Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 482 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

lll <> “ay Ocean Tramps. 25 leaves on board yourself, two under officers, a cook and steward and eight seamen.” ‘* You have the number pretty close.” ‘‘T have had my eye upon your vessel for two weeks.”’ ‘‘ A frank confession, surely.” **T have, as I said, the knowledge that she is to be cut out,” ‘* When, and how?” f ‘* A man reached port some days ago, com- ing by a coaster from Norfolk. ‘‘He saw your schooner, got all informa- tion regarding her, and that there was no vessel-of-war in port, and that you had but a dozen men on board, and kept very slack watch, naturally not deeming it necessary. ‘*He left port upon gaining this informa- tion, with a clever plot formed to cut her out.” ‘And yet he has gone?” ‘* Yes, down to Norfolk, to return in a coasting craft which will put into port about dark, in a disabled condition. ‘*As though going to the dock for repairs, she will anchor near you for the night. “You would discover but half a dozen seamen on board, apparently coasters; but in the hold there would be some thirty more. ‘*At night you would be hailed and asked for some medicine, as a man was taken very ill on board, so the excuse would run. ‘The boat that boarded you would have | under a canvas a dozen men, and your watch | would be struck down without mercy, and | another boat would be ready to board you, and your vessel would readily be taken. | The anchor would be quickly raised, sail set and your schooner would go flying down | the Chesapeake, and when a few leagues | away she would meet a schooner on board of | which would be over two-score men. ‘*'These would board your vessel, you and your crew would be put to death and your beautiful vessel would hoist the old flag of Belmont the Buccaneer, a black field, with a white skull in the center and around the lat- | ter in red letters the words: ‘‘Tik WorLD 1s MINE.” ‘‘That is the plot, Captain Rockwell, and | the plotter is one who sailed under Belmont | the Buccaneer as an officer.” CHAPTER XLVII. UNMASKED. CapTaIn EpGar RockWELL, of the Col- umbian Navy, gazed in utter amazement at > the old man, who made known to him a plot | so startling. He could not but see that all that he said was to be done, could be done. There was nothing to prevent its being carried cut successfully. Tired with the work they had done to get their vessel to sea as soon as possible, officers | and men turned in early into their ham- mocks and a watch of but one man was kept upon deck. The schooner was anchored far away from other vessels, and the man, or men, taledn Me surprise, expecting no danger from a small coasting craft, could readily be struck down, the hatches and cabin closed and the schooner taken to sea, perhaps without rais- ing the slightest alarm. Ie saw that the old man spoke advisedly, and he was convinced of the truth of all that he had said. ‘*You fairly astound me, my good sir, in what you tell me,” he said, after his first surprise was over. ‘*Tt is a well formed plot, sir.” ‘Tt certainly is, and a bold man has been the one to plot it.” Von) air,” ‘‘An officer of the Buccaneer Belmont, who was hanged at the yard-arm years ago, you say?” ‘Yes sir, a lieutenant whose name is Con- rado.”’ ‘‘T have heard of him, as a bold man, scarcely surpassed by Belmont. ‘A Spaniard, I believe, from his name.” ** Doubtless, sir.” ‘‘ And was he the man who came here on the vessel you referred to, and then left?” ‘*No, sir, that was his lieutenant, A man whose name is Las Vegas.” ‘* And this Conrado?” ‘‘Ts now in port.” ** Indeed!” ‘* Yes, sir.” $< — ee j rr ‘*Do you know where?” sc I do. ” ** You have seen him?” *““T have.” “When?” ‘“To-day.”’ “You can take me to him?” **T could, but I will not.” ‘* What do you mean?” ‘*T have a better plan.” ‘* Ah!” ‘Yes, sir, I have a plot to save your vessel.” ‘* Well, I certainly will listen to your plot to aid me with the greatest respect, after all you have told me.” ‘*] have terms to make.” ‘*Ah! you want gold?” «sé No.” ‘“ What then?” ‘*T will not serve you for gold.” ‘Then what are your terms?” ‘That you grant me certain favors.” ‘* Name them.” ‘“To explain, let me say that you had bet- ter go ashore to-night and get half a hundred good men.” “Neu?” ‘‘ Have them come out to your vessel after midnight, and keep them all below decks to- morrow. ‘‘ Let your men go on with their work on deck during the day, as usual; but havea close watch at night, and let the boat’s crew _ board you. ‘*Then you can capture them all, and next take the little coaster. ‘*Getting up sail you can run down the bay and capture the other coaster with those on board.” ‘‘A good plan, indeed, my dear sir; but what of yourself?” ‘*How do you mean?” ‘« Your reward?” “My reward will be revenge, Captain Be was the calm reply. ae y, hh!” ‘That is a motive that governs many of us, sir.” ‘*] have reason to feel revengeful, Captain Rockwell,” was the stern response. ‘*] will not pry into your secrets, sir; but tell me what was the favor which you had to ask?” ‘‘It is that when you have captured the pirates to