Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

Me ‘‘T had his spy hanged, and I found the means i} of getting yonder vessel. ie ‘She is a good craft, I have ,an able crew, ih and in her I hope to carve out my fortune. *“*But I came here to tell you that I was not dead, and that I hold you to your pledge, when ~ I shall have won the requisite fortune,” “Your story is an interesting one, and you expect me to give my daughter to one who was a self-acknowledged convict, and who is now a pirate,” mused the count. | “You know just what ey oe was, and yet | you yeas your daughter to him.” ) “1 will withdraw the pledge.” oF ** You dare not.” ye, “Sir?” bh ve *¢ You dare nct, | **T dare do anything.” — --- ** You dare not cause Caspar to tell what he poe’ knew, this fearful secret, any more than you do e. ‘‘ Great God! I am in the power of you both.” **So it seems. ) ‘You are not, then, in the Cartagenian ser- a pa vice?” ‘** As surely as is Captain Caspar in the Span- ish Navy.” “Then you are not.” **T did not say that I was.” *¢ You sail under the flag.” “True; but flags lie, as faces do.” ** And you wish me to promise my daughter to you?” ** I do. **Go and find Caspar, the Corsair, bring him a prisoner in your vessel, hang him in full sight of me, out in the offing yonder, and I will.” ** You assert this?” “ec I do. ” ** And will keep your pledged word?” 4s Yes ” ba = . a o Tae - — r > 7 > ee! = eae Te - “Swear it!” “ I do.” ‘*T mean as far as you are concerned, for I _ would not force your beautiful daughter to be my wife.” | ** ‘You are generous,” ss ** You mean that as a sneer?” +" Oh, no, for I would ten thousand times _ rather give her to you than to that accursed ss ** Silence! there comes your daughter.” As Captain Duluth spoke, Queen came for- __-ward, having come to join her father, being sur- } .. prised that he should not come to the mansion and bring his guest. _ “Why, Captain Duluth!” and she extended _ her hands warmly toward the young sailor, for _ she had not forgotten that she owed to him her _. life, though she did not know that he it was who EB - had also dragged her one day from before a run- away team, that would have dashed over her,for she had, in turning to fly, slipped and fallen almost beneath their feet. as CHAPTER XXXVI. hie “SAIL, HO!” «My child, this is an unlooked-for pleasure, to see Captain Duluth,” said the count. “Tt is, indeed, father, and I am glad to wel- come him to Cloudland Castle, for there was nothing here when he left us ashore, excepting rocks and trees.” _ ¥es, it is a remarkable change, and you might call it Eden Castle, for you have placed your home in the midst of Eden-like beauty,” said Duluth. ~~ +*YJT have another surprise for you, Queen,” - gaid the count, as he seemed to suddenly have warmed toward the young sailor. ee . ie ’ se ’ “is ore 5. wie» ad l- ee # = Pos +e. Smee ee ee . =. 2S eS ted oes 5 pre > as i> PY a — 4 > * vat, . i? LA » ’ Gee Ri lthetiaid lie ot able: ae ae ee - * And what is that, father?” | ** You remember how we searched for the | gentleman who saved your life in London, when : _-. you would have been trampled upon by the run- uy. 'g Lie team?” “Can I ever forget it, father? . * But what of the brave man, who was hurt _ J remember, yet drove away, before I could . thank him?” - * Tt was Captain Duluth.” Then twice I owe you my life, Captain Du- _ Iuth, and you may feel that my gratitude is __ heartfelt,” and Queen spoke with deep feeling. _ $he had admired the young sailor greatly, ta from their first meeting on board the barque. | --—-—s« $he had never understood him, for he was un- ---- fathomable. He had never spoken of himself, never refer- _ yed to himself, his home, his family, or any _ friendships of the past. P+ hee tag a aoe answer to an inquiry one day, sim- 4) replied: as ae te I am a Child of the Sea, Miss Delorme; old Neptune was my father, a mermaid was my -_ mother; I sprung from the sea, and I hope to be buried in the ocean when I die.” ' More he would not say, even to her. , | She remembered how he had saved her, even at the risk of his own life, the vessel, and all, by ate oe 4k s -* — , ~. ~+ { ey RT = we dex ts r Pg ee a JF a | 22 oe. iat AGS ve = - ¢ springing overboard after her, and supportin ys Wher in his strong arms, until a life-boat was -—- Jowered and picked them up. hen, in that awful moment, when death | ¥ - gtared them in the face, he had told her of his Tove. _-_He