Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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a ae OV roe The Convict Captain. 27 The fight now became very fierce, and soon after, amid the discharge of cannon, the rattle of musketry and pistols, the shrieks of the mad- dened pirates, mn the cheers of defiance of Du- luth’s crew, the two vessels came together with a crash. Then Caspar led his men upon the deck of his enemy, and hot and savage raged the fight, the pirates forcing their adversaries back along the vessel until they stood their ground on the quarter-deck. ‘‘ Here, men, we must fight for life or death!” shouted Duluth, and he sought to reach the side of the pirate leader. ‘‘ Give way, and let me face yonder traitor!” elled Caspar, anc, as he was not at once heeded, he brought his sword down upon one of his own men who barred his way. Instantly a space was cleared, and Duluth met him more than half-way. ‘‘Let the victor between us end this fight, Caspar,” he said sternly. ‘So be it, Sir Traitor! The victor takes both vessels and the treasure!” and Caspar forced the fight at once. hen began a desperate sword duel between the two men, the pirate fighting for hatred of his rival, for revenge upon one he deemed a traitor, though he himself had been the traitor, and to kill a rival he feared, while he antici- pated gaining a vast treasure by his capture, or captor, and he knew there would be no escape for him this time, if he was defeated. So he ran for it, as fast as his schooner could carry him. The schooner, however, was not in the best of trim, for she had suffered in the fight with Du- luth. Her foretopmast was cut away, her sails were full of shot-holes, and she was otherwise crip- pled, though not seriously, while a leak seemed to be gaining ground rapidly. But Caspar was a man to subdue difficulties and misfortune, if man could do it, and he tossed his dead overboard, bundled the wounded below decks, and sent every man to his duty. The schooner sped along well under the cir- cumstances; but, when the cruiser had gotten well on in chase, it was seen that she was gain- ing. a Night will help us, for we can dodge him, if we can only keep a half-league between us until nicht sets in,” said Caspar to his lieutenant. ‘‘'We can run ashore and escape, as a last re- sort at least,” said that officer. ‘Yes; but I never desert ae ee until I can do nothing else; he has put a ship’s crew on that traitor’s schooner, and given her orders to go to -Boston, doubtless; so, if we can dodge the cruiser, we may yet double round and capture the other craft.” ‘You are a bold man indeed, Captain Caspar, Hidden by the island in their maneuvers, fron» the lugger’s crew, they suddenly shot out upon. her, citer the full sweep of their oars, and in- stantly the smuggler went about, while there: was visible great excitement on board. ‘* Fire on them and we'll escape!” shouted the voice of the skipper, and instantly a scattering: fire was poured upon the boat. ‘* Fire!” and the order of Henry Harvey was: instantly obeyed. The helmsman of the lugger dropped dead, along with others, the craft luffed sharp, and be- fore the skipper, who sprung to the helm, could. get her again on her way, the long-boat was: alongside, and, after a moment’s resistance, the: craft was a prize to the gallant boarders, It was the Surprise, and the skipper, Captain. Nick Noland, looked most crestfallen, for well he realized that he had not only to answer for smuggling, but for piracy, as he had fired upon the crew of an American vessel-of-war to resist: capture, nstantly the lugger was put out to sea, the long-boat in tow, and the Blue Blazes was joined. in the offing; but darkness was now coming on, and avith it, to the chagrin of Henry Harvey, a. mist was stealing over the waters, and he knew that before long the pirate, now a league distant, would be shut out from sight. And as the mist enveloped them, Caspar and. his crew were wild with joy, for they knew that death, and to win favor in the eyes of Queen | to plot such a daring thing in the midst of such | they had saved their necks from the gallows, Delorme, whom he had seen, with his glass, | desperate danger,” said the officer, admiringly. - viewing the combat from Overlook Arbor. And so the pirate held on, while the Blue CHAPTER XLI. As for Duluth, he fought to free the seas of a desperate outlaw, for revenge for the past, and to save Queen from ruin, while also he sought to win her greater regard for his victory, and gain the wealth in part that he must have to be able to claim her as his wife. With such aims at stake with both, it was not to be wondered at that the