Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

>" b 2 ; Fade 5 « ae i + Rt< , on h* yor , Yr. ¢ ; f aad “g 1 gst 4 | 1d | ee oe The Convict Captain. | 31: ‘Yes, sir; the man who sunk was Dan Sloan, and you knew him, sir, and my mate here is Bowline Tom, sir, and we have wronged you, for we took gold from Captain Bainbridge to ruin ou, sir. He set those smugglers free, sir, and laid it to you, to hurt you, for Sloan here was one of the marines as went after’em to prison, and heard the captain’s orders to the sargeant. ‘Then, sir, we helped the captain spread re- rts against you, and Dan Sloan, sir, worse han all, dressed up in your clothes, took your weapons, and went to the admiral’s house to rob m. “The admiral saw him, fought with him, and he was killed, and you were accused, while the captain got us out of the way, for he wanted his uncle’s money, and he wanted to marry your sweetheart, sir.” ‘Great God I thank Thee!” cried Henry Har- ‘vey. Then he added: ‘** Can Preble Bainbridge be so base?” ‘* Yes, sir, he is all I say, and we can prove it, for now that Sloan is dead, who killed the admiral, me and Bowline owes our lives to you, ‘and we'll stand by you.” ‘Curley, I did tell Duluth to hide, for he is not guilty, and he is at my home. ‘**To-night I will go there, get him, and there is a little work ahead of us which will gain par- don for you, I am sure, so you remain here with us, and we'll all put our heads together and get something out of all this that will honor, us ‘and, as Preble Bainbridge has done what he has, he must accept the alternative.” CHAPTER XLVII. A STRANGE DENOUEMENT. _WHEN night came on, Henry Harvey went in his little yacht down the coast, accompanied by Congo and Curley, the soldier and Bowline re- maining behind upon the island. The destination of the little craft was the haven of the Harvey farm, and under a brisk breeze she aed rey A - Landing, Henry Harvey went alone up to the ouse. He looked into the window and beheld a sad old couple there, for they were grieving for their boy. Bat he made himself known, and over the meeting we will let the curtain fall to shut out the public gaze. An hour after, two persons left the house, one being Henry Harvey, the other Bianca Duluth, who had been in secret hiding in the old home since he had been sent word to keep out of sight. sr You will go back with flying colors, Duluth, for father will go at dawn from cot to cot along the coast, and get picked men, and my word for it we will gain our end, and make a sensation about it, too. “But here we are at the boat, and—” **Congo!” said Duluth, suddenly springing forward. ‘Yes, [am Congo, and you are—yes, I know ‘you now—you are he that was the bright boy Anchor we had with us on Don Brandon’s schoo- ner,” and the two men wrung each other’s hands warmly. __ ** Yes, lam Anchor, Congo, and I knew that the captain left you on the island secretly, and that the treasure was not lost; but he deserted the men too, left them to die, and afterward leftme on a rock to perish; but a vessel came pes. and found me most dead, and thus I was saved. ‘But it took me to foreign seas, and as T grew up I almost forgot about the treasure, and your being left there, and supposed Don Bran- don had gotten it, until three years ago I ac- per sda | found out that he had not yet gone ~ ula ~ ‘ne already as much money as he hus_ the two talked over the telling his story, and when the apres wat - island, for the benefit of the soldier and Bowline it was talked all over again, ‘How did you find find out three years ago Anchor, that the Don had not returned fox his treasure?” ‘Why 1 might as well tell the truth now, for it must come out I suppose. ‘The fact is, I commanded the barque that brought Don Brandon, his servants and his daughter to this country. “I knew him,from the first, though he pre- tended to be a French exile, bearing the name of Count Leon Delorme.” “Great God!” and Henry Harvey sprung to his feet quivering with excitement. It is true, Lieutenant ree 4 as I can prove; but let me tell you that know your secret well, for I have had it from your mother, and ing need have no fear for Miss Queen, for she is not the daughter of Don Brandon the buccaneer.” n Thank Heaven for that!” cried Harvey. I found that out, by a paper left in the cabin of the barque by mistake. . “It gave the direction where to find a little # } vi ad =e child, Queen by name, whose