Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

be | f . p A ~ a - ies. : ¢ lags . * 1 * ‘oF 1c i eh fee x alt closed knew, told - gwam ashore, and hasten 6 The Convict Captain. At last dawn came, and he cried aloud: ‘* No ship in sight, and I am doomed. **Oh, God! this is Thy retribution upon me for my many crimes.” As he spoke he sunk down in the bottom of the boat, and unable to move, there he lay through the long weary day of suffering, until night drew near, and with it came a vessel dashing hae along over the waves, and so heading that the yaw] and its occupant was directly in its course, CHAPTER VIII. CONGO, THE HERMIT. Let us return tothe poor African, left as a hermit upon that dreary isle. There certainly seemed a strange bond be- tween the two, the master and his slave, which could cause the one to obey the other so im- magn placing his life in danger, and bringing im to such an existence of solitude simply by the mere request that he should do so. Congo was as black as ink, of asuperb stature, for he was over six feet tall, and his shoulders were broad, his arms sinewy, and he stood up- right and ee wonderful strength by his mere attitude. He was clad simply in a pair of duck trowsers, a blue woolen shirt, and wore a red tuque or skull-cap, which contrasted well with his ebony complexion. About his waist was a red sash, in belt, and in it was stuck a jewel-hi rare trad ea Around his neck was a necklace of remarkable make-up, for there were gold, silver and copper coins of all the nations of the earth, bones pol- ished toivory whiteness, and with the look of having been taken from human beings; then there were bear-claws, eagle and vulture tal- ons, rare pebbles and other stones oddly carved while the center piece was a child’s skull, white as snow, and with the ends of the necklace strings fastened upon either temple. Still, with all of this superstitious mummery, Congo showed none of the instincts of a barba- Saeae from the wilds of Africa in his talk and con- uct. He spoke without a dialect, and with only the slightest accent. . face was massive, his bearing command- ing, and every feature was stamped with bold- ness, intelligence and resolution, while there was lace of a knife of nothing of the savage hideousness about his countenance. When the sloop had dashed upon the surf, and sent the mast overboard, along with her crew, Congo had shown no excitement; but risen calm- Ty from the cabin floor where he had been hurled. He saw that the wave which had carried the craft upon the reef had been a tremendous one, and had left it there solid as the rock itself, for the waves that were then breaking over the hull did not move it from its position. _ He also remembered that, going before the gale, with the sail reefed down, this would add the hull being thrown further upon the reef, and no other seas would be able to move it. Ha seen that all on board was safe, he e companionway, went on deck, and hearing shouts that told the crew had reached oy shore, he plunged overboard and followed hem. Directly in front of the hull he saw that the reef ran up in a tower-like shape, and he had to go around this to reach the shore, which he did with little difficulty, meeting there his master, as the reader will remember. ‘After the short talk with the captain; which resulted in his being told to remain upon the island, Nex} 2) hid away until a signal he well im that his master was near and in wanted him. - Going out of his so he was told that the crew were still sleeping, and that the hulk must be lightened so that it would come ashore and go to pieces, while the treasure-boxes should be anchored there, with ropes attached and buoys on the end that they might be found read- again. Te Congo told his master that no power could - move the wreck, and he led the way out, both swimming against the strong sea. Reaching the wreck the captain saw the truth of the negro’s words, and at the same time the _ black pointed to the tower-like rock ahead of the . hE bows, while he said: t rock will hide the wreck, master, from the island, unless a thorough search is made, so you better leave early with the men, before they cap look around.” “You are right, Congo, and I will do so,” and leaving the negro on board the wreck, as the best hiding-place, he sprung into the sea, back to his sleeping comrades, arriving there just at dawn. Then it occurred to him that he had left the small bag of provisions which Congo had given him to hide away about his clothing; but if was too late then, and he was forced to go without a morsel to eat. The reader has seen how the wrecked crew were hurried away from the island, and that they had