Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 482 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

“9° <> « wb ng . ee a — - Tee ee a te. Pa ” - + “4 es a“ ‘The cruiser’s captain is one Rufus Sprague, and if I mistake not he was a privateersman during the war, and is simply an irregular now, pretending to be on the special duty of pirate-hunting, while in reali'y [ believe him little better than a sea outlaw himself. * He will hang me and then sailinto his native port with my body swinging at the yard-arm, and thus end the days of your friend Belmont. * To you, Conrad, all that I may leave, I bequeath to you, and I beg you to avenge m>, for certainly { would avenge you, ; ‘* farewell, my friend, a last farewell, and remem- ber, at the bottom of the sea, or in a grave, wher- €ver my body shall lie, it will never rest until you have avenged me, FRANK BELMONT, ‘* Buccaneer,” Such was the letter which Carlos Conrad read, ahd it made a deep impression upon him, It caused him to vow to avenge the buec- caneer, To do this he set about carrying out his plans at once. The cargo of the lugger was disposed of, and the men were paid off most liberally, all except a few who were needed as a crew to the vessel. Then he sailed for the island retreat and made known to those there that the buccaneer band was broken up. A division of the spoils was made, and then the island was deserted and the lugger, with all on board set sail for Havana, There they parted company, the Jugger was sold and Carlos Conrad took passage in a clipper ship bound for Boston, Arriving in that port he was not long in find- ing out which was the craft that had captured and hanged Belmont the Buccaneer, and the home of her commander, To G—— then he went by stage, and those who were glad to tell him the story of the hang- ing of Belmont the Buccaneer at the yard-arm, ae dreamed who it was that they were talk- ing to. The whole story he heard, and how the gal- lant captain, who had been dubbed ‘‘ commo- dére,” had lost his leg in the action, and, giving up the sea, had just returned to his native home to live, being accompanied by a beautiful wife, whom he had married in Cuba, and bis child, The grave by the sea, where lay the buccaneer chief, was shown to Conrad, who also gazed with deep interest upon the home of Commodore Sprague. , Then Carlos Conrad left G , having deter- mined upon a plan of action to gain revenge, Several months after, one dark, stormy night asmall vessel stood into the little port, shortly after dark, and boats went to and from the shore, Just before dawn the craft put to sea again, while the rains descended in torrents. All day long it stormed, the rain pouring down and keeping the peoplé within doors; but the following morning the storm had passed. and the sun arose in a clear sky. Then it was that the good sexton of the little church surreunded by the graves of many dead, was startled ay beholding an object in the graveyard which he had never before seen. It was a Sabbath morning and he had gone over to open the church for services, He stood, rubbing his eyes to see if he was not mistaken. But no! therein the corner of the burying-ground nearest the sea, he beheld a monument which he had never seen there before. It was an imposing stone monument, and going toward it the good sexton’s eyes opened wide with astonishment as he saw that it had been erected to the memory of Belmont the Buc- caneer, In amazement he ran to ring the bell and alarm the people, They came in crowds, and all feasted their astonished eyes upon the monument; but not one could selve the mystery. Under cover of the night the stone had been erected, and not one dared touch it with im- pious hand though it was over the grave of a buccaneer, , “ Not a trace of from whence it came could be found, for the driving rain had obliterated any marks that had been made, and many were superstitious enough to assert in whispers that Satan had erected it over one so near akin to him as had been Belmont the Buccaneer. Commodore Sprague was also troubled about it, and its presence seemed to affect him un- easantly, for he shunned the burying-ground d even the little church. But time passed on and the mystery remained unsolved, while the monument to the buccaneer came to be regarded with awe and superstition by many of the villagers, none of whom dared go near the burying-ground at night. CHAPTER XXVI. AN OLD SHIPMATE. THAT it was Carlos Conrad who erected the monument over the ashes of Belmont the Bucca- neer, the reader doubtless has understood, He was determined that the spot where rested the body