parents had run off and gotten married, ‘One was a noble lady, the other an under officer in the: English Army and the father of the maiden was determined to punish her. ‘*So he paid Don Brandon a large sum to steal her from her home in Scotland, and he did so, and, having married a lady of rank himself, under false pretenses and as Count Delorme, he thought to cheer her in her wretchedness, and 60 took her the child. ‘** Then it seems he went to sea again as a pi- rate, lost his vessel, while I was on with Congo here, and returning to England determined to lead the assumed life of a wealthy gentleman, for his wife was dead, and his adopted daughter was growing up very beautiful. ‘¢ There were those in England who knew him, and so he determined to come to America, and I brought him over, with the Lady Queen, his servants and furniture. ‘‘T gave him a hint that I knew him, but he did not recognize me as the boy, Anchor, whom he had left on that rock in the sea, to die; but sir, my story seems to move you deeply?” an Duluth turned to thesoldier, who was very much moved. . we called the little girl Queen?” he asked. es.” ** You said she was kidnapped from her parents who lived in a cottage in Scotland?” ** Yes, sir.” ** How old was she then?” **The paper said three years.” ** Did it give the name of her parents?” *“*T have it here, sir,” and he handed out a time-worn document, which he took from a leather wallet. “Thank God, friends, that little Queen was my child, and she who dwells yonder, believing that man to be her father, is my daughter,” and the white-haired man, aged before his time, fell his length upon the ground, while Henry Harvey and all sprung to his aid. Soon he revived and said quickly: ** Joy nearly killed me, for I never expected one spark of it again. ‘“‘My child stolen, my wife sorrowing, com- pelled to seek a home far away from persecution seized with the plague aboard ship, and left here to die, my darling taken from me, my brain then unsettled, is if any wonder that I am over- come, when I find joy rush like an avalanche in- to my heart at finding my child? ’ “*Great God! let me go to her at once!” and the man sprung to his feet, quivering with ex- citement. ‘* No, there is no hurry now, and what is done must be done calmly. ‘* She believes the man her father, and loves him as such, so she must be undeceived in a way not to shock her. ‘Then we have other work on hand for to- night, and it must be first attended to. ‘When it is accomplished we will visit Cloud- land Castle, no sign must be shown that we hold dire secrets, until I have an opportunity to speak with Captain Bainbridge alone first. ‘** Then I will tell him all I know; if he needs roof, you can appear, Curley and Bowline, and will know what he will do. ** After that I will see Miss Delorme, and tell her as quietly as I can, in the presence of Ca tain Duluth here, just what we know regarding her parentage. ‘**] will tell her of her own father, and that he is near to welcome her, ‘**Then we will seize Don Brandon, and, as he sinned deeply, so must he suffer. **Such is my plan,” and Henry Harvey paus- ed for comment, “Tt is the right one, Lieutenant Harvey, and we will be governed by you in all things, [ am sure,” Duluth remarked, adding: : ‘*My old parents live not very many miles from Cloudland Castle, and 1 will ask you to let them know that their truant boy is alive, as = shock might kill them did I suddenly go ome. “‘T have seen them, but they never saw me, as I kept out of their sight, dear old people.” All agreed that the lieutenant’s plan should be carried out, and then they began to talk over an important affair that they had decided upon for the following night, and which will soon be made known, —— CHAPTER XLVIIL. CONCLUSION, THREE days after the startling denouement on the Haunted Island, three persons were seat- ed in Overlook Arbor, gazing in an inte way over the scene spread before ther. In the offing was a schooner, armed, and standing in toward the entrance between the islands known as the Big and Little Sentinels. The trio in the Overlook were Count Leon Delorme, Queen, and Captain Preble Bainbridge, and all were watching the vessel closely through their glasses, ‘It certainly is the craft of Caspar, the Cor- sair,” said the count. | never saw his vessel, so cannot vouch for it, count,” responded Bainbridge. a“ eee oe ‘** But I have seen his schooner and will