Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 482 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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. lapse _ much cause for dread there was, and he seemed ‘¢ 7 am on shipboard.” sé Yes.” ‘* | remeinber now sighting a sail and heading toward it.” “Yes, we picked you up just in time, and you seem to have had a hard time of it, for your hair and beard were down to your waist; but [ had them cut off by the ship’s barber, and you look like’a different man.” ‘‘ How long have I been sick?” ‘* Hiv weeks,” ‘* So long?” ‘‘ Yes; but you are all right now.” ‘* What ship is this?” ‘‘The clippe: ship America, out of New York and bound to China, for she is in the tea trade, ‘‘T am her captain and my name is Horace Withers, so do net talk any more now, but let me give you some food,” ‘‘Bounc to China? Oh! how long, how long will it be befor I can return home?” “Do not worry, sir, or you will havea re- “You areall right, and can take the first eraft back home alter we arrive in China, or, if I meet a vessel bound to the States, I will put you on board. ** Now do not worry.” ‘“*T will not, sir, and I have much to thank you for,” said Rafrel Rodriguez, and he deter- mined to place no barrier in the way of his rapid recovery. oS the days passed on he improved steadily, an. soon told the captain his story, though he said ncthing of finding the treasure of the buc- caneer. As the captain had lost one of his mates over- boarc, shortly after leaving New York, 16 was glad to accept the offer of Rafael Rodriguez, to serve in that capacity, and having been an officer of the Spanish Navy he fully understood the duties devolving upon hiny while it gave him occupation for mind and body, The clipper ship in good time reached her int of destination, but anxious to get to pain, and from thence sail in a vessel bound to Cuba, Rafael Rodriguez determined not to re- turn in the good vessel to New York, and so took passage in an Nnglish brig bound to Bom- bay. He had with him his belt of gold about his waist, so was amply provided with funds, for when a prisoner of the pirates, by some mistake on their part he had not been searched, Arriving in Bombay he secured a berth upon acraft bound toa Mediterranean port, and be- gan to feel that a few more months would find him again at home, when one day a sail was sighted and the captain of the merchant vessel at once set all sail in flight. “*'You seem to dread the stranger, sir?” said Rafael Rodriguez, coming on deck and address- ing the captain of the vessel, ‘It isan Algerine corsair, sir, and we have every reason to dread him,” was the repl:. The fearless, handsome face of the young Cu- ban turned pale at this, for well he knew how to feel that a cruel fate might still be dogging his steps, **My God! after nearly two long years of anguish, sufferings and struggling, will I again be doomed to misery upon almost the threshold of triumph?” he said to himself as he turned his gaze upon the distant sail, which was now in full chase of the brigantine. TAPTER XXXIV. THE CHASE. Tue vessel in which Raphael Rodriguez had taken passage from Bombay, was an English brig, bound to ports in the Mediter- ranean with a valuable cargo. She was a stanch craft, and withal a fleet sailer, while her captain was a bluff English- man, brave and skillful, Her crew consisted of some thirty men, all told, and she carried two fair-sized guns ‘gs a protection. But, fleet as she was, she was not enough so to outfoot the vessel in chase of her, and if, as the captain surmised, it was an Alger- ine corsair, her two guns and thirty men, even with the aid of Rafael Rodriguez and haif a dozen other passengers, would prove no match against the outlaw with his heavy guns and large crew. Taking a glass, Rafael Rodriguez gazed fixedly at the stranger. After awhile he said: “Captain, [ think you are right, for that looks to me very like an Algerine, and I have cruised much in these waters when an officer in the Spanish Navy, so have had experience with those fellows.” ‘* My dear sir, why did you not before tell me that you were a sailor and an officer, and may I ask you to aid me now, for while I look to the sailing of the craft will you or- ganize the crew to defend the vessel, for I shall fight to the last.” 2 = see a ct ————— : ~~ a” 58 bee i 4 wm Ocean T ‘*T will gladly aid you, sir,” was the re- sponse of the young Cuban, and he at once set to work to prepare to defend the ship against any odds they might have to meet. The male passengers were called upon to help, and they were distributed among the crew. The guns were double-shotted, small-arms brought on deck and loaded, and all prepara- tions made that could be of the slightest use in beating off the foe, The eaptain had in the meantime put every stitch of canvas on the brig that would draw a pound, and had noted that though his ves- sel was sailing splendidly, the pursuer still gained perceptibly. It was unfortunately in the morning, and all ‘onged for night, and a blow, which would give the brig an opportunity to escape. The pursuer was certainly an odd-looking craft, with its long, low hull and lateen sails, It had set all the canvas that would draw, and was striving Lard to capture the prize. No colors were displayed upon it, but that it was a corsair no one doubted. The decks were seen to be crowded with men, and a heavy battery was discerned with the glass from the brig. ‘We will have a heavy battery to contend against, and he must carry fully eighty men,” said Rafael Rodriguez, addressing the cap- tain of the brig as the two stood watching the pursuer. ‘It will be a desperate fight, sir, but then we must not yield, as captivity by those ac- cursed Algerines is far worse than death,” replied the brave old captain. ‘‘T can well believe that, sir, and if our crew and passengers support us, we may be able to beat them off. ‘*] have told them all what they have to expect if we are taken,”’ ! ‘*{ thank you, Mr. Rodriguez, and I rely much upon your aid, sir,” the captain said. Then