of his friend, should not go unmarked, and by night he carried the monument there in a small vessel, and placed it over the grave. Then Carlos Conrad returned to carry out his plot to avenge his friend. ‘ Whet he had received from the booty sold, ae Ze A*- - vw : Nie em ro | OR me TUE , . ee a rs fe » i? Ou eal cs 4 * Vg ‘= A ? . P ‘ oh me Ocean Tramps. was not a very large sum, and the demands upon his purse had been severe; but he still bad a few thousands in gold, and so determined to strike at Commodore Sprague at once, That he*had deceived the people of the town about his having been married several years, and the little Norma being his child, he had at once discovered, for, having gained sight of Victorine, he saw that she was the beautiful Cuban lady whom his chief had captured with her husband. That husband, Senor Rodriguez, he knew had gone to the bottom of the sea in the wrecked schooner, and he did not doubt but that Sengra Victorine had married the American captain out of gratitude, ‘*Tt cannot be that she loves him dearly, and so his being taken off will not break her heart. ‘*T will fit out a craft, kidnap him and carry him to the island retreat, where I shall leave him to starve and die alone, ‘* That will avenge Frank Belmont. ‘*But I will let it be thought that he was drowned, so he will not be expected to turn up again, and then I shall come back and win the love of that beautiful woman, if it is in my power to do so, and [I do not wonder that poor Belmont adored her, ‘* What money I have will fit the craft out, and then, in some way, I must manage to get a snug sum which will enable me to be considered a rich man, for riches go a long way in love- making, ‘* Yes, I will go to New York now, and get a suitable craft, and then to strike a blow upon Rufus Sprague toavenge Frank Belmont. ‘*Tt may be then, that [ can pick up a rich prize, to put me in funds, though I did not wish to go back to piracy again. “But if not, I will seek Havana and make Vendome fit me out with a craft, for he has made a large fortune out of Belmont, ‘‘'Then, with a good vessel and crew, I can soon capture prizes enough to make me inde- pendent, and will give up the sea and make my home in G——, claiming to be a gentleman of leisure an] wealth, and my aim willbe to win that beautiful Cuban woman, ‘Ob! if the schooner had only not sunk, for she had a fortune on her, yes a vast fortune in treasure, and Belmont made me his heir. ‘* Now to set about my plot,” and having thus decided upon his plans, Carlos Conrad took pas- sage on a packet for New York. He had, just landed and was making his way to a tavern, when he was startled by bearing his name called. ‘Turning be beheld aman in sailor garb hur- rying after him, He was an evil-browed looking fellow, and evidently not an American by birth, ‘‘ Ah! Senor Conrad, I thought that I could not be mistaken in that splendid form and hand- some face, ‘Do you not know me?” The man spoke witha slight accent, and gazed fixedly into the face of the pirate lieutenant, It was evident that Conrad did recognize bim but he did not seem to wish tu do so, for he said in a cold manner: ‘T think you are mistaken, my man.” ** No, senor, I am not mistaken, for I sailed under your orders too long not to know you, ‘*‘T am Antonio, once bo’sen under you on the schooner Sea Lance.” ‘** Ah, yes, [ recall you now, Antonio; but you wore a beard then?” *¢ Yes, senor,” ‘Tt has changed you greatly to shave it off; but how has the world used you, my man?” ‘* Badly of late, senor; but I have good pros- pects ahead, and I will be glad of your aid, senor, for there will be enough for two,” Conrad knew the man as a plucky fellow, and one who loved gold. His referring to a plan in which there was gold to make, suggested to him ths thought that he might get a snug sum to aid him in his plans. So be said: ‘Well, Antonio, I am willing to help you, and I may give youa job too, so come to my house to-night. , ‘* T will stop at the Anchor Inn yonder,” ** And your name?” ** Conrad, as before, Antonio.” ‘*T did not know but that ie might have changed it ashore, senor; but I will be there,” and the man went on his way, while Conrad walked on to the tavern and was soon in com- fortable quarters. After supper Antonio called, and following a short conversation Conrad asked; ‘Well, Antonio, what is it you have on hand?” ‘“*Do you remember, senor, that the captain of an American privateer turned pirate and kept up his flag as a cruiser of tho United States?” ‘I believe a number of the most reckless of the privateersmen, would not give up their ves- sels after