Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 476 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

0 Wt J > ‘ ‘ - : ' a : roe .* r i) 14 Bob Brent, Buccaneer. The coxswain soon after appeared on the cliff with a large spy-glass in his hand. ‘Thank you, Mordecai, I wanted it to have a look at yonder craft,” said Captain Brazos, as he leveled the glass, But he was not looking through it, for his eye was upon the seaman. The latter, however, did not observe this but had his gaze upon the distant vessel. “T thought she was a cruiser, Mordecai, but I now see tkat she is not. ‘* Her decks, however, are crowded with men, though I cannot see a gun on board. ** What do you think she can be?” **T don’t know, sir,’ was the answer, and as he spoke Mordecai glanced toward the pirate chief, but the eye of Brazos was at once placed to the glass. ‘‘Men, out on the sea comes a vessel toward | Tax plunge of Mark Mordecai, the pirate } “Do you not think, Seaman Mordecai, that | this basin, and though unarmed her decks are | sailor, into the waters of the basin was heard . it may be acraft piloted by that deserter, Rod- | crowded with men, while my strongest glass | by the buccaneer chief, who stepped to the very an riguez, coming to attack us?” he sailor started and turned pale, and at once bent his gaze upon his captain; but quick as he was Brazos was quicker, and his eye was to the glass, ** But he was killed, sir, if you mean the man who went with us to Boston,” and Mordecai seemed very uneasy. ** Yes, he is the man I mean. ‘*You saw him killed, did you not?” sY O8.-Sits **So you told me; but tell me just how it was ” i) ‘ ‘* Ho, the Sea-Raider, ahoy!” “* Ay, ay, sir,” responded Officer Moralez. ‘“‘This man, Seaman Mordecai, is a traitor, for I have here the gold with which he was bribed to report Seaman Rodriguez dead, when the truth is he deserted.” Up from the deck in a fierce chorus came the words: ** Kill him!” ~The men realized that when one of their num- ber proved traitor, he must be made an ex- aan e of, hey knew that their own safety depended upon weeding out from their midst all traitors, to let others who might be tempted to betray apes know that there would be no mercy shown them. showed me that she carries double the number of boats necessary for such a craft.” ‘*Kill him!” again came the savage chorus from the deck of the schooner. “That she is coming to attack us I feel as- sured, so, Office rMoralez, get the schooner in the best shape you can to withstand a boat at- tack, as they will not dare run in here with an unarmed vessel. ‘‘ But, first, let all behold the doom of this man,” ‘‘ Ay, ay, sir!” shouted the men, and their voices showed that they held no mercy for their ‘Asa boy I knew him, sir; but I have been long years from home.” The buceaneer chief was silent for a few mo- ments, as though in deep meditation. **T will obey your bidding, Mordecai, and I will not betray your evil career to those who love you, ‘* Now take your leap from this cliff into eter- nity, for your last moment of life has come!” commanded the Red Sea-Raider. Mordecai turned, saluted the buccaneer chief, and then sprung from the cliff without a word, going down like an arrow into the depths below! CHAPTER XXV., BEATEN OFF. edge of the cliff and coolly gazed down into the darkness. The white spray was seen for an instant, and then he could see no more. If the man was killed by the fall, or if he arose unhurt and swam away he could not tell. The chances were ninety-nine to one that the pirate sailor had taken his death leap, and was then at the bottom of the basin. Returning to the sea cliff, Brazos the Buc- caneer again swept the seas for the strange ves- sel. She could be indistinctly seen afar off, but SS — ne “Well, sir, we met with a lot of sailors | treacherous comrade. coming slowly along the coast toward the basin. | out of Havana and went to a low saloon to ‘“Mercy, Senor Captain, mercy! Spare me ‘‘T shall go and prepare for her,” he said } drink with them, and I think one recognized my | and V'll serve you to my dying day. I meant uietly, and descending to the shore he hailed mate as an old enemy, for he whispered to his| no harm against you, dear senor; but the | fora boat to be sent for him, and was soon on companions and then they picked a quarrel with aes 7" Aa “T tried tostand by my mate, but in the trouble that followed, he was knifed by some one and so | ran out.” ** Well, Mordecai?” *“*T waited outside, for I dared not tell an officer, knowing you could not appear, and after dark saw them take a body out and throw it in- to the water from the end of the dock. ‘* Then I returned and reported it to my other mates.” “How much did Rodriguez give you, Sea- man Mordecai, for concocting this lie so that he could desert and be considered dead?” The man turned deadly pale, and taken off his guard, he cried: ‘Oh, Senor Captain! You have seen Rod- riguez then! ** Mercy, captain, mercy! but I did not think he would harm you or bis old comrades, and I got a snug sum py it.” ‘* Where is the money, Mordecai?” “ Here, sir, in this belt about my waist.” ** Give itup.” ‘* Yes, chief, yes,” and the belt was taken off and held out to Brazos in the trembling hand of the bribe-taker. “Drop it at my feet, sir!” Tt was done. ** Now, Mordecai, I am convinced that yonder craft comes here under the pilotage of Rodri- Pee attack my vessel, and youare to blame or it. ‘Mercy, Senor Captain.” *““Now you shall have your choice, Seaman Mordecai, either to return on board the schooner gold tempted me to do as Rodriguez asked. Spare me, senor, spare me!” The man had dropped on his knees, unheed- ing the wild shout of derision that went up from the Sea-Raider’s crew at his act, and his hands were stretched forth appealingly to the bucca- neer chief. But Brazos was a man without mercy, as his dark face plainly revealed. He uttered no word to the touching appeal, but the man seemed to realize that pleading was useless, and with a groan he sprung to his feet. “Seaman Mordecai, your seconds of life are numbered, and your means of going out of this world is to leap from this cliff into the basin. ‘The depth just there I donot know; but if it isdeep, you may escape, and if shallow you will surely die the instant you go beneath the waters. ‘* Tf you escape with your life, your punish- ment will be over, for I shall not dog a man who has carried out the sentence passed upon him. Now, sir, face yonder schooner.” The man obeyed in silence, and his eyes fairly glared down into the dark depths below. But he could barely see the water, as dark- ness had wrapped the basin in its sable mantle, i i | though on the cliff all was yet light. ‘* Have you aught to say, Seaman Mordecai?” ‘* Nothing.” ‘* No last wishes to leave?” ‘“ You have my gold, and it is all that I have. It is blood-stained gold, for I got it under your command, Captain Brazos, under your red flag.’ @and you earned it, for you carried your neck in a noose to get it.” board the schooner. ** Send a boat with muffled oars, send Moralez. out to the entrance to the basin, and let them keep watch for a coming vessel, or boats, ‘* As soon as they discover either, let them report.” ‘‘ Ay, ay, sir,” answered Moralez, and the boat was sent with an under officer in charge. ' “All is ready, Senor Captain,” said Officer Moralez, soon after, entering the cabin whither Brazos the Buccaneer had gone. ‘‘T do not wish the heavy guns used unless it is necessary, for they can be heard a long way off, and I desire to remain here until our vessel is in perfect ship-shape, Senor Moralez.” “Yes, sir, and a couple of days more will have her so,” ‘Yes, andif our heavy guns are heard they may bring a cruiser down upon us. ‘Small arms must beat them off, Senor Moralez.” ‘Yes, Captain Brazos; but had you any ink- ling of an attack?” **Only my suspicious nature, Moralez. ““T did not believe Mordecai’s story about the death of Rodriguez, so I watched for develop- ments, and a visit to the cliff showed me an un- armed vessel approaching, her decks crowded with men. “T called to Mordecai to fetch my glass, watched his face as I talked to him, saw guilt stamped thereon, so sent him to his death.” ** And rightly, senor, for living the lives we do we cannot too careful in looking out for traitors; but T would never have suspected Rod- riguez, as he seemed a very fine fellow.” ‘He was, and, I am sure, came aboard this vessel for other purpose than to turn pirate. = ‘ Neen aud be strung up atthe yard-arm, or youcan| ‘Were I sure that you would not betray me,| ‘Now we will go on deck and bide our | leap to your death from off this cliff, down into | I would ask you to obey a dying wish.” time.” : | a the basin where the crew can see you.” ‘6 Well?” Upon reaching the deck, Captain Brazos went . ‘Oh, mercy, dear senor!” ‘*Can I trust