vouch for it; it has been badly used up, either in bat- tle, or a storm; but it is his vessel,” said Queen. ‘“*T shall get and build a fort on this cliff, to command the entrance to the bay, for then I shall feel safe,” the count remarked, ** Do you dread trouble from him now?” ‘Yes, for why should he be coming here, when he knows his mask is torn off?” ee I only wish I had my vessel here to capture im. ‘*T wish so, too, Bainbridge; but see, he has a pilot on board, or he would never have passed through the Sentinels as he did.” And so they gazed at the approaching vessel, until suddenly Queen called out excitedly: ‘*See! that is Lieutenant Henry Harvey at the helm!” ‘ ‘* By Jove you are right; in some way he has captured C r, hoping to save himself, but alas! poor fellow, it will do him no good.” ““ And I see Duluth!” cried Queen. ‘Yes, and there are others grouped together, whom we cannot recognize,” the count said. | Nor did they make out any one of this group, and the vessel drop anchor, while the count Queen and Bainbridge watched closely a boat put ashore. It contained Harvey and Duluth, and in a short while they were at the arbor. Queen sprung forward to greet them, but the count and Bainbridge hung back. ‘*Captain Bainbridge, I have to report, sir, that, with the aid of Captain Duluth, some two- score of brave coast fishermen, collected by my father, and others to aid me, I captured Caspar the Corsair last night, hiding in an island haven. ‘*T am anxious to have you go on board ship with me to meet the Corsair, for he is dying, having shot himself when he saw that all was ost. So said Henry Harvey, and Bainbrid the count could only acquiesce while the said se a low a ; x H se ooh *My poor Henry! you have done a ga thing, but I fear it will do you no good.” Upon arriving on board, Harvey asked Cap- tain Bainbridge to come first into the cabin and ormer see Caspar. Bainbridge followed, suspecting no wrong, victim knew the truth. ‘* You had better write your resignation, Bain- bridge, and I will bear it to Boston, while you seek safety in flight.” ‘*] will, Harvey, I will, and Heaven bless you for allowing me to go,” ed the man. Then Duluth led Don Brandon in heavily | ironed, and Harvey said: ‘*Captain Bainbridge, that man is no exile, but the pirate, Don Brandon.” by the white-haired father of Queen. Leaving him to slowly follow, Harry sad story of her life. and calling her father, Harvey walked apart, and the meeting between father and daughter was affecting in the extreme. no one ever knew. on board Don Brandon as a prisoner, and wit Caspar, the Corsair dying below decks. Queen remained at h transferred the vast estate to the one he taught to believe that she was his child. a On the way to Boston Caspar died, and, ask- — the same pirate vessel. Brandon shouted out: ‘* Comrade Caspar, I follow thee!” was, went rapidly to the Arriving in Boston, Bowline were pardoned, Re. Then Harvey, accompanied by Duluth and Congo, started for Cloudland Castle, and they found Queen ready to leave, for neither she or her father would live there. returned to the home of his parents, of the young sailor also returned with him to Boston, for Queen had promised to become the © : wife of the gallant officer. ‘ And she kept her promise, and a happier couple never lived, for they devoted the treasure on the island, and Don Brandon’s riches to char- ity alone, and two important characters in their home were Queen’s father, and Congo, the Black — Kb 2 Hermit of the Isle, Pb THE END. Eomicboo cS com - with him, while Duluth took the count below to and a few moments after he had heard how his _ Going ashore then, Harvey was accompanied —_— at joined Queen in the arbor, and then he broketo her the = She was deeply moved, but rose up bravely, - Mi < Two hours after, Bainbridge drove hastily away from Cloudland Castle, and where he went ‘ But the Iron Don set sail for Boston, having i yu ome, and her father stayed also, for the pirate chief before see * ing to see him buried, Don Brandon was brought on deck, for once they had served together on som As the body was launched into the sea, Don ae Then, before he could be checked, he leaped over the bulwarks, aa, eer oes as he Henry Harvey proved his innocence, and the two men, Curley and 6, So they departed from the place in the yacht ‘4 a that had brought Harvey there, while Duluth | BS. Congo accompanied Harvey, and the parents E ce