Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

_—_ te ee —— we ———-—_— — — _ — — ———--- - - : Nee * _ ri fF ht. ; ' 28 ‘Yes, I thought I would board you, and ee news at once; but you have a prize, see. ‘“'Yes; it is a coaster I captured, smuggling they | ee in connection with a Canadian craft, an made pirates of themselves by resisting. **T boarded yonder craft in my boat and took ‘her, while the Canadian ran for it; but I pur- sued in my schooner, and forced him to run }. ashore. ** His craft was wrecked, and some of his crew were drowned; but we got a good cargo out of her and brought that vessel in as a prize, while I have her men in irons, excepting several who t) were slain.” ** ‘You have done well; but is she a Yankee boat?” ‘**Oh, yes. and her crew Americans, so it will go hard with them.” **T will order them into the lockup ashore to es trial; but did you visit Cloudland Cas- ‘tle **Oh, yes; and the count and Miss Dejorme ‘sent their remembrances to you.” ‘**And Miss Delorme” Henry Harvey had added of his own accord, as he did not wish it to seem that Queen had not sent her regards when her father did. ‘** But I bave another surprise for you, Cap- ‘tain Bainbridge, as well as to make to you a report,” ‘Indeed! What is it?’ **T have another prize coming, in charge of Midshipman Vane.” **' Why, you have done well, indeed; but what is your prize?’ ‘ A pirate craft—a large schooner, well-armed, and that was fitted out by a man whom I be- lieved to be in prison. “He now lies at my home, badly wounded and, as there was no real charge against him, i left him without a guard, for he pledged him- ‘self to come to Boston when he was able to do ‘* A pirate’s pledge?” sneered Bainbridge. ** He is no pirate in reality, though his life has ‘been a strange one. “He is a Maine boy, from that part of the coast where I live, and the son of an Episcopal ‘ee fear), geooee ‘or ‘**He preferred a boat to books, and ran off to > am Deceese his father wished to make a minister 0 : / ———s ***#Hle was captured by pirates, he told me, Ho vi ‘but escaped, and for years knocked about the world. *““At last he became sailing-master for an English shipping-house, and he was captain of the barque that brought Count Delorme over ‘to this country. “Then he set sail, to get acargo and re- turn, but was overhauled by Caspar the Cor- air, captured, and his barque scuttled. **Soon after I captured, you will remember, “Caspar the Corsair, and he swore that this man of whom I speak, Bianca Duluth, which is an assumed name, was one of his officers. ‘‘Duluth denied it, but it had , weight enough to get him sent to prison for life, and as he would then tell me nothing about him- self, I let him go, though I really did not believe “ He remained in prison for three years, then umade his escape, and was found at sea in an i | | ; | ; J : . | r the Corsair.” Sl “ Why, Harvey, that man was hanged.” ), a “So I thought; but he was not, for he made this escape, and the keeper of the prison sub- stituted one of his crew in his place, and let him be hanged as Caspar, for he feared to let cit be known that he had escaped. ” Then, by Heaven! that keeper shall suffer, | ye ‘He is beyond all human punishment, Cap- ‘tain Bainbridge, for he is dead.” _ “ Ah, that is too bad, for I would have been glad to make an example of him,” r] __ ** He died some months ago, I believe; but sto return to my story, Caspar escaped, and after awhile got afloat again and ina good —s *wessel he had built for him. — ———s **‘ Tt was while on a piratical cruise that he es icked up the man Duluth, and nursing him back i. io strength at once made him an officer, ‘* Duluth was forced to accept the berth for awhile; but being sent off by Ca a small raft, he arranged a plot with his.crew, of ten men, I believe, to capture Caspar, ‘One of the men had been an officer on the vessel of the old pirate Morganza, of whom ou have heard: but Morganza’s vessel was in iding, and badly crippled, and so he lay by _ ‘waiting for more men and what he needed, “Duluth got a large crew, purchased all atte ne 2 “ ES ET ee ee a - . re --- -—_— + - laspar th nearly dead, and, strange to say, by | as The Convict Capt —— eee ee _——- ee Nn. “He bad