been prevented, by the point of rocks, - from discovering the wrecked hull of their ves- aan me —— —— ee ee eee sel, and left, believing the sloop to have been dashed into a thousand pieces, though they did think it strange that none of the debris was along the shore. From a point of lookout Congo beheld them come to the shore and search for the wreck; then he heard them called away by the captain, and plunging into the sea he swam to the land. Cautiously he ascended the steep sea-wall of the island, and gazing seaward beheld the yawl swiftly gliding away upon her course, and, brave heart that he ‘had, it trembled with awe at his condition of dreariness and solitude; and he stretched forth his brawny arms and uttered the words that the reader will remember, as he stood gazing after the receding boat. Until the white sail faded away in the dis- tance the Black Hermit gazed out over the waters, and then he bowed his head and groaned in a deep, quivering voice: ““Gone! gone! gone! Alone! alone! ALONE!” But for a moment only did the brave black yield to this feeling of utter desolation, almost despair, and then he shook himself, as a wild beast might in his anger, and strode away over the island. He found that the island was by no means as dreary as he had feared, for there were patches of maize growing, sweet potatoes, orange trees pineapples, yams, limes and other fruits and vegetables, planted by some one of the créw bm had visited there with the captain be- ore. There were cool springs also, and salt ponds, so that Congo felt he could not starve, and he wondered that the captain had not peppaces, ee | searched the island before leaving, as enou fruit alone could have been obtained to last the boat’s crew for weeks. But away they had hastened, leaving plenty behind, and with starvation before them, Returning to the side of the island where the sloop had been wrecked, Congo discovered that the sea had run down after the storm so that he could, as the captain had said, walk out to the wreck ene Upon the vessel he knew there were ample athe 2 to last him alone for a year, and, aving found a good hiding-place for the treas- ure, for he knew not but that some vessel might visit it, he slept in comfort that night, feeling more contented with his lot. But had he known what was before him, the long, long weary years without beholding a hu- man being that must pass, his brave heart would have sunk within him. But so it was that the time by, he counted the months uncomplainingly until a year had been told off, Then life became a tedious existence of watch- ing, waiting, hoping. et the months went by and marked year after year, and only the glance of a distant sail was now and then seen. He had ample food, for the island was over- grown now with fruit, vegetables and corn; but still he was alone, desolate, weary, despairing, and over and over again he groaned, as he stood watching the surrounding sea: ** Alas! the boat never reached a haven! dina. master is dead, and I am left here to e One afternoon he approached his usual place of lookout, and as he threw himself down upon the rocks, he said dejectedly: ‘* Right long years, and my master does not return to me, ; ‘‘T have here the riches of a king; but here I am doomed to die. “ What ho! a sail! a sail™ He sprung to his feet like one gone mad with joy, as his eyes suddenly fell upon a distant sail. ‘He comes! he comes! and I will be free. “ Ahoy, good ship, ahoy!” and his deep voice thundered out over the sea. Suddenly his face became grave and anxious, and he whispered: ' ‘‘ What if it be not my master? ‘‘T must be careful, for I d my master’s treasure, and I will be faithful to the trust,” and turning, the Black Hermit ran like the wind back to the cabin in the interior of the island, bent on some strange errand to which his duty called him, . CHAPTER IX. THE PIRATE'S VICTIM. Ir will beremembered that the barque, Queen, which had been chased by an armed schooner, that Captain Duluth had pronounced to be the craft a well-known sea outlaw known as Caspar, the Coast Corsair, had failed to dodge the enemy in the darkness and storm, and had discovered him near when the clouds swept by. Instantly the barque had been crowded with canvas, and went surgin & along through the rough waters, flying from the little schooner. In that rough sea, still running wild after the storm, Captain Duluth had hoped that the large hull of the barque would enable him to run away from the schooner, and he determined to risk the fire to do so, But, though the Queen went bravely on, and forged through the waves, the schooner came steadily on in chase, It was noted, too, by the anxious crew of the