacht, and that it was the Maine Coast that loomed into view in tine far dis- tance. ‘* No better place could possibly be found for me,” he said, as though he had determ ned upon his course of conduct for the future. He knew full well that he was in possession of a vast treasure, and also of a valuable little yacht. ; He was aware that the yacht had been stolen, and if she was captured by a cruiser, that his riches would all fade, and perhaps his liberty would go too. If a pirate captured him, perhaps he would stand a better chance, for he would be accepted, doubtless, as one of the outlaw crew, and faxes part of his riches allowed him. If a vessel-of-war captured him, he lost his treasure as a prize, and would have to go into slavery. He had not proven unfaithful to the trust im- posed upon him, for he had remained on the island all those Jong years, while his master had not returned as promised. He had gone on board the yacht and hidden, because he saw that the treasure had been found ; if it had not been, he still would have remained at the island. Now, by his cunning plot, he had his treasure again, he was no longer on the island, be had bis freedom, and was alone in a vessel he knew he could only manage in light weather, such as it. then was. ‘* A storm would tire me out in a few hours, and I would have to let all go as it would,” he said aloud, in thinking over the matter. ‘*T know a part of this coast as I du my mo- ther’s face, age, and better far, for I remember her only as a child remembers, for I was stolen from her when I was a mere boy. ‘If I see the part of the coast I know so well, and where I ed happy days, I will recognize it, and then I can run in readily by night and find a hiding place no one can find—yes, there is one who can, but he bas gone from there.” So saying Cengo beld on toward the land. It was barely in sight, and going so very slow- ly, he knew it would be almost night before he came near. He was determined to keep up his weird man- ner of acting, and his diabolical representation, for he well knew how superstitious the people of the coast were. It was near sunset when he approached the coast, and he had been glancing anxiously astern at a rising storm. He muttered some words in an unknown tongue, as his eyes suddenly lighted up, and he said quickly, a few moments after: ‘* Allah is good to me! This is the coast I know so well. ‘“‘ But changes have come, for yonder elegant: house was not there then. ‘* Whose can it be? Who can have made an Eden out of yonder rugged hills and valleys with their bleak rock walls facing the sea? ‘ ‘*T must be cautious, and as the yacht is doubtless seen, when I stand off and on, I will not let them see me. ‘The storm will break soon after dark, and then I can run in, for I know now where to rO,. ‘*The island looks as drear and desolate as ever, for no one will go there. No, no, not there,” and Congo shook his head and smile« grimly, as his eyes fell upon the Haunted Taare ; ; Taking up a rope, he ingeniously arranged it so that he could sit in the cabin and steer, and not be seen by any one from the shore, even with the strongest glass. ' The ‘‘feel” of the sails would tell him how he was heading, and the deadlights in the cabin forward and upon the side would enable him to keep a lookout ahead, and upon either side, Runnivg in within a mile of the Haunted Island, he began to stand off and on, steering by his new contrivance, and now and then turning his glass through an open deadlight gpon the shore, when he saw persons in Overlook Arbor n the yacht, after frightening the crew | watching the yacht and ber maneuvering with- out a single person being seen upon her decks. com : Ebooks.com —