the war and went to buccaneering.” ‘* There was one whom I served under, havin been captured by his vessel the time you sen me off in the boat on a secret mission, when we were lying off Vera Cruz.” ‘ ee 7 aa . Pees, 7: L 7 = | the sly. — m Py a na 2 Ie 4 ee 7, ~<! bw é ‘Yes, and you never returned,” ‘*T was captured, senor, by a vessel which was supposed to be flying the American flag in honor, but which was doing piratical work on ‘* | shipped to save myself, of course, and was with the craft nearly a year. ‘‘Then I deserted, and have knocked about the land and sea since, with luck against me, ‘* But two months ago I shipped on a coaster and we ran iuto a port on the Massachusetts coast under stress of weather. ‘“While ashore I suwa face I remembered, for I seldom forget a face, senor, and who do you think it was?” **T do not know, Antonio.” ‘“‘It was none other than the captain of the craft that had captured me,” ** Indeed?” 4 " Yes, senor, and he had lost a leg since I saw im.’ Conrad started at this and asked: 4 **Did you say the port was on the Massachu: setts coast?” ‘¢ Yes, senor, it was the port of G——,” ** Indeed?” ‘Yes, senor, and I at once asked about the captain and found out to my joy that he was a native of the place and was very rich. ‘* His house, an elegant mansion, was pointed out to me situated upon a hill above the town, and they told me that he had married a rich Cuban wife and settled down to enjoy a life of luxury.” ** Well, Antonio?” ‘* Now, senor, I am poor, very poor, and I at once saw my plan, to act so as to get riches,” ‘* As how, Antonio?” ‘* Well, I could go to him, for I did not make myself known, and returned here but yesterday in the coaster, and telling hin that I would ex- pose him, force him to give me a large sum of money.’”” ** Yes, it looks as ori IP you could, Antonio,” “*Tt does, senor, and I am willing to invest it in a craft, have you as captain and go as first luff myself, and once more sail the seas under the black flag, for since Captain Belmont was hanged, merchant vessels cover the ocean,” ** A good plan, Antonio, and es Tam in hard luck, I will give you my aid ix the matter, “Suppose I go to this man for you, and get him to pay a large silence fund?” ES ‘*T am willing, senor, for I would rather that you should go, as if he recognized me, he might _ shoot me down at once, uv ‘* Let us go by the first packet to G——.” ay Carlos Conrad was silent for a few moments, and he appeared to be in deep thought. Then he said: ** Antonio, come with me, for I wish you to first help me in a little affair,” and the two left the tavern together. CHAPTER XXVII. QUICK PUNISHMENT. WueEn Carlos Conrad left the tavern with the a sailor Antonio, he had forfred a plotin hismind | that will now be laid bare. a He had started at the strange circumstance of Antonio having as his game the very man that | he was plotting against. oe) It was a coincidence that troubled bim. ae The sailor had let him into a secret against Commodore Sprague, which at once gave him power over him. i ae As the commodore had been guilty of lawless acts, known to Antonio, the knowledge of those _ very acts could be held over him in a manner | that would make him pay liberally for si- — lence. : Once he had gained from him alargesum,he | could then do away with him and thus avenge — his chief, ' - But knowing what Antonio did about him, | Conrad saw that it would not be necessary to go to the expense of chartering a vessel which was — to carry him to the island retreat and then go upon a gold-making cruise. rr No; Antonio had let him into a most impor- — tant secret, and he would use it for his own of good, He did not like the man Antonio. Re. He feared that he was one who would betray _ his best friend for gold. is He had shown that he hada and he was therefore dangerous. 5. Possessed of Antonio’s secret, Antonio was of © — no use to him. oe In truth, it was better to get rid of theman. Once rid of him, Commodore Sprague was at his mercy, to bleed for a large amount of gold, =. and then he could get rid of him. + No one should suspect him, and be could then _ go to G—— and win the widow of the man he ~ had robbed and then slain. oe Such were the thoughts that were passing through the mind of Carlos Conrad,as he lis- tened to the story of Antonio. a So when he told him he wished him toaid * him in a little matter, heled him away fromthe tavern down toward the river. yt On the way he gleaned from him all that he _ could regarding the lawless acts which Antonio knew Commodore Sprague to have been guilty — iy . good memory, *r alia « * ’ 4 i; books. mic