Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 The Convict Captain. | The latter was tall, commanding, and clad in the stri garb of a convict; the former was clean-shaven, bold, and with the look of one who had sinned and suffered, stamped upon it. But his eyes were not fixed upon the beauti- ful scene spread out before him, though all met his vision’s scope; but upon a_ graceful little schooner that was shortening sail as she neared shore, on which stood a handsome house. Upon the deck of the little vessel, besides half a dozen sailors in blue jackets, white trowsers and red skull-caps, was a happy pa of ladies and gentlemen, who had evidently been enjoy- ing. an afternoon sail in open water. here were about a score of them, and the owner of the pleasure craft stood at the helm, clad in the uniform of a naval officer. Luffing up sharp as he neared the shore, the anchor was let fall, thé sails lowered, and a boat, manned by two seamen, started shore- Ww : Three trips of the boat carried the party, and they walked toward the handsome mansion sur- ’ rounded by ornamented grounds, while the two oarsmen returned on board the yacht and join- ed their comrades. This was the sight upon which the eyes of the convict were riveted, and, as the increasing twi- light began to shut out the vessel from view, he said, in a hushed voice: ** This ov" I must act, if ever I free myself froin these hated walls. ‘* For life! Great God! I have been here now for five years, and they seem ages, and I cannot stand it longer! ** No; life or liberty this night, and yonder is my chance to esca yonder graceful yacht, for once on her decks I can fly far away from this living death.” He turned and paced to and fro in his nar- row cell, while the darkness within increased. Then a sudden light gleamed in the corridor and he knew that before long the guard would make the rounds to see that all was well. In a few moments more there came the tread of men, and the convict listened as he heard them halt before each cell, the key turn in the lock, and the prisoner within answer to his num- Then a light flashed in his face, the door was opened, and a stern voice said: 8 oe Thirteen a ae a , ay, sir,” was the prompt reply, an e iron Fe ean ed to, and the guard passed on. . Instaritly the prigoner was upon his feet, and he picked up a large Bible from the little table. It was opened, and then was revealed the fact that the interior had all been cut out, leaving the edges only. _ This formed a space within, some six inches one way, by eight another, and fully three inch- es in thickness. From this secret receptacle thus formed, Con- vict Number Thirteen took several files, and a coil of slender linen rope, upon the end of which was an iron hook. | The rope and hook he put back in their hiding- - place while with the file he began work upon the n bars of the window. The bars were thick, but he worked unceas- ‘ ingiy, wrapping a piece of blanket about his hands to deaden all sound, and in an hour he had : oneintwain. , _ ‘The second bar, one pours: | across, was then n upon, and inthe same length of time it, too, had been cut through. ° ‘What mattered it that he had blistered his ' hands, for was he not pabepe for life, a life otherwise doomed to be spent within those stone walls? , Seizing the end of one bar, by main strength he bent it outward; and quickly the other was done likewise and a space amply rk enough to allow bis body exit was thus obtained. The slender coil of rope was then placed around his arm so that it would unwrap easily, and one - end was made fast to the unfiled iron , - He now listened attentively, and he knew all “was —_ in the prison, and the hour was ap- proaching midnight. .. Through the opening he drew himself and, clinging with one hand, he stood fearlessly gaz- ing down into the darkness beneath, n he swung himself off from his dizzy perch, and, with a piece of blanket wrapped about each hand, began the descent. It was full forty feet to the ground, and he had to Ya over three windows below him. nat if other convicts, so haunted by their ' erimes that they could not sleep, stood at the window, and from spite, at his good fortune, gave the alarm? He rested an instant upon the first window — him, and his eyes glared into a human y= & A convict stood at the window, and Number Thirteen knew him as his bitter foe. Instantly he had grasped the amazed man by the throat, ere he could realize that the man one within could draw back he had his throat in an iron grip. Then the other hand went through, and