the two watched in silence the sail- ing of the brig, and the coming after her of the pursuer. The latter still rained, though slowly; but he was coming on at a pace that would bring him within hail before nightfall, When but a mile separated the two vessels a puff of smoke burst from the bows of the pursuer, and a shot came flving over the decks of the brig. At the same time the flag of Algiers went up over the the decks of the corsair, flutter- ing out defiantly from the peak of the lateen mizzen sail. ‘It is as [ feared,” said the English eap- tain, and he did not flinch as the wellaimed shot from the corsair tore through the bul- warks and cut down an unfortunate sailor. ‘Yes, and we must fight to the bitter end,” replied Rafael Rodriguez. As the brig did not come to at the brazen demand of the corsair, other shots were fired and with more or less damage. Still the brig held on, and in silence. Rafael Rodriguez would not use his guns until they could be of the greatest service. The corsair seemed in deadly earnest, and unheeding the red ensign of Great Britain, flying from the peak of the brig, kept up a hot fire upon her. Now and then a shot would tell with dam- aging force, and the decks of the brig already had several dead and wounded men upon them, cut down from a crew that was small enough at best, And having gained a better wind the corsair came alovg at a more rapid pace, and all on board the English vessel felt that the death-struggle must soon begin. Not a soul was there who dreamed of surrender, for each one knew that the Algerine and Moorish corsairs never gave mercy, and if taken prisoners their death would be preferable to the misery they would know for the rest of their lives. Deeply did Rafael Rodriguez feel his situ- ation. . He seemed to feel that he had been cut out for misfortune. In early life he had possessed riches and won fame in the navy of Spain. He had loved but one woman, Victorine, and she had become his wife. Then misfortune had dogged his steps, for he had been wounded nigh unto death in his duel with Belmont the Buccaneer, had been captured with his wife and child, torn on - , ramps. roe’ Sere pee « a 4 . : i cr rrr re Le rete ee ee 1'7 from them and put in irons in the hold of the pirate schooner, had been wrecked, and, after long trial had escaped from his island imprisonment to be again wrecked, picked up at sea and nearly died of brain fever. Carried to far away China he was strug- gling to get back to those whom he loved, to the cld home in Cuba, when now a more desperate danger threatened him after his two years of sorrow and sufferings, He was however schooled to bear ~all bravely, and he nerved himself to what was before him, and stood calmly awaiting the ordeal of blood that must now be upon them. CHAPTER XXXY. THE CUBAN AT BAY, NEARER and nearer approached the Alge- | rine corsair, for the cruisers of Algiers and Morocco at that date were nothing more than pirate craft, waging war upon the commerce of the world. In a short while the battle must begin for life and death. ‘*As we are only cut up by running, sir, suppose we put about and strike back as best we can?” said Rafael Rodriguez, ad- dressing the captain of the brig, when he realized that they could not harm the Alger- ine until at close quarters. ‘*] was just about to ask you what you ° thought of doing so, Mr. Rodriguez, and IL am glad that you are of the same opinion, ‘*T will give the order at once.” The order was given, the brig wore around, and, ass she did so Rafael fired a double charged gun. The result was all that could be desired, for it struck the cruiser in the bows, tore along the crowded decks and dropped a num- ber of the crew. Again the gun was loaded and fired, the brig, at the suggestion of the Cuban, stand- ing in a course that enabled him to bring the piece to bear upon the enemy. Rafael Rodriguez aimed the gun himself, and, as before, the shot was a deadly one, The corsair was now quite close at hand,’ and coming down to board; but the brig’s small arms opened, with her heavy gun, and the damage to the Algerine was seen to be severe. But the course of the corsair was not changed, nor was his intention checked, which was to board as soon as possible and crush by numbers what he could not do with his guns, ‘*Tf we had half a dozen guns I believe we could beat him off,” said Rafael. “Tf you aimed each’ gun, sir, ‘* But let us stand ready to meet him, for he is almost aboard?” The next moment there came stern orders in a loud, unknown tongue, and the Alge- rine splendidly handled was laid alongside the brig. , The shock was terrific, and the sides of the brig were stove in, while the corsair seemed unhurt. Then the hand-to-hand combat was _ be- gun with fearful ferocity and death-wounds were both given and taken. Rafael -Rodriguez saw that the English captain fell and he at once took command, striving to force the corsairs overboard. For a moment he seemed triumphant, for he drove them to their own decks, and fol- lowed promptly, forhe knew that the brig was going down rapidly. There was no time to delay, and the order — ot the corsair chief came to cast off the grapnels, It was obeyed just in time, for with a for- ward plunge the brig went down, while the shrieks of the wounded upon her decks, and the few women and children on board, were hushed by the merciless waves, A moment of lowed. Rafael Rodriguez and a score of men, armed and desperate, stood upon the stern of the corsair craft, while the Algerines, three-score in number, confronted them, their > fierce chief at their head. silence and inaction fol-— ay "5 ~-, Ao ms ee Ps _~ - kg > eo + ) Yat : > « " ¢ # @ Rat» 2 eS * = rel bet ‘ ee : , » fe , ' “ / . Fh 4 4 ra - _- = - bad | 4" “ eo wis 7 iF a. 4 ou ¥ a4 * ahs vo As the flag of the brig disappeared from a sight beneath the waves, Rafael Rodriguez cried cut in a voice heard by all: ‘* Follow me! ‘Hurl the devils overboard, lads, and the craft is ours!” , They were brave words and well intended, <4 * > 7" Aa an eI, a s LJ > F elie «< m SS comircboo!l