at once hang three of them which one person will make known to you. ‘*'T wo of them will be principal officers, and the other the boatswain.” ** One of these officers is Conrado, then?” ‘*No, senor, he will not be taken.” ‘‘Why is this?” ** Because he cannot be; but you will save your vessel and your life, with the lives of your men. ‘‘ You will capture a number of pirates, and among them two men who are officers, and you can hang.” ** But Conrado?” “You have given me your pledge to grant the favor I ask?” ‘““T have.” ‘* Upon your honor as an officer?” , “I do so give it.” ‘Then, Captain Rockwell, let me tell you that Conrado is no longer a pirate, but is try- ing to lead an honest life, ‘‘He was discovered by this man Las Vegas, and robbed, by threats, of a large fortune. ‘Then, feeling himself incompetent to carry out his plans to seize a vessel and turn pirate chief, Las Vegas asked Conrado to be the captain and share with him. ‘* After the work was done and Las Vegas found that he could command, Conrado would have been gotten rid of. ‘‘ Knowing this, Conrado yielded to the supposed temptation to again hoist the black flag of his old chief, and planned the capture of your vessel. ‘*He is in the port, and is to board the coaster to-morrow. ‘* He is the one who is to seize your vessel, and then sail her down the bay to meet the coasting schooner with Las Vegas, the other lieutenant, the boatswain, and forty odd men on board. ‘* Now bien know the truth, and being forewarned you can save your vessel, cap- ture Conrado, pretend to at once hang him, but let him £0, and when you capture the a ——— i others, string up Las Vegas and the other two without mercy. ‘““That will be my revenge, Captain Rock- well, and J am Conrado.” CHAPTER XLVIIL. CAUGHT IN THE TOILS. Hap the visitor to Captain Rockwell told him that ‘he was the ghost of Belmont the Buccaneer he could not have been more sur- prised than to have him say that he was Conrado. He half-sprung to his feet, but at once re- sumed his seat, and asked, with deepest in- terest: ‘You say that you are Conrado the Cor- sair?”’ ce I am.” ‘‘And you were once the lieutenant of Belmont the Buccaneer?” Len. ** Why were you not captured with your chief and his vessel?” ‘* His vessel was sunk in action with an American privateer, and Captain Belmont was taken with a few of his crew and hanged. ‘*T was absent at the island retreat of the chief, having taken a prize there. ‘* Since then I have not been a pirate, but have endeavored to lead an honest life. ‘* Recognized, as I said, by Las Vegas, and known to the others, I was forced to pay them a large fortune in hush money. “Then they offered to make me captain, and I planned the capture of Las Vegas and the others by you, pretending that I was to cut your vessel out when ready for sea, ‘‘Hang those three men who hold my se- cret, and 1am more than repaid, for I have my revenge and can continue to live without fear of being found out. ‘*But, I wish it given to the public at once, Captain Rockwell, that it was Conrado the Corsair, the old lieutenant of Belmont the Buccaneer, who planned the cutting out of your vessel and was at once hanged by you; but, when you have taken the second coaster with those men and strung them up, 1 shall hold you to your pledge to release me,” ‘‘T shall keep my word, sir, and more, I shall swing up several of the men who board the schooner with you, to at once let the men believe I have hanged you, while you can go to my cabin and remain.” **] thank you, sir.” ‘*] have more to thank you for; but in truth, I am glad that you have changed your evil life.” ‘* As I am, sir.” ‘** But I thought that Conrado was a young man?” | ‘‘It was years ago, sir, when I was with Belmont the Buccaneer.” ‘True; but still 1 did not expect to see as old a man as you are.” “TT will frankly tell you, Captain Rock- well, that this wig and beard are false; but I beg of you not to ask me to remove them.” ‘*T shall respect your request, Senor Conrado; but let me again thank you and ask you to join me in a glass of wine.” } Conrado bowed acquiescence and soon after took his leave, while Captain Rock- well was left in deep thought at all that had occurred, But he soon ‘decided to act, and going to the town in a boat sought out several haunts of sailors, when ashore, and secured n arly three-score of good men for the work in hand. They were quietly srouggled on board of the schooner and concealed below, and the next day, as Conrado had said, just before sunset a coasting vessel] came over near the cruiser and dropped anchor. } The topmast of the coaster was carried away, the bowsprit broken off and the sails torn, as though she had been in a severe storm, while the bulwarks also were stove in badly. There were but half a dozen men seen upon her decks, and among them Captain Rockwell recognized in the skipper the pre- tended old man of the day before. Darkness soon settled upon land and sea — and all became quiet and on board each vessel. The lights in the distant town went out one by one, and as the hour neared midnight — a deep silence fell upon the scene. (E() JOO “SS GOr mie U