drag- ay he convict within the cell up hard against the bars, the desperate man without held him there as though in the clutch of death. In vain did the one struggle in the grasp of the other, and strive to cry out, to stamp, to give an alarm, and to free himself. He was povrverless, for that steel arm never yielded in a muscle, that vise-like hand held its grip, and the shoeless feet made no sound on the stone floor, while the hands, beating at random in an endeavor to strike the face of his foe, “elgg the bars oftener, and each time with less orce. At last the struggles grew fainter, then al- most ceased, and finally the limp arms htg downward, and Convict Number Thirteen felt that he was holding up a form from which life had almost fled. So he let go his hold, and as the form fell ina heap upon the stone floor of the cell, he cried: ‘**Good God! what a fight for life!” The words fairly burst from his lips as he turned, panting and trembling, and gazed down into the blackness below. A moment’s rest, and then once more he swun himself off from the window-sill and continuec his downward course. In the next cell all was silence, and with a foot-rest for an instant, he went on. In the third cell he heard the ra breathing of the unhappy man within, and so he remained a moment, tor it was hard work descending by that small line. The next floor was the dining-hall, as he knew, and with a sigh of relief he felt bis feet touch the earth. Reaching up he severed the rope with a small blade, and then glided across the grounds to- ward the stone vent, It was very dark, for the heavens had become overcast, and rain was just beginning to fall. He knew that the guards were in their little boxes at each corner of the wall, and if he es- ca there he was free. ching the base of the wall unseen, he look- ed along the top in both directions. But no guard was visible pacing the narrow footway on top, the rain having doubtless driven them to shelter. a Then he threw the hook, attached to the other end of the rope, and it fell upon the other side. Drawing upon it, he felt it catch upon the ee of the wall, and instantly he began to ascend. A few vigorous pulls hand over hand and he reached the top, drew himself up, and catching the hook upon the other side, quick] descended, He was outside of the prison walls, and free- dom was before him. Turning, he shook his clinched fist at the dis- mal prison, while from his inmost soul broke the words: ‘** Curses aipon you, cruel stones that you are! No longer do og hold me in your iron embrace, for lam free !” CHAPTER IL. THE CONVICT’S STORY. THE yacht which had attracted the eye of the convict from the windows of his cell was an Sst cd pretty craft, of about thirty tons urden. A seaman would be attracted’to her from her et build, and the indications she po of being not only a fleet craft, but one that would d up well in a gale and ride easily in very heavy seag. - Her bulwarks were ee high for a ves- sel of her tonnage, especially forward, and she had masts that went»far aloft and spars that stretched out a long way, so that a vast quantity of sail could be spread. A small brass gun, mounted on a on the forecastle, and its mate was aft. Her crew consisted of a _sailing-master, four seamen, and a sixth man who did duty as cook and steward. ; The furnishings of the cabin were elegant, and there were accommodations for half a dozen people. In =e of her two guns, it was very evident that she was the pleasure-craft of some young man who spent his leisure sailing along the coast with a few boon companions as guests, Her crew were an able set of fellows, and as soon as night came on with rain, knowing that their vessél was anchored out of danger of being run down by a passing vessel, they made all snug to meet a storm, and went below decks to enjoy themselves at a game of cards. @ men’s quarters were also comfortable, and around,a table, under a swinging lamp, they took no heed of passing time, as first for- tune came to one and then the other, for they were playing for gold. _ The smoke of théir pi formed a mist about ivot, was Turning in horror, they beheld, standing in the gangway door, a tall form in the garb of a convict. He it was who had addressed them, and he held in his right hand a cutlass, which he had evidently picked up in the cabin, as he came through, while in his left was a pistol. The convict was dripping wet, and his manner notwithstanding his pleasant greeting was threatening, his face being calm and stern. ‘** ‘Who are you, man?” It was the