fight was savage in the extreme. But, splendid swordsman though he was, Cas- par, the Corsair, made the discovery that he had met his match, if not his superior, while, as he reached this most unwelcome conclusion, there rung out in chorus the cry: ** Sail, ho!” Quickly both men glanced in the direction from whence the stranger came, and beheld a schooner-of-war, crowded with sail, rushing to- ward the scene of combat. ‘‘ The American’ schooner Blue Blazes!” shout- ed a voice. Then Caspar, the Corsair, turned livid, for he knew all that he had to fear, and he made a des- perate lunge at Duluth. But it was skillfully parried, and with a dex- terous movement of his sword, Duluth disarmed his adversary, and said sternly: ‘You are my prisoner, Caspar, the Corsair!” ‘* Never, sir!” As he uttered the words, Caspar drew a pistol, and leveling it at Duluth, pulled the trigger. With a groan Duluth sunk in his tracks, while Caspar turned, and bounding upon the bulwarks of the schooner, called to his men to follow him, They were only too eager to do so, with the schooner-of-war rushing toward them, and leav- ing their wounded comrades upon the deck of their foe, they boarded their own craft, sent loose the grapnels, and the two vessels swung apart. Pall sail was at once crowded upon the — and she went fiying away, while the Blue Blazes stood toward the other vessel. Had Henry Harvey known that the flying ves- sel was not the emcee, Iron Don, of Spain, Blazes came surging along like the wind itself. Their course lay rather along the coast, than seaward, and, as Henry Harvey stood upon the deck of his vessel, looking at the chase, the look- out shouted: ** Sail ho!” ‘‘' We will overhaul the schooner, sure, and by night,” said ang Harvey, as he turned to glance at the new sail. He saw inshore, apparently hiding away in a bay, a brig, and alongside of her lay a small c raft. ‘‘There is mischief yonder, sir,” said an offi- cer. ‘Tt looks so, surely, for that fellow may be a coast buccaneer,” and Harvey turned his glass upon the two vessels. They were side by side, and men were visible tran “ine boxes from the brig to the smaller vessel, ‘‘ The brig is a foreigner, and the little fellow is a pirate; I verily believe, we must look to them, and pursue the schooner afterward, for I feel we can capture him too, if we are not detained.” So Henry Harvey gave the order to stand into the bay, and, as he did so it was evident that the schooner had just been discovered by those on the decks of the other two vessels. There was visible great excitement on board, and a few moments after the brig and the lug- ger swung apart. A shot across the brig’s bows had no effect, to bring her to, and so a second was fired, and then a third, the latter cutting off her bowsprit. Then she came to, and running down to her Henry Harvey threw a boat’s crew on board to take L pcraewer hy for he saw now that she had etc elivering smuggled goods to the smaller vessel. ‘* Take her into Boston,” he ordered the middy he sent in charge, and then the Blue Blazes put away in pursuit of the lugger. Contrary to her looks that vessel was sailin away at a remarkably rapid rate, and with her canvas spread was surprising those on the HENRY HARVEY’S REPORT. THE Blue Blazes put into Boston with her prize, the Surprise accompanying her, and Cap- tain Nick in the hold of the cruiser in irons,, and bewailing his fate, while he wished he had’ not been tempted to go out of his legitimate voyages to gain money more rapidly. ut he had done so, and the end had come, and there was hg prospect of his serves 9 hanged as a pirate for firing upon a United: States cruiser. ‘‘This is a bad box you’ve got us inter, cap’n,” said one of his men who sat near him. ‘I am in the same box, mate,” was the re- ply. if Fact, and the same rope is likely to hang us: both; but that hain’t not a bit of satisfaction to me. ag ‘‘T’d rather live than be strung up witha gold’ chain,” growled the man. “Tm just your way of thinking, mate; but. . we made the venture together, and we lost. **We were doi ood pay, when the idea struck me we coul tter ourselves by a little smuggling, and so: ran into bad luck,” remarked the skipper, ‘*Can’t your friend help us out?” ** 'W hose friend?” “Why, yours!” “‘T guess I haven’t got any friends now,” was: the disconsolate remark. ne Why, who was putting up the money fa us ‘Ah! you mean Cap— But I must not men tion his name.” well, having little work ey a" a ry : ; : » * pa ae oa f « 4 q OE ae ‘*T mean the young man as gave you the job,. ‘i oe down near Haunted Island, and paid you welk for it.” ‘‘T know now, and maybe he can help us; but* I had not thought of