Delorme, when Caspar came down the coast, and Duluth at once ran out to meet him. ‘The fight was a short and sha schooner of Duluth being crippl crew not being well trained as Caspar’s. ‘** But he fought him bravely, beat him back off his decks twice, and though wounded met the pirate in a sword combat. “It was during this that Duluth was wound- tol and shot him. coming toward the scene under full pressure of sail, and boarding his own vessel he set off at full speed. **T stopped to learn what I could from the crippled schooner, ordered it into the anchorage near my home, to repair, as they could go there without a pilot, and gave chase to the Corsair. ‘**But he was nimble-heeled, and night com- ing on outfooted me, so I was forced to give it i COO up. ‘*T then returned to the schooner, heard Du- luth’s story, sent him ashore tomy parents, as the wound was severe, and a storm might end his life, and then set sail for this port, leaving Midshipman Vane to follow with the schooner.” ‘*T wish you to write out your report, Har- vey, and I will submit it; but did you not run up to Cloudland Castle again?” ‘* No, but the count and Miss Delorme rode down to my home to learn the result of the com- bat, and, [ may as well also report that Cas- _ par, under the name of Captain Caspar Conra- do, of the Spanish Navy, and commanding the schooner-of-war Lron Don, had run into the bay several times, and greatly deceived the count, who mistook him for the friend of that name, whom he had met years before.” ** The scoundrel! what a daring fellow he is.” ‘* He is indeed, and he deceived me, for I was presented to him by the count, ‘*He spoke with an accent, and when I told him he was the image of Caspar the Corsair, whom I then believed dead, he laughed and then told me he had frequently been mistaken | for him.” **The vile wretch; but I hope you will yet capture him, Henry, and if you do you'll get your rank as captain, for you will deserve it. | ‘* Now, write your report, when you can, and bal it to me to-night. ‘*T see that the admiral is ready to go ashore, so we will join him,” and walking up to the old gentleman, Preble Bainbridge greeted him pleasantly, asked about his visit, and | showed no ill-will at having been left out of the will because he was a trifle wild. CHAPTER XLII. BROUGHT TO TERMS, Tue return of Henry Harvey, with the report he had to make, made him the “lion” of the town, and feted by the best families, and had more invitations than it was possible for him to accept. The story of Duluth created a sensation, anda widesp interest in that strange person with | a stranger career, and a pardon was given him for any sins he might have committed, as it was considered that he had certainly deeply suffered in his three years of prison life. But while his schooner had come in, and was turned over as a prize of the Blue Blazes, the captain remained at the home of Henry Harvey, where Mrs. Harvey was his devoted nurse. The crew were readily accepted as seamen — other vessels, and thus were eo rid of, while Elgin was made boatswain of Henry Har- vere veqgpl. © smugglers were at once put in jail, to await their trial, and, as days and ble Bainbridge did not visit them, Skipper Nick Noland sent a messenger to him, asking him to come to the prison. Preble Bainbridge dared not disobey the sum- mons, and so writing out a pass for himself un- der another name, and disguising himself as an attorney, he went and asked to see Nick Noland. aE admitted him, and he said sharply: “Well, you wished to see me?” “ Certain, captain.” ** What do oo want with me?” **[’'m in jail.” ‘** That is evident.” ** So are my crew.” Well?” 4 ‘We were caught smuggling.” ** And , 80 will be tried for pirates.” “That will hang us,” “T fear it will.’ **'You can help us.” ‘*T paid you all due you, up to the time you , . ‘that was needed and sailed for the island re- | thought you could make more smuggling.” ‘reat, and old Morganza would have it that the must fight him if he wished to command. * This Duluth did, and Morganza was killed.” | ‘Good for Duluth,” cried Bainbridge, great- ‘Ly interested in the strange man’s history, - “So Duluth fitted the vessel out, and using a commission he bad, as Ns ag 9 of a priva- Pare teer in the Cartagenian service, he that flag and started in pursuit of Caspar the Cor- ** Fact, you paid us in gold.” ‘*T can do no more,” “You owe us our lives,” “They will have to be forfeited, I think.” ‘*T think not.” “Do you see any way out?” ce I do.” ough you. “ Through me?” ub into the bay, to visit Count one, the and his ed by Caspar, who, when disarmed, drew a pis- ‘** Just then he caught sight of my schooner ** Certain.” **T cannot help you.” **'You can, Cap.” **T say I cannot.” . ‘“-You mean you wili not.” | ** Take it so if you wish.” ** Would you see us swing?” “Tt is not my fault if you do.” “Tt. ia.* i **T say no.” ** And I say yes.” ‘* How do you make it so?” ‘You took me away from other work, and to me into that which, in the end, brought me ‘You should not have smuggled.” ‘*T wanted more gold.” ‘* You were too grasping.” ‘‘Never mind what I was, but see what I am,” ‘*T can do nothing for you.” ‘*See here, Cap, I know just what power you hold in this port, and you must use it,” —_ **T cannot.” ‘* All right, I shall send for that young officer who captured us so neatly, and who I will say is a gentleman clean through, and tell him how you put up the little game to have us kidnap the girl, and let you rescue her, so aS you could win favor in her eyes.” ‘Sh! ‘“No I won't ’sh! You know that would sound very bad, in this town, and where you are so well known, and you have not forgotten that you cost me a man’s life that turn?” ‘* Great God! what do you wish me to do for you, man?” cried Preble Bainbridge, now thor- oughly alarmed. ‘** Get us out of here.” **T don’t see how it can be done.” ; ; Ppa you plot for us, as you could for your- se 9 ‘*T know of no way.” ‘* Then think up one, for if we are in here Sun- day night next, Pll just give the whole game away about you.” The young captain stood in deep thought a moment, and then he said: ‘* Pll see what I can do for you, Noland.” ‘* And my men?” ‘* They must take the consequences,” ‘They must not.” ** None of them know me.” ** T know you.” | ** And if I saved you, would you tell on mef” **T would.” | ‘** You demand that I shall release all of you” | ce I do.” ' a **T will get you out.” ** Not a step will I go without my mates.” **Then stay!” ‘*Hold on, Cap, and don’t git mad, for you are only chewing on your own tongue to spite me. “Well?” sc e .” ‘‘ 1] do what I can.” ‘‘ Thank you, and don’t delay, for every time [hear any nailing going on in the jail-yard, I think they are making a ows.” Bainbridge laughed lightly, and asked. ** How many of you are here?” ** Six, all told.” ** All right, I will do all I can,” and if I faa you must take the consequences. ** And so must you.” . a if I 7 a: Pet iif ba ‘ 4 go up the gallows steps I'll make a specc about you {> , that you won't like, and I'll make it public. Ss With an oath Preble Bainbridge left the eell, and soon after he was in his office, busy devising some plan to aid the prisoners to escape. | At he hit upon a plot, and said: | “If that man is not avillain he belies his | looks.” Then he called in a sergeant of marines whe was on duty outside of his quarters, “ Sergeant, I think I heard that your term ef 7” enlistment ended in a day or two?” ! Yes, sir, Saturday night.” “Will you re-enlist, sergeant!” **Oh no, sir.” “What do you intend to do?” H ‘*Go back to the old country, sir, and see m people, for I’ve saved up a few dellars, and won ve to go back as poor as I left my home.” “That is good: but will you remain there!” ‘*T cuess so, sir, until my old mother dies, and then [ll get the little place for myself, and will sell it and come back to America, I’m thinking, sir!” “* Well, sergeant, if you will tell me just how much you have to go back with, perhaps [ can tell you how to double it.” The man’s eyes sparkled, and he said: ‘Five hundred dollars, sir, when I am paid 7” PS cart a se ried there is a vessel sails on Saturday night, and you can get your passage in her, and make it first-class, hie weil I will pay for it for you. ‘But I wish you to do one thing for me first.” ‘Yes, sir,” q “T will give youa paper to take to the jail, and it will cause the keeper to give into your ecoim a, IOO (E + ae 2 » Ela Te \_-= ———— ae le ee