had told her that she was but a child, and : 7* f, . ‘ a ——————e = — ora ~— eee = The Convict Captain. - ee re ae ee ee ——_— " t eet jt rT ; < 2 ‘ , -,° ) ices 1S. 7 = e ; ~ : + * a 4 . “ =< yet he loved her, and he had asked her to return that love. She had replied that she knew not what love was, she admired him, liked him sincerely, and, | in the future, if her father commanded it, she would be his wife. As she spoke, so little did she care for him, as he wished her to, that she could not but almost wish she would drown rather than live for such a fate. She feared him, but she did not love him. She admired him as a friend, but that was all. Now, after three years had passed, he had | come back. He was very handsome, very stern, very at- tractive, and yet she feared him stall. Why it was she did not know; but soit was that she dreaded him. Now she found that he it was who had saved her in London, and twice she owed her life to him. Had it been before she had met Henry Har- vey, she might have felt that it was her duty to become the wife of Bianca Duluth, that she might love him, for she preferred him to either Preble Bainbridge or the man she believed to be Captain Conrado, a Spanish officer. ut she had met in Henry Harvey the one man of her life, the one being that she could love as she knew her heart was capable of lov- ing. She saw that the young sailor loved her, and she knew that he had come to Cloudland Castle to woo her. Intuitively her woman nature told her this; but she felt pity alone for him, and meant to tell she could never love him. He was very handsome, very noble-looking, and very fascinating; but another form arose before her vision, and Bianca Duluth could not come between. Such were the thoughts that flashed through her mind as she stood there with him. But hiding all feeling, she asked: ** And where have you been this long time, Captain Duluth?” ount Delorme wondered how he would an- swer the question. But the answer came frankly and honestly: ‘*T have been in prison, Miss Delorme, most of | the time since I saw you last.” . ‘‘Tn prison?” and Queen seemed amazed. ‘Yes, I was captured after leaving here by a acta and in turn he was taken by Lieutenant | arvey of the—” ‘‘ Harvey?” and Queen blushed as she spoke the name. ** You know him, Miss Delorme?” ** Yes; he lives not very far from here, down the coast, but he is away now. ‘* So he ore tg the pirate?” ‘* Yes, and the outlaws swore I was a pirate, and I was sent to prison for life. ‘‘T was guiltless and I escaped, and now I have yonder vessel with which to carve out my fortunes.” ‘* Under the Cartagenian flag, I believe?” said Queen. ‘*'Yes, miss, I fly, as yousee, the colors of that young country,” was the somewhat evasive re- ply— ‘‘ Ah! there is a sail!” and the quick eye of the young sailor caught sight of a vessel coming along the coast. Instantly the count turned his glass upon the strange sail, and cried: ‘Tt is the Iron Don coming back again.” ‘Indeed! and you are the foe of Spain, Cap- tain Dulut , as you are in the Cartagenian ser- ‘* Yes, Miss Delorme,” and the sailor was nar- rowly watching the coming vessel. = He has no pilot to come into the bay after ou. ‘* He need not have any, for I shall put to sea and fight him in the offing, for yonder blue ocean is not large enough for the commander of yonder vessel and I both to sail over.” ‘* You know him, then, Captain Duluth?” ce As a—”"? - ‘‘ Why, Captain Duluth, I forgot to tell you how splendidly you ran your vessel into this bay,” quickly said the count, and he gave the young sailo* a warning look, which he under- stood as meaning not to tell Queem that the schooner was a pirate. f ‘T know this coast well, Count Delorme, as you have reason to remember when I brought you in here the night of the storm, and you ieved if was an accident.” ‘** T well remember it, sir.” ** But, Captain Duluth, you did not tell me if you knew Captain Conrado, of yonder vessel?” ‘* Yes, as my enemy.” ** Your enemy ?” ‘He flies the ensign of Spain, and_ over my deck floats the flag of Cartagena, Miss De- rme. ‘* Ah! yes, I see how you mean that heis your enemy; but come, father, dinner is ready, and ae Duluth must join us.” ianca Duluth glanced quickly toward the count to see if he seconded the invitation, which he promptly and warmly did with: ‘Of course, Duluth, and [ should have asked you in before; but the fact is, we live here in | Overlook Arbor so much, we deem it a part of the house, as it were. **Oh, yes, you must dine with us, and see how I have made a garden out of a wilderness, a home out of a barren waste.” ‘‘] thank you, sir, and you also, M iss Delorme ; but let me see how far off my foe is.’ ‘* You mean to fight him, then?” “ Certainly; but he will not be in the offin with this breeze, under three hours, and I stall therefore have time to accept your kind invita- tion, so if you will pardon me I will bail my ves- ; sel and tell them to prepare for action, for our enemy is in sight.” Then, as Queen and the count nodded assent, he sent his voice down from the cliff, ringing like a bugle: ‘* Ho! the Gold Queen, ahoy!” ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” came the answer from Elgin, who was the first officer. ‘* Our enemy is coming down the coast, but yet miles away. ‘* Have all ready to run out and meet him, as soon as I come on board..” 4 AY: ay, sir,” came the response, and then @ cheer broke from thecrew, ‘** Your men seem anxious to meet their ene- my,” said Queen. i ; Yes, they are, and I hope they will do their: uty. ‘* Tt seems fearful to think that you must go into action in a short time, perhaps to death, SEs perinly to see many of your brave men ie, “It is duty, Miss Delorme, and sailors are schooled to face death when it comes, let it bein whatever form it may,” and the three started. for the mansion as Duluth spoke. As though he had no thoughts of the ordeal be- fore him and was perfectly contented, the young sailor devoted himself to enjoyment, and he cer- tainly was charmed with all he saw. Seated opposite to Queen seemed to sharpen his appetite, and he enjoyed his dinner, drank her health in a glass of the count’s sparkling heap and made himself most entertaining in- Suddenly he glanced out of the window, and said quietly: ‘I see by the trees that the wind is freshening so I must go aboard ship, as the enemy will be down upon me an hour sooner than I antici- pated.” The meal had ended, and they were merely sitting at the table, dallying with their wine; but his words caused Queen to turn pale, for she: felt that she was conversing with one who might be a dead man ina very short while. If this thought was in the mind of the young officer, he did not show it, and chatted pleasant-— ly as the count and Queen escorted him as far as the Overlook Arbor. ‘* You will have a grand view oi the battle from here, Miss Delorme,” he said. a Ah, me! will I have the courage to witness: it? “Certainly, for at this distance you do not see the bloodshed, you hear no groans, and can- not behold the effect of the fire, so it will be a fine sight; but see, the schooner comes bravely in,” and bidding good-by to the count and Queen. he turned to go. ‘*One moment, please, Duluth,” said the count, starting after him. ‘** Well, sir?’ and he paused. ‘You are a brave fellow, and if you kill yon- der villain I will stick to my agreement, if you can win Queen’s love.” ‘‘Thank you, sir; I will try,” was the earnest: answer, and ten minutes after Duluth stood on the deck of his vessel, which was going out of the bay under a six-knot breeze, her men at: quarters, all but her working sails furled and evcemning on board ready to meet Caspar the CHAPTER XXXVII. THE DUEL AT SBA. THE schooner, which Bianca Duluth had call- ed the Gold Queen, in henor of Queen Delorme, and his having to win a golden fortune to claim her, presented a very different appearance than what she did when lying hidden in that island retreat of her former commander. She had been overhauled from keel to truck, painted throughout, her masts and spars scraped new sails bent, new rigging set in a number of necessary cases, and her decks and bulwarks had porn patched, where shot-marks had been visi- e, In fact the Gold Queen was a handsome craft when fitted up. A little broad of beam, perhaps, and a trifle heavy in model, but a craft that carried her guns well stood straight up under ordinary wind pressure, and was a fleet goer in light or heavy weather. Her crew were good men, ber armament light, but serviceable, and there was no reason why she should not make a formidable antagonist for any vessel of her tonnage and strength. The [ron Don was ind the vessel that was coming back, for Captain Caspar had heard of a large vessel-of-war being in the vicinity, and he feared there might be some dangerous com- plications arise, should he meet an American Gomiicbook