barque, that the little craft was slowly gaining, She stood well up for the sail she carried, and the brisk wind that still was blowing, and only her tall masts and white canvas could be seen, for the low, sharp hull seemed to be under water. Her sharp bows fairly parted the waves, and rushed through them, and though her decks were knee-deep in water, and the spray flew half-way up the sails, the crew stood at their posts. Steadily through the hours of the night the schooner gained, and near dawn she was near enough for the barque to open fire, though the schooner had not fired a shot, seeming to depend wholly upon her speed and being certain of her ey. Resolved to at last fire upon the schooner, and endeavor to cripple him, as he saw it was but a question of an hour or two more, when the pi- rate would board the barque, Captain Duluth aimed the small cannon himself and fired. It was evident from the crash of timbers that the shot had struck hard, and the curses and cries of the pirates showed that they had not ex- pected a surprise. Seeing that he had gained some advantage, that of the first blow at least, Captain Duluth lost no time in firing again, and almost instantly he was answered by the schooner’s bow gun, a heavy piece. The shot flew wild, however, and Captain Du- luth fired again, and this time with grape, and he could see that he had brought down some of the pirates. The barque was now fairly flying along under all the sail she could carry, and the wind was blowing a brisk seven knots, The schooner was but a few cable-lengths astern, directly in her wake, and the sea having run down, the decks were not drowned as before, so that the guns could be brought into use. A few more shots passed between them, the grape of the small cannon on the barque doing t execution among fhe pirate crew, and the shot of the latter merely cutting through the canvas of the chase. Seeing, however, that he could not escape, and that the schooner must soon run her sharp bow- sprit over the stern of the barque; Captain Du- luth determined to use strategy to aid him, hop- mS the last to beat the pirates off. So he waited until the next shot from the schooner came tearing over the barque’s deck, and instantly he luffed sharp and lay to, as though to surrender. A moment more and the schooner came swift- ly up, as though to board on the barque’s lee, and instantly the two cannon of the merchant craft, double-shotted, were run to one side, and the order given to fire, in Captein Duluth’s trumpet-like voice. At pistol range, and well-aimed, the execution was great, and loud curses and cries arose from the — deck, while a commanding voice shouted: ‘‘Lay her aboard! Boarders ahoy!” “Give it to them again, lads, with the guns, and then seize your muskets!” cried Captain Du- luth, and depressing the guns, to reach the schooner’s decks, they were again fired, and with deadly result. ‘*Now to your muskets, men, and after you fire, receive them on the bayonet!” shouted Cap- tain Dulutb. ; The men obeyed, firing a volley just as the pi- rates clambered over the barque’s sides. Some dropped back upon the schooner’s deck, a few fell upon the bayonet points, but a score ained the deck and a rush cut down the first Hine of the barque’s brave defenders, ‘¢ Beat them back, lads, and show no mercy!” shouted Captain Duluth, bringing bis cutlass down upon a pirate confronting bim. ‘‘ They are but a handful, so spare them, men!” cried a clear voice, and a heavily bearded man + ig forward and confronted Captain Du- uth. ‘You are Caspar, the Corsair?’ cried the barque’s commander. i Yes, and you?” was the cool rejoinder, Your deadly foe,” and Captain Duluth’s. sword very nearly caught the pirate chief off his guard; but parrying it with a skillful move- ment, the pirate cried: ‘‘ Ah! say you so, my friend? Then let us settle our differences here now, whatever they may be,” and calling to his men he continued: ‘“Throw yourselves upon those few men and disarm them, for we need all the good men we can get.’ His words again nearly cost him bis life, for Captain Duluth was a superb swordsman; but turning to the work now before him the pirate chief pressed forward with a skill and force which he seemea to think would quickly end the matter. To his amazement he found himself mistaken, for his adversary handled a blade as he had nev— er met man to confront him before, and in spite of himself he could merely hold his own with his: oe. As though warming with his work. in spite of” seeing that the four men left of his ager had surrendered, Captain Duluth began the attack EGOMmichboo (E Si => — a) * a y ba : : . M Oke / \ ra P| } " | y , * - _— * ~ 4 Y =» re |