you?” to every man and gave him orders as to what *¥ou might as well ask mercy of the rocks ‘‘T would not lie to a dying man, Seaman | he was to do, after which he returned to his ' upon which you stand, Mordecai— No! don’t | Mordecai.” cabin to await the return of the boat with tm get vicious and attack me, or ’ilhave youdie | ‘Well, Captain Brazos, I have parents who | news. ; hay PY torture,” and Brazos leveled a pistol at the | are poor, for ill-fortune swept from my father | The men all had muskets, with which they i" ~ / 4 _ man, as he saw in bis eyes that he was meditat- ing a spring upon him. Phe seaman was thoroughly cowed and hung his head, his whole form quivering with terror. “Mareh toward the cliff overhanging the ~ basin, Seaman Mordecai. **T will follow.” his riches. He is an old man now, and dwellsin a country town, living with my brother, who is a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, and who supports my parents and sister, ‘“T was a black sheep, and ran away from home to go to sea, and oe see to what it has brought me—piracy and the death I now must | were to open fire when the order to do so was given, and then they were armed with three pistols each and a cutlass, ; “They must never board us,” said Captain Brazos, firmly. \ He was quietly reading in his cabin, when Officer Moralez called to him to come on deck, * ss Oe ae —— or The mane silently obeyed, and behind him | suffer. “The boat is returning, Senor Captain,” said is walked Brazos, the Buccaneer, his pistol in his “In that belt is my fortune, and it amounts to | the pirate lieutenant, as Brazos went on deck . be: hand. some seven thousand dollars, in gems and gold. | and joined him. f It wonld make my parents comfortable in their | The boat was seen coming toward the schoon- i} 4 CHAPTER XXIV. old age, and I wish they could have it, if they | er, but ber oars being muffled, there was no fee ba THE SAILOR’S LEAP could receive it without the thought that it was | sound to greet the ear. = ; gained by piracy, for it would crush my noble; In a moment more @ young man sprung on r Across the narrow stretch.of rock, from the | mother’s heart, and bow my beautiful sister’s deck and approached Brazos, whom he saluted oe | _ eliff overhanging the sea to the one that looked | head with shame to know that their son and | politely. et _sbeer down a bundred teet into the basin where | brother, Mark Mordecai, was a pirate, ‘‘ There is a brig in the offing, sir, and she has | the schooner Sea-Ruider lay at anchor, theman| ‘If you will send it to them, first putting the anchored, while there are a number of boats, b on Mordecai walked, followed by his merciless | value in bank-notes, and will say that I was lost , filled with men, coming toward the basin,” he Re . at sea and left it to them, I will bless you with | said. , | Ashe reached the edge of the cliff, Mordecai | my dying breath.” , ‘Tt is as I thought. 4 halted and glanced back at the buccaneer cap-| ‘I will do so, Mordecai, upon my honor, even ‘Get your boat up to the davits, Senor Roe, i _ tain, ‘ | though it be a pirate’s honor,” earnestly said the | and take your te of duty,” was the quiet t ____His face was as pallid as though he was dead, | buccaneer. reply of Captain Brazos, whom nothing seemed and his teeth were set upon his lips until they / And you will not betray me?” to ruffle. vat cut into the flesh, — | No, a thousand times no, for why bring sor- In a few moments dark objects were seen en- ‘ | _«: It was just growing twilight, and the schooner | row upon them?” tering the basin, Way aT) at anchor in the basin was already being shut in; ‘I will trust you, captain. My parents live | They came noiselessly on, and straight toward +) ee i __ by the shadows of coming night. in the town of Pe in Massachusetts, and my | the schooner they headed. . ocr ee ____ But the two men on the cliff were boldly re- brother’s name is the Reverend Manton Morde-| But one light was visible upon the schooner, fe __ Tieved against the sky, and all eyes were turned cai,” and that a dim one, and no one would suspect Se _ upon them from the schooner, when the hailof' ‘*In G——? Do you know there an old sea- | that three-score-and-ten pirates lay upon t eir Sts ; it -Bratos the Buccaneer rung out: captain, one Rufus Sprague?” arms, their glittering eyes turned upon thei , net a : EG om * : m am | a J We is . 2 , * (E(o) G Fut fhe: a * ' Yr Se