sailing-master who spoke, and his voice was quivering with fear, for an appari- tion from the grave could not have alarmed them more than this tall, commanding form in the garb of a condemned criminal. ** A convict !” The words were hissed through the shut teeth, and the eyes of the speaker blazed as he an- swered., There was not one who heard him that dared make further query. The thoughts were flashing through their minds of how he had gotten there, why he had come, was he alone, and what would be the end of it all; but not one of them asked one of the questions. Then came a pause that was most painful to those six seamen, and yet it was a silence that they would not break. So they sat, awed, fearing, waiting for the convict to speak. At last he said, in that same deep, command- ing voice: ** Lads, you would ask why I am here? ‘“‘I will tell you that Ihave come for your good, as well as my own. ‘You will listen to my sto One or two answered in h ss Yes. ” The others could not force words from their ete and so bowed their heads in the affirma- ive. ‘“ When the sun was near the horizon, from my cell in the prison, which you all know stands a few cable-lengths distant, I saw this yacht run in here to her present anchorage. ‘*T beheld her pleasant party go ashore to the handsome villa, which stands so near the stone hell wherein I have existed for the past few ears. ‘* T had the means near me to escape, brought me by one who has been my friend, in the dis- guise of od mother’s Bible, which the chaplain said [ might have in my cell. ‘““A few files, a rope, an iron hook, were the means of escape, and a brave heart carried them into successful use, “T left my cell a Beets 4 of the window, and resting on a window beneath, I came face to face with one who would have betrayed me, fellow- convict though he was. . ‘But life was dear to me, and I would have killedan angel had he ) eer my way to free- dom. ‘ ‘“‘T killed my fellow-convict, clinging to him through the window’s iron bars until he was dead. ‘*T reached the ground, crossed the yard, with the aid of my iron hook and rope, scaled the wall, and springing into the waters struck out for this yacht. ‘*The waves were rough, the rain pelted mer- acces § down upon me, but for liberty I swam, ided by the lantern in your rigging, to me a con light of life. ed | ed the deck, found the cabin compan- ionway unlocked, entered the cabin, discovered there these weapons, and, hearing voices, came here to find that I have six to one against me. ‘* But I am not dismayed, for I am a convict fighting for life! ‘Three years ago I was captured on a pirate deck, and my captors would not believe mv story that I was the pirates’ prisoner: while the outlaws, having to suffer themselves, swore I too was guilty, and I was sent to prison for life. bsg ary - ie a secret on that irate vessel, and I will share it wi i i of a hidden treasure, pee sie ath ‘* Are you listening, mates?” Again were their answers and nods in the affirmative, while, the spell being broken by the question, the men gave a quick sigh of relief. ‘*T learned a secret of where lay an island among the Bahamas, whereon was hidden a pirate treasure, for a buceaneer craft had gone ashore there one night of storm, and few only survived the wreck. ‘Those few saved the treasure, buried it se- curely, and made their escape in one of the ves- sel’s boats which had not been dashed to pieces. “The men who know the secret have been captured and hanged, or are in prison, with one me ig fone ‘* Tam that exception.” He paused, to note the effects of , will you not?’ y tones: his words, n him, ey could and the men sat with their eyes fixed u as though under a spell of fascination t not resist. mm ee ee ee ee be i. i j i ° ) without was a fellow felon trying to escape. them, the rain patte on the deck overhead, Then he resumed: He ; The window sashes were out, for the weather and the yacht rocked lightly on the waves. ‘Tam a sailor; I know the island, and I can : eo was warm; only the iron bars were between the ** 4 good-evening to you lads |” find the hidden treasure, and it would enrich us Bi o\ two men. Had the yacht sud enly sunk, it could not | all, for there is a million in gold, silver and , oh tay And through those bars Number Thirteen had | have startled the six men more then did the | jewels lying there awaiting our coming. ‘Sie of quickly thrust his powerful arm, and, ere the deep voice that fell upon their ears. ‘This is my story, lads—this my secret, and | = iF \ | ’ ¥ | Ae ee COmIcCHOOKS.com — ‘ fren