him.” » 4 - uae # ae : “Tt’s strange, for I has thought 0’ every one: om I ever knew, and every sin I ever committed.” ‘* You'll sin no more, mates,” said another of the prisoners. ‘But Fred’s idee are a good one, Cap, that, v) ed ee . ‘¢ . fe 4, | but instead the schooner of Caspar, the Corsair, | schooner. ou get the young man as paid fer work to — he would have left Duluth to his fate and given | ‘‘ She belies her looks, sir,” said an officer. elp us now,’ SS ae chase to the pirate. ‘¢ She does, indeed, for she sails lik witch; ‘Can he do it?’ a fourth remarked. ~ But, not knowing this, he stood down to the but we'll overhaul her, or drive her ashore on ‘Tm thinking he hain’t no ordinary pons , vessel of Duluth, found him severely wounded, | yonder point,” returned Henry Harvey. _. I is, and maybe he kin git us out,” added an-- and heard the words: | ‘* The pirate is making the best of this diver- | other of the crew. | Don’t mind me, Captain Harvey, for yonder | sion in his favor,” the young officer said, ‘* Who is he, captain?” vessel is manded by Caspar, the Corsair.” ‘‘- Yes, but we must not let goa bird in hand **T cannot tell you.” a Then Henry Harvey recognized the man whom he had tried to save from life-imprison- ment, and heard in a few words his story, and that, as boys, they had often met. You shall go to my home, Duluth, where my mother will care for you, and remain there until you hear from me, for I shall throw a prize crew on board your schooner and send her to Boston. ’ **Now I go to chase yonder pirate,” and so saying Henry Harvey quickly made the neces- sary arrangements to carry out his plans, after which the Blue Blazes went flying away in the wake of the Corsair schooner. — CHAPTER XL. AN UNEXPECTED PRIZE. CASPAR, THE CorsAIR, had fully a league, or more, start of the Blue Blazes, and was im- roving his good fortune all he could oy crowd- zon sail to escape. e knew, when he saw the cruiser, that he could not hope to longer deceive Henry Harvey with the story that he was Captain Conrado of the Spanish Navy, for the truth would come out, and so he had decided to run for it. Had it been any one else than Henry Harvey, he would have fought him, even against great odds, but that young officer had 7 before been his to catch one in the bush, while I believe we can capture the pirate also, if not now, at another time.’ ‘‘T think so, sir, but if we do not we will have done a good day’s work.” ‘We certainly will—ah! that fellow is going through the cut yonder, knowing he can run out to sea becween the reefs, and we draw too much to follow him. : ‘** But a boat can, so lower away the long boat, and I'll take a score of men with me, besides the twelve oarsmen, and I'll show him a trick that will catch him. ‘You keep the schooner headed seaward, Mr. Drew, and await me in the offing, while also you must not lose ‘sight of Captain Caspar,” and Henry Harvey spoke quickly, and in a voice that was very firm and distinct. In five minutes more the Blue Blazes luffed sharp, the long-boat was let fall, and filled with men, and springing into the stern, Henry Har- vey took the tiller. He knew those waters well, and saw just where he could cut the lugger off by dashing up to a narrow neck of land between the two islands, and carrying his boat across. This he accomplished in fine style, the men lifting the boat bodily, and bearing it the fifty feet across the neck of land. “Then, as he don’t wish to be know’d, itshows: | he’s somebody big; so just tackle him, Cap, to et us out, and talk sassy to him, so’s to scare noted im inter it.” ‘Lads, I’m thinking he can do something for us, and J’ll send for him and have him make the a4 2) = . . efee trial; but our case has to be handled very care— fully, so don’t speak of my friend any more, and I'll do what I can.” , This promise of the skipper quieted his men, for they had faith in him. The Blue Blazes had now run into port, and luffing sharp also anchoring near. There was a boat putting off from the shore It was Captain Preble Bainbridge, and his and heading for the schooner, and in it was one who recognized both vessels. | face was pale, his look anxious, for he had sight- ed the Surprise in the wake of the schooner, and _ felt that something was wrong. ~ ~ A had come to anchor, the Surprise: i 4 *.* a” He, however, had to brazen out every trouble, and so he went out to the Blue Blazes. Henry Harvey met him pleasantly at the i gangway, and said: ‘*T was just goin mings, captain, and of my cruise; but I am glad you have come out. . a ashore with Uncle Cum- report to yor the result _ - 4 Ss eom GDOOKS;Gcom “ : 4 te “ , ee ee ‘ ’ a , — ae) ae « = se ° 5 r 1